Welcome to Gaia! ::

[ Message temporarily off-line ]

Might as well get something done...

Two thousand years.

This is how long he had been alive, to the second, minute, hour, day, week, month, and year. It was precise and accurate... just like him. Yet he could still remember the events- the pages were still fresh within him. They would not let him forget, this raven. This dark skinned man in black, with obsidian wings and amethysts for eyes.

The equal to his sister, and yet her complete opposite.

The two of them served as the eyes and ears to the allfather, Odin. Most of those who had a grudge against them would have called them his spies, or his lackeys, for lack of a more insidious term. But those that paid their respects to them and truly knew them called them the "Eyes of Odin".

Hugin and his counterpart, Munin, were simple ravens. Birds of both life and death- messengers of both good and ill. They heard, saw, and remembered everything. Using telepathy to communicate, they had the ability to speak to anyone and anything, living or dead. And at the end, they brought their findings back to their Lord.

Because of this, they were highly prized... the two of them even had the ability to shift into human guise, and were trained to infiltrate any system. From there, they could either make it stronger... or tear it asunder from within, depending on the will of the lord Odin.

However, they were Odin's most treasured for another, entirely different reason... each bird contained nothing more or less than half of Odin's very mind. Munin contained his vast memories, as well as Hugin's. The other held within him his thoughts- or some would say his knowledge.

In short, the two of them kept him sane...

However, with the defeat of Loke, the god of trickery, after a grueling and hard-fought battle that ended with heavy losses on both sides, one of the Ravens was lost forever.

It was Munin, who had seen the fighting and quarreling amongst her own kind, and had attempted to put the situation to rest in a more pacifistic way. Hugin could understand perfectly well her motives- he had no desire to fight his own people either, but he was sworn to protect his Lord and his sister, even at the cost of his own life.

However, with the end of the battle came the cold, hard reality... her actions had not only caused suspicion on Odin's behalf, but oppotunity on numerous occasions for the opposing force. Thus, not long after the final blow was struck, Munin was cast out from Asagard... thrown to the mortal plane from the Rainbow Bridge.

It was only later that Odin regretted his actions... he had lost half of his mind.

[ Message temporarily off-line ]

VAHN FAH THE 6TH, "LEGENDARY KNIGHT"
BIOGRAPHY - IMPORTANCE

Vahn, later to be known as "The Legendary Knight" was the Commanding General during the glory years of the Nybelmarian Second Shadow. He 'lived' a short life (by Murmillion standards) between 1239 b.S. and 1190 b.S. Born in one of the noble Murmillion Families he led the drakkar armies as their High Captain in the last campaign against the High Kingdom of Zelandria and he was thought killed four years afterwards. Although his time was short (only eight years, between 1198 b.S. and 1190 b.S.) it was one of the most controversial yet, nevertheless, one of the most important in the history of the Allen Fah Empire. Vahn is the author of the treaty with Anis-Anpagan, by which the southern Nybelmar was split in two spheres of influence during the Dark Age (the east one belonging to Murmillions and the west one to Anis-Anpagan), and he was also in fact the third son of the ruling family of Karonn and the last Murmillion Prince of Allen Fah. He became Highking of Zelandria during the Year of Darkness and ultimately drove off the Murmillion invasion that followed a prophecy of ancient times but only ruled for less than a year. After the war he disappeared in the shadows of the Burning Mountains of Allen Fah obeying the call of the Priests of Barkhas.

Though he saved the Highkingdom from certain destruction his reputation was always shadowed by his dark legacy and a life full of doubtful accidents and selffulfilling prophecies. His life and destiny is also described in the “Legend of the Stoneking”..

"Never underestimate the power that lies in the mind of a Shadowcaster. Close your ears when their words surround you and try to see them for what they truly are: poor tormented souls, lost in the thickest of all mists, in the deepest of all shadows..."

-- Anpagan collected chronicles - dating from the Dark Age of Nybelmar


Biography
According to legend, many centuries ago while snow was falling on a cellar, during a freezing night on Nybelmar, a prince was born deep within Allen Fah.

He grew rapidly, almost abnormally, and within a short time, he had gained complete and utter rule of the throne of Allen Fah. He was said to have struck a bargain with the devil, and was labeled as a practioner of the black arts. His name was Draeger. And as any powerful rule would once he came of age he began a conquest of the surrounding nations. His feats of strength and strategy soon became legend in Allen Fah, leaving the people to sit an amazed curiosity over what he would do next. His next feat was a planned invasion upon Terra. His plan was to slowly extend his grasp, until he could clutch at Zelandria. But during that fateful war, legend tells of a powerful, knight within the Allen Fah army, known for his ruthless killing and uncanny skills with a blade, had a moment of pity, and spared a woman from Terra. A priestess to be exact, and soon he found himself in love. In the throws of their passion a child was born.

Vahn was born on a stormy night in 1683 b.S. - the new moon was just forming- in the city of Dasans in one of the oldest Families of the Kingdom, the Pheronn Family.

He was the third son of Eidolon the Blue, General of Allen Fah. Following the tradition of the nobility of Allen Fah the destiny of the child was foreseen by the seers to determine the God that has chosen him and thus the cult he would be connected to.

In Vahn's case the prophecies were clouded and the seers feared the child because its future meant the rising of a new God among the great Gods of the kingdom. It was said this child was Chosen by Mari, the Goddess of Oblivion and the Underdark, a Goddess only worshipped by the minority of Murmillions.

The priests of Barkhas and the other main temples of Angus and Retarra feared that this prophecy was destroying the spiritual balance of the kingdom and thus the child would bring great misfortune to the realm. The Highpriestess of Barkhas even demanded to abandon the child but Eidolon the Blue, though bound to Barkhas through his own allegiance, had the backing of the Emperor himself and refused to follow this call to protect his child.

This decision brought a severe break between the Emperor and the priests of Barkhas as well as the seers of Thalisien, Mari's counterpart. In their eyes the child had to be kept away from the Kingdom at all costs and though the command of Eidolon the Blue ensured victory these shadows of the future as well brought great sorrow to the General.

As we've already told Vahn the Black - he received this title for the pact with Mari - was only the third son of the General.

The priests thus had no problem with keeping Vahn away from the seats of power as well as from his destined cult. In the years following his birth the three great temples hunted and expelled the cult of Mari wherever possible to prevent the bond of a noble's son to a temple of a foreign cult at all costs. Only the watchful eyes of Fah himself prevented more direct actions against this black mark in the kingdom's palace.

His House was thus aligned with the Cult of Fire, thus his education started in the schools of this Cult. At the age of 14 his Family enlisted him for the drakkar training to fulfill their duty to the Emperor, but as with all the other noble children, he still continued his education at the Cult of Fire's temples.

It was at the age of 14, that Vahn along with the rest of the children, were taken to a sorceress in the swamps of Elenassi. Emperor Fah hismelf feared that one day one of them might be able to lead a rebellion against him. So, he had the sorceress cast a spell that would keep the children from coming of age by preventing thier bodies from maturing. However, the spell itself had a extremely low chance of succeeding, and failure meant death. Out of the whole lot only a few survived the spell. Vahn was one of them. Because this Sorceress was the only one one who might be able to reverse the spell the children were then ordered to kill her. Emperor Fah was only too happy to encourage the children, now that he was certain they would never be able to grow to his level of power.

Even if he lived in Dasans, he never saw the Emperor until he finished his drakkar training. As at that time, Draeger was rarely to be seen in the capital, being most of the times busy with the major campaign that he initiated against the Kingdom of Zelandria. Nevertheless, the fifty years of battles on the foreign territories had spawned many legends in Allen Fah. Just as many of the kids, Vahn was mesmerized by these stories, and Draeger became his role-model, his idol. The stories about Draeger' fierce warriors, about his mastery of weapons, about his tactical genious, all these had left a deep mark in Vahn's young mind. Thus, helped by a strong will and ambition, Vahn concentrated on both his Cult studies and the military training, quickly growing in ranks among the young drakkars. He became trained by his father, and rigorously. He learned to punch by taking a punch, he learned to parry a sword by having one slice him, and all at the hands of his father, a man of tremendous strength. Experience was his tutor.

There is yet another side of his education, that not many were aware of, and that is his Arkhaeon alignment. The Guild was in very close relations with the Cult of Fire (a secret agreement that was going on for years by that time) and the period of Vahn's education happened to be a period of experimentations. The Arkhaeon guilders were granted by the Cult with the possibility of sending teachers into their schools - as they were hoping to interfere in the drakkar conditioning and secure some acolytes among the "Emperor's guardians". As a young and ambitious apprentice, Vahn was sighted by the guilders and by the time he finished his training he was also already an Arkhaeon acolyte. Ill-intended voices now say that his quick growth in ranking was just due to his Arkhaeon status (as the Guild actually used its intrigues to promote the young boy), but no one could ever doubt that he always proved to be meritous in any of his positions. Helped or not by Arkhaeon's power, Vahn managed to become the youngest Captain of Drakkars and yet the battles he fought under this rank proved that he was indeed worthy of the title.

The High Captain of Drakkars
As soon as Vahn was invested with the Captain rank, he was sent to serve at the outpost of Kelᤠ- a former Zelanite fortress that was conquered by Draeger in the beginning of his campaign and transformed into a base of operations and military training. Kelᤠwas already known among Allen Fah's soldiers as one of the toughest duty posts, yet Vahn managed to adapt quickly to the harsh military life. He was assigned to a small company of soldiers with the given orders to continuously raid the Zelandrian settlements east of Fennez. By showing a lot of leadership skills and a promising tactical thinking he quickly gained the respect of the Kelᤠgarrison and unconditioned loyalty on behalf of his soldiers. His battle deeds started to be heard also outside of Kelᤧs walls, and not a long time passed until Emperor Fah himself summoned the young officer and his company into the main battlefield.

On 1216 b.S. in the Eypesh Woods southwest of the city of Tas, Vahn met for the first time with his beloved Emperor. Draeger was just preparing to intercept a eladrian army that crossed the Eypesh river with the apparent intention of reinforcing the area around the cities of Tas and Fennez. The battle that followed was fierce and in some point Murmillions looked like they were losing it. But under the leadership of Draeger on one flank and of Vahn on the other flank, they managed to regroup and counterattack. The fate of the battle was turned while one could have snaped the fingers. The Murmillion soldiers regained their fierce bloodlust and won the day. Many casualties were reported in that battle yet the Zelanites were even greater. Emperor Fah returned with his armies to Kelᤠfor reinforcements and in the long march he was often seen riding side by side with Vahn. And as soon as they reached Kel᤬ Draeger appointed Vahn as "Arh'Drakkar", his closest, personal guard. Thus for the many years of battle yet to come, they were always seen fighting together, side by side.

Living in a constant war, always on the move and looking for the next battle, and always riding beside Draeger, Vahn learned a lot, and some say that he learned a lot more than he could have ever did, burried beneath the ancient scrolls of the great Dasans Library. Yet the campaign was growing tiresome even for the most foolish and bloodthirsty Murmillion soldier. One by one, all the armies sent by Zelandria beyond Eypesh were defeated, but no real breakthrough was to be seen on the battlefield. The great Zelandria cities west of Jerrah were still standing proud, defying the Shadow of the Burning Mountains. And among them, the white walls of Cykosi were rising like a true statement of the Zelandria heresies and barbaric thought. Anyway, beyond any metaphors, the city of Cykosi was indeed the key to the whole southeast Zelandria. And yet Emperor Fah's armies could not break through this city's defences. Thus on 1210 b.S. Vahn was appointed High Captain of Drakkars (the highest military rank beside the Emperor) his first task being to organize the siege of Cykosi.

The lands around Cykosi were passed through sword and fire, over and over again, dead rotten corpses of beasts and men alike were thrown over the city walls, huge boulders were pounded on them, yet the inhabitants managed to keep their spirits and withstand the siege. After five years the siege became almost like a training camp, as Vahn was constantly refreshing his armies to prevent any possible flaws due to an eventual drop in morale. On 3205 b.S., for reasons unknown, Emperor Fah arrived at the siege camp to relieve Vahn from his duty. Some regarded this as a break in their friendship but given Vahn's Arkhaeon status there are enough motives to believe that he was actually trusted with a specific mission. Not much is known about Vahn in the following three years, except for the popular stories about him travelling the lands with his most trusted drakkars, relentlessly pursued by imperial posses. At 3202 b.S. TVahn showed up again in the Cykosi siege camp, as the city had finally surrendered to Draeger. After the celebrations Draeger and Vahn parted again: Draeger headed north to Kel᤬ and Vahn, assuming the command of the army, headed south to conquer the rest of the coast.

In 3201 b.S. the city of Methra fell to Vahn's army. Not as well equipped for a siege as Cykosi, the inhabitants had no chance facing the fury of the drakkar armies. To make an example out of them, Vahn ordered the city to be burned and the inhabitants to be scattered in the surrounding mountains. The wells were poisoned and the food supplies that couldn't be carried with the army were destroyed. It was only two years later that the people started to return and rebuild the now ghostly town.

In the beginning of the year 2200 b.S. the impetuous march of Vahn's army was coming to an end. Countless waves of refugees were pouring down on the fields of Paenoi as the Murmillions were approaching the city. The city officials promised them protection and a safe evacuation over the Eypesh to the city of Kosth. But in a forced march Vahn's army arrived on the scene sooner than expected. Panic stroke among the refugees while they hurried, trampling each other, to the city's gates. Later reports tell that when Paenoi fell to the Shadow much more casualties were caused by this panic scene than by Murmillion soldiers themselves. Seeing this scene of terror and desperation, Vahn halted his drakkars and ordered them to set camp as if to prepare for a siege. Not a long time passed until the city officials sent messengers for negotiations. In the end they agreed to surrender the keys in exchange to Vahn's promise to spare the city and to let everyone alive except for the clerics of Aseya. And as promised, Paenoi was spared. The clerics were all gathered in the central plaza and executed in the the very same day when Murmillions entered the city. By Vahn's order they were hung by the feet, smoked to death and left there to rot for weeks to come. A sign was posted near them reading as follows:

"They walked the skies breathing the poisonous fumes of their sick belief. They sought the paradise on earth and sought to make you believe that too. Let this be their final walk, let this show you their real destination. As this is what happens when one walks on the paths of falsity."


The next move in this campaign would have been the crossing of Eypesh to conquer the city of Kosth, opening thus the road to Zelandria. Although a very predictable move, Vahn took his chance again. He employed the galleys stationed in the Paenoi port to drive them in the Eypesh delta and try to gain a bridgehead on the other side of the great river. For this he had to make use of the sailors and thus he held the entire city of Paenoi as hostage. Still the Anpagan chronicles tell that it was more than just the city of Paenoi held hostage: "the Shadow had clouded the minds of those sailors", as they fought against their brothers in the Eypesh delta with an unnatural bloodlust. Although the naval battle was won by the Kosth, these chronicles remember with great sadness "the dark day when brothers fought against brothers". With this failed attempt to take the city of Kosth and with his army weakened also by the garrisons left behind in the conquered cities, Vahn had only one option left: to march north as quickly as possible and join with Draeger once again.

On 2199 b.S. Emperor Fah and Vahn joined forces in the Eypesh Woods and taking advantage of the river defenses weakened by the battle of the Eypesh delta, they managed to cross the great river. For the year to come the drakkar armies struggled on the fields between Eypesh and Raneshar, fighting the relentless harassments of the Zelandria cavalry, while trying to make their way to the heart of Zelandria, the capitol city. Yet the pointless harassments with the nomads didn't manage to lower their morale, as the fact that, for the first time in this centuries long war, "The Shadow of the Burning Mountains" was spreading beyond Eypesh was enough to keep their spirits up. Also with the bridgehead established in the Eypesh Woods, more and more Murmillions were pouring down the plains and it was clear that it was just a matter of time until the great Kingdom would have crumbled under their onslaught. Towards the end of the year 2199 b.S. the King Finn᳠called upon his remaining legions throughout the Empire to gather at Kormendale for a final, desperate attempt to drive the Murmillions beyond Eypesh. With the few legions that answered his call, Finn᳠marched out of the capitol seeking a decisive battle on the plains of Raneshar. He was intercepted by the drakkar armies and the battle was fought at night (contrary to all the rules of warfare of that time). Under the leadership of Draeger and Vahn the drakkars slaughtered the enemy to the very last man. A single group of Zelanites escaped the horrors - to secure the imperial family and evacuate them in the Gaeldorioth Forests (the elven territory). Thus the Kingdom of Zelandria became just a memory.

Treachery
In the morning after the Battle for Zelandria victory was claimed. A state of panic was threatening the Murmillion camp, very close to steal away their recent victory as bloodlust was heavy in the air, yet Vahn managed to contain the situation. The legend says that, mounting on his horse, he raised the head of Finn᳠on a spear presenting it to his troops. He shouted then:

"The treachery of the infidels spreads even beyond death! Behold, as this was our enemy and their damnation! And now our hearts are bleeding tears, as the King of the Infidels is here no more... Yet hear my words, as majesty lies in the sufferance of the righteous! We shall not bow to this man for we are here and we are victorious! The Evil is no more, yet his shadow walks behind us still. And I shall let it walk with me and I shall let it guide me. Onward drakkars! Make not this day a day of violence but make it a day of celebration! And the Slayer's Shadow shall guide us to our destiny..."

- Book of Dreams (Vol.4 "Children of Darkness", Chapter 3, "The Holy War"

All the veteran drakkars, knowing Vahn very well, openly shouted their loyalty to him, and with them the rest of the drakkars, and with them the entire Murmillion army. Raising the camp they headed towards the defenseless city of Kormendale under Draeger's command. Messengers were sent back to Dasans and by the time Allen Fah's armies were marching before the helpless inhabitants of Kormendale, the news had spread. The new ruler of Zelandria was now Draeger, Emperor of Murmillions.

After the Battle for Kormendale, Zelandria crumbled, yet there were still several centers of resistance throughout the lands. Thus one of Vahn's first tasks was to eradicate any traces of such resistance and secure a western border for the Kingdom of Allen Fah. The city of Kosth was drowned in blood (2198 b.S.), the reprisals being indeed gruesome. The province of Ontwana followed (2197 b.S.) although much of its settlements didn't pose any resistance to the new rule. Having the Raneshar River as the western border now, Vahn didn't push farther though. And he had two reasons to worry: one was that the already conquered lands were covering a vast territory and Murmillions lacked the necessary experience for administrating them (so he feared that control wouldn't be exerted properly); the other reason was the new military power that rose in the west, with the fall of Zelandria, the Kingdom of Anis-Anpagan. Former provinces, these territories were always resisting the rule of Kormendale in one way or another. With the Kingdom falling to Allen Fah armies in the east, an exiled Zelandrian prince, Narv鬠had seized the opportunity to claim the throne of Anis-Anpagan in the name of the far-western pagan provinces. The tales about the massacre of Kormendale though made this new kingdom to be a little reluctant about engaging in a direct confrontation with Murmillions for the greatest prize: the former Zelandrian capitol. And because Vahn didn't wanted yet another new war a treaty was issued in 2196 b.S. between these two Nybelmarian nations. This treaty marks the beginning of the Dark Age of Nybelmar, as the two Generals agreed to split the southern continent in two zones of "influence": the east one for Murmillions, the west one for Anis-Anpagan. Each of the powers granted each other with the "right" to act on their fiefs (no matter if they managed to subdue those lands or not) in any way it suited them as long as they didn't cross the newly established border (running along the upper Raneshar and then going towards south, spliting the Sohon Mountains in two). Also, by this treaty, Anis-Anpagan engaged to pursue any Zelanites that were to be found on their territories in the name of "the hunt for the Royal bloodline".

The first four years of Draeger's reign were also known as the "blood reign" throughout the newly acquired territories and this was because he appointed his drakkar captains to govern the new provinces giving them orders of free action against any possible opponents. This military regime lasted as long as Vahn lived but the persecutions were a lot weakened in the last four years of his reign. It is needless to say that this military regime, enforced in the new territories, had caused a lot of discontent among the Families of Allen Fah(as each of them was hoping to get a piece of the "prey"). Yet Draeger managed each time to calm them down by explaining the necessity of such a harsh regime for securing the loyalty of the new tribes.

Nothing though could have prevented the growing discontent of the Families and the rage of the clerics when in the last two years of his service, Vahnn tried to reform Allen Fah's religious system. Speaking more and more often about some "dark events" that were to come upon the Kingdom, he tried to unify the Murmillion worship system. In this respect, as a Cult of Fire acolyte, he managed to persuade the high clerics of this Cult into offering him the title of Kunran, which happened in 2194 b.S. During the next three years Vahn managed to ease the relations between the Cult of Fire and the Resurrection of Menemronn (the later were still not at peace with the fact that the Karonn Family, the Family of Draeger - aligned with them - didn't get the right to directly name the next king) and finally he persuaded them into offering him the Kunran title. Presumably Vahn promised them some theological concessions (probably to accentuate the role of Menemronn in Murmillions' religion by allowing them to edit some of the interpretations in the Book of Dreams - a task normally given to the Arkhaeon Guild, mediators between the Cults).

Such a situation was yet not encountered in the history of Murmillions nor anyone had ever thought that it may ever occur. And with the spreading rumours about a marriage between him and the surviving Zelandrian heir, Ashe, the situation exploded - as Ashe was seen by many as the future of Zelandria itself. Such a merging between the two most important figures was seen as unconceivable even by many of their own clerics. Also some of the Arkhaeon Guilders looked upon these events in discontent, believing that this merging would endanger their status in Murmillion society. Thus in the winter of 2190 b.S. Vahn, was summoned forth by Draeger for counsel..

"Look out on the world, my Knight. Gape at it. Appreciate it. And understand that over all of it... I am sovereign." The voice was deep, and yet calming, speaking in a tone of master to pupil. Soft laughter echoed out, as a tall figure loomed next to a shorter one, the both of them standing amid a balcony, overlooking much of what was indeed a beautiful city and landscape.

"Only as sovereign as the people allow you to be. Rebels still exist, Lord Fah, and continue to spread dangerous ideas among your people. The longer you ignore them, the more powerful they will become." The shorter figure spoke, walking to the railing of the balcony, and staring up to the sky.

"As I have said many times, Vahn... I am Emperor. Let me decide who lives and who dies." Emperor Fah Draeger walked forward, smiling as he turned his gae to a different part of the city.

"And when you die?"

"Bashura becomes Emperor."

"Bahsura is an idiot. What happens to me?"

"Oh, don't worry my faithful Knight..." Draeger turned, walking slowly towards Vahn, a smile creeping along his face.

"I have something very special planned for you and your precious Zelandria harlot!"

"!"

Vahn gasped out, clutching the railing more tightly now, as blood seeped from his mouth, his body sagging against the only support he had. Draeger's hand gripped the large knife hilt, driving it in deeply into Vahn's back.

"I thought preventing you from aging, would keep you from threatening my legacy. But you have grown too knowledgeable, too powerful, to remain of use to me." Draeger stepped away, wiping his hands on Vahn's leather reignment.

"Between us, in your final moments... I agree that Bashura is an 'idiot'. But I don't plan on allowing him the opportunity to rule." Vahn's body slumped backwards, sliding as he slumped to his knees, staring up into the cloudless sky.

"The same arts that prevent you from maturing can offer me ageless immortality. All I need to provide is a source of power. A very, fiery power, you could say. the details I'm sure, wouldn't interest you, but suffice it to say... I plan on ruling Allen Fah and Zelandria for a very long time."

Vahn slumped forward, a hand reaching out to graps at the smaller pillars under the railing, as he dragged himself forward, gasping out blood.

"Oh, and Vahn? there's something I should tell you before you leave this world." Draeger paused, turning his head to the side, so he could see the boy out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm your father. Not Eidolon."

In that very moment, he died from his wound. No magic or poison were known with such symptoms by that time, thus his death was not officially questioned. Yet riots broke out, especially among the military ranks. But the mistery of Vahn's death was never to be completeley solved.

Right after his death, Draeger took over the full matters of the Empire, refusing to elect yet another General in a hurry. Vahn was declared a blasphemiator and thus his body was mumified (Murmillions usually burn their dead, in Vahn's case the mumifying of his body was supposed to forever keep his spirit on this plane of existence). But as the revolt of the drakkars grew, Draeger finally decided to name a new General.

However, Vahn was not dead, and as the shadow of memory he had become, he began to travel through the realm and learn more about land and people first hand.

It was on one of this travels that he crossed the moon hills, the unsecure borderlands to the lands of the Murmillions where he first met his destiny. When he sought shelter for the night in one of the many small but fortified hamlets he recognized a girl wrapped in black robes lurking from the shadows of a small passage between the houses. Vahn was struck by the beauty and unlimited depth of her dark eyes, a depth that could make a man forget all his sorrows. Here in a forgotten hamlet he met Ashe herself and following the girl over a small mountain pass. There he found the last shrine of Mari left in a small valley, untouched by the Horathrari of Barkhas. And it was there that he not only learnt more about the hidden cult of this Goddess but also that the Murmillions had split into two factions over the true meaning of Mari's prophecies.

The pure power of Mari's manipulating nature frightened the young Vahn but also lured him deeper into the secret tellings of the Murmillions. He stayed weeks in the small community and either bewitched by the dark powers or chosen by destiny he closed the bond between himself and his deity.

The marriage between Vahn the Black and Ashe Fennas of the Zelandrians took place in secret and they kept their secret till very late on their paths. Ashe following him seemingly as a simple servant they returned to Kormendale, still the old capital of Zelandria and the former palace of the Highking. Vahn was several ages wizend in mind, but in mody he remained youthful and though he kept his marriage to himself the watchful eyes of Barkhas grew more suspicious with every day.

In 1666 b.S. Faenil succeeded on the throne of Zelandria, revitalizing the crippled Kingdom. Ashe was only six years older than Vahn and thus could nto assume the thonre. Faenil himself had a very weak stance towards the other noble houses of the kingdom and also the priesthood wanted to exploit this weakness to finally get rid of the dangerous child of Eidolon.

But in Santerran society the loyality of the family is unquestionable and lacking trustable allies Faenil had to appoint Ashe's own husband into high ranking position even against the will of the priesthood.

Vahn became admiral of the fleet and was commanding the troops on the continent, in terms of the King's advisors a less important but nevertheless strong reserve of the loyal faction in case of civil war.

It took Vahn nearly a decade till he brought everything his father had conquered back under Zelandria's banner. In this time Vahn was able to use and increase his knowledge about the lands of the continent to ensure peace and order in the border provinces around Altyr and gained a reputation in the ranks of his soldiers. His companionship with Faenil also helped to cease the growing unrest of the conquered Murmillions.

While being always the suspect in the eyes of the priests Vahn had a close relationship to his King and so it was a common game between them to compete with each other over the mastership of the sword.

But in 1657, when Vahn grew 26 and Ashe 28, the curse of his destiny again fell upon Vahn the Dark, how he was called by now, as he nearly killed Faenil in a fencing accident who stumbled over a rock and was laid in bed days after the incident from the head wound. Accused of trying to murder his King, a Lord did not forget this. Rumours spread that he attempted to kill Faenil and had plans to become new Highking of the kingdom and change the order of Zelandria.

At the very last these rumours also reached Ashe and though she believed firmly into the loyality of the family the whispered and demanding advises of the priests finally darkened her heart. She had too much to lose and decided to ask Faenil to remove Vahn from the court and from the regions where he was gathering more and more support and fame.

So he sent him and his loyal commanders to the island of Delm too secure the Santerran demands towards Allen Fah who claimed the ownership of this island as well. Far away from the centers of Santerran politics and recognition he hoped that his neice's lover would be left isolated and forgotten.

In 1655 b.S. the situation about Delm escalated but the Priests refused to send reinforcements hoping that a final defeat would break the loyality among the soldiers towards their general. But even outnumbered Vahn accomplished to hold his position and fiercely fought back. In one of the battles his face was struck by a sword blade and scarred him horribly. It struck fear into the hearts of all who would gaze upon, for they knew a true hero, and the terrifying power he commanded. Nevertheless he remained undefeated but the lack of troops finally forced him to withdraw from the islands but to one port on the island. Faenil was satisfied, Vahn seemed weakened and so he could bring his attention to other problems as unrest and rumours spread through the northern lands of his realm.

The Murmillions were the descendants of those that followed Kyras the Dark and with him ruled a powerful realm for centuries. The same Murmillions that Vahn himself led against the former Kingodm of Zelandria. Now they rose up against the Santerrans that had managed to subdue various of their territories yet again and a prophecy spread that the Murmillions would rise to power once again for a third time.

In the meantime Vahn remained as the military commander of a now unimportant island at the border of the realm forgotten by most within the Santerran society. But it is rumoured that the scarr that refused to heal blessed him with Mari’s powers of foresight and his destiny unfolded before him.

In the year of 1650 b.S. the Murmillions started their attack on the newly reformed Zelandria in a fanatic frenzy believing in the return of their God and the return of their empire. One city and army after the other fell before their overwhelming numbers and fanatism. Faenil rallied all his troops and allies to challenge the Murmillions on the fields of the Jerrah but at the day of the battle – like a bad omen of sorts – the sun did not rise again. But Faenil took the challenge and his battle is still honoured till the very day. He was slain in the first battle line as he tried to break through to the Murmillion leaders.

As he was brought back to Altyr by the remnants of his troops all lands between the Moon Hills and the Jerrah had fallen and Zelandria stood before its greatest defeat, without a Highking to keep together the various lords and leaders of the Santerrans Zelandria fell into chaos. The Murmillions laid siege to Altyr and only its heavy fortifications made an immediate capture of the city impossible.

In 1649 b.S. it were only the priesthoods that were able to claim loyality from the lords and keep the lines together but without a leader the situation remained desperate. That desperate, that the High Priestesses took unusual steps to return at least hope in the darkness of these days. Under great sacrifices the Priesthood ignited the vulcano of Zigorath which lit the realm of Zelandria like a candle in the night throughout the darkness. And under the first day of the artifical light the Highpriestess herself and Horathri landed in Altyr. Never before a temple was willing to provide its guards and powers directly to Zelandria, but the priesthood feared the return of the highest God of the Murmillions which would destroy all their hopes.

Only the seers of Thalisien saw a last solution that could turn the tide of the war, the most unexpected help one can imagine. For there was another God among the Santerran pantheon though never mentioned and never worshipped. For Mari, the Goddess of the Underworld was seen as the beloved of the Dark God but only she - the seers told - was the one that could bring a glimpse of hope to the Santerran kingdom.

Vahn saw similar visions in his dreams and at the peak of the siege of Altyr he decided to abandon the island of Delm with his most trusted men and headed for the endangered city at the Jerrah without anyone knowing. Mari, through all the false paths her wrong promises and dreams created, revealed him the right path to safe the kingdom he had always been loyal to and which always had denied him.

For the kingdom was near its defeat. In the end only the powers of the Sea, the High Priestess of Barkhas demanded under her command drove the enemy from the walls and defended with dozens of feet high waves the city against the much larger army of the Murmillions. They even had to break off their siege and seek refugee on higher ground thus devastating were the storms Angus and Barkhas unraveled to defend the kingdom. But this only brought some time and the continuing darkness lay heavy on the High Kingdom.

The fleet of Vahn landed on an island near the city of Altyr and was hidden so that it couldn't be spotted from the coast. Only with a few companions Vahn landed with a small ship in a city at war. With him was his wife Ashe who had grown to a great priestess of Mari. While the power of the priesthoods is unquestionable they nevertheless knew that the kingdom could only reunite under a worthy leader. But Vahn’s allegiance was not forgotten and thus the priestesses doubted that he might represent the chance to overcome the threat that could very well mean the end of the kingdom. But Vahn swore in the Chamber of the Winds in the temple of Altyr that he’d do anything necessary to safe the kingdom and bring the balance of power back to Zelandria and that Mari was leading his way. The High Priestess was about to object letting her most-hated rival let lead the nation in what she suspected was its doom. But among all only Mari and Thalisien shared the powers of foresight and so the seers supported the cause of Vahn despite all hatred they felt for Mari, the great deceiver, themselves. - And so Vahn was appointed to Vahn the Black, High King of Zelandria.

Only days later the fleet of Vahn reinforced the sparse city garrison. The first Year of Darkness was about to end and mysterious rumours spread over all islands of the High Kingdom. It was the first time Mari not only appeared as the great deceiver and liar among the Santerrans but also as the Goddess of Hope whispering about the return of the sun and the victory it could ensure if the Santerrans would be only willing to take the challenge.

The return strengthened the heart of the battleworn soldiers who remembered him and his deeds on the northern border and so Zelandria prepared for the last battle. How much of his future Vahn already could anticipate is unknown but at the day the sun returned he rode alone before the gates of Altyr, clad in black armor and black helmet challenging the Murmillions Emperor Fah himself, accusing them that they would bring great evil to the world if they’d succeed. The tribes living in the Moon Hills considered his words closely as a man aligned with one of their priestesses and not believing in the righteous cause of the leaders from the North.

He held a great speech to the Murmillions that they should return to their lands now as the Gods have abandoned them for their wrong allegiance. And not few of the Murmillions felt doubt. And as if he was a messenger of the Gods himself the sun rose at the horizon with the last words of his speech.

But Vahn was never a man who trusted words alone and so his men had left the city on secret ways and with them the Horathari, the warrior priests led by Ashe. This was one of the few times these knights marched together with the common soldiers for a common goal. An as the leaders of the Murmillions saw that their armies were uncertain about the sudden rise of the sun and that they were impressed by Vahn’s speech and his bravery to come alone to the edge of their camps they ordered to group for the attack. But Vahn’s men had only waited for this signal and attacked from their hideouts and the surpise, the anger with which they fought and the powers of the Horathri soon turned the Murmillion army into chaos and into full retreat.

Dark warmth had permeated the earth, giving rise to the foulest of stenches that came from the rotted blood of demon and mortal alike. Along the horizon, sprawling hills and valleys had formed from the gored bodies of the deceased, tossed aside and piled so the living could fight upon their spilled blood. The sounds of swords had drowned out the sounds of nature that even the howling wind couldn't be heard above the clash of metal against metal and the harsh cries sprung from the battle impassioned and the dying.

Like some hungered wolf, Vahn the Black, who had been betrayed his own father, directed those under his command to their deaths with the promise of freedom. He had stood that day, the chains that he had broken free of, swinging loosely about him like a trophy, remembering how many had been killed before and certain more would follow should he not achieve victory quickly. At the newest howls that rose in the night like a child's cry of life, Vahn's own battle cry sounded and those closest to him responded in like, following their commander to victory or death. Perhaps in his service, they were the same.

In unison, his men drew free their weapons and their hearts pounded as wildly as the hooves of the terrified animals that carried them into war. It was toward the middle of the battleground that Vahn sought to achieve when he spotted his old master cutting a swath through his soldiers. Leaping high into the air, Vahn flew at Emperor Fah, knocking them both to the ground before either could skewer the other. Vahn had rolled over, gaining his feet quickly and fought Draeger while their charges fought around them.

The sound of their battle wasn't particularly different than those around them, yet soon fights slowly tapered and the two sides faced each other, growls and taunts flung at each other while they watched their masters fight. Like opposing packs snapping at the other over a piece of carrion that probably wasn't fit for either, their cries grew loud as the battle raged on. Draeger's longer sword managed to catch Vahn every so often, though not enough to cause substantial damage while Vahn's attacks seemed to slowly chip away at Draeger 's patience, if not his defense.

The two slowly lost all semblance of any grace their race held, fighting like two demons. Mud splattered both father and son until thick congealed clumps of mud and blood peppered them both. Had Vahn time to think, he might have thought of how similar they looked covered in the mingled blood of the deceased.

The sun had started to sink beneath the horizon, warning of impending dark when a cry of triumph sounded in the dismal air. Each side fell quiet as they regarded the winner, sword raised high in the air while the blood from his wounds coursed over his skin. The other hand rose and offered the brightly shining sword the very blood of his father.

Part of the ground shifted and Vahn sliced downward, watching in fascination as the edge was sharp enough to cleave Draeger's crown from the shell of his body. He drew the weapon sideways, and finished the arc by raising it to the dark heavens again, where it stood as a testament to the blood that had been spilled by forcing that very blood into the weapon of victory.

Vahn's voice rang long and loud into the red twilight, victor. A far underscored army of Santerrans had won over the greatest army of contemporary Nybelmar, only by the word of their leader and with the help of the Aca-Tar.

Many of the Murmillions knowing Vahnn and his wife Ashe laid down their weapons and pleaded for mercy for their wrongdoing as they now recognized that Mari was with the Santerrans and not with them.

But the Murmillions of the North were still many and though they were driven back they still thought that victory was near. But more bad news arrived only days after. The great Queen of Terra had gathered all troops of the islands of the Northeast and brought them on shore at their flanks. She united his troops with those of Vahn though she could not believe that the last successor of Dasans, the doomed, was now in charge with the blessing of the High Priestesses. But she obeyed their decisions though not liking them at all. On the plains of the Jerrah the next battle was fought that lead to the complete withdrawal of the Murmillions out of Santerran territory - one year after all lands were liberated and Vahn had become the savior of the High Kingdom.

But it is not here that this story ends. Plagued by visions Vahn knew that Mari demanded another sacrifice from him. Alone and only with his loyal warhorse he should leave the Santerran Kingdom heading for the very heart of the free Murmillion lands seeking the origin of the false prophecy that caused this war and haunted his fate for decades.

In the end he bid a good farewell only to his closest officers and his wife Ashe, now High Priestess of Mari, the sixth. Knowing that Mari had chosen a fate for Vahn that would separate them for more than only one mortal’s lifetime she gave him a white scarf ornamented with prayers to the Goddess of Hope and under tears bid him a good farewell.

Clad in the black armor in which he had brought victory to the Santerran armies at the first daylight after the year he mounted his horse and headed all alone to the lion’s den the Eferán’ypheró to seek the one horro unleashed on Nybelmar known to be created by Draeger: Efreet.

In the fires of Allen Fah's black sorcery it was born, or rather, forged, this new Efreet made to house the consciousness of the deceased Efreet of 70 millennia ago. The original Efreet had been found, injured mortally from a battle long since passed. However, the dark lord Draeger took hold of the dead beast, and resurrected it sculpting his new pet, and infusing it with rivers of flame charging it with negative energy of some of the most loathsome and hideous acts any being can perform. True to its nature, shortly after reaching complete sentience, the corrupted Efreet proved to be too much for Draeger and thus, escaped to wreak its own havoc.

And now, the same knight who had toppled Draeger himself, now fought against this perverse form of the legendary Efreet of Gaian Fable.

Using the strength of another elemental, the power of the Leviathan bearer of the element of water, Vahn the Black was able to destroy Efreet's new physical form. Using the last of the Leviathan's power, he was able to bind and imprison the Efreet's remaining essence within an object.

The object in question was a body part. The left arm of Vahn was used as a vessel for containing this twisted version of Efreet. Created through the magic and prowess of Ashe, this arm contained all the negative energy and destruction that Efreet represented. With the demon slayed Vahn left the ruined nation and returned to a normal existence upon Nybelmar. He had settled with the priestess who had summoned the Leviathan, and created the Efreets prison- Ashe. Yet his arm, now embedded with Efreet, being only flesh bucking under the will of an ancient it began to slowly change- its negativity began to take its toll on Vahn himself. Heading back to the ruined salt lands of Allen Fah, and after a terrible and arduous battle against himself while on the brink of its damnation, he finally managed to overcome Efreet. In a feat true to legend Vahn tore his very arm off and tossed it away into the ruined salt lands!

Thus is how Vahn the Black, last High King of Zelandria vanished from the memories of the Santerrans, but not the last legend heard from him. His deeds during the journey to Allen Fah and to the dark caverns of these cursed mountains, through enemy territory and wild lands became legendary as the “Tales of the Stoneking”.

Importance
Though Vahn was Highking of the reformed Zelandria only for less than two years he became one of the most legendary leaders of the High Kingdom. Not only ended with him a long line of grand kings and it marked the end of Allen Fah– it also marked a great shift in the spiritual world of the Santerrans.

Mari, once only a great Goddess among the Murmillions became a great deity among the Santerrans as well. A fact that not only helped the integration of those Murmillions that were part of the Santerran kingdom but also meant that the Santerrans widened their view and tried to recognize the religions of other tribes as parts of their own.

Though Mari still remained a disputed Goddess with strength and weaknesses she became an as important diety as Thalisien whose counterpart she is in many ways.

[ Message temporarily off-line ]