"The Legend of the Aiwha Herd" is a succinct Star Wars Legends narrative penned by Ryan Kaufman. Its debut occurred within the pages of the Star Wars: Republic Commando: Prima Official Game Guide, hitting shelves on March 8, 2005. The narrative unfolds as the account of a Kaminoan divinity, Protas, as interpreted by Ryan Kaufman from the Kaminoan tongue into Basic. Protas' dominion over the waters of Kamino faces opposition, initially from a colossal behemoth known as Melkorr, and subsequently from a legion of sapient kikla. After slaying these adversaries, Protas succumbs to arrogance, preventing an aiwha group from proceeding with their southern migration. Compelled to act for their survival, the aiwha group launches an assault, ultimately defeating Protas in a violent confrontation, aided significantly by the self-sacrifice of an aiwha.
The story commences with the phrase "Translated from the Kaminoan by Ryan Kaufman," acknowledging the author and, in doing so, incorporating Kaufman into the Star Wars universe. This detail establishes Kaufman as the sole real-world individual with a character bearing the same name within Star Wars lore.
"The Tale of the Aiwha Pod" relates the Kaminoan story about the godlike creature Protas and his defeat at the hands of an aiwha aggregation, as rendered by Ryan Kaufman from the Kaminoan language into Galactic Basic Standard. The narrative reveals that before the rise of the second star, the magical entity Protas governed the seas of Kamino. His supremacy in the oceans is challenged, first by Melkorr, a formidable titan from the depths. Armed with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and prominent, pointed fins, Melkorr confronts Protas on the submerged ridge of Thalina. Attempting to use his sheer size and strength to overpower Protas, Melkorr fights for six days and nights. However, the godlike being employs his agility and speed to evade the titan's advances, exhausting Melkorr. Capitalizing on his adversary's weariness, Protas delivers a fatal blow, staining the waters with blood and providing sustenance for fish for a long time.
Later, Protas faces a challenge from a multitude of sentient kikla, who believe that their superior numbers would compensate for their relatively smaller size and enable them to overwhelm the godlike being. Encountering Protas in the deep waters of the Ancient Trench, they battle for a month. Despite their large numbers, the kikla are divided in spirit and quarrel among themselves, inflicting only minor wounds on the godlike being. In contrast, Protas is unified in purpose and gradually consumes the kikla to maintain his strength, and at the new moon, the last kikla is devoured, and Protas emerges victorious once more.
Becoming aged and conceited due to his victories and power, Protas eventually encounters a group of aiwha, migrating south to escape the frigid winter. Obstructing their path, Protas forbids them from proceeding and commands the aiwha to return north, purely for his amusement. Aware that they will perish if they retreat, the aiwha attack without warning, driven not by a desire for glory or recognition. The aiwha combine the swarming strategies of the kikla with the powerful attacks of Melkorr but are unable to penetrate Protas' tough hide with a decisive blow.
An aiwha, noticing Protas briefly exposing the vulnerable flesh of his throat, latches onto the godlike being in a suicidal attempt to defeat him. Recognizing his perilous situation, Protas attempts to dislodge the aiwha by striking it with his fins, but it refuses to release its grip, even in death. This allows the remaining aiwha to deliver a final, fatal blow, ending the godlike being's existence. The narrative serves as an explanation for why the aiwha reign over the oceans and are respected by all creatures of Kamino, large and small, as they vanquished Protas and brought tranquility to the seas.
"The Tale of the Aiwha Pod" is a single-page Star Wars Legends short story released by Prima Games within the Star Wars: Republic Commando: Prima Official Game Guide, which was published on March 8, 2005. It was authored by Ryan Kaufman and edited by Rebecca Chastain. The story's introductory line indicates that the tale is presented as a translation into Basic by Kaufman, specifically crediting him for the short story. This bestows upon "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod" the unique distinction of being the only Star Wars story featuring a character—Ryan Kaufman—whose name is identical to that of its real-world creator.