"A Lecture by Lord Tierus on Amasalen
Written down and edited by Morgiest Frostgiant
Pan Arkati Festival held in Icemule durin the Month of Koaratos, 5102

Tierus says, ""Ah shall begin.""
Tierus says, ""Amasalen is tha creation o' Luukos, a fiend whae delights in Blood an' Sacrifice.""
Tierus says, ""'e is considered by some tae be an Arkati, bu' by most tae be some form o' Great Spirit or Risen Immortal.""
Tierus says, ""Once, 'tis said, Amasalen wis a Faendryl.""
Tierus says, ""'is common manifestation is tha' o' an elfin creature, p'raps a Dark Elf o' sorts, wif scales an' a forked tongue.""
Tierus nods.
Tierus says, ""Amasalen's hist'ry, due tae bein' a creation o' tha Arkati rather than an original Lord o' Lornon, is rather brief.""
Tierus says, ""Only in recent years 'as Amasalen risen tae true po'er o'er tha people.""
Tierus says, ""Befer tha', 'is worshippers wir few, an' 'e wis said nae tae touch tha world much."">Tierus paces back and forth.
Tierus says, ""In Icemule Trace, o' all places, 'is po'er is known tae be greatest.""
Tierus says, ""Thair is a Shrine tae Amasalen up in tha hills tae tha northwest o' town.""
Tierus says, ""'Tis a frightenin' place, as cin be vouched fer by any'un whae's traveled thair.""
Tierus says, ""In tha' Shrine, thair is a statue o' silver, tha fingers o' which run a constant stream o' blood.""
Tierus says, ""'owe'er this is poss'ble, nae a single magus in Elanthia is willin' tae tell--or mayhaps doesnae know.""
Tierus says, ""Amasalen's recent prevalence in tha thoughts o' 'Mulers is namely due tae a specific ten halflings whae served 'im in life.""
Tierus says, ""These are known as tha Council o' Ten, now reduced tae Nine in num'er wif tha betrayal o' thair leader. This magus, Thurfel Morpholik, is oft called tha Firemage.""
Tierus says, ""One o' tha greatest mysteries surroundin' Amasalen wis tha' o' an artifact named Amasalen's Staff. It featured prom'nently intae tha plans o' tha aforementioned Council o' Nine.""
Tierus says, ""Fer many years, folks dinnae know whether Amasalen's Staff wis an artifact consecrated tae tha Blood God, a tool 'e'd used whin 'e wis alive, or e'en somethin' 'e'd forged as an Immortal.""
Tierus says, ""In recent months, we've discovered tha' Amasalen's Staff wis a magical relic o' incredible po'er.""
Tierus says, ""It bears tha taint o' Amasalen in it, bu' a truly great magus cin awaken strengths o' tha Staff tha' woul' make 'im or 'er almos' invincible.""
Tierus says, ""This staff is werked intae a bastardized form o' Amasalen's own symbol.""
Tierus says, ""It is capped wif a bloody fist 'round which two vipers're coiled.""
Tierus says, ""In a rather unexpected twist o' events, tha Staff wis discovered jus' a year ago at tha Festival surroundin' tha openin' o' tha Ebon Gate.""
Tierus nods.
Tierus says, ""Amasalen's po'er 'as doubtless grown in recent days.""
Tierus says, ""Thair 'as been much blood shed, an' many sacrifices made.""
Tierus says, ""Remem'er, any sacrifice is a sacrifice tae Amasalen as well as tae its intended recipient.""
Tierus says, ""Any blood shed feeds 'im, an' thus, Amasalen grows e'er mer po'erful.""
Tierus says, ""Fort'nately, Amasalen cannae rival tha Pantheons o' either Lornon or Liabo, so we've li'l worry 'bout 'im takin' e'eryun' o'er.""
Tierus paces back and forth.
Tierus says, ""Amasalen is said tae be tha servant o' Luukos by some...""
Tierus says, ""bu' tha Nine are tha servants o' Amasalen, an' only use 'is po'er.""
Tierus says, ""P'raps, ah say, in closin', Amasalen is far mer dangerous than any realize. P'raps 'e's simply bidin' 'is time an' po'er until an opportune moment.""
Tierus says, ""Until this move 'appens... we mus' deal wif tha present.""
Tierus says, ""Amasalen is a dangerous force in 'Mule, an' doubtless 'is machinations 'ere mus' be stopped soon.""
Tierus nods.
Tierus says, ""Ah'm afraid ah donnae 'ave much individualized philosophy o' Amasalen, bu' ah b'lieve ah cin answer some o' yer questions.""
Tierus points at Sylviana.
Sylviana asks, ""There is no shrine to this god here in the Temple. Is it because your town fears him?""
Tierus looks over at Sylviana and shakes his head.
Tierus says, ""Tha reason is 'cause thair is a Shrine up thair, tae tha northwest.""
Sylviana says, ""I see.""
Sylviana nods to Tierus.
Tierus says, ""Also, Amasalen wisnae as prominent whin this temple wis built.""
Tierus says, ""Ye mus' remem'er, this wis an ol' Temple.""
Tierus says, ""Some o' tha Arkati--Light an' Dark--wir lef' out whin all o' tha' fuss 'round its buildin' occurred.""
Tierus says, ""Tha' wis tha fault o' tha Nine, as well, whae demanded tha' tha Lornon Arkati be enshrined wi'in, too.""
Tierus says, ""Acsh'lly, 'twas tha fault o' tha Ten.""
Tierus asks, ""Tha' suffice as an answer?""
Sylviana says, ""Yes indeed.""
Sylviana says, ""Thank you.""
Tierus smiles.
Tierus nods.
Tierus points at Morgiest.
Morgiest asks, ""Has Thurfel forsaken Amasalen then?""
Tierus says, ""Tha's a loaded question. Ah'll do me best tae answer.""
Tierus smiles.
Morgiest works his fingers under his vultite sallet and scratches his head.
Tierus says, ""Thurfel claims tha' 'e 'as a bond, an agreement, wif Amasalen.""
Tierus says, ""'owe'er, 'e doesnae s'pport tha Nine, or b'lieve tha' Amasalen is, indeed, a God o' sorts.""
Tierus says, ""'twoul' be mer fittin' tae say tha' Thurfel ne'er truly worshipped Amasalen, an' wha' 'e 'as forsaken is tha rest o' tha Nine.""
Tierus nods to Morgiest.
Morgiest asks, ""Hrm, so Amasalen does nae care that he has turned against the nine? His servants? And actively is opposin them now?""
Tierus nods to Morgiest.
Tierus says, ""'tseems tha' wiy.""
Tierus says, ""'owe'er... consider this.""
Morgiest says, ""Hrm. Interestin.""
Tierus says, ""Amasalen maynae wish tae expend 'is own strength tae punish Thurfel. Aftir all, 'e IS a lesser Immortal.""
Morgiest nods to Tierus.
Tierus says, ""P'raps tha reason tha' tha Nine wish tae conquer 'Mule is tae punish Thurfel.""
Tierus nods to Morgiest.
Tierus says, ""Or... p'raps tha reason why Amasalen encourages it.""
Tierus nods.
Tierus says, ""Ah'd like tae add somethin' tae me lecture tha' ah'd fergotten.""
Tierus says, ""Amasalen is also related tae Marlu an' Mularos.""
Tierus says, ""Tha latter ref'rence, 'owe'er, is only made by tha closed o' mind.""
Tierus nods.
Tierus says, ""Amasalen is related tae Marlu, 'cause 'e thrives on tha bloodshed o' destruction.""
Tierus says, ""Amasalen is occas'nally associated wif Mularos 'cause o' tha blood shed in torture.""
Tierus says, ""'owe'er... a true Mularosian knows tha' if blood spills, ye need werk.""
Tierus chuckles.
Tierus asks, ""Be thair other questions?""
Azrov asks, ""where did you learn your knowledge of Amasalen?""
Azrov looks thoughtfully at Tierus.
Tierus asks, ""Ah. Me?""
Azrov nods.
Tierus says, ""Pers'nal experience.""
Tierus says, ""An' studies wif Amasaleni.""
Azrov says, ""fair enough""
Tierus says, ""Much o' it wis gleaned frem Thurfel, as well as frem taletellers.""
Tierus nods to Azrov.
Tierus says, ""Much o' it is documented in Ta'Illistim as well.""
Azrov rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Tierus says, ""If ah wirnae a wanted elf in Ta'Illistim, ah'd take ye.""
Tierus nods.
Tierus asks, ""Other questions, p'raps?""
Tierus points at Sylviana.
Morgiest says, ""A very good impromptu presentation Tierus. tae bad it was needed.""
Tierus says, ""Ah apologize fer needin' tae do it. Bablistia's a grand speaker, though she does like tha crimson o' tha veins a bit too much.""
Tierus grins.
Sylviana says, ""You said this God Amasalen grows more powerful by the spilling of blood.""
Tierus nods to Sylviana.
Sylviana says, ""But you also seemed to infer that he was not a threat to the greater Arkati.""
Sylviana seems puzzled.
Sylviana asks, ""Would not one rather large war make him a threat?""
Sylviana cocks her head at Tierus.
Tierus says, ""Amasalen grows mer po'erful in tha spillin' o' blood. Luukos grows mer po'erful frem tha devourin' o' souls. Voln grows mer po'erful frem tha release o' tha undead. Eonak grows mer po'erful frem prayer an' fine crafts. Ronan grows mer po'erful frem tha worship o' dreams...""
Sylviana looks thoughtfully at Tierus.
Tierus says, ""Donnae o'erestimate tha scope o' tha Arkati.""
Sylviana says, ""I see.""
Tierus says, ""All o' tha' spillin' o' blood woul' be a drop in a river.""
Azrov says, ""the other gods had longer to grow powerful, Amasalen is still fresh...as he grows, theyve been growing for ages...""
Tierus nods to Azrov.
Tierus says, ""C'rrect.""
Tierus says, ""'Tis said, in Elven doctrine, tha' tha Arkati wirnae once tha' much mer po'erful than we.""
Tierus nods.
Tierus asks, ""Any other questions on Amasalen'r related subjects?""
Azrov asks, ""does Amasalen himself ever take form to subject this town to his powers?""
Tierus says, ""Aye.""
Azrov ponders.
Tierus says, ""'twas said, once, whin tha Nine wir still mortal, a serpent-faced man appeared tae warn o' impendin' doom by Luukos.""
Tierus says, ""Sometimes, less subtle Lornon Arkati decide tae trumpet out tha' they're goin' tae be doin' somethin' evil. ""
Tierus chuckles.
Azrov asks, ""why would he wish to warn the town?""
Tierus says, ""Amasalen's face also appeared in tha Penguin pond 'ere in 'Mule nae too long ago.""
Tierus turns to face Azrov.
Tierus says, ""If ye wir an omnipotent an' extremely unsubtle creature...""
Tanager looks thoughtfully at Tierus.
Tierus asks, ""wouldnae ye want yer victims tae stew a bit, ferst?""
Tierus says, ""Espec'lly if'n they couldnae stop wha' wis comin'.""
Tierus says, ""Also, if ye dinnae care 'bout yer soldiers, thair's a few mer drops o' blood, too.""
Azrov says, ""I suppose that's one of the gaping differences in Onar and Amasalen""
Tierus nods to Azrov.
Tierus says, ""Onar's a smart creature.""
Tierus says, ""Do remem'er whae we be talkin' 'bout whin we mention Amasalen. 'e chose ten Halflin's as 'is greatest followers.""
Tierus laughs softly, trying to hide his amusement.
Tierus asks, ""Any other questions?""
Tierus says, ""G'deventide, all.""
Tierus says, ""As this seems tae be concludin' our lecture..."""