Tenebram

Art by Sea\_bayer

### Also known as

Lord Tenebram, Your Radiance, King of Llwendolyn, The Last All King of Qethos, The VOID King

### Family

Ventheris Tenebram (Daughter), Unnamed Wife (Deceased)

### Connections

* Bronn Luxprin
* Sir Cherrick
* Archmage Crowley
* Kua
* Void Corruption
* Black Star
* The Memory
* Olive Bough
* Kopi Yeom

## Status

### Cause of death

Originally killed by Ven and her allies prior to the death of the Gods. Decapitated by Ven of the Blackstar after his resurrection 500 years later.

## Campaign Appearances

### Main Campaign(s)

Voidstar Act 2, All King, Curious Curios

**Tenebram** was the last All King of Qethos, the father of Ven of the Fallen Heroes and the liege lord of Bronn Luxprin, the last Champion of DIV. The scion of a ancient house, he was zealously loyal to the God of Radiance, DIV, and attempted to bring all of Qethos under his heel as All King in Her name. However, his ambitions led him to clash with his renegade daughter and her allies, the Fallen Heroes during their quest to kill the Gods and end the cycle of war. The resulting conflict ended in Tenebram's death at their hands, leaving Qethos to carry on without its ruler in a new godless age.

Around 500 years later, Tenebram was resurrected by Bronn Luxprin in order to resume his role as ruler of Qethos and restore the faith of DIV. However, an altercation with the Tortle Kua led to him being thrown into a pit of VOID. Tenebram was transformed and corrupted by the VOID into a new form and commenced a rampage across Qethos. However, he soon crossed paths again with his own daughter, who had been corrupted by a different force, and was subsequently slain. However, the machinations of the Black Star resulted in his Memory becoming attached to hers, intwining them in a new form of conflict.

Over 1000 years after his second death, a Memory Concept of Tenebram would manifest within the Floating Ruins of Zakkar in the Shadow Veil due to a ritual gone wrong. A group of lost misfits had attempted to use the ruin's connection to the Memory to uncover the forgotten memories of Olive Bough and Kyuubi Wano. Tenebram's Memory managed to gain entry to the Memory Amalgamation through Olive, who shared a Memory with Ven, and proceeded to manipulate the Amalgamation to destroy his daughter's Memory. As the Amalgamation shifted and changed, Tenebram eventually gained enough strength to escape to the real world, emerging from within Olive to be reborn once more. However, Ven's Memory managed to trap him within the ruins, with the side effect of transforming them to resemble his own castle.

Learning Zakarr's purpose as a means of destroying Memories, Tenebram summoned recreations of his servants to capture the party, only for them to triumph and confront him directly. Tenebram attempted to convince them of his pure intentions, citing his daughter's presence as an evil that needed to be purged so he could be free to lead Qethos once more. However, his efforts fell on deaf ears and he resumed his original tactic to destroy Ven and the bearer of her memory by force.

## Description

### Appearance

Tenebram was a middle-aged man with light brown long hair and a thick beard. He had piercing blue eyes and his face appears fixed in a permanent scowl. As ruler of Llwendolyn, he wore an illustrious outfit punctuated by a royal blue mantle accented with white fur. On his head, he wore a gold ornate crown with a sapphire located in the centre.

### Personality

To those around him, Tenebram portrayed himself as a proper and just king. He believed himself to be king by divine right and dictated himself accordingly, having an aura of pride and severity when he expressed himself.

However, Tenebram had a great many darker traits that constitute his true character. Tenebram's fanatical devotion to DIV instilled in him a hatred of all things that were not Radiant in nature. This included his own daughter, Ven, who he loathed for her Balanced nature among other things. His controlling nature led him to forcibly punishing his daughter's disobedience by executing one of her friends and forcing her to watch. Tenebram also held disdain for practices condemned by DIV such as necromancy, a fact he made clear to Bronn when revived by such means. Tenebram made it clear to Bronn such an act could not be forgiven, a possible hint that Tenebram held grudges.

Probably Tenebram's most unsavory trait was his inability to respect others. Tenebram's grand plan to take back the Kingdom of Llwendolyn amounted to him announcing his presence and the senate simply handing him power, completely disregarding any possibility they might do otherwise. Tenebram's decision to murder Kua was also a product of this. Despite being told by his faithful knight that Kua was not a threat, Tenebram ignored Bronn and decided Kua must die to preserve the secret of his rebirth. That Tenebram's first course of action was murder also speaks volumes of his characters. Ultimately, Tenebram's disregard for Kua came back to bite him, as Kua managed to send him into the Maw when Tenebram's back was turned.

## History

### Heir of Tenebram

Tenebram was born as the heir of both the ancient house of Tenebram and the throne of Llwendolyn in southern Qethos. He was born Radiant and his devotion to DIV likely began early in life. His early life isn't well known, but he eventually inherited the throne as king. He also married, and he and his wife eventually had a child together. However, the child was nothing like what Tenebram wanted. He had hoped for a son, but instead he had been given a daughter. He might have forgiven this transgression had the child been born Radiant, but instead she was Balanced, possessing Radiance and VOID almost equally. Though the circumstances are unknown, Tenebram's wife passed away, something that the king blamed on his daughter.

The girl was named Ventheris and she was raised in a rather loveless environment as the reluctant heir to the throne. Her childhood is not well known, but it is evident from the memory witnessed by Olive Bough that Tenebram was constantly disappointed in her and how she conducted herself. This hostile relationship came to a head when Ven, as she preferred to call herself, ran away from home aided by her childhood friend, denying her royal bloodline and leaving Tenebram to rule the kingdom alone.

## Phase 1 Story

### The Starslayer

As king, Tenebram enforced the faith of DIV strongly. His actions aided Her ascension over Qethos, tipping the balance in favor of Radiance. Through his holy order, the Knights of Tenebram, he began exerting his will all across the land. Tenebram's ultimate goal was the coveted title of All King, ruler of the whole continent both north and south of the Great Wall. However, for all his influence, he needed additional support to gain that title.

That support came quite serendipitously in the form of Bronn Luxprin. In Northern Qethos, there had been an incident in which a Voidstar had been brought back to life in direct response to the rise in Radiance. However, the threat was swiftly slain by a group of warriors in the ruins of Alabhastar. Some of Tenebram's knights, led by Sir Cherrick, had been patrolling the area and escorted three of their number back to Llwendolyn, one being his runaway daughter. The other two were a cleric and the other a wizard. The wizard Oswin had been taken into custody for impersonating Tenebram's runaway daughter, allowing for her to remain at large. Tenebram promptly had him thrown in jail for his crimes. Meanwhile, the cleric Bronn came before Tenebram, claiming sole responsibility for feeling the Voidstar. Impressed, Tenebram saw an opportunity in having such a hero on his side. He granted Bronn the title Starslayer and offered Bronn to join his knights with full honors. As an ardent follower of DIV, Bronn accepted.

### All King of Qethos

With his new asset in the form of the Starslayer, Tenebram's rise to power was all but assured. Bronn proved to be a valuable ally, and his worth increased tenfold when DIV Herself reached out to him and declared him to be her Champion. With this political advantage, Tenebram crowned himself All King of Qethos and began to further extend his influence across the Great Wall to rule the whole continent. This included putting pressure on the Holy City of Atlas, ruled by High Pope Bathlazar, who has sworn fealty to Llwendolyn in exchange for its independence.

However, a setback still remained in the form of Tenebram's estranged daughter. As punishment for her flight, Tenebram decided that the childhood friend who had aided her escape would be executed. He had his knights restrain his daughter and forced her to watch as he personally decapitated her lover himself. Shortly after this grisly punishment, Ven managed to elude his knights and liberate the captive Oswin some two months into his sentence. The two of them then went on the run again, with Bronn Luxprin taking off after them, only for them to become embroiled in a war with a clan of dragons.

### Downfall and Death

Tenebram's rule as All King did not end up being as long or as glorious as he intended. The exact details of his reign are unclear but his actions led him into direct conflict with his daughter and her friends. While he retained the loyalty of Bronn Luxprin, who betrayed his former allies in favor of his god and liege, Tenebram was unable to stop the Fallen Heroes on their quest to end the rule of the gods. He and Bronn Luxprin both fell to the heroes, with Tenebram being killed outright. Following their deaths, Ven and her allies went on to kill both DIV and VOID, ending the Age of the Gods and disappearing in the process.

## Phase 2 Story

### A Second Chance

Though defeated, Bronn Luxprin survived beyond the death of the gods, thanks to the power DIV entrusted to him. For 500 years or so, he wandered, watching life return and flourish without the need of deities. Llwendolyn, Tenebram's kingdom, reformed and became a democracy overseen by an elected senate. Such changes proved to be too much for Bronn, who saw this advancement and the absence of DIV as people losing their way.

In the Year 735, Bronn was given an opportunity to enact the change he thought necessary. A woman named Gloria Chronos, Headmaster of the Exodus Academy in the Kingdom of Brisbane, reached out to him. She informed him that they had uncovered a means to revive Tenebram using a orb of Radiant energy and the Last All King's head. All they needed was the body of the First All King, which Bronn could get access to by assisting a man named Mr. Mephisto in obtaining one of the All King's relics, the Ruby-Eyed Scepter. Bronn accepted these terms and took possession of both his liege lord's head and the orb of Radiance. Under the false name Abel Avlys, he joined three other adventurers on the mission into the crypts of Llwendolyn. However, the corpse of the First All-King had been stolen by a fringe VOID cult, forcing Bronn to change tack and set about obtaining the missing corpse.

### The Rise and Fall of Tenebram

Bronn and his party tracked the body to the Maw, a pit of VOID energy in Central Qethos. There, he decapitated the First All King's head and replaced it with Tenebram's. As the stunned party watched, he conducted the ritual and successful resurrected Tenebram. Tenebram was initially disorientated, but Bronn talked him back to his senses. Bronn inquired if Tenebram had seen DIV while in death, if he even felt her presence. Tenebram confirmed he found nothing, that there was only darkness beyond death. Bronn was disheartened, and Tenebram asked Bronn what had happened since his death. Bronn informed him that the kingdom had become run by a senate and their faith in DIV was no more. He implored Tenebram to take the mantle of All King once more.

Though Tenebram was initially interested, he brought up the subject of his ressurection. Bronn admitted to conducting necromancy to bring Tenebram back. This revealation horrified Tenebram. He reprimanded Bronn for resorting to such methods, and that the life he had been given was an abomination. He considered himself unworthy to lead if this is how he has been brought back. Tenebram asserted that he can never forgive Bronn for this act. Bronn, discouraged, asked who might lead if Tenebram will not. Tenebram suggested Bronn should, something Bronn is taken aback by. Bronn argued Tenebram would be a better leader, and with the help of his companion Bophades, they convinced him to take his place as King. Tenebram became convinced in this course of action and stated his desire to take back his kingdom. When the young sorcerer Sachi inquired how he intened to do so, Tenebram dismissed her concerns, stating his divine right would be enough to persuade the senate. He demanded that the party join him and made them swear to secrecy about the true nature of his resurrection.

However, the tortle Kua refused. Kua, a free spirit at heart, stated that he did not take much stock in kings and nations. Tenebram became concerned and reminded Kua that even if he did not join him, he must still be silent about the necromantic ritual. Kua again refuted this, claiming he had no interest in binding himself to a oath of silence. Tenebram, beginning to feel threatened, insisted upon Kua's co-operation. Bronn stepped in, trying to assure Tenebram that no-one will listen to Kua and it would not be a problem. Tenebram, mind made up, stated "No. No, it won't be!" With this declaration, Tenebram threw Kua into the Maw. This act caused uproar, with Bophades and Sachi rescuing Kua and Bronn confronting Tenebram. Tenebram reasserted that it needed to be done and that Kua endangered their objectives. While trying to argue with Bronn, Kua made it back onto the ground and, using his druidic power, enhanced his strength. He then grabbed Tenebram and tossed him into the Maw. Tenbraum, screaming, was swallowed up by the Void pit, his new reign ending before it even began. Tenebram's attempted murder of Kua split the adventuring party, with Bronn beating Kua in an inch of his life and Sachi and Bophades breaking their ties with the grieving immortal.

### The Void King

Within the Maw, Tenebram began to be transformed and permenantly altered by the VOID within. According to the Magi and the Flumphs, Tenebram's body had become the host of a powerful VOID presence. As the newly created Void King, Tenebram became one of the major VOID entities roaming Qethos. Though a grave threat, the threat became unanswered, as neither the warriors who learned of him or his former champion attempted to locate or stop him. When the newborn VOID in the Ziggurat of Xenocrates was defeated and Leask Leall inherited its power, the VOID threat on Qethos was permanently dealt with.

## Powers and Abilities

It is currently unknown what powers Tenebram possess.

## Etymology

Tenebram appears to be a corruption of the Latin word "*tenebrarum*", the genitive plural of "*tenebrae*", which means "darkness".

## Trivia

* Tenebram is the first Non-Player Character to be resurrected in a streamed campaign.
* Tenebram was one of the first characters from Phase 1 to be reintroduced in Phase 2, along with Bronn Luxprin.
* It was revealed by Elenora Mordove during The Shadow Invasion that Asura was attempting to use Tenebram to cause political strife in Qethos, though it is not known to what end.
* Tenebram's form as the VOID King was never seen onstream, as the *Under Io* party did not decide to pursue him and he was eventually slain offscreen by Ven after the conclusion of Phase 2.
* With his appearance in *Curious Curios* Season 3 Episode 22, Tenebram is currently the only Non-Player Character to have a physical appearance in all three Phases of the Ioverse. He and Bronn Luxprin are also the only two characters in the Ioverse to have physically appeared in all three Phases.
* Tenebram marks the second instance of a Memory Concept gaining self-awareness and manifesting in the real world through its own will. The first was the VOID Reborn, which possessed Terasolum and eventually bonded with Leask Laell.
* Tenebram's Memory fusing with Ven's is currently the only known instance of a Non-Player Character's Memory combining with another.