Erenod

**Erenod** was an elven Ranger of the Grey who lived during the Fifth Age. He's renowned for having united Morgaea against the Fourth Scourge; during which he died after striking the killing blow against the Archfiend Xurteus.

## Background

Erenod was born a city elf, abandoned by unknown parents in an enclave. He stayed in contact with his magically-talented sister Lyrei during her time at the Institute of Magic, and later joined the Grey Order with her, becoming a wyvern rider.

He was said to have been handsome with high cheekbones, curling blond hair and brilliant green eyes. Erenod's greatest gift, however, was his charisma and ability to inspire hope, bringing disparate groups, including outcasts and those who under other circumstances would look down upon him, under a single banner: a legacy that has lasted to the present day.

He remains a hero to all elves, and is especially beloved as an inspiration to city elf children growing up as he did in the enclaves of Morgaea.

## Involvement

In **5A12**, when Xurteus awoke, and the Fourth Scourge began, Erenod and Lyrei were dispatched to Venadrad to assist in the evacuation. While the new riders were assigned wyverns, Erenod bonded with an exceptionally odd-colored beast, Thunder, whom he renamed Arrowglider. When King Elaunzio and Queen Givana's refusal to evacuate resulted in an armed insurrection, Erenod joined the Rangers in fighting the rebel Lysadoren Royal Guards. Afterwards, Erenod helped evacuate the surviving court members to Gusten on their wyverns, with Erenod carrying a Lysadoren Raven mage called Ezrah d'Arvaliste.

As they fled Lysadore, the Rangers were attacked by the archfiend Xurteus itself. After Ranger-Commander Shakir, and the other senior wyvern riders were killed, Erenod split off from the other Rangers, leading an attack on the archfiend in order to buy the surviving Rangers time to escape. After a narrow escape, Erenod was assigned by Ranger-Commander Selaste to work with Amitia Farvale in delivering messages and requests to various influential nobles and mercenary leaders, while the other Rangers prepared Gusten for evacuation, before returning to assist in transporting the refugees to Alepool.

Erenod was subsequently reassigned to Netheren to help the Grey Order defend Lougrick against the fiendish horde. During his time there he entered into a relationship with Amitia. Eventually, Erenod was promoted and given the temporary title of Field-Commander, and placed in charge of the Lougrick front. After the fiendish horde's reinforcements were cut off, Erenod led the allied troops on the main front from the city's southeast to break the siege. Once the fiendish force had been defeated, Erenod set about securing troops for the upcoming efforts to drive the fiendish horde out of the Freemarks. He secured Amitia's mercenary company, the Vermillion Drakes, by giving their captain her own wyvern, as well as persuading various other mercenary leaders that if they lent their soldiers to the Rangers, they had a chance of gaining a wyvern for themselves.

Erenod also managed to secure the Netheric Royal Army by making a public statement of support for Queen Regent Argan to further legitimize her rule, and reluctantly agreeing to sleep with her as a dubious *quid pro quo* for military aid. Erenod had planned to refuse, but was ordered to by Amitia, as she reminded him that she got him in bed every night, and was supported by Lyrei as a political move.

In **5A20**, Erenod was temporarily ordered back from the front to Fortress Hainesault to deliver the First Ranger's orders to Lyrei that she was to evacuate Blackwall immediately using joined wyverns.

Erenod continued to rally support from unexpected quarters against the Scourge. Erenod gathered more Rangers from Maudet and Netheren, as well as allies from among the casteless, exiled surface dwarves, former elven slaves and Apostate mages, forming the Stone-Mother's Bastards, the Masterless and the Broken Institution companies, respectively.

Eventually, the fiendish hordes were driven back towards Lysadore, and Ghallen, and Erenod formulated a plan to lure the Archfiend out so the Rangers could end the Scourge. Erenod decided to personally lead a force of Grey Order wyvern riders to kill Xurteus. After a grueling battle, and despite heavy losses, the Archfiend was brought down over the city of Ayesmare. Although the Archfiend was severely wounded, it had survived and the Grey Order was reduced to a fraction of their initial numbers. As the streets of Ayesmare were swarming with fiendish archers, with their arrows trained on the sky, Erenod bid his sister farewell and alone flew into the city and struck the final blow against the Archfiend, ending the Fourth Scourge; at the cost of his own life and that of his wyvern.

Afterwards, Erenod's remains were cremated outside Alepool at an elaborate funeral. His lover Amatia wore a black cloak of mourning in his honor. Erenod's funeral brought the rulers of many human nations, as well as the Grey Order, and the remnants of Erenod's Broken Institution, Stone-Mother's Bastards and Masterless companies, together in mourning. He and Arrowglider shared a bier; receiving honors unprecedented for an elf.

Afterwards, all of Erenod's armor, the exception being his helmet, which was lost during the battle with Xurteus, and weapons were taken back to Greyhold and placed in a glass coffin decorated with the horns of Xurteus.