Research Article
The information contained in this article is the result of research done by players from within the Game World. The contents are only as factual as the original author intended and should not be unduly modified.
Troops of the yellow sign sowed carnage across the market place at the first moot of 1109 in what appears to be a first attack against the wider nations of the heartlands. With the notable exception of a fleshcrafter, who fell in an attempted assault on the Paladins of Lolth in the guild tent area and caused wide spread destruction in the alchemists guild when his corpse exploded into shards of bone, the yellow sign's campaign has been solely targeted against the Tarantulas.
Perhaps, it was the death of his general and original host Lyander at the hands of a multi-national war party at the recent consecration of the new Incantor's guild headquarters near the Underdark city of Dyer'Turic, which has finally focused the attention of the yellow sign on the surface nations.
The Tarantulas were first drawn to the city of Dechenza in 1106, when Adin D'Brassik's remaining forces marched on the city. Facing an army, whose numerical superiority, they could not beat, the Tarantulas discovered a tomb, sealed by 4 locks, echoing with the promise of power enough to destroy D'Brassik. Nathaniel of the Wardens followed the instructions contained within scrolls found near the tomb and used one of the primary elements (earth, air, fire and water) to destroy each of the locks. The words from within proved true and for 25 minutes, Nathaniel's body blazed with power, as he decimated Adin D'Brassik's army with storms of magebolts and waves of dismissing power. By the time, the magic finally released Nathaniel, the yellow sign had arisen from the tomb and taken possession of the closest body, that of Zyme, a paladin of Lolth. Zyme thanked the Tarantulas and informed them that he would see them shortly.
True to his word, Zyme attended the big gatherings of the year, offering the Tarantulas what he called 'Utopia', if only they would follow him. His initial approaches were not hostile, but by the gathering, he resorted to the ultimatum, 'Join or Die!', but declared hostilities would not commence until the impending cataclysm had passed.
Although the message of utopia was not heeded by the nobles of the Tarantula nation, its words found fertile ground in the ears of the down trodden of the Underdark, badly shaken by the cataclysm and the ensuing hardships of the aftermath, and in April 07, the city of Matron Mother Naxos De Fey and the current capital of the Tarantula nation erupted in revolt, orchestrated by the newly formed cult of the yellow sign. The Tarantulas failed to curb the riots and Guallidurth fell to the yellow sign, although the Tarantulan forces were able to flee with a sceptre and throne, two of the original keys to Lyander's tomb. The Tarantulas also learned that Lyander was originally locked away by the sacrifice of 4 members of his bloodline. Meanwhile, news emerged that armies of yellow sign had attacked the Cave of Whispers and Stormspike.
During the main gatherings of 1107, the yellow sign continued to harass the Tarantulas, sending out drones to attack them and cultist assassins to recover the lost lock pieces. Drones make up the main stray of Lyander's armies and are purpose built from the flesh of fallen cultists to fulfil the role of soldiers. As their purpose is to fight, they have no intelligence or other abilities beyond combat skills.
In the campaign season of 1108, Tarantula forces assaulted and recaptured the city of Guallidurth from the yellow sign, as well as repelling the forces from the cave of whispers. However, in a disturbing turn of events, the cultists forces of the yellow sign proved be easy pickings for the undead forces of the Akari General Thorn, who had recently emerged as a third power in the Underdark and the city Trentarus, home of the newly freed Demonfey, came under heavy and sustained attack from Lyander's forces.
Summer 1108 saw the Tarantulas continually harassed by forces of Lyander's drones, backed up by the healing skills of his fleshcrafters. Fleshcrafters not only heal drones, but they are the means by which Lyander assimilates new knowledge and they can often be found studying the bodies of the fallen for new tools and abilities, which Lyander incorporates into this latest creations. Experiment of House Karrash-Morr, learnt that contained within her is the third of the four keys, during a trip through her creator, Elkintaar's tower in Do'Bluth. The Tarantulas finally secured a decisive victory over the yellow sign at Trentarus, only to learn that Lyander's forces were seeking to secure the power contained within the ruins of the second founding capital of the Dark Elf Empire, Telantiwar.
Forces of the Tarantula nation beat Lyander to Telantiwar in October 1108, only to find it was the Akari, who were actually assaulting the city; the yellow sign appearing content to watch from the background. With the help of the Baelnorn, an order of unliving paladins born from the spirits of those who died during the destruction of Telantiwar, the Tarantulas managed to secure the fourth key; the heart of a Golem trapped within Telantiwar and activated the defences of Zy'Liir to protect the city from the Akari and the yellow sign.
On the battlefield that day, the yellow sign betrayed his alliance with General Thorn of the Akari, taking the general as his third 'improved' host and in doing so gained control of all Akari troops in the Underdark as well as a full knowledge of unliving.
By April 1109, the yellow sign had changed tactics and instead of trying to capture cities, it targeted the nobles of the Tarantula nation at a gathering to consecrate the new incantor's guild headquarters, near Dyer'Turic. The ensuing battle did not go as planned; the yellow sign's forces were rebuffed from Dyer'Turic and his general Lyander fell during the fighting and was dedicated to Dracos. The Tarantulas, meanwhile, had turned their attention to the locks for the tomb and a mission was undertaken to the heavily guarded stronghold of Dechenza, from where the first of the lock was successfully retrieved. At the first moot, a second lock was reclaimed from a heavily guarded cave in Mauritania.
Read More: Lyander Al'tath
Read More: Ashiira Mistrivven
Lyander was a first age Elf, an immensely powerful ritualist and a member of the white council. Like many of the Elves of his time, he devoted a great deal of time to researching the issue of ageing. He sought answers by studying creatures from the void, which he gradually came to call Daemons and in doing so, pioneered the art of daemonology. He came to learn of a being of immense power beyond Erdreja that promised cures to aging and all the other ills that ravaged their lands. Lyander could not refuse such an offer and summoned this creature, the yellow sign, but it was too powerful for him to control and took possession of him, forcing him to kill his beloved wife Ashira.
For many months, Lyander roamed freely unleashing untold destruction upon the Elves, until they realised that they could not destroy him, but instead elected to lock him away in a permanent state of torpor. They locked him into a tomb sealed by four locks, four keys and the sacrifice of four of his living relatives. Of the origins of the yellow sign, little is actually known, save that it originated from beyond Erdreja, although it is believed that destroying it may be impossible and locking it away again may be the only resort.
War scouts of the Tarantulan Armies have reported that in the last 24 hours, the yellow sign has pulled back its armies from all other fronts and appears to be marching them in the direction of Duanrahel, the only surface city of the Tarantulan nation.
What is it the yellow sign seeks here and why is Duanrahel, so important to it? It is the second time that the yellow sign has attempted to capture an ancient seat of power. Until recent events, it was assumed that the yellow signs failed strike on Telantiwar was an attempt to secure the key concealed there, but there is nothing related to Lyander's tomb in Duanrahel. So perhaps it is for another unknown reason that the yellow sign marches there?
Valsharess Naxos D'Fey is adamant that the city will not fall to the yellow sign and has decided to host the forthcoming Moot at Duanrahel, so the other nations of the Heartlands can gain a full appreciation of the peril that the yellow sign represents. The Tarantulas are a law abiding nation and ask that whilst on their lands you do not break their only law; 'Don't get caught' Breaking the law is punishable by death and a swift enactment of justice can be expected.
Duanrahel began life as a small unremarkable Elven town with nothing to distinguish it from any other, until it was chosen by Shaol Mistrivven and Tallia Aryvandaar in 1557 First Founding to be the site of their colleges of incantation. Ever since Lord Larethian had struck down Rulien Silvanost in the chambers of the white council using the powers of the first ancestor Lolthiriel, Shaol Mistrivven had worked ceaselessly to codify this new magic into a system that could be readily practiced and taught. His development completed, he and his wife, Tallia choose Duanrahel to be the site of their three colleges, the suns, stars and moon; each dedicated to teaching different philosophies of incantation.
In 1690 First Founding, Duanrahel was first named as a city, as the massive interest in faith based magic, swelled the population and temples to Lolthiriel began to appear on every corner of the growing city. Clan Aryvandaar were the first clan of the Illythiiri to make the growing city their home and from there they began their explorations of the Underdark.
The later part of the First Founding saw growing friction between the mages of Morias and the incantors of Duanrahel, which eventually degenerated into the start of the Sundering war. By 2602 First Founding, the Incantors or Dark Elves as they became known, were pushed back towards Duanrahel, where Clan Eclavadraar lead by Ergosal began to fortify the city against the forthcoming assault. The Dark Elves began their preparations for a retreat into the Underdark, but in order to buy themselves time Clans Cancarneyar, Kerithrion and Aryvandaar launched a daring assault on the first city of Morias, which lead to its almost complete destruction and the theft of a portion of the white tree, which was borne back to Duanrahel and eventually planted in the city of Telantiwar.
Seeking revenge, the forces of the Elves lead by Lord Larethian attacked with renewed fury against the gradually emptying city and finally laid siege to the walls in 2789 First Founding. Every member of Clan Eclavadraar gave their lives defending the city, as great magics were unleashed shattering the great peak at the city's heart, forever sealing the entrances into the Underdark and ending the Sundering war.
The ruined city witnesses in 55 Second Founding the parting between the Dark Elves and the Ice elves, as the Ice Elves return to the surface to seek out their homelands in the frozen north. They sign two scrolls of alliance before parting.
Aside from the occasional traveller seeking passage to and from the Underdark, the city remained abandoned and untouched for many centuries until it sank beneath the waves that rose during the cataclysm of water in 500AF. The city rested in its watery grave until the upheavals of the recent cataclysm of fire forced it to rise above the ocean's surface as a small island midway between Caledonia and Norsca. The island was claimed by the Tarantulas as an important part of their heritage, but in truth Duanrahel as the home of Incantation is an important part of everybody's heritage.