Grael

Character Summary

Grael

Race:

Grael, the Heart-Render, Black Spear of the Kemeroi, Scourge of Haebrous, and Rage of Shadow.<ref>2006/08 Shattering the Dark - Pack Grael</ref>

The Grael Rebellion and arriving in Dereth

Grael was a warrior of a tribe of Ruschk in the north of the Kingdomw of Haebrous, who called themselves Mukkir.<ref name="Book of Xik Minru" >2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru</ref>. Their leader was Chief Daemal and their warriors called themselves Blood-Warriors.<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref>

In the fifth year of the reign of Braletain of Haebrous, Grael's tribe is slain to make way for a mercantile company's gemstone excavations.<ref name=GraelRebellion>2005/08 - Friend and Foe - The Grael Rebellion</ref> The tribe and their Blood-Warriors put up such a ferocious fight against the Haebreans (the "Shining Ones"<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref>) that Braletain's soldiers exterminated every one, save for one single warrior.<ref name="Book of Xik Minru" >2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru</ref> This only survivor of this tribe, Grael, is brought back to the Royal Menagerie.<ref name=GraelRebellion>2005/08 - Friend and Foe - The Grael Rebellion</ref>

At the behest of his queen, Carraida, Braletain subjected Grael to life in the gladiatorial pits.<ref>2005/08 - Friend and Foe - Account of the Spear of Mukkir</ref> He survived all the fights, taking the heads and eating the hearts of his slain opponents. His rage over his defeat, the failing of protecting his chief and the slaughtering of his tribe never subsided.<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref>

As time led on, Grael. a. k. a. the Spear of Mukkir gathered an army of slaves and fought their way from the pits.<ref>2005/08 - Friend and Foe - Account of the Spear of Mukkir</ref> He and his new "Blood-Warriors" savaged the kingdom for three days<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref>, killing many, including Braletain's young wife, Queen Carraida.<ref>2005/08 - Friend and Foe - Account of the Spear of Mukkir</ref><ref name="Book of Xik Minru" >2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru</ref> Because the slaves did not have any magical capabilities, and the Haebrous forces did, the Rebellion was suppressed quickly.<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref>

Grael somehow escaped Braletain's vengeance, even as his followers were annihilated by the magical arts of the Haebrean royal "thaumaturges".<ref name="Book of Xik Minru" >2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru</ref> Grael managed to flee, still singing his songs of rage.<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref> Four of the other survivors were the brothers Farelaith, Baranaith, Hiranaith and Korogaith.<ref name=BitterWinter>2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Our Bitter Winter</ref>

Though they went separate ways, Grael and the brothers met up again on the coast of Dereth. Traveling in a land they did not know. Grael convinced them to join him, and follow the call to the north he felt.<ref name=BitterWinter>2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Our Bitter Winter</ref> Grael sought the help of "Darkness" to fight the Haebrous.<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref>

One night, Farelaith woke up, and found Grael and his brothers caught in some sort of dark magic.<ref name=BitterWinter>2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Our Bitter Winter</ref> Grael seemed to undergo his transformation willingly, and swore oaths with the "Dark that speaks".<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref> Farelaith's brothers were wrapped in darkness and started screaming. Farelaith managed to overcome his paralysis and ran. In his fear of Grael, he did not even look back to see what had become of his brothers. <ref name=BitterWinter>2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Our Bitter Winter</ref> The three brothers now serve, turned into Shadows and having lost their name, in the Temple of Stirring Shadows.<ref name=ShadeDialog>2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Shade of Farelaith#Lore & Dialog</ref> Grael learned "to move within the Dark that walks and learned to devour the light" of the Empyreans.<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref>

Grael, now called the Black Spear of the Kemeroi, went on to the north. The place he chose to sleep was an isle north of Vissidal Isle.<ref name=KirielDialog>2006/06 Toward Ancient Shores - Kiriel Shadowborn#Lore & Dialog</ref> His presence, "dreaming songs of rage"<ref name=SongGrael>2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael</ref>, covered the island in Shadow, and the isle soon came to be called the Dark Isle. Those Falatacot who followed the Old One, N'cthail, took a chance and used ancient seals to sink the isle below the waves. It was their hope that none would ever wake Grael and that this world would be free of him forever.<ref name=KirielDialog>2006/06 Toward Ancient Shores - Kiriel Shadowborn#Lore & Dialog</ref>

The War of Blood and Shadow

Both the Raven Hand and Dardante tried to summon Grael and get him under their control. Pontifex Maegris of the Raven Hand and Dardante decided to cooperate and initiate a summoning ritual <ref> 2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Teaser</ref><ref>2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Journal of Maegris</ref><ref>2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Herren's Orders </ref><ref>2006/04 - Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Translated Elder Spirits Tablet</ref><ref>2006/07 - Toward Ancient Shores - Town Crier Rumors </ref>

Because of suspected treason, the Raven Hand decided to perform the ritual without the help of Dardante<ref>2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Intercepted Note</ref><ref>2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Pheraion's Notes </ref>, even though the outcome might fail catastrophically without Count Dardante there to guide.<ref>2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Lost Messenger#Lore&Dialog </ref><ref> 2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Archmage Aigonne's Notes</ref> Isin Dule finds out about the activities of the Raven Hand, notably High Archon Kraest, trying to summon Grael and orders his forces to interfere.<ref name=IsinInstructions>2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Isin Dule's Instructions</ref>

Grael got released, see From the Darkest Depths Teaser Video for a summary of the events leading up to this as seen by Dardante.

The summoning of Grael did not go as planned, and both Pontifex Maegris and Dardante's main assistant, Archmage Aigonne, were turned into shadows.<ref>2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Grael's Summoning Chamber#Lore & Dialog</ref> The experiments with Grael having gone awry, Grael became now Dardante's master instead of the other way around. <ref> 2006/08 - Shattering the Dark - Town Crier Rumors</ref>. Dardante, being corrupted by Grael, was turned into a Shadow.

When Isin Dule cannot prevent Grael from being summoned, he calls in the help of the Isparians to rise the Dark Isle<ref>2006/06 From the Darkest Depths - Soul Crystal of the Dark Isle Live Event</ref> and to prevent the Dark Isle from being sunk again.<ref>2006/06 From the Darkest Depths - Helm of Isin Dule Quest#Lore & Dialog</ref>

Grael and his Mukkir minions rampaged around Dereth, invading towns such as Rithwic.