Cheirin

## Cheirin is the god of Fire active in the time of Annarion, and co-creator of the first Dwarves

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Cheirin was among the final generation of Vahlan to be created rather than born, making him neither ancient nor young. He was famed more for his skill as a dream interpreter and counselor than anything else, but after the rise of War he distinguished himself as one of the most skilled tacticians and fighters on Vahlanost.

### Coming into His Own

When first created, Cheirin was designed as female. The name he was given at birth, Cheirith, means approximately "She who knocks hard on the door" in old Vahlan. Gender had little meaning at the time, and gender roles were never strongly enforced on Vahlanost anyway, but the division existed because the division existed among the Maerin. This categorization, and the anatomy that came with it, caused Cheirith confusion and pain. He drifted for years from one idle pursuit to another until he found the Ministry of Flame. This was in the time before the death of Mage, when the ministry was still primarily composed of seekers of enlightenment and sensation devoted to Meshvara. Cheirith threw himself into the rites wholeheartedly. He smoked every herb known to Vahlan and walked on coals, finding that in him (if in few others) the rites actually did produce results. He gained the ability to discern the emotions of others with preternatural accuracy, an intuition akin to seeing into the future, and the ability to untangle the thoughts that led to dreams described to him. He did not know at the time, and would not while mortal, that he was channeling the Primals. During one ritual, higher on entheogens than he had ever been, he found himself in the embrace of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Sex did not exist yet and they were simply holding each other closely and intimately, but he could feel something different: he had the body of a man. He was shocked, but it felt right. When he exclaimed, "what?," the woman said "This is who you were always meant to be and have always been. Embrace it." When he came down from that state, he did. He severed his breasts and cauterized the wounds. He learned to walk and sound like the male Vahlan, and insisted on a slightly different name: Cheirin, "He who knocks hard on the door." While he did face some resistance initially, especially after sex was invented and biology took on new meaning, his insistence won the day and he was treated as the man he always was.

#### Military Career

Once militarism began on Vahlanost, Cheirin quickly distinguished himself both for his personal combat abilities and tactical acumen. When your enemy's emotions are an open book and you can see the future (albeit distorted as though seen through a haze of intense heat) it is almost impossible not to excel. It caused him great pain later to remember those who died on his blade.

Feared by Dragons

Despite numerous opportunities to do so, the Southern Dragon never killed him. He could stare the creature down, forcing a retreat. When asked why, the being said "That is no creature of flesh. That is a creature of divine Fire." Even during the last battle with Mor-Dun, the dragons were extremely nervous to work with him.

On Gerriard

After the war, once Cheirin was uplifted to divinity, he could foresee no more death or devastation. On Gerriard he worked tirelessly with Tonsa on the Dwarves, secure in a belief that a new age of peace was coming. He also finally felt at peace with his "body," as the avatars he created did not include female anatomy. After the death of Ellenria the floodgates of prophecy opened again in his mind. He almost did not notice Gerriard's destruction, consumed as he was with visions of a million possible calamities on a million possible worlds. A turning point had been reached, and time had changed. He found that he and Tonsa had managed to shield Boderin from the blast, though on Cheirin's part it had been reflex.

On Annarion

Cheirin found it difficult to focus through the haze of his visions, meditating for long periods on the Plane of Fire to focus the possible futures he saw and devise plans to enact. He consulted with Dmalthtome about the extent and scope of his abilities, being told

"Fate is a paradoxical thing, both fixed and in flux, and your sight allows you to see only pieces of that mad tapestry. Even seeing all of it, as I do, does not guarantee one will never be surprised. Do what you will with your visions as I do what I must with that which I perceive. If we do not violate the Precursor's Edicts we may act as we choose. At least, in so much as choice exists at all."

There was more to the conversation, but Cheirin was unable to follow most of it. Afterward Cheirin reestablished the Ministry, hoping that amid the sex and rampant drug use they would also manage to create warriors and priests to defend the people. Fortunately, he was right.

On Dorhaun

Cheirin was not particularly active on Dorhaun until the late Age of the Virgin Lands. He was weakened, partially destroyed, by the death of Annarion and waited dreaming on the Plane of Fire. When he did return he found his dreams of a new iteration of the Ministry were accurate and effective, functioning better than his own designs in Flariok-Censha's re-imagined form. He created an avatar, choosing to appear human as they seemed quite ubiquitous now, and in addition to taking up a portion of a flame god's duties again he took the time to wander this new world in search of sex, drugs, and enlightenment. He found all three, often among the new Ministers, though for the third he was most impressed with worshipers of the new god Dommah Rae.