LORTHALAS

During the War of Legions, the world was plagued by a host of
undead creatures that tore the world asunder. The drow had
risen up against their cousins, the elves, and destroyed the city
of Ossensham. At this time in the Eastern most outpost remaining
of the elves, Greginshem, there was a young archmage of two
hundred years by the name of Lorthalas. The magic was strong in
this one. Only eighty years of study and he wielded power of elven
mages five times his years. He was truly gifted, but like most of the
young, potential and skill they foolishly believe to be a substitute
for wisdom and experience.
 
After fighting in several battles against these undead hordes,
a black book fell into the hands of Lorthalas after he, alongside
three priests of Yaegar, defeated an arch-lich of considerable power.
Lorthalas believed that study of the Grimoire and understanding how
the spells were weaved that wrought such destruction, could be
reversed to negate them. In his studies, he found one incomplete
spell for an artifact of immense power. Lorthalas foolishly believed
himself, the prodigy of the elven magi, capable of alternating the
spell so that it would benefit the peoples of the world. And so he
created an arsenal of arcane artifacts of destruction, thinking the
forces of the Nameless and Virigoth could be laid to waste. After
finishing and testing his prototype, he began to duplicate the
artifact many times, building up an arsenal. Lorthalas then went to
his king, and presented his answer to tides of darkness. King
Silandrel withdrew with his councilors, and debated the brash plan
for many days.
 
After the conclave was concluded, King Silandrel told Lorthalas
the risk was too great, and had the arsenal confiscated and
buried deep beneath Greginshem, so no one would possess weapons
of such destruction. During the debate, and subsequent excavations,
the Orkin horde had advanced within sight of the city and quickly
surrounded it. The armies clashed in bloody battle. Eventually
King Silandrel and Breigar, the Orkin Chieftain met in single combat.
Breigar beheaded King Silandrel, but the elf managed to land a
lethal thrust before his head was severed.
 
Meanwhile in the valleys north of Rheydin, the construction of
Sharazade was being waylaid by the indigenous goblin tribes. Scrun,
a hobgoblin of extraordinary size and cruelty, rose to lead the
goblin tribes. The elven army was leaderless with the death of
King Silandrel, with the King's marshal left in charge of the
fledgling city's defense. Scrun had gathered every goblin of
fighting age under his banner, so that nearly the entire goblin
nation stood arrayed against the meager expeditionary forces of
themselves at the half-finished palisades, the elven women and
children, injured and old, had gathered in the only completed
building, the temple of Yaegar. Lorthalas saw the death of his
people and wept. Confident in his plan, he took his prototype,
Sharazade. The fighting lasted for ten days, the goblins throwing
and unleashed the arcane power when the goblins made a final mass
push at the beleaguered defenders. The carnage that ensued was
unlike anything seen by a mortal hand. The goblin horde was
eradicated, along with all of the elven defenders along the
ramparts and in the open.
 
Lorthalas, shocked at what he had done, slipped to his knee, numb
at the loss of life. The High Guardian, along with a few
surviving members of the royal guard, took him captive with ease.
After a brief trial, Lorthalas and his stolen Grimoire were locked
inside a magical maze, stored inside a box, and sent to the newly
built tower of savants for safekeeping. Centuries passed and the
box remained in safe-keeping until the intervention of a golem...