Profiles in History: Thromer Olvidan

The Virindi, whose native home is portalspace, came to Auberean shortly after the Sundering. It appears they fought a battle with Asheron, over some unknown cause, and lost. It was when the mortals began to arrive through portals from Ispar, Ezheret-Hazahtu, and Tuu, that the Virindi began to make their nature known.

They are a hive mind, into which each individual is absorbed on maturity. An individual adult Virindi, with a personality and a name --- and there have been some, corrupted by contact with mortals --- is an insane Virindi. But as individuals and as a collective, they are possessed by curiosity. It was long their custom to capture animals, wild creatures such as Tuskers and Mattekars, Drudges and Banderlings and Mosswarts, Humans and Lugians and Tonk, and take them apart to see what they were made of, and put them together (still living) in different combinations, to see what would happen. They were figures of nightmare.

But over time, their relation to the mortal races changed. Perhaps they learned something. Perhaps they learned, even, that the mortals did not like being taken apart and put back together. In any event, during the Golden Age, along with the other factions (called Kingdoms) the Virindi Dominion was formed, with both mortals and Virindi among its members, and it was governed by a Virindi called the Imperator.

The Imperator of the Virindi Dominion perished in the Fall of the Kings. Waiting to see which of its enemies, Asheron or Bael'Zharon, would triumph, it was caught in the back-blast and was destroyed. A few decades later, when the Nemesis races attacked, the remnants of the Dominion were driven, still leaderless, into the Shelters with the other mortals.

When we had begun to emerge from the Shelters ten generations later, rumors began to circulate that the Dominion would soon choose another Imperator ... and not a Virindi, but a mortal.

Then, in Morningthaw of our second year, the rumors focused upon a single location, a small Lugian family farm outside Keidelur. Members of the Dominion were asked to check out the farm folk, the family of Almahra Olvidan, to see whether any of its members responded suitably to a mysterious test involving a mysterious helmet. Members of the Shadow Kingdom and the Order of Dereth were asked by their own leaders to investigate the area and find out what the Dominion were up to.

The members of the Olvidan family were generally unwilling to talk to the adventurers, who had to hang around and help with the chores in order gradually to gain their confidence. They repaired a pump, cured a blight in the fields, improved the Armoredillo herd, found missing toys and pets for the Olvidan children, and stood champion for young Thromer Olvidan, who had been challenged to single combat by a Banderling Chieftain.

Finally the story came out: the Dominion representatives, after trying the magical helm on the rest of the family, had put it on the head of Thromer, and it had glowed brightly and vanished. This was the sign that Thromer was destined to become the new Imperator of the Dominion. His family was rather perturbed --- they'd all been Neutral for generations --- but to Thromer, any opportunity to get off the farm was a good one, and he agreed to go to the Dominion and be trained to accept his new office.

A few months later a Virindi Adumbrator (the word means "foreshadower," or one who gives hints about the future) appeared at each of the Continental Nexus and made the following proclamation:

"For centuries the Dominion has suffered the absence of an Imperator. Without communication, guidance, and control, the Dominion is but a flawed tool. But no ordinary mortal mind could long survive the rigors of communion with the Virindi Quiddity.

"The Imperial Sigil, the only artifact that could anoint an Imperator, appeared to be lost forever. But the Virindi have infinite patience ....

"After ages of searching, a suitable canditate was located at last by dedicated Dominion investigators. Thromer Olvidan, a young Lugian farmer, has been selected to assume the Imperatorial mantle.

"For months Thromer diligently studied and practiced the arcane arts required of an Imperator.

"At last, he was ready to assume the supreme position of power. Hail Olvidan! Hail the Imperator! May the Dominion rule forever!"

But those who visited the Olvidan farm found his mother, Almahra, to be worried about her son: "If he has really become the Imperator of the whole Dominion, why hasn`t he taken the time to come visit? Or even send a message?" And those who made their way through the complex maze of forcefields that was the Dominion headquarters to speak to Thromer found him strangely distant: "Thank you ... I am ... well. Tell my ... progenitors ... they need not ... concern themselves...."

To which Almahra said, "What have they done to him? He's not right in the head!"

The other two factions, the Shadow Kingdom and the Order of Dereth, by now had their own leaders: Naokim, lieutenant to Isin Dule, and Nalicana, pupil of Asheron. On hearing about Thromer, they commissioned their followers to go to Thromer bringing gifts, each implying a message. Naokim sent an amethyst sceptre (of appropriate Virindi purple) bound with bands of orichalcum, with these words: "It represents the strength that arises from freedom and self-knowledge. Young Thromer --- that is, the Imperator --- will need great strength to rule over so many slaves!"

But Nalicana sent a razor-sharp obsidian flensing knife inlaid with gold, a reminder of how the Virindi used to vivisect their captives. She said, "Have you heard that the Virindi have acclaimed a new Imperator? For some reason, they have selected a young Lugian, little more than a child. I fear for his sanity in the depths of portalspace. I also fear for the survival of his mind and spirit, beset by the alien influence of the Virindi Singularity. But there is hope! I have prepared a gift that may help preserve the boy`s free will against Virindi compulsion. Perhaps, if the Imperator serves his own conscience rather than the dictates of the Singularity, we may someday reach a better understanding with the Dominion."

Together the Orders and Shadows went to Thromer, and presented their gifts, and the Imperator seemed to shake off some cloud and come back to the here and now. He said, "Thank you for visiting me. I feel much better. The Virindi need me ... they don't mean to cause harm, but the Quiddity still does not understand our world. They are not evil, but they need me to intercede. Send my love to my family."

And Almahra said, "It sounds like poor Thromer is carrying a heavy burden. But one thing we Olvidans understand is duty. If Thromer feels he needs to remain amongst those Virindi creatures, then that's what he must do."

Nalicana later commented, "You have achieved more than I ever dared hope. Who would have expected that old fiend Naokim to devise a plan so similar to my own? Perhaps even the darkest of Shadows is not irretrievable to the Light, if such as he can be inspired towards charity to his enemies."

And so matters have remained. Thromer still rules from his throne room in the heart of Virindi Central, speaking pleasantly to his friends when they visit him. He is young and full of energy, and the mortals have great hope in him. Everything seems to indicate that he is communicating with his strange intangible subjects, and that he may yet succeed in teaching us to understand them, and them to understand us, without going mad.