Kabiri

Fanart of Kabiri by rosariabec https://thelemonthief.tumblr.com/post/160792577507/boy-o-boy-i-dont-really-use-this-account-to-post

## General details

### Aliases

Cadmilus; The Volcano God; Son of Hepheastus; Patron of the ambaros; The most holy Kabiri

## Physical description

### Hair color

Black

"*If I say you’re one of mine, that is what you are. I don’t care what your true-form is, or who your father was. If I claim you, I don’t half do it.*"
―Kabiri[[The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire, Chapter 8: Hand of God]]
**Kabiri** or Cadmilus is one of the only gods introduced in *The Fae Tales Verse.* He is depicted as a Chthonic underworld deity who interferes mischievously and for uncertain purposes in the fae realm.

## Appearance

When Gwyn ap Nudd first met Kabiri, he described Kabiri as having 'small teeth in a small and sharp smile, ears that were furred red and tufted with black at the ends, to match ringlets of black hair that fell only to his ears. He wore the bright furs of animals Gwyn had never seen before'. Kabiri's breath smells like ashes and he otherwise smells of brush fires, smoke, and lava.

When Kabiri appeared in disguise at the Masque, he wore a crab costume, with an abstract mask, and colourful furs. He later started to transform, and his 'eyes sunk, his hair seemed wilder, even his fingernails became hooked claws' when he became upset or angry. When Kabiri later transformed again, black bone jutted out of his cheeks, his costume of furs was charred and not colourful, and his teeth were like 'nubs of charcoal'. His voice rippled 'from a deeper place than even Augus' true voice when it came upon him.'

Eran Iliakambar described Kabiri as 'a young man who only looked about nineteen, except he carried an impression of ancientness that sunk into Eran’s bones. The colourful orange, red and violet furs. The olive brown of his skin, the black and red bone ridges of his forearm and cheeks, the red-black nails and the wild yellow eyes were immediately recognisable, even though Eran had never seen him before. Not in person. But he knew those ringlets of black hair, the rough wildness to him, though it looked wilder and sicker than Eran could have imagined.'

After the battle with Olphix and time had passed, Kabiri appeared to Eran looking much healthier. 'He was the younger version of himself, around nineteen, wearing his orange, red, and violet furs. His olive brown skin had a golden sheen to it, and the bone ridges looked larger and stronger than usual. Those wild yellow eyes, that vivid red hair, his god was doing better.'

## Personality

Kabiri is playful and manipulative. Like other gods, he likes to leave his mark on people, which can involve badly scarring or permanently injuring them. He does care for certain creatures and people, including the dragons (his 'coals'), the ambaros, Gwyn, and Eran.

## Life

Gwyn originally thought that Kabiri was the child/children of Hepheastus, and actually a cult of gods or people. Eran called him 'Son of Hepheastus'. Kabiri said that the ambaros gave him life. Kabiri is also a god of fire dragons. When Olphix and Davix killed (and imprisoned) the fire dragons, it substantially weakened Kabiri. They also placed a geas on Kabiri so that he couldn't talk about whatever it was that Olphix and Davix did and/or are planning to do.

Kabiri seemed at least vaguely aware of Gwyn prior to Gwyn reaching out to him. When Gwyn was cold and dying while on the run from the Seelie Court, he struggled to make a fire, so he prayed to 'Ancient gods of fire, from the upper and underworlds both', accidentally calling Kabiri. Kabiri created the fire for him, and claimed a life debt from Gwyn in return. Kabiri pointed out that there were underworlds creatures who were not happy with Gwyn for various reasons, and that Gwyn needed to cauterize his wound to survive.

When Gwyn reached to his light - purely for comfort - Kabiri shoved the light back from Gwyn's reach, and kicked Gwyn in the shoulder, knocking him unconscious. When Gwyn came to, Kabiri offered vaguely to help save Gwyn's life, in exchange for another life debt, and Gwyn refused, saying Kabiri couldn't be trusted. Kabiri pointed out that even though Gwyn wasn't accepting the offer, Gwyn owed Kabiri a life debt already for the fire, and thus, wasn't allowed to die until he'd granted it. So, Kabiri dug his burning hand into Gwyn's shoulder and straddled him. Kabiri turned his hand into a sort of claw skewer, heating it from the roaring fire, and then plunged it into Gwyn's shoulder. The act 'scrambled' Gwyn's shoulder. Gwyn ultimately passed out again, with Kabiri's hand on his forehead. When Gwyn next awoke, Kabiri said Gwyn owed him, and told Gwyn to seek a healer. Kabiri said the fire would burn for a week, and then he would return to collect on his debt, at his convenience.

When Davix fatally wounded the Old Lore, the Old Lore granted Gwyn the Red Blessing, and told him to let Kabiri know of it the next time they saw each other.

Kabiri next appeared during the Masque at the Unseelie Court, disguised as a crab-costumed fae. Gwyn attempted to be polite, until Kabiri unmasked himself. Gwyn asked him about the Red Blessing, and told him the Old Lore was dead. They attacked each other, though Kabiri of course came out on top. Kabiri called in his first favour: he ordered Gwyn to release Ifir and raise his status to Court. Kabiri also advised him to investigate 'Firebeard', who had given Ash Glashtyn the soulbond.

The near annihilation of the ambaros substantially weakened Kabiri, even affecting his physical appearance. He attempted to combat the ice plague, to no avail, which also weakened him.

Kabiri returned to Gwyn when Eran and Mosk Manytrees arrived at the Unseelie Court in relation to the ice plague. He seemingly ordered Gwyn to bring Eran to him, to ensure that Eran was alive and well. Eran knelt before him, overcome with awe. Kabiri lamented that Eran's fire was quenched by Fenwrel the Mouse-Maiden's geas. Kabiri pulled Eran to his feet, and Eran, noticing he was unwell, asked after his welfare. Gwyn continually taunted Kabiri, and the pair sniped at each other throughout the meeting, revealing to Eran that Gwyn once owed Kabiri two life debts (now one). For his second debt, Kabiri told Gwyn to '[p]ut [his] life on the line for [Eran], and keep him with you.' When Gwyn demanded elaboration, Kabiri attacked him. Kabiri clarified that Gwyn wouldn't die if Eran did, but Kabiri would not be happy if that happened. After negotiating with Gwyn over the details, Kabiri went to Eran again. Kabiri touched him, and kissed him on the forehead, comforting him and telling him to be strong, despite not getting his fire back.

When the Raven Prince departed the Mantissa, he noted that whatever geas Olphix and Davix placed on Kabiri was broken, so he could talk more with Eran about what was going, particularly about the dragons.

In the eighth year after the battle with Olphix, Kabiri came to visit Eran in the new Aur forest. He talked about dragons, and that it wasn't Kabiri's place to find them, but that Eran would. He also said he planned to visit Gwyn at some point.

## Special Abilities

**Cadmilus:** Kabiri seemed to note that in the Land of Dead, he appears in his Cadmilus form, which is apparently very unpleasant. In one of his forms, he has the ability to create a pocket of fear. Eran noted that Kabiri's Cadmilus form destroys souls.

**Teleportation:** Kabiri can teleport, which Eran describes as 'a writhing mass of smoke and flame'.

## Relationships

#### Aleutia the Rat-Maiden

Aleutia had prior knowledge of Kabiri before looking after Gwyn, so she likely either studied him or encountered him in some manner, possibly through another patient. Aleutia greatly disapproves of Kabiri's methods in dealing with Gwyn's shoulder injury, and is angry on Gwyn's behalf.

#### Augus Each Uisge

Augus has 'never met Kabiri before; was no match for him, but he wouldn't mind saying a thing or two about what he'd done to Gwyn's shoulder.'

#### Davix

Davix noted that he and Kabiri had an old score to settle, possibly in relation to the dragons. Of Kabiri, Davix noted, ‘I know Kabiri *very* well . . . Cadmilus. Laying his little curses and debts and traps, decrepit crab god, cancerous and unwelcome. We destroyed his dragons, but all his volcanic venting did nothing at all, did it? You worship a pathetic, paltry pissant, not a god.’

#### Eran Iliakambar

Eran is beloved of Kabiri, and has been chosen and blessed by him, and claimed completely. Eran worships Kabiri, and theirs is a relationship of love, compassion and love of fire. The fact that Kabiri claimed him, fully, has been a great comfort to him. Kabiri called Eran his favorite.

#### Gwyn ap Nudd

Although Kabiri pointed out that Gwyn pissed off a lot of underworlds gods by using the soulbond, and the pair often fight, Kabiri is somewhat fond of Gwyn, and caressed his face in a comforting way on multiple occasions. Kabiri also asked if they were flirting during the Masque, and implied that he was interested.

#### Ifir

Kabiri called Ifir 'one of my people', in that he's 'all about fire. I'm all about fire.' Kabiri clearly valued Ifir's life and well-being enough to use a life debt with Gwyn to restore Ifir's status and military position.

#### The Raven Prince

The Raven Prince called Kabiri 'Cadmilus', and was surprised that Gwyn is indebted to him. The Raven Prince also called Kabiri a fool for relying on Gwyn. The Raven Prince calls himself and Kabiri 'cautious allies'.

## Quotations

* To Gwyn: 'This is going to feel like dying. Be a phoenix for me. Rise up and get over it.'
* To Gwyn: 'I’m fond of you,’ Kabiri said, ‘but not that fond.'
* To Gwyn: 'You fear doom. . . . You should. You fear war. You should. Remember me, when you call the trumpet that heralds the charge and defeat both. Remember me, when you’re burning the pyre of bodies and everything smells of death.'
* To Gwyn about Eran: 'Look at what you’ve done to him! His poor fire, quenched like that. How cruel. And after all we’ve lost.'
* 'Gwyn ap Nudd,’ Kabiri hissed, ‘if the life of Eran Iliakambar is threatened, so too will yours be. If he finds himself abandoned by your intent, so too will you find yourself abandoned by the world. Consent to the debt, or I will take your other arm and it will not grow back. I have grown too weary of showing patience, and I have lost too much for you to mock me. I can hardly do what I wish up here, and I will not be talked down to by someone like you. . . . Until such time as the plague of ice is no more, your life is bound to his. You will keep him with you where possible. . . . You will seek him out if he becomes lost or threatened. You will undertake to keep him safe and well. You will protect him as though he were one of your loved ones.'
* To Eran: 'I want to stay! We could hang out! But I have some debts to check in on, and some fae to harass, and more rest ahead of me. Eran, all you need do right now is live. You’ll always have my blessing, okay? Always. Okay, that’s it, I’m off! Going to get mawkish if I stay!’

## Trivia

* Aleutia the Rat-Maiden noted that just before seeing Gwyn, she heard of Kabiri taking open-ended debts with others.
* When Gwyn is near Kabiri, his shoulder wound feels like it is burning.
* Eran wished to light candles for Kabiri, offer him fire, or sing songs of the molten rock to lava in order to help Kabiri. Eran later explained to Mosk that ambaros would make fires for the fire gods, primarily Kabiri. Other rituals for Kabiri include naming fire for him.

## Folklore/Mythology

'In Greek mythology, the Cabeiri or Cabiri /kəˈbaɪriː/ (Ancient Greek: Κάβειροι, *Kábeiroi*), also transliterated Kabeiri or **Kabiri**, were a group of enigmatic chthonic deities. They were worshiped in a mystery cult closely associated with that of Hephaestus, centered in the north Aegean islands of Lemnos and possibly Samothrace—at the Samothrace temple complex—and at Thebes. In their distant origins the Cabeiri and the Samothracian gods may include pre-Greek elements, or other non-Greek elements, such as Thracian, Tyrrhenian, Pelasgian, Phrygian or Hittite. The Lemnian cult was always local to Lemnos, but the Samothracian mystery cult spread rapidly throughout the Greek world during the Hellenistic period, eventually initiating Romans. . . . The name of the *Cabeiri* recalls Mount Kabeiros, a mountain in the region of Berekyntia in Asia Minor, closely associated with the Phrygian Mother Goddess. . . . However, according to Beekes, the name *Kadmilus* may be of pre-Greek origin. . . . They were most commonly depicted as two people: an old man, Axiocersus, and his son, Cadmilus. . . . The mysteries of Samothrace did not publish the names of their gods; and the offerings at the shrine are all inscribed *to the gods* or *to the great gods* rather than with their names. But ancient sources tell us that there were two goddesses and a god: *Axieros*, *Axiokersa*, and *Axiokersos*, and their servant *Cadmilos* or *Casmilos*.'

## Image Gallery

Fanart of Kabiri by rosariabec https://thelemonthief.tumblr.com/post/160792577507/boy-o-boy-i-dont-really-use-this-account-to-post
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 February 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2390892. Chapter 40: Accidents.
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 June 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/9186013. Chapter 46: Masque.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 18 November 2017. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/29092809. Chapter 8: Hand of God.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 August 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/102269367. Chapter 40: A New Season.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 March 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2655808. Chapter 44: Consultation.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 6 September 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/37093806. Chapter 28: Like Batteries.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 March 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/55596259. Chapter 28: Farewell.
8. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 14 March 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2732377. Chapter 45: Coronation.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 27 March 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/8003448. Chapter 37: Explosion.
10. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 November 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/5922374. Chapter 19: Trust.
11. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 1 August 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/4478196. Chapter 5: Unsolicited.
12. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 12 June 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/9291202. Chapter 47: Redirection.
13. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 6 January 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/90349834. Chapter 23: Collapse.
14. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 27 September 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/49401356. Chapter 15: Own Yourself.
15. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 January 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/30758403. Chapter 13: Captured.
16. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 May 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/44466025. Chapter 4: Damaged Instincts.
17. ↑ "Cabeiri". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabeiri. Accessed 2 June 2021.