Ki’ethar Valandrin reached the Tree with his two brothers, Eldul and Tahrmyl. Unfortunately the Elves of Marinveil, their home, remain obstinately doubtful about the existence of the Tree. Even with the marks of the Tree and the demonstration of their newfound powers, which the Elves admit they do not understand, they are still looked down upon for their “foolish, youthful fantasies”. In their haste to try and somehow prove the truth of things to the elves, they get careless and draw attention to themselves from agents of Asmodean. Eldul is killed in battle covering for his brothers’ retreat. Ki’ethar, more determined than ever, wants blood. Tahrmyl, thoroughly, disillusioned, gives up and tries to resume the life he left behind for himself in Marinveil. Ki’ethar, disgusted by his brother’s cowardice, tries all the harder to convince the elves he speaks the truth. He is cast out until he “grows up”.
Ki’ethar is beyond rage. He asks the True Mother for help and guidance, but She only tells him that he must forge his own path; She cannot help him because Asmodean is preventing her or Elysius from doing so. Feeling that he is fighting a losing battle, he wanders aimlessly.
In dreams he is visited by agents of Asmodean. They whisper to him that Asmodean does not seek to destroy or even enslave the worlds. Rather, he seeks simply to break the cycle of blood that the Mother has enforced upon them all. Over time, Ki’ethar learns that the Mother created life in order to sustain Her own existence: when Her children die, the recycled energy also nourishes her. In order to stay alive, Her children must continually die.
At first Ki’ethar is resistant to this truth. However, he finds memories of his past lives unlocked to him. In all lives there is war: blood and death are continually omnipresent all over the world. Ki’ethar is devastated. Is there no one who will not betray him? He allows himself to be touched by the power of Asmodean.
Nevertheless, he cannot bring himself to ally with Asmodean. Despite all of his hurt, his pain and his rage, there is a small part of him that will not let him completely turn from his own kind. But neither does he consider them friends. Alone, friendless, a wandering vagabond with no home and no kin, Ki’ethar wanders the world hopelessly, offering death to any who cross his path as a temporary reprieve from the hopelessness that is life. He spends most of his time near the borders of Marinveil, offering death to his former kin when he seems them.
After encountering his brother and party once again, Ki’ethar gains a glimmer of hope for the future. Feeling that there is at least a chance for victory, he atones for his wrongs by revealing the truth of things to his elven kin at Miranveil. By doing so, he draws the attention of Asmodean to himself and is claimed by him, but it is a sacrifice that he is willing to make in order to convince the elves of the danger. Because of his sacrifice, the elves of Miranveil are brought to the Tree and pledge to join to stand against Asmodean.
