Xul'Rathma

Lorros (Nephew)

> "I’m so sorry, my friends..."
>
>

Xul'Rathma is the advisor to King Arelden of Estrosia, and a former soldier in the Estros-Plegia war.

## Biography

Little is known about Xul before the Estros-Plegia war, but it is known he was raised in Silverstar, in the Myvandor region, along with his sister, Verrona.

At some point during the war, Xul started writing in a journal, to cope with his feelings over his sister's death. During this war, he began to doubt his previous feelings on humanity, seeing their true resilience and fearlessness, even in the face of certain death. During this time, he also became friends with the future king of Estrosia, Arelden.

Eventually, Xul was captured by the Plegians, and was sacrificed to The Underking, but having other plans for him, The Underking merely hid a part of his soul within Xul, turning him into a sleeper agent. Eventually, the Plegians were defeated, but King Andalhar was killed shortly before the war came to an end.

In the coming years, Xul would have nightmares about The Underking, and would dismiss them as trauma from his time in captivity. However, whe, the undead started to appear around Estros, Xul became worried, and wrote to a group of heroes.

### Song of the Nightingale

#### Palaven Timeline

Xul'Rathma wrote to Sildar Hallwinter, who along with Johnny and Eldin, had killed Nezznar and saved Phandelver. When they arrived, along with Nightingale, Arelden told the heroes of what had been happening, and sent them to Crow's Keep to investigate, with Xul telling them the details. When the heroes returned, having picked up Granzeid, gave them a reward, and a bonus for finding cult activities.

Next, Xul sent the heroes to the lighthouse to investigate cultist activity in the area. Two days later, Xul started to wretch up, feeling his body was no longer responding to him, and passed out. When he awoke, he realized what had happened: he was sharing a body with The Underking. However, powerful magic bound him to silence, and he resolved to help the heroes anyway he could.

When he next saw the heroes, Xul told them of their mission: to investigate the lost town of Alexandria. Explaining the town's history, Xul told them of the tower that had appeared centuries ago, and that the entire town went missing. Around a day after the heroes left, Xul felt the Underking take control again.

At some point between his return to Estros and the heroes' return, Xul was made aware of a soldier who was dying, and had confirmed The Underking's return.When the heroes returned, Xul learned that he was correct in his theory of the tower's relation to the disappearance of the town, and told them of the news.

Next, Xul sent the heroes to investigate the ancient temple of The Underking, at the bottom of Lake Garamut. Gifting the party with potions of water breathing, he departed. When he returned, he was visited by Lord Anzu, who wanted to pass a message on to the heroes. Once the heroes returned, he learned of The Underking's pet serpent, Anankos. He then passed on the message Anzu had for them.

   Later on, the heroes, as well as King Arelden were called to deal with a matter regarding the Orc chieftain, Taz'Grim. When they returned, Xul thanked them for protecting the king, but then began to cough up blood. He denied their offer to help, just thanking them, before stumbling back to his quarters, feeling The Underking's control yet again. Fighting it off for as long as he could, he finally succumbed to The Underking's influence. Wishing Arelden a good bye, and explaining everything would be answered in his journal, he vanished, leaving the castle in an uproar.

During the ensuing siege on Estrosia, Arelden walked outside the city gates to confront The Underking, finding Xul, now in his skeletal form, under The Underking's influence. Taunting the king as they fought, The Underking realized that the heroes of Palaven had entered the Mausoleum of Lost Souls, and departed, leaving Arelden to defend the city.

When the heroes of Palaven found Xul, he had fully lost himself to The Underking. During the fight, The Underking shed Xul's form, and revealed his true form, leaving Xul's status unknown.

#### Akrenar Timeline

In this timeline, events happened slightly differently, and in a different order. In this timeline, Xul did not write to the heroes, rather they made their way to Estros after being attacked by assassins.

Next, Xul gave the heroes Anzu's message after their journey to Alexandria, rather than after exploring the Lake Garamut Temple.

When The Underking took control, Xul barely got a chance to say goodbye to Arelden, before muttering Verrona's name and leaving. When the heroes found The Underking, they discovered Xul still had some control over himself, saving Baljeet in the process. When The Underking shed Xul from him, it is unknown where he ended up, if he survived.

## Personality

Xul had little time for fools and people who wasted the time of his king. However, to his friends he was kind, and he held an undying loyalty to King Arelden, even as he lost his mind.

## Abilities and Equipment

Xul's armor enhanced his magical abilities, making him a powerful mage on the battlefield, and a master tactician behind the front lines. He was also proficient with dual wielding daggers, something The Underking mocked when commanding his body.

## Appearance

Xul, being an elf with an appreciation for flair, opted to wear his old mage armor from the war, a suit of silver armor decorated with amethyst, and a black kama covering the back of his legs. He had long, silvery hair, and wore a black diadem with an amethyst embedded in it.

When The Underking took over his body for the last time, his face dissolved, revealing a sinister skull.