Balantine recites quietly:

"Welcome, tonight we shall be learning once again about some ancient history, perticularly about the one known as Despana"

Balantine recites quietly:

"Let us enter the museum's Hall of History"


[Wehnimer's, Erebor Square]
This quiet corner resembles a calm island amid the bustling life of Wehnimer's Landing. At the west end, a low, broad dome is visible. In the center of the square, several benches of polished wood and smooth stone surround a sculpture that stands as a sentinel before the Wehnimer's Museum. Cast in bronze, the work imparts a sense of peace, calm and protection to the landscaped surroundings. A gold plaque mounted on a gracefully chiseled malachite base stands before it. You also see the ship-shaped Mianyn disk manned by tiny wool-knitted lobsters, the ship-shaped Peggyanne disk, the repousse copper Khobra disk raised in leafy designs, a yellow-eyed forest wolfhound, an enormous midnight black greatfang and an ironwork gate.
Also here: Brave Soul Mianyn, Admiral Peggyanne, Augustinia, Sister-in-Arms Roelaren, Courtier Khobra, Brave Soul
Balantine recites quietly:

"Welcome one and all"

A dark violet light, followed by a white flash, flares up from Peggyanne's eonake plate-and-mail.
An enormous midnight black greatfang yawns creakily, snorting softly with an expression of well-fed contentment.
Roelaren gestures while calling upon the lesser spirits for aid...
Balantine recites quietly:

"Tonight we shall be learning some anciant history, in particular about the one known as Despana"

Peggyanne winces.
Peggyanne stares at Balantine.
Roelaren gestures into the air.
Roelaren momentarily gets a faroff look in her eyes, and then returns to normal.
Balantine recites quietly:

"Let us enter the museum's hall of history"

Sir Balantine's group just entered The Wehnimer's Museum.
[Wehnimer's Museum, Grand Lobby]
White marble columns, set halfway into the walls, serve as both decoration and structural support for the high ceiling. Set between them are some colorful velvet settees that offer respite for weary patrons. The cool marble floor is interrupted by a pale gold carpet that leads up an expansive staircase. In the center of the western wall is a green marble arch, while the eastern wall sports a white marble arch. Across the room from a gold marble arch, a large platinum plaque and a rectangular white sign are displayed beside the oaken double doors that lead outside.
Also here: Augustinia, Sister-in-Arms Roelaren, Courtier Khobra, Brave Soul Amathea, Admiral Peggyanne, Brave Soul Mianyn, Sir Balantine
Obvious exits: none


Sir Balantine's group just went through a white marble arch.
[Wehnimer's Museum, History Wing]
Tapestries on the stark white walls depict various scenes of carnage and mayhem from Wehnimer's Landing's sordid past. A black plaque with white writing hangs in the center of the north wall, its contents the focal point of the room. Blending into the western wall, a white marble arch leads to the lobby. A rustic gnarled oak cabinet sits off in one corner, dwarfed by a ruined wooden rolton with a dilapidated sign on it that rests beside the moderately sized display.
Also here: Augustinia, Sister-in-Arms Roelaren, Courtier Khobra, Brave Soul Amathea, Admiral Peggyanne, Brave Soul Mianyn, Sir Balantine
Obvious exits: northeast, southeast

Sir Balantine's group just went southeast.
[History Wing, Griffin Sword]
The far wall is painted to resemble the exterior of the large temple of Wehnimer's Landing. Darkly hued, a wrought-iron gate is depicted in the foreground. To one side of the gate, a replicated glowing white stone rests on the grey marble floor, while on the other side a pillow-topped gold pedestal stands alone. On another wall, two gold-framed paintings hang above a glass-topped display case, its contents glittering in the light of ensconced lanterns set along the walls.
Also here: Augustinia, Sister-in-Arms Roelaren, Courtier Khobra, Brave Soul Amathea, Admiral Peggyanne, Brave Soul Mianyn, Sir Balantine
Obvious exits: east, northwest

Sir Balantine's group just went east.
[History Wing, Vvrael War]
Mist grey walls encompass this small room where a mountainous diorama takes up one corner. Across the walls, stylized crimson raindrops fall toward a white marble floor where red streaks in the stone resemble rivulets of blood in the snow. Two silver-framed artworks hang on the wall opposite the diorama, with matching plaques to describe them. Everything is bathed in the light of several flickering torches that dot the walls.
Also here: Augustinia, Sister-in-Arms Roelaren, Courtier Khobra, Brave Soul Amathea, Admiral Peggyanne, Brave Soul Mianyn, Sir Balantine
Obvious exits: east, west
A dark violet light, followed by a white flash, flares up from Peggyanne's eonake vambraces.
Mianyn nods at Roelaren.
The semitransparent image of a grim raven flickers into life before flapping away in a burst of purple-black motes.
Balantine recites quietly:

"And so, settle in, we shall begin"

Balantine clears his throat.
Balantine recites quietly:

"Despana"

Balantine recites quietly:

"No one knows just who or what Despana was. Her contemporaries believed that she came from the jungles said to lie beyond the Southron Wastes, which was where the Dhe'nar had by that time resided for tens of millennia. The earliest rumors of Despana reached the ruling classes of the Elven Empire in -19,864, which is roughly the same time period as the Great Fire that destroyed Sharath. Despana completed construction of the Keep at Maelshyve in -18,756, over three thousand years before the Undead War. In the year -15,497 it is said her chief minion Dharthiir began recruiting orcs, trolls, and humans to join his undead army. Other forces were part of Despana's army as well, such as a large contingent of minotaurs led by Tordaak."

Balantine recites quietly:

"While the Elven Empire had fought undead forces such as the Vishmiir, the Dhe'nar practiced the necromancy of undeath much earlier, and other undead such as the Black Wolves of Aramur Forean date back to the Second Age, Despana is infamous for raising what is presumably the largest undead horde in history. "The Undead" nearly destroyed the Elven Empire during the Undead War. In religious legends it is said Koar had prohibited the spread of information regarding undeath to mortals before the undead war but allowed it after. The Luukosian Order was not founded until after the Undead War, though its high priest Morvule pre-dates it by thousands of years."

Balantine recites quietly:

"Despana searched the old places of the Ur-Daemon and discovered the Book of Tormtor in the land of Rhoska-Tor. The Book of Tormtor is often assumed to be an Ur-Daemon relic, which was said to have been written in their language, though why the Ur-Daemon would have books or how Despana would know how to read it is not explained. This is not actually known. Other theories are that Despana discovered the library of Fash'lo'nae, which is rumored to be "fractured" and accessed in multiple places, while the Dhe'nar claim the book was something they left behind. The Dhe'nar are thought to have learned to control the undead in the Wastes when they lived there 20,000 years before Despana. "rha sha tor" in Dhe'nar-si means "giver and taker of life." Demons historically are also associated with making the undead, and the Faendryl first began summoning demons roughly 20,000 years prior to Despana."

[History Wing, Vvrael War]
Mist grey walls encompass this small room where a mountainous diorama takes up one corner. Across the walls, stylized crimson raindrops fall toward a white marble floor where red streaks in the stone resemble rivulets of blood in the snow. Two silver-framed artworks hang on the wall opposite the diorama, with matching plaques to describe them. Everything is bathed in the light of several flickering torches that dot the walls. You also see the repousse copper Khobra disk raised in leafy designs and the ship-shaped Mianyn disk manned by tiny wool-knitted lobsters.
Also here: Kittaye, Brave Soul Mianyn, Augustinia, Sister-in-Arms Roelaren, Courtier Khobra, Brave Soul Amathea, Sir Balantine
Obvious exits: east, west

Balantine recites quietly:

"Demise"

Balantine recites quietly:

"The exact beginning and end dates of the Undead War are inconsistent between historical documents, but it is known that Despana was defeated in the -15,180s, usually given as the year -15,185 or sometimes -15,188. House Faendryl ended Despana in the Battle of Maelshyve, when her horde was driven back by lesser demons and the fortress was imploded. The Book of Tormtor was lost in the war, but whether or not it was destroyed is unknown. It was last rumored to be in the possession of Shar. Though the Grot'karesh Hammer Clan believe she will return, bringing about a second Age of Chaos, Despana was never heard from again. Whether she is dead or only exiled is not known."

Balantine recites quietly:

"There is to this day an unhealing tear in the veil at Maelshyve due to its implosion. Demons emerge from this rift at random, which is guarded against by the Faendryl Armata, though most are allowed to move west toward the Demonwall as punishment for the Third Elven War. Despana is thought to have been very fond of urglaes, a cursed metal of darkness found in the blasted lands around Maelshyve, and that she used the metal in her magical workings."

Balantine recites quietly:

"Book of Tormtor"

Balantine recites quietly:

"The Book of Tormtor was an artifact thought to have been left behind by the Ur-Daemon, which Despana used to create her undead horde, leading to the Undead War and collapse of the unified Elven Empire. It was found in the Southron Wastes, but was thought to have been destroyed in Maelshyve. It was rumored to be in the possession of Shar, last mentioned around the release of Animate Dead (730)."

Balantine recites quietly:

"Because much of this history is very ancient, and little is known, however, I did find a text giving a wee bit more detail"

Balantine recites quietly:

"A Faendryl perspective on Despana from Maltreis Faelryn Faendryl"

Balantine recites quietly:

"Despana is a figure who changed the very course of history, and yet incredibly little is known about her. In fact her General Dharthiir the Arch-Lich has more written about him. Her early history is lost to time and even her race is in question. I ll not repeat known facts, little as they are, in this paper: instead, I will concentrate on what is known, which are the influences Despana has had on our society. Necromancy and Summoning, the fall of Elven supremacy on Elanith, and the exile as well as the diaspora
all these things can be lain at her feet."

Balantine recites quietly:

"So little do we know about Despana that the only known depiction of her is the famous bust in the Wehnimer s Landing museum. It is likely a projection by an artist as historical fact and place of origin demonstrate that Despana was either a human desert nomad or a roaming Elf. Due to her mythological status, she may well be a scapegoat sort of "witch", where one would take a rebel who fought back against elven imperialism and transform her into a human witch, rather than a being akin to the Faendryl."

Balantine recites quietly:

"Before the Undead War, Faendryl society was much like that of the other Elven city-states, believing themselves enlightened by dint of their status as rulers of the Elves. Sorcery was being developed, and the Valence had already been breached. My ancestors were not prepared to unleash their new found Art in full force until the war forced our hand. When Despana unfurled her claws, the Faendryl began to restructure their society around Sorcery more than ever before. Patriarch XXXIV Unsenis Ignaas Faendryl decided that desperate times called for desperate measures
demonic summoning was researched in earnest, and through the course of this research it was realized that the lesser of the demonic types were Necromancers themselves. This revelation is surely the core of the idea for the lighting strike on Maelshyve. Of course, once they revealed their arts of Summoning and Sorcery at the final battle of the Undead War, their society was changed forever by the subsequent exile."



Balantine recites quietly:

"Necromancy seems to have developed at first as a separate discipline. The relative unreadiness of the Empire for her forces presents a case for Necromancy being unknown to them. Despana might be the first mortal Necromancer
certainly she was the only one of historical note other than Aramur Forean, who fell to undeath through cannibalism as a sort of proto-Necromancer. (Of note is Thyrsos Kanigel Faendryl who is mentioned as a necromancer in the histories yet is credited with the first Demonic Summoning and no works of actual Necromancy.) It is likely these prior undead were created by Luukos for inscrutable reasons during the age before as well as the cause of Aramur Forean s transformation. Of course, any mention of Necromancy would be remiss without mentioning Jaston and his re-animation by Imaera from the corpse of a Sylvan Elf. The Arkati were the first -known- source of Necromancy, although speculation due to the Book of Tormtor could conclude that the Ur-Daemon are the truest source."




Balantine recites quietly:

"The Book of Tormtor is another famous piece of history that is always associated with Despana. It is always featured in the stories and histories, yet it is unclear whether it taught Despana Necromancy or merely increased her knowledge to a point where she became a threat to the entire Empire. Necromancy, as a subsect of Sorcery, touches on energies that pierce the valence. The first beings known to perform such a feat was the Ur-Daemon. This makes it likely that the Book of Tormtor was a relic of the war in some capacity. This is collaborated by the grasp of Necromancy that ancient extra planar powers have displayed such as the Vvrael, the Vishmiir and Althedeus. It is likely the Book was in possession of the Dhe'nar at some point, which explains their rudimentary grasp of Necromancy, but was lost and then found by Despana."

Balantine recites quietly:

"Despana fought using a weapon that was highly unorthodox. The Elven Empire was entirely unprepared for an unliving, untiring enemy that skill alone could not defeat. The undead numbers kept growing with every battle. They beat the Empire right back to their doorstep with her undead and then animated the corpses of both sides to push them to the sea. The Faendryl operated the same way, out of desperation to survive. It was in Despana that we saw our folly, the folly of mortal flesh weaponized by the careless, ignorant use of profound power. It was this realization that led the Faendryl to Sorcery which necessitated our ascension to a different sort of society. We have always embraced change, and it was that attitude that let us bend our entire society to one will. This society s first goal was to destroy Despana and her forces. To wallow in the past was to invite destruction. After we would bend our society to survive, to thrive, and then to obtain transcendence."

Balantine recites quietly:

"Despana continues to affect a geopolitical perception of Faendryl culture as a powerbase. While Faendryl life is indeed long, there are none left living who remember the strike on Maelshyve. Here we see the folly of the argument against Sorcery by the other Elven Houses. Demons are always a reminder of the war, something that overshadows the victory over her. This prejudice is easily seen when new magics are discovered and introduced, such as mentalism, which was easily accepted by seemingly everyone. Both these facts being the case, we must ask
can a race of people be held to the supposed sin that stained their ancestors."

Balantine recites quietly:

"Much of the remaining modern prejudice against the Faendryl is pushed by other political powers that wish to remind their populations to remain united against the enemy without
the so called Dark Elves . Most egregious here is the Turamzzyrian Empire, who likely uses such propaganda to make sure the wedge between House Faendryl and the other Elven Houses remains deep."

Balantine recites quietly:

"In closing, Despana may be a figure of myth and legend yet she had a very real impact on not just the Faendryl, but the entirety of Elanith. We may never learn the truth of Despana s history or how she came to find the Book of Tormtor. Yet may we keep the lesson she taught us in our hearts, to kindle ambition enough to accept and overcome any challenge. Despana showed us that this world is fragile. Let our ambitions carry us beyond."

Balantine recites quietly:

"Remember: Our Discipline Rules All Worlds."

Balantine recites quietly:

"May Patriarch Korvath Dardanus Faendryl lead us to greatness."

Balantine recites quietly:

"These were the thoughts of Malraeis Faelryn Faendryl as set down in the text I found"

Balantine recites quietly:

"And so ends my presentation of the Nameless one, Despana"

Balantine recites quietly:

"Anyone hae questions or comments?"

Today is Leyan, day 21 of the month Jastatos in the year 5126. It is 21:30 by the elven time standard. It is currently late evening.
Amathea appears lost in thought.
Khobra softly admits, "Book of Tormotor did believe to be .. I don't know close to 13 years or more. I do understand vhich iz exprezzed to be, compared to vith iz.. Are YOU zure the Namelessone is Despana?"
Amathea adopts an agreeable expression.
The dully illuminated mantle protecting Khobra begins to falter, then completely fades away.
Kittaye glances between Khobra and Balantine.
Khobra turns an inquisitive ear toward Balantine.
Balantine recites quietly:

"Tis an ancient custom that anyone who speaks her name is heard by her, and so the custom came to be to not refer to her by name"

Amathea gazes with interest at a mountainous diorama.
Roelaren asks, "Thus the nameless one?"
Mianyn softly says, "Well that is another good way to make people forget things."
Balantine recites quietly:

"Perhaps this custom arose from the practice in Necromancy, that having the name of the demon gives one power over it"

Mianyn softly says, "Clever."
Amathea agrees with Mianyn.
Roelaren agrees with Mianyn.
Khobra innocently admits, "HER name. Her name... .. .. .. Her name.. . ."
Khobra nods slowly.
Roelaren says, "A full name is powerful."
Khobra knowingly admits, "The Namelezz one IZ ZHE."
Khobra innocently admits, "Vhat happenz nov prepared to vhat could be exprezzed?"
Khobra smiles at Roelaren.
Khobra adopts an agreeable expression.
Roelaren smiles at Khobra.
Today is Leyan, day 21 of the month Jastatos in the year 5126. It is 21:35 by the elven time standard. It is currently late evening.
Roelaren asks, "Any other questions or comments?"
Balantine recites quietly:

"I found some additional information in my research about Fash'lo'nae, also known as the Grandfather. Would there be interest in a presentation on that topic?"

Amathea nods sagely at Balantine.
Mianyn nods at Balantine.
Roelaren says, "Yes."
Mianyn softly says, "Yes please."
You say, "Aye."
Speaking quietly to Roelaren, Balantine says, "We shall hae to scedule one last lecture then, in the next week or so."
Kittaye smiles.
Roelaren nods.
Khobra softly says, "Inqure yet vhat do you do vhen you hold a trio of queztionz, no one vithin Elanthia haz bothered to azked. Hov do you rezpond to thoze liztening to an anver Oppoze to liztening ... and anzvering your queztion? Think about it for a moment."
Khobra smiles.
Khobra takes a few graceful steps backward.
Mianyn put a silvery fusion token in her sky blue silk kimono.
Amathea takes a bite of her jellied slug.
Kittaye put a Wehnimer's promissory note in her lavender silk kimono.