Irud

Irud Skyson liberated humanity from the Azlan, ending Age Zero and ushering in the Era of Man. The origins of Irud are cloaked in myth. According to the Emperor Cult that honors Irud Ilustris and all the worthy Gallian emperors, Irud was a son of Rukh, sent to earth to prevent the maedi from perverting the Heart of Asur and destroying Vala. Irud was also blessed by Sol, and so he is both of the Old Ones and the Outsiders, the original gods and those that came after to impose order and harmony on a chaotic world. Irud is also sometimes considered a form of Wurund, one of the Eight Ancestors of Man. Whatever his true origins, he was more than mortal, and clad in his cloak of feathers and wielding an adamantine spear, he broke the chains of enslaved man and lead them in revolt against the maedi. Irud won many victories, and in response the Azlan created a 'perfect warrior' to counter him. This champion, Sivar, slew Pela, Irud's boon companion, driving Irud to despair. He retreated in grief, and the elves overcame Irud's followers and captured many of the rebel chieftains, parading them in Vathram as trophies. Irud, roused from his despair, went to seek out the dwarves, enemies of the elves, who offered to craft Irud a weapon capable of destroying Sivar. From the Hand of Asur the dwarves forged the blade Revelation, and with it Irud went to confront the Riven Knight. Sivar was ultimately overcome, though precise details vary, and Irud renewed his efforts to defeat the elves. Irud confronted and slew Yekkat at Asphodel Fields, prompting Akei-Bel to attempt the cataclysmic Tower Spell. This backfired, banishing all maedi from Orbis and leaving Irud and his followers the masters of their destinies. The Timedeath that followed the Tower Spell makes the date of Irud's final victory ambiguous. Likewise, the length of his subsequent rule is unclear. He might have ruled for centuries. Whatever the case, after a certain period he departed for the Abyss, going to join Sol. At the place of his apotheosis flames sprang up, the Crownfire that would determine the worth of all future sovereigns. The bones of Irud's companions were fused into the Ivory Tree, the whisperings of which would advise and guide the Gallian emperors down the ages. 
Mysteriously, the dwarves claim that Irud was not a man, and not the son of the sky. Instead, he was Arawn, born from the furious rage of Kanlin after he was shattered by Yekkat. Arawn long plotted the vengeance of the derwo folk, striking when he saw the maedi at their weakest. He went among the enslaved tribes of men and took on a human appearance, becoming Irud. He freed humanity from their chains, all to gain vengeance against the maedi who had broken Tir Urdun, shattered Kanlin and defiled the deephome of Talamon. Arawn destroyed the ‘metal warrior’ Sivar, and then defeated and slew Yekkat the Beautiful, precipitating Akhei-Bel’s ritual in the Brass Tower that doomed the Azlan. With his work accomplished, Arawn vanished from the world. He is honored for avenging the shame of the fyr, though unlike Kanlin, who is wise, graceful and restrained, Arawn is raging, destructive and vicious, the worst a dwarf can be. Though savage, he is also essential, and dwarves do not consider Arawn an evil being. Obviously, Gallians ignore this interpretation, but Irud's true nature remains ambiguous. Some wonder if the Timedeath in fact split Irud into multiple aspects that even now wander the corridors of time, acting on the fate of Vala.
Category:Heroes
Category:Religion