Whahrracao ooww Rawh'Annarrad
Tonight is Whahrracao ooww Rawh'Annarrad – The Night That Souls Escape From Annarrad. Have a seat and I will tell you the story of how it came to be.
Many generations ago, in a village that is now the great city of Rwookrrorro there lived a Wookiee. But this Wookiee was not like the others in his village. His connection to the Forest was unusually strong. It was as if the life force of the great trees flowed through his veins. Normally, a Wookiee of such power would become a great Shaman, but not this Wookiee. Today, it is taboo to even speak his name. We just call him "the Evil One".
At first, the Evil One leaned to manipulate objects with his mind. Soon, he learned to manipulate minds as if they were objects. He played upon the greed and ambitions of the foolish and they willingly did his bidding. The Wookiee Way says that we should care for those in need. But the Evil One only cared for himself and not the needs of others. He soon built his own small army and took what he wanted by force.
Village after village fell victim to his horde, their Shamans seemed powerless to stop him. The people lived in fear, and the Forest was filled with despair. As the army of the Evil One laid waste to the treetops a Great Council of the Shamans was called. They came from every part of Kashyyyk.
Those who had faced the power of the Evil One were doubtful that the People could be spared from his tyranny. The Shamans debated among themselves the best course of action, but none could devise a plan to defeat the Evil One … that is until an old Hermit spoke from the far edge of the platform.
"Each of you taps the power of the Forest to manipulate the crops, or to heal the sick, yet none of you truly understands where its strength lies. It is not the strength of one tree that makes the Forest . It is the unity of the Trees."
The strange old Hermit closed his eyes and reached out his hands to the Forest and soon all the Shamans could feel the flow of the power. Each closed their eyes and added their power to the effort. It was as if the Trees themselves walked out to face the evil army. His soldiers cried out in fear and would not stand their ground.
As the trees advanced, the Evil One called forth the creatures of the Shadow Lands but they were no match for the force of the living Forest. After a great battle, the Evil One and his followers were cast into the great pit of Annarrad, deep in the Shadow Forest.
Where the battle occurred, just outside Kachirho, the Forest has never really recovered. The great evil has tainted the land of Annarrad so that it has become a place of Evil.
Now, Annarrad is a fearful place where the spirits of Evil Wookiees dwell in the darkness. But each year on the anniversary of the battle the mystical barrier on their prison weakens and the evil spirits come forth from the pit riding on ghostly katarns. They are drawn to their home villages and seek revenge on the living for their misery.