Myharl (prime)

Myharl the Dark Tower (Formerly Myharl Gryphonwind) Commissioned artwork by Mates Laurentiu Race Giantman Culture Maeramil Wind Runner Clan Firewalker Tribe Hometown Wehnimer's Landing / Cold River (adulthood), Southron Wastes Nomad (childhood) Class Merchant / Former Morganatic Noble Profession Warrior (Wyrmslayer) Religion None / Previously: Koar (The Great Drake), Kor'thriss (Guardian of the World), and the Champion Voln Affiliation(s) Master at Arms of the Warrior Guild, Master in the Order of Voln, Member of House of the Rising Phoenix In-a-Word Large Disposition Once friendly and warm, more recently distant and grim Alignment Equivalent: Neutral Good ] Demeanor Bloodthirsty (particularly towards wyrms) Primary Trait Exceptionally tall (10' 5"), Kroderine Soul Secondary Trait His towering height and hulking frame cause him to get in the way a lot Flaw Propensity to be a loner that is growing more prevalent Greatest Strength Berserking Greatest Weakness Berserking Habits Frequent whiskey and pipe-weed, occasionally opium. Hobbies Master crafter, master forger (all weapon types), sheath maker, shop owner [Gryphonwind Ventures], and avid wyrm hunter Soft Spots Dark Elven Women Likes Testing his mettle Dislikes Zealots, dishonesty, and crowded rooms Fears Dishonor to himself, Disappointing loved ones Loyalties Spirit of the Forlorn Maiden / Previously: Lumnis, Lorminstra, Phoen, and Ronan (By association to Koar) Best Friend Lunaryna, Dallinn Spouse None / Divorced; Married 5109-5122 to Ladies Aurla, Psyryn, Yterria, and Yieshia Loved One Lunaryna (Beloved Friend/Past Lover) Children None

CHE and MHO Membership CHE House of the Rising Phoenix CHE Rank Former Functional Officer CHE Position Event Runner MHO Affiliations House Daingneach Onoir — Former Lord Sage, Guildmaster of the Order of the Quill, Former Head Squire appointed by the Lady Paladin, and Bearer of the Oriflamme (Resigned 5111) Greater Elanthian Merchant Society (MHO Defunct) Clan Snar (MHO Defunct)

Pictured: Crest of the Dark Tower. The personal seal/crest of Myharl the Dark Tower. Graphic design by the player of Myharl.

Pictured: Shadow Cursed Kindred, Myharl the Dark Tower (photo-realistic render). Graphic generated using AI by the player of Myharl.

Shadow-wreathed, cursed, and exiled Maeramil Firewalker kindred, bearer of the Eye of the Drake, wyrmslayer of the Hinterwilds. He tries to be a good man, yet struggles against his own darkness.

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Shrouded in tendrils of swirling umber and twisting shadows and accompanied by an unnaturally frigid aura, Myharl is a cursed kindred who was long ago exiled from his desert homelands in the Southron Wastes. He is a berserker and famed wyrmslayer who now hails from Cold River, a hibernal village settled beyond the Long Snow, deep in the nival heart of the Hinterwilds.

His extraordinary height and a battle-forged mettle have earned him the moniker Dark Tower. He bears loyalty to no kingdom or empire, bends a knee to no ruler or sovereign, and lends no sworn faith to the divine. His allegiances are to his friends and those he considers family, and to them his dedication is unwavering.

His soul is bound to the Eye of the Drake, an ancient and mysterious artifact in his possession. Dating back to the era of the thousand years war between the Great Drakes and Ur-Daemons, the Eye is the domain of a mysterious dark shadow entity who has secretly manipulated pivotal moments in Myharl's life, honing his wrath and rage and driving him ever northward.

Though oblivious to his curse and misled about the nature of the Eye for most his life, the truth was recently discovered by his closest friend, a learned scholar, who had a direct confrontation with the dark entity when researching the artifact. It was learned that it has spent a lifetime grooming the giantkin to become its Destroyer.

Despite now having knowledge of this deception and his intended fate, the his curse continues to compel Myharl to dwell at the wintry edge of the world and to hunt and destroy its most dangerous creatures, ever seeking stronger and more deadly wyrms to fell. With every passing day the dark magic wears upon his spirit, pushing him further into a grim darkness.

Current Appearance

Combat Appearance

You see Myharl the Dark Tower.
He appears to be a Giantman of the Maeramil Clan.
He is of an extraordinary height, even for a giant.  He appears to be an adult.  He has darkly rimmed, piercing black eyes and deeply coffee-hued skin.  He has a bald head.  He has a well-defined face, a broad and strong nose and a sloe black silver-touched beard pinioned into a single elaborate braid by a dark wyrm's-eye aetherstone.  His features have a firm, statue-like quality to them.  The feral, snarling visage of a wyrm glares from the black alloy battle mask he wears.
He has a set of five lustrous onyx rings in his left eyebrow, a silvered ebon tattoo depicting a wyrm's talon descending from beneath his left eye, a small dark shard-shaped mark on his neck, a pair of knotwork wyrm tattoos unfurling from over his shoulders to lock gazes on his chest, a caliginous shadowy drake tattoo on his arm, and a sinuously coiled abyran'sa tattoo on his arm.
Dark shadows twist and swirl around him.
He gives off a fierce demeanor.
He is in good shape.
An imposing fuliginous raven alights upon his shoulder, extending its tapered wings to frame him in shadows.
He is wearing a slit-visored black alloy greathelm crested with shining disir feathers, a mesh black alloy aventail, a black alloy neckchain suspending a shard of rime-shrouded everfrost, a petite nacre moonflower, a deeply hooded ebon shadowsilk robe mantled in lightless valravn quills, a full suit of black alloy platemail with a mesh black alloy arming coat underneath, a pair of black alloy vambraces, a pair of scaled black alloy gauntlets, a krodera-bound black alloy tower shield slung over his shoulder, an ancient wyrm talon bound in arabesqued balenite, a wide stygian leather belt draping a pair of trio-tiered black alloy chains, a frostworn hinterboar hide satchel, a kilt of shadowy valravn quills cinched by a silver-shot wyrm's talon sporran, a pair of black alloy leg greaves, and a pair of segmented black alloy boots.

Casual Appearance

You see Myharl the Dark Tower.
He appears to be a Giantman of the Maeramil Clan.
He is of an extraordinary height, even for a giant.  He appears to be an adult.  He has darkly rimmed, piercing black eyes and deeply coffee-hued skin.  He has a bald head.  He has a well-defined face, a broad and strong nose and a sloe black silver-touched beard pinioned into a single elaborate braid by a dark wyrm's-eye aetherstone.  His features have a firm, statue-like quality to them.
He has a set of five lustrous onyx rings in his left eyebrow, a silvered ebon tattoo depicting a wyrm's talon descending from beneath his left eye, a small dark shard-shaped mark on his neck, a pulsating blue sunstone ring in the upper ridge of his left ear.
He gives off a fierce demeanor.
Dark shadows twist and swirl around him.
He is in good shape.
An imposing fuliginous raven alights upon his shoulder, extending its tapered wings to frame him in shadows.
He is holding a chaya of warm sake in his left hand.
He is wearing a black alloy neckchain suspending a shard of rime-shrouded everfrost, a petite nacre moonflower, a deeply hooded ebon shadowsilk robe mantled in lightless valravn quills, a half-buttoned umbral silk shirt with rolled sleeves, an ancient wyrm talon bound in arabesqued balenite, a tower-ensigiled onyx signet ring worn on the right middle finger, a sturdy ko'nag case, a wide stygian leather belt draping a pair of trio-tiered black alloy chains, a kilt of shadowy valravn quills cinched by a silver-shot wyrm's talon sporran, and a pair of sable leather boots bound in numerous buckled straps.

Current Sate of Roleplay

Currently, Myharl is experiencing a major shift in his story line—a new, darker chapter.

New visions, prompted by the Eye of the Drake, set his path to the edge of the world, beyond the Long Snow and into the Hinterwilds. Soon upon arriving, merit was given to his foresight as a fierce dragonic figure soared overhead beneath the dark skies and glowing aurora. This was the place of wyrms in the long-ago dreams which led him from the desert wastes. It goes unquestioned that his fate has led him into the endless winter, a place tainted by dark magic. Ancient magic. A force that relentlessly wears away at his soul. Day-by-day he grows distant, darker—more grim. The once joyful, fun-loving giant has grown starkly cold and notably more bloodthirsty (even for the berserker that he is). However, something draws him back from the edge of darkness after each trek into the long night. A distant warmth, a whisper, a mysterious anchor to light...

Myharl closes his eyes briefly as he gently places his right hand over his heart. His fingers brush against a petite nacre moonflower there donned and the tendrils of shadow writhing around his figure sway listlessly about the token as if drawn by some unseen force. A peaceful silence washes over his visage for a moment as he draws a deep breath. The shadows return to wreath him as his dark eyes flash open. He steels his nerves, readies his warsword and shield, and marches resolutely into the frigid gale-thrown night.

Important Shifts in Narrative with this Chapter

• Dark shadows have manifested and constantly swirl around Myharl. He has discovered that he can somewhat control the umbral maelstrom; a skill he continues to hone as the effects of his curse intensify. They have become a sort of physical representation of his grim state and the darkening of his soul.

• Having spent most of his adult life as a devout servant of Koar, the discovery that the Eye of the Drake is the source of a curse he bears, rather than a divine artifact of the Great Drake, has driven him to forsake all Arkati. Now understanding the nature of his visions and unyielding pull to the North, he feels the deception he has been ignorantly living for decades reflects on the dismissive and apathetic nature of the divine. He's just another pawn in their game.

• Since the time of exile from his tribe in the Southron Wastes, Myharl had taken the surname Gryphonwind to pay homage to the woman who sacrificed herself to save his life during the wyrm attack on his encampment the night the Eye of the Drake came into his possession. He has distanced himself from the name after uncovering the truth that Gryphonwind was actually a manifestation of the dark entity bound within the Eye, made material by the powers of two corrupt Ishan from Kilanirij, who had intentionally delivered the artifact to bind his soul in curse. The motives of the dark entity remain a mystery to him beyond the being's desire to hone his Wrath and bend his will to become its Destroyer.

An OOC Glance at Myharl

There are several underlying concepts that create the framework of the character Myharl and his progressing story. These details that aren't necessarily known by anyone (including the character himself), and most will likely never be directly approached "in-character", but they are pivotal to ongoing development of the character and understanding who he is and the general demeanor and direction of the character's story. Many aspects push the shared setting concept to its limit, but I try to keep things in the margins of (or at the very least not to directly conflict with) official lore. These details are embraced as a framework for understanding the character more than definitive character details.

View OOC Details About Myharl

Myharl's soul is a reincarnated Drake. After the great war, nearly all the Drakes had been slain. As beings of an unknown nature, masters of even the Arkati, the ultimate fate of the souls of dead Drakes is impossible to know. This character concept embraces the idea that the souls of some of those Drakes who died in the great war linger to be reincarnated so that, after experiencing a mortal existence, they may pass into the afterlife. Myharl's soul is one such example: a reincarnated shadow Drake. He has no memory of his past life and gains no exceptional power or knowledge from this, but the nature of Myharl's soul is used to explain the source of his Kroderine Soul as well as his Wrath (an aspect of his character that he struggles to control). It is also the reason he is cursed and why the dark entity bound in the Eye of the Drake sought to groom him to become its Destroyer — The soul of a Drake could provide great potential if it can be corrupted and bent to its will. 

The mysterious artifact known as the Eye of the Drake is actually a remnant of a Drake weapon from the great war. The Ur-Daemons were far too powerful to be defeated directly, even for the combined forces of the Drakes and Arkati. The tactic that lead to eventual victory over the extradimensional invaders was to shatter the psyche of the beings into fragments. The dark entity trapped within the artifact is one such fragment of an Ur-Daemon's consciousness. The entity manifests itself as feminine, but refers to themselves in the plural. They gain a perverse pleasure in corrupting the soul of one of those who defeated them eons past, and they intend to use Myharl's Wrath for some unknown purpose.

On The House of the Rising Phoenix and the Unlife: The "Unlife" was an I.C.E. Age concept that was dropped from the world of Elanthia in 1995. However, 30 years later, its influences remain firmly rooted in official lore. It's an unavoidable conflict in game lore that usually just gets handwaved. Myharl's character concept embraces the idea that the "Unlife" are actually the remnants of fragmented Ur-Daemons (like the one trapped in the Eye of the Drake). I feel like this neatly ties together all the broken aspects of lore revolving around the Unlife and explains the animosity it holds towards the inhabitants of Elanith. This is also why Myharl is a member of House Phoenix—it was influence from his Drake soul, a subconscious desire to continue the fight against his ancient enemies. Myharl is oblivious to the blatant parallels (and connection) between House Phoenix's mission against the Unlife and his own struggles against the curse of the dark entity.     

Myharl's Curse: Though it would be easy to associate the mysterious shadows and frigid aura that surround Myharl as a symptom of his curse, they are in fact physical manifestations reflecting the nature of his soul as a reincarnated shadow Drake. The shadows did not manifest until his ventures beyond the Long Snow, where latent dark magic has amplified the effects of the curse. The shadows reflect the internal struggle between his soul and the curse as each vies for control of his fate.

The curse was bound to him when he came into possession of Eye of the Drake the night his family was slaughtered by wyrms. It has plagued him with visions of dragons his entire adult life. Always compelling him to seek his fortune northward. From his exile in the Southron Wastes and time in Kilanirij to his travels through the Turamzzyrian Empire. From his adventures on the frontier and settling in Wehnimer's Landing to his search for truth on the summit of Aenatumgana, and finally to his travels beyond the Long Snow and into the Hinterwilds. Ever northward. Ever more wearing on his soul. As his curse drives him towards endless winter, it also provokes his Wrath, and when out of control, he becomes a violent mindless killer lending no regard in his bloodlust and brutality.

Wyrm Slaying

First wyrm slain on Restday the 30th of Jastatos, 5122
Most recent wyrm slain by Myharl on Feastday the 13th of Lormesta, 5124
Myharl slayed his 100th wyrm on Tilamaires the 27th of Lumnea, 5123 at the Gigas Runestone on the outskirts of Fjallarhaart in the Hinterwilds; Under the Drake constellation

• Total Slain Wyrm Count: (129 Total) 33 azure-scaled cold wyrms (2 Ghostly, 2 Spectral), 96 silver-scaled cold wyrms (5 Ghostly, 2 Spectral) (as of Feastday the 13th of Lormesta, 5124)
  
• Member of the hunting party to fell the first azure-scaled cold wyrm (youngling wyrm) seen in the Hinterwilds. (Restday the 30th of Jastatos, 5122)
  
• Member of the hunting party to fell the first silver-scaled cold wyrm (adult wyrm) seen in the Hinterwilds. (Leyan the 9th of Eoantos, 5122) [External link: Combat Log ]
  
• Member of the hunting party to fell the first Spectral silver-scaled cold wyrm (boss monster version spawned from Lich's curse via necrotic ring) seen in the Hinterwilds. (Tilamaires, the 14th of Fashanos, 5123)
  
• Member of the first hunting party to fell two wyrms in one battle (a silver-scaled cold wyrm and its spectral spawn) (Tilamaires the 14th of Fashanos, 5123) [External link: Combat Log ]
  
• First to slay a silver-scaled wyrm in one-on-one combat. (Tilamaires the 22nd of Eoantos, 5122) [External link: Combat Log ]
  
• First to slay two silver-scaled wyrms (a silver-scaled cold wyrm and its spectral spawn) in one-on-one combat. (Volnes the 27th of Eoantos, 5123)
• Solo Wyrm Kills: 22 azure-scaled cold wyrms, 7 silver-scaled cold wyrms

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An umbral nightwillow pipe carved in the shape of a wyrm (Magic Pipe)
A gift from Myharl's dearest friend, Lunaryna, it has become a ritual for him to smoke the pipe after slaying a wyrm. If you ever see the kindred smoking his nightwillow pipe, it signifies his recent return from a successful wyrm hunt.

Unexpected and incredibly thoughtful commemoration from the TownCrier Team 

 A gleaming gold medal illuminated with a giantman standing over a slain wyrm
 A deckle-edged gilded ivory certificate 
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
Awarded to
Myharl
27th Lumnea 5123
at his Momentous Milestone
100 Wyrms Slain
Signed, The TownCrier Team

Wild and Free 

 Leafiara's song about Cold River and the Hinterwilds with mention of Myharl as a wyrmslayer, a Revelia Carnivale 5123 performance.
Song Lyrics



View Performance



Today is Feastday, day 8 of the month Koaratos in the year 5123.  It is 21:23 by the elven time standard.  It is currently late evening.

[Den of the Dragon - 24962]
Some open curtains of heavy, dark green velvet drape the vast stage, and argent tenting protects it and the closest pews from the elements without ruining the view of the rest of the audience.  Globes of ethereal, magical lights hang overhead, beaming their glows in strategic directions controlled by a series of overhead ropes and pulleys that disappear behind the dark, backstage curtains.  A shiny silver plaque adorns the front of a podium to the right of the stage and a walkway leads up and out.  You also see the Teveriel disk, the alabaster Kialeigh disk with interlocking silver knotwork, the Dwi disk, an iron-banded wooden keg, the Tabubu disk, the Dremerie disk, the Yardie disk, a dancing couple statue with lady slipper orchids scattered around their feet, a string of mug-shaped lanterns separated by butterfly-carved crystal coasters, a garland of heath asters wrapped around a frosted crystal column and a golden silk sack.
Also here: Taraquin, Mearyn, Grand Lord Talinvor, Lady Uniana, Lord Teveriel, Miss Evii who is sitting, Kialeigh who is sitting, Whimweaver Leafiara, Adalfuns who is sitting, Imrys who is sitting, The Notorious Rovvigen who is sitting, Magister Raelee who is sitting, Warden Tolwynn, Vyrshkana, Missoni who is sitting, Lady of Manor Katara who is sitting, Pub Proprietor Lithyia who is sitting, Dwi who is sitting, Hadya who is sitting, Kalyrra who is sitting, Lord Randsford who is sitting, Lady Meliyara who is sitting, Dahcre Reader Ordim who is sitting, Chatelaine Traiva who is sitting, Jastalyn who is sitting, Sirona who is sitting, Squire Kothos who is sitting, Tabubu who is sitting, Jouster Littlemelody, Nazarr who is sitting, Argent Master Aurien who is sitting, Meril who is sitting, Rivienne who is sitting, Seomanthe, Lord Grutak who is sitting, Sarissa Tayler who is sitting, Dremerie who is sitting, Blade Yardie, Elusionari who is sitting, Xavanna who is sitting, Historian Lunaryna who is sitting, Cerysse
Obvious exits: none

The backstage curtains part slightly, and Leafiara steps out onto the stage.  A glimpse of the shadowy backstage is briefly visible before the curtains close behind her.

Leafiara smiles and strides out to center stage with little pomp or circumstance to her gait.

Katara applauds Leafiara.
You applaud.
Lunaryna hoots at Leafiara.
Katara applauds Leafiara.
Ordim applauds.
Nazarr lets out a cheer!
Katara applauds Leafiara.
Elusionari applauds Leafiara politely.
Imrys grins.
Dwi raises her blue Darkstone draught in a toast!
Randsford applauds.
Yardie applauds Leafiara.
Missoni applauds warmly.
Imrys applauds Leafiara.
Rovvigen applauds Leafiara.
Nazarr applauds Leafiara.
Katara turns to Leafiara and cheers!
Meril applauds Leafiara.
Seomanthe whistles at Leafiara!
Nazarr applauds Leafiara.
Kothos applauds Leafiara.
Lithyia turns to Leafiara and cheers!
Nazarr applauds Leafiara.
Jastalyn turns to Leafiara and cheers!
Tabubu applauds.
Meliyara applauds.

(Leafiara wears something of a mix of casual attire and clothes suited for battle as usual, in chain mail worn over a sundress, but her lute hangs from her neck and is cradled in her arm.)

Vyrshkana lets out a cheer!

Leafiara begins, "Tonight I'll sing of a town filled with brave, hearty people making their lives in a dangerous world..."

Adalfuns guesses, "Icemule?"

Jastalyn grins.
Lithyia grins at Adalfuns.

Leafiara continues, "A town I love dearly and should truthfully spend much more time in...."

Imrys bites her lip.
Lithyia giggles.

Grutak says, "So... Icemule."

Xavanna applauds Leafiara.
Lithyia giggles to herself.

Leafiara lightly says, "A frontier town, perhaps the finest I know..."

You deeply exclaim, "Cold River!"
You duck your head.
Adalfuns snickers at you!
Lunaryna appears to be trying hard not to grin.

Leafiara says, "That's right..."
Leafiara looks at you and breaks into a cheeky grin.
Leafiara enthuses, "Cold River!"

You grin.
Leafiara nods to you.

Leafiara fondly acknowledges, "Because, sure, the Landing's ways are a mess..."

Lithyia laughs at Leafiara!
Lithyia nods.
Lithyia adopts an agreeable expression.

Leafiara cheekily says, "But hunting in the Hinterwilds is better than anything we've got down here."
Lithyia giggles to herself.
Sirona grins.

With a twinkle in her eye, Leafiara begins a jaunty melody on her lute.
Leafiara flashes a wide grin.

Kialeigh just came down a walkway.
Miss Evii just came down a walkway.
Lord Teveriel's group just came down a walkway.

(Nazarr looks doubtful.)
Traiva agrees with Nazarr.

Leafiara begins building a complex, upbeat melody in a major key, her fingers lightly springing over the strings.
Leafiara sings teasingly:

    "Familiar routines are safer
     And habits grow hard to break
     Some choose to forego adventure
     But that is a grave mistake"

Leafiara closes her eyes for a moment.
Leafiara nods knowingly.

Leafiara launches into the next verse, this time adding in an impish harmony line that seems to tease the main theme along.

Leafiara sings playfully:

    "Embrace the wide world around you:
     The Hinterwilds call your name!
     When wondrous things surround you,
     What more could you hope to claim?"

Putting a variation in her strum, Leafiara runs through the verse and into a catchy chorus that will stick in your head for days.
Leafiara sings earnestly:

    "Wild and free!
     Wild and free!
     Light up the fires of your desires, go there and see"

Leafiara skips sideways a few strides to her right.

Grand Lord Talinvor just came down a walkway.

Leafiara skips sideways a few strides to her left.

Leafiara sings cheerfully:

    "In more 'stable' lands,
     Your every dream gets twisted by conflicting schemes
     But up north it's given: Cold River's livin'
     Wild and free!"

Dremerie grins at Leafiara.

Leafiara coaxes rich notes from her lute with a showy variant on the common strum.
Leafiara sings wistfully:

    "They're people besieged by danger
     Threats lurking 'round every bend
     In touch with the truths of nature:
     Grow strong to prolong your end"

Leafiara precisely picks out her fast-paced melody across the frets of her lute, each note ringing true despite the speed of the song.
Leafiara sings flowingly:

    "My troubles had once seemed vivid
     Before dodging swords thrice my size
     Now things that used to make me livid
     Are nothing to my retrained eyes"

Leafiara winks.

Mearyn just came down a walkway.

Leafiara performs a series of vigorous strums that uplift the spirit in their powerful sound.
Leafiara sings confidently:

    "Wild and free!
     Wild and free!
     Cold River style
     Can't stop my smile
     Live perilously!"

Leafiara picks up the pace of the song slightly, fingers modulating between chords in a happy major key.
Leafiara sings merrily:

    "It's what people seek but rarely find
     No deep concerns or cares in mind
     No obligations, no machinations
     Wild and free!"

Leafiara sweeps the music upward in a swelling crescendo of vibrant harmony.
Leafiara sings boisterously:

    "Wild and free!
     Their ways are so breezy,
     Everything's freezing
     Literally!"

Leafiara's face breaks into a cheeky grin.
Sirona grins.
Lithyia giggles at Leafiara.
Leafiara flashes a quick grin.
You grin.
Tabubu trembles as if a cold chill just ran up her spine.

Leafiara bridges her song into a new key, taking it to new heights of intensity.
Leafiara sings proudly:

    "Even the bounties there pay more
     Up in that town, they know the score!
     When you have spirit, no need to fear it
     Wild and free!"

(Leafiara suddenly slows her playing and brings the complexity down to a mischievous minimalism before beginning to rebuild toward her previous intensity.)

Embellishing on the simple melody, Leafiara skillfully conveys a measure of the joy she feels while playing.
Leafiara sings with jollity:

    "The ice seems so nice, the cold blows so bold
     But just venture out and that's when you'll know
     They've formed all their hordes, their packs on attacks
     Prepare to defend your soul"

Leafiara finishes the verse of the song then begins the next, further embellishing the melody by adding an ecstatic moving harmony.
Leafiara sings staccato:

    "As war hits the floor, the bands take command
     With swords, staves, and boards in everyone's hands
     And when the wyrm lands, you might need new plans
     To just watch Myharl go!"

You flash a wide grin.
Leafiara winks at you.
You raise your fist in a display of defiance.
Lunaryna grins slowly.
Lithyia grins at you.
Sirona grins at you.

Leafiara gets an excited look on her face, and her body begins to shake as her smile stretches from ear-to-ear.

Leafiara accentuates her song with emphatic strums, adding to the intensity.
Leafiara sings rollickingly:

    "Wild and free!
     Wild and free!
     Hear the wargs howling
     Hinterboars growling
     Music to me!"


Leafiara jaunts through the rambunctious refrain, the melody and descant playing along in a breathless game of musical tag.
Leafiara sings brightly:

    "What else would you hunt, some weak old lich?
     Seek a real challenge, scratch your itch!"

Leafiara turns suddenly and begins to bound about, frolicking about the immediate area like a particularly giddy squirrel.

Leafiara dances her fingers over the strings of her lute to weave a driving melody.
Leafiara sings whimsically:

    "See disirs flying, you might be dying
     Wild and free!"

Kalyrra grins at Leafiara.
Jastalyn grins.

The tempo of Leafiara's song builds like the charge of a herd of thrak, unstoppable in its momentum and speed.
Leafiara sings jubilantly:

    "Berserker blades swinging
     Deadly skalds singing
     Wild and free!"

Imrys laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.
Lithyia giggles.

Leafiara walks her fingers up the neck of her lute, making a bright run into the sunny chorus.
Leafiara sings hurriedly:

    "Oozes dividing
     Shield-maidens riding
     Cannibals biting
     Disciples reciting
     Draugrs off stomping
     Mastodons romping
     Wild and free!"

Rovvigen mutters cannibals.
Rovvigen snickers.
Lithyia grins at Rovvigen.

Leafiara runs through the chorus twice, as if to make certain you will not be able to stop humming it anytime soon.
Leafiara sings clearly:

    "Mutants and golems
     Wendigos roaming
     Wild and free!"


Leafiara strums the strings of her lute with a wide sweep of her arm and a convoluted pattern of fingering.  Showoff!
Leafiara sings powerfully:

    "Valravns staring
     Angargeists glaring
     Every day's thrilling
     Up where it's chilling
     Battles and clashing
     Winds always lashing
     Wild and free!"

Giving a final showy circle of her arm, Leafiara strums one last chord before deadening the strings.

(Leafiara dips her head back to deliver the final syllable toward the heavens as her hand simultaneously strums the last note, then smoothly sweeps out to her side in a grand gesture of her exuberance.)

Vyrshkana lets out a cheer!
Sirona smiles at Leafiara.
Jastalyn lets out a cheer!
You flash a wide grin.
You applaud Leafiara.
Lithyia applauds Leafiara.
Dwi knowingly grunts in satisfaction.
Nazarr applauds Leafiara.
Vyrshkana applauds Leafiara.
Katara applauds Leafiara.
Nazarr applauds Leafiara.
Lithyia turns to Leafiara and cheers!
Traiva lets out a cheer!
Rivienne applauds Leafiara.
Evii applauds warmly.
Mearyn applauds.
Nazarr applauds Leafiara.

(Leafiara lowers her head to face the audience again with a bright grin, then pulls her free hand back to her elesine sundress for a single-armed curtsy.)

You let out a cheer!
Nazarr applauds Leafiara.
Imrys applauds Leafiara.
Katara turns to Leafiara and cheers!
Sirona claps her hands together in delight!
Meliyara applauds Leafiara.
Hadya applauds politely.
Kothos applauds Leafiara.
Lunaryna applauds Leafiara.
Jastalyn applauds wildly!
Uniana applauds.
You hear someone applauding from the shadows.
Raelee takes a moment to observe Leafiara.
Seomanthe lets loose a loud whoop of delight.
Traiva applauds Leafiara.
Leafiara flashes a wide grin.
Missoni applauds Leafiara warmly.
Littlemelody applauds.
Ordim applauds.
Kialeigh applauds Leafiara.
Tayler applauds.
Rovvigen whistles at Leafiara!
Dwi tips her head back and empties a mug of blue Darkstone draught down her gullet!
Talinvor applauds.
Yardie applauds Leafiara.
Teveriel applauds politely.
Rovvigen whistles at Leafiara!
Randsford applauds Leafiara.
Meril applauds Leafiara.
Rovvigen whistles at Leafiara!

Katara raspily says, "What a fun song."
Sirona beams at Leafiara and claps her hands together in delight!
Nazarr applauds Leafiara.
Rivienne turns to Leafiara and cheers!
Dremerie turns to Leafiara and cheers!
Tolwynn applauds Leafiara.
Dwi belches softly.

You quietly whisper to Leafiara, "That was awesome."
Leafiara taps her white owl pin on its tiny head and it emits a loud hoot!

Seomanthe turns to Leafiara and cheers!
Aurien lets out a cheer!
Elusionari applauds Leafiara.
Lithyia grins at Dwi.
Tayler grins.
Kalyrra applauds Leafiara.
Rovvigen nods in agreement at Katara.
Jastalyn giggles.
Tayler nods at Katara.
Tabubu applauds.

Katara raspily exclaims, "And beautiful voice!"
Jastalyn turns to Leafiara and cheers!

Leafiara sits down.

Visual Vignette: The Hinterwilds is an animated visual vignette created in Lormesta 5124 by the player of Jaysehn introducing the Hinterwilds in which Myharl, the wyrmslayer, is recognized. 

Notable Achievements

Historical Encounters

• Held council with Nexur, the Exiled One, Former Student to the Grandfather, Disgraced Warden of the Hallowed Scroll, and would-be "King of Elves" at his eternal frozen prison

The Encounter (Restday the 2nd of Lormesta, 5111)


Log of Event



You raise your shadowy crystal ball containing a mysteriously shifting eye blazing with an unknown power skyward!

A cold obsidian shard suddenly appears in midair and falls to the ground.

You reach out to pick up a cold obsidian shard, and your world suddenly shifts dramatically.

[Arctic Cavern]
Shadows creep along four walls of solid ice that form the small cavern.  Up twenty feet in the air hovers a fist-sized glaes orb that glows with a soft white light, which only illuminates a small area of the cave.  A deep chill clings to the air. 
Also here: The Exiled Nexur
Obvious exits: out

You gaze in wonder at your surroundings.

You see The Exiled Nexur.
He appears to be an Elf.
He is tall and slim and appears to be ancient.  He has cold obsidian eyes and marble white skin.  He has very long, silky bone white hair.  He has an angular face, a straight nose and a sharp pointed ears and a high forehead.  He has strange pale sigils carved into his skin.
He is in good shape.
He is holding a cold obsidian shard in his right hand.
He is wearing a fluid silvery robe, and a pair of soft leather sandals.

You glance at Nexur.

You hear a voice in your head say, "Hello."

You deeply say, "Hello..."

You deeply ask, "Perhaps I should not have touched that?"

You hear a voice in your head say, "No. Fate has brought you here."

You hear a voice in your head say, "Another step on my road to redemption."

You hear a voice in your head say, "I am at your service, if you will it."

You ponder.

You deeply ask, "How so?"

[SECTION INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

You gaze in wonder at your surroundings.

You nod.

You deeply say, "Alright then."

Nexur grins coldly, his eyes reflecting no emotion.

You deeply ask, "But, may I ask... If I am to be a part of redemption. Redemption for what?"

You glance at Nexur.

You hear a voice in your head say, "Sins of my past."

You hear a voice in your head say, "The ancient past."

[SECTION INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

You hear a voice in your head say, "The sacrifice is nearly complete..."

Nexur stands in front of you.

Nexur briefly touches your neck, leaving behind a small mark.

You hear a voice in your head say, "It is as you have asked."

You hear a voice in your head say, "Farewell."

Nexur steps back, halfway into the shadows.

The world grows blurry and indistinct.  After a moment everything becomes clear again.  Looking about, you see...

• In attendance of the coronation of Baron Breshon Caufield of Bourth at Wyrdeep (Restday the 7th of Phoenatos, 5122)

---

Battles

• Sailed through maelstroms in Darkstone Bay with Captain Parlay aboard the Fall of the West in battle against the krolvin warship Gzadmor gno Prozd (The Pain of Night) to defeat Czag'Herndrok (Starbringer) Krentuk and destroy the Gate Stone/Star of Khar'ta (Restday the 22nd of Koaratos, 5112)
• Fought alongside Captain Almenduin, head of the Merchant Guard, and defenders in the battle against the Grimswarm on Mist Harbor and to bring the traitor, Melorna to justice. (Jastatos, 5112)
• Fought alongside Mayor Walkar Wellington and fellow Wehnimer's Landing citizens and supporters in the Battle of the Lich's Citadel to defeat the Lich King, Barnom Slim (Restday the 3rd of Charlatos, 5113)
• Fought against the demons of Althedeus at the battle in the Shadow Realm drawing the attention of the entity while the ritual of Palestra Blade Aralyte was completed to sever its power. (Restday the 12th of Lormesta, 5115)
• Fought alongside Sir Thadston Andrews and other heroes in the Bleaklands during the battle to defeat the witch, Raznel (Volnes the 11th of Eoantos, 5119)
• Fought alongside Marshall Kylon Oakspear against the Knave's mercenaries on the night of his last stand when the Wehnimer's Landing barracks were destroyed. (Leyan the 30th of Imaerasta, 5120)

---

Victories

• Current Strongest Foe Vanquished: a fearsome hellbound queen (Level 141) (Slain outside the Wehnimer's Landing North Gate during an invasion on Volnes the 31st of Jastatos, 5122)
  
• Previous Strongest Foe Vanquished: a shadowy Lich King's assassin (Level 140) (Slain at the Lich's Citadel in Lich's Landing on Restday the 3rd of Charlatos, 5113)
• Previous Strongest Foe Vanquished: a clawed shadowy beast (Level > 110) (Slain at North Ring Road in Wehnimer's Landing during an invasion on Niiman the 5th of Ivastaen, 5111)
• Previous Strongest Foe Vanquished: a huge incarnadine vathor (Level 110) (Slain at Stormarm St. in Wehnimer's Landing during an invasion on Day of the Huntress the 12th of Eoantos, 5110)

---

• Current Proudest Victory: a silver-scaled cold wyrm (Level 120) (Slain at Eldurhaart in the Hinterwilds via solo combat on Tilamaires the 22nd of Eoantos, 5122)
• Previous Proudest Victory: an azure-scaled cold wyrm (Level 120) (Slain at Ojandhaart in the Hinterwilds on Restday the 30th of Jastatos, 5122)

---

Big Game Hunter

• Silver-Scaled Cold Wyrm Kills: 96
  
• Azure-Scaled Cold Wyrm Kills: 33
  
• Snowy Warg Packmother Kills: 77
  
• Cinereous Chthonian Sybil Kills: 3
  
• Total Big Game Kills: 204

---

Politics

• Event Manager & Coordinator for the Unity Festival (Combined Global CHE & MHO Event) (5110)
• Former Lord Sage, Guildmaster of the Order of the Quill, Former Head Squire appointed by the Lady Paladin, and Bearer of the Oriflamme of House Daingneach Onoir (5110-5111) (Stripped of all Honors by no wrongdoing of his own; a result of unrelated conflicts in house leadership. Resigned membership soon thereafter.)
• Major Investor in the renovations to the Wehnimer's Landing Historical Museum (5111) (Despised Grishom Stone, but agreed there was need for a secure location to house the Gale Stone/Star of Khar'ta )
• Event Runner for House of the Rising Phoenix (5109-5111)
• Event Runner for the Greater Elanthian Merchant Society (MHO Now Defunct) (5110-5112)
• Wehnimer's Landing [Mayoral Campaign] Manager for Lady Aurla (5115) (Election went to Puptilian)
  
• Represented Wehnimer's Landing as a combatant at the Festival of the Fallen in Ta'Vaalor (5115)
• Represented Wehnimer's Landing as a finalist combatant at the Festival of the Fallen in Ta'Vaalor (5121) (Dined in the company of King Qalinor Vaalor with the other representatives after the contest)

---

Guilds, Societies & Trained Skills

• [ Profession Guild ] Registered Guildmaster and Master-at-Arms of the Wehnimer's Landing Warrior Guild (372/372 Ranks)
• [ Society ] Master in the Order of Voln (26/26 Ranks)
• [ Artisan Skill ] Master Blacksmith (Crafting & Forging All Weapon Types — 500/500 Ranks)
• [ Artisan Skill ] Journeyman in the Fletching Skill (200/500 Ranks; Capped by the Artisan System)
• [ General Skill ] Highest Non-Bard Rank Apprentice in Playing All Musical Instrument Types (10/20 Ranks)
• [ General Skill ] Master at Skilled Darts (250/250 Ranks)
• [ Adventurer's Guild ] Epic Adventurer (6 Million+ Bounty Points as of Phoenatos 5123)

Adventurer's Guild Information (as of Leyan the 16th of Phoenatos, 5123)


Completed Bounty Tasks



Kill Creatures task: 361 times.
Retrieve Heirloom task: 193 times.
Procure Skins task: 173 times.
Procure Gems task: 1,495 times.
Protect Traveller task: 1 time.
Procure Herbs task: 193 times.
Kill Dangerous Creature task: 385 times.
Rescue Child task: 5 times.
Kill Bandits task: 2,926 times.
Help Kill Creatures task: 167 times.
Help Kill Bandits task: 885 times.

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Awarded Unique Titles

• Caligos Diving Champion (Won both 1st and 3rd place at 5120 Caligos Isle high dive competition) [External Link: Official Forums]
• Tug of War Champion (Won 1st place for both Solo and Team Tug of War at the 5123 Kindred Games)

Pictured: Wyrmslayer Myharl the Dark Tower posed standing before the Gigas runestone on the outskirts of Fjallarhaart in the Hinterwilds in 5123 of the Modern Era. Commissioned artwork by Mates Laurentiu to commemorate the 100th wyrm slain by Myharl.

Pictured: Lord Myharl Gryphonwind (before his 'darkening') in 5110 of the Modern Era, then decked in golvern platemail, locked in battle with an invading demon as Wehnimer's Landing is engulfed in flames around him. Commissioned artwork by Mates Laurentiu to commemorate Myharl's single-handed victory in battle against four vathors at once.

---

Pictured: Grand Lord Myharl Gryphonwind (before his 'darkening') in 5119 of the Modern Era standing tandem with Forlorn Maiden, the released nedum vereri spirit he formed a pact with who haunts his sacred warsword. Posed standing before Mount Aenatumgana, wearing what was his typical light travel outfit before his travels beyond the Long Snow into the Hinterwilds. Pictured leaning on a keg of his personal home-brew cinnamon whiskey, Gryphonwind Special. Commissioned artwork by Mates Laurentiu to commemorate Myharl's achievement of '3x Capped'.

Pets & Animal Companions

Myrkr - an imposing fuliginous raven

The unusual shadowy raven was acquired by Lunaryna Talviel during her research into Myharl's curse, selected due to its similarities with the shadows that writhe around the kindred's figure. The giant and the avian took an immediate liking to one another when they first met in her laboratory. When her research utilizing the raven was completed, she bestowed its safekeeping to Myharl, and he named him Myrkr, which is the Gigas word for 'Darkness'.

An imposing fuliginous raven alights upon his shoulder, extending its tapered wings to frame him in shadows.

Aurora — a nival white arctic lemming with glowing azure eye

Myharl discovered the nival arctic lemming trapped in the nebulous void of the River of Color. She had apparently been there quite some time, weak, unmoving, and unable to escape. She managed to subsist as long as she had by consuming the motes floating among the spilling brume of color. Eating the particles of essence caused her eyes to glow with swirling hues of azure; a feature that seems to be permanent. He rescued her, returning her to the Boreal Forest, but the little creature refused to leave his side. So, he instead named her Aurora as her lucent eyes reminded him of the shifting hues of the aurora in the Hinterwilds. She's quite the nuisance, but her presence has grown on him.

Gryphonwind Ventures & Myharl's Office

Gryphonwind Ventures is Myharl's shop.

The shop is titled for the surname "Gryphonwind" that he had once taken as his own, but has since dropped when it was uncovered the namesake had betrayed him, and was in fact a manifestation of a dark entity that has cursed him in his youth. The shop is located in Wehnimer's Landing at the first block of Ebonwood Way (Lich# L337) inside the hexagonal stone building with a pair of large golden gryphon statues flanking the doorway. The shop title is maintained due to the slow-moving bureaucratic nature of the merchant guild, but plans are to rename it when the opportunity arises.

The shop was established by Myharl in 5109 and the business began as a quaint single-room antiquities shop specializing in veil iron rarities and relics from ages long past. This early venture was highly profitable and the selection of wares quickly expanded as did the storefront. In 5110 "Gryphonwind Ventures" was founded.

In 5112 the shop was officially registered with the Wehnimer's Landing merchant guild, and Myharl founded his personal office in the west wing of the establishment. The location is as much a base of operations as a functional storefront, and when he's in town, Myharl can most frequently be found loitering within.

In 5113, Dallin Proudmire, a professional bard and scribe, was hired to verify new wares to be displayed and tend to the shop while Myharl was away on his adventures. He has since become a silent partner in the venture.

In 5123 Myharl officially partnered Gryphonwind Ventures with Lunaryna Talviel with his office occupying the west wing of the building, her gallery in the east wing, and a shared storefront foyer.

Gryphonwind Special Cinnamon Whiskey

Gryphonwind Special is a home-branded whiskey distilled by Myharl. The grains he uses are flavored with a hefty amount of fiery cinnamon and sweet amaranth greens, and lightly infused with hints of ground bitter delphinuris (delphira) leaves and sweet salorisa (saloryss) flower petals.

He distills a new barrel every year, and ages the spirits for five years in sephwir kegs which he keeps stowed in the back room of his shop, Gryphonwind Ventures in Wehnimer's Landing. In the shop Foyer, he usually keeps a small stock available to purchase at a cost of 1 silver. He sometimes will provide a keg and free drinks for a special event he is attending if such offering is appropriate for the event protocol. The drink is served in wooden flagons, which he insists is integral to drawing out the the true flavor of the whiskey.

A Veniom-Bound Silvery Sephwir Keg (an oversized carved wooden flagon of Gryphonwind Special)


Further Drink Details



This barrel has been coopered from staves of ancient sephwir.  The silver-toned wood is bound by a duo of gleaming veniom hoops, and a golden gryphon-shaped tap bungs from the keg's head.  An ovular timeworn vellum label is affixed to the bilge of the vessel and depicts a golden rampant gryphon rearing above an arched series of carmine-inked words.


READ KEG> In the Common language, it reads: A product of Wehnimer's Landing. Gryphonwind Ventures ~ Established 5110.

PUT KEG> You place your silvery sephwir keg on the floor and pull out a small locking pin on the tap.

POUR KEG> You pour yourself an oversized carved wooden flagon of Gryphonwind Special.

GET KEG> You pick up a veniom-bound silvery sephwir keg, carefully setting a locking pin back in the tap.


(General) Flavor Messaging #1—
 The assertive fiery zest of cinnamon whiskey stings at your tongue and nearly veils a cacophony of subtle sour notes.

(General) Flavor Messaging #2—
 The sweet aroma of amaranth leads into the sudden sharp bite of cinnamon whiskey as saporous spices mingle, leaving a faint bitter aftertaste.

(Giantkin Only) Flavor Messaging #1—
 You take a drink from your Gryphonwind Special. A complex arrangement of bittersweet flavor faintly cascades beneath the spicy salvo of corpulent cinnamon whiskey.

(Giantkin Only) Flavor Messaging #2—
 You take a drink from your Gryphonwind Special. A warming sense embraces your tongue as fiery cinnamon whiskey fades to the subtle bitterness of steeped delphinuris and salorisa.

(Note: Myharl "distills" Gryphonwind Special by means of a custom bottomless keg.)

The Frigid Argent Wanderlust

The Frigid Argent Wanderlust is a sloop Myharl purchased to assist with importing various wares to sell in his shop, Gryphonwind Ventures. It can usually be found docked in Wehnimer's Landing when not pressed into service. He doesn't regularly participate in Open Sea Adventures because his goals and interests are focused elsewhere.

Primary Weapons & Armaments

Myharl invests primarily into a single set of gear that includes his glowing white sacred warsword "Forlorn Maiden" and His black alloy armor set. While he does purchase other non-combat equipment from time-to-time, the bulk of his fortune is spent on improvements for this, his 'end-game' set of combat gear. The following list will be maintained and updated as improvements are made to the items.

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A Glowing White Sacred Warsword — 10x (+50), T5 Ensorcell, S6 Sancitfy with Holy Fire, GEF + Unique Custom Fire Flares, Heavy Critical Weighting (10 CER), Heavy Damage Weighting (10 CER), Unlocked Lore, Perfect-forged, 5 lbs. (Max Light), Holy Bastard Sword crafted of white alloy w/ Non-corporeal Undead Bane (+6 CER Damage Weighting), Legacy Permabless +5 against undead, Lesser Moods (Fire and Holy) named "Forlorn Maiden" [1,077 difficulty] Includes matching 'Incorporeal Forlorn Woman' legendary spirit beast. Wielded with Weapon Bonding and Tainted Bond.

Further Item Details

The hilt and quillons of the warsword are fashioned into the likeness of a gnarled and twisted corpse with its arms outstretched in ghoulish repose. A series fine chains drape from the extended arms in trio, and arc down to wrap around the torso, providing a secure grip for the weapon. The blade has been faintly etched with the image of a beautiful wisp-surrounded maiden, reaching up towards its tip. In relation, she appears to be rising from the horrid anatomy of the corpse beneath her. You notice a small enchanter's glyph and a crafting mark. A strange necrotic haze radiates from the warsword. A strong aura of holy light radiates from the warsword. There appears to be something written on it.

In the Common language, it reads: Forlorn Maiden 

Unique Custom Flare Message: Emerging from your sacred warsword, a fiery spectral maiden coalesces and launches straight toward [TARGET], engulfing [HIM/HER/IT] in a searing sphere of fire!

[GET] As you draw a glowing white sacred warsword, three tiny orbs of blazing flame swirl along the blade.

[WAVE] You slice your sacred warsword through the air and wavering flames lick at its blade in a flowing, sinuous movement.

[RAISE] (2 hour cooldown, changes eye color to 'fiery') You raise your sacred warsword and a gout of flame explodes outward from it, tapering off into several different streams that encircle you in a blazing inferno that roars with the fury of a million burning stars.  As the intense light grows around you your eyes simply become *used* to it, and you find yourself gazing about the world with a new vision as the blaze fades away...

[MANIFEST] Spiraling wisps of essence wind up your arm and into the air overhead, taking on the shape of an incorporeal forlorn woman, which moves to hover over your shoulder. 

An Incorporeal Forlorn Woman — The woman appears to be a Spirit Beast.  The young woman's figure is lithe and loosely garbed in a sheer gown as pale as fresh snowfall.  A neck-strung key rests listlessly against her bust.  In gentle disarray, her hair appears constantly windswept and wild in contrast to the expression on her face.  Her features are steadfast, her lips pressed into a thin line, but her gaze is intense and tearful with almost palpable sorrow. The woman belongs to you.  The edges of the incorporeal forlorn woman's form glitter faintly.

---

Full Suit of Black Alloy Platemail — 7x (+33), T5 Ensorcell, S6 Sanctify with Holy Fire, Unbalance Flares, Spiked, Very Heavy Critical Padding (11 CER), Very Heavy Damage Padding (11 CER), Unlocked Lore, 38 lbs. (Max Light), Holy Full Plate crafted of Black Alloy w/ 5% Resistances against Crush/Slash/Puncture, +4 Stamina Recovery Enhancive (25 Charges Max) [863 difficulty]

Further Item Details

The shadowy form of the black alloy platemail confers a deep indigo blue iridescence and has been meticulously etched across its entire surface with a wyrm scale pattern.  The armor has been edged and riveted with silvery palladium and lined beneath by a thick padding of flocculent hinterboar mane.  You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.  A strange necrotic haze radiates from the platemail.  A strong aura of holy light radiates from the platemail.

---

Krodera-Bound Black Alloy Tower Shield — 10x (+50), T5 Ensorcell, S6 Sanctify with Holy Fire, Fire Flares, Spiked, Fully Unlocked T2 Shield Harness, Unlocked Lore, Max Light, Holy Tower Shield crafted of Black Alloy [756 difficulty]

Further Item Details

On the reverse of the shield, strips of warg pelt and a complex webbing of oiled leather straps and polished buckles form an intricate arm harness.  The straps are arranged in a pattern that appears able to secure a weapon within. Stuck diagonally through the complex webbing is a [WEAPON]. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph. A strange necrotic haze radiates from the shield. A strong aura of holy light radiates from the shield.  

---

Black Alloy Vambraces — Fully Unlocked T4 Brutal/Cunning Fancy Greaves (Switchable Lightning Flares/Fire Flares/Plasma Flares) with Ghost Flare Messaging, Spiked, S6 Sanctify with Holy Fire, Very Heavy Critical Padding (10 CER), Very Heavy Damage Padding (10 CER), Unlocked Lore, Max Light, Holy Arm Greaves crafted of black alloy w/ +10 Constitution (base) enhancive with Upgraded Charges (105 Charges Max). [391 difficulty] This armament can hold/equip/sheath two daggers.

Further Item Details

The shadowy forms of the black alloy vambraces confer a deep indigo-blue iridescence and have been meticulously etched across their entire surface with a wyrm scale pattern.  The armaments have been edged and riveted with silvery palladium and lined beneath with a thick padding of flocculent hinterboar mane. As you look at the vambraces, they briefly pulse with a ferocious violet light.  You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.
 

Flare Message: Splashing magma everywhere, charred red ghosts rise out of your black alloy vambraces and sail through the air, passing in and out of a heavily armored battle mastodon before dissipating with a low moan.

---

Slit-Visored Black Alloy Greathelm Crested with Shining Disir Feathers — Anfelt Armor Zested, Acid Flares, Spiked, HDP/HCP, Unlocked Lore, Maxlight Greathelm (head/neck) crafted of black alloy w/ +8 STR enhancive (19 charges max). [61 difficulty]

Further Item Details

The shadowy form of the black alloy helm confers a deep indigo blue iridescence and has been meticulously etched across its entire surface with a wyrm scale pattern.  The armament has been edged and riveted with silvery palladium and lined within by a thick padding of flocculent hinterboar mane.

---

Mesh Black Alloy Aventail — Acid Flares, Spiked, LDP/LCP, Unlocked Lore, Maxlight Aventail crafted of black alloy w/ +6 AGL/+7 Max Stamina enhancives (53 charges max). [14 difficulty]

Further Item Details

The shadowy form of the black alloy mesh aventail confers a deep indigo blue iridescence.  The armament has been edged with silvery palladium and is lined beneath with a thick padding of flocculent hinterboar mane.

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Pair of Black Alloy Leg Greaves — Acid Flares, Spiked, LDP/LCP, Unlocked Lore, Maxlight Leg Greaves crafted of black alloy w/ +11 DEX/+8 Harness Power Bonus enhancives (17 charges max). [18 difficulty]

Further Item Details

The shadowy forms of the black alloy greaves confer a deep indigo blue iridescence and have been meticulously etched across their entire surface with a wyrm scale pattern.  The armaments have been edged and riveted with silvery palladium and lined beneath with a thick padding of flocculent hinterboar mane.

---

Other Notable Items & Gear

Winter's Embrace
a black alloy neckchain suspending a shard of rime-shrouded everfrost
Suspended by a thick black alloy neckchain traced with faint verglas, the everfrost is pale and clear, but fingers of frost clinging to its surface suggest that it is no mere diamond, but a chunk of crystallized rhimar.  The jewel radiates intense cold, causing the air around it to puff into faint wisps of mist.  A blizzard of frigid blue and glacial green glints wink across its jagged facets.


Ambient: A frigid helical miasma of wintry mist coalesces around a black alloy neckchain suspending a shard of rime-shrouded everfrost worn by Myharl before condensing into hoary frost particulates that embrace its deep glacial facets.

Ancient Wyrm Talon Bound in Arabesqued Balenite 
   Shadow themed premium teleportation device (Worn as a pin, functional)

Softly Lucent Pearlescent Scale Gilded in Starveil 
   +10 Edged Weapons, +5 Stamina Recovery, +4 Physical Fitness, +1 Mana Recovery enhancive (Worn anywhere, functional)

a deeply hooded ebon shadowsilk robe mantled in lightless valravn quills 
   Feature Concealing Hooded Cloak, Closes, Epic Deepened to Hold Gigantic Amount, 20% Weight Reduction (Worn over the shoulders, functional)


Further Item Details



Fashioned from caliginous layers of fine wyrsilk to manifest a membranous shadowsilk garment, the fabric of the long robe blends stygian umbrous shade with darker tones of night.  Its lightless mantle falls in riotous discord from shoulders to midriff and appears to be formed of pure shadow, the void of valravn quills seeming to drink all surrounding light to swath the attire in a tenebrous veil.

Kilt of Shadowy Valravn Quills Cinched by a Silver-shot Wyrm's Talon Sporran
   Kilt/Greatkilt zested, Holds Slightly Large Amount (Worn over the legs, functional)

Twisted Widowwood Band Grasping A Glowing Madstone — +6 CON, +1 Thrown Weapons enhancive, persists, huge number of charges (Worn on fingers, functional)

Sparkling Balenite Ring Crowned With A Wintry Everfrost Shard — +7 DEX enhancive, persists, huge number of charges (Worn on fingers, functional)

Radiant Phoenix Down Mantle Clasped by a Jacinthe-Flamed Arathiel Jewel — Holds Very Large Amount, Can be Tucked, Closes, Ethereal Flames Illusion Prop (Worn as a pin)


Further Item Details



Incessant layering of warm carmine and bright sunset-hued phoenix down has been desultorily affixed to a veiled cloth-of-veniom undercoat bestowing an effusive, almost flame-like appearance to this regal garment.  The fiery mantle is securely fastened at the collar by a warmly glowing jacinth-hued arathiel jewel.

Illusion: Trails of greenish-black fire stream down from his hands, the ethereal flames striking out into the air with every gesture.

Tattoos & Visible Markings

• a silvered ebon tattoo depicting a wyrm's talon descending from beneath his left eye

---

• a small dark shard-shaped mark on his neck (Branded by the hand of The Exiled Nexur)

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• a pair of knotwork wyrm tattoos unfurling from over his shoulders to lock gazes on his chest

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• a sinuously coiled abyran'sa tattoo

Depicted inward-stationed upon his right forearm in graceful repose, the feminine abyran'sa has been inked in detailed shadowy umbral linework.  She bears striking dark elven features scarcely concealed by a clinging shroud of moonflowers that spills down over her curvy body.  Her complexion is shaded in pallid hues accented by fair hair that falls riotously from a sharp widow's peak to frame her aristocratic features.  Her serpentine tail coils tightly around his arm, terminating just above his wrist.

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• a caliginous shadowy drake tattoo on his arm

Inked in dark ebon hues, the fierce drake is depicted inward-stationed upon his left forearm, its wings extend behind its fierce, scaled figure in partial horaltic pose to appear as if about to take to the skies.  The draconic creature's fierce visage gazes upwards, bearing what seems to be a longing gaze, its eyes fixed upon a selenic crescent suspended above the backdrop of a dark tower.

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• a pair of flaming drake's wings tattooed on his back

Stretching from shoulder-blade to waist on either side of his spine, the tattoo is an excellent rendering of a pair of inferno-wreathed drake's wings that lay furled and quiescent.  Ebon inks create the delicate boning, while sanguine hues limned in plum create tiny veins.

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About the Dark Tower: General Information & Life Story [Quick Summary FAQ]

Myharl is a berserker and noted wyrmslayer who frequently hunts beyond the Long Snow in the Hinterwilds near Cold River village, a place he considers a second home. When not braving the wintry wilds, he can usually be found either warming himself by the hearthfire in Rawknuckle's Pipe Den or taking refuge from the frigid galewinds beneath the ancient pine tree in the village center. He is frequently in the company of Kestrel, the village lookout, as the two share many late night watches together. When outdoors in the Hinterwilds, his eyes are often scanning the aurora-illuminated skies as he awaits sighting a wyrm aloft over the Angargreft or Boreal Forest locales.

He is also a citizen of Wehnimer’s Landing where he is known as a bounty hunter for hire and long-time merchant. He is the proprietor of Gryphonwind Ventures (established in 5110 of the Modern Era) [External link: Shop Listing ] which is located at the entrance to the Wehnimer’s Landing shopping district. He is a registered guild master and Master-at-Arms of the Wehnimer’s Landing Warrior Guild, a master in the Order of Voln, and member of the House of the Rising Phoenix. His moniker, "The Dark Tower" originated as a nickname from his years training at the Warrior Guild. The name began as a playful jest about his unusual height, but later—through trials and tribulations with his brethren—became a title of honor and respect.

He was born in the hour of Ronan on Tilamaires, Eorgaen 18th in the year 5079 of the Modern Era, under the sign of the Paladin. He is the youngest of three children and the only son of giantman nomads Lokran (father) and Maeralea (mother). His eldest sister disappeared before his birth (lost in a sandstorm and presumed dead). His other sister and parents were all killed in 5097 when his tribe's encampment was attacked by wyrms. His name is an amalgamous play on multiple giantkin words which can be roughly understood as "gift of the feast" and was bestowed upon him in celebration of the massive white sandworm the tribe hunters, including his father, fell on the day before his birth.

Family names are not a tradition practiced by his tribe, yet are often necessary for business matters in the Empire and its holdings and frontier outposts. Gryphonwind is the name of a long-ago friend who sacrificed her own life to save his. The name was adopted by Myharl as his surname to honor her memory. However the surname was later forsaken upon his early adventures into the Hinterwilds when, through a vision and spirit journey, Myharl learned that Gryphonwind had actually been a manifestation of an ancient evil entity bound within the Eye of the Drake. An entity who placed a powerful curse upon him in his youth as it carefully guided his life's path northward to "hone the wrath" and "awaken the drake" within him. He now simply goes by his name and moniker, Myharl the Dark Tower, though many have taken to simply calling him Wyrmslayer.

Myharl’s appearance is noticeably different from most other giantkin whose clans and tribes have been long-established in the regions surrounding the northern reaches of the Dragonspine Mountains. He is unusually tall (towering well over ten feet) and bears deeply ebon-hued skin. This appearance, while atypical for highmen in Northern Elanith, is common among members of his tribe.

He migrated to the northern frontiers during the third decade of his life, but hails originally from deep within the desolate barrens of the Southron Wastes. Nomadic like most giantkin tribes, his family was one of many comprising a wandering desert tribe of highmen that have traversed the wastelands for countless generations. His journey as an adventurer began when he was exiled from his tribe after inadvertently activating an ancient and mysterious artifact he refers to as the Eye of the Drake.

The clanless tribe bears no name, but the elders profess that they are the descendants of survivors from a once magnificent giantkin kingdom far to the north. A nation that fell in ancient times during a war against a great evil. Their predecessors, forced from their homeland and driven south, adopted the practice of unending migration in lieu of founding another homestead. Though unsure whether the story of the tribe's ancestral origin has merit or is nothing more than fanciful folklore, later in life Myharl did find what appears to be the remnants of just such an ancient highman kingdom. Located deep in Stoneharrow Swale between the port city of Solhaven and the frontier surrounding Wehnimer’s Landing, within the ruins is even the visage of crowned giantkin king worked into stone. He sometimes wonders if this place could be the forgotten lands mentioned in the myths of his former kin.

In his early twenties, during the years immediately proceeding exile from his tribe, Myharl found work with an Issimr merchant caravan which plied their trade by transporting goods across the wastes between the Grot'karesh fortress city of Kilanirij and the Turamzzyrian Empire. Frequent visits to Elstreth and Idolone, as well as the occasional long haul to the grand city Tamzyrr, slowly introduced him to the common cultures of North-Western Elanith. His interest and curiosity about those cultures would grow until he eventually parted ways with his Issimr friends to explore the northern bounds of the Empire for himself.

Relationships & Marriages

Pictured: High Lord Myharl Gryphonwind (before his 'darkening') in the company of his four former wives at his Wehnimer's Landing shop, Gryphonwind Ventures, in 5115 of the Modern Era. From left to right: Grand Lady Psyryn, Myharl, Grand Lady Yterria (seated), Lady Yieshia (kneeling), and Renowned Lady Aurla. Commissioned artwork by Mates Laurentiu to commemorate Yieshia joining her three sisters in union to Myharl.

At intervals throughout his adult life Myharl has courted various women. He discusses few, but always spoke fondly of Lunaryna with whom he shared a brief—though fiery—relationship soon after his arrival to the frontier. However, his travels across the Empire and northern wilds frequently interfered with establishing long-lasting intimate relationships, and the two would eventually amicably part to walk different paths.

Upon the fourth decade of his life, after deciding to make Wehnimer’s Landing his home and base of operations, he discovered the opportunity to establish more permanent companionship. He was married to a quartet of dark elf sisters who bear estranged, rarely discussed, ties to Faendryl nobility. Of the four, the eldest sister is Renowned Lady Aurla (Magess of the Flame), followed by Grand Lady Psyryn (Master Healer), then Grand Lady Yterria (High Priestess of Koar), and lastly the youngest of the four, Lady Yieshia, who Myharl affectionately refered to as his "little magess".

Myharl and his former wives made their home at the private suite on the second floor of the Raging Thrak Inn in the town square of Wehnimer's Landing. In the summer months they could frequently be found relaxing in the suite's private bath and in the winter, warming themselves by the massive hearth in the living room. They spent many happy years together involved in local politics, helping to defend the town in times of need, and working for the Adventurers Guild to mitigate bandit activity in the surrounding regions.

However, after nearly a decade and half, the sisters suddenly received a missive summoning them for business back in their homeland. Afterwards, much of their time was spent away tending to family matters. Meanwhile, Myharl's treks beyond the Long Snow became more frequent and sustained in pursuit of hunting wyrms. Over time, the sisters and Myharl grew apart and rarely spoke. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months between seeing one another. Finally, at the end of their waning days together, the sisters departed a final time, cordially with narry fanfare. After months without word, Myharl accepted their companionship had faded away. In the winter of 5122, after having requested and receiving word of their welfare, Myharl dissolved the marriage, finalizing the divorce with town officials.

Upon marrying into dark elf nobility and becoming a morganatic noble, he had donned the title Grand Lord, which he maintained until their divorce.

By pure happenstance in early 5123, Myharl and Lunaryna's paths crossed once more, nearly two decades after their long-ago brief romance. In the following weeks they quickly rekindled their friendship after realizing that over the many years they both had retained a quiet and mostly unspoken admiration for one another. Their two souls, so altered during their time apart, reforged a connection, though one that is vastly different than what they once shared. The two can often be found sitting side-by-side, but they wouldn't be mistaken for more than close friends. However, any who know Myharl well would take note of an instant warming of his demeanor whenever he is in her presence.

Part I: Acquisition of the Eye & The Journey Begins (5097 Modern Era) [Backstory]

Pictured: The Eye of the Drake (so named by Myharl), an ancient artifact from the era of the Drake and Ur-Deamon war. In possession of Myharl who has been bound by curse to the artifact as well as the shadowy entity that resides within. Commissioned artwork by Mates Laurentiu.

Eye of the Drake
a shadowy crystal ball containing a mysteriously shifting eye blazing with an unknown power


Further Item Details



get my ark> 
You remove a gold-bound white veil iron ark from in your phoenix down mantle.
look at my ark> 
The ark consists of a gold-bound box crafted of solid veil iron. It has been completely emblazoned with ancient runes and boasts a pair of miniature golden dragons that are seated in resplendent stature. The gold-cast dragons face each other, in seeming unyielding pose, with their wings outstretched behind them and their necks wrapped around an elaborate golden crown-shaped emblem.
open my ark> 
You open the lid on your white veil iron ark, which begins to glow.
look in my ark> 
In the white veil iron ark you see a shadowy crystal ball.
get my ball> 
You grab a shadowy crystal ball containing a mysteriously shifting eye blazing with an unknown power from inside the white veil iron ark. 

Myharl's tribe were not the only highmen who made the wasteslands their home. Another, more ancient group of giantkin migrants were those who the tribe elders called, "the cursed." They had arrived in the Southron Wastes likely thousands of years earlier. The tribe's migration routes always steered clear of the mountain stronghold of their clan. A dark place called Kilanirij. For the most part the cursed had likewise avoided the tribe, seeming more interested in maintaining their fortress city than the activities of nomadic goat-herding peoples eking out a living from the harsh lands. That was until one day, a cafila of three cursed approached the tribe's encampment at sundown.

The three strangers spoke in a strange mesh of the Gaintkin language and another tongue foreign but very similar-sounding to Elvish. They referred to themselves as Ishan; travelers on a quest seeking to solve some ancient mystery. The Ishan called their paths crossing with the tribe's caravan, "a destiny".

The tribe elders were wary of the Ishan, but believing that all giantkin share an ancient lineage, they still cautiously invited them to rest by the evening fires and offered them hospitality of food and water. Of the three, one was an older man with deep scars indicative of many battles, another a younger man who seemed more learned than his company, and the last a young woman with an otherworldly air about her. It was the third who piqued the interest of young Myharl. She was several years his elder, yet still the youngest of the three. He found her form appealing and her forbidden moniker intoxicatingly unique. The interest of youth appealed for him to get closer to her, and so as the three Ishan sat around the warmth of the fires speaking to the elders, he lingered.

The eldest recovered an object securely wrapped in layers of canvas from their belongings as the younger man regaled the elders with a tale about ancient evils from the past reawakening. They were seeking a way to unlock an ancient puzzle. The old man unwrapped the object to reveal a veil iron ark crowned by a pair ornamental gold dragons, and the younger of the two pointed to six golden seals around the ark's lid explaining how no method or magic had been able to penetrate the box or remove its locks. They believed that within was a powerful artifact that could be used to fight a coming evil, and their quest was to find a way to free it from its prison.

As the two men continued engaging the elders with stories about ancient wars and forgotten times, the female Ishan took notice of Myharl's presence and seemed to immediately recognize his interest in her. She smiled softly, motioning him closer. He complied, and the two began a friendly conversation. She introduced herself as Gryphonwind, and explained she was a seer and diviner of the future sent to aid her fellow travelers. As Myharl and Gryphonwind shared food and drink, the legends and myths she told him summoned an even greater curiosity from within. Devoid of awkward banter, the demeanor of the conversation seemed as if the two were longtime friends.

As the evening grew late, just as Myharl had worked up enough courage to invite her to spend the night with him, she abruptly interrupted to ask if she could divine his future. Tilted by the offer, he drew closer to sit at her side and agreed. She reached for a small woven basket worn at her hip and pulled out and handful of polished dark stones. Each was carved with a strange rune. She cast stones upon the sand at their feet. As the stones landed, Gryphonwind gasped before her breaths became near silent. Eight of the nine stones had landed with their runes facing downward in the sand, the ninth and solely visible rune bore a symbol that vaguely resembled a landslide.

As she stared at the stone, it began to violently twitch as if taking on a life of its own. Suddenly, it began to draw a line in the sand as it danced its way towards Myharl. Glancing up to notice the look of abject horror marring Gryphonwinds visage, he leapt to his feet. The stone continued towards him across the sand, and he began stepping backwards. As he withdraw the stone gave chase wobbling frantically across the sand. Now frightened as well as startled, Myharl quickened his pace in reverse until accidentally stumbling into the older Ishan. The obstacle sending Myharl sprawling backwards as he fell over the seated man. In a bid to right himself, Myharl grasped for leverage. The stone stopped moving the moment his hand landed squarely on the ark. Quickly removing his hand from the artifact, its seals loudly popped open one after the other.

The stars seemd to vanish from the night sky as an unnatural shadowy black fog sped across the landscape to envelope the encampment. Tendrils of shadow seemed to grope and caress every surface accompanied by the sound of incoherent whispering voices. Then came an ear-ringing bestial roar so loud it seemed to shake the ground itself. Several massive winged draconic figures soared low overhead, their forms discernable only as their metallic scales reflected the carmine firelight below. A contrasting moment of silence followed until overpowered by a growing cacophony of anguished screams. Seized by terror and unable to move Myharl watched as the beasts plowed through the gathered crowd of his tribesmen. Their massive razor talons shredding flesh and stripping bone as they belched caustic fluids that washed away skin and flesh in an instant. Many of the giantkin drew their weapons, fighting back against the beasts, but others seemed statuesquely motionless, as if frozen in time.

Gryphonwind cried out Myharl's name, which seemed to shake him from the unnatural paralysis binding him. She shouted, instructing him to open the ark. As he moved towards the artifact, one of the beasts shifted its stride and charged toward him. Rearing back to raise its fierce talons before striking, Myharl helplessly stared at the wyrm sure that those were to be his final moments. They would have been, but with jarring impact, Gryphonwind's body slammed into his as she threw herself atop him like a shield. Pulling her weight away from him and rising again to her feet, she desperately pointed at the ark. In response, Myharl quickly crawled across the sand until his hands rest on each side of the unsealed vessel.

He strained to pry open the tightly closed lid, and his eyes shifted again to Gryphonwind just as a silvery talon violently burst through her abdomen from behind. The beast roared again, masking the words she screamed as blood erupted from her lips. The lid gave way and the ark was opened. A blinding flash of light from within the artifact pierced through the darkness. The beasts roars suddenly became high-pitched screeches as they withdrew back towards the shadowy fog. As the light spread across the encampment Myharl's last sight of Gryphonwind was life's light fleeting form her eyes as her impaled corpse was wrent into the evaporating darkness.
Instinctively reaching into the ark, Myharl pulled forth the fiery glowing orb from within. An otherworldly flame-filled eye gazed out from within the crystalline sphere. Clutching the ball tightly, Myharl raised it high as he screamed out her name.

The sensation of a thousand infernos wracked across his body as the beasts continued to shriek. Seeing dozens of bodies littering the blood soaked sands around him, Myharl turned his eyes to the orb. His gaze locked involuntarily with the fiery eye within and the violence around him faded into absolute darkness and silence. There was only the eye. It seemed to gaze into his very soul as an overwhelming rage welled within. A feeling of anger and righteousness. He was aware of nothing else except the fiery red glow of the eye. However, soon he realized that he was not alone, and as the eye shifted, it illuminated the massive golden figure that bore it. A great gold dragon, much like the beasts from the shadows, but enormous and surrounded by a glow in a hue of gold Myharl had never before seen.

For what simultaneously felt like an instant and like eons, the golden figure observed Myharl. Then it commandingly uttered a single word. A word beyond comprehension. Reality returned in an instant to Myharl's awareness just as an explosion of luminous golden thunder pulsed from the orb, the distortions of light eradicating both the shadows and the vicious wyrms.

Myharl fell unconscious. When he awoke, he found himself still holding the eye, but surrounding by the warm glow of the campfire and the deep indigo of the star-filled night sky. The threat was gone, but the roars and shrieks had been replaced with the sounds of crying and pain-filled moans. He placed the eye back in to the ark, and weakly slid its heavy lid securely back on top. Among the dead nearby were the two male Ishan and a dozen of his tribe. Many more were grievously wounded. Gryphonwind's body was nowhere to be seen.

As the sun's light kissed the eastern skies and the last of the wounded had been tended to, those that had seen the events that transpired kept a wide birth from Myharl. He was confused by the look of fear in the eyes of his kin. Fear of him. They formed a circle around him, as if guarding a prisoner. Hushed whispers crawled through the crowd. The last of the slain were being wrapped in shrouds when the tribe elders finally approached. They were grim and hesitant.

Proceeding a long silence, they finally elaborated... After discussing it with the tribe, they had all agreed that whatever evil curse was lain upon the people of the Ishans had now been cast upon him. It was no longer safe for him to be among his kin. He was a danger to them. With hurtful disdain they exiled Myharl, demandeding he return the artifact to Kilanirij and never again return to the tribe.

He protested, he demanded, and finally he begged the elders to reconsider. However, realizing there was no way to convince them otherwise, Myharl beseeched the elders to at least be allowed to bid his family farwell. Enclosed by a circle of warriors, he was escorted to the blood-soaked mass of shroud-wrapped bodies. As his tear-filled gaze wandered across the pile, someone in the crowd angrily quipped, "You no longer have family here. Take your curse and be gone!"

Part II: Visions at Kilanirij & Travels to the North (5097-5104 Modern Era) [Backstory]

Myharl was allowed to attend the funeral pyres, and afterwards he accepted the small clay jars in which the ashes of his family had been gathered, along with two more holding the cremated remains of the Ishans. The contingent of armed hunters ushered him to his family’s tent and—with watchful eyes—they observed closely as he prepared to depart. Though he had not cognitively reckoned with the death of his sister and parents, he still felt a maelstrom of rage and sorrow swelling within, prompted by the detached indifference towards him suddenly bestowed by those who had always been in his memories. He felt betrayed. Abandoned. He was alone.

Entering the beit al-sha'r, he gathered the sparse belongings from within. Among them, his father’s jambiya which he secured at his side next to his own. Also, an assortment of travel gear, preserved goat’s cheese, and several waterskins filled by his mother the day before from the shallow sandstone well at the encampment. After dismantling the tent and neatly folding its black fabric into a parcel, he harnessed his father’s ebony wastesdrgon and laden it with the hefty pile.

Snugly tucking the funerary jars and veil iron ark within the goat fleece fabric, he then briskly mounted the lizard and yanked the reins, yawing the beast so its scaly tail dramatically feinted those gathered. Without words, recognizing it would be the last time he was among his former kin, he slowly and deliberately rode through the breadth of the encampment, searing his eyes into the elders as he passed. He rode away from his home, and into the darkness enveloping the setting desert sun—he road towards Kilanirij.

Still in progress...

Part III: The Great Empire & Finding the Drake (5104-5109 Modern Era) [Backstory]

In progress...

Part IV: New Home In The Frontier (5109-5122 Modern Era)

In progress...

Part V: The Vixen & the Maiden — The Acquisition of Forlorn Maiden (5111 Modern Era)

Pictured: Forlorn Maiden, the haunted "sacred glowing white warsword" of Myharl Gryphonwind. Commissioned artwork by Mates Laurentiu.

Item Profile for Forlorn Maiden.

In progress...

Part VI: Endless Winter: Shadows & Talons (5122-Current Modern Era)

In progress...

OOC Questions & Answers

These Q&A originated on the Official Gemstone IV Discord, in the #roleplaying channel. Conversations that I felt relevant enough to catalog are archived in this section.

(12/07/2022) What are you looking for when it comes to roleplay in Gemstone?


See Answer



Lots of different kinds of RP add to the experience as a whole. Sometimes it's just in-character banter in the envrions, sometimes long-running character-driven story arcs, sometime's it's self-driven building purpose and intent for a character, and then there's world-wide RP driven primarily by GM/NPC interaction. I think I'm a fan of all those styles, but what I'm "looking for" depends on a lot of factors like: my RL workload, my current mood, and what level of engagement I can dedicate currently to GS. There are times when I'm "in the groove" and then there are times I'm fairly detached beyond anything superficial.

(Discord Link — 12/07/2022)

(12/08/2022) What information do you put on your character's wiki page and what information, if any, do you deliberately avoid putting on there?


See Answer



I'm a big fan of the character wiki pages. I literally just discovered these like 5 days ago; no clue how I overlooked them all this time (apparently since 2018). Already created Myharl's a few days ago, and getting it completed is like my big non-work-related project RSN.  It's been fun seeing how different people have been utilizing the tool in different ways. Even if most of it becomes "information overload", it's handy to know that if someone wants to know more about the character (particularly folks he's known for years), there will be a place to go to with all the info organized.

(Discord Link — 12/08/2022)

(12/10/2022) Without getting into basic vs premium or prime vs plat -- do you feel like your roleplay support/opportunities are a good value compared to what you pay? Do you think roleplay offers a fairly equitable experience despite the increased monetization of Gemstone?


See Answer



Honestly? No, I don't think it's a good value at all, but that's not why I pay for GS to begin with. The reason I continue to pay for GS is it to support its continued longevity. The sustained game world, shared experience as a whole, and the opportunity to advance my character's story over decades. It's a terrible nonsensical investment from a logical perspective, and I love it for that. That's not to say I don't very much appreciate the support/opportunities, and that they absolutely greatly enrich the experience—but that wasn't the question.

Fundamentally, the way people enjoy GS is going to depend on the person. Its worth to me goes beyond its value. Those are two different things.

(Discord Link #1 — 12/10/2022)
(Discord Link #2 — 12/10/2022)

(02/06/2023) We've discussed the tragic background story trope here a few times, so let's make that our next topic.  Do your PCs adhere to or buck the trope?  How so, and why did you make those choices?  Did you start off with that story, or did it evolve over time?


See Answer



Tragic backgrounds get a bad wrap. Tragedy is quintessential to the human experience and creates relatability.  I certainly leaned into it for Myharl's backstory. 

When I created the character years ago, I started with the concept that I wanted to shatter the cringy stereotype of Highmen being analog for über-Scottish. I wanted the character to not only look and act different, but to establish a persona that would be foreign to Elanthian norms. This was back in the day when every-other kindred, "was'a nae all tha easy ta unner'stand, iff'n ya be know'n."  I also wanted to adhere to established lore and create a plausible theme within the setting. 

I turned to archaic lore with elements that still exist beneath the layers (or are underpinning the framework) of "modern" Elanthia. I utilized the forgotten/lost Highman kingdom as a source: the modern site of the ruins in Stoneharrow Swale. Beyond the fact that it was destroyed in a prehistoric era by a great war against a dark magic from another realm, little-to-no lore expands upon that history. It seemed the perfect place to insert an unnamed nomadic tribe of giantkin; exiled deep to the Southron Wastes in antiquity, who are the descendants of some of those who survived that war. I figure perhaps this is also how the progenitors of the established Kindred clans may have originated as well.

Other than, "Oh, he just got curious and decided to go adventuring!" as a premise for the character's endeavors, I felt it would take something tragic to uproot him from his home (his family dying and being exiled from his tribe—a sort of backshadowing of their own origins) and send him unprepared into the word at large. 

(Discord Link — 02/06/2023)

(02/06/2023) What's your PC's/NPC's relationship status?  Single, divorced, never married, throuple, it's complicated?  None of my business?  And as always, why?


See Answer



Until very recently, Myharl's marriage to his wives played a huge role in continued character development. However, as happens sometimes, players transition away from the game for a myriad of reasons. Days between appearances become weeks, and eventually weeks become months. Having invested almost a decade and half of steady and in-depth RP into into an in-character relationship with his wives, I found recent growing distance over the long-term to be stifling to storytelling and not an enjoyable experience. 

When a year passed with less than a handful of awkward brief moments shared with the characters involved, I finally decided to move his story in a different direction. No bad vibes about it, and it was a wonderfully enjoyable to experience through Myharl's unfolding story. It saddened him, but after a long wait... he's no longer married. He has shifted his priority to the other major aspects of his character backstory... primarily hunting wyrms. An ironic twist of fate considering how carefully I had to tread around dragons "existing, but not existing" in the game when they have always played a huge role in his backstory. I was stupidly excited the first time I saw one actually land in the Hinterwilds. I knew I was about to move to Cold River!

(Discord Link — 02/06/2023)

(02/07/2023) Tell us about your PC's immediate family.  Are they close with their mother, father, and siblings?  How many of the latter do they have?  Are they an eldest, middle or baby in the family?  Where are they now, relative to your character?


See Answer



Myharl's family is all dead as far as he knows. His parents, elder sister, and most of his extended family were killed in an attack on his tribe's camp when he was in his teens. His eldest sister was presumed dead after being lost as a child in a sandstorm before his birth — an ambiguous window left open in case I ever decide I want to do something with that part of the story in the future.

(Discord Link — 02/07/2023)

(02/09/2023) Has your PC ever been accused, arrested, and/or convicted of a crime?  Through the justice system, in their background history, or during a story?  What were the charges, and were they innocent or guilty?  As always: why?


See Answer



Mechanically, once via the justice system. Was unintentional, but was having an in-character conversation with a character whose name began with "Pend" and was about reply to a question they had so I went to TAP them on the shoulder. Like half a second before that, they stepped out of the room and I instead tapped my pendant, which was embedded with an AOE spell, and triggered the justice system. 

In-character, Myharl hasn't been arrested, but was detained by Khylon as a suspect in the disappearance of Rinhale Hurrst back in 5114. He wasn't guilty of the crime, but was honest and told the captain that he wished he were—which didn't help his case. I don't remember why he became a suspect, but I vaguely recall using WT SPIT LEFT EYE on Hurrst when he was interrogating Myharl. 

(Discord Link — 02/09/2023)

(02/10/2023) What questions does your character avoid answering?  Why?  Are they forthcoming, trusting, trustworthy, or introverted?  *OR UP TO SOMETHING?*  As always, why?


See Answer



Myharl doesn't necessarily avoid questions about himself or his past. His past experiences serve to drive his life goals, but he does very much knowingly play into the general perception of "big dumb warrior", and has found leaning into that earns him more allies than enemies. So, usually, any answer you get out of him is going to be intentionally shaded with a hint of that perception in mind.  :: hoots like a big dumb warrior ::

(Discord Link — 02/10/2023)

(02/13/2023) Are there elements of your character's nature, temperament and history that you have made changes to since you started playing them? Why did you make the change, and how painful and/or fun was it to do so?



See Answer



For like the first three or four months after Myharl was created I did some fine tuning, but the general backstory has been consistent since creation. It was the first time I had returned to the game in many years; and I had a lot of new lore to catch-up on. 
I found/made a few items early on that helped me to solidify the concepts. For instance, he has this really ridiculously never-should-have-been-made altered sphere that I only recalled ever seeing once back in the mid-90's. By dumb luck I acquired it about a month after creating the character. So, it immediately became a pivotal part of his backstory. I've left the lore of whatever it actually is ambiguous, but in-character he's convinced it's the eye of the Great Drake and believes it has guided him through every chapter of his life.
That being said, his character development is a constant, and I adjust his personality and motives accordingly. He's certainly not the same persona that existed a decade and a half past, but the core remains the same.
(Discord Link — 02/13/2023)

(02/14/2023) What is your character *passionate* about?


See Answer



Now? Hunting wyrms! Before that was viable, it was researching drakes/dragons/wyrms to understand their role in history as well as discovering how they factored into his established backstory. It was the appearance of the shadow dragon that prompted him to make the Landing his home. And, while it's not a mechanically viable "city", with the appearance of the cold wyrms in the Hinterwilds, Cold River has become his new home (away from home).

(Discord Link — 02/14/2023)

(02/17/2023) How did you come up with your character's name?  Does it have a source in other fiction or the real world?  Or was it just a collection of syllables that worked for you?  Was it part of a family tradition?  Do they have any nicknames?


See Answer



It's ironic, considering how often I hear the "hurl" joke, but the name literally is syllable-vomit. As a long-time "forever DM" in tabletop gaming, and working in a profession where I'm constantly having to come up with fantasy/sci-fi names, I rarely hesitate to just type one out and go with it. I knew I wanted something with either one or two syllables.

I did apply in-character meaning for it though: "His name is an amalgamous play on multiple giantkin words which can be roughly understood as "gift of the feast" and was bestowed upon him in celebration of the massive white sandworm the tribe hunters, including his father, fell on the day before his birth."

For the family name Gryphonwind, I wrote the following: "Family names are not a tradition practiced by his tribe, yet are often necessary for business matters in the Empire and its holdings and frontier outposts. Gryphonwind is the name of a long-ago friend who sacrificed her own life to save his. The name was adopted by Myharl as his surname to honor her memory. " (The later name being influenced by my childhood crush on the character Goldmoon from the Dragonlance series, and applying the Qué-Shu affinity for names consisting of compound nouns.)

Myharl's knickname is "The Dark Tower" which I had made into a post name title he wears. Backstory: His moniker, "The Dark Tower" originated as a nickname from his years training at the Warrior Guild. The name began as a playful jest about his unusual height (10' 5"), but later—through trials and tribulations with his brethren—became a title of honor and respect. 

(Discord Link — 02/17/2023)

(02/17/2023) Have we had a question about how many times your characters have been married?


See Answer



Myharl had four wives, technically one marriage, all Faendryl sisters. Was married to them for 13 years, but recently divorced due to player infrequently getting in the game (No bad vibes there that I'm aware of; I think they have just quit playing GS now). It was weird having such a big part of Myharl's story essentially inactive for so long, so finally decided to change directions. Not sure he'll ever consider remarrying as he's pretty preoccupied with seeking out his destiny and hunting wyrms now.
(Discord Link — 02/17/2023)

(02/20/2023) Does your PC have any leaders that they look up to?  Or hold as an example of what to be, or not to be?  Are they from your PC's culture, nationality, guild, circle of friends, MHO, etc?


See Answer



Myharl acquiesces that there are tiers of leadership in society and respects those to the extent that it maintains order. However, he would never pledge servitude to any empire, province, or order. If he follows someone, it's an active choice to do so. Training at the Warrior Guild did instill an understanding of the importance of positions of command, and he admires those who embody their charge (even those in direct opposition) but feels such titles lend no significance beyond their purpose. He's found that he holds as much respect for many common folk as he ever has for powerful leaders. 

Myharl bears fealty for only one: Lord Koar. 

He believes Koar, for unknown reasons, has directly guided and led him to various moments in his life. He is not clergy, or particularly religious—just a simple warrior and wanderer. He suspects there have been and perhaps are currently other wanders across the lands who Koar has influenced in similar ways. 

His interpretation of Koar as the Great Drake, the last left standing of those great beings, lends a very different perspective from those who consider him to be one of the Arkati. While Myharl has a healthy respect for the power of the Arkati and often feels aligned with the agendas of the pantheon of Liabo, to say that he worships any of them would be a vast overreach. However, Myharl readily bends a knee and is willing to serve the Great Drake. As far as embracing the concept of “gods” or “sovereign”, he finds no other being other than Koar worthy of such designation. If asked who he follows, his answer will always be “The Great Drake” both in a sense of religious devotion as well as in the practical. There are a few partial exceptions to this (Lumnis, Lorminstra, Phoen, Ronan, Voln, and Kor'thriss), but their higher significance is in relation to the Great Drake.

This tilted perspective of lore is how I play 'reality' for Myharl.  It's up to everyone else's interpretation as to whether or not he's delusional.

(Discord Link — 02/20/2023)

(02/23/2023) Tell me about something your character wants.  It could be a title, a weapon, a skill, or a possession- even a goal- that's up to you.  Tell me about what they want for their future and how they'll go about getting it!


See Answer



Mechanically: Undead Bane for my blade. I might be able to pull it off one of these Duskruins, but not this one. Reach-for-the-stars dream would be a greater transmute for the blade to white alloy. Not even really mechanically relevant, just an RP facet and character theme thing I'd enjoy.

Title: Wyrmslayer.  Maybe one day! Until then, I'll keep working towards being deserving of such a title.
(Discord Link — 02/23/2023)

Behind the Scenes

The player of the character Myharl first discovered GemStone III in June of 1996 during summer vacation from his sophomore year of high school. He played regularly for the next eight years and was active as the game world transitioned from GSIII into GSIV. He played only one character (name intentionally redacted) before going on hiatus in 2004. After a five year absence, he returned in 2009 and began his Elanthian experience anew with the creation of Myharl whom he has played exclusively since.

Myharl's date of birth (and even the hour of his birth) are exactly the same as the player's—relative to the Elanthian calendar. Perhaps a less than creative approach, but the idea was to keep the character somewhat relevant in perspective over the years. As the player has grown with time, that often gets reflected in aspects of Myharl's persona.

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Year-End Progress Reports (2009-2022)

This section includes the year-end data for Myharl's character progression as recorded on the night of December 31st for every year since the character's creation. This report will be udpated at the end of each new year. It's not particularly useful data, but it is a fun reflection of progress made over time. 



View Data



2009 
Level: 18
Experience: 417,351
Fame: 488,529
Year Exp Gain: 417,351 (Avg. 32,103/week)

2010
Level: 43
Experience: 2,004,118
Fame: 5,451,787
Year Exp Gain: 1,586,767 (Avg. 30,514/week)

2011
Level: 55
Experience: 3,008,381
Fame: 8,599,195
Year Exp Gain: 1,004,263 (Avg. 19,312/week)

2012
Level: 67
Experience: 4,208,290
Fame: 12,167,333
Year Exp Gain: 1,204,909 (Avg. 23,171/week)

2013
Level: 92
Experience: 6,725,725
Fame: 28,836,022     
Year Exp Gain: 2,517,435 (Avg. 48,412/week)

2014
Level: 100
Experience: 8,115,541
Fame: 33,109,012
Year Exp Gain: 1,389,816 (Avg. 26,727/week)
(Note: Level Capped in June of this year!)  

2015
Level: 100
Experience: 9,504,703
Fame: 37,933,717
Year Exp Gain: 1,389,162 (Avg. 26,714/week)

2016
Level: 100
Experience: 10,917,038
Fame: 43,780,801
Year Exp Gain: 1,412,335 (Avg. 27,160/week)

2017
Level: 100
Experience: 11,425,421
Fame: 45,669,521
Year Exp Gain: 508,383 (Avg. 9,776/week)

2018
Level: 100
Experience: 11,726,267
Fame: 46,928,478
Year Exp Gain: 300,846 (Avg. 5,785/week)
(Note: It's interesting how little time I had for the game in 2017-2018 as I was in the process of simultaneously authoring two hardcovers for two different publishers on top of my regular game development workload.)

2019
Level: 100
Experience: 12,962,501
Fame: 57,854,824
Year Exp Gain: 1,236,234 (Avg. 23,773/week)

2020
Level: 100 (x2)
Experience: 16,456,174
Ascension Exp: 963,436
Total Exp: 17,419,610
Fame: 105,614,116
Year Exp Gain: 3,456,109 (Avg. 66,463/week)
(Note: Double-Capped this year!)

2021
Level: 100 (x2 + ASC)
Experience: 18,390,059
Ascension Exp: 2,500,001
Total Exp: 20,890,060
Fame: 164,664,189
Year Exp Gain: 3,470,450 (Avg. 66,739/week)

2022 
Level: 100 (x3 + ASC)
Experience: 22,807,553
Ascension Exp: 3,096,835
Total Exp: 25,904,388
Fame: 263,049,164
Year Exp Gain: 5,014,328 (Avg. 96,429/week)
(Note: Triple-Capped this year!)

2023 
Level: 100 (x3 + x1 ASC)
Experience: 24,145,207
Ascension Exp: 7,572,502
Total Exp: 31,717,709
Fame: 341,175,753
Year Exp Gain: 5,813,321 (Avg. 111,795/week)
(Note: x1 Capped Ascension this Year!)

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OOC Contacts

I don't publicly share my contact info, and don't normally share it directly with others in GS. However, if you need to get a hold of me OOC and cannot contact me in game, I have created a stand-alone Discord account @Myharl that is only used for the Official GemStone IV Discord and for direct messages regarding GemStone IV. Feel free to DM me there or send a friend request if it's regarding the game and I'll follow up when I have time.

Requiem Request

While it’s certainly not a part of the plan, being involved as a part of an ongoing fantasy world that spans decades and includes multiple generations, it is inevitable that sometimes players pass away. Their characters too pass on, often leaving in their wake legends and legacies as well as heartbroken friends and loved ones. It is a morbid topic to be sure, thus my inclusion of this section at the very end of this character entry.

Over the years I’ve lost more than my fair share of old friends and great allies in the world of Elanthia. Some prepared the closure of their character’s story—others were taken unexpectedly. This section is to reflect on the potential that I, the player of Myharl, could one day meet my end before the grand stories of GemStone reach conclusion. I despise unfinished stories. And so, this section presents how I would want to envision Myharl’s stage-exit from an in-character perspective should the unfortunate unexpectedly happen.

If his story dramatically shifts, this section is maintained to express how I would desire closure to the character’s story in the present.

 


Reveal: The Final Night




Gathered with good friends around the usual table at the Luna Rest Tavern in Mist Harbor, Myharl spent the evening enjoying being regaled with tales of adventure shared among the many seated. A delicious meal and plentiful drink was accompanied boisterous conversation filled with merriment and laughter. The gathering seemed not unlike any typical night. His demeanor was notably warmer than usual, yet he was distracted—present yet somehow absent. He sat quietly smiling, occasionally joining in laughter and jest, as he listened to story after story. He lent no tale of his own. His eyes lingered upon those loved ones so near to him, his gaze adverting when noticed. 

As the night grew long, and one-by-one his friends began to depart, Myharl waited to bid each farewell. He hugged every one of them with an exaggerated embrace that was attributed by most to the abundance of ale consumed (none noticed his tankard remained full).  He was the last to leave, pausing briefly as he walked towards the exit to glance back fondly at the now empty table.

Much later that same night, deep into the witching hour, a few townsfolk caught sight of Myharl in Cold River as they made their way towards the tavern. The night was particularly inclement, a blizzard casting a near blinding cover across the wintery landscape as the gale howled fiercely. The kindred was kneeling beneath the ancient pine in the village center, his garments violently whipping around his dark armaments. It was not unusual to see him stationed there with his eyes turned skyward, though something out of the ordinary this time caught attention of passers-by:  In one hand Myharl grasped a strange sphere encompassing the blazing fiery shape of an eye. 

Then suddenly, over the rushing winds, bellowed an ear-splitting roar announcing a wyrm soaring overhead. The sound sent the villagers scrambling for their destinations, and their last sight of Myharl was as his towering figure arose and grimly made way towards the Boreal Forest. His distant figure was quickly obscured and faded into the cascading waves of snow and ice. 

His disappearance remains a mystery, but it can be assumed he was prepared and finally fulfilled the destiny he so often referred to.