Soren Kiaki

High Elven poet and chronicler, best known for translating his poem *Lathuni Kadagorit* (com*. Evil Peace*) into sixteen languages for publication and reference.

Born in approximately 200 PW and died in 372 MA. Kiaki travelled the known and then-unknown world, as well as visiting a variety of other planes, writing about their denizens, their histories, and their varied geographies. It is said that his longevity is due to close personal interactions with The Concepts. His firsthand accounts of the Planar War are the best and most referenced records of the conflict in existence. Popular legend also states that he is the father of the first Elubreth, through uniting with Tazumi, though this is obviously impossible to confirm.

Original copies of his work are primarily preserved in the High Elven libraries of the Feywild, although there are a small handful available on a limited basis for viewing by the public in the Raiyakehno hall of knowledge in Olihemir.

## Early Life

Soren Kiaki was born in approximately 200 PW in the town of Threnta, located on the continent of Orzuri in the plane of the Feywild. Though the first few decades of his life he was largely spared of the effects of the conflict, he was forced at a young age to relocate with his family to Keiyasthanem in Southern Orzuri when Threnta became the site of a Planar skirmish. Kiaki had numerous family members and friends who fought in the war throughout his life, however he himself never took up more than a bow due to his frail stature. Instead, Kiaki took to the pen.

Starting as a child, Kiaki kept detailed journals of his life and experiences which he meticulously preserved. At only a century and a half, he began to travel to various battlegrounds to aid those on the side of the Gods in the Planar War. He treated minor wounds, cooked, upkept encampments, and ran supplies and messages. With his down time, he also wrote letters on behalf of soldiers who were illiterate or otherwise incapable of writing for themselves. Eventually, he began to deliberately travel with his soldier brother, Auram Kiaki, and it was with this group that he first left the Feywild.

In 420 PW, Auram was enlisted to a battalion called the Blue Blades (o.e. *Alasari Kochat*, R. *Sabat Zoran*), a large handpicked group chosen to make the first foray from the Feywild to the Prime Material plane under the direction of Kiran. This was the first introduction that Kiaki had to the inter-planar travel which would eventually shape his life. It was also his first interactions directly with the celestial line. Kiaki's focus turned quickly to recording as much as he could of this new place, as well as the peoples, cultures, and many events that suddenly surrounded him. In 441 PW, Auram was gravely injured in battle and taken off of the front lines to become a commanding General. He would succumb to his wounds the next year, in 442 PW. Kiaki attended his brother's deathbed, and then began to make his way around the planes. He would spend the next 558 years, until the end of the Planar War, documenting its major events and recording the stories, culture, and geography of the Planes and their denizens.

## Writings

Kiaki's earliest extant poem, *Aenas Ao'ori'ira Thil* (com. *Flowers Will Grow Here*), was written in 420 PW. His records from then on are peppered with poetry, which scholars attribute to the art form becoming a means of emotional expression for Kiaki, especially because they seem to be densest during times of upheaval in his life. The status of his writings on the histories and legends of the many cultures he came to know as fictional or nonfiction is often debated. Although extensive, these accounts are usually taken as representative of their creators, rather than as historical fact. This is especially true when it comes to his records of Reiyanathen history and the prehistory of the world, which is primarily recorded in the form of prosaic legend. Kiaki also references the Reiyanathen Book of Tales and its foretellings within his works.

According to Kiaki's writings, he initially came across Tazumi in an unnamed, remote bayou in the Plane of Ooze. The two then travelled together for over 200 years, during which they are said to have birthed, or created, a child. In Kiaki's writings, the child is never assigned a gender or name other than the word that would become the legendary moniker, Elubreth. Kiaki's interactions with both Tazumi and the child Elubreth are vague in detail, and instead tend toward emotional recollection, which adds further cause to believe that they are some form of invention or story of Kiaki's own mind. Nevertheless, Kiaki's affair with the Reiyanath and their consequent offspring have become popular legend, and are frequently referenced within the arts. According to Kiaki, Tazumi is said to have departed in the year 991 PW, prior to the end of the Planar War, which she had few dealings with.

Kiaki's writings on the geography and denizens of the various planes he visited served as a solid beginning reference for the explorers and studies which followed. They are still referenced as the oldest records of these things, and are now used as a metric against which to judge change over the centuries.

## Sunset

In the sunset of his life, Kiaki returned to the Prime Material plane and took up residence on the isle of Marenmir. He was given a regular stipend from Queen Iluvia in order to ensure his comfort. His travel was restricted to the Prime Material plane, although he often visited and spoke with artistic groups and political circles. He died naturally but alone in his home in 372 MA, and his funeral ceremony was attended by a crowd of thousands of mourners. His works are still considered the most important historical artifacts from the age of the Planar War, and are some of the highest regarded artistic creations of High Elven history.