The Night Skies of Elanthia
as documented by Brakian Warbringer

This Tale is dedicated to the late Galadriel Light…
May your journeys be safe and the stars always bright as your guides.
You will never be forgotten.

And, to Lady Wanton, for her guidance, and reminding me that the stars do, indeed, exist.

Kai's Belt

Appearance:

Kai's Belt is not an actual grouping of stars, at least in the conventional sense. It is a milky band that stretches across the sky from horizon to horizon. Some astronomers believe that Elanith is a sphere floating in a giant ephemeral ocean, and that other 'planets' are arranged in a giant cosmic wheel. The stars, to them, are giant balls of fire, and toward the center of the wheel those are grouped more heavily. Viewed from the outer edge of the wheel, looking toward the center, the tightly clustered stars block the stars beyond, thus creating the stellar phenomenon we call Kai's Belt.

Location:

Kai's belt stretches from horizon to horizon, north and south, at all times of year. At some times of year, the Belt is more visible than others. Its position varies a good bit, mostly because its angle changes as it crosses the sky. However, it always ends at the north and south horizons, never the east and west.

Lore:

In ancient times, it was said that a pair of giants held the sky aloft. They stood where the sun rises and where the sun sets, bearing the weight of the heavens on their massive shoulders. These giants, obviously powerful greater spirits, lesser Arkati, or even ancient Drakes, have no names recorded in any contemporary history.

During the beginnings of the Ur-Daemon War, the Ur-Daemons attacked and killed these giants. The battle was monstrous. Great clouds of dust rose into the sky, blotting out the sun. Elanith was cloaked in shadow and darkness, and a great winter fell across the Lands.

The Arkati railed futilely against the darkness. None of them had a plan to restore the heavens. They continued watching the Drakes in their war against the Ur-Daemon; cloaked in inky darkness, huddled away in whatever hiding places they could find.

Finally, Kai returned from battle, where he had been fighting beside his Drake creator and teacher. He saw the heavens laid low and was afraid. Somehow, the Arkati knew that the Darkness made the Drakes weaker and lent power to the Ur-Daemon. They knew that restoring the heavens could, perhaps, turn the tide of the war.

The Arkati spent months considering their options. Fash’lo’nae and Lumnis, in an odd alliance, lit upon a plan. They sent Kai to the horizon, beyond the realm of the war, and he enacted their instructions.

He unfastened his great belt and slung it across the breadth of the heavens. Straining mightily, he hoisted the heavens aloft again. His muscles stood out like cords, and he lifted the skies back to their rightful place, straining mightily all the while. He slipped and fought, trying to do the work of two great beings. His indomitable spirit held failure at bay, but the other Arkati doubted his ability to hold the heavens aloft for long. As he strained, sweat poured from his brow like a river, and it is said the salt of his sweat as it poured into the oceans made them salty and full of brine.

Tonis, Messenger of the Arkati, acted the most quickly. He took the loose ends of Kai's belt and ran with as much speed as he could muster to the north and south horizons, each in turn. At each horizon, he found a great tree. These trees were as old as Time and their trunks reached past the heavens themselves. Moving with haste, he fastened each end of Kai's belt to the topmost branches of these trees.

Kai, shuddering in relief, released his grip on his belt. Tonis' plan was fruitful, and the trees were strong enough to do the work of the two giants. The heavens were aloft again. The inky darkness and bitter cold the Ur-Daemons had wrought slowly abated, and warmth and light returned to the Lands.

This event proved to be the turning point of the Ur-Daemon War. Shortly after, the Drakes won their first victory over the Ur-Daemon, using the blazing light of the newly bright sun to their greatest advantage. With Kai and his Drake mentor again at the head of their army, they slowly pushed the Ur-Daemon back to the great portal, and back beyond the Veil.