NationStates Jolt Archive

And when god cast his hand upon the universe, he created reality. Reality was a product of one possibility. Looking into the void, God created more and more waves, waves of possible realities, additional waves in the spectrum of truth, creating more and more waves. The waves can be touched by our actions, cause and affect.

We draw upon these waves of possibilities to alter reality to our choosing. Thus, we are lended the power of God himself, to create and alter our reality to our further bidding. Magic is simply touching reality and changing the impossible reality…into a wave where the impossible…is very possible.

Know this, and be unlimited in your dreams, for with the power of magic and freewill, you can do anything within this world.


This is the way and teaching of the Psi.

---



This new dawn must have been the dawn that god first made rise to bring light to the child earth, still innocent and young, full of potential. And God, looking down upon this beauty, created life and further beauty.

And that is what Kain felt like.

He was God, looking down with utter pleasure and pride as his creation, his world called Velmora, was becoming even more beautiful and wonderful to behold. A great smile was upon his leathery face, a smile which was priceless as the sun itself. This vampire was the happiest ruler on earth, for he was beginning again.

Gone were the shadows which brought cynical intent to the grand plans within Kain’s head. Gone were the memories of pain, suffering and guilt. Gone were the worries of what he had done.

Replaced by a unquenchable sense of promise and opportunity. The ruined land lay before him as he looked over it from the windows of the Library, one of the two remaining buildings which were the original buildings of the Psi. The windows held the slight touch of cold ice, but this did not bother Kain in the slightest. It was the most beautiful day he had ever gazed upon, and the sunlight did not even irritate his vampire form.

The land of Velmora was one scattered with the ruins of yesterday’s conflicts. Buildings now sat serene in this golden light of heaven, their stone forms ready to change into greater forms, a form which could forfill their original purpose within this realm.


To house the population of Velmora.


And then, Kain set to work, striding out of the great Library of Velmora, to go outside to meet the others.


---

I saw Kain that day, come out of that great pillar of knowledge, the Library was one of the only buildings to survive all of Velmora’s history. Such a sight it was to see Kain, smiling in that way, and that is when I knew things were going to be alright. The immense feeling of optimism was infectious; it overflowed onto everyone around us. Even Cernd was smiling today, as he stood by myself and Leon, and Cernd had never really smiled. Not since we had been within the underdark of Velmora…but I don’t want to write about that. You already know that from my previous diary entries.

Kain burst out from those doors, his construct friend, who called herself Shar, was smiling too, her blue eyes glowing warmly as she walked by Kain’s side. An odd pair they made, and they seemed married as they looked towards the other, although the two never really had made it clear what their relationship was. In fact, most of us did not know how Shar was made, and who she was exactly. But Kain was no stranger to her. To think, constructs were a theoretical impossibility within the scriptures of the library, but Kain had created one!

The two walked outside, and we all followed, the three of us. We wanted to know what Kain had in mind, but he would not tell us. It was like not being told what we were getting for Christmas, it was so exciting. Even Cernd quickened his pace to get to wherever we were going. Kain kept that little smile upon his strange face, one which I will never forget. It was that quiet satisfaction and joy of the situation of things. WE walked for some time, to the east. We walked by the buildings where we had once lived, and knew that in time, these buildings would once more be raised and lived in. We knew it because it was this raw and unsuppressible hope which had Kain had now brought to us.

We walked to a great cliff, a cliff where we could see the sun rising most wonderfully, making the skin feel warm and tingle. Maybe the tingling was just the excitement of the situation, I don’t know. But

“Carter, Leon, Cernd, look down upon there.” Kain said to us in a quiet fatherly way, as we stood upon a great cliff. We walked to the edge, and beheld the great ocean. The sun danced upon those waters most spectucalurary, and the salt air blew in our faces. Leon almost lost his great black brimmed hat which he so loves! But even if the hat did come off, he would have stood there in amazement to what we saw, because we had never expected this.

Ships were coming in….various ships from all kinds of cultures, the styles and methods of sailing were vast, some using oars, some sails, some magic. There must have been around a hundred ships, and the most remarkable thing of all, were the fact that they were passenger ships.

“Who…” I began, asking in amazement who was upon those boats.

Kain held that smile still, still looking out to the sea. Shar went closer to him, held his arm in a loving way.

“They are coming home. Home to where they left long ago. Our people, the Psi, are returning to make Velmora home again. Home.” Kain said quietly, as the ships began to land…and the Psi from these ships, after migrating for various amounts of time, landed and walked up to meet Kain, who had called all Psi to return, informing them of what had happened. It was a wonderful sight.


None had refused to come, and many more were sailing from all corners of the world to come back to Velmora. No Psi, I think, could resist this call.


From the diaries of one Carter Silverhand

INTERLUDE

Somewhere else...

She floated on a star, watching worlds come and go, drinking in the silence of space. She was part of the fabric, a piece of the reality of the cosmos, a brilliiant spark of light in the blackness of space.

Her thoughts came and went, shining clarity before disippating into dust. For a brief moment, she remembered who she was, and the reasons she was here, wherever here was. Galadrial Tanis Dr'Konnen came back to herself.

Men.

Her father, a brave an honorable man, dying far away from home in a useless war.

Darius Steele, her saviour, her bed-mate, her friend.

Rafe, young and shy, brilliant and filled with life.

King Turquine and his eyes, eyes that burned into her heart, eyes that held promise.

Adam, knowledge of everything but a newborn nonetheless.

Kain Shentavo, vampire, psi, the link between them all.

The list stopped scrolling, and the final name accelerated to the front of her mind. This had all started with Kain, and only he could end it. The vampire was either the key to the resurgence of the Vampire Nations, or the bringer of destruction on a galactic scale...neither of these were acceptable. Now Tanis realized why she was here, and with that realization came a gentle calming of her soul. She would find Kain, and finish the job that Steele had started.

For the sake of the universe, Kain had to die.

<<OOC: Exerpt from "Prelude to Destiny", added for continuity. I'll leave it up to you whether I bring her in here, or in another thread.>>

The ships glided in, one by one, filled with curious and disbelieving Psi, thier clothes and styles of being were extremely varied. Golden haired barbarians, covered with white furs and wielding great shafts of wood, carved with runes of the Psi people looked at the more cultured wayfarers, who wore great robes of crushed velvet. The world it seemed, had splashed all the colours of the rainbow, and all influences of every corner of the world upon these people, giving them such a unique flavour. It was awesome to behold, the hundreds if not thousands of different Psi from different regions began to come up to Kain, who looked down upon his people who had come from all over the globe to meet him.

To meet thier futures here.

Some had brought huge amounts of possessions, having to use magical plates which took the great burden of suitcases, which were overspilling. Some, only brought thier possession which were on them, hoping for a bright future. Some were just curious, taking this as a holiday of sorts. But few did return to the life they did have, to return to the homes which they had made. Some had new families in other regions, and encouraged thier wives or husbands to come to Velmora, where anything was possible and magic was in the heart of every individual here.

Here would be the greatest school for magic that were ever built. Here would be the greatest libraries and collection of knowledge. Here, crime would be low and children could have happy lives and memories. Here, everyone could be accepted for who they were, not what they appeared to be.

This was Kain's dream.

And a dream, that when Kain explained to all the people who crowded around the green-skinned vampire. Some were afraid of this new Kain, some were compassionate knowing of such things...some were just looking on in a strange curiousity.

The sun continued to beam down, as Kain spoke to the crowd of his people who had traveled so far. The clouds sprinkled a slight trickle of snow. The snowflakes felt upon the grass and iced it most wonderfully, soon melting under the calm and loving gaze of the golden sun which viewed this beautiful scene.

"My people! It brings me so much joy to see so many people come back to the place where our lives all began!" Kain began grandly, throwing his hands in happiness, his smile still planted firmly upon his green face.

The wind blew with a pleasant coolness which mingled with the warmness of the sun and the chill of the playful touch of the frost which continued to gently paracute down from the clouds.

Shar observed with those same glowing blue eyes, not far from Kain's side. Many Psi stared at her, her metal and wood body covered with a deep purple robe. But her eyes glowed most wonderfully within the cowl which covered her head. She was smiling, and remained quiet and to herself as she viewed Kain give out his passionate speech.

"To us, the Psi, we have been through much. We have seen this land in all the changes of the world. Both light and dark have crossed our land. This land has been in darkness for so long, a darkness which englufed many of us and made us see this world in a cynister way. For us, the Psi, this land is home. We may go and leave, but this land will and always be home."

The crowd listened in silence, looking upon the being which used to be like them. But in some ways, he had become more like them. They looked on, and listened to his words, and considered them carefully, each new sentance making them feel more and more hope to this idea.

"I ask you, people of Velmora, if you want to restore this land of memories of better days, the ruined buildings which we used to live in, to become once more risen! To allow our knowledge as Psi, the most arcane race in the world to share our knowledge with the world once more! To allow our children to have what we had. No....better than what we had! Velmora will be a paradise, because we have learned from the shadow, and we will take this knowledge to understand and become more wonderous in the light. I ask you, people of Velmora, to help our nation. Not as a previous ruler, but as a Psi, like you."

"I have changed, yes, but have not all? My experiances are vast and many, and time has changed me. My physical appearance and state of being has definately changed....but you know what has changed more? My mind. I have learned things, horrible and beautiful from what has taken place within this land. As a mortal, ruling Velmora as a young man, I saw this place as great because of what we had achieved. But that is not the reason Velmora is great. It is not the knowledge of magic that we possess. Not the way we alter reality to make our lives easier, not the way we make beautiful statues and think ourselves cultured for it."

"It is because we live our lifes the way we wish, and that we are accepted for it. Velmora, allows us to be ourselves, to be accepted for what we are. That has been our truth. Our ancestors left other nations due to the persecution against those who wished to devolp the gifts which had been given to them, and set up this nation as thier home. We have learned now, that we are not better than others because of our gifts. We have a responcibility due to our knowledge and talents to help others, wheter Psi, human, dwarf, elf or any other species. I ask you, people of Velmora, and people of the world, will you help this nation to become what it was and more? To rise once more, to rise again and show this world which has become dark as Velmora has been in the past, what a bright light people can raise, what a great and good civilisation we can become under your guidance? Will you help Velmora?" Kain cried in climax to his speech, his body consumed with the passion of his words.

And then, the crowd roared in cheering, thumping staves upon the soil below them, people throwing thier hats of various natures into the frosty air, and people throwing spells into the air, small explosions of green, red and blue light, like fireworks lit the sky.


Kain looked at Shar and both of them held that irrepressable smile. They held hands and walked with the crowd, to set about the restoration of not some king's land, but thier land.

For Kain was not a king now, he was just a being who was accepted and part of this rising nation called Velmora. Everyone who met Kain from then on, treated him with great respect, but treated him as a brother.

--

To become one of, not one apart. To lead by example, not by reserved command. To toil with, not to whip at those toiling.

Such, is the way of the Psi leader.

And such is the way of Kain Brightblade Shentavo, the greatest ruler of Velmora.

Progress was being made.


Buildings were being cleared by the organised groups the people had formed under Kain's guidance, and the various people who had assumed leadership through pure charisma and wisdom of ideas. The people were infected with pure passion for thier tasks, working hard with magic and labour to clear the buildings, to try and salvage what they could. But they cleared the rubble and lay new foundations over time.

They set up squatter tents around Velmora, people were crammed into the throne room and the Library, the only buildings which stood fully. Women and children slept in there, safe from the weather. As it did rain hard in Velmora, the black night sky bringing harsh thunder and storms. Within the night it was hard to see, the thick blackness of night making this place seem very scary and alien, the thunder illuminating the skeletons of buildings, the memories haunting many Psi stood here. The moon hung low in the sky, glowing very slightly.

Tonight was a dark night.

The children looked down from the shelter of the Library, which could see the vast Throne room as it was called. The rain beated against the huge windows, as children and mother alike could see one figure in the darkness, standing on top of the throne room. He had a great lion mane of hair, and when the thunder struck violently, he stood there, unflinching and casting his protecting spells.

It was none other than Kain, standing alone against the elements when everyone sat with thier loved ones or new found freinds. Shar looked on with the children within the Library...and Shar reminded herself of Kain's compassion.


He had created a vast shield so that all were protected and could only hear the muffled booms of thunder, and the rain did not dampen any, nor raise any alarm. Kain's deep chanting could be heard very faintly as he held up the massive shield against the elements. The Library could protect itself, there were none sitting outside of the Library. There was more cover around the Throne room, although the Library's intereor was vast in knowledge, knowledge which many wished to looked through once more.

Through the night, mage's picked up volumes of the text's of the Psi ancestors as the thunder streaked outside. Through the night they learned new things, things they had forgotten, things which taught them new ways of looking at things. Some of these books were annotatted by Kain himself, his black elaborate script flowing around the writing of long dead men.

Some people did go out into the rain, climbed up the slippery stone surface to get to the roof of the Throne room to see if Kain needed help at all. He simply said with a smile, "You should get some sleep. We have a long day ahead, and grand things to do!" With that, the men reluctantly went back inside and went back to thier freinds and families.

Kain stood upon that throne ceiling, holding the night weather with loving magic, keeping his people from harm or distress.

The thunder crashed down upon the land, but none dared touch this vampire, this green skinned epic. He stood challengingly towards the thunder, daring it to strike him, to test him.

The thunder did not dare.

---

In the morning, work was hard. The rain was contining to come down, making the ground an inch deep in water, the stone floor making the water flow onwards, downhill. But it did nothing to the morale, it remained completely possessive with direction and Kain lead the labour and toil himself. Within the rain, Kain pulled, shouted, chanted and guided. Often, he fell into the ground due to fatigue or carelessness, his clothes becoming soaked. It happened to everyone at some point, the floor was hazardous. But everytime there were at least four hands to pick you up, followed by the smiles of freinds.

Children played within the Throne, women and mages looked over the text's in thier rest times in fascination, flipping over the old and new pages with wonder in the knowledge. Soon, these books would be the core of the education of the children and young men and women who wished to learn. And it would form the basis of universities, and various courses so that others could come into Velmora to learn.

Kain remained out in the storming rain, helping and keeping a hundred percent within the heart of operations. His white hair whipped behind him grandly as he pulled down a building with his magic with the help of a group of normatic barbarians which he had shown how to use the spell with some practice. Kain communicated with those in charge of other social groups. Kain was treated as his word was the word of the holy bible, for everyone completely trusted him, and Kain trusted his people. Soon, very basic machines were made and constructed. Things of wood which could pull down buildings easily, with some man power pulling a great cord of rope, fastened with silver. Kain pulled with the men, hsi vampiric strength being more powerful. His great muscles flaired at the strain of pulling buildings down while mages cast thier magics upon the building to make the job easier, or to salavage valuable materals.

Shar tried to make Kain stop work, to go inside, that he needed a break, but Kain smiled and said his place was here. Kain was visablly tierd by all of this, he had been out for so long, using spells non-stop and telling people orders and advising others. Shar was told to help where should could, and make sure things run smoothly. To make sure the children are all right. Shar hugged Kain, and the two left one another, gone in the passionate crowds who were maddly working in this torrent of rain. Kain did not to leave, not for one minute. Men would leave in the night and come back in the day, and find Kain still out there, and Kain would speak as if the groups had never left, new ideas in his head.

Many worked the night-shift, still in this unstopping rain. And Kain stood with them, illuminating the way with magic and flame as did everyone else. It soon began to hail, and Kain said for everyone to go inside, while Kain once more sheltered them.

But this time, people went up and helped him with the shield in shifts, so that the others could sleep in the dry warm confort of shelter. And so, in groups of around eight, Kain during the night, and every night that had bad weather, sheltered the families from the weather.

Days passed, regulary during the evenings the heads of groups came into the throne room to discuss with the others what to do. It was a melding of ideas and wisdom, discussions and freindly arguements taking place. And still, no-one had sat upon the stone throne which was the Psi device which indicated who was the ruler over everyone.

The great chatter of groups in circles took place, followed by a vote on a subject or thing. Of course, they always refered back to the other groups. It did not take too long, due to the telepathy which the Psi possessed. What occoured was a group came to an agreement and sent a phychic vote as such. It worked wonderfully, the merging of ideas and minds to create a land which everyone was content with. Familes were involved, the mothers of children were asked what thier opinions were. Many mothers, unlike most societies, were completely independant. They worked with the men, allowed the men to look after the children. It depended on what the family wanted and agreed on to who looked after who and when.

Kain traveled from group to group, agreeing with an idea and adding constructive crititism or challenging an idea, and making the group defend the virtues of thier idea, making it a better one. Kain was not the final word on a subject, but a wise being which rooted out problems, or gave the other side of the coin.

---

During the work hours, children played in the streets, with some guidance from parents or those who were willing to look after the children in thier spare time from work. They played new and old games, many children never hearing of the modern game of football, or some learned old games of Runeball, or Runetoss and such magical games which adults in Psi still played themselves in thier spare time. Even Kain and Shar joined in sometimes with Runeball, the simple game still bringing much enjoyment to him. It was an arcane game, and depending on who was playing, it could be a game of checkers or chess, but it was always balanced. It favoured ingeuty with what rune combination you used, predicting the others.

It was a game which would be used in training the young in combat, and to keep the older practiced and keen.

Laughter was heard again within the streets, from child and adult alike.

---

The activities of these Psi were observed by mythical creatures, creatures which had not made thier presence known for a very long time. They watched on, judging and hoping that these people would bring good to this land. And possibly, they would assist them.

But not now. They would wait to make sure this was not a trap of some sort. But they all knew in thier great hearts that this was a civilisation of good, coming back to heal the wounds which they had caused upon the land.

They watched from the snowy mountains of Velmora, flying out occasionally to get a closer look within the night, thier magestic forms never seen due to the magic's they woved around themselves.

And they noticed one being, one being which caused them much excitement. It was not Kain, for they already knew him very well, and admired and trusted him.


It was Shar, and what she was, the fabled Constructs made true!

"I must first, begin by saying, that this is a wondrous achievement. Look at what we have done by working together!" Kain said, as he stood upon the roof of this first home that had actually been fully completed, the wooden structures and materials all gone, finally furnished and ready to be lived in. It was in the evening, and a nice warm glow of the sun setting cast down on the crowd which was around the place, looking on the first building they had built together.

There were still the signs of construction, the odd rune etching equipment or the hammer and nails, but for the most part, this place was home to someone, although Kain had not really known who the home belonged to.

The Psi home was quaint and rather spacious. It was domed and had small circular windows. The glass would glow slightly in the night, a faint blueness which was the characteristic of all Psi buildings. Across the outside coralite stone, which also glow slightly at night time too.

Coralite is the common foundations of most Psi buildings, due to it's interesting properties. It is light, insulates warmth very well, absorbed runes with an amazing vigour making enchantment a highly simple affair. Coralite was the first things a child would learn how to inscribe runes on, a small block given to him by his father or mother, and a simple silver rod which was the tool to inscribe runes. As you got better, you moved to harder things to enchant runes upon, moving onto metals, harder stones, wood and then exotic things. Eventually, flesh, tattooing the runes onto the body to allow the rune's abilities to be called upon. Thus, the Psi were an intensely powerful, and a Psi opponent could be judged on how difficult the fight would be by how many runes they had adorned upon their body. Those skilled in learning the intensely complex rune language, a language which no non-Psi knew to this day, disregarding the Constructs and higher beings of course, like demons, angels and things majestic and wondrous to behold.

Kain could not have any runes upon his body, not that he needed them. His body would heal too fast, there was only one scar upon his green vampiric form, the long slash mark of the Brightblade which had entered his chest when the Brightblade had tried to kill him.

But that was in the past. The demon had been exorcised when that happened, by Rave’s help, Kain’s sire.

Kain himself was a man with great gravity. He was not particularly tall; many men did indeed tower over him. It was the strength of will that Kain had, and his reputation. He had an aura of passion around him, whether for his people, work or magic that he wove. His skin had a wonderful green hue, and a leathery texture about it. It was not rough to the touch, it was rather smooth yet firm with muscle tissue which Kain had used in many a fight. Kain wore tight leather trousers, and wore a long white jacket, open to reveal his green chest often, even in the coldest of weather. Being a vampire, Kain was unaffected by the elements, his flesh always remaining cold to the touch, unlike his heart.

“Well done to everyone, I am proud to have worked with you, and am proud to work with you on the many buildings which we will raise to house our families and friends.” Kain said, and got off the building to allow the largest family a home. They walked in, the six children storming in, and the young couple becoming aquatinted with the place.

The crowd dispersed, as did Kain to set about work on other buildings and sites. Another home, a school, a workshop, an academy, a park, a bank.

And work on them they did, and great progress was made. Soon, children went to schools with new teachers, learning about culture, arts, history, geography, and all the things a normal child would learn, and also, importantly, about magic. Later, universities would be made, around the Library, a place where various subjects could be learned, about the arcane arts, medicine, science, technology. But they incorporated the main element of magic, weaving the arcane abilities of the Psi into all things.


Then, one day, around the third week since the beginning, while Kain was studying within the Library main hall with other students, looking over plans for various new buildings, a great calamity was heard outside. Kain looked towards the window to see what all the fuss was, along with the other Psi while constantly populated these halls crammed with books which were used constantly. Soon, books would be copied using magical devices, so that the reader could select a language and they would be able to read complex theories on magic in their own tongue, instead of learning the highly emotive language of the Psi.

Kain, seeing what had just landed, sprinted down the spiralling stone steps which were at the center of the circular Library. He bumped into many people as he rand own in the mad hurry, almost making one individual drop a large amount of books. But Kain deftly span past him elegantly, that which the vampiric abilities bestowed upon him. But, during the daytime, his vampiric weakness kicked in harshly more than ever before. Sunlight now made him irritable and made it harder to think, water stung like a wound with lemon juice sprayed lightly on it.

Kain ran downwards and burst outside to the fearful crowd which had swarmed around these elegant creatures Walking slowly towards the magnificent creature, the largest of the ground which towered over the others, Kain beheld the glittering scales which reflected the sun all around it, making it seem holy. It stung Kain’s eyes, his brown spheres never really adjusting to the bright light which was bathing Velmora today. Kain had considered it a blessing when he thought how some vampires could not walk into daylight at all. It was only due to his demonic blood which flowed through his veins due to the reliance on the demon within the Brightblade for food….

Kain approached the largest of the three, which considered Kain most respectfully which it’s noble head and quicksilver eyes which bore the intelligence of hundreds of years.

Kain bowed grandly, which was reciprocated by the creature, who bowed her own large head in acknowledgement.

“Greetings Kain. We have observed what you have done here.”

The three silver dragons continued to talk with Kain and his people, and came to agreements and an understanding. The Silver Dragons would help the Psi, in exchange for food and the right to keep their frosty mountain to themselves, and more importantly, a direct influence upon decisions within Velmora, to guide it with the people.


The Psi agreed immediately.