August 2000

Lord Ventryn presented his account of events during an interview with me on Saturday, including a long history of Stormguard and how the initial finding of the relics erupted into civil war. He describes how Lord Pythos was largely responsible for the civil war, and reveals his initial interest in the relics and his actions on acquiring them. He admits to destroying Stormguard, as well as entrapping Xenthyl to do his bidding. He then accounts his dealings with Qua'Tel, including Qua'Tel's eventual betrayal. He bemoans Winterfell's involvement. Finally, he indicates how the fifth and final relic relates to the first four. The following is the tale he told me verbatim. He spoke haltingly, but at great length. It was indeed fortunate that I so happened to have a spare journal.

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To understand better, I shall give ye some history first. The ancient estate of Stormguard. It once rested where Northwood currently exists, where Winterfell once called home. I once was part of the council of ancient Stormguard, the ruling council of the community. Eight members, including myself and my brother Adrian Pythos. Ardian however, was the lead council member. Stormguard was his. A community he founded and constructed based on the principles of ancient relics. Relics that were believed to be only a legend. And as time passed, the members of the community began to accept that the relics were mere legend, and nothing more. The legend of the relics was well known. Their origin was a mystery, but it was believed that whoever possessed the relics would rule over a grand and magnificent community and would inherit the power to make all of their dreams a reality. People strove to be the individual worthy of the relics. They strove to be honorable, strong-willed and confident. But as the memory of the relics faded, it was obvious Stormguard would need to make changes and so we did.

We formed a larger army, expanded the estate, and appointed new council members. Even with the belief that the relics were only a legend, the community began to thrive. However, all of this changed and all at once. A patrol of guardsmen outside of Stormguard located an unusual terrain within the forests. Lead by Thallus and Xenthyl Fallshorn, the two brothers quickly reported their findings to the council. The council decided to investigate the terrain which seemed to radiate an odd…it is hard to explain in words, it is only something to behold. The council traveled to the location and unearthed a seal. The seal was studied for several weeks and was eventually broken by several high mages of the Council, including myself. Within the seal were two relics: the Gauntlets of the Storms and the Helm of Thunder. The legendary relics located at a time when they were nearly forgotten. However, debate quickly began between the council and the community. According to legend, the relics were rightfully those of whoever located them. Whoever released them from the seal. Then the individual would become the rightful ruler of Stormguard, and so the debate began. The relics were located by the Fallshorn brothers but released by the council. Who would be the bearer of the relics? Some believed Ardian Pythos, the current ruler should possess the relics. Others believed that the Fallshorn brothers should share the power as the new rulers. Ardian did not convey his belief and stated that he would accept whatever decision was made. A foolish decision. Rather than take a stand he let Stormguard fall into a civil war.

The news quickly filtered down to the members of the community and each turned against the other and the council itself split. The only decision that Pythos made was a foolish one. He had the Fallshorn brothers guard the relics during this time of war. They were to protect the well being of the relics until a decision was made. I was appalled and shamed to be Ardian’s brother. He had crumbled away into nothing, a shell of the man I once knew, no longer was he confident and strong. But now too weak-willed to make decisions for himself. Rather than take a stand and make his thoughts known. He let his own community crumble before his eyes. I decided I would take matters into mine own hands. I will nay deceive ye, I became consumed by the frustration, the anger brought about by Ardian’s embarrassing state. I believed I could remedy his poor decisions and end the war. But I became more the consumed. I became obsessed with proving to Ardian that I was the rightful ruler of Stormguard. And that he was weak and worthless and soon I had decided that I would end the war by any means necessary. I casted a spell of motivation upon Xenthyl to steal the relics and deliver them to me. I would discover a means to destroy them. And then there would be nothing more to war over. Little did I know the power of the spell for Xenthyl slayed his own brother just to get the relics. However, he was caught and the relics were lost. Lost for my cause at least. They were recovered and again protected. And Xenthyl was charged with the murder of his own brother.

I was overcome with anger, however. Even though he had slain his brother, I was still preoccupied with his failure. The relics were still out of my reach. And before another opportunity arose to take possession of them, Ardian finally made a decision. The relics would be sealed once again in new locations to prevent such an occurrence from happening again. Pythos finally saw the affairs as I did. The relics did not bring their supposed peace and prosperity, but only death! Brother against brother! Sister against sister! So they were sealed again, out of reach and in hidden locations known only by a select few. Xenthyl was soon sentenced to his death. I was safe however, no one knew it was I who was responsible for Xenthyl’s actions. On the morn of Xenthyl’s execution however, I interfered with the proceedings and, in a way, saved him from death. Of course he was grateful, believing that he was pardoned. I was still angry however, and enraged at his failure. The relics would still be uncovered, I would locate them, and use them to accomplish what my brother had failed at. I bound Xenthyl to yet another powerful spell, his soul was bound to my control, within the Soul Binder armor. An armor constructed of dark energies. Which would make Xenthyl subject to my motivations. I commanded him to return to Stormguard and seek revenge on my brother. See…I left out one part of the tale. The reason that my anger was so overwhelming: my daughter Alexandra.

She had rebelled against me during the war. And served under Ardian’s army. While I was angered she was still my daughter. Ardian however, stationed her with a small guard patrol. Long before necessary training was complete. She was inexperienced in battle. She had never fought before. Nor did she have any experience. She was killed on the battlefield by members of Stormguard that she could have once called allies before Ardian brought about the civil war. Ardian was, and still is, responsible for my daughter’s death. He is selfish, and cowardly, only seeking fame and glory when it comes easily. Of course, I was quickly found out. Once Xenthyl returned to Stormguard in an attempt to slay the remaining council members under my command, I was banished from Stormguard. It was then that I knew there was no hope for Stormguard and after a short period of time, I returned to the community and destroyed it with my own hands. All that remained was to locate the relics. And rather than use them to benefit others, others that seemed to have no care for one another, I would use them for my own intentions. And for ages. I devoted all of my time to locating information regarding their location. And in that time, I discovered that there were two more relics. Four total. With Xenthyl under my control, I knew I would find them eventually. He searched the lands while I researched more regarding their existence. And in time, he located Thain Fallshorn. His own descendant, a descendant of Thallus Fallshorn directly. The brother Xenthyl had slain. If anyone would lead us directly to the relics, it would be Thain.

Xenthyl observed him in secret for quite sometime. And I searched the lands for someone as powerful as myself to ally with. I found an elementalist, Qua’Tel, whose power nearly rivaled mine. I told him the tale, much like I did you, and of course, promised him power. He agreed to aid me, of course. However, I soon discovered he had learned much about the relics, but hid information from me. His desire was to betray me, and use the relics for his own intentions. I attempted to destroy him and he attempted the same against me. We left our battle on even ground however, both nearly defeated. And I remained in hiding. While Xenthyl continued to learn more about Thain, the descendant. I did not return until sometime later when I found the Crypts to be a fitting home. The modern tale begins there. I would conjure an evil force, a force that could locate the relics and I could finally take them into my rightful possession. Many interfered of course, ye know, for the fame and the glory. Just like Ardian. All of them failed. And even Qua’Tel returned briefly during this period telling of how he would defeat me. I nearly killed him and he fled once again into hiding. I began investigating the area that Stormguard once rested upon, where Northwood exists and where Winterfell once lived.

Little did I know its inhabitants would interfere. Apparently they had had interactions with Ardian’s spirit in the past. His tormented soul, who tried to warn them of the danger believing that they were safe. He was laid to rest near Compassion. I traveled there, and imprisoned his soul, so he would interfere no more. Winterfell, however, and their allies continued to interfere where they did not belong. And Xenthyl he began to break free from the Soul Binder. His true self communicating information to Winterfell that would aid them. So as ye can see, I had to become a bit more vicious. And then came Thain. Apparently he had already located some of the relics, and Xenthyl the fool did not discover this. He had located the relics and freed them from their seals to prevent me from locating them. How he knew of me remains a mystery. Probably another of Xenthyl’s failures. But he hid the relics in new locations, hoping that they would be more difficult to find. Then he confronted me, and I rid him of his memory. A powerful magical blow and his memory was lost. And now with the relics in new locations, I could find them without the descendant’s help since they were free from their magical seals. The tale continues of course and some of it ye know, but to jump ahead, I easily deceived them. Multiple times. They are far too trusting. And all four of the relics came into my possession. Then news came of a fifth relic. And information regarding it was scarce. But it was believed that this fifth relic could channel the energy of the first four, directly, and only with the fifth relic could the true power of the relics be released. It is obvious now why this relic was never chronicled to prevent those with vile intentions from using the relics for vile purposes. And oddly enough, ironic almost, the fifth relic is the Fallshorn blade. Which was passed down to the descendant Thain. It seems the Fallshorns, the wretched Fallshorns, are destined on interfering with me. I had imprisoned Thain fairly recently, but before I did, he had sealed the Fallshorn blade in the magical seal that the Helm of Thunder was located in, outside of Trinsic. Only recently was it uncovered, and it is now in the possession of those who oppose me. And then I located a town crier, and told him the tale.
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He then went on to state that his primary concern is with Winterfell and Thain. He had offered peace to their allies, in specific the Purple Guardians of Honor, and was awaiting an answer. Apparently this offer was declined, and Lord Ventryn later went on to attack the Purple Guardian's castle, Olympus, as well as the Winterfell Keep.

After the two battles, Lord Ardian Pythos appeared and I brought up Lord Ventryn's account of the civil war and its cause. Lord Pythos did not deny Lord Ventryn's charges and admitted that errors were made by both he and Lord Ventryn. After Pict Fox related Lord Ventryn's conciliatory tone, Lord Pythos offered that it may be possible to save Lord Ventryn and change his ways. However, he left that as a decision to be discussed further.

--Tymaron