Red Desolation and a Watchman

In the blink of an eye, a town is raised up from the red sands and a man and his family formulate. All it takes is a movie with some different scenery and I'm all over it. In the, what, 2-3 days since I saw this place here's what has happened:

There's a teeeny tiny town in the middle of the red deserts of Rikitonia, which is a state on the southern border of Kiillaana. Its eastern neighbor is Vetonia. I've written about a handful of people from Rikitonia, the most notable being Rover Reddington, who I haven't even written about on this blog. He's a player in the Ambrose Lare series from way back.

Anyway, this tiny town, with a population of 741, is quite literally in the middle of nowhere. With flat expanses of red sand for miles, framed by some red rock mountains (cough, AZ/NM), the nearest civilizations include the capital which is 2 hours southwest, the city of Weston which is about 2 hours northeast, and the military/air force base 30 miles northwest. As said by the first persona to occupy this city,

"We are quite literally in the middle of nowhere. The only reason this town even exists is because of the military base 30 miles NW. Our city is only popular for one thing: Geology. It's comprised of two types of people: geologists and army brats."

Not bad for a starter statement!

Next up was the name. I wanted it to have a name that meant Red Desolation but I wanted it to be encoded. I turned to a new (to me) method of word-relationships by using the "arithmetic sum of the letters." In other words, I assigned each letter its numeric value, added those values up, and then played around with the letters until I got something that was reasonable but added up to the same value. There's only one site that I know of that does this: when given a name it shows other names along with adjectives that have the same numeric value. As a side note, I found out that me and my sister's names have the same sum. It's a cool and not-so-obvious way to make sibling names related. I decided to use it to turn Red Desolation into.....

Roakestown. The military base up north, that is a bit bigger but only really inhabited by military families, is called Fort Wegdonstone, an earlier but not quite as satisfying rearrangement.

With a name in place, I immediately thought that the city was "protected by a Terabikai." In a town that small everyone knows each other and he would be a beloved city figure. I decided to take this numeric sum idea further and counted up the letters in Terabi, taking all names from that. What I came up with was a man named Edmond Davis Heodin and his two daughters, Monica Iris Heodin and Arlene Camille Heodin. For his wife, I coded the name Osai and came up with Brenda Faith Ray. Pretty cool if you ask me. Monica is the first person I thought up when this city crossed my mind so therefore she will play some sort of an important role. She will figure into the story somehow and I'm pretty sure it has to do with either a pen pal relationship, a summer workshop, or a military trip. I see her related in this way to Avicile Mohaili or Rebecca Latham and it'll be fun figuring out which one it is.

BTW I drew Monica Heodin. Of course I did.

She's very nerdy. She has some superhero on her shirt. She's also very crafty and makes her money by selling her work on *cough* a website dedicated to the budding artist. There's not much to do in Roakestown so she has lots of time to read books and craft things. She also based off someone from the same movie. Of course.

So with Monica established, I set off to establish Edmond. Here's the rough draft I came up with this morning, handwritten on a little notecard. Don't believe me?

Don't worry, I'll type it out. Like I said, my handwriting is very small.

I got the idea from a pin called Unusual Date Ideas. Here it is in red:

 

Challenge accepted.

 

OK, So word for word off my notes, that note says this:

Edmond & Brenda (newly married by Lunfort, from Karafina), went to the Karafina airport on the eve of their honeymoon (decided to do this) with a week of clothes and not much else, went to the desk, asked about flights, got a flight on a 15 passenger plane to Roakestown's tiny air strip with 7 geologists. They stayed 2 weeks! They became so attached that they quite literally never left! A kitchen job opened for Brenda, got an apartment, Edmond got a job in banking (worked up to office). Parents mailed documents, E&B took a bus to Weston for a car and furniture- 2 kids soon after, saved for a cool house, etc. And that's how a Terabikai made it to the smattering of buildings known as Roakestown. Federal employee.

Needless to say, I'm really excited to flesh this one out. After 4 and a half months of writers block I got some stuff to write for a change! Hopefully this short(?) story will be up soon along with the tie to Avicile Mohaili or Rebecca Latham.

Never stop writing!

NaNoWriMo

It's been like 2 months since I've written anything here and it's time to get back into it! I'm going to do my best to get back into the groove of things by participating in National Novel Writing Month. I really wanted to finish my Terabi story but it has to be from scratch so I have decided to jump ahead and write the merged part 2 of a mega series I've had going on for a long time. Part 1.1 is the Lochgren Series (unfinished), part 2 is the story of Haven and Cedric that I am not yet brave enough to write, part 1.3 is the story of Aranel, and the merged part 2 is when all three of these lines meet.

I already have a rough outline of how I want the story to be and hopefully I won't cause too many discontinuities by writing ahead of the Lochgren Series. Man, I'm like a year behind on it now... It's basically how one boy was not forgotten by Terabi and how he ended up as a son of Haven and changing history forever.

I'll update this as I can! Here we go!

Das Gien del Terabi (3 Pato)//The Awakening of Terabi (Part 3)

The walk to Rihanu was enjoyable. Seranu and Terabi walked along the river, talking about history and King Osai, everything around them shadowed by night, lit by the full moon. The river ran dark, shining in the moonlight. Its light sound was calming and lovely; Terabi basked in the sound as the two of them walked. Eventually they came to the majestic and dark ramparts surrounding Catarika's capital city. The river ran through the stone wall, gated off by iron bars framed in a lovely arch. There was a small gate below a tall tower just left of the large gate closing off the path of boats and the two of them stopped. Terabi followed Seranu's gaze to the very top of this tower and noticed a dark man peeking out of a window.

The man waved, recognizing Seranu in the darkness, and Seranu shouted up to him:

"Ah! Morlea! You're on guard tonight? ...I have business with Osai. I bring a new friend!"

"Oh how lovely! Come right in, Seranu!"

With the grinding of metal within the walls the small gate opened and the two walked in, Seranu waving at Morlea.

"Welcome to Rihanu," Seranu said cheerily as they began their walk through the clusters of houses, "The gates are open in the day but at night they are closed and watched by guards. That was my nephew. He's a fine young man, another Man of Osai. There's six of us in all, blessed with a gift from Osai- well, five of us and Osai himself. We've been imbued with the Power of Threes, so we heal thrice as fast, need one third the sleep--or less--, can lift three times a man our build, and other such things. In addition, and probably the best of all, we have the power of foresight. Osai was given the Realm of Vision to preside over when his time on earth is finished he's going to send choice spirits down through our bloodlines to inherit this gift and be stationed around the Rinniken World. If there is something we need to know, that Rinniken has given permission--and Osai as soon as he takes over-- to tell us, we see it in a flash of vision and understanding. It's a very nice gift indeed."

"How can you tell a Man of Osai from a common man?" Terabi asked.

"Osai has taken the Moon and the Dark Eye to be his two symbols. I forgot to add, we can see in total darkness, especially moonlight. When the moon is full, like tonight, a ring of six small triangles glows in our iris. It also glows when two Osanokai are near each other, when we receive vision, or in the future when an appointed gift-caller called an Aikada calls forth the mark. It's a wonderful gift and though it was started so we could be palace guards he quickly changed his mind and sent us to be in the country quietly guarding the people."

"What does your sense tell you about me?" Terabi said quietly, "Has it told you where I am from?"

"Well," Seranu thought, "I have seen that you are a Mage. I have not been told of your origins, though."

This was a lie, however. Seranu had seen pretty clearly where Terabi came from but was forbidden to say. He searched his mind for words to turn his lie into truth without giving away what he had been commanded not to.

"I can say that you are right where you're supposed to be and you need to figure out for yourself who you are."

Terabi was satisfied with this answer and felt very clearly in his soul that this question should not have been asked. He felt slightly bad but instead of demanding answers he resolved to do exactly what Seranu said and figure out for himself who he was. That he knew for certain was truth.

"Osai's palace is this way," Seranu said, gesturing at a tall and majestic castle in the center of the city. "We will enter through this door you see over there."

He pointed to a small door around the back of the palace, getting closer and closer. As they arrived Seranu shook the hand of the guard outside, and they stepped into a beautiful, long hallway of crimson lined with hundreds of portraits, mirrors, and paintings framed in golds, greens, and reds. There were scenes depicting scenes from previous eras of creation, portraits of many figures, and lovely mirrors.

Terabi watched his reflection as he passed one and caught sight of himself for the first time. He was certainly Catin, having small cat-shaped eyes, high cheekbones, and a very pointed face. His hair was straight and quite long, and he looked ageless. He had no idea how old he was but this didn't disturb him. He kept on, following closely behind Seranu, passing scenes and people. He then passed a very large picture showing the succession of gods and froze. As he looked into the eyes of the man standing tallest he saw a striking familiarity. Those eyes.... they were the same eyes he had seen in the mirror. He was looking at a picture of Jinjo and Cocolee, Rancem and Rinniken in front, and their children in front. There were lots of other people in the picture too, blurry and small, standing in a crowd behind the big names. Suddenly a swirl of memories started to come back, as if he was trying to hear their voices, but the more he thought the more distant they became. As he walked away he noticed two people standing around the back but Seranu was getting farther ahead so Terabi turned away and jogged to catch up, still wondering why that picture caught his eye.

As quickly as the feeling came over him it left him and he again felt like the lone person he was before. He saw a glimpse of Osai in the picture and had an idea of what he looked like. As he continued down the hall, which seemed endless, the people seemed alive, as if they could talk through their portraits. Terabi wondered if it were possible to communicate between Realms that way, through a mirror or window. He continued on, his eyes taking in all of the artwork along the endless walls. He passed over a picture of what he knew to be the Realm of Traversing and as soon as his eyes met with the blue sky and dark stone floor he had a stab of pure longing in his heart. As soon as he registered the feeling it was gone. He didn't think too much of it but that picture did stay in his mind. The rest of the walk to the throne room he went over that picture in his mind.

"We're finally here!" said Seranu, smiling as he quickly pulled open a tall door. They had at last arrived at the throne of Osai, the first son of Rinniken and the brother who inherited the most god power. Osai had been expecting them and welcomed them in with a wave of his hand.

Osai looked a lot like Seranu but slightly older and with longer hair. His eyes were a lot darker and he wasn't as tall, although he was sitting so Terabi couldn't be sure. He had a friendly smile and an air of kindness and majestic about him and his presence was totally inviting.

"Ah yes, you've brought a visitor!" Osai said, standing. He was shorter than Seranu but stood no less majestically. He was King of Catarika and it was very clear by how he moved. He walked slowly a few paces in front of his throne and lowered his head the same way Seranu had, and smiled.

"Tell me, who are you and where do you hail from, young man?"

Terabi bowed his head the same way and answered, feeling nothing but the air of friendship, justice, kindness, and god power from Osai.

"My name is Terabi and I know not where I am from."

"Where then did you find yourself?"

"In the forest... Das Verdun."

Suddenly Osai's eyes grew wide. Terabi could see the bright ring of triangles Seranu had told him earlier glowing strong in his dark eyes.

"Seranu," Osai said strongly with an air of excitement, "Come here for a moment. Terabi, you wait here."

Osai grabbed Seranu by the arm and ushered him quickly into a back room. The door slammed and Terabi could hear them talking excitedly, wondering what they were saying, their words masked by the walls. Finally they reappeared, looking no different, and walked over to where Terabi still stood. The two brothers looked him up and down, though Terabi didn't feel any sort of judgment in the air, only curiosity, wonder, and a feeling like they knew who he was. The three of them stood in silence for quite a time before finally Osai broke the silence with a warm voice.

"I know who you are. You are a friend among us and someone seen by us as a Mage destined for greatness. Return to the Circle of Mages and begin your studies. You have a lot to discover and train. You will no doubt be the last great mage, Terabi."

At these words Terabi and Seranu departed and returned to the Circle of Mages. It was a most unusual time for a new Mage to show up up but given the circumstances Seranu wasted no time in getting Terabi a small hut of his own among the newest initiates, complete with a new wardrobe and all the supplies he could ever need during his training.

"I've been saving this hut near the library for someone special," Seranu said, inviting Terabi to feel as at home as he knew how.

Terabi smiled as he looked around at the tiny hut which included a bed, stove, and even a tiny bathroom with running water pumped from the river.

"There should be everything here you could want," Serani went on, "You'll get a good start by reading these texts that are on the bookshelf by the table. Meet me in the library tomorrow when the bells strike high sun for your initiation. Here is a map of the campus with a list of all the current Mages, both in training and masters of their circle. And remeber, Terabi, get some rest. Tomorrow will be a big day for us all."

Das Gien del Terabi (2 Pato)//The Awakening of Terabi (Part 2)

He looked slowly over the surroundings. The clear river in which he had just bathed was in front of him, shining in the sunlight, his tracks washed away by the light current. To his right, he saw thin and tall trees, clustering together until anything beyond the river was hidden from view. To his left, off in the distance, he spotted a bridge of golden wood spanning the clear waters. Without looking back he slowly turned and began to walk, arms swinging at his sides, over to the bridge to cross it, knowing that he would eventually meet someone on the other side.

Some time had passed and he was soon on the other side, an array of thoughts forming in his mind. As he looked out over the brightly-lit scenery his mind came to life, buzzing with thoughts about nature; subtly identifying every object by name. All he knew was that he would soon come to civilization and that he would be able to converse with someone for what he was sure would be the first time. He walked slowly, aware of his slow breathing, his hands behind his back as he focused only on the groomed, gravel path.

At last he turned a corner and a curious sight came into view as it peeked from around the trees. The sun was setting and the golden rays were causing the small collections of buildings to take on a brilliant appearance. It was a spacious area with a large, dark stone table in the center. Small huts of stone and wood circled around this large stone like mushrooms of a fairy ring. Everything was very plain, not at all fancy or ornate, and the setting sun turned the scenery to a brilliant golden red for a moment before fading into the more subdued tones of dusk.

As he stopped and looked around, taking in the vastness of such a place, the name "Circle of Mages" danced across his mind. Almost at once, as if appearing from thin air, a vast array of people suddenly became visible across the stony backdrop. They moved calmly and slowly, some reading books, some apparently talking to one another. They all had on robes of grays and blues, some embroidered with a wide assortment of additional colors. As he got closer he could hear soft whispers of the Mages in conversation. They all spoke with calmness, almost ethereal. It was a scene that he was sure he had experienced before, but again the more he tried to recall the memory the further it slipped from his conscious mind.

He arrived at what appeared to be the entrance. It was framed by two very tall pieces of carved, light wood that were slightly curved and crossed at the top, making an arch. As he stood quietly, right in the entrance looking in, he noticed a man who looked taller and broader than the rest, holding a large staff with a curious emblem on it. He felt no moving force to enter this place but merely stood until noticed, knowing that it wouldn't be long before he was spotted. As the sun set, at last the broad and tall man did notice him and came walking over.

"Who goes there?" the staffed man asked suddenly, his voice filled with a power that could be felt by this visitor.

After a long pause of thought, knowing it would be the first word he had consciously uttered, his name echoing loudly in his mind, the mysterious visitor parted his lips and whispered,

"Terabi."

As soon as he spoke this, he was surprised at his own voice. It was light and certainly not booming; delicate almost. However, it carried a great power and his heart fluttered for a moment as he was able to identify himself with the name that had been dancing in his mind, waiting to be heard. This excitement radiated quickly from his heart to the tips of his fingers and toes. To his surprise, the staffed man's eyes grew wide and he raised his head to look at Terabi, gasping sharply through flared nostrils. Terabi's own eyes were wide at his own reaction to his name but he certainly wasn't expecting anything less than a quizzical look.

After a moment in which they locked eyes, the staffed man spoke again.

"Terabi....... Come, walk with me."

Terabi followed closely behind as he was led into the Circle of Mages by this man into a hut along the north face of the stone table. As he passed, he noticed a simple carved marking on the top, pointing east, and had a strong feeling he would soon learn of its meaning and more. From the moment he had entered the campus he just knew in his heart, and with every fiber of his unusual being, that he was meant to be a Mage and had come to the right place. Perhaps he was already a Mage and a spell had backfired? No, that couldn't have been it. He continued to follow the staffed man into a large building filled with ancient books. A crimson and green rug lay in the middle of the room with wooden chairs surrounding it. There were four chairs, all facing the center, and the man gestured to a chair covered in blue cloth.

Terabi sat down, watching him. The man set his staff into a carved wooden holder and slowly sat down in a chair across from him. The whole time, the place had a strong sense of familiarity and Terabi couldn't even doubt that he had been there before. Finally the man spoke and introduced himself.

"My name is Seranu and I am the Head Mage of Kalotano," he said, eying Terabi from head to toe, "Terabi, tell me, who are you by?"

Terabi looked around, trying again to recover the traces of memory before his awakening, hours earlier. Unable to remember anything more than mere shapes and outlines, he gave up on trying and instead looked Seranu in the eye and truthfully answered,

"I don't know."

"Hmmmm...." Seranu replied, his brow furrowed, "You don't know? You have no memory of any parents? brothers? sisters? friends? soldiers? No memory of anything?"

"No, sir," Terabi replied, with confidence though quietly. "I'm trying to figure that out myself."

"You're not a soldier or a child of wood or..." Seranu began, standing up and crouching over Terabi, pulling up his sleeves and pant legs to look for any signs of battle wounds that could have caused him to black out and lose his memories. He rambled on as he inspected Terabi's perfect limbs, head, and face. There was nary a scratch anywhere on his pristine body. When he lifted Terabi's shirt to examine his abdomen for wounds he became suddenly aware of something alarmingly abnormal. He gasped sharply as he looked at Terabi's exposed abs. He was ripped and fit, quite muscular, but upon closer inspection noticed that his body was a little too pristine. He had no scars, but he also had no navel.

"You're missing the life-scar!" Seranu exclaimed. He looked up at Terabi, his mouth open and his eyes wide, dumbfounded.

Terabi did not know what to think. He knew no different and yet somehow knew exactly what Seranu meant. He slowly raised his eyes to meet Seranu's and as he did so an instant calm flowed warmly through him, radiating from his heart. Seranu remained speechless for what seemed like ages, though it was really a few seconds. After he had fully processed what he saw, he spoke again.

"Wait here for a moment," he said calmly but with a hint of excitement in his voice that transferred itself into Terabi, seemingly on its own.

Terabi watched as Seranu walked into a room covered by a cloth for a door. He saw Seranu go down on one knee, his hands outstretched and resting on what was probably his bed, though it was obscured by the swinging blanket. Terabi saw Seranu bow his head and then he disappeared from view. There was no sound at all for a moment and then after a minute or two Seranu reappeared in the large room of books.

"I'd like for you to see my brother, the King," Seranu said quickly. "We will go together in a couple of hours..... Are you tired? Hungry?"

Terabi had just realized that he had not yet had anything to eat since his awakening.

"I am not tired but I am a bit hungry," he said quietly, wondering what food would feel like. He had an idea in his mind that came from nowhere but seemed to know what food was for and accepted the bread and fish that Seranu brought moments later form the cellar. As they ate their meal they began to talk.

"So where are you from?" Seranu asked.

"I don't know," Terabi answered, "The earliest I remember is sitting up in the forest, at about high sun."

"Curious......" Seranu muttered, "So very curious... So you recall nothing before this day?"

"Nothing," replied Terabi, "And, the more I try to remember anything the further it is from my grasp. I'm not even sure if those are memories or my own thoughts anymore."

"So you just... awakened... one day? Awakened alone in the forest?"

"Yes. I do not know my origin."

"Very curious indeed... I want to help you find your origin."

After a time the topic turned to Mages.

"What is this place?" Terabi asked, though he knew already where he was.

"This is the Circle of Mages," Seranu began. "There are lots of people left in the Rinniken world with various amounts of god power. Those fortunate enough to be born with some end up here, to the Circle of Mages, to hone their power and help Catarika turn into its new age. It's a dying race, us mages, which means that it may not be long before the new age. You see, the Gods thus far have been heavily involved in getting this country down and others started. We Gods have our lines, but they are short. There are many souls that have some god power because of their position in the Realm of Gods and it goes with them to their mortal bodies. The Circle of Mages was left over from the division of the Neutral Prime into Rakia of the west and Catarika, my father, to the east. That was my father's era. Our symbol is the ears of a cat and it points east on our center stone signifying our divergence eastward. Rakia's points westward. We live here, going throughout Catarika as needed. I am a Man of Osai and the Master of Kalotano. The King is my eldest brother, the oldest son of Rinniken, whose name became our country Catarika. I'm thinking by your looks that you are to be a Mage yourself. Tell me, does that sound interesting?"

"I may not know much, but I believe this place to be my home,"

Terabi answered, knowing full well he was meant to be a Mage. As he spoke this, a strange name flashed through his mind, as if it had fallen from his distant, locked up memories. He wasn't sure if he should mention this to Seranu or not but as he continued on about being interested in seeing if he really was a Mage, the name slipped out.

"And also, is there by chance anyone here named Vallon Irrim?"

Seranu looked puzzled at first but suddenly gasped again as if he had just heard a curse word.

"Let us visit my brother," he said quickly, "There is no doubt in my mind that you are to be in the Circle of Mages. In fact--"

He began to go on but stopped himself quickly. Changing subjects he turned to the nearby table and ripped a piece of paper from a large, blank parchment and wrote something on it.

"Hold out your hand," he said, placing the scrap of paper into Terabi's outstretched palm. "Read the words on it and concentrate on this paper. Say the words aloud."

Terabi focused on the piece of paper that had a handwritten spell in a language he could only partially understand. As he recited the words in a clear voice an amazing feeling came over him. His soul came to life again, a powerful energy running from his heart down his limbs like the rushing of water down a river. He and Seranu watched as the scrap of paper glowed a vibrant, bright blue before bursting into a green-colored flame and curling into a dark green pile of ash.

"You passed the test," Seranu simply said, "You're a Mage, all right, and a powerful one too. I have a feeling I'll be seeing a lot from you.

Terabi watched as the ash in his hand blew away in an imperceptible breeze.

"I'm a Mage......" he whispered.

Terabi Timeline

A Brief History of Terabi Tana

• Jinjo and Cocolee sent down to be the parents of Keva, along with the Neutral Prime Race.
• Jinjo creates a Realm for the purpose of those with god power to meet up no matter how far away.
• Rancem and Rinniken are born and grow to maturity.
• Rancem and Rinniken are initiated as the fathers of the first two countries of Keva.
• The Neutral Prime Land begins to divide; Rancem's people take on doglike characteristics and Rinniken's people take on a catlike nature.
• Jinjo and Cocolee return to the Realm of Gods to preside from afar.
• Rinniken becomes the first King of the Land Rinniken; as his country diverges from Rancem's, the name of the country shifts to Catarika.
• Catarika stops moving and fully matures as a country. Rinniken rules for thousands of years as legends and traditions establish themselves.

Rinniken establishes the Circle of Mages to harness and organize the god power that many possessed. They use the Realm of Traversing to communicate with their Rakian (Rancem) counterparts.

Rinniken marries Aisa Tala and they begin their reign as King and Queen.

A Mage, Vallon-Irrim, becomes corrupted with evil magic and takes the Realm of Traversing for his own, turning it into a place of demons, curses, and chaos. The Mages, powerless against him, seal the Realm by destroying the knowledge of how to enter and refusing to speak of it or teach it to the next generation. Vallon-Irrim, called the False King, causes havoc in all of the countries of the world, trying to capture the souls of the weak to become his minions. Over time, the knowledge of the Realm as anything other than evil is lost and it becomes a thing of legend.

Rinniken and Aisa give birth to their first child, Osai, who is set to be Rinniken's successor. He has a lot of god power but is classified as a demigod. They go on to have several more children.

Osai is initiated and crowned the next King of Catarika.

Osai establishes his kingdom in Rihanu in order to be equidistant from the biggest cities.

Rinniken and Aisa leave Keva to preside from the Realm of Gods.

Osai marries Airi Sanveda and rule as King and Queen.

Osai establishes Osai Naori, his Gift, and bestows it upon three of his brothers, a nephew, and his brother in law, with the intention of helping them to rise above mortal limits in order to guard their dominions better.

Rinniken's second son, Seranu, becomes a Head Mage in the Circle of Mages.

Kiillaana is created by the hands of Rinniken, Aisa, and others.

In the Realm of Gods, Jinjo's youngest son, Terabi, volunteers to sacrifice romantic love to conquer the Realm of Traversing and turn it back to good, becoming the God of Compassion and Aura. Jinjo agrees, sending Terabi to Catarika in the form of a man to experience mortal life. He also assigns him to answer to Rinniken since he is so much younger than Rinniken's line.

Terabi takes his first breaths of life as a man on earth in the middle of Das Verdin, just outside of the Circle of Mages. He appears as an adult with no memory of anything before his awakening, no parents, and no navel.

Terabi is led by instinct to the Circle of Mages where he meets Seranu, by then a Man of Osai. They talk for hours and Terabi is discovered to be a Mage almost immediately.

Terabi and Seranu walk together to Rihanu to meet King Osai. Osai knows exactly who this man is but is forbidden from Jinjo to say, instead sending him back to the Circle of Mages to harness his abundance of god power.

Terabi graduates through the circles of ranks faster than anyone had ever seen. He quickly becomes a master of Kalotano but turns down the position of Head Mage.

Terabi finds an ancient mages' book and discovers a tiny mention of the true Realm of Traversing. The more he studies it, the stronger his memories become until he makes it his life's quest to find a way into the Realm.

Terabi and Osai become great friends, sharing in their life's journeys. Terabi is almost always present at royal dinners and events. He is well known as a Mage and enjoys helping people through his almost otherwordly abilities.

Osai returns to the Realm of Gods where he sits as the God of Vision, leaving Catarika to a succession of mortal kings.

Terabi spends hundreds of years becoming strong in his power and trying to find the tear in the Realm.

Terabi sets foot in Kiillaana where he remains for the rest of his mortal life, meeting a family of quiet warriors which he befriends. He watches their generations go by and becomes a guardian of the family.

Terabi finds the tear in the Realm and spends another century perfecting the magic and power required to open in and go inside.

Terabi finally masters the forgotten spell and opens the tear in the Realm, entering. Immediately, all of his memories are restored and he is transformed into the deity he always was. Using his own crafted magic, he wields a staff of Lovelight, unbreakable by any force of evil, and seeks out the False King.

Terabi and the False King battle for three days and three nights; Terabi essentially waits for the False King's energy to strip down to his bare and mortal soul and finally utterly destroys him. He claims the Realm as his own and builds an indestructible and safe palace by his hand, causing things of value destroyed on earth to appear in the Realm, especially artwork and books.

Terabi begins to summon his chosen to be warriors of the demons that still lurked all around. The first man initiated as a Man of Terabi was Lukas Luun-Fortress, the oldest son of the newest generation of the family he befriended. He gives his men each a blade of Lovelight that takes on form and shape depending on the aura of the holder, stored away in the soul when not in use. He takes command of blessings and curses and causes the world to be aware of the auras that all souls possess.

950??- Terabi teams up with Osai and saves Jeneiyl Alihi, the last of her race, by hiding her behind trees. She becomes the future Queen of Kiillaana.

1019/1020- Terabi and Osai are granted the right to create a country of their own, forged in their friendship, by Jinjo and Rinniken. They gather 13 specific people and transform them, resetting their genes and giving them a unique appearance and skill set. They call their country Jadali and the people Jadali-Kiillra, a blend of Catarika and Kiillaana. Osai promises one of his men to lead them, guided by Osai himself, and Terabi gives the Jadali-Kiillra his blood. Though the country was forged from both of their hands and has an Osanokai to lead them, the symbols on their flag are those of Terabi since Osai had already been worshipped and followed for thousands of years in Catarika. They, along with Terabi, take on a new language called Keòen.

The Queen of Kiillaana's first daughter becomes one of the Original 13 of Jadali, taking on the name Tania Balthòr.

 1125- Mera Visi, the first Terabikai of Jadali, is born and, upon his initiation, admonished to keep a details record of all of his daily events including those of the Realm.

Aranel Balthòr becomes cursed in death due to a failed deal between herself, Terabi, and Jinjo.

 The strong demons of the Realm still run rampant, throwing curses on the weak, but are controlled by the Terabikai.

The now-vacant Circle of Mages is reclaimed by Jadali soldiers and is the base of the Jadali Quarters in Catarika, known as Andaradd.

1357-1360- Terabi's War breaks out in Kiillaana when three men armed with a lesser skill given of Terabi abuse their power and become evil overlords. Terabi initiates and sends Slade Burke to Tevernid to be a double agent in order to reach the first of the three leaders in a weak spot and slay him. As battles progress, Terabi himself fights alongside Jadali, killing the second enemy leader and helping to kill the third. Kiillaana emerges victorious and resumes a reverence for Terabi.

1358- Terabi curses Alles with a defect in the weather, due to the actions of its mayor. The city's weather becomes impossible to forecast and drastic on all fronts.

Terabi continues to appear all over the Rinniken World saving people and providing anonymous comfort to those in dire need. Sightings pop up in journals, records, and other writings.

• 1949- Silanu Ravosilu Sorela, the first and only man with both Terabi and Osai's gifts, is born. He fits most of the criteria for the long suspected Man of Both Gifts but he lives his childhood with the Curse of the Realm, cursed by the strongest demon.
• 1963- S.R. Sorela is driven to near total exhaustion and breaking of his soul in the Realm before Terabi arrives with a blade of Lovelight. His initiation, totally unforeseen, is complete and Sorela becomes the only man other than Terabi to destroy a demon.
• Sorela defeats the demon of chaos and by doing so causes curses to no longer be permanent.

Slade Burke: An Intro to his Story

This is the story of Kiillaana's greatest double agent. He has been revered as the Dragon Dodger of his time and, at times, the Man who Saved Kiillaana. Most of what people knew of him were direct observations, in fact, it seemed that he was so withdrawn that nary a soul knew him personally. He had no favorites and he played none either.

His closest associate was his younger brother, Blaise, who was left sickly and stumbling; presumably by the crimson mark that ran across his face. Though he seemed cold and uncaring, Professor Slade Burke had a very close and protective relationship with his only living relative. He never raised his voice at his invalid brother and treated him with a sort of dark dignity that nobody could duplicate. Many thought Blaise was simply an orphan, pulled from the streets to evade a life of misery and woe; only a handful knew that Blaise and Slade were actually related. Word eventually got out as Blaise became a more prominent figure on the Tevernid Secondary School campus and by the time the war ripped through the heart of Kiillaana near everyone knew of their kinship.

Professor Burke was a fellow of good height; tall and very thin. His skin was pale, almost white, as if he had never seen the light of day (and there was some truth in that!). His face was thin and pinched; large, dark eyes sat deep in shadowed, hollow orbs. His nose was slightly hooked, though the bridge straight, accentuating his dark visage. His thin lips lay etched in frown, never smiling. His countenance was bitter and tense, slightly sad and burdened. He was cold and seemingly uncaring although it was clear that he cared deeply about his study and knowledge of history and the education of his students.

Anything known about Professor Burke was not spoken by him directly. He rarely got close enough to people to divulge any personal information. Those that were lucky enough to learn about him slowly told others until it was just understood as fact. Still, Professor Burke was quick to correct any myths, misinformation, and false stories. His parents had both died while Slade and Blaise were quite young and apart from a quick stay by a strict grandmother until her health forced her away, Slade was left alone with the duty and obligation to raise his handicapped brother. It was understood by all that Professor Burke joined the military through Tevernid Royal University at the age of 15 where he went through basic training and was also tutored. Through this time his brother Blaise was taken in and cared for by both novice and veteran doctors resident on the grounds. Though he could not fight Blaise was put to use, painting banners and helping to clean and paint various fixtures throughout the campus.

 For reasons not known by a single person, Professor Burke became highly interested in Terabi and spent so much time studying the subject and Kiillaana's involvement that he was excused from the army and delegated as a history professor. What he lacked in sociability he made up for in his studies. He took his newly instated position seriously and became the history professor at Tevernid Secondary School in 1343. Since that time he was known for his cold ways and his ability to hold the attention of any group of students that came his way. He was an excellent teacher, demanding accuracy and excellence from his students.

When it came time to lecture on Terabi, it was as if something in him had changed. He was no longer speaking from the general memories that he was required to instill in his students. It was as if he was speaking directly from his heart. If there was something to be known about Terabi, Professor Burke knew about it and made sure everyone else knew about it too. It was odd that he had chosen someone of such love, compassion, and stature as his focus of study for it seemed that he lacked them all himself. Even still, nobody dare question him.

During class, of which he taught several per day, he held total attention with nary more than his eyes. He spoke sharply but clearly in a growling voice, clinging on every word, expecting his students to follow along with total attention. When he paused he pursed his lips into a thin line, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled sharply, staring at the class with his sunken and piercing eyes. Any deviation of total attention was met with few but harsh words that carried so much power behind them that nobody could turn them against him. He invited discussion but moderated it intensely. Though intimidating, his lectures were inviting and though he never smiled or had any ray of lightness about him at any time, nobody ever felt worried to speak. Class ended when he was done lecturing, oft accompanied by a written assignment that dealt with the day's material. On occasion, class ended abruptly with Professor Burke throwing books off his desk and kicking the tables, eager to be alone.

Professor Burke was an introvert in every sense of the word. He despised small talk and would never be caught at any sort of party or event that he was not absolutely required to attend. He rarely spoke outside of class and walked tall but solemnly everywhere he went, always wearing a fitted black outfit accented with dark green. He rarely left the school grounds, spending the majority of his time in his office down the hall from his history classroom. It was a dark and shadowed place and hardly a soul was quick enough to get a glimpse of what was contained inside. There was a door on the opposite side that led to the back fields that Professor Burke would leave to walk with Blaise through the grounds, taking him to a small hut along the rampart where his caregivers lived and provided him with activities. There was a small pond nearby, as well as a post box that Professor Burke checked daily. Other than this brief time outdoors he stayed in silence in a comfort only he could enjoy inside his office. He was diligent in grading the papers he assigned his students and did always leave comments, though most were worded to cause doubt and lower self-confidence. He was a master of conveying precise emotion in few words and all who knew him both liked and hated him.

He grew older and as he did so the country of Kiillaana was changing. A group of three evil men, all armed with the Gift of Swaying, had taken over much of the mid-eastern part of the country. They had been raising up an army to try and overthrow Tevernid and by 1358 the school had been disrupted and it was time for Kiillaana to come together as one to fight for their freedom. Many knew of his dealings with the enemy, as he made no effort to keep it secret, and nobody was really sure whose side he was on. He made it clear he would not fight for either side unless he himself was affected. He was noted as saying often "I will teach until I must raise my blade."

 However, nobody could have predicted or even conceived the thoughts of what would transpire in the year 1358, when Professor Burke would finally be able to remove the walls from his very guarded personal life. This is his story.

Das Gien Del Terabi (1 Pato)//The Awakening of Terabi (Part 1)

It is done. The kingdom is yours to inherit. Take it back and may good reign forever.

There was a flash of blue light and he felt as though he were falling. It only lasted a fraction of a second but that was enough for a moment of panic to pierce his chest. Suddenly, there was complete silence, announced with a "thump" sound. He could not see or hear anything at all, nor could he feel any part of his body. It was as if he couldn't move, yet this didn't frighten him. He was perfectly content to lie still (or was he standing? he did not know) not really aware or expecting anything. Time was irrelevant and no thoughts of anything crossed his intelligence.

Ever so gradually, he began to perceive a sound. It was very faint, almost as if he were imagining things, but it definitely got louder, ever so slowly. It was a very high pitched sound, one that seemed to come from deep within. As he realized the presence of this interesting and almost indescribable sound, he perceived another subtle noise, also from within, but lower in pitch. In the very, very back of his intelligence, he realized that these were the two sounds of life. He had come to realize, in an unknown amount of time, that he was alive!

Almost immediately after he came to this realization, his limited and invisible world came alive with sound! Wind rustled through the trees making a slight hissing sound. Faint chirps of birds peppered the air and other sounds of life greeted his ears. It was as though he had heard these sounds before, yet he wasn't sure where. He still could see nothing, and he was only ever so slightly aware of his stream of consciousness. It was as though he were dreaming, unaware of time passing but very much organizing thought even still.

Almost at once his mind came alive, as though a vault containing a wealth of knowledge was suddenly opened. It was as if his intelligence had gone another step towards awakening. His mind was full of thought! A beautiful language began to flow into his mind, one he was sure he had never heard, but understood all the same. It was as though he now had the means to express to himself, or even another, the things he was thinking about. He began to realize that there were more like him and he could almost see an outline of a group of people among the blackness, though he was unable to feel more than a faint memory to shape this rough vision.

The more he tried to grasp this single vision, the more it eluded him until he was left wondering if he had even really seen anything at all. He turned his focus away from this fleeting image and instead began to grasp other concepts. Colors began to swirl around, paired with the sounds of nature he could hear, and in tune with the two pitches of life. All the while, this beautiful language painted words using symbols he was surprised to find he understood. He began also to perceive feelings and states of mind, which were also given words. Swirling green light danced past beams of blue. Shades of dark and light changed these colors, giving them depth.

Concrete images began to appear. The green light separated from the dark below it, gaining splashes of other colors, forming into leaves and trees. The blue beams became a vast and open sky, obscured by the green and brown of the trees, but still majestic and luminescent. Peeking through gaps in the trees, a pale grey sphere formed in the sky. Objects seemed to form with increasing speed, spreading away from his vision radially, solidifying into stationary objects.

The further away the dancing light beams got, the louder the sounds of nature became. Now a river was clearly flowing nearby, its sound increasing gradually in volume. With this increase in volume came something strange. He suddenly became aware of a physical body that he was in. The louder the river and trees became, the more solid he became. He began to feel the presence of arms laying, palms up, at his sides. He could feel long legs ending with strong feet enclosed in light boots. He could now feel this light breeze blowing against him. He was laying on his back, for sure, and he could feel long wisps of hair lightly grazing the right side of his face.

He suddenly sat up, as if an invisible force had pulled him, and he gasped for air. Everything around him had become solid and real and he realized that he had awakened in a dense forest, in a small clearing between two trees near a big river with large, shallow banks. Coughing, he caught his breath and realized that his eyes were already opened. He stumbled a bit as he turned to his knees to stand, as if he had been sleeping for a long while and his muscles were stiff. He knew how to walk, though he didn't remember any of it, and after eying the river crept slowly over, removing his clothing and placing them on a flat rock near the water's edge, and carefully entering the clear waters.

Instinct took over and he began to wash himself, using the sands from under his feet to scrub his torso and limbs. He knelt in the water and, cupping his hands together, took a drink. It was sweet and pleasant to the taste, and gave him even more life. As he cleaned the sand from his body, he looked down at his chest. He was muscular and had tanned skin. His belly, besides his showing abs, was totally smooth, with no scars or marks of any kind. His legs were long and lean; his arms were quite muscular. His hair was black and straight and went past his shoulders to his collarbone. As he looked over his body, which he had no recollection of having before, he realized that he had no idea who he was.

He dried himself off in the air, putting his clothing back on, not knowing where they came from. This lack of knowledge didn't frighten him, however, and he was not afraid being alone in a wilderness he was unfamiliar with. His hair dried quickly and he used some grass at the shore to tie some of it back and out of his eyes. He knew, somewhat by instinct, that he should cross a bridge where he would reach civilization and would be able to find out more about himself. He saw no bridge in his vicinity but knew that there would be one nearby. He also knew that once they asked for his name he would be able to tell them. The more he thought about what he was called the clearer it became and once it came to his memory he knew it without a doubt and felt like the first piece of his identity puzzle was put into place and he was free to move on.