Tinban was a master of a unique weapon which he called the Chain and Ca-Thsaa. This weapon that Tinban designed was very interesting. It was made up of a hard wood handle that was about the distance from my fingertip to the end of my elbow. Fastened on one end of this weapon was a double-edged leaf-shaped blade. Tinban called this weapon Ca-Thsaa because of the sound it made when he stabbed an opponent with it. Attached to the other end of his Ca-Thsaa was a twelve-head chain with a small steel pommel head fastened at its last link. Tinban’s style and technique were of course also unique due to the strange nature of his weapon. He had trained with this weapon so that he could strike with the pommel like a flail or launch it at his opponent to strike or entangle. When he did this, his opponent was either stunned by the impact of the pommel, entangled with the chain, or both. If this entanglement happened, Tinban would rush in and strike down the hapless opponent with his Ca-Thsaa. If his enemy tried to rush in and close, he would block with his short weapon and use the chain-end in a flail-like fashion. He also could attack and defend with both weapons at once.

Needless to say with this weapons’ style, Tinban was a formidable dueler. Countless warriors had fallen dead from encounters with Tinban and his Ca-Thsaa. These victories gave birth to confidence which gave birth to arrogance, which seems to be followed by cruelty. Soon Tinban became a tyrant and a bully.He quickly rose in power among his people through fear, threats, and murder. The people lived under great hardship trying to appease ‘The Tyrant Tinban’ which was the name he had come to be called in dark and hidden places. Tinban’s infamy grew as did the people’s anger with his disregard for them. They gathered in secret, all with a common complaint and decided that something must be done about this tyrant. So during this secret meeting, they questioned how to be rid of this cruel villain. A young girl in the crowd spoke up and said, “While washing by the river I heard the warrior monk, Wu-Sin, is staying at the Northern Temple. Maybe he would help us. After all he is a people’s monk.” The elders of the group all agreed that this was a stroke of luck indeed and immediately sent envoys out to find Wu-Sin to plead their case.

When Wu-Sin was found he was lying on his belly watching a deadly duel between a snake and a mongoose. The snake was coiled up with about one head length of its body standing erect. The venomous snake’s great hooded head weaved from side to side as it waited for its opponent to make a mistake. The mongoose hissed and snapped at the snake trying to lure it into an attack. The small snakefighter’s fur was up on end and darted back and forth seeking an opening for attack. The snake remained poised and calmly followed the short quick movements of the mongoose, always wary of the distance between them. Tired of waiting, the mongoose tensed up its haunches to lunge forward and strike. But just as it was about to attack, the snake spit out a thin stream of venom. The venom splashed into the mongoose’s face. The mongoose immediately recoiled into a ball of agony rolling over and over in one place. The snake wasted no time in striking and sank its long fangs into the quivering mongoose, ending its life.

Having seen the duel to its finish, Wu-Sin rose up and asked what the peasant wanted. The peasant told him the story of Tinban and his tyranny and begged Wu-Sin’s help for the sake of the village. Wu-Sin flat-out refused and told the peasant to be off. No matter how hard the peasant pleaded Wu-Sin’s mind could not be moved. Filled with sorrow and dismay the peasant returned to the village with the bad news. Many gave up hope, and some tried to raise a rebellion against the tyrant. But all feared Tinban’s deadly weapon. So the people went on in their misery always trying to avoid Tinban for fear of what he might do to them just for entertainment. Early one morning, the people were awakened to the sounds of chopping. When they rushed out to see the author of the noise, they found Wu-Sin cutting down the very pole on which the village name was posted for travelers to see.

INTRO

Tales from the Warrior Sage

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