Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rhialto" data-source="post: 2124919" data-attributes="member: 630">So goes the popular impression of the relationship of between Herewald and Archduke Galldrian.  The truth is more complicated.The Xal sorcerer Herewald (which is, it should be pointed out, a corruption of his proper name, Cyhier Val'dea, a name whose difficult-to-pronounce-for-an-Eyrosian-tongue syllables mean "King of the Valley") arrived in Ghalfean years ago, during the rule of the Immortal Emperor Amber Locust.  He began by performing various wonders and was quickly invited to the Archduke's court by the Prince Galldrian Vindros, who was astounded and intrigued by the Herewald's amazing powers.  A deep friendship sprung up between the two men, and soon Herewald was living in the Prince's palace, regularly performing miracles at the Galldrian's parties.  The relationship between Prince Vindros and the foreign magician was noted by his father, Archduke Hallin Vindros and elements in the Ghalfaen government loyal to Eyros as "highly suspect" and finally, after three years as Galldrian's guest, Herewald was banished.  Six months later, the gargantuan purple worm attacked Ghalfean, killing Archduke Hallin and destroying much of the government.  "His father's casket was no sooner in the ground," wrote the Eyrosian ambassador, "when the Prince rescinded the magician's banishment, and invited the damned Xal back into the kingdom."  Herewald arrived and immediately drove off the worm, an act for which he was given a title, and a small palace.Since then, much to the displeasure of most Ghalfean nobles, Herewald has become omnipresent in the government.  He looks over appointments, he makes suggestions on policy, he oversees the collection of taxes--wherever the Xal sees something to be exploited, there he is.  When they complain to Galldrian, he looks piteously to the heavens and declares that  he'd like to be free of the sorcerer himself--but that damned worm!  Usually, an hour or two later, he and Herewald are reclining on cushions watching dancing girls together, as they share a cup of wine.  Many have noted that whenever the objections grow particulary strident, the worm makes another appearance, causes a great deal of damage to the Archduke's or the sorcerer's enemies, and then is driven off.  One fear of the Ghalfeans has not come true, however--Herewald has NOT used his position to push Xal interests.  In point of fact, the sorcerer seems to have no loyalty to his home whatsoever.  The only interests he serves are his own--and those of Galldrian of whom he is truly fond.  Some suggest that Herewald is aiding him in his plot to blackmail various other nobles--a suggestion which seems very likely indeed.</blockquote>

Verification