Grael

Grael, the Heart-Render, Black Spear of the Kemeroi, Scourge of Haebrous, and Rage of Shadow.2006/08 Shattering the Dark - Pack Grael
== The Grael Rebellion and arriving in Dereth ==
Grael was a warrior of a tribe of Ruschk in the north of the Kingdomw of Haebrous, who called themselves Mukkir.2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru Their leader was Chief Daemal and their warriors called themselves Blood-Warriors.2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael Though he lived in the time of the Empyreans, he is not Haebrean, Yalaini, Dericostian, or Falatacot.2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru It could be possible that his people were here before the Empyreans.2005/10 Tricks and Treats - Ulgrim Rumors Grael was described later by Lucane Kraest as a Mukkir, a "man, large and heavily muscled, like that of a Roulean gladiator with qualities not unlike those of the Empyrean. Tall with a narrow face and striking eyes."2005/08 Friend and Foe - Journal of High Archon Kraest
In the fifth year of the reign of Braletain of Haebrous, Grael's tribe is slain to make way for a mercantile company's gemstone excavations.2005/08 - Friend and Foe - The Grael Rebellion The tribe and their Blood-Warriors put up such a ferocious fight against the Haebreans (the "Shining Ones"2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael) that Braletain's soldiers exterminated every one, save for one single warrior.2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru This only survivor of this tribe, Grael, is brought back to the Royal Menagerie.2005/08 - Friend and Foe - The Grael Rebellion
At the behest of his queen, Carraida, Braletain subjected Grael to life in the gladiatorial pits.2005/08 - Friend and Foe - Account of the Spear of Mukkir He survived all the fights, taking the heads and eating the hearts of his slain opponents. His rage over his defeat, the failing of protecting his chief and the slaughtering of his tribe never subsided.2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael
As time led on, Grael. a. k. a. the Spear of Mukkir gathered an army of slaves and fought their way from the pits.2005/08 - Friend and Foe - Account of the Spear of Mukkir He and his new "Blood-Warriors" savaged the kingdom for three days2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael, killing many, including Braletain's young wife, Queen Carraida.2005/08 - Friend and Foe - Account of the Spear of Mukkir2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru The brothers Shemza, Lurza, Dmesne and Rhujun (Ruschk deities? According to Lurza "The demon Sezzherei once called himself our brother. But when he betrayed our lord to the ancient mages, he fell from Grael's favor. Our brother Tursh slew Sezzherei on the battlefield, or so we all believed." Since Tursh is a Ruschk Deity, and the 4 brothers claim to be able to use magic, which the slaves couldn't, this implies they were more than human. On the other hand, they must have had souls to be able to exchange them.)were amongst the first to join Grael and managed to prolong their life, harboring their essences in crystals, given their souls in exchange for life eternal. They can now be found as the Gatekeepers in the Gateway to the Deep Quest, awaiting the rise of their master.2005/09 Under Cover of Night - Gateway to the Deep#Lore & Dialog
Because the slaves did not have any magical capabilities, and the Haebrous forces did, the Rebellion was suppressed quickly.2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael
Grael somehow escaped Braletain's vengeance, even as his followers were annihilated by the magical arts of the Haebrean royal "thaumaturges".2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru Grael managed to flee, still singing his songs of rage.2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael Four of the other survivors were the brothers Farelaith, Baranaith, Hiranaith and Korogaith.2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Our Bitter Winter
Though they went separate ways, Grael and the brothers met up again on the coast of Dereth. Traveling in a land they did not know. Grael convinced them to join him, and follow the call to the north he felt.2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Our Bitter Winter Grael sought the help of "Darkness" to fight the Haebrous.2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael2006/04 Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Translated Elder Spirits Tablet
One night, Farelaith woke up, and found Grael and his brothers caught in some sort of dark magic.2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Our Bitter Winter Grael seemed to undergo his transformation willingly, and swore oaths with the "Dark that speaks".2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael Farelaith's brothers were wrapped in darkness and started screaming. Farelaith managed to overcome his paralysis and ran. In his fear of Grael, he did not even look back to see what had become of his brothers. 2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Our Bitter Winter The three brothers now serve, turned into Shadows and having lost their name, in the Temple of Stirring Shadows.2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Shade of Farelaith#Lore & Dialog Grael learned "to move within the Dark that walks and learned to devour the light" of the Empyreans.2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael According to the Falatacot, Grael is, because he is not "pure-blood", i.e. Empyrean, incapable of wielding the full power, and a flawed and imperfect vessel for the energies of the Living Darkness. Grael however, possesses something that no Empyrean does: a transcendent and transforming rage, a heart filled with the kind of pure, perfect hate which made him a perfect conduit for the powers of war and destruction and despair. He could serve as an experimental subject for the "Dark Ones". They wrapped him in thorns, in a mantle of Living Darkness and gave him life everlasting within the Darkness, and they tought him to bring True Death and how to extinguish the light of creation.2005/09 - Under Cover of Night - Book of Xik Minru The "mantle" however,was not originally meant for him, slipped out of the grasp of the Nameless. He took the Gift, enslaved others as he had been enslaved, and fled from The Elder Spirits as he fled from his own slavemasters.2006/04 Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Translated Elder Spirits Tablet
Grael, now called the Black Spear of the Kemeroi, went on to the north. The place he chose to sleep was an isle north of Vissidal Isle.2006/06 Toward Ancient Shores - Kiriel Shadowborn#Lore & Dialog He fell asleep in a realm that was forbidden to the Shadow. The Black Spear is of the Shadow, but drifts outside of the domain of Shadow.2006/04 Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Translated Elder Spirits Tablet His presence, "dreaming songs of rage"2005/08 Friend and Foe - The Song of Grael, covered the island in Shadow, and the isle soon came to be called the Dark Isle. Those Falatacot who followed the Old One, N'cthail, took a chance and used ancient seals to sink the isle below the waves. It was their hope that none would ever wake Grael and that this world would be free of him forever.2006/06 Toward Ancient Shores - Kiriel Shadowborn#Lore & Dialog
== The War of Blood and Shadow ==
Both the Raven Hand and Dardante tried to summon Grael and get him under their control.2006/04 Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Translated Bound Falatacot Fragment2006/04 Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Announcements - 2006/04 - Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands#Rollout Article2006/04 Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Translated Elder Spirits Tablet King Varicci II is interested in knowledge about Grael and his power only as far as it would help the war against New Aluvia, Dardante has no such inhibitions, and wants to know everything there is about Grael.2005/12 Through Sacrifice, Strength - Rollout Article Dardante was led to believe by a Falatacot that he summoned and bound that he could achieve the same power as Grael, without making the same dark bargain that Grael made. 2006/04 Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Translated Bound Falatacot Fragment High Archon Lucane Kraest of the Raven Hand got a vision of a presence of a being not unlike his master, the Hopeslayer. and in the hope to find an ally or a puppet to control, he destroyed the first of the crystals, hidden by the Dericost in the Nightmare Gate on Caul.2005/08 Friend and Foe - Journal of High Archon Kraest Kraest believes Grael imprisoned, while in fact he is only asleep.2006/04 Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Announcements - 2006/04 - Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands#Rollout Article
Pontifex Maegris of the Raven Hand and the Ordina Rossu Morta under the leadership of Dardante decided to cooperate and initiate a summoning ritual 2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Teaser2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Journal of Maegris2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Herren's Orders 2006/04 - Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Translated Elder Spirits Tablet2006/07 - Toward Ancient Shores - Town Crier Rumors 
Because of suspected treason, the Raven Hand decided to perform the ritual without the help of Dardante2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Intercepted Note2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Pheraion's Notes 2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Teaser, even though the outcome might fail catastrophically without Count Dardante there to guide.2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Lost Messenger#Lore&Dialog 2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Archmage Aigonne's Notes Possibly only Dardante knows the summoning involves sacrifices.2006/04 Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands - Announcements - 2006/04 - Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands#Rollout Article Isin Dule finds out about the activities of the Raven Hand, notably High Archon Kraest, trying to summon Grael and orders his forces to interfere.2006/05 - The Price of Loyalty - Isin Dule's Instructions
Grael got released, see From the Darkest Depths Teaser Video for a summary of the events leading up to this as seen by Dardante.
The summoning of Grael did not go as planned 2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Teaser, and both Pontifex Maegris and Dardante's main assistant, Archmage Aigonne, were turned into shadows.2006/06 - From the Darkest Depths - Grael's Summoning Chamber#Lore & Dialog The experiments with Grael having gone awry, Grael became now Dardante's master instead of the other way around. 2006/08 - Shattering the Dark - Town Crier Rumors. Dardante, being corrupted by Grael, was turned into a Shadow.
When Isin Dule cannot prevent Grael from being summoned, he calls in the help of the Isparians to rise the Dark Isle2006/06 From the Darkest Depths - Soul Crystal of the Dark Isle Live Event and to prevent the Dark Isle from being sunk again.2006/06 From the Darkest Depths - Raising Grael's Island#Lore & Dialog
Preceded by invasions of the Derethian towns by Shadows during the From the Darkest Depths patch2006/07 Toward Ancient Shores - Letter to the Players2006/06 From the Darkest Depths - Grael's Shadow Lieutenant#Lore & Dialog, a breach was made for Grael's main contingent near Arwic, lead by the Makkar.2006/06 From the Darkest Depths - Shadow Breach Quest#Lore & Dialog2006/06 From the Darkest Depths - Translation of the Torn Letter
Grael and his Mukkir minions rampaged around Dereth, invading towns such as Rithwic.2006/08 Shattering the Dark - Letter to the Players Grael's forces also besiege Asheron in his castle, but with the help of the Isparians, get defeated.2006/07 Toward Ancient Shores - Town Crier Rumors2006/07 Toward Ancient Shores - Carraida's Avenger
He was finally defeated by splitting him in three aspects by destroying the White Totem on the Halaetan Isles (Ruschk Aspect)2006/08 Shattering the Dark - Splitting Grael (Low)#Lore & Dialog, the Black Totem on Caul (Shadow Aspect)2006/08 Shattering the Dark - Splitting Grael (Mid)#Lore & Dialog, and the Abyssal Totem on Dark Isle (Mukkir Aspect)2006/08 Shattering the Dark - Splitting Grael (High)#Lore & Dialog. Oswald brought the Ordina Rossu Morta and Whispering Blade together to fight against Grael.2007/09 Dark Materials - Teaser Queen Elysa and King Varicci II decided to cooperate and slay each one of those aspects separately.2006/09 Come What Follows - Town Crier Rumors2006/08 Shattering the Dark - Solclaim#Unique Globals
These three aspects, the Ruschk Aspect of Grael, the Shadow Aspect of Grael and the Mukkir Aspect of Grael can be found in their respective dungeons for the Aspect of Grael Quests.
Their is still a risk that Grael might overcome the splitting into three Aspects. The Ruschk are looking for a Totem, the Black Spear Ice Totem, which could strengthen Grael and amass the power to possibly disrupt the separation of Grael into containable Aspects.2006/10 Dance of the Dead - The Black Spear Ice Totem#Lore & Dialog
== Related Pages ==
=== Appearance In Game ===
* Grael (Live Event Character)
* Mukkir Aspect of Grael
* Ruschk Aspect of Grael
* Shadow Aspect of Grael
=== Lore Articles ===
* Grael Rebellion
=== Quests ===
* Grael's Rage
* Grael's Summoning Chamber
* Raising Grael's Island
* Tracking Grael
* Sepulcher of Nightmares
* Grael's Forces Attack (Live Event)
* Shadow Breach Quest
* Splitting Grael (High)
* Gateway to the Deep
* Dark Isle Flagging
* Mukkir Aspect of Grael Quest
* Ruschk Aspect of Grael Quest
* Shadow Aspect of Grael Quest
=== Creatures ===
* Grael's Shadow Captain - One of the shadows raiding the towns during the From the Darkest Depths live events
* Grael's Shadow Lieutenant - One of the shadows raiding the towns during the From the Darkest Depths live events
* Lesser Penumbral Horror - part of Graels forces raiding the towns during the From the Darkest Depths live events
* Makkar - One of Grael's generals.
* Mukkir - creatures associated with Grael, not like the Mukkir of his original tribe, but Ruschk, altered by forces of the Living Shadow.2005/10 Tricks and Treats - Master Vaserio's Notes2005/10 Tricks and Treats - Mistress Gabille's Notes2010/06 Shifting Gears - Mukkir (Town Network Painting)
* Ruschk - possibly the Ruschk in Dereth still serve Grael.2006/10 Dance of the Dead - The Black Spear Ice Totem#Lore & Dialog
* Shadow Vortex
=== Locations ===
* 26.4S, 98.0E - Shadow Geyser - one of the locations where shadow and mukkir minions raided several locations around Dereth during the From the Darkest Depths live events
* Dark Isle- where Grael slept, possibly under the Ruschk Ice Tower2008/08 Ancient Powers - Dark Isle Scouting#Lore & Dialog
* Grael's Summoning Chamber - where the ritual summoning Grael went wrong for the Raven Hand and the Ordina Rossu Morta
* Temple of Stirring Shadows - where the brothers of Farelaith serve as Shadows.
=== Items ===
* The Black Spear Ice Totem is a small totem, important to the followers of Grael, the Ruschk.2006/10 Dance of the Dead - The Black Spear Ice Totem#Lore & Dialog
== Images ==
File:Teaser 200608JackCat.jpg|Teaser Picture Maggies Site for Shattering the Dark
File:Grael (Live Event Character) 1.jpg| Grael invading Rithwic during Shattering the Dark
File:Ruschk Aspect of Grael Live.jpg| Ruschk Aspect of Grael
File:Shadow Aspect of Grael Live.jpg| Shadow Aspect of Grael
File:Mukkir Aspect of Grael Live.jpg| Mukkir Aspect of Grael
== References ==