Editing Shadow Lore (section)

=== Empyrean Shadow War ===
Three thousand years ago, during the invasion of the town of [[Daralet]] by [[Yalaini]] soldiers, a man of the village of [[Daralet]] named [[Ilservian Palacost]], could endure no more the abuses of the village's elders. Iservian's son, [[Avoren Palacost]], was deprived of access to food or water, resulting in his death, and the subsequent unfocused aggression of his father<ref name="Pack Bael'Zharon">2004/04 - [[On Bended Knee]] - [[Pack Bael'Zharon]]</ref><ref name="A Brief History for Travelers">2000/11 - [[Should the Stars Fall/The Child of Daralet--Leafcull to Frostfell, PY 11 / (November to December, 2000)]]</ref> Ilservian was run out of town, though not before he vowed to find the edge of the darkness that hung over the eaves of the earth.<ref name="A Brief History for Travelers">2000/11 - [[Should the Stars Fall/The Child of Daralet--Leafcull to Frostfell, PY 11 / (November to December, 2000)]]</ref>
He did not depart alone. His closest friends accompanied him. [[Elithra of Daralet|Elithra]] the mage, Ler Rhan the scribe, [[Omadin]] the farmer, [[Ferah]] the warrior and [[Isin Dule]] the friend of Ilservian since childhood. A small group of sympathizers also joined them. <ref name="A Brief History for Travelers">2000/11 - [[Should the Stars Fall/The Child of Daralet--Leafcull to Frostfell, PY 11 / (November to December, 2000)]]</ref> They wandered far into the endless frigid mud of the wastelands, vainly seeking light. At last Ilservian called to the darkness in anger. But there was no answer. Ilservian pressed on, growing weaker, shouting his fury and anguish into the wind and rain. And then, something answered. <ref name="A Brief History for Travelers">2000/11 - [[Should the Stars Fall/The Child of Daralet--Leafcull to Frostfell, PY 11 / (November to December, 2000)]]</ref>

[[Ilservian Palacost]] gave himself over in service to an ancient, nameless power of darkness and madness. He became known as [[Bael'Zharon]], the "Slayer of Hope" in the language of Asheron's people.<ref name=TownNetworkPainting>2010/06 [[Shifting Gears]] - [[Shadow (Town Network Painting)]]</ref>

Four hundred years later, Ilservian returned, transformed by some dark power<ref>[[AC:DM CD Lore/Bestiary/Derethian Bestiary#Shadows]] </ref> into [[Bael'Zharon the Hopeslayer]]. This was called the [[Empyrean Shadow War]]. He led an army of shadow that brought death and madness in its wake. No force could stop it as it consumed armies and whole villages down to the last man, woman and child.<ref name="Pack Bael'Zharon">2004/04 - [[On Bended Knee]] - [[Pack Bael'Zharon]]</ref> While investigating the events, whole armies disappeared, and [[Lord Atlan]] was reported being ripped apart. <ref name="A Brief History for Travelers">2000/11 - [[Should the Stars Fall/The Child of Daralet--Leafcull to Frostfell, PY 11 / (November to December, 2000)]]</ref><ref>2000/02 - [[Shadows of the Past]] - [[Imperial Missive]]</ref>

Ilservian's followers were changed into Shadows. The first Shadows, then, were Empyrean, corrupted by the same force of chaos that empowered Bael'Zharon. These Shadows fought a vicious war against the ancient Empyrean and nearly destroyed them. Only the actions of the Yalain Mage Council and Asheron saved the race from absorption or destruction. Three of the companions of [[Ilservian Palacost]], [[Isin Dule]], [[Ferah]] and [[Ler Rhan]] survive the [Empyrean Shadow War]], two ([[Omadin]] and [[Elithra of Daralet]]) are slain.<ref name=TownNetworkPainting>2010/06 [[Shifting Gears]] - [[Shadow (Town Network Painting)]]</ref><ref name="A Brief History for Travelers">2000/11 - [[Should the Stars Fall/The Child of Daralet--Leafcull to Frostfell, PY 11 / (November to December, 2000)]]</ref> <ref name="Pack Bael'Zharon">2004/04 - [[On Bended Knee]] - [[Pack Bael'Zharon]]</ref><ref name="A Brief History for Travelers">2000/11 - [[Should the Stars Fall/The Child of Daralet--Leafcull to Frostfell, PY 11 / (November to December, 2000)]]</ref> During the final imprisonment of the Hopeslayer, the council was slain, the earth was scorched in a 3 miles radius. A place today called [[Obsidian Plains]]<ref name="A Brief History for Travelers">2000/11 - [[Should the Stars Fall/The Child of Daralet--Leafcull to Frostfell, PY 11 / (November to December, 2000)]]</ref>The trap set for the Hopeslayer burst into six fragments, but the Empire was only able to recover five. The last piece was never seen again by living eyes. That should have been the end of the tale, save for the [[Gelidites]].<ref name="A Brief History for Travelers">2000/11 - [[Should the Stars Fall/The Child of Daralet--Leafcull to Frostfell, PY 11 / (November to December, 2000)]]</ref>