A History of The Guild
Second Book
Age of Darkness
by Caharin
On the inside front cover of this large black leather tome, a note is fixed:
This book has been written and is meant as a continuation to the older book
of history, as written by BrightNight. The following text is written in blue
ink in a flowing, yet precise script: For a time, after the BrightNight's departure,
that The Guild was in a time of Darkness. At this time, Chaos and Confusion-
along with weakness swept through The Guild. Myself having joined in the middle
of this age, and being the only remaining member since that epoch, I have found
myself this role, as the Chief Historian of The Guild. Only recently has BrightNight's
tome describing the humble beginnings of our clan been recovered. Due to the
nature of this age, much information has been lost, both with Zaratol and the
other unknown members of The Guild. As a result, I will begin with the more
sketchy information. As it was, no one had knowledge about our past father,
BrightNight. Only passing mentions of his name, often in whispers, could be
heard in the streets. Rumors were few. Whether Zaratol suppressed information
about BrightNight's departure may never be known. It was held by the two members
of The Guild that BrightNight has just mysteriously disappeared on one dark
night, leaving doubt of his return. The other Members of The Guild, whose names
are lost in the twists of time, continued under the leadership of Zaratol. After
some time, Zaratol defied the Gods of this realm, and he was thus destroyed.
He had brought much shame to not only every member of The Guild, but to all
the citizens of Hartland and of the realm. Of course, his mistakes are written
in the previous book. Leaderless, and nearly memberless, The Guild stood as
only a great building.
Charlene was leader then, and she strove to restore glory to The Guild. After
several weeks of her searching, and trying to discover who kept their loyalties
with The Guild and who had deserted, the clan was open for new members. Using
paths usually reserved only to thieves, I sought entrance into The Guild. Upon
my arrival, I was greeted by the one leader, Charlene, and an impressively furnished
clan hall that reflected the past posterity of The Guild. Recruitment continued
as we began to restore our clan to the glory and power that our forefathers
had earned. For a long time, no further changes could be made to our clan hall,
as so was dictated by the Gods of the Realm. Daenus, a strong golem warrior,
joined The Guild, becoming our third member. A forth soon joined our ranks,
one called Voris. Voris was a short lived member, as the duties of membership
and the current war with Brotherhood proved to much for Voris. Some time passed,
and some members, when Hero Dalvadar came to join The Guild. Hence came a hero
into The Guild.
Soon after however, Dalvadar ascended into immortality, an event that made many
a member of The Guild proud. Elyna, a skilled elven witch, had joined shortly
before. As things transpired, Charlene left making Daenus the leader in her
place, with I becoming co-leader with Daenus.
At this time, the Brotherhood thought highly enough of themselves to continue
a misguided war, as they called it. Noziroh wrote a forceful note, thinking
the Brotherhood deserved something from The Guild, and tried to take advantage
of our position. Little did such fools know, but The Guild had power now. Noziroh
brought up old issues, and I took this opportunity to show the world that The
Guild was not the weak and suffering clan it was, and would not tolerate fool
orders by others. Being leader myself, I had contacted the current leader, Terok.
I traveled out of the comfort of the grand Hall of the Guild to the Silent Blade,
and seated myself in front of a warm fire, and began to discuss matters far
more important than any of the bards or serving wenches present could imagine.
After a long talk with Terok, we put behind these 'demands', or their misguided
interpretation of Zaratol and BrightNight's request, we came to an agreement.
A letter was sent to all of the members of the Brotherhood and the Guild proclaiming
peace, and saving the honor and face of the Guild.
At this time, a fact that is not known to all of the current members, I chose
to give my leadership to Elyna. I wrote a message, leaving it on the table in
the Grand Hall of The Guild:
Today, I transferred my leadership of The Guild to Elyna. Dalvadar had wished
her to be leader, and I feel I made the choice that will do the most good for
The Guild. Above all, the importance lies in keeping this clan together. I don't
feel that this decision will leave me as a useless member of The Guild. If anyone
has questions they can see me.
-Caharin
Shortly after giving up my leadership for the good of the Guild, Zaratol returned
to the realm and a series of interesting events transpired.
*Zaratol looks over the reports that he has received from his few remaining
followers from his reign , they are few indeed, but the reports are helpful
none the less. It seems the guild is no longer lead by any of the older members
as it once was, and has become weak and unfaithful to its true cause. No bother,
he thinks to himself, I have no use for the guild any longer, it was nothing
but a staging point for gaining my position the first time around, I will find
another way. Having found the guild in disarray, and no longer of any use, zaratol
pulls parchment from his satchel, and a knife from his belt, slitting his own
arm zaratol begins to write a note, in blood*
Let it be known, on this day, that I, Zaratol von'bracht, denounce the followers
of the guild, and the guild itself. I shall no longer associate myself, nor
do I wish to have others associate me with the guild.
I found the people of the guild no longer faithful to the cause that it once
held, and no longer faithful to me, which is understandable because most of
them have not heard my name.
Seeing as the guild no longer has the power to hold contracts or hold a grip
on the going ons of this realm, I give the position away to he who can take
it. Now many of you may ask yourselves why I think I have the power to do so,
and for this reason, I shall explain.
As former leader of the True Guild, I held a position of Power and Respect among
the people of this realm, and the clans.
Peace was for the most part kept, by my hand and the work of others, but because
of the risk I took upon myself, I was the Guardian of this realm, seeing as
I am no longer fit to be such, I give the position away to he who can take it.
*After a long walk to his privet temple, zaratol finds the guards still in place
and the area relatively clean, climbing to the top of the stairs he enters his
privet chamber and removes the woven rug from its place. * * Drawing fourth
from a hidden chamber 5 candles of different colors, red, white, blue, green,
and black. Placing each in its place, in the pentagon shape representing the
forces of magic, he lights each and kneels on the rug, his eyes slowly closing,
then rolling back into his head. His mind races forward, as he reaches out into
the world around him, searching for the future, the past, and the present, looking
into the minds of the unprepared, gathering as much information as he can about
the going ons in the realm during his sleep. He views a hero, one long worshiped
for his strength, fall to a foe of the brotherhood, he see's his servants, the
family he once had in the guild, fall about like leaves in the wind. A growing
cloud of darkness builds to the far west, causing havoc in this realm even at
its great distance, the dream walker no doubt. But above all, he see's the heavens
separating, new souls grasping a place of power, while another falls. And in
the midst of it all, he himself, stands like a mountain at the center of a maelstrom,
untouchable, and yet sad. Having seen what has been and what will come, and
gathering the information he needed, Zaratol focuses on returning to the world
of the living, finaly his eyes re-open and he looks about the room, much time
has passed. His voice echoes out from his chamber, rippling across the land
for all to hear, "I Zaratol von'bracht, Prophet of Destiny, Chosen of the
Sprits, shall once more hold sway in this realm, and wreak havoc and chaos upon
its people, come to me my servants, for I shall become powerful, soon I shall
be strong once more." The voice fades into nature, nothing more can be
heard until the silence is finally broken by a jolt of thunder and lightning
that pierces the sky, striking Zaratol and sending him into a de deep sleep.*
Lecter, being the brace and bold soul and member of the Guild that he is, quickly
contested Zaratol's insult writing:
As a Guild member I haven't even heard of you, you speaking your power is so
great why do I know not your name? Second of all, we already have two leaders
that are doing quite well, Daenus and Elyna. We don't need you or your position
filled, seeing how you left the Guild and then had enough guts to give the position
away that you didn't even hold anymore. If we need an ALMIGHTY leader we *will*
fill it ourselves, without outside help. If you cared about the Guild you would
have tried to change things, instead you gave up and threw us away. From this
evidence seems you lack the leadership to even lead the Guild. As far as I'm
concerned you've made a mistake abandoning us. It would be wise to not insult
us anymore than you already have.
Thank you,
Lecter Mishkin
Zaratol soon countered:
*The parchment curls somewhat at the bottom, but it is still readable, it is
written in blood, and signed with the unmistakable signature of Zaratol Von'bracht.*
Because of the pure lack of information that circulates this realm, and the
previous note left by Lecter, I write this note to clear up a few things.
First of all, who I am is known well by any person who has held any position
at all in this realm for any amount of time before my death, I am the Former
leader of the guild, and the one who kept it alive so that it could still exist
today. The guild was given to me by it creator, Brightnight, my friend and lord
who left it to me in his atime of leave.
I kept it alive, I put fear into the other clans, I brought them together to
fight against common foes, and I brought its scroll maker and Potion master
up to speed, giving them the potions and scrolls they have now.
Now, as to me and the Guild, I no longer need, nor wish to have any position
or affiliation with the Guild, as it is no longer what it was when I first joined,
and no where close to what it was when I left it to Charlene.
As to my position as Guardian of the Realm, that comes from doing just that,
guarding the realm, bringing a calm and peace to it, at least for a time, and
since I can no longer do this, I leave the position to he who would seize it.
Along with that position will come all my knowledge of the realm, including
the locations of most of the equipment used by true heroes.
Thank you fot your time
Zaratol Von'bracht
Here Zaratol became a true fool. Too proud to be a member of anything, it became
quite apparent to all that his demise was very imminent. Shortly before this
the note was written:
At this time, Wele, a powerful Hero of the realm, followed by Arwen, a very
promising and eager theif, joined The Guild. At this time, the Guild has grown
greatly in power, becoming the largest, most powerful clan of the realm. The
clan hall surpasses the others, and our members are the most active. Here I
will conclude this book titled the Age of Darkness. You see, this age is over
and many new things are transpiring. Zaratol has returned and the Guild flourshes
without him. BrightNight returns and is justly honored, although he has left
the management of the Guild to it's new members.
I am sure the history will be coninued.