Category:The Griffin Sword Saga

The major NPC participants of the Griffin Sword Saga, depicted counterclockwise from the top: Morvule, Eryael, Draezir, Zerroth, Kendryth, Chaeye, and Ulstram. Rendered by HATESHI.

The Griffin Sword Saga was a multi-year global storyline that took place from 2002-2005. It revisited events of the first Griffin Sword War, which took place in Wehnimer's Landing in 1996.

The Dark Alliance, led by four High Priests of Luukos, Mularos, Sheru, and V'tull, sought to finally acquire the Griffin Sword that had eluded them for so many years. They invaded Wehnimer's Landing, where a prophet of Lorminstra and a paladin of Koar helped oppose them. The Griffin Sword was shattered a second time, its four pieces scattered across the lands. Over the next three years, both sides sought to find the four shards, traveling to nearly every accessible city and town as war plagued the entire continent. The Resistance grew in strength, with a Dreamwalker of Ronan and a paladin of Phoen joining their forces. The Dark Alliance recovered the first three shards. While the Resistance found the final piece, it was eventually lost and fell into the hands of the Dark Alliance. Unable to stop the final ritual to corrupt the reforged sword, the Griffin Sword was ultimately destroyed - unmade - thanks to the intervention of Gosaena's influence.

Summary

The First Griffin Sword War

When Morfell handed the sword over to the Dark Alliance, the sword split itself into four parts -- one for each of the High Priests. Each of the high priests were defeated, in time, and the four shards of the sword were recovered. The sword was reassembled, placed within a stone, and would impart blesses to those who would rub the stone until it was destroyed again, in the second Griffin Sword War.

The Second Griffin Sword War

The Griffin Sword was to be Purified by a Prophet of Lorminstra and his guard, named Ulstram and Kendryth, respectively. During the purification process, the four priests of the Dark Alliance returned to claim the sword given to them by Morfell. The High Priest, Morvule Thinevael, delivered an ultimatum to return the sword, or the they would lay waste to the town of Wehnimer's Landing. Ulstram responded by drawing the sword from the stone and attacking Morvule with it. Durring the battle, the sword shattered, spreading itself across the world, beginning the second Griffin Sword War, which became known as the Griffin Sword Saga.

Recovery of the Shards

The shards were found individually in various locations throughout Elanthia. The first shard, the hilt, was found by Siwas Devessi on the Isle of Teras. The second shard, the quillions, was found by Alisaire Frey in Solhaven. The third shard, the pommel, was found by Maimara Andriatti in the catacombs of Ta'Illistim. The last shard, the blade, was found by a merchant who attempted to sell it to the highest bidder before Ulstram imprisoned him within his own mansion, disallowing him from profiting from the blade. Eventually Ulstram received the blade and battled Zerroth, Eryael, Draezir, and Morvule. Morvule possessed the other three shards, and crafted a blade to combat Ulstram. Eventually, Ulstram struck Morvule down... but Morvule returned and slayed Ulstram, and then the other three high priests were found to be in good health.

The End of the Griffin Sword Saga

The Dark Alliance recovered all four pieces and worked to repair it. Morfell was to wield the blade as he was originally intended to, but the priests had to remove any "taint" that Morfell might possess. Eventually, Charna Ja'Varrel'Kav was given a powerful sickle by the Triad of Gosaena and confronted Morfell after the Griffin Sword was completed. When Morfell attacked Charna with the sword, the blades contacted, destroying the sword and causing the sickle to age rapidly. The sickle lost its powers, while the sword was gone forever.

Cast of Characters

Official Vignettes

• December 2008: Griffin Sword War, as recounted by Vaelsoth Inzuniel. This official document was released on October 13, 2011. It was originally titled both "The Gryphon Sword War Saga" and "The Griffon Sword War" on the Play.net website but had its title changed when it was moved to the wiki. It was also released in game well prior to the official document as a series of Gloumerrick books titled "The Griffon Sword Saga" Volumes 1 through 3, which are available to read in several libraries, including the libraries in Solhaven and Ta'Illistim.

Character Vignettes

• December 2002: An Interview With Harith, the Whip of Mularos, by Kaishaku
• July 2004: Death of Harith, by Charna
• July 2004: Letter to Guarrin, by Charna
• Late 2004: Aftermath, by Charna

Logs

2002

• 02-06-2002 - Morvule's first appearance is to call some of Luukos' faithful to his shrine and mark them.
• 02-12-2002 - Morvule makes an an early appearance, marking those faithful to Luukos and foreshadowing the events to come.
• 02-13-2002 - Within the Luukos shrine near the Landing, Morvule does not take kindly to trespassers, especially when they are making clandestine meetings difficult to arrange.
• 02-16-2002 - Morvule appears while Achillea and Atania converse, demonstrating a hint of what Luukos has given him.
• 02-20-2002 - The hidden Luukos shrine is found and Morvule demands silence regarding its discovery.
• 05-06-2002 - Morvule prepares to finally act and claim the tainted Griffin Sword in the coming days, but first demands a sacrifice from those aligned with Luukos.
• 05-07-2002 - The formal beginning of the storyline is marked by a taint being sensed within the Griffin Sword. Nofret recounts the sword's history and the events of the first war for it, some years before.
• 05-08-2002 - Undead stir in Potter's Field, and Morvule claims that their "release" only fuels his plans as Luukos draws back their souls for another purpose. Later, the grizzled old warrior and a priest speak with those concerned about the sword's "taint". The priest, later revealed to be Ulstram, sets new wardings around the sword.
• 05-10-2002 - Undead in the Sheruvian Monastery are observed acting unusually, also responding to "The Call". Morvule's voice can be heard assuring the town that the deaths will cease if they relinquish the sword. Ulstram and Kendryth briefly speak, advising everyone to be cautious and to not fall prey themselves to the domains of those in the Dark Alliance.
• 05-11-2002 - Kendryth investigates rumors of worms in the south to determine if it is a real threat or just a Luukosian feint. Ulstram assesses the mana focii being established around the Griffin Sword, created by days of defenders infusing mana into the area.
• 05-12-2002 - Kendryth briefly chats with those waiting outside of the Temple of Lorminstra while Ulstram deliberates inside with the other priests.
• 05-14-2002 - Kendryth shares what progress has been made by Ulstram and the other priests on how to approach cleansing the Griffin Sword. He worries this is the calm before the storm.
• 05-15-2002 - Ulstram prepares to cleanse the Griffin Sword and asks those who would help him to gather the next day.
• 05-16-2002 - Ulstram tries to purge the taint from the Griffin Sword but is interrupted by Morvule. The two fight, and the sword is shattered. The leaders of the Dark Alliance reveal themselves.
• 05-17-2002 - Undead attack the Landing from the south, as Morvule is angered by the town. Kendryth helps on the frontlines while Ulstram stands watch by the temple. When the attacks are over, Kendryth helps shore up defenses for the next time.
• 05-18-2002 - Undead attack the Landing again, although this time they are prepared with added defensive structures at key points outside town.
• 05-19-2002 - Another night of undead attacks falls upon the Landing. While the new defenses held the night before, this time they are breached, with enemies swarming the gates and catacombs beneath.
• 05-20-2002 - Morvule's final attack comes at sunset and this time the defenders are completely swept away, with Luukosians swarming the streets and buildings set on fire. Ulstram has a vision that Kendryth has been captured and is in shackles. The invasion ends when the Luukosians withdraw, having accomplished their goal: half the town is razed to the ground, with key amenities shuttered for days until the rubble is dug out.
• 05-22-2002 - Ulstram forms a small rescue party and they carry out a quiet mission to rescue Kendryth from the Luukosian camp. They are successful.
• 09-10-2002 - A shadow beast has been plaguing Solhaven. It comes again under cover of night amid a storm, and one of it had previously marked finds out why. A second is birthed from Revalos' shattered skull.
• 09-20-2002 - The two shadow beasts have found an anchor, who willingly agrees to be the third of the Triad to bring them into existence. The ritual is interrupted, and they are banished.
• 10-30-2002 - The quillions are found within the mazelike Cairnfang Forest outside of Solhaven. Afterward, Alisaire, the one who found them, speaks first with Morvule and then Draezir to strike a deal.
• 11-04-2002 - Chaeye calls for those who would join her in the fight against Draezir, gathering them together in the Temple of Ronan in Solhaven in one of her first appearances.
• 11-10-2002 - Alisaire surrenders the quillions to the Dark Alliance, but the deal she was promised is not delivered as expected.

2003

• 03-01-2003 - Harith returns via a ritual led by Morvule, although she is now in the form of a banshee. Incorporeal, she is distraught that she no longer feels physical pain.
• 04-18-2003 - Eryael summons Maimara and marks her as one of Mularos' fold.
• 04-18-2003 - Maimara finds the pommel as the monstrous Miscere'golab rises above Ta'Illistim and the heroes fly via airship to destroy it.
• 04-23-2003 - The pale priest shares a bit of philosophy with Alisaire within Solhaven's hidden Temple of Luukos.
• 04-25-2003 - Eryael visits Maimara within her refuge, while she still holds the pommel.
• 06-11-2003 - Lorekeeper Q&A Event with Mentors Quinstol and Siwas, featuring Ulstram as a guest.

2004

• 06-15-2004 - Cerisago is found, injured and half-mad, in Solhaven's Garden of Forbidden Knowledge. Several try to get information from her about what has happened to her - or with her husband Deshian, who has been trying to find a way to make the banshee Harith corporeal again.
• 07-24-2004 - Maige demonstrates the powers given to her by Eryael, after she, Privea and Jeselle were captured, tortured, and then set loose on Solhaven during Eryael's assault on the city.
• 11-08-2004 - Eryael reaches out to two Anchors in the final moments before he is put into an unnatural coma, the Resistance having successfully pierced his mind thanks to Ulstram and Chaeye joining their powers.

2005

• 01-30-2005 - Morvule invades Solhaven and during it uses the newly-released Animate Dead to animate Kadesha, a prominent Lorminstra follower.
• 01-31-2005 - Morvule raises an army of undead children as he invades Solhaven in pursuit of the final shard.
• 06-12-2005 - Visions of Volierre, experienced by a large group and showing a moment in the past when Volierre arrived at the ancient temple dedicated to Gosaena.
• 07-31-2005 - Eryael awakens after nearly a year of unnatural slumber, thanks to his two Anchors.
• 08-15-2005 - Eryael gives orders to his two Anchors, who help him to finally manifest as a thorn-clawed hazy miasma.
• 09-06-2005 - Sylvirria's past and role is finally explained by Maluverre, who also reveals how the two and Volierre are connected. They complete their ritual within the ancient temple of Gosanea. Sylvirria ascends as an angel and destroys Morvule's demonic and undead armies that have risen across Elanthia.
• 09-07-2005 - The end of the storyline takes place over about five hours, well into the night. The Resistance flies aboard Maluverre's airship to the floating Black Temple, where they face many trials. Sylvirria gives Charna a sickle, to use when the time is right. She does. In the end, the sword is unmade, never again to fall into the hands of any mortal or immortal.

In-Depth Summaries

• Griffin Sword shards descriptions and loresong.
• Elanthian Journal news articles, compiled from all editions ranging from May 2002 to November 2004. This includes news articles that were later cross-published to the Play.net website and its summary page for the storyline.
• Cerisago and Deshian loresong, taken from a bracelet found in a chest of their belongings in June, 2004. The loresong recounts their departure from Eloth-Ra after Deshian was hired by the Dark Alliance to bring the banshee Harith back to a corporeal form.

Additional Information

Credits

Many GMs were involved in it in varying roles, however the two primary staff behind the storyline were GM Lothwyn and GM Voraviel, and between them they played most characters. GM Jharra played Chaeye and Harith, and GM Hadlir played Ablen.

See Also

• Saved posts
• The Griffin Sword creation - recounting the original creation of the Griffin Sword, leading up to the first Griffin Sword War
• Kerl's recounting of the first Griffin Sword War
• Griffin Sword War - official document retelling the events of the Griffin Sword Saga
• Griffin Sword War News - official news items during the Griffin Sword Saga
• Thin silver crystal pendant - souvenir from the Griffin Sword Saga