In which our heroes learn of The Tale of Six Kingdoms, & consequences of Loremasters meddling
Zaris began telling us The Tale of Six Kingdoms by explaining that it started about 9000 years ago. Which is a timeframe that seems to be almost impossible for me to comprehend. The mortals amongst us must really be struggling. (Or no. Perhaps not. Tremorian just said ‘wow, that is ages ago’. Not imaginative enough to actually think about what it means. But I digress.)
It was during the Second Age, after the dark years of the Interregnum. Zaris did not go into all the reasons why, but she told us of how the Loremasters - lead by one known as Andraax - decided that they would create political stability in the lands of Jaiman.
To this end, Andraax ordered Tethior the Smith, the greatest artificer of his time and perhaps all time, to create 18 magical artefacts, to be shared amongst six kingdoms in Jaiman. Each kingdom would receive:
- a Crown, to grant insight to the Ruler
- a pendant, to grant wisdom for the Advisor
- a sword, a powerful tool for the chosen Champion
These items were of surpassing power, empowering the wearer with arcane abilities and the insight of rulership. Each of the crowns were magically linked to the Essænce, to the true heirs of each kingdom, and to the very land itself. As long as the crowns were worn at each coronation and investiture, there would be an age of peace and prosperity. Only the strong could tap the full powers of the Crowns - the six Lords destined to rule as selected by the Loremasters - and only the reigning Monarch's designated heirs would be able to wear the Crowns and claim their lands.
Further to this, each kingdom would have a different mythical or magical animal as its symbol, and this would be incorporated into the artefacts for each. And so the six kingdoms came into being and were represented thusly: the Phonix; the Pegasus; the Gryphon; the Wyvern; the Sea Dragon; and the Unicorn.
Varis Faslurin was first given the Phoenix Crown, and with it was granted central Jaiman: the realm of Rhakhaan. Durok Arain received the Pegasus Crown and the eastern land of Tanara. Isara Lankor, awarded the Gryphon Crown, consolidated Northern Jaiman as the land of Zor. To the northwest the men of Saralis stood forth, and their lord Raal accepted the Wyvern Crown; Queen Laria of U-Lyshak in the southwest took the Sea Drake Crown, and Jari Rilis was granted the Unicorn Crown to rule the easternmost land --- the great Elven isle of Urulan.
All seemed to go smoothly, and for a dozen centuries the Six Realms grew rich, powerful and secure, each country with defined borders, friendly with its neighbours and presenting a united front against any military assaults by forces of the Unlife. The Crowns were mighty artefacts indeed, but as such they tended to weigh heavily on their owners after a time. The same attributes which allowed a given ruler to maintain absolute control over his or her land also tended to restrict his thought patterns (necessary to prevent border disputes and expansionism).
Each ruler knew intuitively that while the other monarchs wore their Crowns, they had no desire to assault a neighbour. It was only when two or more leaders abandoned their Crowns that strife was possible; or when there was an outside threat. All knew that the Crowns brought security, but stifled initiative. The more self-assured grew impatient and desired to expand their lands. The Crowns would not allow it. Dissatisfaction arose.
Thus Rulers began to don their Crowns less and less frequently --- realizing that while they did not wear the Crown they felt greater freedom of thought. When this occurred, the agents of the Unlife saw their opportunity to sow dissent, and spread rumours that the crowns controlled the wearer and took away all free will, turning them into mindless puppets.
The first to fall was Zor, the largest of the Six. The King began to seek for ancient relics of the Lords of Essence - items of power from the First Era. One mighty device was indeed found - to the utter undoing of Zor. A strange metal sphere was brought to the capital city; the orb's power was unleashed - vaporizing the city and turning the surrounding land into a wasteland for a hundred miles.
The Tanarans were the next to succumb, though in a different manner. The King rode away on an expedition and never returned. The fate of the Pegasus Crown and Sword remain unknown. In the ensuing confusion, Tanara was attacked by a force from the north, demonic creatures and evil men astride black unicorns. Most Tanarans were slain; the few survivors were driven underground.
As the Tanarans were being seduced by the words of the Sorcerer Sages, Saralis and U-Lyshak were suffering similar fates. Both fell to the seduction of treachery, and once-great realms descended into barbarism.
Meanwhile the King of Rhakhaan was listening to the advice of those who whispered that there were vast lands which were ripe for conquest. The old lands of Southern Zor were annexed - and the Phoenix Crown of Rhakhaan was entombed in a vault. Soon the King declared himself Emperor of Jaiman and attacked Urulan. The war lasted for a hundred years and was inconclusive. A weakened Rhakhaan was sundered into its provincial holdings which warred amongst themselves for centuries.
Urulan was the last to fall, her Elven peoples simple but hardy. Weakened by the continued assaults by the Rhakhaanese, they were unable to weather a magical plague that afflicted them. Then came the earthquake which destroyed the capital city utterly, sending it into the ocean --- along with the King, and no doubt the Unicorn Crown.
So, in short: Rhakhaan is the only one remaining of the Six Kingdom, but is beset by civil war. The current Emperor, Jerrin Faslurin, has not donned the crown, and it has been stolen by his cousin Frelik who claims to be the true heir. Both sides have raised armies and are fighting within the borders of Rhakhaan.
U-Lyshak, the only other kingdom to still be ruled by the same family, has recently undergone its own troubles. Last year, the king of Helyssa was killed in a hunting accident. His son, Kier Ianis, then disappeared and a search for him has been going on since then. A priest Arnak has held a regency in Helyssa since then.
The artefacts for Zor, Saralis, Urulan and Tanara are currently whereabouts unknown. Mostly.
There was an ancient prophecy concerning Zor. The King's protector fled with the sword prior to the disaster which destroyed the kingdom. The sword has been scried to the Catacombs of Ur, and it is said that someone will one day reclaim it and so something-or-other. (Zaris was not exactly forthcoming on this point).
The point is, Zor was the kingdom of the Gryphon, and Tremorian dreamed of a (scary scary) gryphon with a black sword in its mouth. Perhaps he is the one the prophecy is about then? (And if so, may the gods take pity on us all!)
But before Zaris will give us any further information about this sword, we - that is to say Tremorian - must prove we are worthy of wielding the Gryphon Sword. And to do this we must first fulfil another quest. If we fail in this other quest, then it proves that Tremorian is not the one of whom the prophecy is spoken.
You know, I really have a bad feeling about this.
It was during the Second Age, after the dark years of the Interregnum. Zaris did not go into all the reasons why, but she told us of how the Loremasters - lead by one known as Andraax - decided that they would create political stability in the lands of Jaiman.
To this end, Andraax ordered Tethior the Smith, the greatest artificer of his time and perhaps all time, to create 18 magical artefacts, to be shared amongst six kingdoms in Jaiman. Each kingdom would receive:
- a Crown, to grant insight to the Ruler
- a pendant, to grant wisdom for the Advisor
- a sword, a powerful tool for the chosen Champion
These items were of surpassing power, empowering the wearer with arcane abilities and the insight of rulership. Each of the crowns were magically linked to the Essænce, to the true heirs of each kingdom, and to the very land itself. As long as the crowns were worn at each coronation and investiture, there would be an age of peace and prosperity. Only the strong could tap the full powers of the Crowns - the six Lords destined to rule as selected by the Loremasters - and only the reigning Monarch's designated heirs would be able to wear the Crowns and claim their lands.
Further to this, each kingdom would have a different mythical or magical animal as its symbol, and this would be incorporated into the artefacts for each. And so the six kingdoms came into being and were represented thusly: the Phonix; the Pegasus; the Gryphon; the Wyvern; the Sea Dragon; and the Unicorn.
Varis Faslurin was first given the Phoenix Crown, and with it was granted central Jaiman: the realm of Rhakhaan. Durok Arain received the Pegasus Crown and the eastern land of Tanara. Isara Lankor, awarded the Gryphon Crown, consolidated Northern Jaiman as the land of Zor. To the northwest the men of Saralis stood forth, and their lord Raal accepted the Wyvern Crown; Queen Laria of U-Lyshak in the southwest took the Sea Drake Crown, and Jari Rilis was granted the Unicorn Crown to rule the easternmost land --- the great Elven isle of Urulan.
All seemed to go smoothly, and for a dozen centuries the Six Realms grew rich, powerful and secure, each country with defined borders, friendly with its neighbours and presenting a united front against any military assaults by forces of the Unlife. The Crowns were mighty artefacts indeed, but as such they tended to weigh heavily on their owners after a time. The same attributes which allowed a given ruler to maintain absolute control over his or her land also tended to restrict his thought patterns (necessary to prevent border disputes and expansionism).
Each ruler knew intuitively that while the other monarchs wore their Crowns, they had no desire to assault a neighbour. It was only when two or more leaders abandoned their Crowns that strife was possible; or when there was an outside threat. All knew that the Crowns brought security, but stifled initiative. The more self-assured grew impatient and desired to expand their lands. The Crowns would not allow it. Dissatisfaction arose.
Thus Rulers began to don their Crowns less and less frequently --- realizing that while they did not wear the Crown they felt greater freedom of thought. When this occurred, the agents of the Unlife saw their opportunity to sow dissent, and spread rumours that the crowns controlled the wearer and took away all free will, turning them into mindless puppets.
The first to fall was Zor, the largest of the Six. The King began to seek for ancient relics of the Lords of Essence - items of power from the First Era. One mighty device was indeed found - to the utter undoing of Zor. A strange metal sphere was brought to the capital city; the orb's power was unleashed - vaporizing the city and turning the surrounding land into a wasteland for a hundred miles.
The Tanarans were the next to succumb, though in a different manner. The King rode away on an expedition and never returned. The fate of the Pegasus Crown and Sword remain unknown. In the ensuing confusion, Tanara was attacked by a force from the north, demonic creatures and evil men astride black unicorns. Most Tanarans were slain; the few survivors were driven underground.
As the Tanarans were being seduced by the words of the Sorcerer Sages, Saralis and U-Lyshak were suffering similar fates. Both fell to the seduction of treachery, and once-great realms descended into barbarism.
Meanwhile the King of Rhakhaan was listening to the advice of those who whispered that there were vast lands which were ripe for conquest. The old lands of Southern Zor were annexed - and the Phoenix Crown of Rhakhaan was entombed in a vault. Soon the King declared himself Emperor of Jaiman and attacked Urulan. The war lasted for a hundred years and was inconclusive. A weakened Rhakhaan was sundered into its provincial holdings which warred amongst themselves for centuries.
Urulan was the last to fall, her Elven peoples simple but hardy. Weakened by the continued assaults by the Rhakhaanese, they were unable to weather a magical plague that afflicted them. Then came the earthquake which destroyed the capital city utterly, sending it into the ocean --- along with the King, and no doubt the Unicorn Crown.
So, in short: Rhakhaan is the only one remaining of the Six Kingdom, but is beset by civil war. The current Emperor, Jerrin Faslurin, has not donned the crown, and it has been stolen by his cousin Frelik who claims to be the true heir. Both sides have raised armies and are fighting within the borders of Rhakhaan.
U-Lyshak, the only other kingdom to still be ruled by the same family, has recently undergone its own troubles. Last year, the king of Helyssa was killed in a hunting accident. His son, Kier Ianis, then disappeared and a search for him has been going on since then. A priest Arnak has held a regency in Helyssa since then.
The artefacts for Zor, Saralis, Urulan and Tanara are currently whereabouts unknown. Mostly.
There was an ancient prophecy concerning Zor. The King's protector fled with the sword prior to the disaster which destroyed the kingdom. The sword has been scried to the Catacombs of Ur, and it is said that someone will one day reclaim it and so something-or-other. (Zaris was not exactly forthcoming on this point).
The point is, Zor was the kingdom of the Gryphon, and Tremorian dreamed of a (scary scary) gryphon with a black sword in its mouth. Perhaps he is the one the prophecy is about then? (And if so, may the gods take pity on us all!)
But before Zaris will give us any further information about this sword, we - that is to say Tremorian - must prove we are worthy of wielding the Gryphon Sword. And to do this we must first fulfil another quest. If we fail in this other quest, then it proves that Tremorian is not the one of whom the prophecy is spoken.
You know, I really have a bad feeling about this.