The Rise of the Lord of Shadows
An account of the years following
the Battle of Garrain (Cy 4813, Dec 1st)
Aftermath (cy 4813 – the month of Decadus)
Glenarrion
returns to the waiting crowds after the battle that saw the death of a
couple of emperors, the greatest sorcerer of the age and a king of the
east. The crowd do not know whether to bow or to run. Fangor Kinslayer
is sated, replete by his side as the crowd descend into total silence.
He sails back to the port of Jezhar where Malkar at the temple greets
him.
From Jezhar he returns to Tamaran
- Mondron, Vlaslavi’s chancellor and bids him to inform Alistair and Sarik
Ranadius II of the events of the previous day. Fear is replaced by awe
as Glenarrion sets up a regency council comprising of Mondron, priests
of every denomination and Alistair. The people of Skoorl are affirmed
by his commitment to Skoorl and there is talk that Glenarrion should become
the new emperor. Glenarrion dismisses such an idea as nonsense. He speaks
publicly, announcing his decision to act as guardian of the west of Grayhawk
– not as its emperor. This impresses many and soon he has a great following
amongst the kings and nobles of the day. Malkar returns Cedelan (Vlaslavi’s
pregnant consort) into the protection of the regency council where she
is treated like a queen by her people.
Glenarrion
takes time to offer communication to Willowstar, the goddess of the elves,
but the deity is inconsolable, his presence an acute pain for her. Sadly
Glenarrion abandons his attempts to console the deity although he preys
to Malkar and the Goat Herder to care for their grieving sister.
Darklanders
Rising (Cy
4814 – 4816)
The
Darklanders take the death of their beloved emperor to heart and invade
the southern shores of Jezharrah and the Arborean Desert. Alistair and
Glenarrion mobilise their armies and a bloody, drawn out war begins. The
Darklanders secure much territory in the south despite constant battles
and engagements by the Skoorlian and Estallian forces. The war drags as
the Darklanders prove a worthy and dangerous enemy. Their warcraft is
beyond anything seen on Grayhawk and the war threatens to expand into
other territories as the oriental warlords try to secure treaties and
alliances with other kings.
Glenarrion is kept busy with diplomacy
with the kings of Grayhawk. His main aim is to stop them escalating the
war with the Darklanders into something global. Where he can he threatens,
cajoles, bullies or urges but none of the kings of Grayhawk dare to go
against the slayer of Demarak. So the war in the south grinds on, sapping
the resources of both Estallia and Skoorl.
The
Future of Skoorl (Cy 4814 Feb 15th)
Cedelan
gives birth to a daughter, the new heir of Skoorl, and she names her Vlaslavia
in honour of her great father. The child has the guile of her mother and
the flawless beauty of her father…she has a strong soul and a great magic
potential. Even in the midst of a war with the Darklanders the people
of Skoorl rejoice at their new heir.
A
Trip to the East (Cy 4814 the month of Jultar)
Glenarrion
crosses the Gorat Sea despite the dangers of roving Darkland war galleys
and heads for the land of the Kulls, once ruled by his good friend Barrios.
The cities are deserted save for the handful of Muhaki elves, a learned
wise race that once dwelt with the mighty Kulls. There are no Menelothians
to be seen and the ranger learns the full horror of the resultant battle
at Garrain. At the instant Barrios was unmade by a void blade the Crown
of Erlain was destroyed and with it went every single Menelothian…destroyed
forever. Even now, seven months later, the Muhaki search for any remnants
of the race of Meneloth. Glenarrion knows the awful truth…none will ever
be found.
Study
(Cy
4814 – 4816)
Glenarrion
wastes no time and delves into the art of sorcery with a hunger that borders
on addiction. When he is not reading reports of the southern battles or
parlaying with great kings he is deep into the study of magic. In this
field Fangor Kinslayer offers great assistance. The blade is a font of
much knowledge and draws upon several thousand years of its own personal
study of the Craft.
Glenarrion augments much of his
study with his mastery of primal power and his development is rapid as
he strives for the secrets of the tenth layer of magic. This secret, he
knows, was the reason Demarak and Chael wielded the great power they did.
Victory
(Cy
4816 Jultar 16th)
The
Darklanders are finally defeated. A combination of Glenarrion’s sorcery,
Fangor’s power and Alistair’s troops scatter the remnants of the oriental
hordes into the mountains and deep forests to live as outlaws. The people
of Skoorl and Estallia rejoice and hail Glenarrion as their saviour.
His studies into magic begin to
dominate him. Without the distraction of the war he throws himself even
more deeply into the quest for power.
Years
of Peace (Cy
4816 – 4820)
Grayhawk
lapses into half a decade of relative peace and security. The initial
fears regarding Glenarrion after the death of Demarak are distant and
faded memories. His self-proclaimed role as guardian of the west brings
a period of calm and prosperity to all the nations of Grayhawk and many
people now seek his wisdom in the field of war and magic.
Fangor Kinslayer warns Glenarrion
of a growing movement in the north. The Khulandir elves are stirring trouble
but Glenarrion ignores the warnings of the blade and continues with his
studies. Vlaslavia is now five years old and has developed into an intelligent,
lively and astute young girl. She and Glenarrion become close friends
and he becomes her guardian, mentor and surrogate father. Her potential
is awesome. Already, at such a tender age, many suitors for her hand (most
notably Sarrik Ramadius II – now a precocious teenager) are abroad. Glenarrion
and Cedelan are careful with the young heiress as any betrothal could
well affect the entire world.
Crowning
Glory (Cy
4820 Jultar 15th)
Sarik
Ramadius II is crowned the ruler of New Bretonia. At his coronation are
many of the great kings of Grayhawk; a gathering of elves, human and dwarf
the like rarely seen on Grayhawk. Glenarrion is present although he is
growing ever distant and withdrawn.
After the coronation Glenarrion
speaks at length with many of the kings, including eminent priests and
sorcerers he has come to know over the years. Few of them realise what
is happening, save the astute young daughter of his fallen friend. Vlaslavia
realises that the wielder of Fangor Kinslayer means to seek solitude and
she slips her tiny hand into his.
“You mean to leave,” she says solemnly.
“The time is right, Vlaslavia,”
he replies.
“Will you ever return?”
“I am the guardian of the West
but the age of the dark sword is over…my thoughts will always be with
you.”
The small girl has a tear in her
eye. “I don’t want you to go…who will tell me stories of my father?”
“His legacy will live on for many
years, Vlaslavia, and there are many great men in the palace who loved
him.”
“It won’t be the same again.”
Glenarrion straps the dark sword
across his shoulder and kisses her fondly. “Nothing will ever be the same
my dear…”