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!

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.

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.

Whaven: A Wiki-Style Post

Whaven /'ɸeɪvɪn/ is a very small coastal town occupying the extreme northeast coast of New Asia and the peninsula thereof. It is the northernmost coastal city in the state of New Asia, located 31 miles north of Aoin and 72 miles north of Taleah.

History
Whaven is one of the earliest settlements with a Keòen name outside of Jadali. It was first established by Kiillaanian fishermen in as early as 1010 though it did not gain an official name until it was signed as an official town of Kiillaana in 1039. Though the name uses the uniquely Keòen sound "wh" it does not mean anything in the Keòen language. The name was agreed upon by the native settlers who wanted to make it sound "exotic." Another reason that the name is not truly a Keòen word lies in the fact that the A makes a long A sound and not the typical phonetic sound associated with the letter A.

Due to the overcast and wet nature of Whaven the town never became very popular and quickly gained a reputation for being "a gloomy, dreary, washed-out sea port" as said by Mera Visi in his journals. Whaven did not have a lot of resources to offer and the descendents of the fishermen turned instead to law and built the Whaven Prison which the town is still famous for today. Convicts and other prisoners from Jadali were all taken here to serve their sentences as well as a handful of Kiillaanians throughout the ages.

Over the next 300 years Whaven was a small collection of buildings on the map and really did nothing more but hold prisoners and employ guards but all of that changed in 1354 when a strong branch of the enemy army involved in Terabi's War marched into Whaven and made it their military capital. Over the course of that war (1354-1360) the population of Whaven grew from about 100 people to over 10,000 soldiers and the town tripled in size. During this time Jadali closed its sister port of Resa Ere under the command of Drakon Lochgren and the only ships that left Whaven went down the coast within Kiillaana.

When Terabi's war was drawing to a close, Terabi himself appeared on Whaven's doorstep. He and Arador Montàlo, the next Eldin of Leena, defeated the final leader of the enemy army and the resulting battle killed over half of Whaven's soldier inhabitants. The remaining enemy soldiers that surrendered were taken prisoner of war and were released to colonize the islands to the south, causing the population of Whaven to turn once again.

After Triumphant Day in 1360 Whaven became inhabited by the soldiers of Jadali and Kiillaana and a history center was established. The prison was again operational, holding a number of prisoners of war who later lived there. However, the drabness of the town caused many to leave after a few years and it dwindled down to an average of 1000 residents. The prison continued to function until it was officially closed and made into a landmark in 1785.

Today Whaven has about 900 residents and is home to a history center dedicated to the dealings of Terabi's War, the remains of the prison which can be visited, and a small high school that accepts about five Jadali students every year into its program. The port is once again open and a small ferry runs once a day at noon between Kiillaana and Jadali, though it is mainly used to take hikers to southern Montàlo and back and is no longer used to ferry prisoners across the sea.

Attractions
Whaven Prison State Monument
Triumphant Day Historical Center
Triumphant Day Museum
Port of Whaven
Whaven Mainland School

Coastal Location

-Whaven
-Aoin
-Taleah
-Ameresa
-Cobh de Via
-Edelhod
-Kosweci
-Peltobh
-Freylain
-Shoer del Fin
-Attlefort
-Skapo
-Southlain
-Rythor
-Cantade Fina
-Keso Machi
-Reed
-Iriborda

Demographics
Today Whaven has two official languages, Kevian and Keòen, both of which are spoken by most of the population. Much of the population is Jadali-Kiillra who enjoy the quiet nature of this little town and many are descendants of soldiers throughout the ages.

Names
Whaven is a unique town in that most of its residents have kept the ancient Kiillra tradition of not adopting a crest. Being in a remote area, this part of Kiillaana in general was the last to adopt the order of crests given by the king and many rejected this command. Today, about 90% of the population goes without a crest and are instead given a two-name title. Upon marriage a woman does not traditionally change her name to that of her husband's. To avoid confusion all Whaven residents are assigned a number which they use for genealogy purposes.

People Mentioned From Whaven
Carrington Lionheart
Myron Verdin

From the Pen of Mera Visi {Iaso's Death}

Translated from Keòen to Kevian by Lore Hieldin

One September the 2nd, in the 51st year of the reign of Kalo Freloch [1171]

They say that some of the best artists are the ones with the shortest day.

I've always known that the sun of life is setting much faster on my friends than me. Being a Terabikai, I know exactly when the sun will set on my life and I oft forget that the same knowledge does not hold true for anyone else except the Eldin. It further confirms to all who know me that Terabi and Osai both do not disclose everything that is to happen.

It is with heavy heart, on behalf of all of Leena, that Iaso Montàlo, son of Seo Montàlo, has gone the way of the sun in the very early hours of this day. He left his house sometime in the night, unaware of his surroundings and only in the company of his mind so awry, and ran down the rocky coast straight into the Mor Kean [Cayan Ocean]. It was along this abrupt and deep shore that his life ended and he was finally freed from the unsound mind that had caused so much pain, fear, and darkness to befall himself and all those around him.

In the early hours of morning he was discovered missing. Akèli looked all over the house and went down to the anvils, all the while hoping that he would be there, but knowing deep in her heart by the aura of Terabi that he was no longer on the earth. Both Kalo and I awoke from horrible dreams and knew in our hearts as well that something grave had happened. As soon as Akèli ran to my house with Kalo behind her, clearly distraught, I knew that Iaso had died. They did not know where he was but there was a certain eerie feeling of a soul gone from earth that all could feel. We immediately sent word throughout Leena that Iaso had gone missing and everyone that was able immediately set out to find him.

It was Ehry Freloch, the old woman who tended to the baths of the Ried Bhroch who found his body, safely resting on the sands of the coast, looking as if asleep, a look of final contentment on his wearied face. As we heard her cries and came running, I realized two things: firstly, that he was gone, and secondly that Terabi was the one who had laid him there, careful that his earthly shell would remain reverent and not lost at sea. I would later discover this to be Iaso's last wish-- that his body would be visible and in perfect form, not disfigured by the waves of the sea. By Kalo's vision, Iaso had left his home in the night shortly after all had gone to bed with the intent of going to the anvils but had again been overtaken by his broken mind and had run about a mile west, through the shallow waters of the Ried Bhroch, and down the grassy embankment to the small bit of shallow coastline that bordered the sharp cliffs of Dahsir. From here he entered the waters, still running without thought, past the point where the shallow waters suddenly drop. Still having no light, the waves and currents swallowed him up and it was at this place that the sun set on his life.

As those who were close to him arrived upon the scene, the cold aura of tragic death loomed above their heads. Knowing I could see him whether he was alive or not, I managed to hold my composure until Iaso's three children were brought down by their grandfather. It was then that Akèli ran to them shouting "He's gone! He's gone and he's not coming back!" Upon hearing her pained words and feeling so clearly of her grief and shock, the full realization that one of my closest friends was gone struck my all at once.

As she ran to the earthly shell of her husband to have a moment with him, I excused myself and fell to my knees, appearing in the comfort of the Realm. I stood, not entirely sure where to go. A feeling crossed my heart that I should go to the Gatherer's Hall and almost immediately I felt the unmistakable aura of Iaso, knowing that he was already there. I arrived seconds later and ran somewhat blindly towards the Hall of Windows. As soon as I reached the gardens however I saw him. There, to the left of the path, just in front of the marble steps leading inside the palace stood Iaso Montàlo. He had been restored to a state unmarred by his illness and his eyes twinkled as he looked at me with a soft, knowing grin. For the first time in my life, and for the first time in a long while for him, he was filled with life that flowed from him with no carnal restrictions. He stood tall and trim, his hands outstretched, and as I stood about ten measures back he bade me come forward. All sadness of his passing from earth left my heart and we ran towards each other, embracing and rejoicing in the perfection of his soul.

It was a while before I could speak, as I was overcome with emotion- gratitude that I was a medium and could visit anyone at any stage of their existence, sadness that nobody else had this power, happiness that Iaso was finally freed from his ailment, and riddled with questions. I started with the ones I knew that his family would want to know. He started by confirming what Kalo had seen and then began to answer all I could think to ask. The most comforting answer was to my question of if his death hurt. He smiled and simply stated:

"I didn't feel a thing. The last I remember was arising to finish some art pieces and then an immense vision to conquer the sea. The next thing I know, I was still and I could hear the hum of life itself. As I arose I was at first panicked and somewhat angry, realizing that I had died. However, almost as soon as I realized where I was, Terabi himself came to greet me. He knew of my state and calmed me, bidding me rise. I asked him to please place my body on the shore where it would be found undisturbed and he did so. Then he led me into the Realm of Aura where he knew it would be my desire to meet you here. While we waited for Leena to discover me dead I was treated to Gatherer's Hall and got to see wonderful art of mine and others and even got to read some literature to help piece my life together from the perspectives of others. Though my heart aches for my wife and children, being here feels as natural as life itself and I have never felt so free. Please tell them all of these things when you leave and tell my wife that I love her so much and that I will visit her through the Realm of Dreams."

I have been so fortunate as to remember these details clearly and have been able to write them down to look back upon. After we talked for a while I bade him farewell and returned to earth where I was again faced with the grief of an entire country in mourning. It is now late at night. Naidel and Jeffrey are both awake and weeping at the loss of such a treasured friend and artist. I have repeated the words which Iaso spoke to me to his lovely Akèli which has brought her some peace and comfort. A funeral pyre raft is being built and the earthly shell of Iaso lies in slumber in Dahsir Castle. It is common tradition, carrying over from our Catin cousins, that those who were inhibited by carnal defects are burned on a pyre to release their pure soul. Since he died at sea he is going to be burned at sea in a full, reverent, and loving ceremony.

To my dearest Iaso Montàlo, who has gone to the Realm of Souls much too soon at the age of 33, you will be forever loved and missed by all that knew you. Also, though nobody else could know this but me and Kalo, I even saw the ghost of Aranel among the rocks, grieving with everyone else. She will miss you most of all, as it will be a long time before she can see you again.

In loving memory of Iaso Eahron Montàlo, born on one 7 March in the 18th year of the reign of Kalo Freloch [1138] in Carohir, Montàlo and who went the way of the setting sun on one 2 September in the 51st year of the reign of Kalo Freloch [1171] in Leena, Freloch.

By the ink on this page we will visit oft.
Love,
Mera Visi

Spotlight on: Cobra Vice

Full Name: Cobra Sethery Vice
Birthday: November 30, 1989
Method of Creation: #3- He was just a quick sketch on paper that I never expected to flesh out!

Creation Story:
Cobra can easily be traced back to a picture I drew of Eagle Rivers way back in the day. Eagle was the drum major of his high school marching band, along with two others. I drew a quick sketch of these three, naming the other two Cobra Vice and Lion Stallion.

Cobra on the left, Eagle in the middle, Lion on the right

Cobra took form as a tall boy with a pointed face, deep-set eyes, and a very prominent widow's peak. His hair is sort of based off of a teacher I had that had a ponytail that revealed a flat-cut style during the 5 seconds he would wear it down when he adjusted it. It's semi-curly although on Cobra it became black and not a dirty blonde and Cobra always wears it down. It's combed back and although the waves make it springy, it isn't frizzy.

At first, Cobra was mostly Raellian by race, with other races mixed in since he's a Red Islander. Like most who live in IDA, Cobra has an animal name. Years later when Jadali really made it onto the map I realized that Cobra looked just like a Jadali-Kiillra (can't deny it with that widow's peak! haha) and it became settled: he has a 2nd-generation Raellian father (Jacoria Vice) and a (pure!) Jadali-Kiillra mother (Selda Hieldin) from Cobh de Via who always felt like the hippie life was the life for her. Cobra is an only child and was born quite a while after his parents met and were married. His middle name, Sethery, is the Keòen word for snake which further complements his first name.

The things I knew about Cobra were limited. Being a drum major, he was obviously into music and ended up playing tenor sax (probably in tribute to the same guy that he got his hair from). He was in the same grade as Eagle (HS class of '08) and was a good friend of not only Eagle but his brother Falcon and Jaguarondi Lightfoot (twin brother of Eagle's wife Winterwood). Cobra's circle of friends included Jag, Falcon, Eagle, and Blackbear Kye Moonset- a pretty famous young man of his hometown. When Eagle had his near-death experience in late 2008, Cobra's family hosted many of the visitors in the hotel that I realized they owned. He went to Kesly Coastal University for his freshman year of college but somehow Eagle and Jag convinced him to join them over at KU and he did so, taking the tenor sax spot in band and majoring in music ed. Probably the most adorable thing that I knew about Cobra was that he has a lisp. I didn't even connect that to the fact both of his names mean snake; it just happened that way!

When Cobra made the big move from his coastal town of Port Rose to the bustling city of Kennywood many more things happened. With the realization of Haven Henley and her story of arriving in Kiillaana from Catarika with her cousin Cedric somehow the two connected and began dating. Haven was well known for being one of the only people who could read Cedric's expressionless face (making her strongly of Terabi) and it was quickly realized that Cobra had that ability as well, connecting deeply and quickly with Cedric. Somewhere along the line, Haven and Cobra got engaged and were married shortly after Cedric's death in 2010. Sometime after that, Haven became pregnant with their son and he was born on a very significant day, February 7, sharing his birthday with both Cedric and Haven. Cobra and Haven took this as a sign from Terabi and Cedric that their heartache and struggles were known.

Cobra and Haven's son is named Sidry Phoenix Vice (first name sounding like Cedric and also being a form of Sethery, middle name symbolic of being reborn) and looks a lot like Cedric but also quite a bit like Cobra. He is currently almost a year old.

While Cobra isn't as prominent as many others he is still very unique and part of a storyline that I will probably write about someday. Currently, he is getting ready to student teach at Lionel High School next school year.

Five Fun Facts
1. Cobra is very nature-loving. He gets it from his Hieldin blood!
2. Cobra is strongly of Terabi and has the gift of reading people.
3. Cobra loves conducting.
4. Cobra hopes to move back to Isle del Akai and become a band director.
5. Cobra is introverted but very kind and helpful always.

From the Pen of Mera Visi {A Night in the Realm}

Translated from Keòen to Kevian by Lore Hieldin

One October the 14th, in the 41st year of the reign of Kalo Freloch [1161]

Today, as I sit in my house, my young son sleeping in the bed within my view, I recollect the events of the night past. Today was mostly uneventful. Iaso is feeling much better and I saw him in the Law Hall this morning with sweet young Aio sitting in his arms and Akèli—her tired eyes the only sign of the previous night’s struggles—sitting with her head on her husband’s shoulder. It’s times like these when I realize how close we come to losing Iaso and how grateful we are that he escapes from the clouded nightmares hidden in his mind to return to us with a smiling face.

I looked over at him sitting there with his wife and son and our eyes met. He put his hand to his heart and bowed his head as a symbol of his eternal gratitude for my efforts to help him. As I look at him, a fresh and deep cut glistening red on the left side of his cheek near his eye, his eyes sunken and vacant, his expression blank, I can’t help but wonder how many can see past his appearance and feel of his dominating aura of good. What he lacks in physical appearance he negates with his ingenious ideas, quick wit, and charming friendliness. He is a good man, one with a great talent oft overshadowed by his cursed and imperfect body. I cherish my deep friendship with such a wonderful soul.

Last night, after a trying and frustrating evening, I retired to my house in the late hours; long after the sun had set. In a mindset of frustration, my soul ached for my dear Iaso who was struggling yet again with the ailment that stole away much of his judgment and mind. He fell yet again into another nightmarish vision of spectacular thought and image and had been anticipating it all day long. My latest potion is no doubt working but cannot stop everything, much like the stopper to the pipe that supplies water to the greenhouse on campus cannot stop all of the water that rushes forth with all its might. The aura of this one was very dark and fearful indeed. As he tried to describe to us what he was seeing he couldn’t get the words out so he feverishly grabbed at a pen and tried to sketch some sort of representation of the nightmare unfolding in his mind. We all stood by, recording as much as we could of his state of being, some growing fearful and others standing stone-faced, conditioned to his bizarre display. I was so hoping it wouldn’t turn to the loss of control that seemed to come so often now and he seemed to be coming back to us but then his burdened body was forced to surrender to that greater ailment and with a cry he was thrown back, his entire being like a stone. We were too late to reach him and the side of his head once again brushed forcefully against the shelving against the wall, creating a fresh new wound to add to his scarred appearance.

Those not used to this frightful scene ran out of the room while others looked on, their mouths covered with their hands in horror, as those conditioned to Iaso’s ailment ran forth to protect him from his surroundings. Being near the door, I kicked the threshold in anger and frustration. I truly hate seeing my good friend being stolen by something so evasive to help. No longer does this horrific scene shock me; it only angers me and pushes me to do more to find a potion that will cure him. Patience is the only aura that can make this terrible scene bearable and just my presence is enough to invite the aura of comfort into the room. After what feels like an eternity, Iaso is finally and eerily still and he is taken out in the arms of Eolan to my house where we quietly lay him on the cot and work to bandage his bleeding temple. I skillfully and carefully apply a numbing ointment to the deep wound which instantly stops the bleeding and will take away a lot of the sting when he awakens. While he sleeps here we also bundle him in blankets to prepare him for the cart ride back to his house. With his wife walking at my side, everyone is solemn and blank; we look like a dark procession of death underneath the starry night as Iaso lies on the cart, not moving a muscle. We carefully lay him on his bed and Aio, just a year old, sleeps nearby, watched by his grandmother who eyes us with pity, a look of earnest well-wishing on her face. As we turn to leave, I hand Akèli a small bottle with a new potion I have made to have him try the next morning. She manages a small smile as we retire into the night and I return home unhappy.

As I prepare myself for sleep, I walk out into the moonlit night, my dearest Naidel sleeping peacefully; Jeffrey asleep on his bed, unaware of what has just taken place earlier in the medicinal room of our house, being conditioned to all manner of people from Aranel to Iaso and beyond to anyone needing aid and barely opening an eye to the commotion. My soul is rent with anguish and I need to talk to someone specific.

Looking into the twinkling stars in the cold October night, I close my eyes and slip into the Realm, an immediate wave of warmth and peace overcoming my tired and burdened body. Opening my eyes, I am greeted by the familiar blue-lit cobblestone floors that stretch out in every direction. The aura of this place is one of warmth and peace and I head straight for the Gatherer’s Hall.

Upon arriving, I am greeted by the familiar alley of tall buildings alive with souls of living Terabikai and of all souls past. I make my way down the lovely avenue towards the majestic castle upon which Terabi resides. Entering the palace gates I stop to admire the lovely gardens aglow in many colors; the familiar blue glow radiating from all around. I slowly ascend the marble steps to the tall doors and with a wave of my hand they slowly open, exposing a very long hallway with a massive, vaulted ceiling. Ornate statues line the walls, alternating with pillars, and square windows the size and shapes of various portraits line both walls. This is a place I have been before; it is called by us the Hall of Windows. Here, we can communicate to anyone in Osai’s Realm of Vision. This place is especially made good use of by those who have died who have promised loved ones that they will always be in their dreams. It is also the place for those departed, as well as living Terabikai, to give counsel or warnings to those they love. As I look around I see a number of people looking through one of the many windows, quietly conversing with an ethereal face on the other side of the glass.

I continue onward, down the Hall of Windows, until at last I reach the clear door made of bright blue power that leads to the throne room. All initiates visit this room in their youth as it is here where they are given their weapon of Lovelight and taught in the ways of its use. Today I am in pressing need to talk to a powerful friend, my master himself. I stand tall at these double doors, glowing and almost alive, and kneel, bowing my head and placing my right hand over my glowing heart. As I do so, I feel an aura of great warmth and love and the doors slowly open. As I walk through, there in the middle of the room is the man I seek. He stands tall, his long, black hair framing his Catin face. His dark eyes glow white with his mark and his white robes emit a blue glow that carries the aura of his soft smile far beyond his physical being. In his right hand he holds a tall staff made of the same blue Lovelight that composes all of our weapons used to fight the cursebearers of the Realm.

As I walk closer to him, he lowers his chin as a sign of compassion and humility. Stopping a few paces from him, I draw my blade and take my stance, as is the ritualistic greeting of Terabikai in the Realm. He pulls his staff from the ground and holds it in both hands releasing a small flash of light with which I block skillfully with my sword. With this, he smiles and says, in a clear voice, “Mera Visi!” and returns his staff to the glowing blue of his chest. I do the same with my blade and, my hands together, whisper, “Terabi…”

“What brings you to my Realm this night?” he asked me.
I couldn’t hold it back and as I stood, looking into his eyes glowing with perfect and eternal compassion, I told him everything that had transpired from early morning until the moment I could finally go to the Realm. The whole time, Terabi didn’t move a muscle, waiting for me to finish. When at last I concluded my thoughts he simply nodded and held out his hands. Nothing was more inviting and I meekly walked up to him, embracing him. As soon as our beings connected I felt an immense power greater than my own which gave me newfound strength and comfort instantly.

After that, I asked him what I could do in my eternal quest to find the right combination of herbs that could possibly help Iaso and so many out there like him. We talked for hours within the walls of his throne room as we discussed my findings so far and things I could try and do. The most welcome thing that he did was give me comfort and strength with renewed patience to face the terrible affliction that my dear friend was born with. He suggested an area in Ardin that I have not yet visited which was home to some unique flora I would likely find useful. As our much needed and appreciated meeting drew to a close, I thanked him again for his love and for choosing me to be his servant in the lands of Jadali who would help shine a clear light on the lives of the Terabikai. Thank you, Terabi, for everything.

I am thankful tonight is of a completely different mood. As I conclude this journal covering the past two days I am in awe at how fast things change and how much people strengthen through their trials. May life go on in celebration of all things—good and bad—that shape us. I bid thee Nos Wha [good night].

From my pen,
Mera Visi

The Original 13

The 13 founders of Jadali were hand-chosen by Terabi and Osai themselves. They all had a previous life before their life in their new country but not much is known about them. Here is the tiny bit of information that is known about the originals, compiled by Ari Salo and Stanton Bridger (with help from Terabi and Osai themselves).

The original 13 founders of Jadali can be grouped in the following Keòen rhyme:

Madel Osai ddw Terabi ddar,
Jadali thoseth del tech tiar.
Da Osanokai taibheid thema.
‘One del Eldin kaiseth-cha.
‘One naneth del Taibhwn.
Tho del Vadir-Drakon kwn:
‘One Thokwn, ‘one solo.
‘One Thokwn naneth ahr.
Ddw, tho naneth osiel-sar.

(translated)
Made of Osai and Terabi both,
Jadali was founded of 13.
A Man of Osai to lead them. (Freloch)
One was related to the Eldin. (Lochgren)
One was royal. (Balthòr)
Two (families) were of Dragon-Dodger's party:
One pair, one solo. (Montàlo and Hieldin)
One pair were farmers. (Ardin)
And, two were quiet ones. (Lochmont)

A Man of Osai to Lead Them
Born in 984, Eagle Cry Ennel (also known as Eagle Warrior) was discovered to be a Man of Osai at the age of 8. He lived somewhere around Tevernid, probably within the boundaries of Tensk, and was one of the last in the generation that came of age at 16 (in the year 1000 coming of age was raised to 18). Like most Kiillra his lineage is relatively unknown but it is known that he has the blood of Sorela and that his father’s name was Faraway Fellow. Eagle Warrior married Rose of the Lake in 1000 and had a daughter named Lily of Green Lake in January of 1002. His whole family was highly involved in the Enemy Uprising of 1013 and he lost his wife, who fought in battle (women had a choice of whether they wanted to fight), in 1014. When the battle was over and Kiillaana had won, Eagle Warrior took then 12-year-old Lily of Green Lake and settled in Tevernid, knowing that they were to become people of high importance but having no idea in what form.

The answer came in early 1019. Eagle Warrior was presented a very strong vision of Osai telling him to take his daughter and her fiancée and meet at the tree of the castle where they would be joined by five couples summoned of either him or Terabi. They were to go to King Bedan and tell him that they were chosen of Osai and Terabi to form a new race and make their way north east to the coast near the giant uninhabitable island, which would serve as their home. They were chosen to form a race signifying the friendship of Terabi and Osai. Eagle Warrior accepted this immediately and found his daughter and her fiancée already waiting, for they too had seen this vision. They were surprised at who else was called and knew that it was all meant to be. One of the women was a daughter of King Bedan himself and the Queen’s father, being a Man of Osai himself, knew that all of this was true and therefore it was all celebrated and encouraged. When they reached Taleah around the summer of that year, Osai and Terabi appeared to them, promising that they would always have a Man of Osai to lead them.

Eagle Cry Ennel, Eagle Warrior, became Isiador Freloch when he was transformed. He ruled Jadali for 100 years and was succeeded by Kalo Freloch in 1120. He brought with him the art of the sword.

One Was Related to the Eldin
The only child of Eagle Warrior, Lily of Green Lake, was born in the very early days of 1002. She was a very talented craftswoman, making everything from jewelry to clothing. Her mother was killed in the Enemy Uprising and her father was a Man of Osai. She lived in Tevernid most of her childhood and was 17 years old when she received word she was to become the mother of a new race. She wasn’t yet married but was engaged to Red Rapids, the son of a sailor. Because of circumstances she was allowed to get married at 17 when the group reached Taleah in around June of 1019.

Lily of Green Lake became Akèli Lochgren when she was transformed. She brought with her the art of crafting.

Red Rapids was the son of a Kiillaanian sailor named Ocean Oliver who traveled between Kiillaana and Catarika almost exclusively with little time for much else. Red Rapids accompanied him often, learning all he could about astronomy, navigation, and sailing. He was not involved in the battle of Enemy Uprising but was sent to Tevernid at the age of 15 to attend some formal schooling. It was here that he met Lily of Green Lake and fell in love with her. They were engaged at the age of 17 and soon after he was discovered to be a chosen father of the Jadali race. He and Lily were the youngest couple of the 13 and were allowed to marry at 17 instead of 18 when they reached Taleah.

Red Rapids became Barthàl Lochgren when he was transformed and brought with him the skills of Astronomy, Navigation, Riedlore, and Sailing.

One Was Royal
Ailena Redwater was the second of three children of King Bedan and Queen Jeneiyl Alihi. She was born in the year 999 in Tevernid and was 14 when the Enemy Uprising happened. She fought in the battle and survived along with the rest of her family. She married Nate of Numbers in 1017 when she was 18 and was later chosen at the age of 19 to be a mother of the Jadali race. She had the full support of her family and eagerly traveled to have a hand in creation and history.

Ailena Redwater became Tania Balthòr when she was transformed and brought with her many talents in music.

Nate of Numbers, also known as Ennel Nome, was the son of villager Wolverine Hills and was born in 998. He was gifted with an incredible logical genius that he used for trickery and manipulation in his early years but soon learned to control and use for good. He became a friend of the royal family and married their middle child, Ailena Redwater. He fought in the Enemy Uprising in which his father and brother were killed. He gladly accepted the invitation to become a father of the Jadali race and worked closely with the Eldin writing documents and setting up the history center.

Ennel Nome became Henal Balthòr when he was transformed and brought with him Logic and Law.

Two of Dragon-Dodger’s Party

One Pair
Nemo Knight, son of River Glenn and Heartslove, was born in 995. He was a great warrior who was also adept at hunting and had an amazing hand at caring for livestock, coming from a farming family who lived in Endor. He was a very close friend of Dragon Dodger and accompanied him on the journey down the Wise Trail to the remote settlements around Tavener, spreading the word and gathering an army. He fought in the Enemy Uprising and was triumphant. He later married Medieval Myley in 1015 at the age of 20. He was very honored to receive the call to become a father of Jadali and enjoyed all aspects of the journey.

Nemo Knight became Eahron Montàlo when he was transformed and brought with him Mountaineering, Falconry, Hunting, Leathercraft, and Animal Medicine.

Medieval Myley, daughter of Seka Sword and Jenyil Whirlpool, was a city girl from Tevernid whose family was close to the royal family and Dragon Dodger’s family. She was Nemo Knight’s best friend and she too traveled down the Wise Trail. She was a very talented cook, able to make something out of nothing. She was also an amazing surveyor, learning the art of mapmaking from her parents. She was very excited to become a mother of Jadali and honored to be able to do so with her best friend.

Medieval Myley became Nathàli Montàlo when she was transformed and brought with her the arts of cooking and mapmaking.

…and One Solo
Dani Dungeness, daughter of Gypsy George and Jenny of the Lake, was born in 996 and was from the southeastern coast, probably from present-day Bedan or Denzeltonia. Being a nomad, she traveled alone and learned to survive with her surroundings. She was gifted with an amazing sense of the flora and fauna and discovered several potions for various uses. She found her way into Tensk with her parents and befriended Medieval Myley and Carla Castle. She eagerly agreed to accompany them on the Wise Trail and proved invaluable with her knowledge of the herb. She married Cosmic Curtin in 1015 and was the farthest away, living in Pyra on the edge of Endor, when she and Curtin had an undeniable dream that they were to be called to found a nation.

Dani Dungeness became Aranel Hieldin and brought with her when she was transformed and brought with her the art of Herblore.

Cosmic Curtin was the 10th child of Canyon Flyer and Wandering Willow and was from Tevernid. He was one of 8 men of their school year born in 995. His entire family fought in battle and many were killed. His mother and two sisters survived and moved to Jadali on the first fleet when the borders were opened in 1040. Curtin had a vast interest and knowledge in astronomy and surveying as well as nature and was a good friend of Red Rapids/Barthàl Lochgren. He always knew he would move somewhere far away and was eager to receive his call.

Cosmic Curtin became Kalo Hieldin when he was transformed and brought with him Astronomy, Mapmaking, and Architecture.

A Pair Were Farmers
Born in 998, Branded Brandon lived his whole life in the outskirts of the kingdom, a farmer’s son of Pirate Parlin. His role in the war was to help store and provide food and livestock for the armies and give them shelter in the large storehouse. Most of his family voluntarily fought in the war and almost all were slain so he returned to his farm with some other orphaned teens and rebuilt it. He fell in love with Jemima Soaring One and the two were married in 1017. When they learned they had been called to be founders of the Jadali race they handed the farm over to Branded Brandon’s younger brother, Eltan Osiel, and hurried to Tevernid for instruction.

Branded Brandon became Viervan Ardin when he was transformed and brought with him the skills of Farming, Herblore, and Animal Medicine.

Jemima Soaring One was an excellent cook who hailed from Tevernid. She was the daughter of Alaina Springwater and the two fought in the war, doing their part of helping make food for the warriors. As a result of the war, Jemima Soaring One became an orphan and moved with about 20 other orphaned teens to the farm of Branded Brandon. The two fell in love and were married. Being a visionary young woman, she always saw herself doing something great and eagerly accepted the call to found a race.

Jemima Soaring One became Sofia Ardin when she was transformed and brought with her the skills of Cooking and Food Storage.

Two Were Quiet Ones
Brand Badger, son of Silent Hawk, was a young warrior born in 990. He lived all his life at the center of the kingdom and fought valiantly for Kiillaana. He was a quiet and reserved man who tended to himself most of the time but who loved others and was fiercely loyal to those close to him. He fought in the battle of Enemy Uprising with honor and survived without incident, thanking the gods for sparing him when so many around him fell. He married Emerald Crystal after the war ended in 1018 and almost immediately afterwards he received and accepted the invitation to become a founder of Jadali.

Brand Badger became Saldin Lochmont after he was transformed and brought with him the skills of the sword and the bow.

Emerald Crystal, daughter of Tree Maiden, was a dark young lady who lived in the rolling hills north of Tevernid. Born in 992, she was already out of her teens when she took part in the Battle of Enemy Uprising, helping to watch the children of the war. She met Brand Badger sometime after the war ended and the two were married in 1018. She was very moved and honored to be chosen to mother a new race and took her call very seriously.

Emerald Crystal became Iria Lochmont after she was transformed and took with her an immense maternal instinct.

From the Pen of Mera Visi {First Encounter, Iaso Montàlo}

Translated from Keòen to Kevian by Lore Hieldin

One January the 2nd, in the 29th year of the reign of Kalo Freloch [1149]

Today marks the beginning of the fifth year of my life in Leena. In pursuit of my double mastery in Herblore I have had the opportunity to teach the young ones the inherent knowledge of the many properties of the various leaf and plant, as well as lecture those versed in the art on my new findings and discoveries. I am even beginning to be referred to by many as an Allan [one supremely gifted in the knowledge of plants].

This morning I was led by Mikal Egàlo to the commons [school house] of the 113th class [the children born of 1138] where I was greeted by those children of Leena who were mostly the age of 10, entering their 11th year of life. There, in the corner, lay a small boy with unkempt and wild hair. His eyes were wide and seemed to have a blank look to them. I remember the way they stared. He seemed to be disconnected from the rest of his class and I could see scars--fresh and faded--upon his crown. As I approached, Mikal and Eolan Salo (a doctor) turned to me, saying:

"This is Iaso Montàlo, of the Montàlo province. He has what we can only describe as 'a mind of unbalanced energy.' He constantly and oft sees things of spectacular magnitude and is able to recall them and dictate or write them down. He is aspiring to become an artist of metalwork and is very, very talented. I want for you, Mera Visi, to try and find a potion that will ease his unrest and help him to be more well than lost in his uneven emotions."

I do not know what to think of this yet. I can feel of his aura and it is one of purity and love unlike any I've felt. He is so innocent, his true intent often lost or masked by his broken body. His vacant eyes lit up upon my arrival and he was drawn to me like I was to him. I sat with him and talked with him a very long while. He told me he has heard of me and my interest and work in Herblore. His large eyes looked longingly at me and with love and trust, yearning for me to care for him and find relief to his frequent unrest. I vowed right there that among my studies I would go on a quest to find the right combination of herbs to aid his well being.

It is clear that he does not have the Curse of the Realm, but I have not seen anything like him. From what has been described to me, and what I was able to observe even on a day like today, all I can conclude is that he has an inherent condition that causes his emotions to go completely out of reality and his mind to throw itself into unsettling and warped visions. As I sit at my desk tonight after my daily studies, amidst more charts and graphs, after having made several hundred unfinished potions, this vision of the young Iaso Montàlo will not leave my mind. I shall traverse the Realm later tonight and inquire of Terabi on this matter.

From my pen,
Mera Visi

Being of One or the Other

Ever wonder what I mean when I say someone is "Of Osai" or "Of Terabi?"

Here's what I mean:

Someone who is of Osai has extremely vivid dreams or visions with tangible and understandable meaning. They also can see themselves doing certain things in the future and are very in tune with their heart. They are visionary people and will often be noted as saying things like "I can see myself doing this" or "I just saw myself [in whatever future capacity] for a brief moment." Their dreams always bring them inspiration, admonition, and entertainment unique to them and their situation. Osai likes those given his traits to be happy in darkness (sleep). These are also the people that hear the tiny whispers that speak to their heart, helping them throughout life. All Men of Osai have these traits but the general population can have them as well.

Someone who is of Terabi is able to sense the auras of others--not to the extent that Terabikai do but enough that it's what gives them the qualities of compassion, understanding, and empathy. They are the ones who notice a change in someone's demeanor in an instant. They also have the ability to sense the overall atmosphere of certain people and places and are very in tune with their own emotions. People of Terabi are very concerned with the well being of others and do all they can to brighten someone's day through kind words and actions.

People can be of Osai, of Terabi, or a mix of both. Some people are strongly of one or both and some are less strong but can relate their actions to one or the other. People can also be of neither and have qualities of other deity. As for me, well, I'm strongly of both! I'll often say "That's a very Terabian way of thinking" when describing something to do with empathy or sensing of mood/spirit/aura of someone or someplace. Some people of certain personalities or upbringing will be more likely to be strongly of one or the other. It is more common to be of Terabi than of Osai. Most Jadali-Kiillra are of both, since the country was created by Terabi and Osai. Often, people will have a mix of traits used to describe both as they work together in harmony.

Who is Lunfort?

Most of the things I write are things that are already set, or mostly set, in my mind. The things that aren't circulate inside my endless mind, waiting until another piece of the puzzle is written or discovered further down the line. Usually, my inspiration comes in a dream or through an experience and then things fall into place.

Right now I'm stuck on a big idea that seems, right now, to be floating in blackness, not really connecting to anything. In typical RCT fashion, I go about naming random peeps that I want to track throughout the park and I always write them down, conducting various experiments (usually to see how long guests of a certain energy level or ride preference "survive" inside a mature park). While at the time the names seem something of little interest, when I look back at them they suddenly take on greater form. This has happened with a guy that I randomly tagged who I named Daniel Lunfort.

I have certain go-to names for different situations and one random one in particular for RCT involves guests who are, fortunately or unfortunately, wearing a tan shirt and tan pants. Combined with the skin tone that every RCT peep has, this unfortunate choice of clothing makes the guess look.... naked. This was a special circumstance (though it's way more common in RCT2) and, for whatever reason, the go-to name for these special guests is Daniel. One walked into my park when I happened to be tagging people so he got a quick name and off he went.

A few days later, the name on paper stood out at me, loudly screaming that there was a story underneath that name. So far, the name Lunfort has become a crest of interest and I've used it twice already in other RCT parks. I made a park that had an extensive train system and named one of the tracks the Lunfort track, so I know there's one of those somewhere in Kiillaana. In another, I called the whole park County Lunfort in an effort to try and build a city, though it ended up veering off from my original vision so it hasn't shed too much light on it yet.

All I know right now about Lunfort is that it's a really strong crest somewhere in the Tensk-Kiishla region. Daniel Lunfort is a Terabikai and the more I thought about it the idea that this is a line of Terabikai took root. This would be very odd and interesting, as Terabi doesn't choose his men by family, and hardly any Terabikai is directly related to another. I don't really know any more than this right now so it will be fun to see what becomes of this in the upcoming times.

For now, here are some questions that will eventually be answered:

• What is so special about Daniel Lunfort? (He's listed as a cursethrower for his claim to fame)
• How closely related are the Terabikai in the Lunfort line? One per generation, one per 100 years? Straight line (grandfather, son) or indirect (uncles, cousins)?
• What has made their line so favored by Terabi?
• When did this start?
• Where does the Lunfort line originate?
• How big is this line? (It's pretty big)
• Do these men have any other special abilities that unify them?
• What is the Lunfort crest known for?
• Is their weapon the same?

Just some things to think about. It'll all fall into place soon!