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'''Bandur Etrevion''' was a dark mage who founded the theocracy called [[The Dark Path]], and was widely regarded as one of the most profound scholars of his time. Though a human born of lowly origins in the mid-6400s [[Second Era]] of the [[Shadow World]] timeline, he was able to learn the black arts and forbidden knowledge from the [[Empress Kadaena]] to whom he swore [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fealty fealty]. The Empress was killed thousands of years earlier, forming one of the deep [[The Temple of Darkness#Behind the Scenes|temporal paradoxes]] inherent in the story. It would seem her [[Iruaric|telepathic powers]] were able transcend space and time, and she was able to possess people and influence events in later ages. He could have been interacting through intermediaries as well, most likely her [[Black Hel|daughter]] (who was his contemporary), or even an [[avatar]] of her [[Uthex Kathiasas|surviving]] as an [[Lesser vruul#Behind the Scenes|ascended]] goddess. |
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'''Bandur Etrevion''' was the founder of a theocracy of [[Empress Kadaena]] called [[The Dark Path]], which was in the early years of the [[Wars of Dominion]] in the [[Shadow World]] history. This is highly unusual as Empress Kadaena was not actually a goddess and has been dead for 100,000 years. The theocracy was seemingly treating her as a forbidden death goddess. When he murdered his brother [[Kestrel Etrevion]], he built a necropolis which is now [[The Graveyard]]. Bandur was widely regarded as one of the most profound scholars of his time, with his works recognized by the [[Loremaster]]s at the College of [[Karilon]]. |
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In effect his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage_(feudal) homage] in this case would have been to the dark goddess [[Eorgina|Orgiana]], thus ruling a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fief fiefdom] of her own theocracy. This is because she was the master of Kadaena's own daughter, and his crypt is partly based on her temple, though he much more likely only had [[The Dark Path#Behind the Scenes|nightmare visions]] of it. The symbolic relevance of these sites and the poem he quoted would not exist until centuries after his own death. (Worse still, Orgiana had an intense hatred of men, with her cults often murdering them.) He would most likely have had some interaction with [[Lorgalis]], or "inside knowledge" due to his brother, which he exploited to deceive the [[Sages|Loremasters]]. Bandur pretended to be a humble scholar dedicated to fighting the forces of evil in order to gain access to very rare [[Library of Biblia|repositories]] of ancient knowledge. He was the world expert on the so-called "[[The Dark Path#Behind the Scenes|servants of the Shadow]]", the former followers of Kadaena, who were wielding demonic armies in the [[Wars of Dominion]]. He was [[Uthex Kathiasas|recognized]] for this work at the College of [[Karilon]]. |
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His most famous work "Servants of the Shadow: Power through Thralldom", concerning the ways of the forces of the [[Unlife]], gained him unlimited access to the [[Library of Nomikos]] until he was apprehended attempting to steal a rare speaking crystal. These crystals are rare [[Lord of Essaence]] artifacts which are essentially the voice interface to vast databases of recorded information from the [[First Era]]. |
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While [[The Legend of the Necropolis of Etrevion]] explains much of his backstory, many details are left implicit in the various locations associated with him, most notably [[The Graveyard]]. His brother [[Kestrel Etrevion]] was awarded the [[Coastal Cliffs]] area as a fiefdom, which Bandur usurped to pay homage to his own warped theology. Lorgalis [[Kharuugh|conquered]] the whole region in [[Uthex Kathiasas|6521 Second Era]]. The Dark Path would not have survived independently beyond this time period, as it was a usurpation of Lorgalis' own fiefdom under Kestrel. Kestrel's sons are implied to have perished in a failed rebellion against Bandur. These events originally took place six thousand years ago, but have no official timing in post-[[ICE age|ICE Age]] history. However, Bandur is frequently referenced by players, often treated as a role model for [[sorcerers]]. |
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== |
===Ice Shrine=== |
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In spite of seemingly being the mummy in a sarcophagus inside the crypt of the Graveyard, Bandur is actually frozen in a block of ice deep underground, where grave robbers would have been trapped. This "ice room" is the larder of a madman's travesty of an underworld medieval manor, where meat is kept cold on slabs called "thrawls". The undead implicitly bring human sacrifices as food in homage to him. |
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The shrine of Bandur Etrevion, where he immolated himself in ice and blasts cold outward, implicitly [[Ordainers|Ordainer]] symbolism. It is most likely an allusion to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno_(Dante)#Ninth_Circle_.28Treachery.29 Ninth Circle of Hell], along with [[Purgatory|purgatory]] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno_(Dante)#Overview_and_vestibule_of_Hell dark woods] leading to [[Black Hel|the gate]], from the end of Dante's Inferno. In the scene where Dante climbs the [[lesser vruul#Behind the Scenes|"stairs"]] of Satan's imprisoned body (betrayers are frozen in ice), who gnaws on the bodies of the damned and becomes bound in his own icy winds, night suddenly becomes dawn as he passes through the center of the earth. In his confusion he asks to be freed from "[http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/dante/in34.htm error's thralldom]" as gravity inverts, with the ice vanishing, and they ascend through the hidden way to a high vaulted dungeon that is no "[[Purgatory#Archaeology|palace hall]]" to emerge under unfamiliar stars at purgatory where the sun will allow sins to be cleansed. (The whole of [[The Graveyard]] is oriented on a [[Night mare#Behind the Scenes|northeast axis]] "toward [[Ordainers|fate]]", facing away from the [http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/prologue.html#synesthesia rising sun] of [[Lorminstra|summer]] solstice, with [http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/abandon-hope-all-ye-who-enter-here.html the lost] being those who abandoned [http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/prologue.html#straightpath "the straight way."]) |
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This descent into the underworld can be thought of in terms of the harrowing of [[Black Hel|hell]] and similar myths, with the extended metaphor seemingly possessing multiple layers of [http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/circle5.html#allegory allegory]. The fundamental story is clearly based on the [[Purgatory#Behind the Scenes|mythology]] of Osiris and Set, except with the ultimate fates of Set and Osiris reversed, which like Dante's Inferno is premised on the sun rising as a result of encountering the lord of the underworld. The principal difference is that this [[Lorminstra|rebirth]] is symbolically denied in The Graveyard. There are also unambiguous [[Purgatory#Archaeology|allusions]] to [[Pales|Old One]] stories by H.P. Lovecraft. Of special interest for the Ice Shrine is the [http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/og.aspx Other God] [http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/dq.aspx Nyarlathotep] who [[Purgatory#The Graveyard|links]] the pharaoh and "fallen archangel" points with [[Purgatory#Purgatory|Purgatory]], the [[Marlu#The Broken Lands|Dark Shrine]] in [[The Broken Lands]], and [[Muylari#Behind the Scenes|the exit]] of [[Shadow Valley]]. Bandur represents Nyarlathotep in this context, the [[avatar]] of the Outer Gods who tends to the dark cults of the pantheon [[Pales|outside]] of space and time, who actually has [[Kestrel Etrevion#Heirs|mocking contempt]] for his masters. |
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The path around the burial mound and crypt forms an infinity symbol over this room, probably an oblique [http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/eo.aspx reference] to being "lost to the [[demonic]]" in [[Gates of Oblivion|Oblivion]], with the center of the path permanently [[204|Unpresenced]] as an [[Area of effect|area effect]]. There is a corresponding scene on Plane 1 of [[The Rift]] which was written years later, not coincidentally a [[The Temple of Darkness#Behind the Scenes|temporal rift]], with a man in grey robes walking forever away on a path as tarnished as the infinity symbol over his head. Similar effects have historically existed in various parts of The Graveyard. They were typically discovered from [[Navigators|gold rings]] failing to work.'''(***)''' These infinity symbols are subtle references to "[[Lorgalis#Lorgalis|The Magician]]", a major arcana card from tarot decks. The [[giant fog beetle|fog beetle]]s in the Broken Lands having lobster claws might similarly be influenced by "The Moon" card which has a corresponding room under a red moon. There are at least several dozen rooms in the Rift, designed eight years later, that are adaptations of tarot cards from the Rider-Waite and Legends decks. |
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<pre{{log2}}> |
<pre{{log2}}> |
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[Under Crypt, Ice Room] |
[Under Crypt, Ice Room] |
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This room is dominated by a giant slab of ice. There is a chill here that |
This room is dominated by a giant slab of ice. There is a chill here that transcends the |
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cold you felt elsewhere. Piled in front of the ice slab are the remains of many a grisly |
cold you felt elsewhere. Piled in front of the ice slab are the remains of many a grisly |
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sacrifice. Bones and skulls lie piled at the base of the slab as though in homage to |
sacrifice. Bones and skulls lie piled at the base of the slab as though in homage to |
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>look slab |
>look slab |
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Peering into the monolithic block of ice, you make out a human figure trapped deep within, |
Peering into the monolithic block of ice, you make out a human figure trapped deep within, |
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like a fly in amber. It is the body of an ancient sorcerer, |
like a fly in amber. It is the body of an ancient sorcerer, richly garbed. You notice that |
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his eyes, rather than being dried out and shrunken, glitter with an evil vitality that |
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raises the hair on your neck and causes you to |
raises the hair on your neck and causes you to recall old prayers forgotten since youth. |
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[The Rift] |
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In the distance walks a tall man. His robe is grey and tattered, but the frame beneath it |
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remains strong. Above his head floats the symbol of infinity, black and tarnished as the |
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path he walks. No matter how rapidly you proceed towards him, you cannot seem to catch |
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him, although he moves no faster than a saunter. |
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Obvious paths: northeast, southeast, west |
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</pre> |
</pre> |
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There is a society task involving this room where the sun god is brought to the underworld, which causes the appearance of the ice slab to change. Bandur is revealed to be hollowed out with darkness, implicitly a reference to the archaic story of [[Nyrdru]] who was utterly consumed by [[Unlife|The Unlife]]. The [[purgatory|sacrifices]] relate instead to [https://sites.google.com/site/ancientegyptianmythology/the-afterlife Egyptian mortuary symbolism], such as the [http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-africa/false-doors-gateways-egyptian-underworld-003214 false door] and [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/pepi2p.htm offering table], which also explains the [[Night mare#Behind the Scenes|northeast]] orientation. The small slab of ice can be considered a [[Purgatory#Deeds|sacrificial offering table]], and it is very subtle dark humor. Medieval [http://www.castlesandmanorhouses.com/life_01_rooms.htm#larders larders] or pantries, such as the [http://www.castlesandmanorhouses.com/life_01_rooms.htm#cabinets cabinet room] (a play on words) serving as the entrance to this area, used slabs to keep food cool. These slabs were called "thrawls." Thus, playing off the title of his book, "Power through Thralldom." |
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==Behind the Scenes== |
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His body seems to throw off a [[sphere of emanation]] suppressing the surrounding flora, analogous to the powerful dark aura from the sarcophagus of Kadaena (which guarded the southern [[Eye of the Drake#Behind the Scenes|Eye of Utha]] and was controlled by Lorgalis with the aid of [[Luukos|Klysus]].) The Empress Kadaena had a false sarcophagus as well in [[Black Hel|southwest Jaiman]] guarding a portal, and [[Andraax]] had a false one in his mausoleum on a hidden isle south of [[Biblia|Ormian]] he used in the [[Interregnum]]. It was a tradition of later [[Vesknot|Zor royalty]] to use sarcophagi in their crypts in the [[Grey Mountains]] of eastern [[Jaiman]], who were obsessed with ancient technology and borrowed their architecture under the guidance of Andraax. It was a Lord of Essaence technique for suspended animation, tremendously slowing aging for mortal races. This was regarded as the Lords of Essaence "[[Muylari#Behind the Scenes|sleeping]]" through the eons to [[Black Hel|awaken]] again in later ages. These jointly explain the false sarcophagus of Bandur, which is paired with an empty one in the same mausoleum style on the [[Coastal Cliffs]]. It implies the Etrevion family was of Zori descent, imposing common men of the Talath/Myri race, which was a [[High Plateau#Quellburn|dispossessed]] population due to [[The Iron Wind|servants]] of the [[Unlife]]. |
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"[[The Legend of the Necropolis of Etrevion]]" is probably the first story that was specific to GemStone III. Its unusual treatment of Empress Kadaena is probably based on the brief history sections from the 1989 adventure modules, where it makes it sound like she led a dark faction of the Lords of Orhan (Modern: Liabo) rather than the Lords of Essaence. This is where the phrase "servants of the Shadow" originated. The Shadow World books from 1989 sometimes make it sound like forces of darkness in the Wars of Dominion were still servants of Kadaena herself even though she is long dead. The Dark Lords of Charon (Modern: Lornon) were mostly undefined at the time The Graveyard was created. [[Research:The Graveyard]] analyzes these matters in much detail, and the [[Uthex Kathiasas]] story may have been a spin-off. |
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''('''*** - Note:''' These [[Orhan marble#Behind the Scenes|subtleties]] in The Graveyard have been obscured by various changes to teleportation, scrying, thought net, and creature roaming mechanics over the years.)'' |
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'''Out of Character:''' |
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*[[Research:The Graveyard]] |
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*[[Research:The Broken Lands]] |
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*[[Chamber of the Dead]] |
*[[Chamber of the Dead]] |
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'''In Character:''' |
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*[[The Broken Lands and ki-lin|The Broken Lands and Ki-lin: Part One (lecture)]] |
*[[The Broken Lands and ki-lin|The Broken Lands and Ki-lin: Part One (lecture)]] |
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*[[The Broken Lands and ki-lin: Part 4 (log)|The Broken Lands and Ki-lin: Part Four (lecture)]] |
*[[The Broken Lands and ki-lin: Part 4 (log)|The Broken Lands and Ki-lin: Part Four (lecture)]] |
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Latest revision as of 21:35, 19 May 2020
Warning: This page concerns archaic world setting information from the I.C.E. Age of GemStone III. It is not canon in contemporary GemStone IV, nor is it canonical for Shadow World as the details may be specific to GemStone III. It is only historical context for certain very old parts of the game and these things should not be mixed.
Bandur Etrevion was the founder of a theocracy of Empress Kadaena called The Dark Path, which was in the early years of the Wars of Dominion in the Shadow World history. This is highly unusual as Empress Kadaena was not actually a goddess and has been dead for 100,000 years. The theocracy was seemingly treating her as a forbidden death goddess. When he murdered his brother Kestrel Etrevion, he built a necropolis which is now The Graveyard. Bandur was widely regarded as one of the most profound scholars of his time, with his works recognized by the Loremasters at the College of Karilon.
His most famous work "Servants of the Shadow: Power through Thralldom", concerning the ways of the forces of the Unlife, gained him unlimited access to the Library of Nomikos until he was apprehended attempting to steal a rare speaking crystal. These crystals are rare Lord of Essaence artifacts which are essentially the voice interface to vast databases of recorded information from the First Era.
Ice Shrine
In spite of seemingly being the mummy in a sarcophagus inside the crypt of the Graveyard, Bandur is actually frozen in a block of ice deep underground, where grave robbers would have been trapped. This "ice room" is the larder of a madman's travesty of an underworld medieval manor, where meat is kept cold on slabs called "thrawls". The undead implicitly bring human sacrifices as food in homage to him.
[Under Crypt, Ice Room] This room is dominated by a giant slab of ice. There is a chill here that transcends the cold you felt elsewhere. Piled in front of the ice slab are the remains of many a grisly sacrifice. Bones and skulls lie piled at the base of the slab as though in homage to something. Your curiosity piqued, you draw close to the slab. Dimly within you can make out a richly robed figure. On one side of the room are some roughly carved stairs. You also see a smaller slab of ice. Obvious exits: none. >look slab Peering into the monolithic block of ice, you make out a human figure trapped deep within, like a fly in amber. It is the body of an ancient sorcerer, richly garbed. You notice that his eyes, rather than being dried out and shrunken, glitter with an evil vitality that raises the hair on your neck and causes you to recall old prayers forgotten since youth.
Behind the Scenes
"The Legend of the Necropolis of Etrevion" is probably the first story that was specific to GemStone III. Its unusual treatment of Empress Kadaena is probably based on the brief history sections from the 1989 adventure modules, where it makes it sound like she led a dark faction of the Lords of Orhan (Modern: Liabo) rather than the Lords of Essaence. This is where the phrase "servants of the Shadow" originated. The Shadow World books from 1989 sometimes make it sound like forces of darkness in the Wars of Dominion were still servants of Kadaena herself even though she is long dead. The Dark Lords of Charon (Modern: Lornon) were mostly undefined at the time The Graveyard was created. Research:The Graveyard analyzes these matters in much detail, and the Uthex Kathiasas story may have been a spin-off.
See Also
Out of Character:
In Character: