Tarantos

Tarantos (5904-6871) a half demon sired by the Elk
demon and one of the founders of the power of the kingdom of Tarantis. He was
born under unknown conditions. He was raised and trained in the temple when all
prosecutions of the old faith had ended and the temple of the Elk was more
peaceful and tolerant. He was behind the diplomatic missions with Tragis and
played a major role between the friendships of the two kingdoms. Even when the
Goat temple was overthrown Tarantos being a high priest gainsaid his superior
the half demon archpriest of the temple Trenoror and kept the friendship intact.
When in 6142 the kingdom of Tragis was attacked by Kynis he urged the two kings
to fulfil their obligations and sent their forces to help Tragis. In 6188 the
first archpriest Trenoror died at the age of 981. He was a powerful half demon
but was in favor of helping the other demons and their temple dismissing the
kingdom as expandable while Tarantos held the kingdom first in his mind. Now Tarantos
held the temple in his hands and guided the kingdom according to his plans. He
wanted to build a kingdom of peace powerful and respected by all. He worked tirelessly
expanding his influence and working with nobles and merchants guiding many
kings during his long life. In 6300 he begun discussions and commercial
agreements with the small kingdom of Islandis in the inner sea and in 6368 an
official agreement was sealed which enabled trading to flourish. In 6376 he
built a big seaport north of Voriator named Gorfantor to honor a great king
that had helped Tragis in their Kynis wars and appease current then king Lerdon
II. At that time a great plan issued by the Elk Demon unfolded. Tarantos wanted
to join the powers of temple and palace so that an all-powerful ruler to guide
the kingdom in the days that would come and as the powerful demon foresaw would
be tragic and Tarantis would face dreadful dangers. The archpriest was gentle
despite his demonic nature and his hideous visage of large antlers and elk skin
covering his body. He was well liked and the temple helped the common people
being well liked by them. But the nobles also were pleased by the temple as
well the merchants and men of arts and intellect. Tarantis was powerful rich
and respected and many viewed this accomplished as the work of the half demon
arch priest. So having the backing of the majority of the population Tarantos
proceeded to his plan. In 6376 during the ceremony of the new seaport he
proposed to marry the daughter of the king, fair princess Alduria! His proposal
was accepted after an initial hesitation. The Elk demon blessed his offspring
with the ability to sire an heir with a ceremony when all half breeds were
sterile. The princess despite her initial shock from the appearance of her
betrothed she grew in love with him being gentle and wise. Their only child was
named Tarantas and was a handsome baby without a trace of demonic traits.
During this time the other demons had stirred up many beastmen herds and the
kingdom was in turmoil fighting many skirmishes inside and outside the plateau.
But Tarantos was bold and fearless and sent the army to ruthlessly destroy all
beastmen and found many spies and traitors among the people and nobles. The
beastmen war was long but finally they were annihilated and the kingdom was
peaceful once more. His son was in line of succession being the son of the
princess and when the king died and his heir was killed in a skirmish Tarantas
was named one of the kings. Also he was rising in hierarchy being intelligent
and crafty and with his father’s backing up he become high priest. Tarantos had
established a new royal line the Tarantas and his plans were working but it
would be many years until their succession. From the union of the two royal
lines was born Tarantas II which become king after his father and also rose to
be high priest of the temple? There was now only one royal line that had united
the ancient two lines of the old kingdom of Nemeator but infused with the blood
of the demon patron. King Tarantas III with the encouragement of his great
grandfather helped artists and scientists and Tarantis become an enlighten
kingdom of culture and knowledge. Wars with orcs and beastmen never really
ended but the kingdom never faced a real threat. Even Grugar’s invasion was
deflected and that menace was averted from the kingdom. King Tarantas IV helped
rebuilt the destruction in the south outer lands while his son Tarantas V rose
in the temple being a man both wise and brave beyond his years. After many
centuries of ceaseless works archpriest Tarantos resigned his position to his descendant
Tarantas V and left to die in the bowels of the temple’s unknown dungeons
having lived 967 years. It is said that his spirit is protected by the temple’s
foundations and he can still help his seed when summoned in special occasions.