Editing Midnight RPG - Chapter 30.111 (section)

==IZRADOR REBORN==
Following the destruction of heaven, dying gods fell. Most plunged through cosmos, perhaps plunge still. Only one burned through the skies of Aryth – Izrador. If he was dead as he fell, if the actually fall killed him, or whether the direct touch of the mortal world was his bane, are all debated. But he died, his essence smashing into the northernmost reaches of Eredane.

The gods died, but their servants did not. Scattered across the world, angels and demons despaired, their world torn apart. However, the forces of evil had a rally point. They flocked to the Scar left in the earth by Izrador, and there, they formed a pact. They would preach the continued glory and existence of Izrador, proclaiming him the Shadow in the North, the Evil Under the Mountain, the Dark One. When shattered Elthedar drifted north, they were easily subdued by these spirits, twisted into the race know to Man as the Orcs.

===The Keepers of Shadow===
For a long time, the Keepers of Shadow were the true lords of darkness on all of Aryth. The remnants of a shattered celestial realm, they flocked to the remains of the only god to fall with them. Champions and symbols of all causes, fearful of the Elthedar, fearful of mankind, and fearful of the future, they clustered together like lost children. Unlike lost children, they were still powerful, but that power was slowly seeping away from them. They came to realize one horrifying truth: They were dying. No longer fed by the divine energies of their masters and creators, the angels and demons were withering away. Like starving cannibals, they first turned upon each other. However, this was before they discovered the latent powers of a dead god.

Black Mirrors do not sap the magic of the world for the benefit of Izrador. The celestial overlords of the Keepers do not eat, breathe, or sleep, but they need sustenance to survive nevertheless. The divinity that once kept them alive – for they are all avatars of the gods – is gone. Instead, they have turned on the world, sucking on its magic, living as arcane parasites that feed in magic and life. Through the zordrafin coriths, the pure essence of the world is channeled through the corpse of Izrador, warped into divine energy that the avatars can feed on. Excess life-force is bled back through the mirrors as divine energy, allowing it to be accessed by the legates and other spellcasters serving Izrador.

At first, black mirrors existed only among the orcs, the Keeper's warped Elthedar servitors. However, as the lands grew more barren, they came to realize that they had to expand in order to survive, seek new lands to prolong their lives while searching for a permanent solution. The wars known as the Rises of Izrador were attempts at this, but it was not until these wars were led by the creatures they destroyed that one was utterly successful. Now, as orc, even man, prospers in the divine, the Keepers fear they might have bitten over more than they can chew, as their Machiavellian schemes threaten to collapse on themselves.

'''<font color="990066">Bill's Question:</font>''' When did Machiavelli live in Eredane?  ;)
:  <font color=red>ANSWER:  He was a mean elf.  No, seriously - this is just a perfect word to describe a paragraph of info.  Assume it's a descriptor, not a reference to a name.</font>
:: <font color="990066">Hehehe.  Of course you know I'm just ribbing you.  :)</font>






Adding to their hardships, the Keepers are far from united. Though Razors hunt their enemies, giving them a united face against the outside world, many inner splits exist. Once champions of radically different causes, most those who were once of light have long since turned to corruption and darkness. Even among the heart of evil though, there is dissent, as fallen angel battles demon, battles demon, battles devil over the power to pull the strings of the world. 

'''<font color="990066">Bill's Question:</font>''' What are Razors?
:  <font color=red>ANSWER:  '' '''ROLL:'''   Kyuad (Lorebook +18)  ROLLED:  4+18 =   22 ''  <br> ''With this roll - 
::  Wouldn't you like to know!  Good catch!  <br>  Razors are Izrador’s personal shock troops, sent by the god himself to deal with special problems. They derive their name from the long obsidian shard talons that rip though their fingertips. Similar shards of obsidian are laced through their gray skin, emerging no more than one inch from the skin’s surface. <br> Unlike most of Izrador’s servants, the razors served the dark god long before his fall to Aryth. They were part of his infernal host when he challenged the gods. They fell with him amid the hurtling comet of the Sundering, and they realized that their bodies could exist indefinitely in this new world. Rather than die, they enacted a bold and vile plan. In their last days, the razors capture and interbreed with as many fey females as they could find. They then performed a horrid ritual that only one out of every four of them survived. When all was said and done, the razors had gained strange abilities enabling them to continue on in this lesser world. <br> Centuries of training, combat, and dedication have honed their fighting skills and tactics to an unholy edge. Unlike other Shadow minions, their fierce loyalty to the Shadow prevents them from diverting from their mission. Razors are efficient and calm, dealing with their foes as quickly as possible so they can continue to their next target. When that target is within their grasp, they gore, torture, and mutilate their targets, bathing themselves in blood and pain, before finally delivering the killing blow.  <br> Even a single razor represents a deadly threat to even experienced parties of resistance fighters. Unfortunately for the resistance, razors usually travel in numbers. These minions have known each other for centuries; they know the way each member of the unit thinks and fights, allowing them to respond to and support one another as if they had a single mind. A pair of razors is usually a hunting or assassination team sent after a specific target, usually an important part of the resistance command structure. A squad of razors (usually 4 to 6 of the creatures) may also be assigned to deal with a particularly difficult skirmish situation. Entire units of razors are reserved for breaking specific areas or winning key battles. In all cases, the creatures move at great speed to reach their objective, then set to work with vigor. When breaking resistance in an area, they destroy everything and everyone they encounter. When sent to turn the tide of a battle, they ignore the orders of the local commanders, waiting for the moment when an application of elite force will do the most good.</font>



===The First of the True===
The First of the True had once been the destroyers of gods. Whether human, Elthedar or something more sinister at first, none know, but the traditions and responsibilities of the order had long since moved to Man. Ever since the Sundering, The First had aggressively hunted, enslaved or killed remnants of the divine all across Pelluria, destroying the past of the continent in favor of the true children of Aryth, by now embodied in mankind. Now, they had come to cleanse Eredane. Beirial was its champion, and he came north with a cause. Word of Izrador had reached their ears, and they came in force to annihilate a broken god. Together with his fellow First, he spearheaded the advance of mankind into Erenland.

'''<font color="990066">Bill's Question:</font>''' It sounds like '''the First of the True''' are a mysterious people that no one knows anything about now, is that right?  But the '''Rest of the True''' were all humans?<br>Also, is his name really "burial"?  Or is it pronounced (beh-ree-ALL)?<br>Where is Beirial now?
:  <font color=red>ANSWER:  "Beirial" is a proper name of someone from history.  '' '''ROLL:'''   Kyuad (Lorebook +18)  ROLLED:  9+18 =   27 ''  <br> ''With this roll - 
::  Known as "Beirial the Seeker", he was one of the first of the Order of Truth. He helped to spread his version of faith among the holy men of Bandilrin, ultimately creating the Order of Shadow. So he was the "FIRST of the True" as in first member of the Order of Truth to come under the Shadow.  As for pronunciation... I don't know.  I just typed it. heheh</font>






Hostility between Man and Fey – the descendants of Elthedar, children of the gods – was immediate. Rather than begin a systematical eradication of the Fey, though, Beirial led his forces north. There was a threat there unlike any which the sorcerer had ever seen before, a creature which not even the stories of The First could describe, and Beirial would lead his men through fire and death to find it. By spell and sword, the Dorns plunged through central Erenland, crossed the Sea of Pelluria, and entered the North. In their wake, they left the decimated cultures of the gnomes and halflings, as well as their own fortifications along the Eren and the Pellurian coast.

In the Northlands, the Dorn did battle with the orcs. Having witnessed the rapid progress of Man across the south, the Keepers felt true fear, and hurled all they had at this new, aggressive enemy. For decades, the races did battle. Thousands died, and Man was forced to consolidate his positions before advancing. In these years, The First founded many cities across the land, beginning the civilization of the Dorns in Erenland.

As the war kept going, Beirial, like all mortal men, aged. In his age, he too felt fear. Fear like he had never felt before. The fear of the death that crept upon him as his hair turned to silver and his skin wrinkled. He feared he would never see this divine, and he feared where he would go when he was gone. The First preached no afterlife, and Beirial did not want to disappear. It was with this goal in mind, that the sorcerer made secret contact with the Keepers. He offered them his order, his fellow men, and himself, in return for one thing: A touch of the divine. The Keepers consented.

Beirial in turn, upheld his end of the bargain. In the cataclysmic years that followed, The First were eradicated, the few survivors the ones who turned to the Shadow. In Pelluria, the rise of the Sarcosan empire with its star worship spelled the doom of the brotherhood on that continent. The Dorns, having lost their champions, were on the brink of doom, when the Fey intervened. Led by Aradil, the new alliance of fey and man halted the tide of darkness, and created new allegiances. This event became known as the First Rise of Izrador.

'''<font color="990066">Bill's Question:</font>''' So the first rise of Izrador was also the first time that non-orcs were made part of the Keepers' conspiracy?
:  <font color=red>ANSWER:  If that's how you interpret it... Yes.  heheh</font>






===The Order of Shadow===
It is no coincidence that the Order of Shadow is mostly human. Founded by Beirial the Betrayer, the order at first consisted of those of The First that Beirial managed to corrupt. Later, it expanded, as generations forgot.  But the Order never recruited among the orcs, who Beirial saw as the progeny of the Keepers. The Order of Shadow plays a vital part in the divine scheme, because they are the ones who spread the word of Izrador's greatness. Aside from Beirial and a select few, once of The First, the order's members do not know that Izrador does, in fact, not exist. They preach with fervor and devotion, solidifying the lie, and giving it life.

For millenniums, Beirial has played the subservient ally of the Keepers, waiting for a time to strike at them, taking the power of Izrador and the black mirrors for himself. He knows that the god is dead, but he also believes that he can claim a larger part of that godhood for himself once the Keepers are not in his way. Beirial knows, however, that he cannot take on the ancient avatars alone, and is forced to wait, spinning his webs and laying his plans.

The order, almost entirely human, displays Beirial's continued xenophobia towards Elthedar descendants, a xenophobia which is strangely present in the order at large too. Most legates are uncomfortable around the orcs, who are supposed to be the faithful soldiers of Izrador. While faithful, doubt is still a large part of the life of many legates, who worship, but never hear the voice of their god. When the time is right, Beirial plans to reveal the truth to them, and use them as a weapon against the Keepers, destroying the celestials once and for all.


===The Orcs===
Like all other Fey races, orcs were once Elthedar. When the Sundering shattered the race, scattering its remnants to the wind, those who were to become orcs drifted north. They sought peace in the distant colds, but found something entirely different. Ultimately, they found the Scar, and were warped by its lingering evil. Twisted and dying, they were formed by the Keepers into what they are now; the warriors of Izrador, the soldiers of a dead god. The spiritual scars of their ancestors fateful contact with the dead god still linger in their hearts, but what they hear in their dreams is not the voice of Izrador, it is the echoing screams of their tortured progenitors.

The leaders of the orcs, the Mother-Wifes of Izrador, are some of the most misled creatures on Eredane. The truth rests right in front of their eyes, yet they do not see it. Perhaps they do not want to, perhaps they chose to ignore it. The fact remains though, that the witches are avid worshipers of a dead god, and send their people to die in his thankless name. The kurasatch udareen are one of the Keepers closest allies, treated as old friends and used as leashed dogs. However, should the truth be known to them, their vengeance would tear apart orc lands.

'''<font color="990066">Bill's Question:</font>''' The orcs are commonly sacrificed in the mirrors, right?
:  <font color=red>ANSWER:  The weak ones are.  "weak" meaning those that fail the Enemy in any way.</font>






====The White Mother====
Orcs of the White Mother have existed since before the founding of the Order of Shadow. There have always been dissidents and doubters, and rebellions, even large-scale ones, have occurred. However, there has not been a time before when the orcs have been so far from their masters. Though the Keepers of Shadow expend great amounts of resources in order to exert influence over the orcs south of the Fortress Wall, control in these areas invariably falls to the Order of Shadow, the Night Princes, and the kurasatch udareen. Under such circumstances, the doubting orcs have prospered.
 
'''<font color="990066">Bill's Question:</font>''' I don't understand.  "The Order of Shadow, the Night Princes, and the kurasatch udareen" are the ones who ''normally'' control orcs, aren't they?  The context seems to imply that they would have ''less'' influence in the areas south of the Fortress Wall, but that's not what it says here.
:  <font color=red>ANSWER:  This is something that, again, might be best discovered in game.  It is semi-true that those groups control the orcs, but not completely.  The orcs are controlled by the Enemy overall.  Their hate is fuelled by the Shadow in the North.  How or why that's a problem is for you to decipher.  BTW,  for your reference....
::  '''"the Fortress Wall"''' - Though legends abound about the great Fortress Wall of the Northern Marches, there is no doubt that the ancient defense works is a real part of history and one that played a major role in staving off the Shadow in the Second Age. The Fortress Wall is not a single edifice but a long chain of forts, keeps, and towers that stretches along the border of the northern frontiers. Built during the heady days following the first defeat of the Shadow, the Wall was a collective effort of the free races of Eredane, a testament to their combined strength and their shared fear of Izrador. Today the ruins of the Fortress Wall are a bitter legacy, standing like a row of gaped and broken teeth across a desolate land. Most of the individual keeps are gone, lost to the ravages of war and time. A few are still held by forces of the Shadow, but even most of the battlements they once took have been abandoned as the armies moved south.</font>





The chosen champion of the White Mothers is Grial Fey-Killer, though he does not know it himself. For the last two decades, as Grial waged his war, the White Mother orcs have infiltrated his command structure, and do their utmost to sway the warlord to their views. Already, the seeds of doubt have been planted in his heart, but they have not sprung out yet. For now, The White Mothers await the right time before springing their plan to life, still believing that there is a god, but believing that he cares not for the orcs. In the meantime, they are content with letting the orcs whittle away at the other races, who they by no means see as allies.

'''<font color="990066">Bill's Question:</font>''' Does Kyuad have more information on Grial?  I think he does, somewhere.
:  <font color=red>ANSWER:  Maybe.  I'm not sure where/how.  Kyuad would know that (as Durgaz told him)  Grial was seen in his visions dealing with Vrolk in the past outside the Obsidian Spire, what they dealt with is unknown.  Other than that I'm not sure what you're thinking about.  There is all the "stuff he knows" under Kyuad's wiki page that I've posted for you. </font>





===The Night Kings===
Fearing the growing power of the Order of Shadow, but reluctant to destroy it and its skilled leader, Beirial, the Keepers desired new champions, in order to balance the power among more factions. In this quest, they sought out the most powerful heroes of good, corrupting them like they had once seen Beirial corrupting his fellow man. Success was total. Too total. The Night Kings fully embraced their dark gifts and strode into the world, disregarding the Keepers, who were but wardens. They would be conquerors. Now, only Zardrix remains in their control, as the Keepers possess her heart, and control her through it. The other three are left to their own devices.

Among them, Ardherin has begun to suspect the truth, secretly fed to him by Beirial. Vard though, remains an almost ever-present threat, and the Sorceror treads lightly. Sunulael, originally created as a balance to Beirial, has become increasingly doubtful, as even now, he does not hear the voice of his god. For now though, he is content with fighting his war against Beirial, blaming the other priest for his misfortune. Jahzir does not care, relishing in the powers granted him, believing that as long as his master does not chastise him, he does his duties well.

'''<font color="990066">Bill's Question:</font>''' Who is Vard?<br>Is Beirial undead or immortal?<br>Jahzir's master is the Keepers at large, is it not?  Or does "master" being singular suggest someone else?
:  <font color=red>ANSWER:  If you don't know, Kyuad doesn't know.  Again - part of the mystery to discover...  This is all beyond your ability to know.</font>




===Aradil===
The Witch Queen of Erethor knows precious little about the force that is Izrador. Even through her great power, she is not able to stand against the united force of the Keepers of Shadow, and against her, they will always make a united front. Those scant few mortals who know the truth hide their knowledge well, and are not easily found or captured. Should any unlucky mortal stumble across the truth, the Razors remain on hand to deal with them, as the Keepers take a very personal interest in defending their secret. So far, after 8,000 years on the throne, Aradil knows only one thing: The Shadow is hiding something, and it is hiding it well.

'''<font color="990066">Bill's Question:</font>''' Darn good reason to keep most of this to myself, huh?
:  <font color=red>ANSWER:  Up to you...  You are a "hero" afterall...</font>