A History of the Avariel Kingdom: Part 1
by Bender

Much of what I have found is taken from the autobiography of a certain Kassakhia. If you wish to verify my account, feel free to read Kassakhia's biography, which is in the Book of the Mortals in the Malhan Library in a Tree.

The court of Lord Darmantis was gathered around an infant girl. The Lord's counselors entered and took their places, followed by Darmantis and his bodyguard. Zientris was the first to speak, and he addressed the court in very uncertain terms. The child was the embodiment of evil, and must be destroyed immediately for the sake of the nation.

Soriana then addressed the court, revealing the child to be Kassakhia, the daughter of Liatania and Aleicsandre. Apparently, the child was possessed by some evil force, presumably a chaotic forest spirit. Soriana suggested further study before choosing and executing a course of action. When Soriana had finished, a man in the rear of the court begged permission to speak. Darmantis gave his blessing, and the man revealed himself to be the child's grandfather. He spoke of his Romany wife, how she was afflicted by a malady similar to that of the child...(gloss: I presume that the possession kills the host).

Zientris' reply was immediate and sharp. Apparently the gift of receiving a forest spirit was reserved to the Great Lord, and that to imply that a Romany was heresy of the highest degree. The child's grandfather implored the court that the child was no more evil than anyone else in the room, and he retired just as Liatania made her appearance.

Chaos ensued at the people present began to argue, probably as a means to release their fear and anxiety. Darmantis rose, and silence ensued. He looked into the eyes of the child, with a look of which nobody can be certain. What is certain is that Darmantis was steeled against the child and jerked away from her as if he burned by her presence.

Darmantis returned to his throne, and decided that the child was evil and a danger to the people. Kassakhia was to be banished from the realm under the escort of her grandfather. Her parents, Liatania and Aleicsandre, held their child one last time before her exile. Chaos ensued, and the Lord's throne was engulfed in strange green flames, apparently caused by the child. Yet, Darmantis was unharmed. The child left under her own power.

Soon after they left, the child's grandfather was struck down by an arrow. The child buried him, clasping what would be her reminder, an obsidian chip carved into the shape of an oak leaf. The child made her way to a city inhabited by humans, with troll guards (gloss: although I cannot be certain, I would assume that the city is Visegrad). Seven human youths raped her and left her for dead.

While unconscious, Kassakhia communed with the Chaos Spirit within her. The child was to bring chaos in the midst of the human order.

Kassakia disappeared from view for some time. While her life was unfolding, Lady Liatania gathered around herself powerful warriors from other kingdoms. Her conspiracy has as its single purpose the removal of Darmantis from her throne. I cannot be certain if it is her grief or her ambition that drives her quest, but I can say that she has developed a powerful faction.

Isri told me that Kassakhia is still alive, so naturally I found myself wondering what the grown child would say. I requested to speak with her, and she graciously agreed.

After the history ended, Kassakhia joined the Family, lending her talents to the cause. Because she is not dead, the Romany do not object to her possession. Kassakhia is still in limited contact with her mother, a relationship she describes as being interesting. Kassakhia does not consider Liatania to be family. Liatania has told her that the time is indeed ripe for the revolution.

Kassakhia will be involved in the revolt. She sees the greater goal to be the deposition of Darmantis, which is beyond her own pain and her mother's ambition. Apparently, she does not know the exact battle plan, but she characterizes her involvement as very fiery. She feels that her time among us is at an end.

According to Kassakhia, Darmantis has desecrated the Avariel spirit. Kassakhia is not the only child to bear the chaos spirit, but she is one of the few that survived Darmantis' action. Without the spirits, the Avariel will perish. She believes that the Kingdom is being held together only through the coersion of Zientris.

As her history suggests, Kassakhia seeks to sow the seeds of chaos. Her goal is not to place her mother upon the throne, and it is not even to topple the reign of Darmantis. She seeks to wreak havok to the order. Although her hatred of Darmantis runs deep, her hatred of order runs deeper. Her goal...the eradication of the Crimson Rain.

An attack against Crimson Rain does not bode well for the Children of the Dawn. Although our outlooks are radically different, other members of the Dawn have told me that our relationship is comfortable. A threat to the Rain will bring Rapture into the world, and I am unsure whether their arrogance will allow them to pick their targets. The instability of the Avariel Kingdom combined with the unpredictable nature of the Rain suggests an explosive combination for which we must be prepared.