MORELLIUS, MASTER OF THE SHADED CABAL
The man who grow up to threaten the entire Aguire was born in 1273 B.R.E. in the city-state of Ilya. Morellius Aurkan was the son of Deildrus Aurkan, leader of a prominent merchant family, and Kelsidea Lylen, a daughter of a stately, if impovershed old Rus family. Kelsidea died shortly after Morellius's birth, and her death shattered Deildrus, who had loved her quite deeply, and had even gone against family wishes to marry her. Afterwards, all of his friends agreed that Deildrus was never a whole man again, becoming sullen and withdrawn. Indeed, it was rumored that he spent much of his time seeking some desperate way to restore her to him, which he never found.
It is impossible to determine how Morellius's life might have gone if his mother would have lived. It might have at the very least changed his father's behavior to him. Deildrus simultaneously ignored and indulged the boy, almost never visiting him, and indeed seeming to consciously avoid him, while seeing to (from a distance) that his every need and wish was attended to. As Morellius grew up he was given toys, parties, and virtually every luxury that was available. And yet his father was nothing more to him than a vague presence that would visit his rooms on rare occasions, keep his distance, and quickly leave. For many boys, this might have been enough, but Morellius was especially intelligent and perceptive for his age. It was quickly apparent to him that his father avoided him, and in many ways, it hurt him deeply.
He was a remarkable boy it must be said. Alert and intelligent, he mastered reading while a very small boy--indeed by the age of seven, he was already reading works that many older men scratched their heads over--reading them, and understanding them as well. He played several instruments with fluency, and wrote much of his own music. His manners were impeccable, his charm, undeniable. And yet his keepers (a series of tutors, and nursemaids over the years) noticed that the child had many flaws. He was lordly and imperious to others, though this was often hidden behind a show of grace. He delighted in being the center of attention--indeed he insisted on it, and when others gained notice, he'd often act in a simple caculated way to get that to stop, immediately. As he grew up, this would grow worse. He prefered to have around him friends who would do whatever he said, and began to take a strong delight in mischief, especially against those he didn't like, though even his 'friends' were not immune to this. Since he could more or less count on getting what he wanted, he became convinced that this was the natural order of things, and came to act so. Still, he remained clever enough to always put up a show of charm, even when it wasn't sincere.
By the age of 13, Morellius had become a stately, handsome lad, with an inexorable desire for power and attention. Like all who lived in Ilya, he had a certain respect for Phoebe's priests, whose power and influence were paramount in the city. Indeed, what fascinated Morellius was that the admiration and love they recieved was often completely, and whole-heartedly sincere, not the mincing toadying that his so-called 'friends' gave him. Convinced that the answer to all his dreams was to join the priesthood of Phoebe, Morellius requested to be allowed into the church as an acolyte. His father, partially out of his normal indulgence, and partially out of a vague sense that his child was perhaps shaping up in a rather improper way, and could benefit from some priestly training, allowed it. And so Morellius joined the Temple of Phoebe.
His training began on a high note--Morellius was brilliant at his studies, and undeniably gifted in the mastery of mystical arts. Indeed, as an early classmate of future prelate Lylisse Melieades (mother of present prelate Sari Melieades), it was often wondered which of the two would go farther. However after a few months Morellius was returned home, with a kind, but firm letter from the priests. Morellius, they said, was undeniably talented, and could perhaps go far in the proper field. He was however, completely unsuited to the priesthood of Phoebe. Priesthood, they stated, involved a willingness to kneel before the glory of Phoebe, to submerse oneself in the will of the Mistress of Mistresses. Morellius lacked this. He was prideful, and this put between him and the Lady of Light a wall that could not be breached. Still, the priests said, there was a great hope for the boy. His understanding of magical theory was phenomenal--perhaps a different priesthood, or wizardly training? Deildrus read this letter, and acting on its advice, sent the boy to Brael.
In these modern days, with Blackcastle Tower breathing down their necks, many clerics of Phoebe sincerely wish that the church had made more of an effort with the young Morellius. Perhaps with time, his harsh manner could have been changed by the lessons of the Lady of Light, and then the entire history of the Aguire would be different. But still, this was not as easy as it sounds. In the end, one of the great difficulties in teaching Morellius was Morellius himself. The boy simply did not want to learn to submit himself to a god. By the time he left the church, the truth of the matter was, he was as tired of it, as it was of him. Still he was resentful. He had never failed at anything, never yet encountered a limit, and at last finding something that he could not do, he was crushed in some simple, yet vital way. It is noteworthy that he did not take the advice to join another priesthood--partially out of the disgust for priests in general that he would show in later years, but partially out of a wish to avoid settling for something second best. After all, the wizards of Brael were almost as respected as priests of Phoebe--even more respected in some ways, for their power was even more visible. And the conscienceless power of arcane magic appealed to Morellius in some primal way.
Morellius soon distinguished himself at the Academy of Brael. He was the first in all his classes, mastering magical theory with an ease that most of his elder wizards found amazing. Thyse, the then-Master of Conjurations stated that he expected great things of the lad. Indeed, many suspected that he would in time become a professor, and later perhaps even a Master of the Academy. But Wheldrake, the Academy's Grandmaster was slightly more cautious in his appraisal. "His theory is perfect--his skill is flawless--but his attitude is, I'm afraid, all wrong." he stated in a letter to the Lady Nune. "He has the general manner of those who poke about in dark, dangerous corners--and Aurelius knows what he may find there!" In retrospect, this was prophetic, though at the time, many believed it to be paranoia, with perhaps a tinge of jealousy.
During this time, Morellius became famous for his dinner parties. There, for free, any student could dine, with or without invitation. In time a group of regulars came to exist, who almost never missed a party--these included not only students, but some staff as well. As will happen to anyone who offers people free food and drink, Morellius came to be quite popular. And as time went on, he came to expound his political views at these affairs. The Aguire, he felt, should be united. Not an uncommon view, that one. However, in his mind, the people to do the uniting were wizards. Wizards, he felt, were both highly skilled, and greatly intelligent. These traits alone gave them not only a right but a duty to lead their fellow men. Indeed, only wizards were competent enough to do this--all others had proven their incompetence many times over. On the subject of priests, he was quite prickly, viewing them as slaves to unreliable (and perhaps selfishly motivated) higher powers. All in all these viewpoints were perhaps not as unusual as they should have been--they had simply never been stated so well. Morellius came to gather around him a group of like-minded associates, who took, in time, to holding meetings in the town, during which the political situation of the Aguire was discussed quite heatedly. This group came to call itself "The High Council"--it was the very soil from which the Shaded Cabal would spring.
It is so obvious now what Morellius was doing, so clear that the Shaded Cabal that would so soon threaten all of the Aguire did spontaneously come into being, but was the result of years of careful planning. But the Academy had always been the center of such talk, and many student groups had begun in a similar manner. Out of these, the seeds of many an adventuring group had begun, and many such associations went on to far better things. The Masters of the Academy can hardly be blamed for mistaking this for nothing more than the usual youthful chatter. And indeed, some were already watching Morellius with a wary eye, though even the most suspicious among them did not suspect how far he would go.
Upon Morellius's graduation, much to everyone's surprise, he did not take up even a junior professorship. Instead, he left back to Ilya, to take command of his family business his father having died mysteriously. (Though assassination is almost certain, Morellius may not be the culprit--Deildrus cannot be said to lack for enemies...) After this was done, Morellius took to adventuring, joining numerous groups over a period of years. Many of these groups would go on dangerous quests to reclaim magical treasures and perish almost to a man, leaving Morellius in sole possession of the gained wealth. And of the ones who did not, many of them were rather unsavory groups who went on to enjoy prominent places in the Shaded Cabal. Finally, in 1293, while searching a series of ruins, Morellius came into possession of a vast Rusinian treasure trove. While it's exact contents remain a mystery, it is known to have carried countless potent magic items, several quite possibly of artifact level including, it is rumored, one of the legendary Sarcaphogi of Rejuvenation. Afterwards, he claimed the ruins as his own, and brought workmen in to repair it--repairs, aided by his magic that were done within months. In 1294, Morellius moved into the palace he called Blackcastle Tower. He was now comfortably situated, powerful beyond his wildest dreams, and well-connected to both the magical and criminal worlds. His plans could then begin in earnest.
For the next several years, the Masters of the Academy slowly became aware of a certain cohesion of events in the Aguire. Goblin tribes were becoming more militant--small rogue wizard cells were on the rise, and the students at the Academy were becoming restless. But none were prepared when in 1297, the Shaded Cabal attacked Brael. Their assault went off with amazing effieciency, aided by allies among the student and staff, including Kaleg the Master of Illusion, and Hyel, Vice-Marshal of the Aurelian Order. Withing moments, it appeared that the Free City was going to once again have to bow to a Primus. Calls went out to Ilya, but the Shaded Cabal was aiding local Hill and Mountain Goblin tribes in an assault against the White City, effectively disabling it. Morellius himself struck like a lightning bolt, killing Aeldys, Master of Transmutations, Thyse, Master of Conjurations, and Hilede, Master of Enchantments. Finally, he faced Wheldrake in an epic spell battle, and was at last defeated, though only with the aid of Lady Nune and Aert of the Silver Robes. With Morellius's defeat, the Shaded Cabal's assault fell apart, though it still took many days for the beleagured cities to finally know peace. Afterwards, the fleeing scions of Morellius settled around Blackcastle Tower, creating over time, the city and nation that bears that name. While both Brael and Ilya wished to launch a counterattack against the Shaded Cabal, the attack had left both badly weakened. Indeed, the results of the attack--five Masters of the Academy dead, and one of those a traitor--both the Prelate and the Master of Knights of Ilya dead--and many of the slain killed through dark soul-destroying magics--caused Wheldrake to state "If this victory, I would not like to taste of defeat."
In the time since then, Morellius has been quietly active. He generally remains at Blackcastle Tower, wary of being drawn into a long conflict, though he will leave it on occasion. By all accounts, he appears to be a youth of 20, leading to speculation that he has Rusinian life-extension magicks in his possession. He has been reported killed 17 times, though most of those times (perhaps all) were in all likelihood simulacrum. The Shaded Cabal has continued to plot to subjugate the Aguire--its lack of success has caused many young adventurers to see it as something of a joke, and yet many older heads are less certain. Morellius's power grows only more entrenched as the years pass, and despite constant small victories, those who oppose him see themselves losing the war. While the Shaded Cabal is perhaps one of the more intrigue-ridden sects of Tur An Tiel, its influence is undeniable. Some may laugh at him, but the wise often keep a wary eye pointed at Blackcastle Tower...
