Kestrel Etrevion

Warning: This page concerns archaic world setting information from the I.C.E. Age of GemStone III. It is not canon in contemporary GemStone IV, nor is it canonical for Shadow World as the details may be specific to GemStone III. It is only historical context for certain very old parts of the game and these things should not be mixed.

Kestrel Etrevion ruled a fiefdom carved out of the western rim of Claedesbrim Bay during the early years of the Wars of Dominion in the Second Era of the Shadow World history. He rose up the ranks of the "warriors of the Unlife" quickly, secretly masterminded by his brother Bandur Etrevion. This was most likely in the service of Lorgalis in context but it is never stated. He was awarded the fiefdom after a particularly hard fought campaign that would have failed without the sorcerous intervention of his brother. In time he became restless and built a fleet of ships to conduct raids on other settlements.

The lands became chaotic with sinister cults rising up in the power vacuum, until eventually Bandur usurped the throne and established a theocracy called The Dark Path. When Kestrel returned they had a heated argument, until there was an invasion on the northern border. When this was put down with a flight of demons, they continued arguing until Bandur ripped his brother's soul out in a fit of possession.

Burial Mound

Kestrel Etrevion is seemingly in a Viking style boat burial inside a huge warship shaped passage mound. The Graveyard is "backwards" on many points, and the sarcophagus of his brother Bandur is a fake tomb, so there are high odds this is not Kestrel. Kestrel may be the throne of human bones under the burial mound. Kestrel's sons were killed in what was likely a battle to take the throne back from Bandur.

[Graveyard, Burial Mound]
This is the burial chamber of a great warrior-king.  There are empty chests made of precious woods, now mildewed and rotten with fittings of beaten gold and silver.  Rusted weapons are scattered about.  A wooden coffin, carved in the shape of a proud warship with a dragon prow, lies at the far side of the circular room.
Obvious exits: west, southeast.

>l coffin
The coffin was pried open long ago and damaged in the process.  The hinges are now so deformed that it cannot be shut.  The wooden casket is carved with broad, primitive strokes and covered with faded traces of paint and gilt.  A silver plaque is affixed to the casket.

>read plaque
It reads:
Our Lord and Liege, Ruler of the West Country--Never at peace while he lived, and yet to find peace beyond the grave.

>l in coff
In the wooden coffin you see a kingly corpse.

>l corpse
The corpse wears a deathmask of beaten silver and gold, the facial features grim, determined and cruel, beneath a jewel-encrusted coronet.  Swathed in a plain burial shroud with arms crossed over his chest, the warrior-king still inspires awe and dread.

These epitaphs are subtle mockery. In the adjacent room at the "prow" of the warship, his heroic deeds are illustrated as having been orchestrated by Bandur.

[Graveyard, Burial Mound]
The room is triangular, the "prow" of the shiplike structure. On the dirt walls are faded remains of strange murals. The line drawings all have an oppressive and ominous sameness about them, even though they depict different scenes. You approach one wall to get a closer look, stooping down as the elevation of the roof drops sharply.
Obvious exits: southwest, northwest

>look mural
The disquieting murals depict a series of episodes in the life of a great warrior. Painted in earthtones and mineral colors of ochre, yellow, umbre, turquoise, green and charcoal, the panels sketch epic sea and land battles, all featuring a powerful, striking figure leading the frays. Hovering by his side, in each scene, is a shadowy dark figure, who appears to be floating just above the ground or water, the better to observe and influence the course of the pitched battles.
There appears to be something written on it.

>read mural
In the Common language, it reads:
The Deeds of Kestrel Etrevion, Lord of the West Country.

Behind the Scenes

"The Legend of the Necropolis of Etrevion" is probably the first story that was specific to GemStone III. The Graveyard is one of the very oldest areas. Research:The Graveyard argues that the story of Kestrel and Bandur are likely based on Osiris and Set, and that the Graveyard may be based on a motif of fallen or dead gods of the underworld. The House of Kestrel in the Turamzzyrian Empire in the modern history, ironically, is the family that rules the Hall of Mages. The Royal Magister has always been a Kestrel. There is no relation between them and Kestrel Etrevion. The Etrevion story is archaic history.