NEWS

!\o ember - 1611Uolf) • II I~ r '" 200t. pn ... j t \\ _ The 0 .... ':1 of lht B,·h[~m r )lh

RACKHAM WORKSHOP

Undor tho LIght Tip, fur painting. Cpll'~U rm\ rnjnlln~ gUide: Crnw.1I ,,,h\·m

STRATEGY

llatt!c report- The L.org" I)i tfu- DIng"" \{,r)t"lt' IJlI~ \rm)'t.{,h( lmiUl. cl'n;.Jmr.illH'j tJIl"St:'J1l,nlbo[lht·Ed'l""Idn

UNIVERSE

Portr.1lt' \';'I'tdln Krrll L.:mr!""'I~r: TIu wIt uf the Dr.LI gil n I from the ''''!Jdll1ltllh~.!.e~untJ battle of 'fGl-.bttr

GAMINGAIDS

Hybrid RI'(, ruh .. & un'l'.ign lntrmlucf ton La CunfnHlW1(HI J! 11"(~ exclusive sc::cl'urrim.

11 EXCLUSiVE CARDS

"Wen before men began digging in the ground of Cadwallon, the call.Cynwall tower was dominating the sea. And, long before this edifice was rai sed, the legends say tha t other peoples had Iived rhere ... and have disappeared since.

The Cadwes know little about these legends. billy the most erudite and most talkative

el ves speak of rue Ancients whose [cui mry was once lying here. They were a powerful yet bloodthirsty brood allied with the most evil dragons of Creation. The Cynwalls

have alw:>ys refused to comment on chese things and especia!lyouthe alliance with the venerated reptiles, so nothing confirms the claims made by those who have expressed themselves 011 [his question."

Cadwallon

S l!tin? cmss-I",\,,?cd in the shude aJ [J cher'1'trec tn blumn, surraunrlccl by shards I'Ir porcelain taken [rnrn caunlless br aken cups, boztika was lrym'l 0' herd cs he cauld Ia perfnrm the cumplex 'ledures Ell [he leo ceremany. he holed this nlucl, reI Ihe sllEr{Un hod inxi"lcd.I1CCl1l'dll1!;rtlJ him, IJ worrtnr whn dl'le~n'l mnster Ih jec cerenumy lxn"] wurth mare Ihcn n brat. lhe alarm '{Rnr(s charudenslrc snn,? snved L.uzUko [rnrn a nervnus brerrkclrrwn, finally. XBm ' ocfilml

Ihe fynmf nf zrmkhu'i lumpEd up and

reodrws:led hix kmrarra, [I $weofy asru'(arU

crrme ruShlIU,' tnln 1I-u~ ?"(r['den.

"buzuke-scn, same bearded-IDles wd.h

slecrrn have cppecred Fram (J tunnel necr

the lernple af lhe Iaur winds!"

"IElB bod frrr lhe leo .....

PU'USHINC OIRECTOR: lean Be,y.

EOITO~'AL P~OIEcr M ... MACER: Philippe Chartier. EoITO~'I~'CH1EF: Sebastien Cel.rln. PRODUCTIElN MAN"C;EJ<: Nicol as Hutter, GRAPHIC DeslCiI't & l"fOCiRAPHY:

Franck Achard, Mathieu Hart.ut. LAvoUT: Goulven QuenteL

P'cnlll£ OBEAIICIiER: Gw .. nd.1 G~Qffroy. AssISTANTEDITOIt: lve G.",i8.

TEXTS: Jean BeYJ Vince.nt Fontaine. Martin Grandbarbe, [ulien U ssa rrague,

P"$Cb I Pet; t, Ii 'cob, R;oou I! • nd Ie rom e Riga l.. H~YE CClWTRlBlITED re THe; """E:

Bruno B'.ohu, Arnaud C"id.t.vrnc~nt Kaufmann, WlUem Peerbclae and Olivier Rculkier.

IUUSTll.AnONs: Paul Bonner, Nicol •• Fructus Edouard Guiton, Florent Maudo"., Paolo Parente.

COVER JLLlJSTqATIOH: Florent Maudoux.

M1MI"TUIlE SCUlPTING: Michael Blgaud,

B-enoit Cosse, Yannlck Fcsier, ALexandre A,_ Marks, Nie,ol •• N'Guyen, Olivier Nkweti Lafitte,

Nicolas Normand, Elfrled Perochon and St~ph.ne Simon, RACKI-I~M PAINT;0,5: Vincent For>taine, Martin

Grandberba, GuT\l""me Heme"Y.luUen

U'''''"gue, and I.;,ome Otremba.

FlliLAHCE PAlriTIRS: Frederic Bi.selJx,

Sebastien Picque and ManuelSanche2.

SCENE!!.Y: Vincent fontaine,

PIiOTOCllA'H't: ' ... n.Baptiste Guiton.

TRA]'I5l.ATIO';: Peter Patzak.

Th.miItto~.f1k.oIG<J11D", 1R,ldi'Toctf.odlh.K1\CJ(HI\M t .. 1JQ. AU mll1t.a.Lurct1 ~nown~d ee .~b!lcl by 'RJ!.(:KHAM

Th"1'co",. Iwm !h.worl.cl01 CON Flt9NT"TION ,od '<AC;'MAROK two

.. ,mo. publuhod 1>y ~AnHAM (~DWALlON CONI'I<ONlAi'lON HYBRID, ,h.I-IVBR'D' l0!l" HVBItIDES' ,k.RACKHAM logo, RAG'NA rtOK~ ma WOLF'E.N i!lp'I;"-i!11 r~!.StC1~d. b;ndamiJr~5 O',IoJnE.d Dy RACKf.oIAM

All ~gOl:t ,.,or ... CoWog/1! 1996·W(l5f1ch!;:K HAM'

An lM1!' litu.stl".:ltJclI, .... p'\;tr'I:~tlophs, m nla.ttu~'50aPldmtmllturll!.5 I'Ismes. !life e":CMI1I1! RAL.K'HAM (roQ;,(! L~onl-O"'" ned tly fi;;A.C;~HA M

The ..,rOl1l1I!1UOn ill thl$ publlcAl[(ln, iu:ltJdtng but "tit- limiLed to the teeu, nil mil!'S:, f!6ce~. pille~ilgin.e. thntrilb::::'D~and IlholDcrilptl~is gllll'M oMlh reserve. Jt ., 8l'len 1I;llic.hJJI~,:lv.u l.eterll!:nca~n.d rftlly ee ubjec:t fa MQd,h t:allOf1 wltncu\ furth.er nctlce. RACKHAM rm,,"t!:t,Li~ are not ~'s. They c;on\3 n le.ad and fnblt ,",0\ H cna ...... o-d 0' :i' .... aHO'.IIC!G TtlI1 P(ocl:uct'!ij rIOt ~ bib'!! for chlldreu un 4-1!!rthe age£lfl4 SQQH!-I'qln !lime. tomelr ~patat.e pilru .,1'14 "ffdauel"'hly 'SUI'\~ry-. p.,"~.Jl1dg[IJ~~P\P,du:dBd, NQ!1'c:&:mlT.:1dlIi:1! p ctl,n~t..FP'ACKHAM· miniatliroE'S ere made in Ffiince. CONrRONTATfO.N R.AC'NA.A.O'Kj HYBRID llI'Id CAO\llAlLON ere g'llrnSl' p.ubh5hed bot'RAQt;fi,.\M

ltAC'ICHAM 441 MJ'C"dll2.llllrr- 93 ICIO itoAontrw-uil·IOUI·Boll_ FJtANCe.

T.l, 'I- 33. (0) 1.55 86 39 20, f .. ,+ ~3. (0) r,SS 869925 'lHww.C'of1'f"n;r"tla't:l!;lln.ft Vltw'III.fiII_g- fl. rck.cem

""'"ww .... <LII:.klum.-F"r www.ndttt.a:,_,·S'tarll!!_C:on'l

';' C'Opyrlght RACK HAM • J 1951'6.2005, All riKhl5 lieU r ... e:d.

w\UTIONI

S.o-l"I1"e a,Ucfes.l" ~t115 !n~ Il Mt"nilol"l.aa.a uOtift lhal m Lltt D!" h.lli'IId[nd!M ltC'Mtlr I!;oIrl'flJ lly; t~l" mode lhn.8 lena-I!- with w'u"h ~11'1! ca n eut on:euM~ the cy.n D-an:::rrrlil t e B~I,.II~ tndl Uo""i:h lrL'"fy qgl~~I~ • W~tt:'¢CImrt'l:clld ti1;1t lhoJ!'y01Ir'tWl",t pl-41yer<; -'1nd cetlectcrs onl~ do the follo ..... ng adNlt.e1; under edeh ~Llpeorvtdo" end nlwl!II'f'Ji urelully teIJd iI"d fDUOW lhllt'1\,U~(I1"IO(l" $Upj;loUo:.dw\th ~hn I'niltcl 411

Copyright. rl!!gl~tlf~ticn ~ otlobc.f 2005 ISSN,I77Z·HIX

C"lIwo< IS publuhed .'(it' "',"''' t.. '10 w" ... "'p'tlIi of€32tJ;a9.10 Regj$ter~ in BOIItQi {FJ;m.ce) UnI::ferllll 2002800114- 4-4.ruedeuanv 93100M I'WTIIfl ~ ClUS~1kxf, F=-mnec L.epiril!pr.nen.blti .... : len Be:;

prm ted by 'Sill ns- P:lullmp'tmeur tS5 1:10 0 8A~-L E.-DUe) Pnri~ed ill Ftllil"~

02

THE CHRONICLES OFTI-IE WORLD OF RACKHAM

CRY HAVOC!

EDITORIAL

NEWS

.. 04

PREVIEW .. , .......

• 13

WORKSHOP

The Colours of War: Under the Light Painting Guide: CynwiilLSelsym

..16 .. 22

STRATEGY

B'atlle Report: The Gorge ofthe Dragon

Where the Army of the Insane dashes with the Servants of the Echyrion ..... , . 24

UNIVERSE

Portrait: Captain Krill The Lair of the Dragons Exile

Noesis

The Republic of Lanever Diplomacies ... ,.

The Heritage oFthe Ancients

.......... 46

........... 48 .50 56 62

.62 ,74

GALLERY

Prepe r~tory sketches For the illustrahons of CadwalLon 's geogr;;phy

.79

GAMING AIDS BOOKLET Th.G.m'ngAid,b •• kl .... n ... b ••• ld,.por ••• lyf •• onC:,.,.I-1",,"'

I-L)'bnd Campaign: Sacrilege " " " "" ,., ", .. " ,." " , ", ,. 02

Hybrid Campaign: Sacrilege 1 & Itl : Breakthrough! .. "" " "" , .. " .. , , " .. " 04

Hybrid Campaign: Sacrilege It or IV: The Traitor " " 06

Hybnd Campaign: Sacrilege II or IV . The Experiment... "" "." "." " " 08

Hybrid RPG Rules: The Right StuFf........................ . " " 10

Hybrid RPG Campaign: Bloody Encounters, " ", 15

H),bnd RPG Campaign: Fiery Pacihcation " " .. " 18

Hybrid RPG Campaign: Fight For Freedom .. , , ,. . .. " " """" .. ,, 21

Confrontation 3 Tutorial: A New Beginning .. , .. , , .. , " " , " .. " 26

Sered (fivbnd) Mehol ('i}'b~'id)

Wolfen hunter (Wolfen of Yllla) NelphaeLI (Hybfld)

Cynwall varsym (Hybrrt;l) Cynwall akharnisl (H_:Vbrid)

Wound table (Gon{romarfol1 3)

Mana recovery teble (Confrontation J) Griffin thallion (Hybrid) Construct warrior (Hybn'd)

Mehol, guardian of the Sphinx (Cynwatl Elves)

03

PRinCE ELH .... n IS Kn8wn BY .... LL THE ELVES OF CREaTI8n FElR HaVinG GUlPED HIS Fr:ILLElWERS T8 LIG"T. THEIR EXILE WilS THE 1'8UI1DlnG .... CT 8F THE CvnW6LL nLlT18n. FGlR LI L8f1GTlmE REmLllnlnG Llr1lnV8LVED Ih THE

W .... RS HlRGInG AaRKLllSH'S DESTinY, THE :ELViES 8F LIGHT HLlVE C8mE [;JUT ElF THEIR IS.ElLATI8n T,8 STRIKE

A DECISIVE Bl8W TO THE LimBE! m &CHER8n sno ITS alLIES., THE S~C[lnD BlITTLE 8FI<.tI'iBER maRKED THE DRAG[ln~EOPLE'S EnTRV In n,E Rl.G'naR8K.

THIS '>IXTH V8 LU m E [I F C!y H.woc PRESEnTS T" ESE ELYES FAmElUS mil. THEIR CH81CE ElF SOCIETY: a REPUBLIC

T8 UniTE THEm ano n8ESIS TEl GUaRQ THEm FRam DARKnESS,. YET TH£SE MEn 'T THE Elnt_,Y KEYS TEl THEIR nllTIEIn. THE CYI1Wb.LL ELVES ARE AlS8 THE KEEPERS ar I1I1CE$TMl s EeRETS THlITTH,E I It Gu I DE rnusr P IliI;ECT.

edifEIfiaI

THE GamingAids smlKLET inCLUDES BRl!.nD nEW

scs nll._Rl8 S T8 TEST THE nEW Confi'ol1 tarion 3 JW LES. FURTHERmORE, IT InTR8QUCES THE CvnwiillS InTEl THE LAII:ElR1lTEI ttl ES 8 F TH E HVBRI D P R8'[ECT THlIn KS rta an

1:1 !I. I GI rlaL cern PruGrl FEI R. Hybrid AnD nemesis. 11 n EW cern I nc m [3 D£ (AS WEU ss THREE m I ss I B ns bEVBTED TEl I'T) IS ALSB PREIVIDED. IT I~ Bl!.SED an SimPLE PRinCIPLES:

I3nE rmrus-unc PER Plll.VER 1'13 BUILD A GR8UP I3F HERDES THAT CElllFRBnTS THE TRl!.PS; Of A GAmE mASTER! THIS Isn'T CadwallOl1 YET, BUT IT'S STILL THE BPPElRTUniTY

T8 EXPERimEnT WiTH .... nEW GAmlr1G EXPERIEnCE.

AnD oan'r F8RCET: "GIVE nB QUlIRTER!"

03

TH E CHRONICLES Of THE WORLD 0 F RACKHAM

CONFRONTATION iNITlATION,SET

T

jl!" _9JulI1J1.:dllfmal'S" are IlriaW~l for jj',ttt ,"III!), to Illd, ,h,m •• lu., In ,I,.iea.os "IrI,. [TO". To b.{om. p",d'to,",of biood. tire IValf"" ofd" Red O •• s """I rapr" .... yl~." ." Im.t. AI •• , their [or¢" l<lhrtm,n.d, m •• ders from ~)'Im ,i,.J 11, are 0" iI," l' ",.,1

Tnis III rtia (I (.I n S ~I lncl Lid es everyth I ng ne .. cad fo r ploys" to start playIng Ca,,{ronl.tfo;' 3.

04

TIlE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHAM

THIS SI:IX mCLUD ES:

, C(!NfIIOl'rr,\Tnm· i RUE.E eOOK IIHITIATIO~ BOOKLET

6 SIX~SI'DED DICE

CAIl.DS AND COUNTERS

I r.XClUSW,c BOOi(LU CONTAIHI NO SCENARIOS AOAPTUO TO TtlE F'IGHTUS I~ THIS INITIATtON SET

THE SEHTII'IELS OF DAI'lAKIL (BOX or, ",II'IIATU~E5)

THE PREDATOR" OF BLOOD (aOI< OF' M II'IIATUJ!ES)

SET 02

GOBLINS OF NO-DAN-KAR

BARON GZOHN (SECOND INCARNATION)

F

or Bm", Oz61111 II,. Rag'lIii7ok Is "or a" .poc~(rpric ".<flItIJar ),.s bee" pr<dicwj sine. the b.g!lIl1lngof limt. It (s r"hEr

tile (}pPfJnlHli!) (or hun [(J pur ius ta:ltl'llts as. "",,,lossllUntor to tf.'L TI,;., nob!!' gobl/n" on1l' pit"'''''' jn 1,,$ gtld<d Ilf~ i. the t/trill pro" rded !ry tI .. most d eadJ,v offr~ v'

Twomodel.-oraaron Ozohn~le suppUed: standing and mounted on a Bi~nt mL Each of these can be equipped with different weapons; I .• nee, ,word

or experirnentel ~f\e. B.ron Oz6h n " cornpetlble wlth the profile fncluded in the Second j"".rnatfOlts2 set ok.rds.

THIS BEX inCLUDES;

aARON OZO'IH (STANDIHG) RANK: G06L.1H rLlTE CHAMPION. SECOND INCARNATIOH

70A.P,

BAROH OZOKN (ON GIANT RAT) RANK, COBLIN ELITE CHAMPIOH. SECOND INCARNATION

lOS A.P

2 MINIATUR:(S AND 3 CARDS,

BAR 0 N OZOK N (ON C I ANT RAT; REfERENCE CIIRD), BARON OZOHN I STAN rllNi"

Riol ~R.E"CE C~R[)j, SARON OZOHN (EXPLANATORV CA~D)

05

THE CHRONICLES OFTHE WORLD OF RACKHAM

CBCH 07

ORCS OF BRAN-6~KOR n-fAR-STAFF OF THE ORCS

T

Imndt!r ;a:ccomp1J:nif'~ Ijli! r:1a'Jltcur I')flllt~, ""OS g"[ioermg~' doe CJ~yo", of llriln·6- Kar_ The- !lIn-E! .ha;!;: rnme flJF rj,ei~Y~L!Pl8 ",,10" W lak."p ii' "'<'PQ'" .,,,{ 10 {tirm

, horde g roun J i r, ehre, s. T I .. '" ""d",~ WI II I;,. r n W re "POCI "lid I"" ,1'"111, ~ fQrce if IttCf:!5:>a"!Vr

UUTf. V£TERA'" REFoRErKE CAR!}), RA"TAKH rIl£F~ENn CMD), 8~"'"

... us [CIA'" (REFE RHICE CAlm), BRUTE STAl'IDA~D·8EARER (F(EFEREl'ICE C~RD', 5~lri Of MIRACi~5 (ARTEfACT. [7 ".r.). fORCE OF THE CA"'YOtlS (TACTIC CA~D).

RJl,I'ITAKH

RAtlK, ORC REGULAR CHAM PION 62 A.P.

THIS BOX rn<;LUDE$:

BRUTEVHERAN RAtlK,ORCVETERAI'I 2IA.P.

Accompanied by Veteran brutes, this Unit is ","clyte be played In Rag'Naro~·.lt; numb ers can be com pi ems n ted by • bex of ere brutes,"

BRUTE MUSICIAN flANK, ORC R,.GULAR 2IA.p.

BRUT( STAMDAROBEAREIl RAtlK, ORe: RE~U LAR

~I A_P_

06

OREM 01

TH £ CH RONICLES Of THE WORLD OF RAC KHAM

I Ir~ 'rnll b'-nk •• loaf from ,I.. fr~}' ,m,l, .jJ cltaf~rllt18 JWJ~~ imd I u.s-/t-rd' IflWiTrll~ ,110 cru"b .. ",,,,,,,, 01 ,I", ~"" I"m, Ilk" iJ JT1age beasr. TJIt") l(I~Tj ["e.-rl1mhr '''CllIIl~ ,h,l' "'0", J.ierloJ trampl, lhan tilt ald,clI,iral "'~,,<t. n. ~ ,.h", qf bQir, ",0" gO! ,,"('k Ul I", /mdy, N ..

,IrIck I,idr "",dy .h,,,, brd ,'.e Impart '1II11t~ ~111\11~d 00'!lIf'/>r0lerrll" 11'1111 d 11,<1. ""he ",mL I,"~ hI< wm",d, did,,', , 10>1': ,lrr poilO', WM alrc~~) nowlllg II'

',1> "rill' .rrrd lie ",,,,,Id '~I'" r<l1/';p'~,

Thl!: army of the Scorpion is renewed and reinforced bythi' second Dir.< rressbowman. These neW rruniatures benefit from the most recent Innovations made by RackMm in sculpting-techniques, The reference profile is identical to the previous one. except that the "Mut"ge~icl·2" ability becomes "Mutagenic/-i" For

• better adeptatlon to the rules of C@!tmif.tion· J and RilS,'N"TVk~,

"I n ,,,,iI a IIwmtnl S'[r"",ilk,'J 10 rrI,mll· b.,. rl,~ 0:1, tailj 0("1" ITlld ilId Sen"",I ,~.'" ' ,h.u uo",," 11111' '" ,~v""r, II tfllJlJ b ,1,,11 um' J.,V raft "unit '" Ill! m ,'gilill ~f1iJulclll dccldr to mrurn to (; ",'"">f,o,, l),.x d.~. roN"r Iii "dd t."I"J ,,,,,I, a ,nul, " ..

,'"mOl" '''''''lI'" bal k f""" Cor/liP.llm b hrorl,,,.. "I A" n~1I1"<, lI,,'y /'lIfJ ,{,,,hn (~

• 'Frr Ir"ll''''' ''''''I,n' "'(1)1" ",,,"l.ut·J UfU litho IUfl itrUtlNI11.t:d h.~\·"J TlI('/W.·t't'rl'r ilhlr rn 'iI~ ",/'y, bill ,I" V" "r. ",.-.' rh.t .hr baa' IT ,.1rgl'.,ufj, m t,utwrl fl"1,lllI:"} ... jwuWrr.'

A eharacter from the novel n. AsI.", ')f W,-"h. Avane.s now .v",l.bleas" rruniature, Endowed with the "Possessed," "Bravery," and "Toxlc/O" ebillties, she IS perfect fer the Simulation of bloody skirmishes using tho mysterious Ophldian AlIi.l1ee.

Ayane .s supplied with" profile for the J:I~brid® board eame.

07

u_ CO LJ

Like the other releases in these part few months for the goblin, of No-Dan-

Kar, Uro 1$ bound to the Uraken dan. Thank. to hIS modest rtmteg,e value (50 A.P.). he .Ilows a ZEalot', power

to be included 111 most type, of "rmy cornposttlon, thus!;ivlng_ the goblins access to Improveddl'lr]aiion

q:.u ... trru:' 8"'\' II l'IlI"lr'lrr lit \hogutr U,ah,,' '""'I, I ,~t "Ii u/ ab,,,l,,t rr •• d"·,, ,,,I,,, '.H,I, <'qu.,1 ,I" 8.Th." •• "d rl" Sv"~rj III rl,r ~dlW of ollticallmr,x,,, Y.·t I .. lo~.lh \.t't·'tl~ rn IJt' ,rme',," I "1(II~r rill ~~lrt"1 ofllr d>rk." "f'.'" 1>111$, U: .. ,' I'.PL'V Will, ",. rru<l tl, II ,I, )"'gull )'." ,HI"", "nd """)"! mll~ bctr.iY 111m lor 1"'~,QlIS" !HInt'" 1'''pU' t.Ulel.

.\, lilt Agl' 0/ Odl h"m b,/.!II- Aarkl..,I" rhr' IllUl.fH11Uno 't"IH~ ,hiflr s~ntl(e"s ~( jll"'C",w'if. I~" Jnd It» .• lId rIm"" In jQill "mr IIld !nrlUl> ,I" "d,s (Jfll,~ :'C.St1jfS dati Yer unfQI'IlI"",~h ~o",,· l1ftl,rrn rhw~ let dh.·'II,ei.,t's. b~'('nmt 1)1 • .,wl,.llIlPd loy II" h.m·o" II/ tilsr Tlw<e 1'''l'e ChOS811 '" 101" rhe l.rrt{)'Ifl.~ Drl"'"~ ,""I, ",1,0'" th~V ,,/w'. 1/'- 1.11'" plr d"p"''', for 11110/,,",( ."d for Ill"""" JI",,/t

The Drane rrunotaur ls a true batteringram (STR II, RES 10) with phenomenal force of iml'.d(Brubsh charge, War fury, Flero;e}, He can be used [ust es well In CMfrontirrm" as m R.g'N"rn~ • re,pectf~"ly.s • support erealore ~nd as. ,courge forthe enemy Infantry.

THE CJ--lRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHAM

SESSAIRS KELTS WAR-STAfF OF AVAGDDU

Accompenled by Sesselrs veterans, this Unit is ready for pla~ In R.g·N.rn~®. It. numbers can

flo rthe rmcre b. co rT1P I. mented by a box of warriors of A •• gddu.

S£SSAlitS V ETE.RA 1'1 (RilEREl'lCE CAROl. MARKHAN THE WILD (REFERENCE CARD). SE55AIRS STANOARD·BEARER (REFEREI'ICE CARD), SESSAIRS MUSICIAN (R£FERENCE CA11.01. TORQU E OF AUDACITY (ARTEFACT 'ZA.P.), FlANN'S MALICE (TACTIC CARD).

T

I" mi" ts d''Id''g 0'" Il,e plafIrS of Avagddu 10 r.~.al a cia" "{Intrepid lUorrio'..-; n a '·m,. TI,. 10Iem of thegodd." I< b"",& rats.d, canled Vo fl,,, ,oulld

oflitt war drums. Markh •• fll. \VI1J

will lead the 5'$5.1 rs cI." 10 "icroul

THIS BD)( InCl.UDES:

S E: S 5 AI R.S 1f£T1E:,ItAN

~A N K:. S ~~SA I RS VITER:AN, 14A.p.

.... ARIC,HAHTHE WILD

RANK, SESSAf.' REGULAR CHAMPfON. SOA_P_

SE'SSAllS STANOA~D·afAR.EJc. RANK: 5.E5SAIRS RECUL.p.Il_ 14A.P.

SESSAIItSMUs.lcrAN

~Am" :S"SAJRSI!ECULAR.. 14A,P.

,,~ .. ~ "~- J' .

I. • ""."hl2. ,I " ..

; ~-.~~. .' .'

. .,.,. ~,,::~,.- ~~' .. -. " ~

~.. "'·flf ~.. '~'!!'. '";,~ . " "'"':'".

o 8

THE CIIRONICLES OFTHE WORLD or RACK HAM

BAEM 01

DEVOURERS OF VILE-TIS MARAUDERS OF VILE-TTS

R

e~" s, Vaga bOlld, _ M" .dor ers, ri,e

Dol;' uou rl!l"S ;no jan,geT CQnte n r tIl em :S:il'lLP~S wIt/r :towing ch.aos end d!:lSErUClion UI r'le wok. 0tl/,.il·wa"derlngs, -rl'gllow8.d,", ,ro""d d~"g!'ro"~w'T'(;hl'fi ,nd{a.m arn1i~S"!:n fhl!ttlm~li! Drt~c Bra'.51

FANG OF VI LE·TIS (~U£Rt-NCr CAIW), MA~AUDEROF VILE·TIS (TWO RHE~WCE CAItDs)

.... ARAUD:E:R OF'VILE-TIS

Il.AN K ~ 0 EVO IJ RE~ VETE R,AN. "'OA.P_

THIS BOX mc.lUDES:

fA N C OF V. U;:. rrs

IIlANK. DEVOURER RH;;ULII,R. !OA.P.

Thls b<:.>< conl.i", all you need to assemble a U"itof5 diffe","t D""o" ... rs. Threedllferent weepcn combinations ijl'l!' i!vai~bLe ,13 ndthree proM", can be created (one iregtJlo' a no two Veteran,). All acce"orie, .te .1", p'ov;d<><l to tum one c F them '"to a Leader. Tbts U" It ~ ~dyf9rplayj" R'l('N,rvk"'.

09

DVRAGI

THE CHRONICLES OFTHE WORLD OF RACKHAM

The rIOVii is • co n stru ct of lq'll""

She- sta ndrng on a C reatu re base (37.5 X 37,5 mm). Hi, "Construct;" "Ambidextrous," "Sequenca/l" end "A.ddltio".t Umb" abllltles make h,m a .er'i!\Ile """"i or who cen ngfTt hi i "loy thro~gh ~nemy Infantry and shower 1.l!E'" opponents "11th. hall of blows,

The S.s.<.lr; Tr;benhemed "rmy pad< or cords lets you p ersc nollze an almy of th ~ Kelts of th e S e"a"",jan U slOg ru I e. an d special ""pac; tie~ thst a re 'ped n" to Vii rious btste rica L fact tens,

I t "Iso inclu des elterna b_e pro~ les and other card, made lc erjhence.lhe sa ~ag" barb. ri ons of A". gddtJ', potential.

1 0

The C,I\""I., ofNli doNor themed "my p~c~ of cards I ets you P lilY.' personaltzed Mid· No, .rmy. It mcludes <IX origInaL ~,eme' adapted to the "arious cetomes of the v;<l,ld of A.rkl.sn. Thls supplement alse include, alternative prefiles, arteF.~ts, e spell and e ritual for R'g 'N.rll"',

THE CIII~ONICLES or HIE \"ORLD OF RACKHAM

GRIFFINS OF AKKYlANNIE TEMPLAR WAR-STAFF

T

5 t..4INI/UUJl.H liND ~ CARDS,

TEMPLAR UOTHER(R£FEREtKt CARD). S£V£RJAN. TFMPLARCHAMP,aN (RE'ERfNc:..E CAR OJ. THE VI C; I LMITE (AUEFIIo..I, 10 A P,). TEMPLAR STANDARD· "£A~EH (REFfRENCE CARD). TEMPUIR MUSIC'A'" R,F~RnICf CARD).

HU TEMPL£'S WAR SONG ITAC1K CA~O).

h. Tomple. ti,e ai-med hand of A k,I'm' i<, I> ar d1< frQnlllileof!l," AIII,,,e. ofr,gll1', bartles. h' 11 .. tr brNI .. rs' !.vcs. I""'pl., officer S,o ... I." ."d 1,,, worrlors embo& f,ilh, "n"ClD' imd !I,e I,oy IUt.," offll~ o'~ygod. M.ml.

TBI,S BOX inCLUDES,

Acoompon;oo by templarbrethers, thlsUniti, ,~.dy for pi"" In R 'gW,YD), ". H:s numbers-can be Co mplemen~ by G nffin bsmplars.

11

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHAM

TiEMPLAltSJU)WItR RANK,<:;RI'FIM ELln.oEM'LE, 2.5A.P.

SEVE~IAN, TlMPLlIR CI!AMPION RANK, (;~!fFlN EcIT"EC~A ... PIO". ti4,A..P_

TE.tJlPLAR.,s,TANDARO ·BE,AIR.ER RANK, (;~I"IH ELITE.

'2,:JA.pi.

TO M P LA. MUS ICIA" RAI'IK, (;RI Ffl" EI.ITE 2M.P

DVRAGI

CYNWALL ELVES SELSYM WAR-STA FF

I" 9'","~II. ~"O'" rhe R.g'"~rok's ~I.~es berr" ,h.ll a~o,,. ~I,". III JI,,,,, ",/f"" ~UC!:y rndi!JiduaJ rs oil UlilTrior. Me.ncran and 'm l!?Jar w.r-'liIff"~w I •• dll,ei, bratl" rs ,"word rh~lr propl"" ,,/run.I' barde.

Accompanied by Cynwott selsym veterans, thl~ Unit is ready for play in Rag'N.roR

Its numbers can he complemented

by • box 9f C ynwall selsym'

HiE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF R.ACKHAM

1

THIS BElX inCLUDES;

6 MIHIIIT\lRESAHD 6 CARDS.

CYNWALL SEL$YM VETERAN (REFERENCE CARD1,MEHERAN (RHERENCECARD), SELS"M MUSICIAN RUERENCEo,!Wl, SELSYM STANDAR.D·BEARER (RErER~MCE CARD), THE DRACON SCAI.£ (ART[FACT.

II A p')',MPASSIVEIUSTICE(TAOICCARD).

CYNWA~~ SEL5YM VHERAH RANI(, CYNWALL VETERAN. 24 A.P.

MENERiitl

UNK. CVNWALL RECULARCHAMPION. BOA.P.

SELSYM MUSICIAN

RANK. CYI'lWALL REGULAR. 20 A.P,

SELSYM STANDARD·BEARER RAN~. CVI'!W"~L HGUlU. 20A.P

NMBS 01

rhiIranertstiC 0(1 Ii .. true db.riples of Noes,s, sonll dodged till; .ilem and tlea~lv iltrat'l! of the t WJl A Ilk~slta" black widows <It the lIery 'ilst second, A Ite"~led dance ,hell began. Blows were excltangtd HI sr~pe[yiflg 'peed, the I'lightest u.rong moue meant death, That's witelltbe equanhnous warrior's lance, gllidfid Wllh flli/tles> precision, su'uck the thmat Gfrlle first mlirderes s,

Endowed with Concentrationl2 (IN I. ATT, DEF and DJS) and Dodge, Sorrn Is a Zealot Warrior-monk who can take command of a Unit of eguammolls warriors er can take on the most formidable foes on hi, own, HIS artefacts give h1m

<I varied choice of rnlracles, They also allow hlrn to take several of thern when the armies are belng built and to modify his Aspect values (112/1). sorm is supplied wlth a cord el(plalningthe special rules on the Trlhadrcn of Ka'iber, the Incredible team that he forms with SyQ de Kaiber (Uf(CYCHOI) and NelphaeU (UKCYCH02).

HIE CHRONICLES Of TI'iE WORLD OF

ROSJri!ls cor.tld lake iT no 10 I Iger. The _1'0ung A k!9rla 11 ni. II rQllsCrlpr (ouldll'r feel hi. le~ "nd ami, J~ mare. 0,] the ather hand, rIle gash an his forehead made him suffer cl'ue!!y. He wa<\' cW'si,'!K his teader for 11auiltg dragged 11im into this r!!r~rmaissance mission. Tile w.alfs of Kalber II/ere too fo I' a W!l)' jQ:1' them to' retrea r, so the Griffins lUou Id /la ue to confra1lt rhe hordeot lmdead fig/lleT., 1101 Qn rlle!r tori/s.

frnitatillg some of h is companions, Rosa)"ius Iilrl1ed around, 11gI1& gripped his ma.ce <fila Silid • silent pryer to Mel'm. He calmlY lUilfclllld as d'Oum; of ghows and wmbies charged his wdt, and prepared himself to die fO!' rhe gl09 of the One.

At the last mQment the lil!ing-d~ad fighters interrlfpted tlLeh-dmrge. A blirlding lighttkat had appeared from rlOwhrre hail paraJyud tlJeffl. Whel1 Rosarius spuwarmmd !o see where this light lI,Iascomil~g from, he was aha blinded. For if moment he tllOlwhr rhar M~rm himself Ilad Gom~ to saue his foutllful.

The gmwiiJ[ an~ was march iflg down tllf hill. The sun was, no IOflge~ "eflected In their Shl~ armOlry, imd the Gri{fi1LS ,uld liuing-dead Gould now see tile Dragolls of Laneuer, A discipline of steel see"ined to rale in the '21"1 Wiill,' rilJlRS, streng!liellqd b the Ilarm0!!Y of rheir weapons and t~mf()nrrs.

The elws weTe no longa marching, rh!:)' wne rusll- 1118 dawn rtle side of the hill and were charging the Acherollian troops il'lol'l eerie silEnce. Galu2nised, Rosarius and hiS tompalliom-in-anns followed 5uit.

Showil1g implacable determinatiDn, tiM gmwiills thus! deep i'l to the Iwrdr of Darkness. Adomed with the ligl!t of tile sun, their Imit$ bec~me shi!!y bJlIdiis plunging into1he m_a_ss afghoul. and zombies.

Seeing rhis specrode. RosarillS 'Stopped ftghthlg for a momel'lt. He lila. now cmwinced that the §rmniills' magk didn't come from their COl'lstntcts or rlreir strangel::ry.mcism, hut truJyfr<lm the lightthat til!! b.~re inlide rhemselues ..

THE COLOURS EJF W.6R UnDER THE LIGHT

The goal of this article is to explain the Rackharn studio's methods concernrng the Cynwiill elves' paintjob, Because It WaS a new army, it was necessary to give deep thought to its colour scheme and ambiance.

Tne CYllwiiU$ being the most fervent represantativesof Light, their colours had to rsflact this aspect, all the while underllningthe elves 'enigmatic stds. Bizarre effects and uncommon colours had to be found to accentu ate th e s tra ngen ess of th ese fi ghte rs. Th e arm y 's cha ra cte r an d spi rit, h ad to be re fleeted in its colours.

The first Cynwi:ill miniature was Syd de K~'iber, the main character in the novel The Fault of Kai·b.u. To begin With a Character, who is furthermore a, commander, is not the usual way Rackharn works. Usuilily regular troops are done first, whicn allows the basic colour scheme for the whole army to be determined.

In Syd's case, the studio's painters were inspired by the Character', history. This Cynw~ll hero fights for light, yet his artefact (the Echyrton) makes (I part of his Dark side come forward, So it ssarnsd logical to' us to give him a colour scheme made up of sombre and luminous shades. H is clothes are therefore dark, but the rest of the miniature is bright: the white

TH~ CHRON1CLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHAM

1 6

mask, the artefact's old goLd and the lunar shades of hlssword are all elements that are found on a part of the Cynwillls, albeit sometimes worked differently. As for Syd 's clothes, they give him a melancholic and solitary look. The whole is heightened using rich and colourful tones, as well as with complex decorations that amp I i fy h; scorn rna nd er status.

Regul~rs allow the whole army's basic colour scheme to be defined. The studio's painters compare their ideas to determine the best choice of colours. Once this has been done, all they have to do is get to work I

In the selsyrns' case, white was the first choice for the most visible parts. The black clothes allow for il sharp contrast, All that was missing was a colour to enhance the whole, since black and white aren't really colours. Orange, the studio's first choice for

the launch of this army, was too "acid" compared to the rather pastel tones of the rest of the miniature. l===~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~==+==::;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;:~~~ ~:::~~=::::===+===~

Once this was corrected by using only pastel tones, the army's basic colour scheme hod been found.

Fat the overall treatment of these rnlnietures ;J new visual style was needed, which is why their armour was painted in pearly tones, thus giving them a poetic and faded alr; The clothes were worked like simple doth in black to make it stand out from the armour. For the spear's shaft the studio decided on a purplish bluegrey, and for its blades on a very light bluish metal.

The blue created an interesting contrast with the pale

yellow of the loincloth and armbands.

For the face a shade of ivory skin (as well as filled eyes) was chosen to strengthen the miniature's icy and mysterious aspect.

AZURE HUNTERS

The synchrontrnes' aspect is similar to that of the selsyrns, yet with a few changes made to the pamtjob. ihey being Warrior-mages, they had to be slightly differentiated, all the while rernetnmg in the same tones as ReguLars. White wss therefore a mainstay, as well as green and blue.

Being Veterans, the azure hunters had to remain Simple. Their clothes are painted in shades that bring to mind the miniature's name. The dominating blue colour contrasts with the crossbow's gold that, fer the sake of coherence, is the same one as used for Syd 's artefact. The red hair also stands ou t from the rest of the miniature to give It depth.

It is preferable to use a few bright colours when the miniature IS mainly pale to make It more readable,

The armour's arabesques are lighter and the blue background is more rnarkec than forthe se[sYm'.

1 7

TIlE CHRO lCLES OrTH[ WORLD OF RACKl-[AM

The method used for the Constructs' paint job ls Simple. I n order to disti nguish these machines from the "ljvl ng" fighters, their colour scheme is different. It can therefore be used for ell Future Constructs to get~· homogenous visual effect specific to autcmatons. This Lets the elves' Constructs be more easily Identified wrthm thelr srrny,

colours are the same as those already used for other miniatures (especially for their equipment).

In fact, the principle of the negative is used.

The elves' armour beicng Light, it is dark on the automatons. Their clothes, on the other hand, are light in cerrtrast.

The assders are a majestic elite corp, and thus deserve special treatment. The idea 1> to get a r~nge of she des fo r th e who~e m i nist u re th at cha n ge with th e movement and the lighting. To paint this effect, one first has to apply the armour's basic colour, and then add the basic shade of gold. Then all of the armour i,s shaded (the golden and pearly parts). A final shading of the pearly parts (in the hollows) is done with the violet used on the golden parts. The golden parts are then made lighter, and then are the pearly parts (by slightly overlapping with the gold). Thus the colours. blend and give the lrnpresslon that ths pearly parts dominate and

chilnging colours. Shades of blue, green, grey and orange bring to mind a sunset or a stormy evening sky. The drape's paint job reflects the asaders' light weight and avoids making the miniature seem heavier and overfilled. Visually the asadars perfectly integrate the rest of the army while presenting obvious differences.

Other important point: the Construct's structure has to be defined with the help of colours. The hydraulic tubes, ge~rs and erticuletions (internal parts) are painted in shades of grey with a greasy effect that is gotten by using a thin brown wash (to

~~--------~~--~

colour the steel) and adding glossy black in the f--; ............ 'F"' __

hollows. The armour plates (external parts) are painted old bronze colour. A "magiC" effect is added to this (by adding blue into the armour's engr~vings .and to the eyes), which creates a play of colours between the armour's Light yellow tone and the blue added to the hollows,

1 8

THE CH.RQN IC LES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHAM

To paint this other character pf The Fau It Df KaIb~r. the colours described In the novel were used, especially for the mask (honey colour), the hair and the crossbow (both gOlden). For her clothes the colours and symbols are Similar to those used for Syd. Her armour Is painted using the serne colours as for the rest of the army (for more coherence).

Her mask, the upper part of her arm and her construct were painted the same eolourto show that these elements are part of a whole.

And fi nelly, 'the dark clothes give Nelphaell a discreet appearance and also remind of the azure hunters' blue.

THE CHRONICLES OFTIIE WORLD Of RACKHAM

1 9

The tones used to paint this Adept remind of those used for the rest of the army. Thus, his armour is identical to that of the selsyms and the draped robe Is similar to the asadars'. The rnain differences Lie in the colour of hi. collar and the plaque In front of his belly, which is slightly more blue-green to make them stand out better from the fest.

The tricky part was to avoid "burying" h is Face. The darker backdrop of the collar and the golden crown lit with the blue to let the face stand out.

For the varsyms the idea was to create a nighttime atmosphere that brings Th~ Tltoumtd and alii:' Nights. to mind (for the miniature's scout aspect) and to preserve the overall harmony thanks to their armour. The clothes' dark blue-green tones are treated a. if moonlight were shining on them. The blades' gold going on silver Lets them contrast with the clothes (the yellow gold stands out from the blue). These miniatures beIng fairly unburdened <lnd very dynamic, their paint job shouldn't alter them or weigh them down.

The equanimes are very originaL miniatures that, due to their apparent complexity, may seem difficult to treat. Above all, one must study their structure and distinguish the "material" zones from those that are turning into douds of smoke. Once the miniature has been understood, all that's Left to do is let oneself go with the flow.

The idea Is that the chopped up areas are changing shape and follow the curls of smoke, as if the matter were being pulled towards a point of graVity and were dissolVing into the air.

First the material zones, such as skin, armour, clothes and weapons, are treated. Most of these areas are painted with the colours already used for the other troops, except for the spear's shaft, which requires a stark colour in order to contrast wH:h the pale colours of the other parts (always wH:h readebility in mind).

Then the colours are blended on the curls of smoke or stretched while foHowing the smoke's curves to get a "cloudy" effect. The masses of air are painted in pale shades of yellow to avoid getting them confused with the various eLements. The miniature shouldn't appear to be monochromatic, so one should avoid putting too dark colours in the hollows (to preserve its "immaterial" aspect).

impression of movement: a ghostly green Is applied to the cut·up zones to evoke a "magical" effect.

The studio's painters have elso painted several miniatures follOWing their own inspiration to get more personal variations.

20

DOt RACKHAM

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD or RACKHAM

2 1

tr I uptacable

PillnTlnc GUIDE

•• ••

CynWaL,L SELSym

to the sword's blade.

THE CKRQNICLES Of THE WORLD Of RACKHAM

The base colours are applied in several thin consecutive layers of diluted paint (while toking cere not to dog ~p the details) .. They must be very opoGue to preserve the rnlnlature's-clean appearanc.e and: to' avoid effects of transparency,

A dark brown-red wash is applied in the hollows to accentuate their depth and to counter the blue of the.lighter parts.

Pure lrght-gn'!y is used: to mark the most protuberant folds and make them stand out.

The face is done at the beginning due to the crown framing it, which will then be painted the same colour as the armour.

The armour is given a grey end light-beige base; the The appearance sought for the face is an icy

clothes get a black base; the lomcloth and: armbands paleness that reflects the Cynwalls' austere and

a desert yellow. one; ana a bluish grey one is applied brooding character;

The CynwaU elves are amor1g the finest and most detailed of the Rackharn range of rnlniatures, so particular core is required for their prepsretton and for the Insertion of the pins that hold: the various parts together.

It is important to taks one's tlrne when trimming off the moulding mark so as to avoid damllgrng the armour's decoration, to "pin" c~refLJlly. with a thin drill blt to strengthen the most r;rogile parts (ankles, wrists), an d to ma ke Su re tha t the Vii ri OU$ pil rts are adjusted with pre .. islon for them to fit together correctly.

Because the colours used to pamt this mlruature are mainly light ones, the undercoat he, to be white.

The f nesse of the detatls 011 a miniature such as the se lsym wa rrl ors' requ i res tha t some parts (like the clothes end the face) be worked: before the errnour

is painted, due to the risk of making them too tricky ~====:::::::=~: ;=:::=::::::::::::==:::}::::::::::::

The clothes are treated as if made offine doth with a certain sheen to make their folds standout, The black is made lighter u.5ingdark blue gOingon grey, and then with light grey. A thin black wash Is then applied to blend the shading-and make the passage from the dark tones to the l!ght tones softer.

22

In case 0f uncontrolled Stains one just has to 1-----~~------------_4. slightly wet the paintbrush and qUickly erase the rmstake while aVoiding drenching the zone with to",

These very decorated pi! rts make up th e most of th e m uch wete r.

miniature's surface. A pearly and precious finish gives a refined image and suggests thefmesse and expertise of elven craftsmanship.

Blue-green is applied in the shadows of the volumes.

This operation consists of shading the base colour through consecutive transparent layers.

The brush strokes should be directed in such a way that the pigments are concentrated in the darkest parts to in te n sify the co lour.

The same operation is done with bluish grey (or bluish Violet) In the hollows while ploying with the tones to

A warm beige base is applied to contrast with the armour's cold tones.

The skin is darkened by adding a drop of dark brown to the beige, which will make his complexion greyer and accentuate his stern expresston,

The Lightening is done using cream white going on ivory to give a porcelaln-ltke aspect to the skin.

The hair is painted bluish grey and highLighted using light grey to give it a Silvery appearance.

The eyes are pa inted turquoise, without pupils.

OnLy two white spots give direction, sparkle and intensity to their mysterious gaze.

create a pea rLy effect.

The armour's arabesques are made to stllnd out using this technique, which makes the pattern of the decorations even more readable.

The same principle is used for Lrghtening using light beige and then gloss:y white for the final shine, This makes the pecrrly appearance look realistic.

The final highlighting is not done by adding sparkles, like on meta Ilk a rmo u r, but rather by having the reflection of light Follow the parts of the miniature that stick out.

The Dragon is going to war ...

---"

Desert yellow made darker with a mix of brown and orange, and then made lighter with light beige, creates a tone that stands out from the rest of the

miniature Without dashingwith the armour's colour.

The sword's blulsh hue answers to the yellow cream of the lolncloth.

The sword's bluish grey base is made lighter usln~ lignt grey, and then shaded and tinted again using the base colour for a better blending and il mineral appearance.

Blue and then transparent red are used as light washes to colour the blade's base.

The metal '5 fmal shtne Is given using glossy white. The hilt and the. guard ar'€. painted with warm ~nd co rrtra sti n g col ou rs.

23

TIlE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD or RACKI-tAM

THE .SERV6nTS ElF THE ECHYR1IJn

UNIT At 0 I: The Noble S<;ourge~

• Syd de Ka'iber, the Hero of Karber, equipped with the Noble Echyrlon

• 12 CyowaLl asadars

UNIT AL 02: FirstSeLsym Brotherhood

• 16 Cynwall selsyms, of which one is Leader

UNIT AL 03: Second Selsi'm Brotherhood • 16 Cynw~ll. sel.sYms, of which one is Leader

UNIT At 04: The Masters of Ttrne

• Galhyen with the Solar Crown (artefact), Solar Army (rltuol) and Chain of Automatons (spell)

• I Cyriwall synchrorurne

• 8 CYllw~U ekhernials .. Nelphaell

UNIT AL OS: Imperial B~ttery (I)

• 2 Griffin culverins

• 4 Griffin cannon servants

U' N IT ALOIS: The F~l<::Qner of Kaiiber

· Aldenyss the Silent, the Falconer of Ka·iber, with Silentz

UNIT AL 07: The ludges of the Griffin

, 5 thalllon riders, of whlch one is Leader

ARMY COST: 1996 A.P. for 68 miniatures.

WI LLEM: "My army is mobile, It has an averClge strike rOtCe. However, my U nits are ~ble to keep a maximum number of troops engaged I n combat for" pretty long time. The cannons are new to me. We'll see how th Ings go with them. Beceuse they are eelverlns (STR 20), I Will use them mainly to krll enemy Characters. I'm ccunnng on the min"s plaeed by the G rlffin servants and on my akharniels to defend the cannons at dose r~nge."

Fuur,. Iii!£)' luere ol!ly fQllf lefr 011 duy in I"he !'I111111 fort. The hlgh comm~nd 11.,d emptiedilillhe {)lllposts of tile Gorge vrthB D"08'01l to remforGe tl"le IlIl.mbe/'~ HI the Ka·(b'er fel"rress. The baulerhill had laken plsce there .seueral lliOIlI/Js eartle,- had bun horrclldou.,. Lighl hild 1 rilJmphedtJft at tlie pI"icc 0fgrfiH losse~.

Thelleliuery offresl1Supplics was j"u.t harl!.'YE'rlsu I"Vd, so ,lh,9 could fargef ,il bout ffillfof~ements. "Four aTtI(le!:_vmen lefl1hel·~ 10 rake C~Te of the cannons," th!:y had said. Hal [014r old soldiers charged with blOWing euerythlng up shoilid il!!yone try 10 take theml Yer that was ImimpQnam. Ever sillt;(' their bask training rli~y knew t/lal Ihe cul!ierfl1~ LQere more importanl than rlle!I· servoaflfS. Ti1ry <lcGepted tilis fl'~lh for the love t;![ Merin ilnd of Ak~ylilr!llfe.

THE CHRONICLES OF THI WORLD or RACKHAM

26

LI.4Cil!~ mas tire {h'>1 olle to Ill. ke- out a :;-trange shope appearing from the douds [11. Fill a b~low. Ba,'eJv h~d he opened his mouth to alen hif comp~nion$ when a multItude of srone towers of all shapes and sizes r05e tllfougll rhe agitaled clouds. A Ga,rle .•. A gigantic Gilstlewas [ioa1trlg In Ihe 59, H$ sirallgejy angled waJls Hildding Witll bolts of light'llng. A '"!:V of alarm was he.rd.

A ~tnmg Ilalld grabbed him b tll e slwuIde'r and the c.':y brutll!!'y ll)elll ~rill. Luciu:; :''Pl4JI around, rea~v to flgllf 1G rhe dei11h agail'lST De,ull, who Ilad be.untul blond hair and w~.s we. ring a masll [If mother-ofpear!. Her gaze expressed no [eeli"g".

"Soldled J!'!), name is Nelphiliill, officer af L;mever QIl sperl") '1lssignmelll. III tJie IlifJ11C of Ih!' A1JillTiCli {If Ligllt, ~d d~ Karber req~j5ilIQIlS'y1)1l,_Y1I1! alld_l'UlII' cam101IS. Ta/IV'9ur posiliQm aml get rea~y 10 fire."

The- lilne arher arHlle!vmcn were lJ.!irh N<,lpltaifll.

Kiil 11 , tile most experienced e{ Them, looked LIWius stralgllf II! tile ~ves alld spohe co !Jim Witll <l firm ~oice.

"Gel mOvil7g, old bjj(j~}. I dan't know how or w!:y, bll [Mer/I] flas selll r he 0'1 walls to help u) defl'Ird till.! gorge. Grab lh;;!1 calmorlb.a/Jolld let's rna/Ie IIlI?' One 1'fOlid of liS!"

(ll : Til. 15:1. thor tall be d""o!~d to wilr ,h,rhi,ul< fndllJ. II" ,or"d n r,· $, rat.gfc V.lues.

THE &Rmy BFTHE InSlinE

UNIT LO 01: The lnsane SCiTVengers

• The Lord of 1n5~ntty equipped with the Seal of Ph obos ,. th e Spectre l.; R~gs, fi reba ll, Elemental Conversion and Carpet of Harries

• Iii 5CoVe'1gers of Acheron

UNIT LD 02: The Sons ofthe PaLe One • 4 Wolfen zombies

UNIT LD 03: The Immortal Horde

• I quaestcr of Acheron (Leader) equipped with an Orb of Obscurity

• 20 zombie warriors

UNIT LD 04: Metmoth'~ V~u.Lt

• Melmoth, CrlI'1e warrior (Second Incarnation), equipped with Horns of D~mnation

• I quaestor of Acheron '(Leader) equi pped with an Orb of Obscurity

• 27 morbld puppets

UNIT LD 05: ALderan's VauLt

• Alderan, Alderen, Crane warrior, equipped with Horns of Damnation

• I qusestor of Acheron (Leader) equipped with on Orb of o bscurity

• T7 morbid puppets

UNIT LD 06: S'Erum, ophidian s),dion

• S'Erum, ophidlan.sydlon (Leader), equipped with 18, his artefact, and an ophtdlan vorpal blade

ARMY COST: 1994 A,P, for91 rninlatures

27

The Claw of Terror's itinerary follows 11 magica I pa rh ere ared ouer (h e d era des £y f IJ e n ecro man eel'S of SariaJIl. Sl1Itms of ga 1'g£Yles on which eUII,rymbols are engra ued senJe ilS bearing poinl'S for the navigatioTi between the lof!y peah of the Behemoth Mountains. TIle destrucnon of a sillgle of Iliese beacom would endal1ger the success of til is enre"prise.

I'll co LAS: "Willem and I built our armies without knowing the scenarlo. I therefore remained Loyal to my usual composition schemes: two-thlrds of 'normal' troops (rnorbld puppets and zombie warriors) led by modest Leaders, charged with engag'll1g most of the enemy fighters, and one third of 'extraordinary' troops (Wolfen zombies ond ,c<lvengers ofAcheron), who are powerful and fast when possible, to reech the objectives or strike a decisive blow wherever I decide to. For this the l.ord of I nsenitv has unusual spells. He Is the only mogiciG'1 in a very mobile Unit, so I want him to be able to inflict great damogeot short and medium range as qurckly as possible.

The 2/3 - 1/3 proportions a'H~ not completely respected, for, like all gamer~, I have my llttle quirks One of these was to take S'Erurn, The gamers who know him won't have forgotten to add lOA, P. to his strateglc value to allow him to benefit from his adoptive army's leadership."

§.rd de Karber had been informed of~he Lord of Insan~'s proiec::t i?Y a n:rysterious missiue senr fi'om .Gadwallllil. Not haulng had t.lle 17me to ident!JY its send!! I~ 110 r to !Va m th e 3mh 0 "ities arK a j'"b er, he gathered an II rmed force of l'!Yal fighters and rnwelled 1"0 the Gorge of rhe Or'agan as qlJickJy 1H pOSSible. The Servants of the £c/9>liol1 a re nQW the onJy ones who can prfuiml rll e So dBfhs' fying for/TeSS from embarking 01'1 the conquest" Of tile skies of Aarklash,

0,& ,I, m.adman lIIould attempt to cross rhe Gorge of the Dragon. Yel exactlY that is Asara de S,n'l~tll, the Lo)'d of IIlW1J!Y'S pl~)l. And "tllis hther of Acheron i~ el)en mOTe am b It! oll!J'et: 11 e w II! cross the po S~ with the Claw of hts wicked H o I.!!i€ , Ilis {all, an untmagillD ble edifi'ce floating in rhe s~ and travelling with the wind's.

The litllo I ,'eqaired forlhis 1.I"l$J ne enterprise to be ca rried out isn't risk free. 1.1 demands so much energy tha t tile Sa rl.ths' BJi II g fa rrress will be Ullin erab.le dlJI11lg the whole i01irl1ZY, JI thq fail, the Sarlarhs WOI1't hilue a second cllal1Ce,

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKll.,\M

fort ort:he; AW.nce QfljgHt

THE B.b.TTLEFIELD

SPECI.i1L RULES

IN MEDIA RES The game begins with tile forces of Darkness appearing from the fog surrounding the fort of the Alliance of light. The alarm is sounded and the first orders are given.

No cards are used before the miniatures are deployed: they are placed directly onto the battlefield.

The two armies are deployed anywhere on the battlefield within 20 ern or more of the Alliance of Light's fort.

The Light player must deploy the Unit of Griffin cannons and another Unit of his choice inside the fort.

STRIlTEGIC OBIECTIVES

OBJECTIVE I

The Acheron player wins one victory point for every Griffin cannon that is out of order at the end of the game. A wooden "fort" betongtng to the Alliance of light is placed at the middle of one of the edges of the battlefield. For obvious practical reasons, lighters can move through It. A lighter can end his movement touching the element of the scenery representing the fort of light. Duringthe following movement phase he can step over It as if it were normal ground,

• The walls do not block the lines of sight of the troops standing inside the fort.

• A fighter cannot remain standing "lnside" a wall. If he doesn't have enough movementpotentiol available to cross the wall completely, then he doesn't cross it and stops as closely as possible to it.

• The thickness of the walls Is [lot taken Into account forthe rules on Umt cohesron. Thus, a Unit can end up being split in two on either side of the wall,

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF

.llPPRB.llCH ano DEPLElymEnT

THE SERVANTS OFTHE ECHYRION

ALOI AL02 AL03 AL04 ALOS AL06 AL07

The Noble Scourge.

Fir,t Set,ym Brotherhood Second Sel,ym Brotherhood The M ",ter,' of Time

I mperial8attery

The Falconer of Ka'ib"r The ludge.ofthe Griffin

THE ARMY OFTHE INSANE

tD 0 I The lnsana Scavenger, L'O 02 The Sons of the PaLe One to 03 The immortal Horde

LO 04 Melmoth'. Vault

LD 05 Alderan's Vault

LO 06 S'Erum, ephidian sydion

Willem and Nicolas proceed with the Tactical roll.

Nlcolas gets the lead since Willem 's roll gets a 8.

WI LLEM, "Seeing we're deploying the rnlnietures directly, this will make things more complicated. The Cynwslls' charging distances might tum to my disadvantage. "

N I COLAS, "The Acheronians aren 'L used to getting the tactical advantage, so being able to benefrt from lt during deploymenL is a true blessing! After having thought about it, I asked WiLLem to place hls nrst Unit nrst. so that I can place mine in favourable conditions."

WILLEM: "Nicolas let me deploy first. This allowed me to avoid a Few disappointments as well as to block access to the cannons. I'll attract several thousands of Uving-de"d to the middle of the battlefield with Syd de Ka'I'ber. As for the rest." It'; chaos! Because my charging distances are very big, I had a very hard time placing my lighters. That's why my thallicns are located so fur to the side. I have also placed my mines in front of the cannons to protect them from the first enemy onslaught."

9

RAC"KHAM

THE RED DRLlGt::Jn'S asrruan

Nicolas's decision is sfrange. !'!Y pl£)'ing PI'Sf Ill! could have placed a Unit near the fort and thus ill/Qid a painful progremOIl II nder flye of the Griffin ClI/ver· ins. Furthermore, that would have considerabJy "11'dered Willem's depl£Ymenr try prevelltil'lg I,im ~'{)m depl£Ying in • uasr perimeter aYOlmd the obiecrJlI€ to defend.

NICOLAS: "Everything went pretty much as planned. I deployed my Forces In such a way es to be able to "ttack the fort from q maximum number of angles with my fast-moviog troops. The slower ones WIll remain near the nexuses to protect them and bog down enemy Units. I also took advann.ge of this to deploy my biggest Units In such a way as to hinder Willem's deployment. A winning strategy I The backs of the nexuses (Ire protected better than I thought and certain Un; s of LIght are confined to the furthest corners of the battlefield, This marvellously simulates the hurried arrival of the Servants of the Echyrion.

The l.ord of Insanity'. position allows him to transmit his dark stranglehold to a maximum of Units. Ifhe has to leave his position to attack the fort, then the Crane warriors, assisted by the quaestors, will take over locally"

WI' LLEM, "I'm gOingto advanre to try to delay the attack on the fort as long as possible. I don't have enough Units •.. If I limit myself to defending my positions, I'll end up being overwhelmed. Therefore I'll launch an assault with most of my forces and count on my rearguard Unit to destroy the eastern Idol. My thalli on cavalry will move around the enemy army to riddLe the western idol with bullets!"

NICOLAS: "My strategy is a simple one: prevent Willem from engaging my fast-moving Units and, once tf1e enemy is bogged down by small Fry, proceed with the division of Un its to sow chaos so dear to the House of Sarlath. I won't have the advantage of movement, so things will be dose, The selsyms deployed at the rear may cause me some trouble: I wilL ehrnmate them as qurckly 1IS possible with the Lord ofl nsanlty, Receiving a scorching death from the hands of a, Fathar of Achsron Is a privilege that the CynwalLs will know to value."

Nicolas spends gems of Darkness to ensure the dark stranglehold of his Commander-in-chief and Leaders:

• The Lord of Insanity sacrifices two gems to give his Un it a DIS of 2.

, The quaestor in Melmoth's Vo,ult sacrifices Four gems to give his a DIS of 4. The qusastor in Alderan's Vault does the Same.

WILlEM: "OK I Move and fire for them in the next round,"

NICOLAS: "Wh«t iI shame to have failed my second Damage roll and then the Toxlr:/S one The elimination ef the four servants, who were sc courteously lined tlp by W,llem, was Within reach. The perfcrati ng arttllerv's surprise effect was foiled by ~n urtlucky roll 01 the drce, Oh well that ~ the g<lmeJ"

I n the Ilrst Ilri ng and incantation phase the Unit of Griffin thelhons carries out a "Molle and fir·e" order. Thanks to the combination of Harassment ~nd I nstlnctive Fire, they can resolve this order qUickly with" firing difficulty Increased by two points. The riders Launch their attack. Their bullets fl,y Into the ranks of the livjng-de~d. Two morbid puppets collapse, Their bones crash to the ground, makjng a sinister sound.

The other UJ1its go into action. The Cynw~ll Units don't waste any time: with a charge they engage all the enemy troops standmg in front oftheml ShOWing exemplary courage, not one of them retreats In f<we of the danger. At the end of this first round of movement almost all Units are in contact with the enemy.

The Lord of InsMity starts casting terrifying spells while grabbing hold ef his gems. Elglit· of his gems of Air ar1'! c·onverted into five gems of Fire thanks to Elemental Conversion. The Master of the barony of Ache ro n U~ lea,11 es a ell rp et of fla mes at th e Secon d Selsym Brotherhood CAL 03) .•. Five warriors of Light a·re kJlled [n action.

WILLEM: "That's normal, seeing-tllis Character's strength. But why doesn't he use the nexus's power \0 push bad<. my troops?"

In the second !iring and incantation phase, S' Erum f res at the cannon servants standing in the Alliance of light's fort. One of them Is killed. A secon d 0 ne escapes d ea th even tho ugh he was i J1 the trajectory of this shot made using perforating ¥tilLery.

NICOLAS: "Simply because I don't warrr to have to pursue them. Their eliminstron WILL be ever 5Q quicker if the Lord of lnsarutv doesn't have to move. He surely doesn't feel like hanging around ovst here!"

The Lord of I nsarutv doesn't stop at that. He summons a fireball. whtch he shoots from his fleshless finger~ lit a Cynwl111 asader. Not far from here, Syd de Ka"iber escapes death while-two asadars perish by his side.

The imperial battery open s fire: the first culverin targets the Lord of Insanity while its neighbouf.Sends a cannonball flying towards one of the nexuses, Fa ilute and ... Failure. The two shots miss their target. Nelphael! fires at Atderan, hits him, yet doesn't inflict him with a Wound.

THE SERVANTS OF THE ECHYRrON AL 0 I The Noble Soourge.

A L 02. First S eby.m Sroth"rhood Al 03 SecD nd S e lsI' mB rot herhoo d AL 04 The Master. of Tlme

AlOS, l.ml'e",,1 Battery

Al06 The FaL~oner of Kalber

Al 07 The [ud ges oft he Griffi n

THE ARMY OFTHE INSAI'fE LD 01-..: Th" I nsane Scavenger.

LD Olb The'Scavengers of Ache rc ", LD 02 The Son. oHlle Pal e, One LD 03, The Immortal Horde

LD 04a Morbid Puppets

LD 04b Melmoth

LD 05 Alderan'. Vault

lD 06 S'Erum,ophidian sydion

30

THE CHRONICLES OF TH E WORLD OF RACKHAM

WI LLEM! "I pushed the front as far as I could, but I don't know If I'll be able to hold out for long. The first results are enC0uraging, yetw!l:h two downsides:

I. The Lord of Insan'rty Is way too powerful for my selsyrns. 2 .. 1 fear that thay won't be strong enough to destroy the idol. As for S'£rum, he is too well placed for my taste, so I'll urgently have to take care of him."

NICOLAS: "So that's the famous gunpowder, the secret given to the Griffins by the CynwlaLs? Wow, how scary ... But seriously. I alW1lYs recommend firIng at Units for which the chances to hll;ltarget value ratro is the highest. Cannonballs (STR 20/rerforat ing heavy artillery) would hal/e done great damage In the UnIts of morbid puppets or of zombie warriors, with chances of hitting that are surelv better and with more Immediate effeds "

THE RED DR~GEln'S ElPlnlEln

AdVice rhar is etlPr rhe wiser since in 111 [5 fa5e {Ile Lord (If JJisanty's dealll wouldn't h.lle given Ihe S~rV.l1ts of I he Ec!ryrillil a Single polm.

During the hand-to-hand combat phase several frays take place:

I) The Sons of the Pal .. One (LD 02) versus the First Selsym Brotherhood (AL 02): The Cynw~Lls finlsh off a Wolfen zombie who doesn't manage to regen e IOIte. NimliiS attempts a division during the ensufng thrust movement ... yet without success.

N I COLAS: "Darn! That stroke of bad Luck deLays rny plans."

2) MeLmoth (LD 04b) versus the Judges of the GriAln CAL 07): The zombie warriors' blows come r<linlng down on the proud thallicns, yet without causing the slightest loss. The riders cake advantage of this to r-eload their pistols.

3) The ImmortaL Horde (LD 03) arid ALderan's Vault (LD 05) versus the Noble Scourges (AL 01): This fray is described In detail on page 40.

During the mana recovery phase the Lord of Insanity doesn't manage to activate the rebirth of his gems (failure I). Calhyan and the sYAchronTme accompanying him make theirs go into resonance: their stones reach the maximum level of their potential.

NICOLAS: "Chance had it that I got bad results on cruciaL rolls: S'Erum's Damage rolls, the division of the Wolfen zombie Unit during its thrust, and the Lord of Insanity's mana recovery. This bad luck endangers my strategy's coordination. It spices up the game, yet In the heat or the action I hate it. To use ~he favourite expression of one of my childhood heroes: 'I love H: when a plan comes togetherl'

Yet something really gives me satlsfactlcn: Wil· lem has attacked my zombie warriors with his Cynwall asadars, who are less in numbers but a lot more expensive in army points. By the Ume they shake them loose, my other Units will be far away ... "

STR~nGLEHElLD

Constructs and the livtn?-dead are CIlJledively known as "Receptacles." +hey do nat have DisCipline. +he "Leadership/X" abilrty of their commanders has no Influence 011 the" Ilvinr" and vic e versa (no bcslc Brders, no transminiIlI1 of the commander's CDU!FEflR ond DIS, etc.). However, a Cnrnmonder-in-Chief ron 1ransmlt 10 his Unrts the additional !:Irders acquired when moklnc Ihe +ccllcol mil.

Seein? that they don't hove a reference DIS, the perform in? or manoeuvres and movement. that re9uir" a DIScipline tesl becomes risky. +his disadvantay" Is compensated by the stronylehol& by spendinr mona ?emS, cerloln commanders con <rive lhes e Ii?hters temporary DIS.

fI Receplacle benefits !Tom IJ,e stranyliehold thai he ?enerotes.

lI.dditcnall!lrders:

stran<j>lehalds allow Orders to be ?iven to Unrts of Receptades.

t.fterthe +celtccl roll ond before the altr;bulion of I3rd"IS, lhe Cemmonder-tn-Chtef can, if I'IE is oble to rene rate stron?leJ,olds, spend rems From f,j, reserve or from an artefact. He acquIres one add,lloncl Hrder for every two 'i'ems spent. +hese Elrders con only be Viven to frje~dly Units or Receptacles.

Unused Orders are lost.

Increase of Discipline

fI slran<jllehold allows cnrnpensohnn fOr the Receptacles' absence of DIS by rivinrthem atemporo')' value in lhis choroclerlsllc.

fit the be'j'inniny oHhe movement ph<Jse, a lil"tter able to ?"neratestranrleholds can transform one er

several of hls yems (Uyht;Darkness) into os many points- ofthe eqUivalent slranylehold.

This value Is the temporary DIS of the friendly Receptacles in Ihe same Unit <J' Ihe fiylilter ?enerot. in? the stron"tehold. +he stron'j'lehold produced by cnmrnonders is tran.milted to Units within their lead· ershlp ran?e. flny penallles caused by dilterence in rank between 1he firhter reneratin« the stron?lehold and the Receptacles do no! apply.

+he points in DIS 'j'Oined Ihanks to Ihe slrcnelehold disappear at the end of the round.

Lumincus stran~eh·ald

+he followin'j' Cynwolls can 'j"'nerale luminous siran"teholds by spendiny orems of liylilt:

· Cynwoll ma'j'icians/Warlior-moyes who master the path of snlcris

• Cynwoll mo<jlicions/Warrior·mar"" who master ~e polh of chrcnnrnency

· Cynwoliliorhiers equipped witt, an !:Irb of ClarITy Luminous stronrlehold IS" a Discipline substrtlJle for Constructs.

Dork stronylehold

+he fcllowln? mo?icicns of IIchemn can rene rote dark siran?leholds by spend,n'j" <j>\"ms of Darkness:

· ma,?iclcns/Warrlor-mc,!,es of flcheron who moslerfhe path of necromoncy

• mcyicians/Wornor-m<J?es of flcheron who mcsler the pcth Df cucceus;

• Fiorhlers or 1l.cheron eqUipped w~h an !:Irb of Gbscu(rty

Dark stranrlehold 's 0 DiScipline rubstilute Forthe livlnor,dead.

THE CHRONICLES Of THE WORLD OF RACKI'L,\M

31

Before proceeding with the Tsctlcal roll, Nicol"s announces that S'Erum will be using (8.

WllLem gets the lead. The orders are attributed.

Nicol8s decides to impress Willem by dividinga maxImum number of Units during the movement phase. The CynwlilL selsjrns continue their advance towards their objective. At the end of this round practically all Units are in contect. The Second Selsyrn Brotherhood (AL 03) is ordered to charge the Lord of lnsanIty. Unfortunately for Willem, it Is struck by fear by this emissary of the Dark prtnciple.

18 ?"ives S' Erurn the" Harassment .. obil ity. Use ofihis ccpcclly must be announced before makIn'j' a +ocllccl roll. S'Erum can then no lancer move untH the end of the round. In return, the S+R of the First Damo'1e mil coused by 0 shot mode usin,? 18 durin,rth", round Is increased by a number points equo] to the hnol resull ofthe lIim test (max: +18).

If Ihe shot should happen to inflict further Dama?"", rolls an consecutive additional vlcllms I honks to t he rules on perforatln?" li'j'ht arfille ry, then the weapon's S+R is calculated based on tls value as modified by this bonus.

n (E CHRONICLES or THE WORLD OF

TH E ARMY OF TH E INSANE LD 01. The lnsane Scavengers

LD Olb The Scavengers of Acheron LD 02 The Sons ofthe Pale One LD 03 The Immortal Horde

lD 04. Morbid Puppets

LD 04b Melmoth

LD 04c Morbid Puppets LD 04d Morbid Puppets LD 05 Alderan'. Vault

LD 06 S'Erum, ophidian sydion

THE SERVANTS OF THE ECHYRION AL 01 The Noble Scourge.

AL 02 First Setsi'm Brotherhood Al03a Cynw;;U S .. lsym.

AL 03b Cynwall Selsyms

AL 04. The Masters of Tim .. AL 04b N .. lphaell

AL 05 Imperial 8attery

AL 06 The hlconer of K.','ber AL 07. The ludges ofthe Griffin AL 07b The ludge. of the Gciffin

Before proceeding with the Tactical roll, Nicolas announces that S'Erum will be using 18. Willem gets the lead thanks to a final result of 10 on the Tactical roll,

of Karber IS busy with the enemy Cornmender-roCh lef, "II try to destroy the first Idol of mghtmares with the Second Selsym Brotherhoodl As for the tilallion ludges, they are w1lhln range. to destroy tfte second nexus. With a bit ofluck {In my D~ mage rolls, things should go well..."

WILLEM; "I took "dvantage of Syd de Kaiber's thrust movement to bring him within reach of the Lord of Insanity, who I hope to be able to block. Nicolas has announced that S' Erum Will be using 18, which means that he won't move: Nelphaell will calrnly be able to charge the sydion. While the Hero

NICOLAS: "The tnal isn't over yet: the rninefteld and then the Fortifications still have to be crossed U~less there are any unel!pected events It's only a question of ime, yet there Isn't much lime left ....

34

THE CHRONICLES OFTHE WORI.D Of RACKHAM

THE SERVANTS OF THE ECHYRION AL Ola Cy"wiiH Asadars

ALOlb Syddel<a'iber

AL 02 First SeLsym Brotherhood AL 03a Cynwall Selsym$'

AL 03b Cynw~n Setsym.

AL 04. Th .. M.sters ofT,me AL 04b NelphaiHl

AL 05 Imperial Battery

AL 06 The Fakone. of KoTber AL07a The ludge< oHhe Griffin AL 07b Til e ludges ohhe-Griffin

O THEARMVOFTHEINSANE LO 01. The In sa ne Scavengers

LD Olb The Scavengers of Acheron LD 02 The Sons of th .. Pale One LD 03 The Immortal Horde

LD 04b Melmoth

LD 04", Morbid Puppets LD 04d Morbid Puppets LD 05. Morbid Puppets

LD OSh Morbid Puppets led by Alderan LD 06 S'Erum. ophidian sydion

During the first firing and incantation phase the lmpenal battery fires at S'Erum. Once again the sydlQn is missed by the terrifying black powderl

WILLEM: "Damn! I wanted to Fire before Nelphaell's combat ls resolved ... "

During the movement phase several important events happen, The Alliance of light's CommanderIn-Chief charges the Lord of lnsanitv, While Nelphaetl charges S' Erum. The thalllons gallop off With

theIr mounts, chased by Melmoth I On the other side of the battlefield the selsyms persevere agaln~t the nexus. In the meantime the morbid puppets continue marching on the Alliance of light's fort ..

NICOLAS: "The Lord 01 Insanity VerslJs Syd de Kiiber! Nelpnaetl versus S'Erum I Whal a cast! I can't wait to light."

The second !iring and incantation phase begins with the pyrotechnics of the Lord of Insanfty, who turns seven gems of Fire into a carpet of flames aimed at the First Selsym Brotherhood.

Four of these soldiers of Light are killed. Intrepid, the necromancer then shoots a fireball at Syd de Ko'fber even though they are In bass-to-base contact with each other! He risks hurting himself and, worse yet, damaging the nexus.

The elven Commander-In-Chief is unscathed, as is the magician, yet the nexus loses one Structure Point.

NICOLAS: "That was a Iluge 1i5M, yet the various options I would nave then had were tempLing. Tough luck."

The Masters of Time CAL 04) fire at Alderan's Vault (LD 05). yet don't c-ause any <casualties.

Seven combats take place during the hand-tohand combat phase:

THE RED DRAGON'S OPINION

I) and 2) S' Erum versus NeLphaell. Syd de Ka'iber versus the Lord of In~anity:

The exchanges of blows don't cause any Wounds_

The risk was all too real: !ry lJJanti1W 10 fi'lish the I'ei_syms offqllickJy in order to tree lip his two fastmoving Units, Nicolas has ended up beitlg bogged dowlI in a combat tna!, though H's won in advance, s/aws 1lim down dangerouW'.

WILL-EM; "That's not very glOriOUS .. .'

3) The ludges ofthe Griffin CAL 07a) versus morbid puppets (LD 04c): The two thallion judges who remained in the rear are annihilated by the morbid puppets, who only suffer one loss.

4) The Judges of the Griffin CAL 07b) make the idol of nightmares (A) Lose one Structure Point.

WILLEM: "I have the feelingthatthis will take too long .. ."

5) The Sons of the Pale One (LD 02) and the Scavengers of Acheron (LD Olb) kill seven of the warriors of the First Salsjm Brotherhood CAL 02),

WILL-EM: "Ouchl"

NICOLAS: 'That's a resuLt that might seem impressive, yet which isn't surprislng seemg the value of the troops Involved. I would have preferred that my fast-moving troops had been free to attack the fort and that the sel5yms had been bogged down in ~ fight against a slower and cheaper Unit sud, as Melrncth's Vault."

35

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHAM

WILLEM: "My objectives are the same as in the previous round: to get rid of the Lord of Insanity and S'Erum, and to bog down as many enemy UnIts as possible with my other Units. I will try to use the thallions' mobi'llty to slay the Masterof Acheron, for Syd de Ka'lb_er won't be able to do It on his own."

Before proceeding with the TacticaL roll, Nicolas spends three gems of Darkness on a dark stranglehold. Willem wins the Tactical roll.

During the first firing and incantation phase the lord of I nsanity uses Elemental Conversion to get six gems of Fire. He then starts casting spells: a carpet of flames engulfs the Hero of Kalbar, Syd loses one Wound leveL and two selsyms are burned "live on the battlefield. The inferno damages a nexus, which loses one Structure Point.

NICOLAS: "An idoL of nightmares has six Structure Points. 1 took a calculated risk and, aLas, the probabilities were against me. Let's hope that I wo~ 't end up regretting It."

5) The First Selsym Brotherhood (AL 02) hammers at the idol of niglitmare,: the brave C yn w'ij II set syms stn ke wi th a II th e i r stren gth, yet they don't even manage to chip the dark nexus.

W·ILLEM: "I hope that'It help me kilt S'Erurn." soul, he is given ~ f<rt~l blow. His body collapses and his blood mixes with the dirt trampled by

The Ma;:<ters of Time (AL 04a) open fire. at the the insane scavengers.

morbid puppets Led by ALderan (LD OSb). The

akhami~ls~rgetAlder'l!n, yettneir shots aren'tstrong WILLEM:"A Fililed lnitietive test and a Failed

eneugh to harm him. Regeneration roll.i. I'm disappointed, so dlsappointed .... »

NICOLAS: "Alderan (RES 10; Hard boiled) has exceptional starnlna for <J Character worth 89 A. P., especially if he also has Regeneration/5."

The lrnpertat Rattery(AL 05)'opens fire at S'Erurn, yet the cannonballs stray onto the battlefield.

Duringthe hand-to-hand combat phase five frays are fought between WiUem's and Nicolas's armies:

I) S'Erum and NelphaiHl confront each other in a deadly dance. Unfartunately their exchanges of blows don't cause any Wounds! The fighters face each other, looking for the weak spot in each other's defences.

2) The confrontation between the CynwaU asadars (AL 0 10), the Immortal Horde (LD 03) and the morbid puppets led by Alderan (LD OSh) is described in dstell on page 40.

3) The Scavengers of Acheron (LD Olb) and the Wolfen zombies (ID 02a) seek to overrun the warriors of the First Sel~ymBrotherhQod (AL 02). The s(~vengers of Acheron lind the Wolfen zombies kill four Cynw1i11 selsyms after a Violent exchange of blows.

4) Syd de Ka,i'ber supports the Lord of Insanity's empty gaze. While he is being sucked up by the Darkness that ha unts the Mester of Obscunty's

During the mana recovery phase the Lord of I nsanity recovers eight mana gems. Calhvan recover'S one gem and the svnehrorurne recovers four.

WILLEM.: "I have lost my Comrnander-m-Chlef in this round. Concerning chain of command, this is not dramatic. Yet it's annoying when it cernes to reaching my objectives. Nicolas has free reign on this part of the b attlefi e ldan d can devote h is force s to ta ki ng overthe fort. The next round will be decisive."

NICOLAS: "Syd's elimination is only the beginning. The Acheromans have been seriously delayed due to the unfavourable clrcumstences, This. battle's outcome will surelv depend on what happens In the next round."

The 1 mperial Battery opens Fire. Aldenyss the Silent shoots at S'Erum ... and misses] Willem starts getting

tense. The cannon servants fire at Alderan and inflict WI LLEM: "I blew a fuse I I placed all my dice in

him with two Wounds. attack since I didn't know how else to kill this mon-

The Servants of the Ecr,yrion's Cornmander-lnChief has been killed by the Lord of Insanity, so Galhyan takes command of thiS army.

WI LlEM; "Ught is my allyl Well ... It's urgent that I win a few victory points! The Lord of Insanity will concentrate on the cannons, so I'll have more room to destroy the nexuses. As for S'Erum ... Nelphaell should be able to send him six feet under ground."

Duringthe first firing and incantation phase the thallion riders fire at the nexus in their range. It loses its last two Structure Points. The gargoyle comes crashing down with a huge noise. A cry of victory rises from the ranks of the Cynwiills.

WILlEM: "Abouttime!"

NICOLAS: "Victory is within my grasp and I continue to defy the statistics. Willem, give me your magic die .. , mlhp lust fell out the window ... "

The hand-to-hand combat phase involves three frays:

I) NelphaiHl CAL 04b) tekes advantage of her Initiative lnereased by Cnncentration/X to attack S'Erum (LD 06) three times. Two of these attacks InflLct the qphidlan With iI. total of five Wounds. The sydtcn's heavy body curls up on Itself while his blood spla tters allover the valorous elf

NICOLAS: '(Give me your dlcal I can't believe thls, MoraL always remember that a lighter with four Wound levals can pensh when lighting an opponent who normally should only lnflict. him with one or two."

During the movement phase the Acheron troops ster, and I was lucky I This brilliant action has braught

gather at the faot of the fort. Their Commander-in- me i!. bit doser to victorv, but For how long? The Llv,

Chief rises into the air to look at them and lets out lng-dead are many .. ,.

an insane laugh.

During the second firing and incantation phase the Master of Darkness begins an incantation from the tormented skies of the Gorge of the Dragon. A fireball (STR 17) bursts from his bony hands and kills outright one afthe servants ofthe imperial battery. Yet the other artillerymen's and Aldenyss the Silent's lives are spared.

THE SERVANTS OF THE ECHYRION ALOia CynwaLl Asadars

AlOlb Syd de Kai'ber

AL 02 First Sel.ym Brotherhood Al03a Cynwiill Selsyms

AL 03b CynwiiLl Sel$ym.

AL 04a The Masters of Time AL 04b Nelphaell

AL 05 I mperial Battery

AL 06 The Falcon"r of KaTh@r AL 07b The I udges of the Griffin

THE ARMY OFTHE INSANE LD Ola The In •• ne Scavenger.

LD Olb The Scavenger. of Acheron LD 02. Wolfen zombies

LD 02b Wolf.", z.ombies

LD 03 The Immortal Hard e LD 04b Melmoth

LD 04. Morbid Puppets LD 04b Morbid Puppets LD 05. Morbid Puppets

LD OSb Morbid Puppets, led by Alderan LD 06 S'Erum, Ophidian Sydion

2) The ludges ofthe Griffin CAL 07b) are strug· gling for survival against the Wolfen zombies (LD 020). The scavengers of Acheron (LD Olb), helped by the Wolfen zombies, kill the thalhon Leader. The riders take carsful atrn and wound one of the zombie mounts.

3) The Cynwall asadars CAL Ola) attack the ImmortaL Horde (LD 03) and the morbid puppets (LD 05a) (see p. 40).

WILl£M: "The situation is critical. With a bil of luck I should be able to hold my cannons, but I don't think I'lL win the game. I'll attempt rapid fire with my artillery at the nexus. If I succeed, then I't[ ba able to hold out until the end of the round to optimise the difference in victory points. If I fiJil, then l'll surely concede victory. A draw would result in counting up each others points and my offensive has cost me many troops."

NICOLAS: "The Units are so diVided that we're almost at the scale of a game of COtl{rorHawm l So here we have different gaml~g sensations] Now I'm as Impatlentas evertosee Hhe Sarleths' fortress will manage to get through the Gorge of the Dragon."

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHAM

3 8

J.<'I..'

ROUND 6 ano canctustan

- -

ROUND 6

Duringthe first firing and incantation phase the Lord of I nsanity begins an incantatory chant. Though NkolilS rolled 7d6, he didn't get a~ingle ~ required to succeed the incantation ..

NICOLAS, "I halfe often been told that l need to be exorcised, and I'm going to start believing It "

The I rnperlal Battery opens fire at the idol of riTght·

mares

Aldenvss the Silent's 5hotgets lost In the air and is covered by the roar of the culverlns. Willem therefore still has a good chance to succeed ...

Tl1e result of the Damage roll Is a GJ !

WIl.LEM, "Good grlefl E"ven though I would have stolen victory, had I succeeded, I re<rlly didn't have ~rTY luck here,"

At the beginning of the movement phase Willem concedes victory to Nicolas.

WILLEM: "There's no use in pl"yingthis round.

Aldenyss won't o;Jle and the fort'. size doesn't allow it to be decJsive.ly surrounded. It Is therefore still possible for the game to end in a draw. Hewever, we have considered It to be unreahstlc that G~lhyan and the Falconer of Ka'iber save a desperate- sltuation. I therefore concede victory to Nicolas."

BBIECTIVES RE'&.CHED

The Army ofth" Insan,,:

, Syd de Ka-,ber killed: one point 'Two culverlns destroyed: two points Total: three Victory Points.

The Servants of th~ Echyrion:

• S'Erum killed: one point

• One idol of nightmijres destroyed: one point Total: two Victory Points.

Victory goes to the Limbo of Acheron I

WILLEM: "Defeijt!My plan was too audacious .. I should have sent Galhya~ witn the skhermsls to give support to my other tlruts and be able to divide my army with Cynwiills on one side and Allies on the other. Thethalllons would have been able to ensure the Fort's defence.

Concerning the Griffin culverins, I think that one culvertn and one veuglair.e are needed to be able to eliminate all threats. Also, Without an artillery officer the U nit can't be l1~€d to Its full pote'ltial. I'm glad about the stroke of luck I had with Nelphaell and the elimination of S'Erurn, Without that, the battle would have been a true disaster, And fin~Uy, the thallion riders really are very efficient. They are very mobile and Can shoot at short range in each round before the movements are resolved! All that's missing ls a mounted faithful ... "

NiCO LAS: "Around the fort the situation looks more like <J game of CQllfrOPlfllIiOP1 than one ef

Rag'Narok! My Victory has an epic flavour, with dramatic tu rns of even ts and reve rs a Is of fo rt u n e ..

Str3tegy played an important part during movements. In media res did disservice to the Cynwiills, who lost a part-of their mobility.

This game shows the: necessllv of havlIlg ~ strong cham of command In an Acheron army. The Lord of In5anity is an excellent magician ~nd a reliable commander, yet none. of the dec.isive manoeuvres would have been possible wrthout the presence of the quaestcrs with Orbs of Obscurity and of the Crane warriors."

THE RED DRAGON'S OPINION

It is 0 custom 10 _19' that half of the bottle is decided 01 deplV'mem. fn .tllis ~p"'CitiC case it rill her seem, tllal it was decided ill the first round, Though the "Inllle-dia res" rule, which [nreed WH· lern to deplV' his troops w.ill1 ill ar leas! 20 em of the [nrt, dl'eIn't [eave h I'm ma~ possibilities, he could hill';! used a more d.efol1sive strote&\,. In!itead af • c/!)a 11 C'il1g his two f>1f.'Hry U nUs ill the enel1,1J 's directiOI1, he could have hild them move bael? right from rhe first rOll nd on !O force Nicolas to adval1(e towards his obje.cti.!!e .Hld ... foward, the muzzles of the Co nnons, 1!Y cal'efu!!J ta/au laHl1g die trale<:tory othis artillery shots, Willem could have hoped fo "perforate" the UUing.dead footsoldius and hil the l1exuses ar rhe same time. The thill/iollS would the~I have had aU the time to do wll<1t they do best: him! down the e~le1nyCharacters w~ng to worry a.holll the 17exuses, which are too resi.iicnt for Ihelr slalls.

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39

The Noble Scourges (AL 01) are confronting the lrnmortal Horde (LD 03) and Alderan's Vault (LD OS).

ROUND I

Willem's frey splftting gives rise to three combats.

a) Syd de K"Yber versus a zombie warrior, The Hero of Karber, true to his legendary celerity, has no trouble taking the upper hand: he strikes frrst and inflicts the zombie warrior with two Wounds, which deprive him of an attack. At the end of the fray this liVing-dead fighter regenerates h is wounds and therefore isn't removed from the game.

SEQUENCE AND NON·CHARACTERS

Non-Character lighters who have this ability are able to use an addltional combat die in hand-to-hand combat by sacrifidng An and DEF points in the same way that a Character can. However, they cannot acquire more than one additional combat die per hand-to-hand combat phase in this way.

b) Seven CynwliLl asadars versus eight zombie warriors. The elves get the initiative. Willem announces that he " placing this Elite's Concentrstlon!X points in An and then that these troops are using Sequence. Thus the use of this ability doesn't reduce their An.

The asadars are highly trained in the subtle art of Feint: they can therefore use their successful Attacks to cancel out one enemy combat diet WiLlem dectdes that his elves will use eight of their 12 successes to cancel out the zombies' actions.

THE RED DRAGON'S OPINION

Willern 1105 made a ue!J strange deCision In The face of sw:-h slow opponems who are bad In Defence. In such a case, using Fei'lf is useless. Attlle most Wit/em should haue cancelled out the ene,!!y artaGiI.! so as not to expose his Elite fighte,.~. He should Ililue kepI the benefit of 'lille attach, which Nicolas's Liuing-dead fighters would have had a hard time par!Jfng.

[n short, c<lIKei1il'lg aU! ene'!9' defellce~ !ry u~illg Fein r elld, up giuing the opponem olle success for each one .. This choice should onlY be made if, {orexample, tile opPQllerJ1 is able to counter-attack or to allow a difJerem fighter to STrike later on Without rl](' enen2)' being oble defend /1imself

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF

Svo DE KAIB£I<

ASADAR

QU .... ESTOR

MORSjD PUPPET

This time no UVing·de~d nghters regenerate their Wounds.

a) Syd da Ka',:ber versus one' zombie warrior.

b) Nine CynwaLl asadars versus nine zombie warriors. Tne elves don't have the initiative.

The Cynwall esedars' attack only causes three losses among the zombie warriors, for two of them regenerete their WOLl~,ds.

c) fiv~ morbid puppets versus six CynwaLl asadars. like in the previous round, the elves have used their combat. potential ~gilinstthe zombie warriors. They therefore don't have any combat dice.

The Uving·de"d fighters don't succeed any of their attacks]

WI LLE M: "Whew! That won't I asrforever; .. .,"

BecauseSyd de KaTber no longer has an opponent, Willem decides to take advantage of his thrust move' rnent to bring him into ch<lrging range of the Lord of lnsenlty, He hopes to engage him in the next round and thus reduce his magi('; activity. Syd de Karber separates himself from his asadar brothers-In-arms. This Is a Unit division during a thrust movement! this manoeuvre requires a Discipline test (difficulty 7), which ls brilliantly passed by the Alliance of Light '5

ROUND3

BEGINNING ROUND 3

Willem has the lead, He decides to spllt the fray Into two combats:

a) Seven zombie warriors versus eight Cynwall asadars. The living-dead once again get the initiative,

The elves are on the defensive. They majestically parry the zombies' attacks and send one of them back to the grave.

Svo DE KAIBER

AsADAR.

b) Six morbid puppet. versus three CynwalL asadars.

ASUM bE SARLATH

The asadars cut down the zombies, who get up again, and the puppets kill several victims on the sly.

NICOLAS, "Now that's a trap that the Cynwalls won't be able to get ouL of before the end of the game."

42

THE CHRONICLES Of THE WORLD OF RACKH.'\M

ROUND4

I n this rcund the fr~y is split into two combats by Willem.

a) Fi .. e' CYAwiiH esadars versus seven zombie warriors-. A huge effort in concerrtratlcn let> the Cynwlill i'l5lIdars win the initiative.

ROUND 4

E [ght a tt a ck su ccesses a ra so erlfl cad to ce nee lout eight of the zombie werriors' com bet dice. The one among them that is hitbythe Cynw~ll asadars regen· erates his Wounds.

b) One Cynwall asadar versus four morbid, pup· pets .. The elf no longer has ~ny dice. WilLem decides to sacrifice hi, two attack successes to reduce the m6rbid puppets' corrtbat potenttal.

SVD os KA)SER

AsADAR

ZOMBIE

WILLEM: "New that I think aboul it, I should heve decided to try to kill two of th em, fo r th i 5 wou ld have reduced the enemy's combat. potential by two dice "ilnd I wouldn't have had to get rid of two ~ddltiDna\ opponents in the following round ••. "

MORBID PUPPEJ

The rnorbld puppets go berserk. Only one Dam· age roll j,s successful a~d causes two Wounds on Its own. A single roll can kill only one victim. H6wever, because the victim is Inflicted with more Wounds than he can endu re, the morbid puppet gets o· devestatingattack, which he ... fail:::!

N I COLAS: "A [:..1, alwavs those darn [J I"

ROUND4

43

THE CHRONJ.CLES Of THE WORLD OF RACKI-lAM

ROUND 5

Willem, who again has the lead, 'splits the fray ln two.

a) Five CynwaU asadars versus seven zombie warriors.

Two Cynwiill essdars are killed by the zombie warriors' blows,

b) Five morbid puppets versus five CynwalL asadars.

The elves no Longer have any dice.

We end the detarled description of this fray at the end of the Frfth round since lts outcome doesn't affect the fate of the idol of nightmares standing nearby.

THE CHRQN1CLES OF THE WORLD OF

CliPT liIn I(RILL

PElRTRAIT

"A what?!"

"A biographer, Cap'n Krill. He soys he wants to tell your adventures ."

Slouching in the smokiest corner of the Three Gourds, one of the countless watering holes in the port of Cadwallon, Captain Krill wasn't in the mood for doing job interviews. 11'1 spite of it aLL, he made the effort to tum around [0 throw a glance at the small and chubby fellow waiting at the tavern's entrance, visibly not used to the virile atmosphere of this kind of place.

"Tell my adventures? To who?"

"Don't; esk me, his children maybe, to put them to sleep .. ."

THE CHRONICLES OFTHE WORLD OF RACKRAM

Krill shot a menacing giance at his first mate. "Bnng that fool over here fnstead of maki'1g smart remarks. And hurry up before he gets eaten alive, standing there looking like an egghead graduate from the N.B.A.*"

A moment later Dhypter was back accompanied by the small man who seemed more and more III at ease. As he walked by, the motley crew of regulars ogled at him as If he were a roast coming out of an oven.

"So? What does four-eyes want From me?"

No one was quite as good as Captain Krill at making people Feel at ease. The small man sputtered some incomprehensible excuses concerning his impertinent audactty before very qUickly making a speech that he had surely learned by heart for the occasion.

"My name is Thelonlus, Otto Theloruus, Writer and blogfilpher, at your service. I have come especially from Akkylan nie to gather the testimony of the great adventurers of our time. Your reputation places you at the top of my list, of COUfSS,. That's why I'm honoured to ask you for" few hours of your precious time, to put down in writing the story of veur exploits."

Out of breath, Thelorilus interrupted his mcnelogue while wiIiting for the captain's reectlcn, Captain Krill now saw the man In a whole different light. A book about him. 11105e wards echoed tn his head and voluptuously stroked his overblown ego.

A few minutes later the clandestine gambling room installed in the tavern's basement was emp· tied of its patrons end Captain Krill settled in with Thelonius.

"So? Where do we stprt?" asked the captain, eagerly looking forward to singing his own praises.

"You can tell me how you became a pirate, for example," answered Thelonius.

"Ah,well. .. "

Captain Krill leaned back into his seat and began tell I ng his story w tth a II th e hi!Ughti n ess that on ly a bona fide teller of tall tale" Is able of conjuring.

"At the tlrne I w,"s serving Emperor Izothop. Well, I say 'serving,' yet being the Generalissimo-in-Chief of the lmperial armies, I didn't take orders from anyone and especially not from a puppet emperor like that usurper Izothopl In short, I was the bess of the army and I can tell you that I didn't fear anvonel Believe me, under my orders everything went smoothly, and I won more victories than any other general, be he from Akkylannie or anywhere else. Have you ever heard of the Battle of the Beryn Hills?"

"Yes, of course ," answered Thelonlus. "That's where the Elev-enth Legion of Al<kylannie was decimated. That was during the W~rs of the Levant, wasn't it? I thought that It had been slaughtered by the ore clans of northern Bran-6·Kor ... "

"Orcs? And why not squirrels while you're at It?" the captain shouted. "By Rat's wartsl lt was me and my buddies who wece there, not a gang of bawlers in fur loincloths I We gave those religious n uts the thrashing of their lives! I can tell you that on that dCly

their god really must have regretted being unique, seeing how many or them we sent l1im!"

"I see, captain ... butlet's get back to your ... Vocation as a pirate. How did this happen?"

"Will you give me a second, OK?] I'm getting there. Now .... It seems that my popularity among the soldiers must have really begun to sea re those wimps who were supposedly governing the empire. lzothop must have worried that I throw him off his throne with a few kicks in the rear end, so he made sure that. I would never return from my next mission:'

Krill paused for a moment before he continued with his story.

"We had organised a raid to subdue the Wolfen packs of the east of Dllsha who had become a bit too unruly. I left with two divisions to scout the terrain. Four regiments. were supposed to meet me there three days Later, yet nothing went-as planned. After two days "II the packs in the area pounced on us, warned of our presence by who knows which rruracle, We defended our camp with everything we had while haping to hold out until reinforcements arrived. Obviously, they 'lever showed up. They had never even left Klilne, as I learned later on. Most of my soldiers fell overthere. Me, I managed to miraculously escape with some of my best men."

Captain Krill paused again, visibly shaken by the painful memories. It was Thelcnius who pulled him from his sombre thoughts.

"Wh~t did you do then?"

"At first I wanted to return to KlOne and wring the neck of that stinking hyena lzothop, But I'm not crazy. I was well aware that all of the country's assassins were surely waiting for me to show my face overthere. So I swallowed my anger. Well, I at least placed It in a corner to keep rt for later. With my men we went to the only place where we were sure to go unnoticed: over here to Cadwallon. Luckily we still had our wa r plunder"

('What do you mean?"

"You can imagine that when one spends IS years ransacking and pillaging towns and Villages, one puts some .of the booty aside for old "ge. In ;:rny case, it was enough to see us through. At the beginning we had a bit of a good time, but on the long run I began missing action. At first I had thought of founding a company of mercenaries, yet there was

THE CHRON1CLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHAM

47

already too much competitlon in the area. So I had another idea."

"Piracy?"

"No, knitting, you varmint! Obvlously, piracy! With our loot I armed a vessel and hired a crew. Most of my men had remained with me. As for the others, I found more sailors over here than I needed."

"Did you know anything about sa i ling?" asked Thelonlus.

"The principle is not to sail but to prevent the others from doIng so," answered Krill with a loud guffaw. "And at doing that, I'm the best," he added with a fierce expression. "To date I have sent more than 150 old tubs to Dewy I ones' locker. Either with or without their crew ... I can't help it, I just ain't very patient. If anyone starts making a fuss, I just kill 'em all. I f they're lucky, I only sell them as slaves. And when I say 'if they're lucky' it depends on who I sell them to. If they end up sold to those nutcases of the Scorpion, they usually miss the company of the barnacles."

Thalomus suddenly Interrupted Captain Krill's story.

"Captain, there is a strange rurnour going 'round about you. They say, as unbelievable as it may seem, that you are extremely scared of water. What's the truth on this?"

Thelcnius had approached the subject jokingly, expecting his interviewee to take it with humour and detachment, two words that didn't exist tn Captain Krill's colourful vocabulary. The latter squinted his right eye and stared at Thelonlus with his iaws den· ched. This was a characteristic tic of his, which his underlings knew well, and was the sign of an imminent and generous distribution of slaps and kicks in the butt. At that moment Thetonius realised that he had forgotten with whom he was talking. Cold sweat suddenly ran down his back and he worriedly awaited his Interviewee's reaction ..

Krill's jaws suddenly opened wide, flashing his fCings with a grin whose meaning could either be "good [eke" or "I'm goingto pull your guts out with my teeth."

The blacksmith's eyes popped Wide open.

"A one and a half metre big fishhook? What In the world do you want to do with that?"

"It's for very fat bait," answered Mister Dhypter laconically.

IlTH-llYR,

THE FIJRE'ST ElF THE AnCIEnTS

The north of l.anever ls a vast wooded expanse tha t rernal n s a lmostc om plete Ly u rrtou C h e d to this doy, Without being as dense, humid and sometime. dark as Qulthavran, the forest of the Daiktnees, this one remains an Impenetrable heart that feeds countless legends in Lanever as wellas elsewhere.

The forest of the ancients silently watches the Leak'Shear and the Syrllnbconverge in the Straits of L.ar6nn, while at its extremity the city of Cadwa llon teems and pros p e rs U nd e r th e vigi la nt gaze of the Cynw~ll s. This port city has some lend that the humans have claimed. Beyorid this land stretch swamps, wetlands and rh~ngrove~,

Yet the deepest parts of Otll-1Yr continue to shelter CynwiilL cltles that are more discreet than elsewhere, hidden in the thick veget"tion,. far away from the eyes of ~ny veyagers. The~e communtties are not welcoming, lealously guard their territory, and cohabit wo,rily with the forest's other lnhebltants. Indeed, several clans of ogres have refused to move to Cadwallon and C<lrryon their ancient tfaditiol1S in these isolated corners. They live in aUbrky and stay ;;w"y from the Cyowall cities.

And finally, a Wolfen pack has settled Orh-~rtwo centuries ~go, gathered around" sanctuary of Yllla, The Howling Pack still lives with In several days of Cadwallcn, there where the folioge [a rely lets the light of day come through. Surprisingly, these Wolfeo have monoged to earn, if not the friendship, at least the kindness of "small Cynwall city 'in the vicinity celled Llyaran. In the past the Howling Pack has illustrated itself by fighting(jlongsidethe Cad",e, against Akkyshan raids, Yet this time is over and the pack has now adopted the lifestyle of the city.

Some Cadwes wonder about the Cynwalls' dlscretlcn in this part of L,anever. They whisper that the forest of the ancients hide, many secrets and that the elveJ1 cities are in reality inviolable sanctuaries.

THE CHRONIC LES OF TH E WORLD OF

•

,+ ... --------------------

DliRL1KYll)

THE i.sno OF THE DRL1GOnS

This region marks the border between l.anever and the Behemoth Mountains, In these mountains rises Laroq, the heart of Cynwall power, This gloomy fortress is in effect where the Guide of Lanever resides and the seat of the Noesian council. Laroq is an older stronghold than l.anever, It was offered by the dragons when they became allied wi th the exiled elves, Since then, new towers have been built more in the Cynwall architectural style, Yet Laroq nevertheless remains a rather unwelcoming place, just like the whole region around it. There are three Cynwiill mining towns in the Behemoth Mountains, which are dosely guarded by the dragon·knights. There are also several isolated monasteries that take in equa· nimes who have decided to use their practice for the art of war or, more rarely, for meditation. These monasteries can, like l.aroq, only be reached by riding on the back of a dragon and live cut off from the rest of Laneve"

Dar~!(jin is a land that's as cold as stone, very steep

I and battered by violent winds, At its heart an inviolable sanctuary lies hidden. This sanctuary, called the JIlO)' drak, is forbidden to all except the dragons, It is their ancestral cemetery, a place where even the Cynw;;lls are not welcome. The few legends that are told about them tell of a city with ivory towers, which are in reality bones, inside a gigantic rocky cirque. This ivory, which has been polished by the centuries, can blind whoever dares lay his eyes on the "nordral~.

ALLYVIE,

THE LUll1IllOUS VilLLEY

This fertile, wooded and game·lilled region is one of the most prosperous ones of l.anever. Far from the threats of Acheron and Asbinan, and open to the allies of the Kingdom of Alehan, Allyvie is a region where one ofte n meets travellers From other countries. Ever since the founding or the Alliance of Light (see C!'Y Heooc, vol. 2) the borders of Allyvie have been open to the Barhans, who have established several villages there. At lirst the Cynwiills stoically accepted these installations, all the while making it dear to the authorities of Alahan tha t their borders hadn't suddenly disappeared.

Yet this "colomsation'' isn't official at all and is carried out mainly by peasants whose lands were ravaged by the dark forces of Acherori. Unfortunately Allyvie has acquired a reputation of being a "gilded land" for many Barhan rejects, and sometimes even for Cadwes exiled from their city, Banditry and plundering have become a source of worry for the Cynwalls, who have deployed a great number of sentries in the

area.

4

, . .,:, .... _-------------------

HIE CfIRO;"lICLES OF THE WORLD OF

Three decades ago a Do"ikinee community settled In the thlck forest that stretches to the north of Allyvie, Banished from Quithayran for unclear reasons, yet refuSing to embrace the ways of Light, these elves (Ire tryingto carryon theirtraditions. Yet because they are far from their forest, they are struck by maalfua (abandonment by the fairies) and their life expectancy grows shorter every day.

CY1l'WYDE,

THE CRUCIBLE OF EXILE

According to Cynw~Ll tradition, when Elhan ~nd Akaris arrived (It the site of the future Wyde, ELhan cried tears of joy and of relief. He felt that the 911WiiIJ of his people was reaching its end. Cynw~lL children learn that those were the last tears ever shed in l.anever, Akarls Looked at his pupil and announced that from his tears would spring- a crystal that was purer than water, dearer than air and smoother than silk This place would be the birthplace of the Cynwall nation, These legendary words founded 0'n'15'de, the most flourishing region of Lanever. Protected from the Akkyshans by the gm'Shear and from Acheron by the land of the dragons and the Behemoth Mountilins, energis-ed by the Kingdom of Alahan and by AlLyvie, it is fully devoted to the Cynwiills' prosperity. Much exche n ge is do n e with th e '8 arha ns and even with th e Sessalrs. The port city of Feltyance maintains many trade relations with other ports such as Cadwallon and lndatte.

Wyde is the crucible of Cynw~lL wisdom where the famou.s Cynwiill university is established, No other city of Lanever can rival it in beauty and prestige. Wyde's architecture seems to be turned towards a single goal: the celebration of light and of Clarity. Its highest towers pierce the douds in search of sunLight; its luminous fountains pour their water into channels that flow aLong the sinuous streets, This network, which feeds colourful gardens fn the heart of the dty, evokes the CYl1wiills' past and perfectly symbolises the exile of these elves who left the lush Qulthayren behind to create il new forest of light.

Wyde Is a beacon for the scholar. of Aarklash, yet onLy some of them are invited to stay at its university ever since ancient manuscripts disappeared from the Ymsophla (see The Legacy of the Ancients, Cry Hauoc, vol. 2).

The tempLe of MaeLhynn is e true city wfthin the city, Its towers take In wise men who come from other regions to learn the principles of Noesis. In its courtyards the children do their daiLy t"'inlng ln renras, the art of the body and soul of which only the e<jua n i rnes master all th e marvels.

Yet Wyde is not alone,

Apart from Fellyance, the region's other cities are turned towards commerce or the cultivation of the fertile land of 9n'~de. The minerals brought in from <;;Y,l'Shea,' are used in the hellasts' towers, which can be recognised due to their architecture combining stone, crystaL and hel1anthic steel.

The Ornynsill is the memory.

It is the tradition of Elhan, the one who has opened the way.

It is also the future, the reappearance of Light, of trength and of Truth.

The Guide does not rule, He .is.

And. that is sufficient, for the Light shines upon us.

9

RACKHAM

ilI1EWDA.Wn

Akarls was waiting patiently In the antechamber.

He didn't understand the menacing <lttrtude of the lighters around him, but he guessed that it must have been their duty as members of King Sees's personal guard. After a' while he was motioned to enter.

AIQne before his mcnerch, Akarls bowed and saluted as was appropriate. Yet despite his lrreproachabla presentation, the king of the Da'(kinees seemed to be annoyed by the werrior's presence.

"Rise," Hid the king. Akaris stood up straight and took on <I military posture, "The prince has informed me of a strange request. He wishes that I promote yQU to the rank of weapQn master. Is that right?"

"It's not up to me to confirm the prince's desires, your Majesty."

"I ndeed, yet I was hoping that you would able ·tQ explain the reasons for his decision to me. YQU see, Ethan already has a weapDn master who I can't dismiss without a reason."

"Maybe the prince isn't satisfied with his teadlTngs.

And I seem to have understood that his mastery of combat ls not one of his prime qualities."

The king wrinkled his brDWS and his gaze became harder.

"I'm perfectly aware of my son's faults and quellties," Akari$ thDught It best not to 5ay anything. "On the other hand, I have very Little lnforrnetion about you. I can't entrust my son to a stranger."

"I don't have ~nythingto hide."

"Yet you have a shady past, It is said that you staved

with the people ofKel for a IDng time."

"Indeed, I took part in their search for E~khyn." "It's true tha tyou hlove the Luck of not aging." "lust lIke your son, your Majesty."

"lust like one of them, indeed. Yet ~C:C:Drding to rumour YDU h~ve also visited the Drune don."

"I hove Foughtthem."

"I have been told that you have made pacts with th e m a nd that th e I r wicked tradit i ,0 n s he ve corrupted your soul."

••

EXILE

mJI1Y.H HElL IRS KI1[]1\ ~Hilt HIE H!SH1llY W tHE CI'I1IVtILL F.LVF.S IX +HJ-J Elf ·tHf F..x'l E Iff \ PIIlJ1! £ JOD IflS D.lIKrnrr m£n+~m. +H1.\ \ /\"IBll IllY'\: tE'llr:Hlnr;S I.1-!.M'fD reruf1(; PI1;I11( E £.LH.ill '\ min]) lJllJ ( 1.'" HIE fDlJnfM IIfmt err tljI:" Rf:Pl1DW m: L lllE\ f H. If tHRSE +IIB IlElnri.\ H \J) nLl"ER mr+, tHE D.1l'lon£E I' \ft/ IN" If m/u! mVER H1Wt DIS!:m fRED tHF. WilYS f1F lIGiH.

"I have Learned to know my enemy $0 as to be able to defeet him more f!c"ly."

This answer wasn't satisfactory. The king speAheveral moments scrutinising Akaris.

"I don't like you. YDU may be an excellent werrtor and a defender of our people, I still don't Like you. And 1 c:an't see one gODd reason to make a simple guard my' son's weapon master."

"If 1 m~y ... " Withan annoyed gesturethe kingeuthonsed Akens to go on. "You, don't have to Like me, yaur Maie,ty. YDO simply have to be convinced that I would be a gDod weapcn master fer the 'Prince."

"It's true that you also have the repu tatlon of bel~g ~ talarrted warrior. But Hre prince already has a weapon master."

"That one has failed. The prince still isn't fI warrior,"

The king stiffened, thus Qrderi~g Akarls to stop talkmg. Then he got up and steed face to face With the D~ \'ki nee Wll fri or.

"And you, who I am told I should be wary of, YDU would turn my son, Elhan, lnte ~ .strDng and valiant elf?"

"I would make Elhan the best of ell princes for the Da"ikinees."

FIRST LESSEln

Akaris's breathing was steady. He felt at ease d~pite the heavy protection he was we" ring. He slightly loosened his grip en the quarterstaff and attacked the prlnce. Shan moved to parry, but couldn't avold i:he blow. Yet fie nevertheless resisted the Impact and held strong on his two Feet. Then he tightly gripped his quarterstaff and g<;>t ready to strike back

Akerts smiled under hi, hell"neL The prince was making prQgres~. When the yDung heir attecked, Akaris simply dQdged the blow without retaliating. He had to give the prince the opportunity to' learn frcrn his mistakes wlthout b"uering him With blows.

The fighters were facing each 'other again, slowly turning In a circle in the middle of the royal We"PQn room. Akaris was teaching the prlnc:e an innovative

THECHRONIGLES OFTHE WORLD OF RACKHAM

50

combat technique and' no one was allowed to watch lhese sessions.

The Da'rklnee warrior pa.f"lently tested his-student's nerve-so He did one feint and false start after the 'other. After several minutes, not being able to hold out much lo~gef, the prince made a fi;nai attack Using Ell the strength he had left. Akarfs quickly sidestepped him and made him faLl.

The young elf remained lying on the fleer for a moment. Then he Eat up, took ,Off his: helmet and swore.

"Master Akaris I" "Yes, your Highness?"

"I've hs'd enDugh, I'm not gettIng anywhere." "Indeed."

Faced wrth this humilIating fact, the prince became red with anger.

"You don't have the righti.o make fun of me I You're my servant!"

," I beg Fa r yO UT forgiven e55, prin ce. "

Elhan calmed down. Then I-re threw away his quarterstaff,

"All this doesn't make any sense, I don't like fightIng. I've had enDugh of thls stupid trai~ing."

"What will YQur father s~y when he hears. of your declslon?"

"Since when do you wQrry about my father" I don't care what he thinks; I went to contlnue our d iscusslons. That's why I ilsked fQryQur promotion."

The yDU~i! prince SBt down on his helmet. Akarls got closer to him.

"I'm a warriQr, I can only tecch you the art of Ii gh f:Ing."

"ND, yQu're not [ust a w~rrior. YQIl a,kyourself qusstlons like I de. That's why J had yQU bmught into my service, to calm my worries and soothe my doubts, Not to teach me how to handle the 'quarterstaff"

"Yet these are ell the same thing." Elhan raised his head d nd looked at his wea PQ n mas ter qU;;5 tI on in gly. "You feel doubt and fear, You are seeking answers, They ere-ell in our combats."

"Decidedly I don't understand a thfng.'l

"What were yDU thinKing "bout during yDur last assault?"

This time there were no guards in the.antecharnber, A~arls knew that this wasn't because of the late hour. He got ready for the worst and knocked on the door.

"Come in," answered a weary voice.

Akaris obeyed and found King: Sees standing in front of his sanctuary's window. The sovereign was admiring the terrifyiFlg storm that was raging over Quithayran. He seemed to be d.rawing strength from the unchained elements, yet Akarls could see the slgns of his old age.

"I'm at yOur disposal, your Maiesty."

A bolt of lighting splft the sky. Seos turned around to face the weapon master.

"I'm dismissmg you. You may return to your lands and get On with your occupatlons."

Akarts was dumbstruck, yet didn't let tt show.

"May I know the rea s ons for this dismissal, your Majesty?"

"I'm the king of Quit hay ran! 1 don't have to explain my decisions to my subiects!"

"You should expla in them to the prince."

The monarch's features became tense. He approached Akaris with huge strides.

"And I wilt tell him the truth. That you are corruptlng his mind with those useless ethical questions. That you have abused of my trust and that you are destroying hls chances of accessing the throne I"

"II,..

"About beating you."

"And when 1 attacked you a bit before that?" Elhan hesitated.

"About nothing."

"Or almost. That's why you managed to partially block my blow."

"I don't ... ')

"You had managed to distance yourself from the battle. You were lucid and master of yourself. So you were able to see my blew coming and parry it."

"Or almost. But what does that have to do with the place of the elves in Creation?"

n If you manage t-o find that calm outside of cornbat, you could be lucid at any occasion and when faced with any question."

Elhan Looked at Akarls with wonder. He got up again, his helmetunder his arm.

"I'm ready]"

"No, we have fought enough for today." Akarfs turned around and moved away whiLe thinking. Then heturned again to face the prince. "Sit down on the floor and concentrate on finding the same feeling of lucidity that you felt during OO! tight."

"Excuse me?" "Do as I say,"

Matching his words with his actions, Akaris sat down on the grolJ'nd and closed his eyes. He was also trying to find the LUCidity of cernbat, Faced wrth his master's sllence, Elhan did the same.

PlJUTICAL STn.KES

The two elves stood faCing each other with Less than a metre between them,

"I'm making Elhan the best of alL princes for the Da'ikinees."

"Oh, you think so? Well, you're wrong, Akarls, ALL they talk about In my court is your absurd training sessions and your esoteric discussion. They make fun of the prince's questions and they treat him like <i fool. Or worse, like a pariah.'

"This doesn't make aoy sense."

"That's not for you to judge!" Another lighting-bolt tore through the sky. Sees still had enough strength left to remind Akaris who was king of the Daj·klnees. "Nature is our gUide. The gods are our gUides. Not the morals and philosophy of mortals that are in their image: fraglle, inconsistent, and empty of all meaning. They break the bond that binds a Da',kinee to his true nature, the bond that you are trying to destroy in myson."

"I don't wish to destroy "nything. If this bond exists, then I'm simply trying to make the prince aware of it and be able to look at It with lucidity,"

"You're nothing but a madman. You're not a weapon master, let alone a wise man. You're lust a madman who has been led astrey by the king of Dawn's quest and the Drunes' evil magic."

"That's not true. The reds show the omlidity of my teachiRg". The prince is changing; he's becoming a true warrior."

"No! He's becoming mad, like you!"

"What I'm teaching the prince isn't founded on a bunch of KeLt beliefs and superstitions. It's founded on a genuine experience, a sincere, efficient and daily practice."

"Your words have no meClning:"

"Yet he, the young prince, understands."

"No, it's over. I'm the king and I'm sending you far away from <him,"

With a simple glance Ssos dismissed Akaris and return-ed to the window, yet the weapon master didn't move.

"I won't leave." "What?"

Propelled by what was left of his natural strength, Sees rushed towards Akaris.

"I won't Leave," repeated Elhsn's teacher.

"You don't have a choice, Akaris, I'm the king of

this land."

"I'm its best warrior."

"You're nothing but a braggart!" "And you, an old man."

The weapon master stood faCing his king. H is last words had sounded like a warning.

Seos was· betrayed by his instinct; fear took hold of him and made him move back.

"You wouldn't dare .. .'

The king had moved back without realLy being zware of it, no doubt realising where this conflict could lead him. Weakened, he neariy tripped, yet

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHt\M

5 1

Akaris caught him with surprising kindness.

"'I would dare anything. I have spent much time among the people of Kel. I know that their arrival on Aarklash wiLL plunge the continent into a conflict from which no people shall come unharmed."

"I know very well how to gUide my subjects]"

The wind outside was so strong that it pushed the window open. The king had stood up straight, yet Akaris was well aware of his weakness.

"Times have changed, your Majesty. Soon the Da'ikinees will have the responsibility of guiding the nations of Aarklash into battle. We are wise and

we know how to observe the cycles of life, yet our traditions prevent us from being lucid." Sees's gaze became faded and thoughtful. Akaris carried on with a softer voice. "Your life and your reign are coming to an end. Don't prevent me from preparing ELhan for what awaits him."

LLlST LESSEln

Akaris was tired. All day Long he had been fighting in the streets of Laureken in the name of his prince. That evening he felt the weight for the first time of Serrelis be(lring down on his shoulders. Yet he knew that the problem could no longer wait.

When he entered Ethan's sanctuary, his advisors stopped speaking right away. Despite Sees's death, Akens's reputation still made the others look at him with distrust.

King Elhan dismissed his suite with a weary gestllTe.

Then he sat down at the war-steff's table and pushed the maps away with a deep Sigh.

"What is it, Akarls?"

"Your Majesty, it is rather I who should be asking

you that question."

"Well then, ask it." "What is it, my king?"

"Call me Elhan ... and I don't know what you're alluding to."

"I was at the front all day Long, but I mClnaged to remain lucid throughout the battle, even the war."

"I'm heppyto see that my master follows the teachings that he lavishes on me. Unfortunately, tonight I don't share your wisdom."

"Let's just say that 1 don't understand the logic of your strategy, your Majesty."

"That sometimes happens in the heart of the battle. Maybe you weren't as lucid as you would have hoped. And I hove already told you notto call me Like that."

"Yet that is what you are: the king of the Darkl-

nees."

"Not as long CiS I haven't defeated my brother." "I don't think you wilL win Serrelis."

"I beg your pardon?"

Elhan had raised his head. Akens held back a smile of satisfaction: he had putled his student from his lethargy. Everything wasn't lost.

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF

"There's no use in unshe~thjng one's sword if one isn't ready to kill."

"I know, but I don't see what that has to do with Serrelis."

"You don't want to win this War. You don't even want to wage It."

"It's true that I didn't wish for it. Diplomacy should have been able to resolve this conflict IF some hadn't Insisted on treating me as a madman."

"I don't seem to have been clear enough: you don't want to accede the throne."

"And you hod this revelation while you were busy slaughtering our brothers?"

"Yes. Your strategy isn't one of a commander who wishes to win the war."

"I thought that I shOUldn't desire anything, that I should simply act."

"Yes, but not like a puppet. If yow can 't act with emotion, then you must act with sincerity."

Elhan didn't answer, The silence lasted more than a minute, but neither of the two elves moved by an inch.

"I don't want to win tills war. I don't want to be king."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to cause the death of my brothers or

even lead their lives."

"Your people needs you."

"No. That's not what you have tought me." "So then what have you learned?"

"That 1 must remain lucid and honest with myself.

Not that I had to serve my people."

"I taught you this knowing that you were the heir to the throne."

"You have shown me how to take the right decision, not the one that's expected of me."

"Very well. In that case, what do you want? Ever slnce lIve known you, you have just refused and proclaimed the things that you didn't want."

"Yes, for my life is made of obligations. For years no one ever worrlad about what I wanted. Not even you."

Those words struck Akaris as hard as the most powerful blows of a quarterstaff.

"Now I am worrying about it. What is your desire?" "Do you remember our very lirst training session?

That luddity that I FeLt at the moment you attacked me?"

"Of course, we haven't stopped seeking it For the past few yea rs. "

"I want to lind that lUCidity again, that calm in my mind, that soft warmth in my heart. That's all that is important to me, The border conflicts. the relations with the Fairies and the Leadership of the k1ngdom are all subjects that are as meaningless to me as my preoccupatlons are to Silmes."

"I don't know whatto say, your Majesty. I only Wished to make you the best of all kings for the Da'ikinees." Akar1s also sat down. He Let his weariness show on

$t~ ___

THE EXILES

The stranger had been waiting by the gates of Laureken for a long time. Lahn was just barely starting to let his rays fall upon Aarklash, yet the Do'''kinee had already had a long day. He hadn't slept all night.

He couldn't afford to faiL Soon the prince would attempt to leave the capital of Quithayran. After that it would too late to follow him. Apart from this terrifying thought, the stranger worried about all the ngu res that were gathering in the neighbouring streets. The rumour had visibly already spread in the elven city: Elhan had abdicated in Silmae's favour. He was evidently not the only one waiting for the prince. Why? Now his death would bring nothing more to his assassin than the shame of a whole people. Not sure about what was going on, the stranger held his wa lking staff tightly and readjusted the hood of his cloak to fully hide his face.

At the same time another figure moved towards the gates. Immediately recognising Elhan's stride, the stranger was the first to react. Yet he didn't dare go to meet the prince and simply got ready to follow him into the deepest parts of Quithayran.

The Do·ikinees gathered at the gates didn't have the same intentions. Many of them were walking towa rd the prince, who instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. Those rushing toward him were the palace servants and the kin of the royal family. The stranger rema ined hidden in the shadows, ready to intervene. The prince had visibly also recognised those coming toward him.

"What do you want from me?"

"We have heard the news, your Highness."

"Don't call me thus, especially if you have heard the news."

"So it's true? You have been vanqulshed?"

"If that were the case, then I wouldn't be here but sitting in a cell. I have decided to leave."

The stranger noticed that all of the elves who were in the square were listening to the conversation. On hearing those last words, many of them shook their heads in disbelief. The prince's questioner remained speechless. A different, younger one then spoke.

"I want to go with you, my prince!"

"I am no longer your prince ... and I'm leaving

alone."

"But I can't stand staying over here!" "Why not?"

"I have pledged allegiance to you and I have fought for you. It's been so manyyears that I've been looking forward to your accession to the throne that I wouldn't be able to bear seeing someone else do s.O!H

"Me, I can bear it. So, if you really pledged allegiance to me, then so will you. And you won't come with me. lm going far away [rom here, far

5

.t~ ~

TH E CH RON ICLES or Til E WORLD OF

from Laureken and our forest. You wouldn't be able to SUrvive there." The young elf was demoralised. Elhan's voice was soft, yet his words remained stern. "My ""ile may cost me my life. That's a risk that I cannot make any other elf take."

On hearing those words a woman stepped forward.

"Me, I want to take It."

The weight of his decision and of the last night bore heavily on Elhan. His patience had already worn thin. He looked at the gatherin[ before him and, to his regret, raised his voice so that all could hear him.

"I am no longer your prince. You owe obedience to King Silmae. I'm leaving to a place far away from Qulthayran to lind something that is only of importance in my eyes. Go back to your lives and forget about mel"

The elf who had caused this dedaration spoke again.

"I can forget you, but not the questions that haunt my nights."

The stranger and Elhan stiffened. The prince went to the elf who had said these words.

"Which questions?'

"Why have the humans come to Aerklash? What ere they doing in the plains of Avagddu? Their presence scares me. I have the impression that our world is changing. I have been told that yeu ask yourself the same questions. And that's why you aren't continuing Serrells."

Elhan remained petrilied. The stranger could see doubt in his face. Flnally, the elf formerly known as prince placed his hand on the woman's shoulder.

"What is your name?" "Shaelynn.'

"Shaelynn, lire you willing to become" sY'lwiill?" "if that Is the price to pay to find the a nswers ....

yes.

"Then you can come with me."

Shaelynn smiled like a child. Encouraged by this success, other elves approached the prince. Among them the stranger recognised Erysio, a former advisor.

"Your Majesty, we also want to find answers." Elhan turned around and looked at them with kindness.

"No, myoid friend, you think that I'm leaving to organise a rebellion, but this is not 50. Your place is over here with my brother."

"I just hope that your brother thin ks the same.

We have always given you our support and he surely still thlnks of us as enemies, despite your departure. Stayirlg here is too dangerous for us."

"No more than coming with me. At least you have good reasons to stay, whereas you don't have any to come w1th me."

Other Da·'kinees came forward.

"We want to follow you, prince, we. have alWllys p refe rred you to yo u r broth e rI "

3

RACK HAM

"You prefer me even though you don't know me.

My brother wlll be a much better ruler. Stay h.ere and be good Daikinees."

An old and lone elf took .. step toward Elhan.

"I'm going with you. I have never been a good Da"lkinee and I won't be one a.fteryou're gone either. I prefer being a SYlHuiiJI."

Again Elhan hesitated.

"Then you can come with me."

After the old elf, many others came forward and spoke. And Ethan tested each one's reasons and convictions. He only allowed the pariahs like him to come along and rejected all political a[itators and mindless worshipers.

At the end, all of the elves who had gathered there had submitted themselves to the ~ynUJiill prince's sagacity. All except the stranger. Hidden in the shadows, he realised that the prince's departure was imminent. He could no longer content himself with simply following him. He had to [oln this brotherhood, now or never.

The stranger thought for a moment and then came

forward.

"Elhan. I also wish to follow you." The exile turned to face the stranger. "Why, old elf?"

Akaris pushed back the hood that was hiding his face.

H Because I was already an exile before entering your service, Elhan."

TDWYDE

The wind was blowing so hard in the valley that the exiles couldn't even hear each other. They were advancing on a narrow ledge along a rocky cltff and continuously had to struggle (lga inst the gusts that threatened to push them into the void.

Elhan was leading the troop and Akaris was at Its tail. Neither of the two was paying attention to the spectacle of nature around them: the valley was carpetad by a majestic forest and surrounded by peaks that were so Impressive that no one could have doubted that they were created by the gods.

Akaris only thought of the stone beneath his feet and against his hands, and of the fear of falling. Yet he was surprised by the nature of this fear. As the weeks of exile went by, the idea of losing his life was replaced by a strange feeling. Now he worried more about the other exiles than about himself.

The fact that the elf in front of him stopped advancing brou[ht Akaris back to reality. He lifted his head and saw Elhan at the other end of the Indian file, try· ing to speak to him. Yet the noise of the wind was drowning out all sounds. So Ethan showed Akaris a rope and pointed to the exile right behind him. Akarls then understood what Elhan had in mind.

At that moment a strong gust hit the exiles and caused Shaelynn to lose her be lance and fall. The

••

DaYkinee, remained petrified, watching their cornpanlon who seemed to be floating In the air, her face frozen with fear,

Elhen's and Akens's gazes met lust when Shaelynn was carried off. Without thinking, Akaris held out his hand end, as if by reflex, Elhan threw him an end of the rope. While catching it, Akaris iumped off the Ledge into the void.

Dumbstruck, the exiles scrambled to try to help Ethan while the weapon master flew like an arrow towards Shaelynn. The prince hoped that Akaris's greater weight would allow him to catch up with the young woman in mid·flight.

As For Akens, he wasn't thinking about anything, He felt the rough texture of the rope in his left hand and the tension of his muscles in his right arm held out into the emptiness. The icy wind was whipping his cheeks and shaking the branches of the trees far below. A river twisted through the forest and ended its course in a loud waterfall. Birds were ftying and singing everywhere. A few rocks that had been torn from the mountain by Shaelvnn's faiL were bouncing along the cliff as they feLL. The young woman was screaming, but Akaris couldn t hear her. He simply noticed that the distance between them was quickly becoming smaller.

The weapon master felt a lighttouch when his fingers reached those of Shaelynn, whose hands were still delicate despite their exile. He energetically grabbed the hand she was holding out to him, yet without squeezing it too hard. At that moment the rope became taut and put an end to the fall of the two exiles ..

Up on the Ledge, Elhan was bracing himself as well as he could, the rope wrapped around his waist. Akaris and Shaelynn had risked their lives to follow him; he wouldn't let them die. Yet the two exiles were heavy.

Further below, Akaris was supporting all their weight with one arm. He became aware of the pain that was tearing his muscles and he concentrated to block it from his mind.

SuddenLy he felt Shaelynn's hand slipping from his grasp. W,th a glance the weapon master understood what the young Da·ikinee was tryingto do and quickly tightened his grip, refusing to let her go.

On the ledge the exiles were helping Elhan pull up their two companions. Slowly Akarls and ShaeLynn were getting nearer to the troop, Akaris pLaced his feet on the face of the cUff and made Shaelynn do the same. This made it easier for them to be pulled up, and within a surprisingly short time they were back up on the ledge with their companions.

Elhan was gLad to see his old master back in safety.

Yet he noticed something new in his eyes. Without saying a word, Akarls took the rope and Signalled all his companions to tie it around their waist. Never again would an exile fall alone.

BREITHERHEITJD

It was early and a soft mist was still bathing the undul<ltingprairies oFthe Land of exile. From the path he was taking, Akaris could see the [ust, equenlmous brotherhood and the surrounding fields. On seeing these he tightened hls arm around the parchments he was carrying and sped up his pace.

Elhan was sitting with his legs crossed at the top of the hill. His chest bare and a simple loincloth tied around his waist, he WQS medihting and Fas,ing the pleasure of the morning freshness. He sensed his master approaching, yet preferred to ignore him and kept his eyes shut. Akaris was fazed by the silence yet pretended llke nothing was wrong.

"Your meditation is fer from perfect, Elhen." "H0W do you kn0w?"

"I have already told you that calm in action lsbetterthen

calm in inactiOn. And you llkethis region too much."

Ethan opened his eyes.

"As much as you do, I believe."

I!lncleed, it is promising but won't give anything if we don't make an effort."

"As far as 1 know, you are already making One. j imagine that those parchments <Ire new plans for trrigation and construction."

"Yes, I want to get the most out of this crucible." "This land provides enough fGod for all sf us." "Today, yes. But tomorrow it wiU have to feed our

children and those who jdin us."

"Who would loin us? Who are you talking about?

My future subjects? These pariahs who will form a nation of exiles?"

The word "nation" Wa s soid with a hlnt of disgust In his voice.

"Why not?" Elhan remained silent. "Why don't you want to talk about it? I have noticed that the vision that I told you about when we arrived here doesn't please you. You have never approached the SUbject ever since that day."

"I don't want to come into conflict with you." "Neither do I."

"So why do you insist on talking to me about this natlon of exiles? You know very well that 1 don't want to be anybody's kingl"

"The Truth must be spread." "Why?"

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"Others are lOOking for the same answers as you, They need you to be able to find them."

"Seeking the Truth is il personal quest,"

Elhan's stubbornness had led Akens into a dead end. He thought for a mornent and then continued.

"Aarklash will soon be torn aport by a terrifying choice. The people around us will need our [uc:idity."

Elhan plunged his gaze into that of his master.

"Is it during your elevation that you realised this?" ItYes.,1l

"No, youlre Lying."

"I would never do such a thing," "You have already done it." Elhan got up.

"Be dearer."

"You're a warrtor, Akerls, not <l speaker. When we settled over here your speech was much too well put to have been spontaneous. I have asked myself for how long thls idea of a nation has been groWing 1n your mind."

"And?"

"And I made use of lucidlty.' "Very well."

"You hove known about it ever since we went into exile. That's why you came with me." Akaris didn't knew what to soy. "Your silence rings like an avowal."

The weapon master managed to pull himself together.

"Why did you wait until this morning to talk about tht,)"

"That's not important. Would my answer make you give me a new lesson? A new lntrospectlon of my pariah mind? I'm not sure I still want to listen to your teachings. Or rather, to your lies."

"1 have never claimed to be tellfng you the truth; 1 simply said that 1 would be your guide."

Elhan was dumbstruck. Tears began welling up In

his eyes, but he managed to hold them back.

"You could at least pretend to be sorry." "Everything I do, 1 do it for your OWn good,"

"Who are you lying to when you say that? To me or to yeurself?" Akarts refrained from answering and let Elban continue. "You didn't do anythi[1gfQr my good, but for your ~Qod, for your dream of an enlightened nation." Visibly emotional, the exiled pnnce forced himself to reach an end. "You're a liar. 1 don't ever waotto see you <lgain."

Akaris wanted to defend himself, yet he knew his student all too well. The lucidity that he had taught him was now belng turned against him. He pLaced the parchments at Elhan's feet and calmly left. The Formerweapon master locked hlmse!fup in his apart· ment oFthe brotherhood. Very soon a tumour spread am0ngthe exlles: Akaris was wrltinga bookabout the Truth.

The msster and the student didn't see each other again for decades •. ,

THE EnD?

AkilriS awoke with a start. He dumsilylit a co,ndle and its light fiUed his room. A~am someone knocked at hts door.

"Corne ln."

Elhan opened the door but didn't enter. Akaris looked at him without saying a word. Then the exile decided to come in. He .grabbed a stool and sat at the bedside of his old master,

"I have been lold thet you are very sick." "Indeed."

"You are Immortal like rrre, You can't be dylng," "I can have decldad to be so."

"Why?H

"I have nothing: Left te so over here." Elha n st;;lr.ed at his rnaste r,

"I heard that you are writing a book," "I have finished."

Akens waved his arm toward a tome tying on his desk. Ethan got up bo take <I look at the work. On Its cover he co u ld rea d Tea ell i ngs by PIka ri s, Elha n opened the book and read itS last pages.

"It isn't finished." "Indeed."

"Then why die?"

"I can't write what follows." Elhan closed the book again.

"Is that why you h~d me come here?"

"No, I wanted to see you one last tlme." "New thst's a very shameful Wish, my master."

"I'm confident enough of my LUcidity to allow myself a few deviations."

Elhan turned to Akar!;. "Well, now you've seen me." Akarts sighed.

"Are you still. mad at me?" "You know the answer."

"Now that's <I very shameful rsnccur, my student." "It 's not rancour, My past experience has shown

me that I can't trust you, I no longer wish to risk being deceived."

"Yet you came."

Elhan IOOK'ed a~y. He clenched hls fist and pressed

it on the cover ofthe book.

"I have a question to ask you.~ "I'm listening."

"Wl"13t did you see among the Kelts of the Drune don?"

"Why this question?"

"The people of Kel has divided ag<lin. Some among them h<lve had a revelation. They say that a unique god will soon come to Aarklash to destroy us and build a new world. And though these mortals claim to serve the PrinCipLe of Clarity, I'm not convinced that they fight for the ideals of light." Pain COUld be read on Akaris's face. "You knew that this would happen, didn't you? Whot did yous-ee.amongthe Drunas?"

"I saw Darkness."

," 15 Darkness Evil?"

"Not any more than Light is Good." "What do these two things represent?"

"It's to answer this question that Aarklesh will need the exiles."

Ethan's eyes were wet. He sat down again at his master's bedside.

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"Why didn't you begin with this the day that you put

a quarterstaff in my hands?"

"Would you have listened to me then)" "Yes-I"

"I wasn't sure about that. And I didn't know where I was heading myself. I was only sure that the Da·ikinees had a role to play In the coming conflict. I wanted to prepa re you Fo r th at."

"By causing my exile?"

"No, the announcement of your abdication W(lS a true defeat. I thought that everything had been lost."

"Why did you follow me)"

"I had given it much thought and I reeltsed that I had to go all the way. Ifthe Da"i'kinees didn't wantto listen to me, then maybe the exiles would. I don't regret my decision."

"You ha,ve rnanlpulated me .. "

hi was hoping that by causing your elevation, would rally you to my cause. I was caug'ht at my own g~me."

"What do you mean?"

"It's you who made me reach the Truth."

Dumbfounded, Elhan preferred not to interrupt his mentor. "All tbis time I: believed that I W~5 the master, whereas in reality I was the student. Teaching you LUcidity forced me to search for it myself."

"You hove elevated yourself, not I." "You. Will elevate yourself very soon."

Akens's gaze directed Ethan's a,ttention to the tome. He lacked at it for a moment and then turned bac~ to his master.

"Your decision Is irrevocable?"

"There is nothing left for me to do over here." Elhan struggled against the sadness that was ll11ing

him.

"You were right. Darkness and l1ghlare dashing on Aarklash. The peoples are tearing eech other aport."

"I would rather have been wrong."

"I hove at least one good piece of news to give you.

You were also rightabo.utWyde: the brotherhood has never stopped welcoming new arrivals of Da·ikinees. Wh I'. n odde d to the birth s, th e se arrivals he VI'. caus ed the emergence of other brotherhoods. Soon the exiles wilL form ... a nation."

,j Have you decided to become its head?"

"No, I will not be their king, I have spoken with Shaelynn, We will form a new kind of government. A government in which the obstinacy of a Single individual cannot cause the separation of all. A government in which everyone has his word to say. I will only be their gUide."

"is that different from being their king? ,>

"I will show them the way, but I wilL not do their journey in their place."

On hearing these words, Akarls smiled. Elhen returned his smile. Then, satisfied, the old rnester Let himself die.

'T he following texts <Ire extracts from Travel Journals, Repll bIle of Laneaer by professor Anathodle of the Royal University of Kallienne.

THE TWEI FUnDh.mEn+M PRInCIPLES BF nEIESIS

Noesis is the quest for the Truth. For those who go on this quest, it is not so much 11 question of sorting out the truth from what is false as it is one of understanding the universe, its ins and Its outs, as well as the place of every indiliidual in this whoLe.

Noesis is based on two great principles that I will attempt to explain to you further on; "Everything is one n and "Everything is illusion."

It's important to understand that even thoqgh all of them don'l have as heightened a consciousness as the equenimes (the faFthful Who have decided to devote their lives to the penetration of the teachings of Noesis) or the Noesians (the jndlviduals who have grasped the essence of NoeSiS), these two fun

THE CHRONfCLES OFTHE WORLD OF

THE TEliCHlnGS ElF nTIESIS

Emotions are analysed in the same spectrum.

Once again, we also know that there are days when we are more or tess irritable and others when our well-being seems to be unshakeable. If, for us, this incertitude and this inconsistency are the things that make life beautiful, forthe Cynwalls they are a gaping wound, They are the mark of their lmperfeclion and of their vulnerability. Let us not be mistaken, the Cynwa lis do not say "one must not have any emotions," but they rather say "emotions are variable'. they make us weaker and alter our judgement, so we' must not become their slaves."

From this prlnclple comes the fact that the Cynwalls never ludge people on the first lrnpression that they have of them; they aLways try to understand each other's motivations and think for a long time before acting. I n short, they step back to examine things. I may be repeating myself, but for them lucidity is the principal of qualities. It is this principle that has pushed them to develop meditation techniques that push back the body's llrnlts.

And fj,naLly, It is also due to this that they rarely show their emotions. Not onLy because giving in to emotions prevents them from stepping back far enough to be able to take the right decisions, but also because showing one'; emotions, espectally when faced with a stranger, make. them vulnerable and gives a fa lsa image of oneself Please note, nevertheless, that they rarely hold it agoinst strangers when they show their feelings, even though they do like it when strangers adapt to their culture. Many doers were opened to me when I learned to wlpe all, signs of curiosity from my face.

Noesis is an integral part of CynwaU culture and is even its origin. All Cynw1ills don't seek to become Noeslans, Yet they all share a certain vision and the quest for Noesis, be It motivated or not and subconscious or not. They all learn certain aspects of it, beginning with the base, called the [ounciJt iOl1 (o:shandil). Then comes the girder- (slla liO, th .. apprenticeship of the shenras and of meditation. Those who decide to devote their lives to the quest for Noesis become equanlrnes and must succeed their edification (shallwe), and then their elevation (sharI!YTlwii). Those who have reached thts last stage are called Noesians.

There are Nceslans who have never been equanlrnes, yet I wilL get back to these speclhc cases later on.

FHUnDl-.. TIEInl ASHANDIL

Strangers who visit l.anever are often surprised by the behaviour of Cynwiill children. I, myself, was troubled by the absence of crying, of shouts and of laughter. When my guide explained that even for a child it was incorrect to show lntense emotions, I was shocked. How could one prohibit children from expressing their joys and their pains? What dreams could they have in il society where laughter, though not forbidden, is frowned upon?

It took me some time to understand, but now I know. The chlldren don't suffer from any want, for they know the foundetion of Noesis, meaning the world view that is bound to it. It isn:t taught to them since it is an integrill part of CynwalL culture and is assimilated unconsciously, As a conseguence it is OIS natural for the youngsters not to cry as it is to walk or to talk.

Amongthe teachings grouped toget'her by foundstlon (these are not immutable; there are no books or methods, arid to discover them the stranger must immerse himself fully in Cynwilll culture) there are:

• The mastery of emotions.

• The interdependence of individuals and ofthings.

• LUCidity is the prime quality. It consists m~inly of stepping back, of thinking "coolheadedly' (and thus while sep<l:rating oneself from one's emotions) and ofthtnklngof tbe consequences.

• The notion of censequence. Every action causes 3 reaction, which isn't necessarily Immediate or totally vlslble, but which exists. The youngest ones leern to carefully weigh their choices and to assume them, thus forging their determination and their strength of character.

• Death is only a break. Indeed, the word "death" doesn't exist In the Cynw~ll l<lnguage. They use the term iIJlOi'llis, which means the falling of the

••

leaves from the trees and can be transleted as "rupture."

Accortllng to their beliefs, when they die, the mind fuses with Noesis and influences the evolution of the Universe. The closer their existence was to light, the stronger the influence. The closer the lndtvtdual was to Noesis, the more hls influence is conscious. Thus, and this is one of the many signs of the Cynwalls' openness, even the peoples who don't follow the paths of Noesis participate in its perpetuity. And there is 1l misinterpretation by strangers of Akens's writings concerning the question of the rupture. Some have spread e "rurnour" (let's lust call it so) aboutthe supposed lmmcrtallty of certain Noesians. This is not true. Or let's rather say that this is not exactly true. For the Cynwalls, the concept of death is incomprehensible because no one ever really dies. There Is simply a rupture in life. The Noesians "simply" keep a higher level of consciousness.

GIRDER/SHArAl

The girder is the most visible part of Noesis. It consists of the learning of the Cynwall rnertiel art, called shenras, end rnedttation techniques. This is done in the temples and monasteries 1lmong equanlrnous monks or Noaslans,

Shenras was developed by the first equanlrnes.

More then just a martial technique, it allows one to reach physical and mental harmony, especially through the syrnblosis of body and mind. As you may know, the girder is not reserved to CynwelL elves. AIL those who ask a monastery to be accepted can reach it. However, they must pass a series of trials deSigned to test their faith and their determination to follow the path of light. Here again we see the Cynwiills' openne~s. KnOWing the foundation is not" prerequisite for being accepted to learn the girder. Yet suecessfully finishing it Is another problem ...

The temples that teach the shatai' are directed by Noesiens, Most of them are located In the ctties of Lanever and can accept several thousand students who sometimes train together in order to perfect their awareness that "everything is one," These temples also hove places for meditation reserved to equanlmes and Cynwalls who have finished their sharai'.

There are other, more dosed off temples. The monastery of Agentyll, which is located in the foothills of l.eroq, gives privilege to meditation and is an almost obligatory place of passage for those who wish to become dragon-knights. Only the best students from the other temples are accepted. This is also true for the monastery of Lahn in the Behemoth Mountains. Known to welcome travellers and for being one of the most well SUited for shill1we (see below), it also shelters students who are eble to succeed their shiltill and are destined to become equanirnes, yet who wish to perfect their shenras.

The training lasts between six and 12 years depending on the Individual and on the temple. At the end the candtdates undergo new trials that, if they are passed, allow them to become true Cynwalls, Citizens of l.anever, and thus to sit in an ilsnendll. These

Shenras was developped by the first equanirnes.

More [han just a martial technique, it allow one to reach physical and mental

harmony) especially through the symbiosys of body and mind.

trials are particularly difficult for a stranger, For they require a good understanding of Noesis and espeCially a total adherence to it- Most of those who attempt to finish their ;hatBi' often do so sotely to learn martial techniques. They are therefore far from understanding Noesis and its precepts, thus being prevented from learning the most complex techniques of 5hel'lras.

ED I FICilTII1 n/SH A N\VE

Edification is the fi rst step that Is "reserved" to those who have devoted thelr existence to the search for Noesis. Though it Is open to all those who have passed their snatai', Sllalll!)~ nevertheless requires more trials to be passed. According to the Cynwalls these are extremely Simple. They require the candidate to have perfectly assimilated the foundation and the girder. It's a fact that, whlle failure 1s rare among Cynwilll elves, the strangers (who really are no longer strangers since they passed their sha rar) have always rCl,led! This proves that Cynw~ll culture is nard to grasp, even for those who make a true effert,

Edification generally takes about IS years. It is a period of learning and introspection destined For the development of personal techniques. lndeed, even though he is gUided by a Noesian, <In equsnlrne must find Noesis on his own. After a year or two spent in 11 monastery reserved to equentrnes and located in Lanever, the monks 11 re free to choose their path. Most of them return to 11 temple where they spend

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5 8

their time meditating and teaching sharar. Some choose to become dragon-kntghts to benefit from the wisdom of the huge reptiles . (This does not mean that only equanimes can become dragon-krl1ghts, but that it is easierfor thern: the dragons seem to get along "easily" with those seeking Noesrs.) Others go to the monasteries of the Behemoth to perfect their mastery of the body before putting their will and their courage to test at Kalber. One should note that 11 great majority of them spend at least a year in one of the monasteries in our kingdom (there Is one at lcquor and another at laverne) in order to open themselves to other cultures. And fi nally, some are chosen by the Noeslan> to become their disciples. I haven't managed to pierce the secrets thatgulde this choice, Are the "chosen ones" the most promislng among them? To me thisseems contradictory to the principle of ~lJiltlwe. Yet they sit in the alhilllwii. The Cynw1ills stilL have secrets, but j hope to uncover them one day.

All along his shan Wi!, an equantme must thmk about the Teachjngs or Aka rts and fmlsh them. Indeed, Akarts (by whom the path of N0esis was born) never finished his teachings. Noesrans have avowed to me. without actually spelling it out, as usual, that Akarts had neverwanted to finlshthem, Shlll"!!YI,we, meaning elevation, the full understanding of Noesis, cannot be explained using words. Thus I the equanlrnas are to complete the text according to their own Vision of Noesis, and it's only onc€ this work has been done thet thev can reach the last step: elevation,

Thus, elevation is the "lest step" on the path of Noesi!<. My quotatlon mark> aren't there for purely rh eto Ii C<ll reasons. I t se e rns obvious to me th~ t f<'l r "the Noeslans themselves their quest only ends with rupture. Elevstlon can be very short as it can be extcemely long, ending only once the equanlme becomes a NoesTan.

After having Finished his version ofthe TeachiHg, of AI~ari$ and having given it to: a Noestan who recognises It to be "true," the Cynwiill is completely left to himself. The temple and monastery gate:s are then dosed to him and he must never ask advice of a Noesian or of other equanlrnes. (To the questlon "What prevents him from doing so? " I simply answer "Noesis.")

For some of them (who ere extremely rare, it seems) elevation only lasts for" short moment, for they halle become Noesians as soon as tHey finished their verslon of the Teachings of Ahris. They just have to become aware of it.

For others it can last up to their rupture. These often end up sinking into a state of languor. I have met several of them during my vlstts to Kai"ber. Their gil2e is dark and their heart is frozen. Their ferocity and determination are unequalled ... They ar-e thousands of leagues ~way from what one expects a Noesian to' be like. Do tney hope to find revelation at the heart of battle where the body and the mind join to only make one? Or is it rupture that they are seeking? I don't have theanswers, yet the question that obsesses me the most is how can the Noesians Let equarumes who are so dose to Noesis degenerate in such a Wily? This is one of the darkest parts, of Cynw~U culture.

nIJES[~

Noe,ia is the fi nel. state for those who seek Noesis. Only those whQ have elevated themselves can claim the title of N oeslan. Respected by the whale CynwaLl people end also by the people. of Light, the Noesians nevertheless only have a consultative role In the Republic. Yet one must admit that their Opinion is never taken lightLy. Thus, it's the aHiilnwii «l .councll formed by the Noesians, dragons and equanlrnes) that pushed the CynwiiHs to go to war against Acher,on.

The Noesi~ns also take Care of gu iding the equanlrnes, of directing the rncnestertes and of vartous research projects, of which the least secret is in the field of the language of NGesfs. Their goal ls to find, and not to create (the Noesian s are very clear 0[1 th is point), a "perfect" La ngu<lge whose words express" true meaning. This would notably -allow the last teachings of Noesis to be pu t down on paper and be revealed to all.

I will provide details on this research In a different vo lume of my [ournals written in collaboration with professor Sandrornar. Indeed, some concepts by far overreach thee limits of my expertise end require the help of a linguist for them to be explained.

THE Pl1THS IIF THEIITHERS

UnLike what the previous texts may lead to believe, the eguaninies are not the only ones to become Noesians and they are not the only ones seeking Noesis. In this case, why is the teaching of sharrtl!i: done by eqoanlrnes? This is essentially due to the fact that they perfectly master the bases of shenras and med itatio n te c hn lq u es, but a lso to the m enta lity of the' equenlrnes who, having devoted their lives to Noesis, often have a more objective view of Sh1it6i·. Indeed, their path forces them to constantly 'lues' tion themselves through introspective meditation. Because of this they become more easily aware of what ,hatai' has brought them and therefore transmit its teachings more ea,sily.

Yet certain Cynwiills (especially hellasts) seem to be worried about the situation. Because the eGuanlrnes are the only ones to totally and "officially" follow the path of Noesis, their teachings tend to be seen more and more often as being dogmatic by strangers as well as young Cynwiills. Yet, by essence, Noesis cannot be dogmatiC, and due to their diversity the equanlrnes cannot speak wlth a 'Single voice (remember that each one rnust fmd his own path).

I will now an<lly:'e the other great paths of Noesis.

For t b e sa ke of s im p II frcatl ani h ave as sad a ted them with different professlcns. Thank you for not generalising my remarks. Though the one I call the "path of the warrior" is essentially followed by fighters (ssadars, selsyms, varsyms), other Cynwiitls share these points of view, just as other warriors have differing points of view and follow other 'paths.

THE fI.IlTH ElF THE WllRR1ER

The equanimes all seek Noesis through the symbiosis between body and mind. Their techniques therefore combine rnedltatlon and ~hel1ra.l in equal proportions. This isn't the case for "warrior's." Here Is (In example to show the difference. For equarumes It's the herrnony between body and mind which allows emotions to be hidden. These monks don't only control themselves through a, rnentel effort. Warriors, on the other hand, only use their mind to erase their emotions. The separatron between body and mind is very marked for them. One could ~ay thai the equaolmes ere closer to the fi,rst principle (every. thing is one) and that the warriors are turned more toward the second one (everything is llluston).

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59

~,.

This is explained 1n a simple way. The warriors' job is to fight. Their body is their main tool, the shield between their mind and the enemy. Their mind must therefore put itself in the body's service in order to be protected by it. I don't write "in service" just for the form. The CynwaUs who follow this path believe that there is interdependence between the body and the mind.

The warriors use few meditative techniques and prefer trances' that they can use In the middle of a battle, An esader has e x plslned to me that when he fighb he does n' t 5 ee til ro u gh his own eyes but rather projects his mind above the scene to get a better view of it. This technique allows him to erase fear, forget pain and get CI heightened awareness of the battle .. This explains why Cynwiill warrlors (ire among the rare fighter> (with ours) who don't fe(l' reveallng a: weak point in their defence to force their opponents to also expose their" doing so at the risk of being dealt a fatal blow.

In addition to these trances, the warriors have had to develop many combat technique, adapted to sharp weapons and to armour. Based on sh'en ras, these techniques are nevertheless very different from those used by-the equanirnes.

One can note that some equanlrnous warriors find their path by cornbini ng these techniques with those specific to equanirnes. Once aga']n, every Cynwiill is free to folfil himself as he wishes.

THE JI.8.TH ElF THE macicten

This path is followed by hellastsl synchrorurnes and heliarrthic craftsmen. Though It is mainly based on magic and technological artefects bound to Ught, the path of the magician, like the others, has many facets.

Those who follow it are the most pragmatic of Cynwalls. For them the body is a medium between the mind and its surroundings. I ntelligence is what allows interaction between the two. The postulate of the path of magicians is 6S follows: even if everything ls illusion, all Cynwiills (and not only they) "g!ee on the fact that they have a physical body and a quality celled "intelligence." One must therefore use both these elements as well as the mind.

This path's followers are more inclined to the mastery of the body than that of the mind (in the introspective end rnedttatlve sense given [0 H: by the equanimes). They wilLingly use tools, rltuals .and artefacts. They seek Noesis in ~ more experimental then ernptrical manner, and In a wa,y they are the scientists of the Cynwall people', Their voice is growing stronger and stronger, for their qU<llitle:s have proven to be decisive at K,,"{ber.

THE PATH ElFTHE HunTER

The Cynwalts specialised in handling range weapons (such as azure hunters), and those whose profession Is to hunt, give privilege to the mastery of the mind. Indeed, snenras is not of much use to them. They have therefore developed trance techniques tho t allow them to enter the mind of their prey In order to predict Its movements and reactions. I was able to watch a training session of Cynwalls working on becoming azure hunters and 1 was marked by e speech held by their instructor: "You mustn't aim, you shouldn't feel the weapon in your hands. All that matters is the arrow. It is she that will strike the target. You must become this arrow if you wIsh to h it the target." No magic, therefore, but a strict application of the principles of Noesis: one must stand back and observe objectively From a distance; It's not the

CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF

Many strangers are taken aback by the violence lind cold-bloodedness that the Cynwalb; are capable of on the battlefield, seeing-in this a total contradlction to the meditative andopen aspect of Noesis.

It"~ true that Noesis is an integral part of Cynwall culture, yet Light is what holds this culture together. For a very longtime the Cynwalls lived isolated from the other peoples. They could feel the r<igeof the Rag'narok cornlng. .. Now that they have decided to intervene, nothing can make them turn back. Their fury Is level with the cancer of Darkness that's gnawIng at Aarklash, no more, no less.

THE DR.:lGrrnS' REILE In nrrESIS

mEDITl'..TIVE R.:lGE

aren't ready to tolerate lust anything. When looking for traces of D,iikinee beliefs in their culture, I have often sensed discomfort and even a certain annoyance in those I was speaking with (despite most of them being equsnimes). I have the impression that as long as they are in Light, the peoples deserve their respect no matter what their beliefs may be, but If they distance themselves from it and this distancing is caused by Lust for power, then they risk only being met with contempt. But that is [ost my Impression ...

nn GilD?

Even though I have never been able to verITY it, the dragons (mostly) seem to be adepts of Noesis and no session of the allian [(Ie (the council of Noesians) takes place without some of them being present. Going from there to clatming that Noesis is a phi. losophy that comes From the dragons themselves is surely slightly more than iust a step .... yet it is one that I will gladly taksl

As you have understood, the CynwiiUs don't worship any god. One can nevertheless affirm that they worsh i p No e sis a nd Light, yet as pri nclpl es and co n - cepts, Even though some speak of Noesis as if it were a living being, they don't attribute any mtraclss or

The Cynwalls' position in relation to "foreign" religions is complex. Ther,e is no doubt that they tolerate them and very few of them would use rhetoric to make believers look bad. Yet it seems that they

THE REPUBLIC ElF LilnEVER

1 KI1U\\i tHf.-t IHE. '-IITIl FUR f<lIP+/JR£ Inil:mnn BE {amine fUn mE. tHE IrISE mEn HF £fUN n,ltlfIll, tHE nllESliln5, mus+ CfJITIf'LEtf /<HI tUCHInGS fJF .L1KARJ.s, TIfF FIRS.t slTIflI1(; tHEIn r Dan'l cUlm .j n BE F'ffUa\1'lnC In tHEIR. H1B+StEPS tIIDill, YE+ T HJ\F -HIE f[£UnG tHat WI-hlt I'm It RHine, rlE1fE JS tHE EnD ITF.1 rITURnD, I nil StILL 1{[mEmBER +H£ lIIlnU1BWS 1M!' 30 YURr~CEI -HIM llll\.EIYEO:1n Inl'l+.:ltrBI1 Ff<ETll tHE Llm\ LHSJ+I ElF WYDE. L1rJD [ ilia sem FmGER tHE DAY ar m\ dURII M In tHE fJ.IlWUS CitY aF ShOES.

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The knowledge that I'm about t-o put down on p.ilper 15 not very Widespread, The Cyn'Walls are discreet and don't speak much about their customs. I have had the ch.nEe to live among them for the last three decades. Better y!!!t: I have embraced their nation. This will be hard to understand for many humans, but I am now a Cynwall. I have left the pro' tectlon of the Griffin, the emblem of Akkylannie, for that of the dragons. Maybe I will finally have the strength to give these pages to a messenger for him to dellver them to my famLly, to my children.

cvnwsu, FITWER

In Akkylannie and in A~ah8n the notables exercise power and ensure the prosperity of their lands while taking part in that of their nation. In Lanever the exercjse of power is In the.hands of all. Each city has a grand assembly fn which the citizens decide together which actions ere to be takeA' to ensure their prosperity.

THE PILLARS ElF THE REPUBLIC

Only CynwiHIs-clin loin this assembly, the asJlelldil.

However, the term 91lwiill doesn't l1ave the same meaning In Lanever as it does elsewhere. To strangers a Cynwall is an elf from Lanever. I n reality th is is not at all true,

Gnlythose who h!!lle proven that they have reached Noesis can sit in the ashendll, These are considered to be Cynwalls.

However, anyone, no matter his origins, can banefrt From the teachings of Noesis, as long as he sincerely desires It. Of cours-e, the fulfilment of the gifder Is easier for children raised in Cynwall culture. For strangers thls.is a lot harder. For me, after rnanv ~ears of apprenticeship, I succeeded in m(lklOg this step and becoming (I fulL-fledged citizen of the RepubliC of l.anever, One thing is for certain, however: onLy natives of Lanever have managed to .go beyo'ld the. step of the girder to become equan irnes,

When an elf reaches adulthood, he Is considered to have passed the girder. However, he must still undergo a ritual of in(luguration In the asJJendil as proof of his capacities. A council of equanlrnes gathers to evaluate the candidate, who must then prove that h" hils. 011 one hand, understood the teachings of Noesis, and on the other, fulLy grasped its essence. After a series of trrals that test the CynwiiU's control of his body (through a demonstration of slii>nra.), a last trtel tests his control of emotions. Thus, the candidate is questioned, put at fault, and his reactions a re eva luete d.

THE C vnwz.u CITY, THE HELiRT EIFPBWER

Th.e cities each have their own authority, which Is expressed through therr ",fl(ndil. For the Cynwiills this institution has an almost sacred character. I call still remember the first time EdrahiL, the equanlrne who Was my mentor for ell these years, mentioned it to me.

"You see, Mikrinas, we have often spoken of the imllge of the tree. And fora longtime you sought the solution to this riddle. Our society Is a tree and the iI~llendil ls its roots. This assembly feeds om society and prevents it from paralysis, It allows Us to gather, to ask questions, to express ourselves, Without it, our society would be a tower built on clay. The a~hendil is the foundation of our constructions. Yet what are roots Without the rkhness of ~ Fertile soil? This yall have already understood. Our people Is thIs soil, this richness channelled by the ashelldrl.

Noests prevails OVer everything, Mtknnas. A nation is an organism, a tree ... yeu and I. It needs everything in order to prosper. lust ll~e a Cynwall cannot lil/e just from Light, our nation cannet llve [ust by being carried on the shoulders of our guides."

Several months after this exchange I passed my sharif, the step of the girder in the teachings of Noesis. I was allowed to pass the entry trial of the aslwlIlil and became a Cynwall.

verslonof the missing chapters of AkiOris's treatise. It is, insufficient.

In each city the ashclldil has the same form. The citizens gather under the open sky in Lahn's light. In Wyde the assembly takes place In a gigantic hollow tower whose walls reflect the sunlight at the same time as they dampen it. Thus 1! harmonious and soft light bathes e~ery meeting' Atthe top of this bUilding shine the writ> of Akarls, the teachings of Noesis, so that everyone remembers the prindples that gUide our ne tion. The dragons of the, city sit just below, always remaining silent; Once in a while their knights, who sit beside them, speak.

Further below sitthe equanirnes and then the hellasts, The rest of the tower is occupied by the citizens.

At the centre, on a huge, raised altar surrounded by the ashel1dll and Illuminated by the sun, sit the Noesians. They rarely lntervene, yetthey are charged wlth wetc h i ng that the precepts of U ght a re res III ect ed during these assemblies.

On a day-to·day basis the c;ity requires Its actlvltv to be regulated and decisions to be applied. That's the role of the reguLuses. Each City has <six of them who are named by the aslwmlil excludIng the equanimes and the Noesians. For seven years they set aside their actlvitles to take care of running the city. The reguluses are always individuals of great prestige: hetla s ts, acco m p l lshe d helia nth i c ere ftsmen, aseda r offi cers, etc.

The reguluses pre~ent the decisions to submit to the assembly and make sure that the debates go smoothly.

The ftrst time j assisted the asnendil, Edrahtl explained to me how honourable this charge was to the CynwalLs; "The reguluses are neither chiefs nor lords. They are instruments in the service of their nation. Their responsibilities are heavy. They have the duty to help their city prosper in the Light withau t ever gett i ng lost."

nEIESIS, THE SBUL EIFTHE CVnWLiLlS

"When an equanime speaks of Light to guide his fellows, he himself is this light. Words are meaningless in the face of the Truth. Thus is the Noeslan's role in his nation,"

Despite the years, I can still remember Edrehll's worried look when he spoke those words. Our relationship had evolved grea tty; I was no longer ~ studenttryingto pass his ~hatarand he was more a friend than a mentor. We were In the temple of Maelhynn in the heartofWyde. Further below, several children Were slmultanecuslv practldng the sequence of moves called "fortress open to the wind."

Edrahil's gaze wandered off into the distance and lay on the three dragon.-pffilks and the blue moon beyond. A month earller he had undergone whilt I believed was a terrible setback. He had burned his

For common CynwalLs the equanimes are sages whose lives are totally devoted to Noesis. As for the Noesians, they are obviously held in high esteem, yet they are also seen as dlstant figures surrounded by Light and far beyond Simple mortals The equanimes therefore avoid playing an important polltlcal role. Nevertheless, they are often called on to help resolve litigious cases and to give their opinion on Important subjects, This is one of their duties toward the Republic.

Furthermore, the Noeslans form a grand council that surpasses the ashel1dils to gather the quintessence ofCynwall wisdom. This council, thealliallwe, meets in Laroq. Each Noesian is led there by a dragon end accompanied by an equarume of his choice. I-------i

The oldest dragons of lanever also participate

in this council. Unfortunately the equanirnes have always remained very discreet when It comes to the role of these venerable creatures. Do they follow Noesis? What is their influence on the aflianwe's decisions?

I can only quote what Edrahil confided to me once:

"The dragons are very old beings. Some of them have turned to light well before we did. They know truths that can't be reached by others. Our alliance is like diamond."

was a serious act that symbolised his thorough questioni fig of his vision and his spirituality. I didn't know the reasons for this act, but that evening Edrahll spoke to me about the Noesians fora very longtime. He didn't speak about their quest, but rather about their role a; a beacon for the Cynwall nation. Later I understoodt.hat his words weren't meant for me. He was surely seeking to remember what the N oestans, the sages so esteemed by the Cynwalls, were supposed to represent For him.

the tribens were watching him severely. They had greeted him cautiously and accompanied rum into a private sitting room adjoining the First court, a secluded room where they had all settled in a heavy silence.

The tribens, unmasked and hairless, wore wide garnet-red robes belted at the waist and leather boots, and carried the staves of judgment that were the symbol of their neutrality

among the Cynwalls. To the clear sound of the staff they sometime used as a weapon, each of me twentythree tribens dealt justice and ensured that the three pillars of Cynwall

lore struggled in harmony toward a common goal. The heliasts, me

equanirnous monks, and the dragonknights were all duty-bound to obey unquestioningly the decisions and judgments of the rzibens who embodied [he wisdom of the Guide.

The Fault of Karber, Chapter VI

Though the Noesians don't play an active role in the illhendih of Lanever, this doesn't mean that they are totally passive in the Republic's politics, to the contrary. WH:hin the temples and the monasteries the Noeslans' euthorlty is limitless. And It is to them that the reguluses turn when thefr own discernment

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63

The alliafllve' decides on subjects that concern the whole Republic and can 'tfind their answers In the <is/lendils. Recently this council caught the attention of the other nations by deCiding that it was time fOI Lanever to become Involved in the Rag'narok. This decision was taken in large part thanks to the equanirnes who were present, butthe majority ofthe Noesians remained silent, thus approving this path. Edrahll himself took part in this council. And It's on his return from it that he took the decision mentioned earlier. After that he was no longer invited to return to the al1,af)wll. A few months Later he left for Ka',ber and I have never seen him since. The day of his departure I saw him wearrng one of the famous masks that contribute to the CynwaLls' aura.

THE OMYNSILL,

GUIDE EIFTHE TIATIlJJl

"Who exectlv Is. the Guide?" This was one of the first questions that I asked Edrahil when I met him. In Akkylannle the word "Emperor" is being sa id all the time. He embodies the nation's power and majesty. In Lanever the Guide only seems to be a whisper, a distant icon. How far this is from the truth!

"The O'!9il'lSill is the memory, the tradition of Ethan, the one who opened the way. He is also the future, the reflection of light, the force ofthe Truth. The Guide doesn't rule. He is. Andthat's enough, for l1ght Is upon us."

The khidaryms are his elite troops and they are dreaded , on all battlefields.

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" .~~---------------------------------------

No doubt that Edrahll was trying to make me understand the symbolism surrounding the Guide, for in reality he has far-reaching powers over the Cynwalls.

The Guide is a Noesian who isn't chosen by his peers but, for mysterious reasons, by his predecessor. If it happens that the equanlrnes and the Noesians comment on this decision, then th is is always done with great discretion. The Gu ide sits ill Laroq and is assisted by the a iliil II w(>" This is the institutional heart of the Republic, for in reality the Guide Esneh spends very much time in the University of Wyde.

Surprisingly, the Gu ide's true powers have never been set, unlike those of each city's institutions. The treatise written by Elhan, the first GUide, defines the political organisation of l.anever, but it doesn't describe the GUide's role. I n fact, it seems aberrant to most Cvnwells to even have to detail such responsibilities. The Guide is, a fter all, a Noesian.

The Guide's powers are military, political and judicial. He directs all of i.anever's armed forces, can raise corps of troops, and can call on the dragonknights or on the heliasts. The Idlida!"YlIIs are his elite troops and they are dreaded on all battlefields. Their concentration and their martial mastery make them prodigious warriors. Though they don't master the same combat techniques as the equanimous warriors, they are no less formidable.

The Guide is also a referent for the Cynwall nation.

He is constantly informed of the cities' affairs and has enough authority to modify an aslwndil's decision if he jUdges it to be harmful to the Republic. The Guide can also remove a regulus or cancel a judgement that seems unfair to him,

In his gargantuan [ob he is assisted by special magistrates charged with representing him within the various Cynw~ll communities, be they in Lanever or elsewhere. These magistrates are called tnbem. Usually they are decorated former officers who have decided to retire From combat, yet still wish to serve the Guide.

Their authority depends on the Guide's goodwill.

Esneh has given them many attributions. Thus, the r I'ioim make sure that the troops answer to the wishes of the army's supreme chief and not to those of the asllendi!> or the garrison leaders. There are, however, places where the tribe'l> remain powerless: in the monasteries and temples, The equanimes are completely free of this authority as long as they remain in their brotherhoods, In Ka'lberthis exception goes even further. In effect, during the second battle against the Acheronian forces the equanlrnes' heroic feats hove allowed them to gain total independence. Thus, the brotherhoods that are presen l in the fortress of light only obey their own hierarchy.

The Guide must use his powers sparingly, for he is above all the guarantor of the stability of Lanever. His role is to keep the Cynwall people on the side of Light and Noesis.

6

, ~---------------------------------------

Til E CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF

Yet the last words that Edrahil spoke before leaving Wyde have never stopped tormenting me.

"Today Light seems to be stronger. Our dragons fly over the shadowy lands where Darkness reigns. Our selsyms are marching with our allies under Light. Yetto me it seems to be rawer, Mikrinas. What it has gained In strength It has lost in harmony. Light alone is not the Truth! If one stares at l.ahn for too long, his shine begins to bum. I fear that the Light we invoke today will blind us tomorrow.

We have set our path. Noesis is our gift to Aarklash. I don't think that we have strayed, no ... Yet is the Light that now gUides us really our own? Haven't

we opened our hearts to a different source, one that is older and has been subdued until now?"

I must admit that I have never understood what he meant by those words. Now that Edrahil has left, it seems to me that his words were dictated by dark thoughts. Never would I have thought that I'd hear those words from the mouth of an equanime. My hurnsn nature surely pushes me to some sort of understending for a friend who is prey to doubt.

Mikrinas Rigeus, University ofWyde

DlTE:Cts ---- .. .li.clvl~es ..

5

RACKHAM

cvnwxu SElCIETY

DEFEnCE UF THE nsrum

The sun WoS rising and its lirstrays hadn't reached the valley yet, since it was hidden by the Behemoth Mounta;ins. The night had beenexhaustlng for us ;'1$ well as for the Cynwalls. During those darkhours our falconers had sent their birds of prey to track our prey while the varsyms rushed off over the rocks. The hunt had ended with a short battle, The morbid puppets had quickly been neutralised and the necromancer's resistance woos swept aside by the power of the magician who was leading the troops of l.enever,

At daybreak everyone 'MlS getting ready for a few hours of rest. Bsrhans on one side, Cynwiills on the other. There was still E l_ong way to go before the alliance became friendship. The Cynwalls kept a distant attitude, yet this suited our brothers-in-arms perfectly welL

One of the eLven scouts had remained standing at a distance from his companions, his face turned toward the Behemoth Mountains and the rising sun. After morning prayers to Arin, I decided to join the Cynw~ll. When I got nearer he nodded his head in greeting. He WaS stilt wearing his bloodstained armour and the versjrns' veil.

"You're their bard, aren't you? T~e one who gives them courijge?"

To teU the truth, I was surprised thet he spoke to me fl rst, It was a goo d sta rt.

"I guess yOU can see it that way," I answered, "yet I ,I prefer to believe that each man has his own courage. I only awakened it, feed it end maintain it so that doubt and fear don't stifle it. I imagine that this is hard to understand for a Cynw~lI."

"Those who seek the Truth do not deny feelings." "I thought that the CynwiiUs scorned emotions, th-at they refused to feel any. It is said that your masks ere used to hide them."

"Noesis is not refusal of one's self but the search for luctdrty. In combat scrneernctlons are harmful. You have understood this yourself. Your companlcns may doubt, yet you work on keeping them concentrated on the battle's stakes: survival and victory. If all your warriors were llke you, your nation would be even greater ... and also wiser."

That was e b~rely veiled j<lb. I knew thet the elves were like thet, ~lways rec,dy to put us down. But at least this one was willing to talk.

"The troops of Alahan are valiant. Honour, pride ond bravery ore their ellles. I don't think that this weakens them. As for me, I'm above all e ligbter. The circeeus allows me to Il""lvanise the troops and to support them in battle. Don't your warrior-mages do the same?"

••

I devote myself exclusively to the defence of my people under

Light. The selsyms only serve as long as they are asked [0. This isn't roy case. When 1 decide to retire, my city will welcome me.

My weapon and armour will chen be given [0 another CynwalL

"Among us, all are selyms, warriors. Every Cynwatl learns the basis of ShOl rss and knows how to control himself in the chaos of combat. Belonging to the Republic means being ready to Frght for it. We don't leave this task to a minority."

"All Cynwiills? like in Akkylahnie, you all get military trainrng?"

"No, in l.anever e~ery Cynwalll.earns Neesis. This includes the mastery of our rnartlal techniques, for

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66

we a re a II destin ed to se rve in eu r ra n ks. Every yea r we 'devote time tothe defence ofthe Republic. The rest of th e time we ensu re th e p rosp e rity of ou r cit! es and of Lan ever. Defendingthe Republic is_everyone's affelr, This Is a part of our teac;hings-."

"But you aren't a ~d.sYm. What are the us r!)'l'lls, the asadars and the equanlrnes?"

"The equanlrnes aren't warrlors, at least not all of them. Being a monk is first and foremost a total engagement In Noesis. Some decide to follow the 'path of the warrior while others remain ali that (')fthe exile. But the latter don't mingle with the armies- of the Alliance.»

"J gather that you're neither" selijm nor en equanlme."

"I devote myself exclusiveLy to the defence of my people under light. TheselijmSonly serve as longas they lire asked to. This i,snlt my case. When I deti<!e to retire, my c:ity will weLcome me. My weapon lind armour will then be given to another CynwiJll."

"And what about ~he dragon-knights?"

"They are the cernpanlcns of our most vaLuable and faithful allies. That is their commitment. That is how they seek the Truth."

"The dragoM practice Noesis? Is it they who have ta ught it to yo u?"

"The dr<lgo.ns are a wise people. Their sapience is older than the Behemoth Mountains. The Truth Is of use emly If it is passed on. What good is what 's true if no one knows it?"

"You haven't answered my question."

"The dragons have their OWn tradltlons. The dragen-knights accompany them, They learn from thoseolder: they teach those younger."

"Your magician is a Noeslan, isn't he? He's -one of those Who gUide you?"

The exercise of justice in Lansver is as rare as the laws are strict for anyone who commits a crime. Yet the Cynwalls are loath to 'spill blood. This point of view dearly is strange, especially when one knows that one of the toughest punishments Is ostracism of the one responsible, meaning his permanent exile from all ofthe Republic's cities. 1 n other words, "the Cynwall judges let criminals remain constantly on the run!

For Cynwa'lls the most abhorred crime isn't neees.s:arily murder, except when it concerns dragons. Other than that, as my eminent c.oLleague Anethodle of the University of Kallienne has so well written, the Cynw~lls don't see death in the same way as we do. They therefore.don't give life the same lmportance as we do. The worst crimes are.bound to the destruction or theft of know Ledge. I was also able to observe that for an elf, mutllstlon is e worse act than murder. Diminishing without causing- deethis the worst horror one can, cause ~ living being to-suffer,

Rare <IDe the academics, be they travellers or not, who have really been able to discover Cynwiill socl-

Report. by the bard .Alhios ety .. Anathodle of Kiillienne main~y reports elements

to Egellii, baron OIf lcquor, bound to the spirituality of the elves of Lanever, but not those oftheir daily life.

"He's-a helrsst, He's under the Ught." "Isn't that Noesjs~"

"Do you follow Light?"

"Yes, of ceursa."

"So does Cslhven, yet that doesn't make him a Noestan, The behests master solerls and share the knowledge of the ancients; Some, such as Galhyan, engage themselves in the Rag'narok and give their support to our troops, Others seek the T ruth in the past or design the tools of the future."

"So the heltasts are the ones who forge your we<lp·

ons a~d your arrneur? And your masks, reo?"

"That Is their craft."

"So these masks aren't bound to Noesis?"

As soon as 'I asked thts question I reattsed how impolite I was being, Broaching such subjects right In our Ii rs t co rwe rs ati on was su rely rather ta ctless. Th e CynwalL rernalned silent.

A moment later the hellestlc magiCian turned hls head toward us and the uQ'!Vm got up to [oln him. He threw" last gt"nce (it me and, despite tile twilight, I'm sure that I could make out a smile on his face ...

lUST1CE

Therefore I must admit my pride in being a part of the eminent Free University of Cedwellon, Indeed, our city harbours Cynw~lls, which hes allowed me to' gIlther a certain amount of testimony on the [udlclel system In l.anever's cities.

It is obvious that the CynwalL sages, the Noesians, h 0 ld g rest spi r i tua I a uth 0 fity ove r the popu l'a ti on. This authority also covers the courts in which the Noesian!; play the role of prime judges. They are flanked by five representatives of the city who are a twa p he Ii" sts, the rna gici a n crafts men .at th e toot of L~ never's pros perity.

The helrasts toke care of leading the trial while the N.aesion remains passive. They question, enquire and present their conclusions. Yet the final decistcn Is made by the Noesian who, not having taken part in the debates and quarrels, IS able to remain clearheaded and impartial when making his judgement.

It's intere~ting to' note that this procedure never varles, whether one is judging a Cynwall for a crime or one is settling a dispute.

Indeed, In the Republlcof l.arrever the thought that two cttrzens can be unable. to find a compromise on their own is considered to' be a menace to society. In such Of case Luddlty no longer prevails and the resulting disturbance of the balance is taken extremely seriously.

The most serlous affairs can be brought before the Guide. He then sit, with five magistrates who are bound to him: the tribiins. These individuals play the same part as t~'e heliasts In the cthertrtals. The worst cases, at least those that the Cynw1il~5 1 questioned

TIlE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF RACKHAM

67

could remember, concerned the death of a dragon or the murder of 0' Noeslan.

I n both cases the a ccused was n 'to C y nw::lll. I n the second on e the m urdere r was an a ssassl n in th-e se rvlce of the Akkyshans. Both times the final sentence was beheading. 1 am unable to say if this punishment was declared due to the arigin of the accused. What good would It have done to banish an elf from Ashlnan?

Prodded an by my legitimate curiosity, I did some research on crimes committed by dragans themselves. Unfortunately information is very rare. For the most pert the dragons follow their own traditions .. Yet legend has it that a dragon named l.othren Maloth was iudged by the Guide himself after the massacre of an equanimous brotherhood. The exec uti an was entrusted to the dragons of Laroq and the corpse was thrown into the Gulf of Svrllnh.

Cle.othene Danill, professor emeritus of the Free University of Cadwallon.

FURY AnD THE nEIESIl1n

Serving the crown of Alahan was an exciting lob.

Yet advisor Arnor de Sienanth Was weary. He was Weiting for the Cynw~U ambassador and was still aSKing himself which diplomatic treasure he would have to use to convince him to be on the kingdom's side in the affair that was on his mind.

Arnor tefl: hi, thoughts when ambassador Lyassar's footsteps, which were unlike any others, could be heard in the hallway. The door was open and the ambassador carne in.

"Thank you for having come so qUickly, Ex<;ellency."

"Where is your king?"

"In the council hall. He has asked me.to explain the situation to you."

The Cynw"ll remained silent. His pierdng.gaze dove deep into the advlsor's eyes. There was something In the ambassador's eyes, like a strange glow, that made the Lion feel ill at ease. Yet his gaze didn't waver.

"I'm listening to you," said the ambassador while moving toward the fireplace.

"The king has had YOll summoned for an affair of utmost importance. The sltuatlon is becoming more and more worrisome. The Drunas have attacked Taln and managed to break through the lines, of defence. They have been pushed back but the Sesseirs' losses. are heavy."

"My answer is no."

"Let me explain the ... " "No, and Gorgyn knows it."

The Cynwiilt's I/oiceechoed in the room. The advisor knew tho t bursts of silence were important

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"This diversity is our strength. 0 nly tyrants don't allow discord. I could lust as easily criticise you." The ernbassador didn'tsava thing buthis gaze invited Vlree to 5~ what was on her mind. "You think too much before acting. Your concentration is ... a weakness. You are becomi ng predictable and lack initiative. In war one must know to Improvise. While assassins must remain as cold as a sword's blade, warriors must burn from the inside like Lahn When he's shining at the zenith. You are surely wiser them we are, but we don't have to prove anything to you. We were walking on Aarklash well before your people and even before the elves."

The queen of the fiann;lS had spoken with a Single breath, grl pped by a nge r, F my had n red up her heert.

The CynwalLambassador remained silent. His ga~e began glOWing again and Virae understood that he was trying to pierce her emotions. as if he wanted to show that she wasn't in control of her anger. He was wrong; she had learned to control it a long time: ago. She knew that she shouldn't give in to it but feed from it. Fury was a weakness, yes, but when controlled, rt became a force. The Cynwalls would have to accept this.

The ambassador felt the flame that was burning inside the Kelt. He had never encountered someone enclosing such an inferno. Virae was different from the other humans. The fury didn't seem to be consuming her. I t rather gave her strength. The Cynwiill wan ted to check this by pu ttlng her to test.

"You fight amongst yourselves." "Those are only quarrels."

"Lots of blood has been spilled for these

quarrels."

"To us, dying In combat Is a good thing." "No matter what the combat may he for?"

"I'm not eskl ng you to adhere to my culture. To you it is incorrect to express one's emotions; for us it's the opposite. For you there should be one chief and only one, not for us."

"The Guide is not a chief."

"Well, then Let's [ust say that we have several gUides."

"You have several chiefs"

"They don't impose themselves. We follow them Freely and anyone can defy them. Nothing is immutable."

"The Truth is immutable."

"Sure, but Light isn't. It can be put out."

Virae stared atthe ambassador with insistence. The Cynwiill wasn't able to hold back a slight, fleeting smile that the fianna nevertheless noticed. A feeling of victory lit her gaze and the elf then understood that that was what she had been seeking right from the start.

He obviously Uked her. Maybe the Sasseirs were walking in the Light after all.

"The dragons are the only ones who can decide if

they'll heLp you or not."

"You could (15k them." "I'm not a messenger."

"Could you help me meet them?"

claim to be and explain your point of view with an open heart as you have done with me. If you are walklng along the ways of light,. then they'll know it and maybe we'll become allies."

"Is that a test? You want to know if my people is worthy of your help in its struggle against Darkness?"

"I f you want my people to be ready to sacrifice ttselffor yours, then you wilL have to learn to know us so that we can lind our shared values."

"Then come with me to Avagddu. I'll introduce you to our chiefs. If we must get to know you, then you must also make'! a step in our direction."

The Cynwiill ambassador agreed. The Sessalrs' fury wasn't leading them to the path of hatred. Virae. was the living proof that it could bring them wisdom.

THE SCTIRPI8n's STInGER

The three Cynwalls were standing in front of a wooden door. The smell of rot mixed with the one of humidrty that filled the corridors.

"What can we expect?" asked the asadar. OffiCially the essdarwasthe one leadingthe operation. The equanimous warrior was there as support. A, for the varsjrn, he was the one who had spotted the Syhar laboratory and was the only one to have already explored one.

"Nothing more than what we have already dealt

••

it was preventing the ether Cynwiills from attacking. ThE! elf pulled his injured arm toward himself. The tiger tightened rtS grip. The asadar let. himself be carried ~y the movement and spun to hit the wall. Hi5 shoulder was dislocated with a loud crack. The asadar pushed himself flat against the wall. He could no Longer defend himself and hrs back was exposed, but the varsym now had an open held. Darhyan brought ene ef his blades down 011 the beast. The tiger just barely avoided the blow, but the ~p of the swordcut

with," whispered the varsym while bending down to deep into its paw.

inspect a lock. "Probably one or two creatures and a The creature letgo of the esader'serm and jumped

few traps. Get back against the wall." on the varsym, who thrust his left arm and his second

The two Cynwiills obeyed without asking ques- I blade forward at the wildcat's chest. Car-ried by Its

tlons, The varsym inserted a metal wire into the lock. A clicking sound was heard and ,a small poison arrow was shot into the tunnel. Darhyan then continued fiddling with the lock.

"Are they always the same ones?" whispered the equanime.

"There are the typical ones, such as this boobytrapped lock. The Syhars are inventive, but this lab isn't very big, so the chances are slim that we bump Into any bad surprises."

"Do we know why th.ey come here?"

"To be less bothered than in Alahan, I suppose. It's open ... "

The versvm stepped aside to let the asadar pas·; by. The two others got behind him in a single lile. The elite lighter unsheathed his blade and brutally pushed the door open. A monstrous wildcat suddenly pounced out at him. The narrow passage gave the beast the advantage as its fangs bit down on the asadar's arm. The tiger scratched its prey's legs, ca.using him to reel. The asadar concentrated on his breathing. The creature was tugging at his arm, aware that

momentum, the tiger Violently felt onto the vars.ym before It collapsed.

WithOut saying a word, the assder put his shoulder back In place and threw. glance at the varsym, who gave him a sign with his head, and then entered the room that had been gu~rded by the tiger.

When the equanlme and the asadar also entered the room, Darhyan was already at Its far end near another door. The scout Signalled hls companions to be' alert and then ripped the door open. He lust had the time to see the shepe of a man rushing through ~ black gate.

"T 0.0 late ... "

"It doesn't metter," the asadsr reassured him, "they know that we have uncovered them. They haven't had the tlrne to scatter like in other places and will 'Surely put their Implantations on hold."

"On the contrary," said the equanirne, "They'll be extra careful and will strengthen their defences, The next laboratories will be more dangerous than thls one. That's how things went in Alahan."

TH E CHRONICLES or THE WORLD OF MCXHAM

70

"Why dp they insist on leaVing their homeland?" asked the asadar,

"For the raw materials," murmured Darliyan white pointing to the walls.

The sketches hanging on the walls were eloquent: pyrogenic glands, scaly structures, membranal wings ... The head ornnlrnancer In thls laboratory was studying the dragans.

"So this is onLy the beginning ... " "Yes, I fear."

The Cynw~lls exchanged glances. Their unease could be felt.

"There's nothing left to do here. Let's bum everyth1ng," said the. asadar,

"Fl rst we ha ve to recove r th e ~ ates," obi ected [)arliyan whTle searchingthe many shelves.

The equanlme grabbed him bytfre arm.

"All knowledge is not good, my friend." The varsym harshly pushed away the monk and continued searching. "1 know that you don't W~AttO do wron!?, but I 'm telling you again: all knowledge is not good."

"I'm obe:ylngorder's."

"Well, then We have a problem,' lnterjected the asadar, "My orders are to bum everything."

"These notes will help us know our enemy better to enable us to fight him more efficiently."

"Or to convince the most hesitant among us that our collaboration with the I nqulsitlon is justified," said the equonlme.

The varsym glared at him. To Darhless with propriEties, he thought before speaking With a stri;lng Voice.

"They're stUdying the dragons! Now is not the time for irony or cultural conflicts! The equanlmes must accept their respcnsibllltles .•• "

"What ore you insinuating?"

"It's the a/Uanwii that got our people involved in this war."

"I'm not p<Ut' of it."

"That's not the question. It's the equanlrnes who forced the ceunell's hand, right?"

"We don't control the illliill1wii."

The monk's voice was calm, always neutral, yet he was also haVing a hard time holding himself bock. Deep down, did he know that the var,ym was right? That the Cynwalls' engogement against Darkness would have to be total and not just against Acheron? That fhey would have fa use all weapons at their dis" posaL?~ The V,mym then continued, his voice fi rm yet calm, almost fatherly.

"Once again, that's not the question, The Noesiens advocate shnding back from everything. WEll, we don't ell thlnk that way. We'r,e at war: the time for meditation is over."

The equenlme didn't react. He was 'concentratingen his muscle structure. He had to think. The asarlar remained at a distance .. He was more of the varsym's opinion, but he didn't like his. way of expressing it very much. If the equanlmes hadn't pushed to IP' to war,

Darkness would probably have been much stronger by now. He decided to taka command ofthings.

"Darhyan, gather the notes and sketches, leave the rest behind. Sayim, Inspect the gate and see what Information you can get from it. I'LL get the fire ready."

Their return trlp was made in sllence, Their dispute had awakened something in them, something that made them feor dark days ahead, yet which , paradoxleally, had brought them nearer to Noesis. Now they had if better lInderstanding of the Noesians restraint, for they.knew that their people's unity was fragile and could be broken.

the Cynwiills remain curious about our beliefs and sometimes- ask questions about our motivations and our faith. I think that they are trying to understand us and admit that there are other paths that follow light. They have adapted our working-hours to allow us to follow the Church of Merin's dogma and have provided us with a hall in " temple near the port. This hall is decorated to perfection: drapery, stained glass windows, ritual objects ... Everything was done to give the impression of being in <J reell church of he Empire.

Seeing the speed with which we are advancing, I thin k that I'll be able to return home by next spring. I hope that you make sure that Lea says all her prayers.

Kisses to both of you.

THE InnER BE~ST

The two Cynwlills were walking at a fast pace. The fust one was a Noesian and this could be seen. His face inspired calm and his body seemed to be glowing with a soft luminous aura. The second one could be recognised by his clothes: he was an equanime and seemed to be a lot less at peace.

"The Devourers are an open wound on the face of Aarktash," proclaimed the equenime, thus breaking the silence that reigned in the corridor.

"Have I said the contrary?" the Noesisn answered calmly.

"You said that they had their use, that they could help the Wolfen evolve. In short, that they a re a neeesseuy evll. You said ... "

The Noesian cut him off and turned to face the monk. His face was still expressionless, but his aura had vanished.

"My words slide off you like water on marble when you should be feeding from them," he said dryly. "You interpret more than you listen. That's a fault that you

May Merin protect you. Phorteo s ,

LETTER B~CK HEmE

My dear Leandra,

I'm sorrythat I haven't written earlier, but the foreman bcrrely leaves US time to est and sleep. Even though I won't be able to see you for many months, I don't regret having accepted this contract. The Cynw;;lls really deserve the.ir reputation. They are even more mysterious than I had thought. First of all, they are cotd and tough, yet they hide great sadness or weeriness In their hearts, like a wound thGt cannot heal. They speak very little, except when they are questioned. That is <l qu"Uty that I like a lot. Their discipllne is strict, yet they are just. And they are a bit less demending of their allies than they are of themselves.

Despite their g~eat knowledge, I am surprised on a daily basis bytheirignoran<!e.ln certain subjects. The vessels in their fleet were designed Ignoring all cornman sense. Aesthetically they are sublime. Slender and impressive, they have the gr"ce of their creators yet are slow and surprisingly fr.agile. I can understand why they have called on us as well", On shipbuilders from Alshan.

TheSe e changes benefit all three of our nations.

We learn many techniques from the Berhane For the sails and hull. In return, we teach them how to use the cannons. The goal Is to lind a balance and I think that "'fe're on the rlght track. Soon. Light shall triumph on the seas!

The Cynwalls learn 'qujckly and, unlike wher they say in certaln lands, they Listen very carefully. Sometimes they are peremptory, yet only when they are sure that they know. The elves are very respectful of the knowledge that we bring them and they don't try to Impose their customs on us. They have forbidden us from proselytjs.ng and several workers and blacksmiths have been sent beck.to Akkylannie For haVing tried to convert their lion colleagues, yet

71

THECH:RONICLES OFTHE WORLD RACKHAM

have always had. but now is the time to free yourself of it. Yes, the Devourers are evil. They haven't joined Darkness yet, but their instinct relentlessly pushes them to it and it's only a question of time before they succumb to the Dark Principle."

For a second the equanime let his perplexity show.

He always had a hard time controlling himself when the one he considered to be his rnaste r treated him like a child. Yet he knew from experience that letting himseLf get carried away was useless. The Noesian acted like a minor: his tone had been dry because his student's had also been so just before. The equanirne concentrated to find inner peace and then spoke agilin in the conversation's tone.

"So then we agree. In that case, why did you contradict me in front of the alhanwii?"

The Noesian began walking again and let a long silence float In the air.

"The truth, even if it's painful to hear, remains the truth," he calmly answered. "I didn't enjoy It at all, but you had Forgotten, or underestimated, the second principle. What more, you confused the Wolfen and the Devourers, when you are one of those who know them the best."

"I'm aware of that, master; my choice of words was clumsy. Yet from there to claiming that the Devourers can help the WoLfen', evolution ... "

"I didn't intervene because I didn't agree, but because you were letting yourself become overwhelmed by your emotion s. "

The equanlrne froze. He had been thinking about his master's speech ever since they had left the halt of the alii a 11 wii. Neverh"d he thought about his own. He knew that he had taken a few shortcuts (and fa her awkward ones) to avoid endless debates. Yet on hearing this last remark he became aware of what he had said. He had just returned from a three-month hunt through the forests of l.ansvar. He had seen the massacres committed by the Devourers: partialLy eaten animals, bandits and wanderers sometimes killed in their sleep, and, above all, a village 1n which women and children had been decimated. He had personally led the punitive expedition, yet this hadn't erased the visions of horror. The Noasian carried on, apparently unaware of his student's inner turmoil.

"The Devourers may let the Wolfen evolve precisely because they are the embodiment of their vllest instincts. They are their NemeSiS, the Im<lge of what the children of Yllia will become if they don't stop mlsleadingthemselves by refusingto accept that reason isn't instinct's enemy. Wilat is bad isn't always the enemy of what's good, on the contrary. The Alliance of Light wouldn't exist If It weren't for Darkness, (lnd we all ask ourselves what our Akkylanntan allies would be up to if there were no Darkness."

"I understand. I'm ... sorry:' "Why?"

"Because I doubted you,."

THE CHRONICLES OF THE WORLD OF

their support. As you know, their exchange with the Akkylannians is flourishing, the latter having sent them workers and maritime engineers to help them design and build atrue fleet to help us in the struggle against goblin pirates as well as to watc.h and defend their coasts, especially the border with Ashin~n.

The dwarves of Mid-Nor are not a direct threat for them. What more, they beLieve that the dwarves of Tir-Na-Borshouldtake care of this problem. Though the latter have their respect, the elves of Lanever don't like the dwarven fortresses' isolationist policies in this dark hour.

Their position in regard to the Daiklnees is similar.

The Cynwillls are convinced that the elves of Qutthayran must choose their camp very soon. Some seem convinced that the Daiklnees are responsible for the advent of the Akkyshans and that a strong engllgement against the latter would allow the former to make up for their past mlstskes. Most Cynwalls are sure-that the Deiklnees would never turn to

l'llbe short on the authorities of Lanever's position concerning the Devourers and the Drunes. The Cynwalls won't allow pillaging or massacres on their La nds and will come to our aid in case of an open conflict. They don't seem to be worried about the presence of half-elves in the packs of Devourers. I don't know why. Maybe they place Light before blood ties?

More interesting is their position regarding the Wolfen and the orcs. Among the peoples of des· tiny, these are the ones that are the greatest cause For hope, especially the orcs. As for the Wolfen, the CynwaUs think that they are still at an animal .lage, but they consider it legitimate for these creatures to want to defend their territory. They nevertheless hope that they will evolve and walk along the ways of Ught in the near future. Some Noesiims believe that the Wolfen will align themselves with the Daikmees. The orcs arouse greater respect. The

CynwiilLs are even those who promoted commercial trade between the forces at Kaiber and the orcs of the Behemoth Mountains. The elves seem to be convinced that these mountain dwellers would have become our allies if It hadn't been for their conflict with the Akkylanntans. The Cynwiills have a certain disregard for the Temple's actions in Br,m-6-Kor and I wouldn't be surprised if they try to make the Church change its policies in tile coming months. It may even be possible that the real goaL of the collaboration between the Cynwalls and the lnqulsitton in the search for Syhar laboratories is to strengthen the elves' influence on the religiOUS Institutions of the Griffin. I think that the Cynwiills mustn't be taken to be narve. They are wise, they learn quickly and understand us better than we think they do.

Surprisingly, the subject that divides them the most Is Cadwallcn. This can surely be partially explained by the history of this city, which, as a reminder, was a Cynwiill city For a very long time. By the way, no elf ever accepted to explain why the site had been abandoned, The theories claiming an epidemic or a natural catastrophe don't seem to be viable. Some even reacted badly to my questions on this subject.

To get back to Cadwallon, though many seem to think that it should remain neutral ground, a diplomatic zone, others hope to see it annexed by the forces of Light or at Least "cleansed" to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Dark ones or the Akkyshans. I'm sure that you won't have any trouble influencing their policies if you adopt one of these positions as being yours. You are probabLy the human that they respect the most, your Maiesty, and they don't grant their respect easily.

Your devoted Alcinanthe Karan

TIlE CHRONICLE

Sitting in the study of the one who had triggered his interest for the vestiges of the past, Mehel sat up straight while taking a deep breath. He shuddered and placed his mask in front of him. Larshaen observed him wlth his black eyes that glittered with mischief, but for now his face Looked worried. Srttlng cross-legged on the floor, master and disciple faced each other in the calm of an alcove bathed in the soft glow of a sapharantis cocoon.

Larshasn got up nimbly and went to take care of something in the corner of the room. The sound of water being heated could soon be heard. Letting his gaze travel across the incredible collection of objects assembled in the room, Meh61 silently enjoyed the place's tranquillity. Here and there he noticed items that he had brought back himself. Shelves were holding 11 hodgepodge of statuettes, weapons, skull 5 and other unusual objects ... All this looked like 11 shambles. Yet to a trained eye each place was carefully organised and positioned according to the region the object had been found In. The mixed aspect was due to the multitude of peoples that had lived on the same lands over the ages. To researchers from Kalli· enne who were astonished by the lack of (igour of his classification, Larshaen simply answered with a smile that by separating them, one robbed the objects of their history. Meh6l could see the various fates that these findings bore witness to. His eye could detect the signs of intermingling and alliances, as well as the mixed influences that these everyday objects were proof of.

MiSSing from this place were the collected written works on the origins of the various peoples, which were kept in a wing of the grand library to allow scholars from allover Aarklash to consult them. Larshaen, who had been working on this task for the past 50 years, had earned the respect of his peers for the n umber of works that he had collected and translated. They therefore let him devote his time to his quest for objects, which many considered futile yet was tolerated in the University as an original way of understanding the various peoples.

His master's melodic voice interrupted Mehi:il's thoughts.

"Are you ready to continue the ii'laliiro9n?"

He placed a troy holding two steaming cups on the floor. The spicy scent of the starflower infusion qUickly filled the alcove. Menet slowly sipped the hot drink, making the moment of peace last a bit longer. They had already been exploring the enaiero£jn, the path of consciousness, for several hours. Mehol was exhausted. He caressed the smooth face of his mask lying before him, which was connected to a crystal sphere by a wire. Larsheen's finely crafted mask W(lS lying opposite him, also connected in the Same way, In between them lay the crystalline mass ofthe mnemolabrum, a strange shell with dozens of sinuous folds coiled around anchorage points. La rshaen had rarely used the iilla/iiro9rl because mutual respect

Al~ _

and trust had created bonds between the master and lus disciple that made u,ing this artifice unnecessary. Yet Mehol's revelations had convinced him to use it agiji~. The careful examination of the latest events experienced by hi, disciple would allow the detailed a nalysls of the circumstances of his discovery. Mehol mode iI slight sign or consent to his master before putting on his mask again.

"We were in the port or Kraken," Said l.arshaen. The im~ges came back, dear yet lrnrnatertal like in a dream, They were silent im~ges to which MehoL sometimes added comments or descriptions. He saw the worm-eaten pier again, the grey evening sky and the first lanterns that were being lit in the windows of the port', taverns. Then followed FLeeting images of a sordid mass of precarious bUildings and ruins. This unusual arnassrnent, which WaS built on the remains of an ancient Cynwell city, formed the floating quarter of Cadwallon,

"I went to visit Dalrurn, I was exhausted, yet I had to get to Wyde without delay," commented Mehol.

Several ships with patched ·up S~ ils appeared, one of them marked with a roughly painted boar's head. Two sailors with weather-worn faces were busy coiling up ropes. The image of the two men became dearer ... Mehol was on the ship. One of the two sailors, the smaller balding one, made a face at him and spoke.

"I asked them where their captain was ... they didn't want to wake him up. They ... " Mehol', voice took on a hoarse tone. "We told you that the captain doesn't want any visitors. Rather put your head into a shark's mouth than bother him."

The other sailor, a native of Kel with a thick neck, came forward to push bock the elf,.;

"Let's return to the storyline. Did you see the cap· taln?"

Images quickly ,wept by and then the captain burst from the ship's cabin, giving a kick to the nearest sailor. He seemed to be half asleep, was swearing and rubbing hi, porcine eyes.

"He was mad at them. He shouted, 'Bunch of squid-brained hull rats] Can't you shut your traps when I'm sleeping! Or do I have to ... '"

"Thanks forthls presentation ofthe elegant language of Kraken's Cadwik Did anything else happen?"

Mehol concentrated harder.

"We negotiated the price of the crossing. He demanded a surcharge due to the urgency of our departure, which supposedly made him lose some business .. This cost me 50 ducats."

Images went by of the captain haggling the price with his arms flaiLing" l.arshaen leaned over to Mehol.

"Gold is nothing. What you have brought back is p rlceles s, "

l.arshaen suddenly tensed up. He saw a shadow that was following another. The first of these shapes ce me 0 ut of the d a f kn ess.

~~~-------------------------------------~--

TH E CHRON ICL[S OF TH E WORLD OF

"There was this woman who looked us up and down lIS she walked by.,. She W~S following someone."

A face appeared, the Face of.a woman with an ice blue, disturbing gllze At that moment l.arshaen placed his hand on his adventurous disciple's forehead,

"Concentrate on this moment, on the instant that she appeared from the darkness."

MehoL wound back his memory. His mind was se~rching the past.

"Dalrum was complaining, 'at this time the chain is lowered across the port's entrance. I risk haVing p rob le rns with the h arb ou r me ste r's offi ce, M u stn 't upset these people.' He stopped speaking. I turned around to see what he Was follOWing with his eyes. She Was there, her hand tightly grippingthe hilt of her sword. Behind her was a hooded figure that, before vanishing into the shadows, threwan lncredlbly cold glance at us. This made me feel uneasy. Excuse me for th isla c k of control, m asts r. "

"It doesn't matter," answered Larshaen with a soothing voice. "Don't torment yourself. In her you Felt the influence of the shadow following her. Look."

For a moment the scholar took control of the flood of Meho!,s memories. He wound back the tumultuous course of time and stopped it on an image.

"There!"

The Form seemed to be gliding on the pier and the i mage then froze to reveal a serp entin e to ngu e flicking (jut from beneath the hood. l.ershaen continued.

,( Li gh t protects yo u , With 0 u t knowi n g it, yo u bumped Into an enemy far more dangerous than the Syhars you were telling· me about earlier on. I wonder what could have brougnt this being to the City of Thieves," whispered l.arshaan as iF talking to himself.

His kind II.as be~n hiding for 50 long.

"But let's get back to your [ournev, Did you meet anvorre else?"

Meho[ concentrated again, Fleeting images of the boat and of the stormy seas went by behind his closed eyes.

"No .. Nothing important. We then had fa,vourabLe winds and we were able to land south of the gulf of Syrllnh after three days of ' sailing. From there I followed the road to AMeirin."

Wyde. The image of the city dominated by the University's slender towers appeared before the two CynwalLs. The white stone bulldtngs reflected the light ofthe afternoon sun.

l.arshaen took off his mask, thus breaking off the contact with the mnernolabrurn. He seemed to be worried. Mehol rubbed hi5 temples to relax and soothe his head. He lacked in experience iM this exerd se that wa s practised d a it y by other C ynw:aU s, His master got up, bent over him and felt the obied that was implanted in the back of his neck.

5

RACKHAM

"So you shelter the mind of a member of the l.ltopia,a guardian of legends." Everything went silent as he thoughtfully looked at Meh5L. "Can you show me the key that was entrusted to you?"

Mehol undid. hi. tunic and removed the bronze pendant that was hanging around his neck. l.arshaen took it and went to a nearby table. He examined the object carefully with a magnifying glass ..

"I have never seen anything-like it until now." l.arshaan studied the notches. He could make out barely noticeable marks.

No inscription. In a ~ case th~ crafr.~manship confirms its origins.

l.ershaen sighed.

"What have I gotten you into, MehoL? I have shown myself to be irresponsible by sending you to explore this country on your own."

Meholalse got up.

"But master, here we have a great discovery that clearly confirms the usefulness of your work on the origins of the sclaris and the knowledge of the Utopians, In Kolden's visions I have seen wonderful creations, constructs that were able to move in the air and under the sea I"

"Yes, yes,"answered Larshaen with a calming voice. "But I am measuring the weight of the secret that you are carrying lnside your flesh"

A secret:>

Mehol no longer understood,

"This knowledge must be revealed and shared. It must be used to push bad Darkness. We hold the key to some ofthe Sphinxes' creations in our hands," l.arshaen raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Watch what you're saying. It's true that we're in the basement and no one seems to be around, but I don't want to arouse the whole University." l.arshaen went to the door, shut it, and returned to his pupil. "You must understand that the Truth, just like the brightest Light, can be blinding. I know that these word, might be lll-perceived, but it's important to me that you realise the scope of what you are hoLding and the danger that now accompanies you,. Ever since its exile, our people has been focused on understandingand harmony through Noesis, but we are now at a turning point Tn our history, You know that, since the battle of K.a'iber, our Guide has decided to awaken enclerrt secrets. Many of our kind believe that we should leave th is ba d I Y mastered know le dge in 0 b I i vIon. They are partisans of the Alliance of Light and refuse to put themselves into, the hands of 'relics,' a, they say. In its great wisdom, the alliilllwi!' doesn't want to leave out any options in the struggle against Dairkness, yet It remains very vigilant. Every discovery is carefully analysed and especially the tribiins devote themselves to this task. Sometimes, when required by caution, they are ordered to strict secrec:y, even at the cost of 0 life." Larshaen remained silent for a moment. He looked at his dumbstruck pupil before continuing on in ~ lighter tone. "I have great trust in

••

the Guide's dearsightedness. He has let me do my work, which many judged to be useless, and today still, thanks to you, we have advanced in our knowledge of ancient times. It's too bad that your guest is in (I state of torpor; I would have liked to have a talk with him about many a subject." He got up and gently took M ehol by the arm. "You're tired and I'm an old fool to leave you like this while I daydream. Let me lead you to your room. I 'U take care of sending ii message to the O'?:!Yl'lsill to ask for a meeting. Until then, sleep without fear in this haven of peace. Neve rthel es s erase th e i m prln ts 0 f the past da ysleft In your mask so that no one can see them without you knowing it."

Mehi:il lay down all clothed on the rudimentary bed. He thought about his master's words while wondering about his warnings and hidden meanings. His people had made transparency a founding princlple, The simple thought of secret manoeuvres within the Republic and that the intimacy of the memories r,eld by the mask could be violated caused him great distress.

He was suddenly awakened by heavy knocks on the door. The tumult of the students couldn't be heard in the hallways yet. Mehi:il got up, wiped his clothes and opened the door. An elf was waiting in front of it with a crested mask hanging at his belt. His armour crafted of metal and dark leather weakly reflected I:he light ofthe torches. He greeted Mehi:il, his rignt hand held to his heart.

"I have flown a good part of the night to get you.

I have been charged with bringing you ".5 qUickly as possible 1:0 a meeting with a representative of the O~\i"sill. We must leave right away if you wish to be at this audience on time."

Taken aback. Mehi:il looked at him for several moments.

"Fly? Are you saying that you came here on" dragon's back?"

The messenger answered with a hint of pride In his voice.

"With a dragon, yes. By the way, put on warm clothes, the air is icy cold up there."

Mehol quickly !lathered his belongings, wrapped himself in his heavy travel coat and followed the dragon-knight. While crossing his master's studying quarters he hoped to see him one last time before leaving, yet the place was deserted.

The two elves took a secondary staircase to reach the upper levels of the University and continued climbing to the observation deck around the top of the tower devoted to astronomy. An east wind was blowing. bringing with it the humid scent of the forest. YILIa was dominating a cloudless sky. Following his escort, Mehi:ilsoon could make out a majestic form curled up onone of the terraces. He shook with excitement. For the first time he was goingto strad-

dle one of the Cyl)wSlls' powerful allies. As they got nearer, the impressive creature got up. It stretched its neck toward 'thern. Its scales caused small white sparks as they rubbed against the floor. With Its head turned Sideways, a huge eye opened up in front of Mehol's face. The elf froze, fascinated by the purplish colour of the iris ln Which particles \If light Were flo"ting. A low voice accompanied by a warm breath surrounded him.

"Eryor Maloth salutes you, you rig elf. May Ught guide your steps." The reptllian head moved back a few metres, Its nostrils trembling with a burst of dry alr, "Greetlngs also to the envoy of the sages/' continued the dragon. "I can sense him sleeping in you. It IS strange that his essence is mixed with yours. but I can feel his imprint."

Mehol felt the back of his neck become warm and a silent answer RUed his mind: Kulden salutes you, SOil of MaLoth. The dragon gazed at him for a few more moments, then turned around and bent his hind legs to let1:he riders get onto his back. Tightly gripping the leather pommel between him a nd the dragon-knight, Mehi:il watched the landscape flyIng by beneath them. His mask allowed him to make out tr.e details below despite the darkness. The biting cold could be felt through his clothes, but the drago~'s body radlated a comforting warmth. Awestruck, Menollet this magical rnornerrt slnk into his memory,

The first rays of dawn were appearing on the horizon when they came into view of Laroq, whose bare summit rose to a diZl:Yln~ height. Eryar Maloth tumed left and began his descent toward the first foothills where small bUildings could be seen. A few moments laterthe dragon landed on a narrow [eelge while-stirring up a cloud of dust.

As sao n ash i s pa ssenge r ha d gotten off, the dragon left again with a powerful beat of his Wings. M ehol found himself standing In from. of an opening that led into the depths of the rock. Inside, an equanlme welcomed him In a small room With a hot bowl of nacJech and some wheat patties. He then silently leo him through a maze ofr.oughly hewn tunnels.that contrasted with the usual Cynwall style of archltecture, Here and there, sprouts of hysneh glowed with a soft tight.

The monk V<inished when they ante red iJ hall that was f1lled With darkness, At its centre stood a column of IJght comil'lgfrom an opening In the vault that tet a dFaught of cold air rush in.

An unknown voice then rose from the shadows. "Come nearer, Mehi:il. Get Into the light. It will ma ke yo u r words dea rer and wi II co u se the Truth to spring forth."

Sllghtly dlsorisrrted, Mehiil sat down faong an elf wearing a simple toga. The immaculate whiteness of his clothes announced his being a Ncesian. As his eyes grew accustomed to Che lighting, he couLd tell that he was surrounded by bare-chested equanirnes

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sitting on their knees and oblivious to the iCy cold. The Noesian smiled at him and opened hi~ arms as a sign of greeting.

"My name is Ylnir;"

A deep voice was then heard behind Mehol. "Larshaan has sent an urgent message to the.

0t0'llsill containing troubling information. Our Gulde has deemed it useful to hear you without delay, but there are mollY tasks that demand his attention. He has therefore charged Ylrur to assist in this meeting and to faithfully report your words back to him."

After a pause, another drier voice could be heard to his left.

"Why do you think that you were chosen to transmit the knowledge of the Sphinx? Do yo\! believe that you are a new envoy for our people?"

"I'm not a sage nor ii prophet. Chance led me on the path to that sanctuary and to the secret held Inside it. Only Light knows If I was gUicled to this place."

"What Is your place in our people? Why do you travel to such distant lands?"

Mehi:il remembered his master's long discussions In which he explained his work. He tried to transmit their spirit as well as he could.

"We do everything we can to gather new knewledge on the origins of the peoples that have walked on Aarklash, Understanding-their roots often allows better comprehension of what animates them today."

Sa rely had he limshed his sentence when another voice spoke.

"Are you aware, seeker, of the weight that is now borne by your shoulders? You who sought knowledge) do you measure. the. restraints on freedom that It can represent?"

Mehol shuddered and then mastered himself, slowly i'lh<JUng.

n Like every researcher, I have always hoped to make a rnajer discovery. But I know that what I have brought bsckfrom the sanctuary has forevel'changed my destJny by binding me to ... " He hesitated, looked rtlr the right words, not sure of what he could reveal over here. Ylnir nodded, inviting him to continue. <II know that I am bound to the mind sleeping inside of me <rnd to Its knowledge."

"Doesn't the idea of simply being a receptacle holding a precious item revolt you?"

Meh<il felt his cheeks become slightly red. Despite the shel:lras, he had never been very good at hiding his emotions. He answered with an ali' of defiance.

"Yes, I admit It. I was very angryl Who WOUldn't be at the thought of being 'inhabited' by another mind. Yet I have accepted it, not as a trial, but as a chance for our people. This guardian is the key to awakening many andent creations."

The Noesian raised a hand to signal that the interview was over. For S'everal minutes only the sound of the wind disturbed the silence if] this place. The equentrnes, remaining perfectly motionless, kept serene faces while Mellol awa lted the decision of his peers. Finally, Ylntr spoke.

"We have listened to your words <l nd h1JVe probed your heart, Mehal, dlsciple of larshaen, seeker of the vestiges of Wyde. You have Inherited a great secret, yet In you there is strong resolve. With the help of light you will know to use Wisely what hils been entrusted to Y01.J. However, take care to keep your free will. The mind of the Sphinx Is strong. One last thing: the guardian you bear makes you a container. You must protect him like your most precious belonging, for many will desire him. You must u nderstand that our decisions concerning him will apply without your fate beingwken into consideration. For the good of our people and of the Ways of Ught. we will judge his usefulness and maybe it will be decided that It's best to tet him rest ln secret whiLewaitingfor the right moment. Now we will awaken the guardian and listen to his message."

Ylnir placed his hands together and one by one tile equanimes came to salute him before leaving the room. A hellast then came in. His mask was covered with metallic protrusions that continued down onto his chest. He bowed before the Noeslan and then turned to MahDL

"I am Anhareg, weaver of light of the workshop of l.aroq. I wlllawaken the mind of the Sphinx by feed· ingthe Immortal gem that gives him his essence."

The hellast concentrated white pladng his hand on Mehol's Implant. The gems on his mask started glowing stronger and stronger. His hand stiffened and he began redtlngan Incantation while concentratingto guide the influx of mona. MehoL felt the tingli~g get stronger while the energy passed through his skin to flll the gem ,of light embedded In the flesh of the back of his neck. Finally the heliast moved back. His gems, except for two of them, had lost their shine. He took off his mask and wiped several drops of sweat from hls brow.

"This gem holds great power. To regenerate its -essence I nearly broke my Immortals." He wrinkled his eyebrows, Listening to a voice that only he could hear, and then continued speaking quletlv, "H e is a lree dy awa ke. "

A familiar voice rang inside MehDl's mind: "fhaI'Ji!

you [or haVing hraugrn me fD_V0ur kind. Wfth_y()ur perllli SiMI I wjll =r= ~1JselfthrougllYOU- TI1is wI/! del1limd les of ,m rffort anc!.yoll wjrt be rlJY uoice, 110t simpJy a bearer. Mehol agreed, amused by the irony of all the consideration he was being shown. He was aware of the Importance of this moment. He wanted to inform the assembly that he was going to bring them Kulden's words, but he clea red his throat and the Sphinx's voice filled the room.

"I am Kuld en, gua rdla n of the legends of the Utopia.

I have been charged by my people to transmit our knowledge to those who bear the Light In Creation. I must speak to your chief, the Guide."

"OurGulde is nota chief," Ylnircorrected him. "He gives light to our footsteps and to our consciousness. H €I is in the light and we follow his teachings. He has decided to devote himself to the struggle against the Darkness that is swallowing Up Aarklash. I t's in his name that I welcome you and llsten to you."

Mehol felt the back of his neck get warmer and understood that Kulden was probingYLnlr's mind. A fleeting smile appeared on the Noeslan's impassive face.

"Your mind is resolute and you know how to pro-

tect its limits. I will reveal a secret to you of which Mehol is the bearer. While awakenIng I Felt the familiar air of the Dragon Mountains. The rock around us confirms this. You occupy one of these refuges. Is its revelation chamber still operational?"

On hearing these last words the heliast became flustered. He looked at Ylnlr who gave him a sign to go ahead.

"Yes. Three of them are still operationaL in Cynwall lands. We carefully guard their secret. If we have brought you over here, it's because we hope thatthe object described inthe message is one oftheir keys." Ylnir Looked deep Into Mehcl's eyes to speak to the young elf's mind. "You're young .and aLready tried by these changes. Revealing this secret to you would seal your fate. Then you would no longer be able to remain a simple seeker. If you wish. you can still keep your freedom. We can take care of leading the mind to this place."

Kulden answered. Mehol's voice took on an angry tone.

"I have caused my hostto undergo terrible trials. He had to light to bring me all the way to you. In these times of spreading Darkness, blinding and ignorance are only the fragile ramparts of fearful minds. He has the right to know for what he has risked his life ... I want to know where my footsteps lead me, I don't want to be a Simple receptacle!"

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Ylnir looked at him for a moment with tenderness, then got up and motioned him to follow the heliast.

"Very well, Mehol. You will discover one of the creations ofthe Sphinx anlrnated by solarls."

They continued on their way, going deeper and deeper into the innards of the mountain, Anharegwas leading the way, his toga glowing with light that was pushing back the darkness. He guided them througn three doors sealed with the luminous stranglehold. The corridor then finally widened.

The elves reached a hall whose walls and ceiling were covered with panels of bronze. A rectangular pool filled halF of the hall. It held several centimetres of clear water. Anhareg opened his arms.

The wall across From the entrance caught Mehol's attention. It was holding up a huge metal frame holding various crystals, gears, metal plates and other unidentified objects. The whole thing was protected bytwo thick panes of glass. Kulden's voice rang in his head: The reading plal'e. lt "eqldres rhe 1~9' rhaIJou are carryi11g, which will reueal tl1e (n[ormation.

"Anhareg, put it in its place," said Kulden out loud.

The weaver of light obeyed. He manoeuvred a set of chains and pulleys that were embedded In the wall to move the heavy frarre above the pool and then turned to M ebol.

"If you care to give me the key ... "

Meh61 removed the pendant from around his neck and gave it to him. Anhareg carefully inserted it into a diaphragm of dark metal. A slight creaking could be heard as the mechanism tightened around the key's contours.

The heliast spoke an incantation. An intense glow come from the pool and shone through the luminous frame, A sparkling shine lit up the ceiling as if burstIng from a kaleidoscope. A couple of clicks were heard while complicated mechanisms were being put Into place Inside the frame. Finally a series of Images were reflected, causing the heliast to gasp in stupor. On the ceiling's smooth surface there were now colourful reflections representing a map that Mehol recognised to be the southern part of the Behemoth Mountains. Other im~ges were being projected onto the walls.

The elves ell Silently walked around the pool to study the images. A whole wall was covered with a detailed map of a vast complex. Many Inscriptions could be seen on It. Mehol got nearer, subconsciously ran his finger along them and realised thet he understood them: they explained the mechanisms of the main gates and how to switch on the forges' energy matrices. Ylnir the Noesian and Anhareg the hellast were standing in front of another wall as if petrified. When he reached them, Mehol understood the reason fortheir stupor: an incredibly realistic reflection showed a huge cavern in which humanoid forms were

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lined up in long rows by the hundreds, maybe even thousands. Anhareg cleared his throat while holding his hand out to the unbelievable vision.

"Construct •... This place must be ... "

"A great workshop of the Utop'" I" Kulden'5 words had burst from Mehal's mouth, completing the mage's thoughts. "Before our people left this Realm to corry on its struggle ~gainst the ophidlan brood, it hod done lots of work and research. This place hold, the secrets and the means -to createand assemble constructs of ell types. 1 h,wen't known it because when I was put into stasis this place was still only a project. The go~l of these edin,<;e" wh lch were bu ilt In hidden places, was to one d"y pas, our knowtedge on to our successor" This day has come."

"I will inform the O~l1sill ~5 quickly", possible of this major revelation. Until then, it's best that.c," He looked for the right words for several moments. "That you get some calm, rest and rneditatlon. Mehal, you really need to bke the time to find your equlllbrlum "gain thank> to shellras. This pla<;e is perfect for you to do so. You will be informed as 500n as a decislon has been made"

"Hurry up. This laboratory holds secret, that could very well be desired by m~ny.1 can gUide you to the heart of the workshop. put don't lose ~ny more time. Light won't tolerate ~ lukewarm response when the clamour of war rtses!" added Kulden fierily.

Ylnir answered calmly.

"You are thanked for your advlce. Yet it is now up to us to weigh the consequen<;es of thiS discovery. I must n ow leave yo u withe u t fu rth er del ay.»

The Noesian left the hell and the heliast deactivsted the machines. While leadil1g Mehol through the maze of corrldors, Anh""':g questioned him e"gerly about whet was held ill the workshop, Yet Kulden remained silent,

Once he was alone in a small room of the monastery, Meho'! g(l,ed pensively at the wind-beaten landsc,ope of Laroq, He WoS stunned, divided between the excl te m e rrt of the d i scove ry of a worksh op fi lled with ancient secrets and the awareness of the dangers they would have to confront to reach them. Climbing up the mountains 1;0 reach a complex buried beneath the ice and Located between the accursed lands of Acheron and the forest of Ashin!ln would be a dangerou, journey,

Haue rIO fe.T. J wlde'lt~ndJour worries, hut I'll rna/Ie sure rl,~j we Sf!)' al.ive. I "~ue trouble comprehenclitlg_yollf people's reluctance. We will go /'0 this place ulld awaken it, no matter the. costs.

Far from cornfortlng Mehol, these words only dism~yed him even more. He was inhabited by such an Intransigent being. Kulden barely seemed to approve of the Cy~w~lls' giving so much careful thought.

Mehol Sot down and placed his hands, on the floor, opening his mind to Lose himself in the communion with the sccthlng sclldtty ofthe stone."

GALLERY

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GALLERY

n.. A-<'"

It's the year J003. Den Azhtr has been reigning over Cadwailon for the past eight yeaTS. The guilds haven't lost any of their influence, yet these days an ancient force has been reafftrmmg ttself. For 20 years now, the Dogs of War's heirs have been worldng on getting back U1e past glory of their ancestors while taking into account the opportunlttes giVen to them by a merchant city such as the [ewel Of Lanever. Mixi:ng rnartral tradition, the spirtt of free enterprise and a taste for adventure, these rnercenartes now call themselves-the FIe.;: teaguers.

GALLERY

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THIGH

RONtGLES OF TH

EWORLD OF

~ GALLERY

GALLERY I

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Tl-JE CHRONICLES OF Tf-TEWO

RLD OF

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