Grayhawk – The Barrios Years
An account of the death of Erlain and fate of the empire
Cy 4807 (Jan 5th) – Cy 4810 (Jul 23rd)
In the days immediately after the death of Sarik and Erlain, Barrios took Meril, the youngest daughter of Archibald, and spirited her out of Rosengrad. The king and Gundren, Sarik’s bride, were mortified and sent bounty hunters and assassins to kill the Drenai. Barrios was nowhere to be found and, worse still, he had drained the entire city of its vampiric houses.
As the days drifted on the news of the emperor’s death spread to every corner of an astounded Grayhawk. He had taken the Runestaff, Narnas and the Crown of Erlain and was to become one of the world’s most hunted men. Initially the Menelothian Empire stood during these first few weeks although the Bretonians were quick to move towards an autonomous rule, detached from the Menelothian influence.
The Eren leader, Illiem Runesabre, a necromancer with great knowledge of the undead, gathered to him many Bretonian generals to form an alliance. They stated that they would form a New Bretonia, effectively severing all ties with the Menelothians. Whilst they did not appoint a king they would rule by committee – at least for the first few years – as Demarak (Chael’s disciple) informed them that Gundren (Archibald’s daughter) was with child…the child that would grow to become the rightful king of the New Bretons. Illiem Runesabre was named Steward of Breton, holding the kingdom in check until the rightful heir was old enough to take control. Demarak was urged to be the advisor to the Steward and, after much persuasion, the sorcerer agreed.
Three weeks after the death of Erlain, Barrios came to Mor Erlain with his new companion, Meril. Many of the foreigners had already fled but those that remained were easy prey for the growing army of Daywalkers who walked through the sun-soaked land.
The Menelothians expected the announcement of a new emperor but Barrios surprised them all. Every inhabitant heard his voice in all corners of Meneloth, and it urged them out of their homeland. Barrios spoke into their souls, urging them to uproot themselves and head for the promised lands of the Kulls. A land, which, he told them, will sustain Menelothian life in peace and harmony forever. Unable to resist his command because of the Crown a whole nation was on the move! The largest exodus in the history of Grayhawk left behind it empty citadels and trails of millions of Menelothians heading south. The Rosen king, Archibald, mobilised an army to stop them. Barrios visited the Rosen king in private to explain the foolishness of standing before him.
‘If you stand against me you will lose a second daughter,’ Barrios said calmly, a battle blade in each hand. Archibald’s resistance crumbled and he channelled the refugees over the Forlorn Hills and through the many passes of the Lanik Range. As the stream of Menelothians reached Talkhand they were brutally attacked by an alliance of orcs and Nadir tribesmen. There were many mercenaries of all nationalities in the makeshift force. Under the guidance of Tarn Gorshak, the brilliant veteran general, the Menelothians brushed aside the marauders, sweeping east through Talkhand and into the plains of the Nadir. During the brief skirmishes Barrios could often be seen at the vanguard of many battles, a battle blade in each hand, he destroyed whole legions single handedly before the skirmishes finished. After this he would become known as Deathwalker in the eastern half of Grayhawk.
Gundren, eldest daughter of Archibald of Rosen, gives birth to a son – Sarik Ramadius II – and he is instantly proclaimed heir apparent of New Bretonia. Gundren is invited to live in Gran Breton, where she is treated like a true queen. The first months of the baby’s life are spent in the company of Demarak, who is impressed by the potential of the child.
Illiem Runesabre, the Steward of New Breton, decides to expand the kingdom by moving into the deserted kingdom of the Menelothians. Some minor resistance is encountered but within two months the kingdom of Bretonia has expanded even further.
The refugees from Meneloth lie at the junction of the Darim Flow and the mighty Kalador Forest. The Kals are adamant that Barrios and the Menelothians will not pass through their kingdom and the High Council of Darim stand firm against them also. The tension grows and is only released when Barrios unleashes the army of Menelothians against the free people of Darim. The Kals are drawn into the war, fearing the consequences of Barrios’ legions.
In Tarn Gorshak, however, the Menelothians had a general of pure genius. His command of warfare was such that the war dragged on for months. Barrios was at the front of many battles and no one could touch him in combat. Eventually the Kals relented – after a joint defence at the Battle of Dunedran – and Barrios carved a channel through the forest and into the mountains around the Promised Land.
The massacre at Aldegarde (Cy 4808 Jun 16th – Dec 4th)
Once into the mountains Barrios and the Menelothians regrouped, recovering for a month after the war with the Kals and Darim. Barrios sent his Daywalkers into the orc citadels to promote unrest whilst Tarn Gorshak prepared his army for an assault on the orcs.
Barrios the Deathwalker entered Aldegarde alone. The orcs never knew he was there, and the orc king only discovered his presence when he appeared to him one night. Barrios offered the orc a deal – leave the lands by the sea and live.
The orc king refused and was summarily executed. What followed was a massacre rarely seen on Grayhawk – every orc was slain, with only the most useful enlisted into the growing ranks of the Daywalkers. It took a further five months to completely rout the orcs. Exactly one year from the death of Erlain and Sarik Barrios was now in a position to rebuild the Kull lands and relive their former glories.
Barrios wasted no time in setting out the agenda for his new kingdom. Cities were built; deep in the ground he found the great cities of the Kulls, buried long ago after the orcs came. The Daywalkers were handed over to the greatest of their number, Milas, the Jezharrain vampire, whose sorcery and cunning had made him a dangerous elf.
‘I want to eradicate Jezharrain from Grayhawk,’ Barrios said.
‘Of course, master.’
‘Take control of the Daywalkers,’ Barrios said. ‘You have a year.’
Kings from all over Grayhawk were united in their fear of Barrios and his new kingdom. Drenai, Talkhand, Breton, Darim, Rosen and even the Kal elves held council after council as to how to deal with the new menace. The greatest living killers were despatched to deal with him over the next few months.
None survived – each one cut down by Barrios or his guardians. Tales began to surface about his uncanny ability to smell danger…such was his reputation that after three hundred attempts on his life there were no more assassins of any quality left in the east. Those assassins still alive were too scared (or too wise) to even attempt the task.
All the while Barrios delved deep into the history and lore of the Kulls, unearthing the secrets of Kull weapons craft. Whilst he studied Milas took the Daywalkers south on a yearlong pogrom against his own people.
New Bretonia (Cy 4809 Jun 2nd – Cy 4810 present)
Gundren grows into a young woman of great beauty and has a statesmanlike grasp of the way kingdoms work. Her gentle influence on Illiem Runesabre steers New Bretonia into one of the most powerful northern kingdoms. She oversees negotiations with Illythar, the Elenorian Queen, where she hands back the Elenorian forest and gains a proud ally in the process.
Her child, Sarik Ramadius II, stuns all in Gran Breton by casting his first spell – aged only 18 months!!
The Sorcerer’s Gambit (Cy 4810 Jul 4th – present)
Saband, The Voidwalker, visits Barrios in his new kingdom. He is keen to befriend Deathwalker and offers all manner of inducements – including knowledge of how to wield the Runestaff. Barrios is not fooled by the oily words of the sorcerer. Even when Saband hurls threats Barrios is not moved by the raging magician.
‘I am the most hunted man on Grayhawk,’ he replies coolly, ‘my soul is safe in Hell and there is nothing before me that I fear. If you want to walk out of my kingdom then go – but if I ever see you again, Saband, I will cleave your skull in two.’
Saband, Voidwalker, retreats in fear…
Afterwards Barrios is visited by Milas.
‘You should have killed him when you had the chance, master.’
‘I have use for him yet…’