Hannault Thrayban

> "*What a powerful beast. Look how it cowers before me.*"
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**Hannualt Thrayban** is one of the Pride of Maelbrathyr. He now rules as one of the Mad Lords of Maelbrathyr as master of House Thrayban. It is a role of which he is equal prisoner as master, for he is condemned there by Torog to eternal torture for The Pride's transgressions against him.

## Fall of Maelbrathyr

### Maelbrathyr's Plight

Hannault was among five nobles chosen as champions of the City of Maelbrathyr during its time of need. Each champion represented one of Maelbrathyr's noble houses; Hannault represented House Thrayban and was joined by Aleeria Shaltzar of House Shaltzar, Marta Ravenhook of House Ravenhook, Vance Dungrim of House Dungrim, and Ordu Dekaan of House Dekaan. They became known as the Pride of Maelbrathyr.

During this time the great empire of Bael Turath was on the verge on losing its longstanding war with the rival power of Arkhosia. In the centuries past, a mage and general of unsurpassed skill had come from Maelbrathyr and led Bael Turath's armies to huge success. He was known as The Ruby Wizard, and before he ran afoul and was captured by the servants of Torog, many believed he was on track to defeat Arkhosia. The Pride was tasked with delving into the depths of The Underdark to liberate The Ruby Wizard from his imprisonment. Once restored, all hopes rested on the wizard being able to turn the tide of the war.

### The Quest

Although members of the five houses had joined together under an allusion of unity to save their city, the houses were all rivals who sought to outcompete each other for control. Hannault Thrayban was chosen to lead the group, something which he took extreme pride in. However, during the journey his leadership became increasingly challenged by Marta and Vance. They saw Hannault as unfit after the poor handling of a number of situations.

Hannualt knew full well that as leader he had the most prestige to gain from their mission and was unwilling to let the other nobles strip him of that power. When Aleeria Shaltzar revealed to Hannault that Marta Ravenhook was plotting against him, Thrayban struck first. He engineered an accident in a particularly dangerous region of the Underdark, intentionally refusing to save Marta when the need arose.

With one threat down only Vance remained. Vance was horribly stricken by the death of Marta on Hannault's watch, and began plotting to kill him. Yet again Hannault outwitted his companion, causing Vance to fall to his death in the same Aboleth-infested pit that he intended to push Thrayban into.

The remaining three members of The Pride succeeded in their mission, rescuing The Ruby Wizard even with the tragic 'sacrifice' of two of their members.

### Torog's Punishment

When The Pride returned to Maelbrathyr they were met with much fanfare. Yet this was short lived. Torog was infuriated by the slight against him made by stealing a prisoner from his torture pits. The Crawling King sought out a just punishment for the transgression and turned his ire towards Maelbrathyr. He pulled the whole city into the Underdark on the eve of their celebratory carnival, entrapping its citizens and crumbling buildings in the forsaken depths. For The Pride, Torog cursed doubly. He made Hannault immortal, but struck his mind with a very specific affliction. Torog bound the personalities of Vance Dungrim and Marta Ravenhook, those who Hannault had murdered, inside his own head. Now he had to contend endlessly with their hateful whispers and insults in his mind. Worse, when the conditions were right these personalities could take over Hannault's entire body. He would transform physically into one of them, entrapped helplessly in their mind as he lost control over his own body to another.

Sustained by the immortality of Torog's curse but bound to the crumbling city, Hannualt has become one of its three rulers: contested by the similarly cursed Aleeria Shaltzar and Ordu Dekaan. House Thrayban is an imposing fortress located in the center of the city, exuding Thrayban's supposed authority over it. Yet his mental affliction is well known and Hannault's auspices of power are frequently undone by the self-serving actions of his other rival personalities whenever they gain control.

Perhaps in a bid to prove his dominance, Hannault famously keeps many large and monstrous beasts within his cellar. He spends considerable time breaking and taming these beasts. While he frequently boasts that he has mastered even the most violent of monsters, Hannault's control over them is as tentative as that of his own mind.

## A Cry in the Dark

### Search for Vance Dungrim

Hannault is a main focus for The Underparty during their time in Maelbrathyr. In particular interest, however, is Hannault's alternate personality of Vance Dungrim. While Vance was in control he had managed to locate the Rod of Amoth and hidden it somewhere only he knew. The Rod of Amoth was necessary for The Underparty to get inside Oryndoll, yet as Vance's personality was not in control by the time they arrived in Maelbrathyr its location was undiscernible. Therefor Him tasked The Underparty with causing Hannualt to transform into Vance, allowing them to interrogate him or his followers on the item's location.

With the help of Hears-Beyond-Ears The Party gets in contact with Okki, one of Hannault's slaves. Okki allows The Afterparty into House Thrayban while Hannault is alone taming his beasts. There they confront Hannault, distracting him by playing to his ego long enough to poison him with stunshroom. The effects of the stunshroom cause Vance's personality to take over. Hannualt does not regain control of his mind for the remainder of his body's appearances in A Cry in the Dark.