Tarlov Chronicles V

REPORT FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE ELVEN INSTITUTE OF LEARNING & MAGICK AT HELEVORN IN QUENTARI

This document was researched and written for Aran Elenaro to present to Baron Tristan Greycloak of Ashbury during His Majesty's visit to that Duchy in March of 597.

-Squire Elowyth Tarraninon, Sage of Galenor

On This 8th Day of Gwaeron, the Month of March in the Common Tongue, I Give Most Felicitous Greetings to the Honored Aran Elenaro, Arch-Wizard of Earth & Sky, at Din-Oth, from Your Servant, Amaliel Golindreth, Arch-Wizard of Records & Lore, from the Archives of Helevorn, in Commonspeech by Your Majesty's Command,

Honored One,

We are deep into our search of the Records pertaining to the Great Battle fought between Our People under the Leadership of Your Honored Sire, Aran Galavier, and the Fearsome Creature Known Then & Now as Tarlov of the Ghost Hand. Our researches are still in Progress, but as you have bidden us, we are dispatching such intelligence as we have been able to Glean & put into order at this Time. May it aid all of our Peoples, both in Quentari & in Evendarr, in determining the most Auspicious of strategies against this Menace from the Past.

From what reports we have Accumulated, both in the Archives & most recently, from Your Majesty's ill-fated Encounter with that Foul Creature, we have Ascertained the following Report:

"Tarlov", or "Tarlov y’Koharitan", as he called himself then, was, we believe, born some time in the latter half of the VIIIth Cycle of Ages in the lands to the South and East of Quentari. At the time, this area was a loose and fractious Confederation of city-states and petty Fiefdoms. These were largely Human-ruled & trade between them and Quentari was intermittent at best, due to the Propensity of Humans for quarreling & violence.

There were Reports of a group of Wizards in the area who called themselves the "Sorcerer-Kings", but there are no accurate Nomenclatures establishing their Identities that we have discovered as of this Report. It may be that further Research will uncover them. These were said to have amassed some considerable Wealth & Power, but as with nearly all Human attempts at Governance in those Days, they were given to spending it upon War amongst themselves. Since Dar-Khabad had yet to be brought to Order by the Dwarves & Half-Orcs, our Telcontari, our Rangers, were given to Patrolling into the Verges of the Territory in Defense. However, none of the Accounts that we have discovered to date have revealed the name of Tarlov.

The first date that we can Ascertain that may have a Connection to Tarlov comes in LT 191, in Common the 191st Year of the Reign of Aran Thloestel, your Honored Grandsire. This was the 384th Year of the VIIIth Cycle of Ages, the 4416th Year of the Kingdom of Quentari. Even our own Records speak of the Great Cycle War (the 48-year Cycle which forms one twelve-part of a Cycle of Ages) that ravaged the south of Avalon & drew many of our Rangers & youthful Adventurers into the Battles, which Raged across the South. It marked the first Time that Quentari Records speak of a great Alliance between Humans and Elves, in order to Defeat the Hordes of Monsters which Ravaged the southern Lands.

The Histories of the Telcontari speak of one Wizard who suffered Grievous losses in that Engagement. With one Exception, there is no Name Given to this Hero, but the Accounts speak of his loss of an Arm & the great Grief & Rage that this Condition brought upon him. It is also written that he may have lost his Family as well, but beyond a Brief annotation, we have found no more at this Time. Two hundred years passed. Aran Thloestel passed into Autmennesiel (I do not believe that this word translates into Commonspeech), and Aran Galavier was in the 14th Year of his Reign.

The Archives show that Reports began to arrive at the Throne of Aran Galavier telling of a great Evil that had arisen in the East. Several scouting parties were dispatched to investigate and all failed to return. Then, on the last Day of Hithui, called November in Commonspeech, a Unicorn appeared at Din-Oth seeking Audience with the Aran, and pleaded for help. When the Unicorn spoke of a Creature calling itself Tarlov of the Ghost Hand, the Aran knew that he could wait no longer.

A force was sent from Quentari, bearing Weapons of the greatest Power. The leader of that force, Paurdor (Warlord) Morathak Brightfire, had served in the Forces that fought the Great Cycle War. He writes that the being calling itself Tarlov did resemble the Wizard Tarlov y'Koharitan to an Uncanny Degree, but did not have the Appearance of one who is Undead. Morathak also speaks of Tarlov's left arm, from which he drew his Name. It did appear Translucent & Pale, but was in all other ways a usable Arm.

Our Armies first encountered Tarlov & his Minions at a Great Tower of Magic which, from the Maps & Descriptions of the Area, may well have been Located at the very Place where your Majesty was taken Prisoner. As you & your Brave Rescuers discovered, there were even in those days great Veils of Magic & Powerful Gates used by the Ghost Hand & those whom he commanded. Long & bloody was the Battle, & our Forces were often led Astray & Confounded by the Wiles & Snares set by the Ghost Hand & his Creatures. Victory was hard won and the Defeat of Tarlov was not Accomplished until Midsummer was nearly upon us.

After the Battle had ended and Tarlov had been Captured, Warlord Morathak reported a number of observations regarding Tarlov's Power. The Ghost Hand, if it were indeed the Same Being as he who had Fought in the Great Cycle War, seemed to have gained as much Mastery over the Earth Magics as he had previously had over those Celestial. In addition, he had many Powers of the Great Lords of Undeath, but did not have their Appearance, or their Weaknesses. It appears that some Speculation on his Powers, and their Derivation, was made by our Forces at the Time, but those Pages that immediately come to Hand are damaged. I am led to Believe that the Destruction to this document was quite Deliberate & the Harm done to the specific Pages is worrying. It will take some additional Time to uncover other Sources that may bring new information to Light. Be assured, Honored One, that we shall make the Utmost Haste in this Endeavor. I have yet to uncover your Sire's accounts of the Battle, & would Suggest that a Search be Conducted in the Royal Archives at Din-Oth, or in the Hall of Heroes as well as here at The Institute.

The accounts end with the following: "Fearing that, in death, Tarlov's Spirit would escape, the Wizards of Quentari, led by the Aran Himself, built a Prison high in the Anymdin Mountains. There they placed Tarlov's Spirit, and such of his items of Power as had survived. Using several Circles of Power, one inside another, and with the assistance of the Unicorns, the Wizards felt that Tarlov would be unable to inflict further Harm upon the world."

The accounts of Tarlov end here, for the location of the Prison is not written in our Records, and all those who were Sworn to remember it in case of Need perished in the Dimensional Wars. Over the centuries, the trackless Mountains of Volta have been searched for the Valley that is described in the Records, but nothing has been found.

It is known that one of our Number, the Wizard Entarios D'Quey, entered these Archives in the 372nd Year of Your Reign, called 312 ER in the Evendarrian calendar, and Made an Extract for the Archives of the Royal Academy of Evendarr. He was granted this Privilege in his Office as Master Archivist for the Royal Academy, in Recognition of the Need to preserve such Fragments as could be Discovered at that Time, lest any Change in Circumstances place the Human Realm in Peril from this Monster as well.

Honored One, we shall continue a Diligent Search until all Intelligence on Tarlov of the Ghost Hand is brought to Light. On the Authority you have bestowed upon me, I will also send Instructions to the Royal Guilds, at Din-Oth & to the Telcontari, to make a thorough Search in their Records as well. I have no doubt that there is Yet More to be learned on this Grave Matter.

By My Hand & Seal,

Amaliel Golindreth

Master Archivist

Arch-Wizard of Records & Lore

The Elven Institute of Learning & Magick

Helevorn

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