I did not realize it at the time, but Kanan had been right.  We did not need a fire to warm the room.  I felt nothing of my body at all, and yet it soon would prove an impediment.  I had assumed that I would be propelled into another world, that I would be clutching onto reality and onto my own life.  But the opposite was true.  I had to work to stay in this dream. I had to focus fixedly on my question and think of nothing else.  If my mind wandered even for a second, I would begin to feel the cold and recede backwards.  I was determined not to let that happen.  I could see the freprimanding aces of the Grand Dukes, but guilt began to draw me back and I had to let it go.  My Empathics became a problem.  I tried to sense my way forward, and again I fell back.  I must only concentrate on my question; what was the cause of the darkness.

The tunnel seemed endless.  And it seemed to be getting smaller and more difficult.  There were roots growing into it now.  It took a long time for me to realize that by focusing on the tunnel, it was preventing movement.  My physical body was my safety net.  I realized that I wanted a hard physical journey that I would fail, the attempt absolving me from blame.
I  then discovered that I had a degree more courage than I suspected and that I could carry on despite my fear.   I also discovered that I really wanted the answers, not just absolution.  At that moment of revelation the tunnel simply vanished and I found myself floating in a deep pinkish cloud.  In this opaque mist disturbing images appeared to me.  Faces, mainly.  Faces from the past, faces from dreams.  I saw Jastral Fane staring at me in anger.  I saw my mother.  I saw Lythe Petros on his deathbed.  These images were so real that they wrenched my heart, and it was almost too late before I realized that they too were preventing me from walking my path.  I closed my eyes and banished them.  I though only of the darkness.  I had banished everything else.

I did not open my eyes, as far as I can recall, but I was still able to see.  I found myself standing in a wide field of short grass on a summer's day.  There was a small dwelling ahead.  I was moving towards it.  It looked well appointed with a new thatch roof and freshly white washed.  But as I got close, I realized that there was rot everywhere.  It was hidden, but I knew the hut was a plague house.  I suddenly stopped.  I had to will myself to stay.  Suddenly a child burst out of the house and ran past, then around me. The child was holding a bird's nest.  Angry shouts sounded from the house, though I saw no one, and no one came out.  I knew that the shouts were recriminations for the child.  No one in the dream paid me the least attention.  The boy stopped near me and stared into the nest.  I could just make out that there were colored eggs.  I became aware that other children had appeared in the distance.  They began running toward the boy with the nest, who paid no attention to them.  When they arrived they began a fight for the nest, each grabbing it.  A golden egg dropped out and one boy snatched it and ran off. Other eggs flew into the air, some were caught and quickly stolen away, others landed on the ground and were ignored.  The boy ended up with an empty nest.  But then he looked right at me, or rather through me.  And then he opened his closed hand to reveal a cracked egg oozing a black liquid.  Then everything went suddenly black.

I awoke.  I was sitting on the straw mat in the dark room.  Kanan was gone, the drummer was gone.  Forcellus and Karsh were sleeping and Veltek was staring fixedly at me with a look of horror on his face.

Next: Visions Shared

Duke Ezak Baritor entered the room with a flourish.  He was a tall man with the complexion of his ancient Zorbeshi forebears.  "Welcome great lords, you do us honor" he said.  We exchanged some pleasantries but the gravity of the situation brought us to business quickly.  He brought in "Kanan" his Shaman.  A feeble man who talked very slowly,   He was either doddering or carefully wise, I hoped the latter.  Kanan described his visions carefully, but in the end managed only to confuse us with vague references to dark shapes and malevolent entities.  He graciously allowed me to perform a Mind Meld, which revealed even less.  He finally mentioned that the only real way for us to see what he had seen, was to see and interpret it for ourselves.  "You must enter into the world of the spirits and pluck your own answer" he said.  We all looked at each other, then at him.  "Where is this entrance?" I asked.  I thought he meant the Great Tree in Hamellile.  "It is here, it is everywhere, you simply have to enter" he answered. 

And so, we agreed to try something new.  Kanan brought us to his lodgings.  A simple stone building at the top of a small treeless hill.  "I thought you said that this could be done anywhere" muttered Forcellus suspiciously.  "It can" he said.  "But not by you.  At least not yet.  You will need help."  One other man marched up the hill with us.  He seemed to be Kanan's accomplice for although the two men spoke not a word to each other, they seemed to know what they were to do.  We became nervous as if this were a well-rehearsed dance that we were to witness and somehow participate in.  Veltec, as always, was eager and curious.  He peppered the Shaman with questions, all of which were waved off with "You will see."  Karsh and Forcellus looked uneasy and carefully looked around for signs of hidden danger.

The interior of the building was dark.  Neither of our hosts made a move to light a lamp.  There were no windows, only one small opening in the center of the ceiling.  The cloud cover permitted no sunlight and we could barely see each other.  Kanan gestured for us to sit on low straw-stuffed mats surrounding a very small fire pit that was directly below the hole in the ceiling.  We all sat dutifully.  It was cold and we took turns shuddering, Forcellus finally offered to make a fire.  Kanan looked at him and said "we will not need it." Obviously we were not here to enjoy ourselves.  The fire pit was ridiculously small for a fire anyway and there was no evidence that any fire had ever been placed in it.  I became aware that Kanan's accomplice was rhythmically tapping on a skin drum.  I did not remember him starting.  I stared at the fire pit.  Probably because Kanan was also staring at it.  Soon we all were.  What happened next was a blur.  Long afterwards I was told by Forcellus that Kanan had spoken to us.  I did not remember it.  He had told us that we needed to formulate a single question.  That the spirits would answer this question if it was worthy, but in an allegorical way that we would need to interpret.  We could not ask a mundane question, but only a great spiritual question.  And we could not derivate from that question.  "Like a narrow path that you must walk with will and purpose."  Forcellus also told me later that he and Karsh had announced that it was all nonsense and that they could not find an entrance, and certainly not in the firepit that Kanan has instructed them to stare into.  And so Kanan had flung a black powder at them and Forcellus said "he remembered nothing after that".  But I missed all that.  I was already walking down a dark tunnel, intending to uncover the darkness.

Next: A Dark Vision

The King's Council met on midsummer's eve to determine the extent and improbable answer to the never-ending darkness.  At the council were myself (Tirian),  Kinkg Lythe Petros II, Karsh Petros, Victor Moresby-Malpedi, his son Veltek Morseby-Malpedi, and Forcellus Blaad (not the same man that marched in DOM Triplo obviously, but the great grandson of Garthon [Blade] Blaad.  Also present were representatives from the provinces of Castan, Fane, Bonilan, and Fortan.  Portha declined to attend.  We also had one representative each from Grimdon and Rayla.

The Council lasted three days and produced three results.  First, the geographic extent of the problem was identified.  Second, it was determined that the phenomenon avoided the non-human lands.  And third, that it was getting worse.  As far as solutions, none were offered.  No one could identify the nature of the problem let alone a cure.  I could sense the unspoken; that non-humans were protected and therefore responsible.  The lack of solution on my part was generally interpreted as a lack of desire to solve a purely human problem.  To counter this, I pledged to discover the source.  This was a foolish promise for I had not a clue, but I had to give them something. 

I gathered a small team to seek… something.  Myself, Karsh Petros, Veltek Morseby-Malpedi, and Forcellus Blaad consituted the team.  Prince Karsh would insure that we would be well met in the halls of the provinces.  He is a resourceful and energetic man, not unlike his great grandfather.  Forcellus' sword skill would keep us safe.  He reminded me of both Garthon and his namesake, the Forcellus of so long ago. Veltek offered an intense curiosity which I found invigorating.  He is an Energeticist and along with my Empathics we will hopefully come to an understanding of this great malaise.

Where to start?  We discussed this at length.  In the end we agreed to head first toward the Raylan Grove of Hamellil at the southern end of the Raylan lands.  If I could just empathically contact the Great Tree there, I might be able to get an inkling.  We would journey by way of Baritor where the "Water Shamen" were an intuitive resource.  Other intended stops would be Grimdon and the Great Library at Reva.  A serious task, but I must admit that it was good to be on the road again, and with a familiar group, despite the fact that I was over a century older than any of them.

There would be no dawn to send us off.  We sailed north in unseasonably cool temperatures and landed in Baritor.  We would acquire horses there to journey to Rayla.  But first, we would seek out the Water Shamen.  These men are said to go into a trance and explore the unseen worlds.  I always wanted to go with them, now I had a reason to compel me to action.

Arriving at the city of Baritor, we were greeted by Duke Ezak's men.  We were ushered into the great hall.  We were left there in the semi-darkness for a while while Duke Ezak attended to various tasks.  I took the opportunity to cast an Environment Empathy on the hall. It felt of pride and confidence.  I felt the Empathic intention that we be left there to ogle his tapestries.  Not because they declared his opulence, which they did not as they were simply done, but because of their subject matter.  The woven scenes depicted Baritor history.  I must admit that it was not often that I left the capitol.  I had not visited Baritor since the DOM Triplo march, and then only in passing.  These scenes of Barit men mingling with the Sahag in friendship and spiritual communion were meant to tell us "we are our own people."  I suddenly knew that we were on our own great Shamanic Journey of discovery.

Next: An Indigenous Intoxicant

The known geographic extent of the Great Malaise of 1300 as determined by the Council of King Lythe Petros II.

In my eagerness to get to the description of our own adventure, I will regrettably make quick business of Quarak's great endeavor to raid the lost city.  That it was arduous would be to express it lightly.  Zenabesh was one of the most heavily guarded fortresses of the ancient age.  It housed many of the treasures of the Great Age of Magic.  But by 1250, the fortress and the treasures it held were long forgotten by all but the most learned.  Even the location, deep in the Porthan Mountains was rumored, but not generally known. 

Quarak and his band of accomplices numbered approximately fifty by time he entered the Kundun Pass which leads to Zenabesh.  Unfortunately for him, his quest did not remain a secret despite (or because of) his attempt at keeping it so.  He was simply too vainglorious not to divulge his interests "in secret" to those that he knew would be duly impressed.  And so, the only real secret was that he alone thought his quest remained a secret.  Shadow bands of the nomadic tribes of the Khaniz barrens (the Poona Khanize) trailed Quarac's band in hopes of also finding riches in the form of ancient golden chalices and whatever else they might have imagined was contained in the lost city of Zenabesh. 

Qurarac's expedition also caught the interest of the Jasou, who were banned from Zenabesh several millennia ago with wards and curses.  They longed for a return of the Alak-ans, and should Quarak make a misstep, they wanted to be there to reap the purloined harvest.  They sent a secret band of Kineticists to the Porthan mountains to hide out and be ready for any easy pickings.

I will reveal the ultimate fate of Quarac's expedition in due time, as it was revealed to me.  But I will say this, the break did occur, the Alak-ans was sprung, as well as the entire horde of Zenabeshi treasure.  So much has happened since that fateful occurrence that I shall be writing until my last day.  And you, dear reader, will simply have to wait until I reveal it all.  It's one of the few powers that I have left.

Fifty years after Quarak unleashed the old age on the new, there was still no evidence of any effect in our world.  We knew nothing about it.  The first inkling we had that something was wrong was early in 1300.  Although we certainly did not attribute it at the time to any robbery occuring a world away.  Lythe Petros II was King of DOM, and his son Karsh celebrated his twentieth birthday.  The winter had been long, and we eagerly awaited the first warm days of the spring season.  But it never came.  We lost sight of the sun at the midwinter Festival of Lights, and did not see it again.  Not throughout the rest of the winter, and not at any point in the spring.  By summer, no crops would grow beyond the sprout.  A deep malaise took hold of the people, and I, naturally was sought for answers that I could not yet give.  My search for these answers would take me on the greatest and strangest journey of my life.

Next: The Shamanic Journey

As I sit here I can hear a clock ticking.  The measured clicks are oddly comforting as I write down these events that occurred nearly three hundred years ago.  And yes, I was most definitely there.  Though it seems a dream now.  You have by now guessed that I am a Raylan, assuming that you have not already read my name as Tirian and are a citizen of the north, in which case I will overstep modesty and say that you did not have to guess.  The world has changed much in 300 years, and as I reach the end of my days it is time that I empty some of my catalog of shelved facts. 

Back to the clock.  What a comfort it would have been to accurately know the time.  Sometimes it makes all the difference in the world.  I grew up hating measured time as did all Rayla, but now I cannot live without that friendly ticking.

No, I am not the Man of Ambition.  I only ever wanted to make the world safe for my kind.  Or any kind.  I suppose that is an ambition, but not the wild burning kind that I describe here.  Enough.  I will begin. 

Quarak, was born (and I am guessing here) about some fifty years before our great adventure began.  This would be about 1250 using the Traisgan calendar.  He grew up in Deniz Zorbesh far to the south.  He was the son of a Caliph, but was much more interested in the practice of Necromancy than he was in the politics of running a Caliphate.  He ran off with an attractive female Ezmeri Had (Energeticist) against his father's wishes.  (Well, she was Ezmeri, and that was reason enough).  He was ambitious and hungry, and his love, Alaika, was his match.  Neither wanted the menial power of a Caliphate however.  They had bigger interests.  They were both very learned, and traveled extensively.  They spend time in Jousouk at one point, and found a third interested and needy compatriot, Jakanal, a Jasou kineticist.  And what was their ambitious and learned plan?  Theft.  Not small-scale theft.  A theft that would change the world forever.  Though not in any way that they could have imagined at the time.

Money was not an object.  Quarak's father Caliph Benata-Bin-Halal all but disowned his son, but continued to allow him to draw on his accounts.  Alaika had no parents living.  She grew up in a Haddat learning her arts.  But she had similarly been disowned by her mentors for associating with a Zorbeshi Necromancer.  Jakanal's parentage is unknown to me, or anyone as far as I can tell.  He wanted adventure, and I assume he just walked off one day with these two.

In that day and age, there was really only one really great treasure to steal.  Especially for those that knew their history and were familiar with ancient magical power.  They set their sights on that great objective.  They gathered a small army with Quarak's father's money and proceeded north.  From Jousouk to Deniz.  From Deniz across the Maresur to Khaniz-beth.  Then north to Zenabesh.  They sought the deeply sequestered, ancient power of a giant cut and polished power gem known as the "Alak-ans".

Next: The Break In

Several campaigns followed DOM Triplo in rapid succession.  (I say rapid, but they took years to complete).  "The Elemental Campaign" was first, but the timeline was overlapped by "The Moritanian Campaign, then immediatly followed by "The Khaniz Campaign" The players were the same gang from the DOM Triplo campaign, but obviously with different characters (as one hundred years went by since the DOM Triplo Campaign.)  Kev started out with Karsh Petros (heir to the throne), then when Karsch was called away to the capital, He played Turmond, then Karek.  He returned to Karsh for The Morit Campaign.

Chris played Veltek Morseby-Malpedi (Jared's great-grandson) in The Elemental, and the DOM Guard Guwek Tyno in The Moritanian.  Brian played Forcellus Blaad (great grandson of Garthon [Blade] Blaad for both campaigns. Michael Meade was added for the Morit campaign as Vin Verde of the Green Veil.  Dave, of course, played Tirian throughout.  Confused?  It shall all make sense as we go.  First, The Elemental Campaign (as related by Tirian).

Next: A Man of Ambition

Peace was achieved, but not immediately.  It took several years of wrangling, both diplomatic and military before the pronounced Dominion became a fact.  In the end, the provinces became larger, encompassing the more smaller provinces.  The smaller, original provinces were now to be called "Dukedoms" and the larger provinces encompassing them "Grand Dukedoms".  It was vehemently argued that the province of Fane should be divided up and given to Bonilan and Castan, their neighbors.  But King Lythe decided that such a area full of loyal Fanes would be ungovernable by those two Grand Dukedoms.  And in Jastral Fane's brother, Lythe saw a man he could work with.  And so, Fane was left on the map.  The Corbam family had been completely destroyed, so King Lythe reluctantly divided Jonas' province.  He gave the Raylan lands forever to the Raylan, and did the same for Grimdon.  The Orog were allowed to keep their city, Kamul, but there were no grants of further land to them, nor any (at least officially) to the Troc.  All human lands were now held for the Dominion by the six Grand Dukedoms: Fortan, Blaad, Castan, Fane, Bonilan and Portha.  The latter province began to act more and more like a sovereign country as the years went by, but King Lythe felt that he had enough to deal with, and as they were peaceful and kept his laws - he decided not to pursue the matter.  He faced much criticism in this regard, as argued that the taking of non-humans as slaves remained a common practice in Portha despite it's new illegality.

Tirian forged a new faith based on the tenets of Esaam but which was more elementally focused, and which combined the elemental beliefs of the Raylan and Grimdon.  "The Church of Unity" became the official faith of the realm. 

Jared Moresby eventually took over the reigns of the University of DOM after having studied with Alcazar for many years.  He is also credited with advancing the Great Library at Reva of which he was a staunch patron.  Three centuries after his death his proper name was returned; "Jared Moresby Malpedi." 

Forcellus Blaad and Garthon Blade helped rebuild the DOM army and King's guard.  Garthon remained as Commander of All Forces.  He was renamed "Garthon Blaad" posthumously after discovery of his lineage.  Forcellus returned to Blaad after the war to found the Forcellus Academy which has since turned out many of DOM's finest military minds.  Forcellus then became Grand Duke of Blaad and held that post until his death.

Lythe Petros married and bore a son and a daughter.  His son Julius became King of DOM upon his death in 1251.  Julius' son Lythe II succeeded Julius in 1282.  Lythe II fathered Karsh Petros in 1285.

Thus ended the DOM Triplo Campaign.

Next: The Elemental Campaign

The deciding battle of the DOM Civil War.

His enemies had vanished with the storm. Lars Castan did not follow them.  They had fled across the Fejan Bay at it's widest section, and many died cracking through thin ice at that latitude.  Tirian convinced him through the amulet to also cross the Bay but at a safer latitude, and then march south around Feja.

The rider with the bogus letter was sent to Feja on a circuitous route to make it appear that he came from Torig.  The rider would hopefully bring back Fane's answer.

Apparently the rider did his work well, because two days later Blaad's scouts announced that Fane was on the move, and with a lot more men.  Quickly marshaling his forces, Blaad headed for the Fajan River.  Blaad was painfully aware that those crossing would be cushions for Fane archers.  He would send those with the best mail and shields across first.  Fane would soon realize that Torig Feja was not coming, but he hoped that Castan would be behind them by then.  Unfortunately, Fane's scouts detected the Castan advance from behind before Fane reached the river.  They turned to attack Lars Castan's 2,000 men.  The amulet informed Blaad, and he immediately ordered his troops to cross the frozen river as fast as possible.  They cut trees and laid them across tenuous ice.  Castan met Fane at the edge of a forest and used the trees to help hold their flank.  They fought ferociously and managed to hold Fane until Blaad could arrive.

Garthon Blade was not raised as a soldier.  Most of his sword training was in battle with brigands and Trocs.  Yet he learned fast.  His first shield wall was in Bormis, but he did not tell his men that.  He now found himself again at the center of 3,000 men rushing toward the Fane army.  Jastral has ordered his troops to defend back-to-back, the Castan on one side and the Petrosians on the other.  As their wall crashed, Garthon found himself next to Blaad on his left and directly across from Jastral Fane. Garthon had seen fear on Jastral's face, but his expression changed as he looked at him and jeered "The circus performer!  The would-be general."  Garthon matched him  "Are you going to turn and run again coward?"  They met shield to shield, pressing until their eyes were inches apart.  Jastral spat in Garthon's eyes, and for a second he was blinded and raised his shield.  Fane tried to stab under it, but the thrust was countered by a swipe from Forcellus Blaad.  Jastral finally saw Blaad and ignored Garthon, shouting "he's mine!" and savagely swung his sword down toward Blaad's head.  It glanced off of his helmet, and dazed him and Garthon pressed Fane hard while parrying a blow from Fane's left.   Forcellus quickly recovered and raised his shield to counter another Fane swing.  In that moment, time slowed for Garthon.  He had just thrust his sword deep into the Fejan at Fane's left and the man began to drop.  He pulled his sword out of him on his way down at the same moment tha Fane and Blaad had their weapons raised.  He applied all of his strength to his swing and crashed his sword against Fane's legs.  Jastral's head went down as he screamed in pain, and Blaad's next overhand swing cut Fane's head nearly off his body.

In less than an hour, the game was over.  Many of Fane's soldiers lay down their weapons and pleaded for their lives.  Many were impressed farmers and were wild with fear.  Lars Castan, Forcellus Blaad, Lythe Petros, Kanaille, King Ironfist Grimbrow, Commander Gorg Deepcut, Jared Moresby and Tirian all survived and met up in the center of the slaughter. Tirian broke the dazed silence, "Long live the Dominion!  Long live the King!"  They all echoed the shout, then so did the men, then so did the enemy survivors.  The DOM Civil War was over.

Next: The Aftermath