Akhei-Bel

Akhei-Bel was the last Azlan ruler of Adantu, the northern-most province of Zakhema. Adantu had been founded by Chargiz, ancestor of Akhei-Bel, who had defeated the dwarves and claimed their capital of Talamon. As a reward, he was made king of the north by Yekkat, founding a line of semi-autonomous rulers. By Akhei-Bel's day, these rulers had become decadent, their nobility distracted by revels and debauches and obscene experiments that often made use of human slaves. Akhei-Bel remained aloof from the troubles within Adantu and greater Zakhema and was unprepared for the revolt instigated by Irud. She scrambled to contain the threat, but the slaves only grew bolder. The dwarves naturally gave Irud much aid, for he was the enemy of their enemy. In desperation, Akhei-Bel turned to her court mage, Yatavo Snakestaff, who proposed the creation of a champion to counter Irud. The resultant champion, Sivar, dealt many blows to the slaves but ultimately failed to stop Irud. Akhei-Bel was forced to call on Yekkat himself, who brought a great host to the north aboard voidships. But even this was not enough to stop Irud. Yekkat was slain at Asphodel Fields and Akhei-Bel begged Yatavo for a solution. He created, or discovered, a grand ritual, the enigmatic Tower Spell, to be performed in Vathram's sorcerous Brass Tower. Akhei-Bel agreed but something went wrong. The ritual failed and all maedi on Vala were either destroyed, their souls torn from their bodies, or they were cast bodily into the Abyss. With the last of her power, Akhei-Bel placed a curse on mankind. This 'Curse of the Elf Queen' or 'Elf Queen's Prophecy' predicts that humanity, namely Gallia, will reign for Five Ages, only for the Fifth Age to end in a century of darkness and doom. 
There are two interpretations of the Elf Queen’s Prophecy: At the end of the Fourth Age of Man, the Beast of Chaos will arise and consume the world, and the Fifth Age will be the Time of the Beast. A hundred years of darkness will ultimately end with the destruction of mankind and all its works. The Beast will grow its fifth and final head, and consume everything. Finally, the ravan will inherit the earth and tear it apart, taking the stolen pieces of Yesod back. The other, more hopeful interpretation claims that after the century of darkness, the Beast will be destroyed by the Illuminator, who will herald the dawning of the New Sun. Man will rule a renewed empire for one thousand years, before ascending to the stars. The conclusion of the Long Dark suggests that the first interpretation did not come to pass, but where, then is the Illuminator? And has the New Sun truly risen? The elf queen might have her revenge after all. 
Category:History
Category:Heroes