Thawdred
Son of Elouris High Priestess of Louhri, Sol - Paladin of Ortha
and Sharendayne, High Priest of Orin
Born in the year 1055

During her youth, Elouris was one of Louhri's loyal Ice Fey and closest confidantes, entertaining the melancholy Qual Queen with music, song and dance. So when Louhri discovered a means to escape her exile and secretly extend her influence into other distant lands Elouris was the first to volunteer. For years Elouris had faithfully loved and served her mistress and now she had a chance to help.

But in the year 1053 when Louhri sent her friend through a ring of Titan Tone stones to the distant land of Esium, after only 9 months, the Eldar got wind of it and destroyed the Tone Stone site, preventing Elouris from ever returning. (*Note - Not only did the Eldar destroy Louhri's ring of Tone Stones but they also attempted (unsuccessfully) to destroy every other ring in the northland, with Ischandi's permission of course.)

Elouris met and fell in love with a Paladin of Ortha called Sol. But Sol was a pragon of virtue and honor, loved by all who met or followed him and unfortunately for Elouris he had already given his oath to another - a Lady Helen of Neath.

By now Elouris had started a strong local religion to Louhri, Goddess of Winter. As the Eldar winter was on its way, people were more than willing to embrace a new religion that promised them survival through Eldahar's most lethal hundred year season. Hence Elouris quickly gained in power and reputation, attracting the attention of a man called Sharendayne, High Priest of Orin.

Sharendayne had designs on the whole of Esium, possessing strong military ties and resources, having been planning to take over Esium for many years. He saw in Elouris a potentially powerful ally and tried to win her over to his way of thinking. Elouris possessed the Secret of the Ice Fey - a blessing that could be bestowed upon normal human beings, rendering them immune to the cold and extending their lifespans. In return for this secret, Sharendayne offered Elouris dominion over all religions (except Orin), thereby increasing her Ice Queen's power and influence ten fold.

Elouris considered the offer, estimating it would take her more than a hundred years  to make a sufficient impact upon the major religions of Esium such as Ortha. Sharendayne's plan had merit but she had something to do first.

Conspiring to kill Helen, Elouris illusioned herself as the murdered Lady and conceived a child with Sol on his wedding night. But at the height of passion Sol saw through Elouris' illusion and threw her from him, whereupon she laughed in his face and vanished.

Taking over the States
Together, Elouris and Sharendayne formed an alliance to take over the then Six states of Esium.
Elouris built temples to Louhri - Goddess of the Winter and passed her newborn child, Thawdred, off as Sharendayne's son.

1056. Elouris and Sharendayne have a half elven daughter together who they call Riesha. Elouris begins using the Cup of Winter to "bless" some of Sharendayne's troops, turning them into the first Pale Men - 

The Cup of Winter
The Cup of Winter is an ancient Relic of the Ice Fey, brought with them from the Homelands.
Containing the only surviving water of their now dead Homeworld, the Cup has been bestowed magical properties by Eldahar's Heartstone.

a) Drinking from the cup when already effected by extreme cold, repairs any damage and restores a being back to health.

b) Drinking from the cup whilst healthy has another effect altogether - The waters of the cup actually begin changing the person into a Fey. A few gulps is all it takes for the transformation to be complete. The only drawback to this is not many beings survive the change as it causes a tremendous shock to the system. About 1 in ten beings survive as you have to Resist CON vs CON of 22.

The Pale Folk of Orin
Elouris began it all with the Cup of Winter in 1054. Before then no non ice fey had ever touched the cup, let alone drank from its waters. Elouris managed to dilute the water's effects so that any humans drinking the diluted mix would only partially changed. Drinking from it directly usually froze and killed any non Ice Fey instantly!
At first Elouris shared the secret of her diluted magical water with no one. But when her son, Thawdred reached manhood, she shared the secret with him.

Thawdred decided to mass produce the diluted magical water by storing it in one of Neath's small lakes. He then brought his people to the lake and made them drink, turning the entire population into Pale folk overnight.

Pale Folk are virtually immune to the cold (taking 1/4 damage). They take x1.25 damage vs fire though because of their cold blooded nature. They are by default, pale skinned with many of them possessing blue eyes and frosty eyebrows. To the trained eye they display slightly elven qualities due to their partial transformation into Ice Fey. They live approx 130% longer than a normal human but are less (only 10%) likely to conceive. When they do conceive, the child has a 50% chance of being a pure Pale Folk.

Pure Pale Folk live 2 times as long as a normal human, take x1.5 damage vs fire and are nearly all white or black  haired.

Despite what people believe, becoming one of the Pale Folk does not immediately make you a follower of either Louhri or Orin.

The Ice Vein
After being defeated in Esium in 1088, Thawdred and his closest Pale folk allies (including Dimarkus and Sindregol) went into hiding. Taking the Cup of Winter with him he sought out a set of Titan Tone stones and risked trying to return to the far north (following his mothers directions). After 2 weeks he emerged from the mysterious interplanal Titan Roads, back in the land of Daydark.

One week later he stood before the Ice Queen Louhri, telling her of Elouris' fate and everything that had happened in Esium. He was not completely prepared for her reaction - She accused him of perverting her name and the name of Orion before banishing him from her sight and from her land, never to return. *Note - She never took back the Cup of Winter because despite being angry at Elouris' actions, she still loved her friend - so out of memory to Elouris, she allowed Thawdred to retain the Cup - however Thawdred only possessed it for about fifty years before it was stolen by Tren, Lord of Dawn to save his frozen wife.*

Alone and embittered, Thawdred journeyed east, high up into the Frostspine Mountains. There he began rebuilding his Pale Folk completely from scratch. It took him fifty years to establish a new community of Pale men and women. His son (who he also called Thawdred) took over the community upon his death and preserved the worship of Orin (as Thawdred himself had given up worshipping Louhri). After two hundred years the Pale Folk were thriving and had built themselves a Citadel of Ice called Citadel Thawdred.
They had extended north into the lands of Ice Gard and south into the lands of Whailin.

An assassin for hire who lived in Esium city from 2594 to 2597. Famous for always standing in the shadows, always talking in a whisper and never revealing his identity, it's no wonder he disappeared, never to be seen again in 2597.

Built by the Suraanese from 974 to 1014 in the city of Esiadorn, western Daas, the Palace of Voices is an incredible building, able to house over two thousand people. Built as a holiday palace for the Suraanese Emperor Chi'tai II, the palace only ever got visited six times.

In 1116, when the Daas broke out of slavery and drove the Suraanese back, the Palace became a target for riots. Many of the priceless paintings, rugs and bas relief were destroyed, but a few survived in hidden vaults.

In 1132, after years of bickering, the new Daasin government decided to fortify the Palace. Crude battlements and towers were added to the existing exterior.

In 1210, these added fortifications came under attack when Emperor Rhe'at of Suraan (a lover of art) went looking for some lost paintings. Lord Cobin of the united Esia (prior to Daas' split away), stood his ground in the palace against the Suraanese forces. The siege lasted four weeks with over forty thousand Suraanese dying against the palace's defenses.

With only 76 men left from an original 450, Lord Cobin and the sword Need, managed to drive Rhe'at back home empty handed. Later when Cobin found out what Rhe'at had been after, a priceless painting by Sau'chan, Cobin cut it up and sent it to the Emperor in pieces.

Location - Land of Shadow "Alharum"
Back in 1456 a group of mages called the Keepers of Destiny, discovered a rock with peculiar spiritual properties. They found that sleeping near it, you could project spiritual energy into it and shape imaginary space and time. The Black Rock became a collective imagination wherein the Keepers could share thoughts, ideas and desires.

However, by 1467 the Keepers fell out in a bloody feud that left the secret of Black Rock buried for more than 80 years.
The secret was rediscovered by a historian called Adryn, who had a vision. He became the first person to believe in the power of the Rock, as a sanctuary from the Curse of Gloom.

Circa 2616
The current Pale Saints residing in the stone are;-

Galen the Ancient – been in there 978 years.
Jax Ro – tall thin Sorceror.
Eldritch – Mage smith.
Oomatil – Great warrior.

Followers of the Saints
Adric Ravenarr - See Hawkridge.
Kit Maree and her Axion Mindstone.
Lars Landstone

Founded by Soloman in 1048 

Soloman (see also Ischandi the Wise), DOB 1001, disappeared 1676, nationality ?, 20th level, co-inventor of the runaic spell system, later a master of the Titan Will-system. 

1 Cylo Pendragon, Daasin, DOB 1666, joins 1706, imprisoned 1794

2 Census L'bone, failed Sevekarian mirror-mage, DOB 1691-joins 1740 

3 Carthaze Mitri Dark, Kethrian, Astral researcher, DOB 1691-2145

4 Alendar Alexor Crane, Esian, DOB 1702, joins 1752-?

5 Marvek Hardy, DOB 1675-1801, Enchanter- 20th Energy transfer, 16th in other types enchantment.

Larius Lablane, first disciple to Soloman, DOB 1001, joins 1048-1073, expert researcher in runaic forms, principle inventor of runaic alphabet.

Polythexis, transformer 15th, DOB 1399, joins 1435-1566

Kennard, summoner 14th, DOB 1402, joins 1435-1491

Maerledo, elementalist 16th, DOB 1520, joins 1549-1585, slain by Mirithandir.

Mirithandir, enchanter, DOB 1503, joins 1547-1585, slain by Maerledo.

Eubon, spiritualist, DOB 1625, joins 1657-1673

Cannelin, astrologer, DOB 1384, joins 1435-1450 

Pentacast, Philosopher and theorist, DOB 1456, joins 1480-1504

Pentacast was a member of the Pentacle of Magic in the late 14th century. His theories formed a base for more modern mages and his application of scales to magical intensity were adopted after his death by several powerful organizations.

The Pentacast Scale of Magical Intensity ranges from 1st to 25th level with 25th level being Grand God-like.

Maloth does not control his Fiends - in fact no one does. The Fiends are wild and unruly at best and just as likely to bite the hand that is feeding them. What they do respect is power and ferocity, lending their aid to battles and Lord's of Chaos that require their heat. A kind of Demonic Mercenary, the Pit Fiend will arrive, decimate an area and then leave without a word. It might also turn up, burn everything in sight (including that of Chaos) and then sit around for a while surveying the devastation.

The Fiends are Spawned by Maloth from a genetic template. They all look the same and are "born" with genetical memories and instincts. The Fiends do serve a purpose in the Cosmic Scheme of Chaos by maintaining and operating the inner workings of Maloth's great metal body.

Early on in the Cosmic struggle between Law and Chaos, Maloth of Chaos was forced to shelter within an immense, sprawling machine. Tricked by Law into literally becoming the machine, Maloth's world of Pit was then besieged by Law and it's sun destroyed. With Maloth suffering a terrible defeat, the World of Pit quickly became uninhabitable and covered in ice. However Maloth survived within the Great Machine, creating servants to operate and maintain the machine's chaotically placed internal metal organs. Over the years the Great Machine became known as the Body of Maloth and its insides altered to become convoluted, complex and truly chaotic.

Typical Pit Fiend Stats
30' tall and winged. Capable of short flight (usually no more than half a mile at best).
STR 85, SIZ 70, CON 80. MHP 193, POW 40, AP 8 vs all attack types. Regeneration 4 HP per second vs normal wounds. Regenerate vs Law wounds at 1 HP per minute. +50% magic resistance base.

Dodge 60 SR +25 -40 +50 = 95
Flame sword 14' in length, SR 80, +25 +10 +30 = +145 (3d10 +2/+2) +23 d6 STR damage !
 

• Enflame 2000' radius in fire. When rolling Fire damage each round, first you ignore 1's, then on the next round 1's and 2's and the next 1's, 2's and 3's etc until maximum damage and heat has been attained of 10 d20 damage! 200 HP's of fire damage.
• During the first round within the Pit Fiend's 2000' radius, damage is 10d6, then 10d8 on the 2nd, 10d10 on the 3rd, 10d12 on the 4th, 16d8 on the 5th and 10d20 on the 6th.
• All Fire spells / abilities are cast at the equivalent of 20th level !
• Pit Fiends have a base Magic Skill of 96% in Fire. They know all Fire Spells up to 20th level including 20th level Infernal Rift, 19th level Towering Inferno and 18th level Consuming Fire.
• Furthermore on consecrated chaos ground a Pit Fiend may make its spells permanent by casting its spells at x3 cost.

Gates
A Pit Fiend's often most under estimated ability is opening Gates for other lesser demons to come flooding through. A Pit Fiend may open one gate a round and have up to 3 open at any given time.

It does so with an 80% chance of success. What comes through could be another Pit Fiend or any lesser type of chaos servant. There is also 2% chance of any Pit Fiend summoning Maloth himself though you can expect the Fiend to get a clout round the ear for daring to do so.

The Induction of Fiend 751
"Wake up 751, welcome to Existence."
Sitting abruptly up, Fiend 751 surveyed its surroundings. It appeared to be in an immense red glowing room filled with moving metalic parts and slow moving molten rock. Through billowing clouds of steam it could see several immense creatures flexing powerful bestial limbs to the rythmic pounding of some far off deeply resonating drum. The sound caused 751's teeth to vibrate.
"This is the Body of Maloth and you are designated to take the place of Left Elbow. I am 643 and your instructor for this short period of transition. After me you're on your own and will be expected to fulfill your duties to the Body. Neglect the Body and the Body will cease to function. If that happens you will be replaced."
751 stared at its great dark red hands, then down at its black furry body. Eventually a sound escaped its dry lips. "Urh."
"There's always a period of confusion after being Spawned. The Body created you to serve it - Praise Maloth. You and I are the same. Them over there," gesturing to two other fiends, "they're the same as us. We're all the same, spawned from the same Body to serve and maintain the same Body. Understand? Of course you don't - I didn't when I was first spawned and neither will you. Unless you're different of course, which you won't be, aren't. You'd think with Maloth being a Lord of Chaos he'd have a little imagination, Praise Maloth, but where we're concerned - zilch, nothing, zero."
751 stood up, rocking back and forth on its huge legs and getting to grips with its immense bulk. It was then that 751 noticed it's wings and instinctively flexed them.
"Better keep those all flapped up until you get a Summons. Follow me. Mind the lava, we had a spillage. If it gets between your toes you'll have a problem picking it out later."
"What am I?" 751 managed to utter.
"You're what is commonly known in the great ether as a Fiend of the Pit or Pit Fiend. Maloth lives here on Pit and we live inside Maloth. It is our job to keep Maloth's Body functioning - to keep the lava flowing and the world of Pit in one piece."
751 began to remember, even though it had only just been created, it somehow knew that what 643 was saying was the truth. As it sidestepped several marching fiends carrying lengths of metal tubing, 751 almost stepped on a small, frail looking humanoid cowering on the floor.
"What?"
"Don't mind that, it's just a human. Just squash it, there's plenty more lurking in the cracks and crevices. They come out from the cooler parts of Body looking for scraps of food."
Obeying 643, 751 stepped on the human feeling its bones pulverize underfoot. "Will I get a Summons?" 751 asked, feeling somehow that the question was an important one and skipping a few steps to catch up with its instructor.
"We ALL get a Summons at some time or other. In fact half your time will be spent stomping around "out there", 643 gestured wildly into the air. Some of us get more than others mind you. Poor 23 was in such a state the other day; he couldn't even burn. All because he felt neglected." Leaning close to 751's immense ear, 643 whispered "then of course you've got the ones like 666 who are constantly getting all the attention these days. Make's me glad I'm just a Clavicle. The death rate for those up near the Head and Neck is pretty high. Law !" 643 spat a globule of fire onto the metal gangway in disgust. "They're the one's that trapped Maloth in this Body in the first place. The bastards."

Throughout Eldahar's history, many wise and gifted people have come up with absolute gibberish hinting at the future of everything to confuse and confound future generations. Here are some of the prophecies that have caused a few headaches;-

In the great upheavel, the Gods did fall to earth and where they raged in battle, mountains fell and seas arose to drown the land. In the Seven days of Unmaking the World was broken. But the eigth and final day never came for the Gods of Consequence turned back Creation and worked hard upon the Seven days of Remaking. Thus came the Covenant of Law, spoken upon the Mountain by the Sister and bound within the Arkysancture of Time Memorial.

The Covenant shall be One-fold in the Task, Two-fold in the Keeping and Three-fold in the Breaking.
And a King unto Himself shall be born in the Shadowed Land destined to Bind the broken ones to the Time of Change and Found a New Age. 

Lo will they come; the Unsung; as before but not, on the winds of change, bound to the wheel. What was given shall be taken, felling the First Covenant, but rising again. And when the World looks beyond the Kingdom, so shall Oblivion be salvation when the World is blinded. The Fire's of the Sister will burn bright on the Mountain. All will be Unwrought and Undone, Made new but Unsung. Let the World be Named anew and the Song be sung.

The King unto Himself shall know his Doom and share it with three Queens. The Queen of Exiles, The Queen after Time, and the Queen of Queens.

The Purpose shall bind the Faithful, one and all. And they shall give themselves when the Need arises as Chosen Companions against the Rising.

Let the Chosen be numbered three-fold eternal and be so true named ; The Father Eternal, The Stone Hand, Ley of the Piller, The Seer Prince & The Seer Princess, The Twilight Deigned, The Broken Blade, The Unknown Voice, The Fallen King, The Banner Bearer, The Abiding Spear, The Misgiven, The Icy Heart, The Third Arm, The Unending Crown, The Lord & Lady of Seven Moons, The Sister of Tears, The Champion of Man, The Frozen Brand, The North Wind, The Child of Myth, The Legend Untold, The Nine handed Sword, ,Dream Walker, The Blood Dog, The Mocking Bird, The Judge of Battles to be, The Man Fang, The Prince of Reborn Stars, The Lady of the Seven Seas, The Crane, The Angel of Death, The Last Herald, The Twin Fear, The Little Reaper, The Moon Runner, The Red Smith, The Artisan of Light, The Hand of Ancient Heart, The Dragonlancer, The Unsung Songsmith, The Spear Dancer, The Untempered Rage, The Guardian, The Halfling, The Standing Sword, The Sacred, The Perilous Wing, The Defiant Son, The Jaded Man, The Emerald Eve, The Odyssey Ranger, The Son who is Not, The Twice-Damned, The Prevailing Sorrow, The Peace bringer, The Mordant Reigning, The Leaf in Wind, The Light of the North, The True Proven, The Harrying Hound, The Lost, The Fiercest to Stand, The Fairest to fall,' The Herdsman; The Desperate Defender, and The Reborn.

The land is bereft of its soul and destined to fall. For it was spoken in the age of legends that when barriers are sundered and ruin rises in the Hall of Truth, the land will know fear and fear's sister.