The Combine Empire

You say, ‘Hail, Dralin K`Vekn’

Dralin K`Vekn says ‘Greetings Bigoo. I am Dralin K’Vekn. Several hundred years ago I was the Teir’Dal ambassador to the Combine Empire under Tsaph Katta. I was present when the traitorous Seru made his assassination attempt on Tsaph Katta and divided the Combine Empire into the two factions that exist to this day. I was forced to flee to Luclin with the Loyalist Combine in order to escape death at the hands of the [Inquisition]. Adjusting to a new life on Luclin with no others of my kind was a long, perilous, and often times lonely task. I do not regret it though, I have a beautiful wife and a healthy son now and this place is my home and the [Loyalists] my people.’

You say, ‘What inquisition’

Dralin K`Vekn says ‘The followers of Seru that split from the Combine Empire have become known as the Inquisition. They were opposed, to among other things, diplomatic negotiations with Neriak. Obviously if the aftermath of the attempted assassination on Tsaph Katta had gone differently I would have been among Serus assassins next targets. Seru would have went to war with Neriak, Oggok, and Grobb in his fanatical obsession to utterly destroy all civilizations that hold values, morals, and creeds different than his own. Fortunately in his power madness to control all of the Combine Empire Seru followed us through the portal to Luclin and a second Age of Blood was narrowly avoided.’

You say, ‘What loyalists’

Dralin K`Vekn says ‘Those of the Combine Empire that remained loyal to Tsaph Kattas teachings, philosophies, and ideals have become known as the Loyalists. When we were forced to flee to Luclin to prevent the bloodshed desired by the Inquisition we arrived deep at the core of the moon, at the location that is now Shadow Haven. We left behind a few of our numbers to watch the portal from Norrath and to discover a means to return home. The rest of us set out to explore the tunnel systems and made our way to the surface here on the dark side. It was decided we would settle on the cliffs overlooking the Twilight Sea and a great wall was erected to protect us from the strange natives of Luclin while we built our [new homes].’

You say, ‘What new homes’

The fear he had borne those many, many long year, since the end of the Age of Combine, had come to pass: The disapperance of the gods, Yes, for hundreds of years now that had been known as the Lost Age, and of course that name was given by those who knew little to nothing of events during that time.

Of course, few – perhaps none – had lived a life as long and eventfu as this ancient elf called Aataltaal. Now, it seems, he’d outlasted even the gods.

The elf looked up into the bright night sky and watched Luclin’s continuing disintergration. A flaming meteor, no doubt a portion of the sphere of the Maiden of Shadows, soared fast and low just to the south of him. Lightning traced the rock’s path through the swirling clouds, and Aataltaal was certain he felt the wind and heat generated by the meteor.

The destruction of Luclin, named for the goddess who was for countless years beyond the reach of mortals, was a metaphor for the fate of all created races… as well as for the gods themselves. Even if they were not dead, the gods who birthed the races of Norrath and had guided the events of millennia, including the seemingly wanton destruction of all they had so assiduously crafted, were beyond any mortal’s reach. The immortals might as well be dead for all they could do on behalf of those who relied upon them, those who worshipped them. Likewise, there was little to be done by one such as Aataltaal, who sough to slay gods, or at least some – partculary one! – among their number.

As he sat on the Luclin-blasted landscape of the Thundering Steppes, with no other living entity around for league upon league, Aataltaal gave himself over wholly to these reflections. And soon his vision returned.

In the long past age of Combine, Aataltaal had foreseen the fall of that great empire. He tried toward emperor katta, but neither of them understood the meaning of the vision fully enough. Of course, Aataltaal considered that failure to be his own: It was his magic that had crafted the visions, his knowledge that should have deciphered them, and even his plans that had set the fracturing of the Combine into motion. Granted, the plans of those against whom he toiled, General Seru and his fell sorcereress, were a considerable part of the events that brought the empire to its knees.

Ages had passed since then, and yet another was dawning in this time of the broken moon, and still Aataltaal toiled. He had victories to relish and humbling defeats to rue, and still his nemesis Opal Darkbriar dogged him. She thought to have won the day in Freeport, but he had meant the promise he made to the humans there after he saw them safely westward across the Ocean of Tears. That city, like his battle against the gods, might seem lost at present, but the Wheel of Time always rolled round again. The trick was stopping the wheel when it was properly poised for one’s purpose.

Final Entry—

It is with heavy heart on this long night that I write what I know to be my last entry here. I have deliberated on this issue, and always I come to the same conclusion. These are a brave people in Landing — noble, able, determined. Yet as long as I stay, they shall defer to me out of respect for what I have done in these early years. I would simply pass on the rulership to another, but any whom I favor shall be treated with the same thoughtless deference, and these people must have a ruler they have chosen from among themselves. For this to happen, I must be gone entirely, beyond any hope of their finding me.

Of course, in a matter of hours the question may be moot. An army of the Deathfist unlike any I have seen marches toward our walls, and at this moment a band of accursed Teir’Dal assassins positions itself beneath our feet. I am confident, with the warning I have received from these strange scientists of the arcane, that I have plotted a course through these troubles. But my sense that the city and its people shall endure is no guarantee that I myself shall live through this night. The paladins of Marr have sworn to lay down their lives to protect mine, but a stray blade or spell of death may always find me. Still, I must be the bait, and only a complete victory over the Teir’Dal allows my remaining forces to reinforce the walls and defeat the Deathfist.

After that, the city is safe. Difficult years may lie ahead, but these people deserve a chance to plot their own destinies. I cannot in good conscience bring the entire city along on the dread road I must travel. Lady Delailith shall return to Landing should it require help, but my heart tells me that she will never need to do so. A finer people I have not known on Norrath, and I love them enough to set them free of my shadow.

Tonight, even if he sees the end of it, Aataltaal dies to the mortal world. At least until such a time as events may require me to reveal myself again.

By Mine Own Hand,

Aataltaal