Race: Human
Faction: Enclave
Discipline: Wrathguard
Function: Hero of Light
Location: Dead
“The First Light of Heaven… that was his name…”
Aryones was the ultimate hero for the Enclave. His powers and strength were unmatched and everyone loved him. And even though there were whole hordes of followers that went everywhere he did, Aryones remained himself. He was not arrogant, but kind and just. He was not vengeful but just and righteous. That was until the day his soul was corrupted and twisted by an evil the likes of which the Enclave had never seen before.
As Aryones Ithkari was born into the higher ranks of House Torque, everything in his life was a joyous occasion. Blessed by striking good looks, yet he was also born with innate skills of battle and had a keen and intelligent mind. His kind eyes drew in any if not all that came in contact with him. And more importantly, they all stayed loyal to him because of his kind heart. His childhood was laid out before him like a path of roses; all he had to do was walk over them in a perfect straight line.
When the thawing of Carnyx resulted in the release of the brutish bird like creatures known as the Vhuul, the Enclave had no clue as to what to do. Ithkari, champion of House Torque and hero to all citizens stepped forward and asked if he would be allowed to lead a campaign to rid Carnyx of the Vhuul. The Enclave applauded his valour and bravery and sent a large contingent of men under command of Aryones Ithkari and his followers.
What both the Enclave and Ithkari did not know, was that the Vhuul were being led by a creature that had never shown itself before; the Archfell. When Aryones set foot upon Carnyx and engaged the Vhuul head on, he was engaged by the high priests of the Archfell. Aryones fought bravely and his followers, enthralled by his fighting, rose up in morale and fought by his side with unrelenting fervour. But just as the battle was about to be brought down on the Vhuul, Aryones Ithkari came face to face with a Vhuul that had sneaked into his vicinity quite stealthily. It was the Archfell.
Without lifting as much as a finger the Archfell muttered the final words of an ancient spell. A second later Ithkari fell to his knees clenching his head between his hands and screaming in agony. His followers looked on and saw their hero on his knees fighting for his sanity. Enraged they fought themselves towards him killing most of the Vhuul in their path as their vicious rage fuelled their ability. But as they neared Ithkari and the Archfell, more and more Vhuul poured into the space between them, severing off any contact. A mere five minutes later the Enclave army was pushed back to their rudimentary docks at Carnyx. Their morale shattered at the loss of their beloved comrade and leader. But something happened that night none in the army would have thought possible.
Aryones Ithkari returned.
With determination in his stride, the First Light of Heaven walked towards the Enclave general that had taken over his command. Before the general could say anything, Aryones severed the man’s head from his neck with a quick strike of his sword. The Enclave army staggered back seeing their general being murdered in front of their eyes. Lifting his helmet from his head, Aryones spoke to his followers. Those that would not join him would sleep in the afterlife tonight. Today he had become more than just the First Light of Heaven, today he had become the lord of pain, the destroyer of the Enclave, he had become Shadow’s Hammer!
The words were in stark contrast with their original goal. Yet, all who heard those words could not disagree and found themselves strangely compelled to confirm them. Amongst them, only the daevi saw the madness in those words, somehow not blinded by their sweet sounds, but only a handful of those remained as all who did not agree with Shadow’s Hammer were cleaved in two.
Those that did follow him would be granted a new title, they would become the Arionites! Thus, the War of Shadow’s Hammer started.
In truth Ithkari’s soul was torn from his very being by the Fell energies unleashed by the Archfell. His mind was twisted and moulded in such a way that the Archfell could control him and use him as a puppet. Helplessly, Aryones was controlled into leading his new army into slaughtering settlement after settlement of Enclave citizens. Within days, Carnyx was lost to the Enclave and the Carnyx council that had kept the Barbarian Seal for further use on Carnyx was brutally murdered. As the destruction had been so thorough it would take weeks before the Enclave found out about Ithkari’s betrayal and ordered him arrested. However, Shadow’s Hammer would not be arrested and any attempt at doing so ended in utter failure.
The Enclave was thrown into open war with their own kind as the Arionites focussed their assaults outside of Carnyx slowly corrupting other humans to their cause as well.
In the twentieth year of the war, the truth behind the Archfell became known to the scholars of the Enclave and a group of people that had dedicated themselves to finding as much information about the Vhuul publicly stepped forward. Calling themselves The Marksmen, this group of elite scholars and warriors had the perfect solution. Take out the Archfell and with it, his domination over Ithkari’s mind. A plan was concocted to assassinate the Archfell and bring home Aryones Ithkari to the Enclave, redeeming his past.
So it came to pass that assassins from both House Maul and House Shroud sneaked onto the battle ravaged shard of Carnyx and sought their way into the very presence of the Archfell. Before the Archfell could respond to the hidden threat, his throat was slit and his head severed from his body. Aryones Ithkari, several feet away, sank to his knees, weakened by the loss of controlling magic in his mind.
But things did not go as planned. Even without the vile magics of the Archfell, Aryones remained a puppet to the Vhuul, his mind so utterly twisted after twenty years of conditioning that he could not think otherwise anymore. Lifting his head and looking at his rescuers, Aryones leapt at them, killing both unsuspecting rogues on the spot for “slicing his mind”.
Weakened by the attack and the loss of his master, Ithkari, Shadow’s Hammer no more, staggered out of the Vhuul Hive where he was no match for the soldiers awaiting the return of the two rogues. When they witnessed Ithkari emerge from hive with human blood on his hands and armour, raving like a madman, he was taken captive and subsequently transported to Quarterstone to stand trial for his acts of betrayal.
It was on Quarterstone that Aryones Ithkari was formally sentenced to death for his crimes against the Enclave. The execution would take place at once so that Arionites could not interfere. House Rune stepped forward and laid a plan out before the Enclave. They would take Aryones to the Graveyard in Quarterstone where he would be executed in silence, without drawing any attention. His body would then be buried in the crypt of an unknown merchant and his head thrown into the pit of the Pit District. Acting under pressure the other High House leaders accepted and placed Aryones Ithkari in Runite hands.
The final hour for the First Light of Heaven had struck.
