Book 2: The Queen’s Diaries – Synopsis
This book is derived from the journals and diaries kept by Comet over the many years since her departure from Taur-na-Sylvhara in the year 591 of the Fourth Age. Comet, at the age of 15, finds herself under the care of Darius – who, despite his dark past, was appointed as her Guardian by her father, Eyrturheru.
The pair had been traveling five months, in the wild, when they were attacked by a band of five men – mercenaries in the employ of Nargoroth – who attempt to take them by force. Comet sees Darius transform under the duress of the attack, taking dragon form to dispatch their attackers; and witnesses firsthand the horrible secret of the Sereg’wethrin. Now exposed, Darius tells his full history to Comet, sparing no details – the breeding of the Sereg’wethrin; the death of her mother, Linnea; Darius’s assignment to assassinate Eyrturheru, and his redemption before he could fulfill the task; and, finally, his appointment as her Guardian. And from him, she begins to understand the truth of Nargoroth and his intentions.
In high summer, they encountered a wizened old man wandering the woods alone – most unusual in those dark times. Darius was suspicious of the man, who charmed Comet at once with his stories and easy manner. He called himself Myrrdin, and his tales marked him as old indeed. He spoke knowingly of generations of Comet’s ancestors; and his memories went even to the Years of the Trees. But beyond the past, he spoke also of the future, warning Comet of Nargoroth’s intentions, among which was the Shadow Lord’s desire to claim her as his own bride…as, in that way, might he claim the powers that lived in her blood. The power was tied to the Coia’lia – the “living thread” that wove together all living things; and the heritage of the Golden Line of Comet’s female ancestry who could influence or control that power. Myrrdin instructed Comet that she must gather her people, and what Drow, dragons and men she might call to a grand alliance to destroy Nargoroth. His counsel tendered, he disappeared as abruptly as he had come.
Comet and her Guardian continued their journey southward, and soon found the northern entrance to Greatwood Forest. Before they could gain refuge there, they were assailed by a ferocious band of wolves – the Wargs of the Wilderland in the far north, sent by Nargoroth to watch for travelers bound for sanctuary there. In the ensuing battle, Comet found the strength of Eledhwen, the great elven sword passed to her from her father; and she dispatched Nazgrimm, the ancient Warg leader, as the beast attacked Darius. But the strength of the pack was too great; and Darius and Comet both fell in the terrible fray.
Comet woke some days later, in the safety of Tal Rilma, the elven city deep within the confines of the forest. Only then did they learn that they had been rescued by her Sylvan general, Andelmir, who had followed from Taur-na-Sylvhara to seek her. Andelmir and his mounted warriors had arrived just as the Wargs closed on Comet and Darius in their final attack. Many of the wolves were slain, and the rest driven off; and Comet and her Guardian were carried to the shelter of Tal Rilma. To her great surprise and joy, Comet discovered that Ivy had fled Brithillien in the north; and the sisters were reunited.
Comet remained in at Tal Rilma for over 130 years; and in that time learned much of what she needed to know as the heir to Eyrturheru and leader of the Sylvan North. She learned that Ivy – who had traveled south with their aunt, Elëanil – had trained in the skills of the Coialambe – the common tongue that linked all the world’s living things. As time passed, many of the People in exile responded to the Sylvan Ode that called them to duty; and their numbers grew quickly within the Greatwood Forest.
It was at that time that Myrrdin returned – oddly younger than when they had last met so many years earlier. With Myrrdin came Kaerum K’aerunis, the High Priest of the Sylvan North and Steward of the House of Athanor. But Kaerum was unmasked by Myrrdin as a spy and traitor, intent on slaying Comet at her forthcoming coronation. On that day – 4 November 725 – the traitorous priest was subdued before he could execute his foul plans. Myrrdin counseled Comet that she must prepare to leave Greatwood; and seek the aid of Lord Malikith, the Dark Lord of the Drow House of Qu’ellar Vil’rath if the Sylvan cause were to survive.
By the morning of the following day, Comet was left without the guidance of both Myrrdin and her beloved Guardian. At the end of the coronation ceremony, Comet grudgingly allowed Darius to depart on a vital mission to the dragons. Myrrdin left hours later, on an unknown mission of his own. And so Comet was left alone, the mantle of leadership heavy upon her shoulders, to begin her journey to the Drow lands.
As Comet began the long and dangerous pilgrimage to Qu’ellar Vil’rath in the heart of the Shadowpine Forest, she read the letters Myrrdin had left behind to guide her in her quest. The first told her of the forces Nargoroth was drawing to his side, and of the urgent need to build a grand alliance to counter them. In that aim, the dragons were vital – and so, therefore, was the success of Darius’ mission. At the same time, the protectorate of Lord Malikith would provide the security required to build the strength to defy the Shadow Lord’s domination. Comet also learned of the history of Malikith, of Qu’ellar Vil’rath, and of the Eilistraee – the surface Drow who opposed the intentions of Nargoroth. She vowed, anew, to rebuild the bonds of ancient kinship between Sylvan and Drow in forming the alliance.
Most importantly, Myrrdin instructed Comet of the importance of three talismans of power that the Sylvans might wield in opposition to the Shadow. The first was Eledhwen – the great sword passed to her by Eyrturheru – through which flowed the life force of her People. She had felt its power in the battle with the Wargs, but only now began to understand its full significance. The second talisman was the Coialambe, the gift of the living tongue passed along the matriarchal line of her ancestors. She knew that Nargoroth lusted after it with greater envy than anything else in the world – knowing that, through its power, he might hold all living things in thrall.
The third of the talismans remained a mystery to her, for she could not yet contemplate its power. Myrrdin called it the Hoon tel’Orod – “Heart of the Mountain” – and described it as a keystone to channel the power that lay within the earth, thereby giving strength to the walls of their sacred places. While she could not yet comprehend it, she accepted Myrrdin’s guidance that they must, at all cost, reclaim the Hoon from the ruins of Taur-na-Sylvhara.
Comet and her entourage – including Ivy (now High Priestess of the Sylvan North) and their aunt, Elëanil – arrived at Qu’ellar Vil’rath in the famously bitter winter of 725. They were soon reunited with their cousin, Loren, daughter of Lirimaël and warrior-princess of Durohn. Soon after their arrival, Malikith convened a council of representatives from all the peoples present – and so was held the first meeting of the fledgling Great Alliance. The United Warriors was formed – a common command for the armies of the Alliance; and emissaries were sent out in all directions to summon good people to its cause.
In private council, Comet formally petitioned Lord Malikith for protection as she gathered her People together from exile. The proud Drow Lord agreed readily, and so began a deep and historic friendship. Comet shared with Malikith all that she had learned from Myrrdin about their enemy. When she mentioned the rumors of a sorceress, Maluila, Malikith reacted with shock and wonder. He told Comet that Maluila was an ancient name, one of three infamous witches known as the Neldor. The Neldor were thought to be immortal, and Maluila – the youngest and most capricious – was thought a patroness of demons and the gatekeeper to the underworld. The two agreed to keep this news in confidence, as any suspicion that Nargoroth might summon demons to serve his vile purpose would strike fear into the most valorous hearts.
For several decades, the Alliance forces grew. The Sylvan Elves responded to the call of their Queen; and others – including Que’llar Zenith, Lumindor, Durohn, Ravenscraig, Salvation, Bondomia – rallied to answer the call. But just as all seemed to be moving in the proper direction, Ivy – High Priestess of the Sylvan People – fell into a mysterious fugue state from which she was unable to be roused. Her condition lingered for months, breaking only as news that Nathan – Comet’s beloved cousin, and brother to Loren – had returned from his mysterious unknown architectural commission. Upon awakening, Ivy revealed a most remarkable vision of a land “where all the elements are joined as one” that might be their future home – the reborn Sylvhara. But she could not do so before Nathan had related the events he had witnessed, of Darius and the dragons.
Nathan revealed he had been commissioned by Gormackh, heir to Bragollach and now Dragon Lord, to build a grand dragon cathedral. As the work progressed, Darius appeared at the Dragon Court to appeal to Gormackh to lead the dragons in resistance to Nargoroth. But it soon became clear that Gormackh had been corrupted by the agents of the Shadow Lord. Aided by Darius’ two half-brothers – twin Sereg’wethrin called Malfeus and Bartemis – Gormackh took Darius as his prisoner and subjected him to heinous tortures in an attempt to learn the secrets of the new alliance against Nargoroth. When it became clear that Darius would reveal nothing, he was taken by the twins to the arena and beaten savagely. The Sereg’wethrin brothers waited, expectantly, for Gormackh to order the execution of their traitorous half-brother. But before the order could be given, Draco – heir to the Dragon King, and now a guest of the Court – rose in protest, triggering a revolt by those dragons loyal to him and to his father, Dragollich. A fierce battle ensued, during which Bartemis turned on his brother, freeing Nathan and helping Darius and Draco to make their escape. Malfeus made a final, desperate attempt to turn the tide, and came close to assassinating Draco before being swept away by Darius, who had assumed dragon form. Nathan watched helplessly, as Darius and Malfeus tumbled to earth in mortal combat – and were lost from sight.
Nathan went on to tell Comet of a most unexpected and favorable turn of events. In the immediate aftermath of the dragon revolt, Nathan, Draco and Bartemis traveled to the ruins of Taur-na-Sylvhara – warned by Bartemis that Nargoroth sensed something of immense value there. In a harrowing race against time, the trio found and retrieved the Hoon tel’Orod from beneath the shattered walls of the old kingdom; and managed a narrow escape from the hordes of the Shadow Lord that raced to the scene.
Comet commissioned a search for the lands Ivy had seen in her dream state; but soon became frustrated at the failed efforts to find what they so ardently sought. At last, she determined to set out on her own – in a party that included Ivy and Nathan, to seek the place for herself. In the spring of 783, they found it…and both Comet and Ivy knew at once that they had found, at long last, the birthplace of the new Sylvhara. Comet took her bow; and fired an arrow high into the sky – repeating the legendary act that her father had performed in founding the original kingdom.
By the year 832, the new city was taking form under the skillful hand of Nathan. That very spring, Myrrdin appeared – oddly younger than when he had left on his private mission 107 years before. Myrrdin told the tales of his imprisonment by the witch-goddess Maluila; and of the shocking and ironic bargain struck between Maluila and Nargoroth. As expected, the Shadow Lord petitioned for the power to summon demons; and Maluila was all too happy to oblige him. What she did not communicate, however, was that in accepting this gift, Nargoroth would lose his hold upon a mortal form. Myrrdin said that this was the way of the Neldor, who would oft toy with mortals for their own amusement while caring little for the consequences.
As Nargoroth discovered the truth, he began to seek out the Queens of all the races – for it was in them that the life force of their peoples was most intensely concentrated. Nargoroth knew that taking those life forces would allow him to cling to corporeal form in the world. Even so, his mortal form slowly eroded; and it seemed the aspirations of the Shadow Lord would be undone by his own arrogance. He remained dangerous and resourceful, however; and soon reasoned that he must sire an heir. But no simple heir would suffice, as the Shadow Lord would share power with none. And so, he began to seek union with a Sylvan mother, bearer of the Coialambe – in the hope that the dark arts learned from Trefelgan might lead him to rebirth.
By 901 – one year ago before the date of this writing – the Great
This book is derived from the journals and diaries kept by Comet over the many years since her departure from Taur-na-Sylvhara in the year 591 of the Fourth Age. Comet, at the age of 15, finds herself under the care of Darius – who, despite his dark past, was appointed as her Guardian by her father, Eyrturheru.
The pair had been traveling five months, in the wild, when they were attacked by a band of five men – mercenaries in the employ of Nargoroth – who attempt to take them by force. Comet sees Darius transform under the duress of the attack, taking dragon form to dispatch their attackers; and witnesses firsthand the horrible secret of the Sereg’wethrin. Now exposed, Darius tells his full history to Comet, sparing no details – the breeding of the Sereg’wethrin; the death of her mother, Linnea; Darius’s assignment to assassinate Eyrturheru, and his redemption before he could fulfill the task; and, finally, his appointment as her Guardian. And from him, she begins to understand the truth of Nargoroth and his intentions.
In high summer, they encountered a wizened old man wandering the woods alone – most unusual in those dark times. Darius was suspicious of the man, who charmed Comet at once with his stories and easy manner. He called himself Myrrdin, and his tales marked him as old indeed. He spoke knowingly of generations of Comet’s ancestors; and his memories went even to the Years of the Trees. But beyond the past, he spoke also of the future, warning Comet of Nargoroth’s intentions, among which was the Shadow Lord’s desire to claim her as his own bride…as, in that way, might he claim the powers that lived in her blood. The power was tied to the Coia’lia – the “living thread” that wove together all living things; and the heritage of the Golden Line of Comet’s female ancestry who could influence or control that power. Myrrdin instructed Comet that she must gather her people, and what Drow, dragons and men she might call to a grand alliance to destroy Nargoroth. His counsel tendered, he disappeared as abruptly as he had come.
Comet and her Guardian continued their journey southward, and soon found the northern entrance to Greatwood Forest. Before they could gain refuge there, they were assailed by a ferocious band of wolves – the Wargs of the Wilderland in the far north, sent by Nargoroth to watch for travelers bound for sanctuary there. In the ensuing battle, Comet found the strength of Eledhwen, the great elven sword passed to her from her father; and she dispatched Nazgrimm, the ancient Warg leader, as the beast attacked Darius. But the strength of the pack was too great; and Darius and Comet both fell in the terrible fray.
Comet woke some days later, in the safety of Tal Rilma, the elven city deep within the confines of the forest. Only then did they learn that they had been rescued by her Sylvan general, Andelmir, who had followed from Taur-na-Sylvhara to seek her. Andelmir and his mounted warriors had arrived just as the Wargs closed on Comet and Darius in their final attack. Many of the wolves were slain, and the rest driven off; and Comet and her Guardian were carried to the shelter of Tal Rilma. To her great surprise and joy, Comet discovered that Ivy had fled Brithillien in the north; and the sisters were reunited.
Comet remained in at Tal Rilma for over 130 years; and in that time learned much of what she needed to know as the heir to Eyrturheru and leader of the Sylvan North. She learned that Ivy – who had traveled south with their aunt, Elëanil – had trained in the skills of the Coialambe – the common tongue that linked all the world’s living things. As time passed, many of the People in exile responded to the Sylvan Ode that called them to duty; and their numbers grew quickly within the Greatwood Forest.
It was at that time that Myrrdin returned – oddly younger than when they had last met so many years earlier. With Myrrdin came Kaerum K’aerunis, the High Priest of the Sylvan North and Steward of the House of Athanor. But Kaerum was unmasked by Myrrdin as a spy and traitor, intent on slaying Comet at her forthcoming coronation. On that day – 4 November 725 – the traitorous priest was subdued before he could execute his foul plans. Myrrdin counseled Comet that she must prepare to leave Greatwood; and seek the aid of Lord Malikith, the Dark Lord of the Drow House of Qu’ellar Vil’rath if the Sylvan cause were to survive.
By the morning of the following day, Comet was left without the guidance of both Myrrdin and her beloved Guardian. At the end of the coronation ceremony, Comet grudgingly allowed Darius to depart on a vital mission to the dragons. Myrrdin left hours later, on an unknown mission of his own. And so Comet was left alone, the mantle of leadership heavy upon her shoulders, to begin her journey to the Drow lands.
As Comet began the long and dangerous pilgrimage to Qu’ellar Vil’rath in the heart of the Shadowpine Forest, she read the letters Myrrdin had left behind to guide her in her quest. The first told her of the forces Nargoroth was drawing to his side, and of the urgent need to build a grand alliance to counter them. In that aim, the dragons were vital – and so, therefore, was the success of Darius’ mission. At the same time, the protectorate of Lord Malikith would provide the security required to build the strength to defy the Shadow Lord’s domination. Comet also learned of the history of Malikith, of Qu’ellar Vil’rath, and of the Eilistraee – the surface Drow who opposed the intentions of Nargoroth. She vowed, anew, to rebuild the bonds of ancient kinship between Sylvan and Drow in forming the alliance.
Most importantly, Myrrdin instructed Comet of the importance of three talismans of power that the Sylvans might wield in opposition to the Shadow. The first was Eledhwen – the great sword passed to her by Eyrturheru – through which flowed the life force of her People. She had felt its power in the battle with the Wargs, but only now began to understand its full significance. The second talisman was the Coialambe, the gift of the living tongue passed along the matriarchal line of her ancestors. She knew that Nargoroth lusted after it with greater envy than anything else in the world – knowing that, through its power, he might hold all living things in thrall.
The third of the talismans remained a mystery to her, for she could not yet contemplate its power. Myrrdin called it the Hoon tel’Orod – “Heart of the Mountain” – and described it as a keystone to channel the power that lay within the earth, thereby giving strength to the walls of their sacred places. While she could not yet comprehend it, she accepted Myrrdin’s guidance that they must, at all cost, reclaim the Hoon from the ruins of Taur-na-Sylvhara.
Comet and her entourage – including Ivy (now High Priestess of the Sylvan North) and their aunt, Elëanil – arrived at Qu’ellar Vil’rath in the famously bitter winter of 725. They were soon reunited with their cousin, Loren, daughter of Lirimaël and warrior-princess of Durohn. Soon after their arrival, Malikith convened a council of representatives from all the peoples present – and so was held the first meeting of the fledgling Great Alliance. The United Warriors was formed – a common command for the armies of the Alliance; and emissaries were sent out in all directions to summon good people to its cause.
In private council, Comet formally petitioned Lord Malikith for protection as she gathered her People together from exile. The proud Drow Lord agreed readily, and so began a deep and historic friendship. Comet shared with Malikith all that she had learned from Myrrdin about their enemy. When she mentioned the rumors of a sorceress, Maluila, Malikith reacted with shock and wonder. He told Comet that Maluila was an ancient name, one of three infamous witches known as the Neldor. The Neldor were thought to be immortal, and Maluila – the youngest and most capricious – was thought a patroness of demons and the gatekeeper to the underworld. The two agreed to keep this news in confidence, as any suspicion that Nargoroth might summon demons to serve his vile purpose would strike fear into the most valorous hearts.
For several decades, the Alliance forces grew. The Sylvan Elves responded to the call of their Queen; and others – including Que’llar Zenith, Lumindor, Durohn, Ravenscraig, Salvation, Bondomia – rallied to answer the call. But just as all seemed to be moving in the proper direction, Ivy – High Priestess of the Sylvan People – fell into a mysterious fugue state from which she was unable to be roused. Her condition lingered for months, breaking only as news that Nathan – Comet’s beloved cousin, and brother to Loren – had returned from his mysterious unknown architectural commission. Upon awakening, Ivy revealed a most remarkable vision of a land “where all the elements are joined as one” that might be their future home – the reborn Sylvhara. But she could not do so before Nathan had related the events he had witnessed, of Darius and the dragons.
Nathan revealed he had been commissioned by Gormackh, heir to Bragollach and now Dragon Lord, to build a grand dragon cathedral. As the work progressed, Darius appeared at the Dragon Court to appeal to Gormackh to lead the dragons in resistance to Nargoroth. But it soon became clear that Gormackh had been corrupted by the agents of the Shadow Lord. Aided by Darius’ two half-brothers – twin Sereg’wethrin called Malfeus and Bartemis – Gormackh took Darius as his prisoner and subjected him to heinous tortures in an attempt to learn the secrets of the new alliance against Nargoroth. When it became clear that Darius would reveal nothing, he was taken by the twins to the arena and beaten savagely. The Sereg’wethrin brothers waited, expectantly, for Gormackh to order the execution of their traitorous half-brother. But before the order could be given, Draco – heir to the Dragon King, and now a guest of the Court – rose in protest, triggering a revolt by those dragons loyal to him and to his father, Dragollich. A fierce battle ensued, during which Bartemis turned on his brother, freeing Nathan and helping Darius and Draco to make their escape. Malfeus made a final, desperate attempt to turn the tide, and came close to assassinating Draco before being swept away by Darius, who had assumed dragon form. Nathan watched helplessly, as Darius and Malfeus tumbled to earth in mortal combat – and were lost from sight.
Nathan went on to tell Comet of a most unexpected and favorable turn of events. In the immediate aftermath of the dragon revolt, Nathan, Draco and Bartemis traveled to the ruins of Taur-na-Sylvhara – warned by Bartemis that Nargoroth sensed something of immense value there. In a harrowing race against time, the trio found and retrieved the Hoon tel’Orod from beneath the shattered walls of the old kingdom; and managed a narrow escape from the hordes of the Shadow Lord that raced to the scene.
Comet commissioned a search for the lands Ivy had seen in her dream state; but soon became frustrated at the failed efforts to find what they so ardently sought. At last, she determined to set out on her own – in a party that included Ivy and Nathan, to seek the place for herself. In the spring of 783, they found it…and both Comet and Ivy knew at once that they had found, at long last, the birthplace of the new Sylvhara. Comet took her bow; and fired an arrow high into the sky – repeating the legendary act that her father had performed in founding the original kingdom.
By the year 832, the new city was taking form under the skillful hand of Nathan. That very spring, Myrrdin appeared – oddly younger than when he had left on his private mission 107 years before. Myrrdin told the tales of his imprisonment by the witch-goddess Maluila; and of the shocking and ironic bargain struck between Maluila and Nargoroth. As expected, the Shadow Lord petitioned for the power to summon demons; and Maluila was all too happy to oblige him. What she did not communicate, however, was that in accepting this gift, Nargoroth would lose his hold upon a mortal form. Myrrdin said that this was the way of the Neldor, who would oft toy with mortals for their own amusement while caring little for the consequences.
As Nargoroth discovered the truth, he began to seek out the Queens of all the races – for it was in them that the life force of their peoples was most intensely concentrated. Nargoroth knew that taking those life forces would allow him to cling to corporeal form in the world. Even so, his mortal form slowly eroded; and it seemed the aspirations of the Shadow Lord would be undone by his own arrogance. He remained dangerous and resourceful, however; and soon reasoned that he must sire an heir. But no simple heir would suffice, as the Shadow Lord would share power with none. And so, he began to seek union with a Sylvan mother, bearer of the Coialambe – in the hope that the dark arts learned from Trefelgan might lead him to rebirth.
By 901 – one year ago before the date of this writing – the Great
Alliance was well formed and war with the Shadow Alliance had broken out across the world. It was in that time that Darius returned, near death from his quest over the past 140 years to hunt down and kill all of the Sereg’wethrin who roamed the lands as his emissaries and assassins for Nargoroth. The last to fall was Malfeus, whom Darius had long sought since his escape in the aftermath of the dragon revolt. But before Darius could finish his tale, Nargoroth struck at Sylvhara – taking Elëanesse, Comet’s cousin and the daughter of Elëanil. For a moment, all seemed lost; but Darius leapt suddenly into action. He took a bow and fired a single arrow at the fleeing Shadow Lord killing Elëanesse in his tragic desperation, before she could be taken away by the Shadow Lord.
This, then, brings the Sylvan tales and legends to the present day; and though the pages of history are written anew with each passing event, the pages of tomorrow are yet blank to us all.
This, then, brings the Sylvan tales and legends to the present day; and though the pages of history are written anew with each passing event, the pages of tomorrow are yet blank to us all.
