A great many questions have arisen in the minds of Western Elanith's population regarding what is becoming known as the Second War of the Griffin Sword.

As such, we've decided that some of the salient events of the conflict should be discussed in these pages, to enlighten the people who might read this humble publication.

We've found a correspondent who, according to our information, is well-connected and informed about the goings-on. We present here his accounting of events.

We hold no illusions about the veracity of his reports, but hope that the information, truthful as it may or may not be, serves as useful.

The Second Saga of the Griffin Sword
As told by Mnar Akurion

The Sword

Why the Griffin Sword was made, no one alive today knows. Why Lorminstra, the deity to whom it was dedicated and bound, chose to set it outside a small temple in an obscure town in a backwater section of the human territories, no one can say. What powers it confers to its wielder, be he mortal or Arkati, remain unknown. All we know is that we have been tasked with its protection, and we have failed.

For the second time in less than a decade the sword has been shattered, its pieces given to the winds and cast across the world. Its four pieces -- the hilt, the blade, the pommel, and the quillons -- have become the most sought-after possessions in all the nations, with the fate of millions depending on who finds them first.

Once again, four dark gods have set aside their differences and forged a Dark Alliance, bending all their powers to the task of finding the sword and reforging it for themselves. Luukos, V'tull, Mularos, and Sheru have joined forces and raised armies of a size not seen since Despana strode the world.

They have not been unopposed, though. Mortals, aware that the future of their world depends on keeping the shards of the griffin sword out of the Dark Alliance's hands, have begun joining their meager forces to oppose the dark gods. Elves, humans, and dwarves have set aside their differences in the hope of avoiding the destruction that is sure to result should the dark gods triumph.

The Quest

Historians will later record that the Griffin Sword was--like promises and fasts--meant to be broken. Barely five years had passed since the end of the first war and the sword's reforging before it was shattered again.

A new priest had appeared in Wehnimer's Landing, with dire predictions of a new darkness that was threatening the world. The shadows were stirring, he claimed, and the dark gods were once more turning their eyes upon the world and scheming of weapons to use against the mortal races. Ulstram, as this priest called himself, began constructing wards around the Griffin Sword, hoping to forestall the agents of the dark gods in their attempt to steal the sword away. His efforts were for naught, however; the petty hatred and jealousies that inhabit the hearts of men tainted the sword, and so Ulstram attempted to cleanse the sword with his prayers and gramaryes.

But the taint would not so easily be undone. Ulstram's magic could not destroy the taint, but neither could the taint completely resist his prayers. The sword -- a fragile, physical vessel -- could not stand the strain of the warring magicks and shattered, the pieces flying into the air and out of sight.

This was a victory for the dark gods, but only half of one. The sword had been sundered and cast to the winds, but the pieces had yet to be recovered. It was the beginning of a search, the greatest the world had ever seen.

The Priests

Before the search could begin, though, the first of the dark gods' armies arrived. Following Morvule, the High Priest of the Luukosian Order, Luukos's forces rampaged across the Landing, slaughtering its defenders, burning the shops and the western side of the town, and putting its people to the sword. To our enduring shame, several citizens turned against the town, aiding the fires as they spread from rooftop to rooftop, and preventing the rescue of the few survivors who huddled in the ruins.

However, despite how thoroughly they destroyed the town, they found no trace of the Griffin Sword's shards. The search went elsewhere.

Across the waters of the Western Sea went the call. A star had fallen onto Teras Isle the same night that the Sword had been shattered in Wehnimer's Landing. The forces of good formed small bands and parties, and began roaming through the jungles and across the basalt plains of the island, looking for the sword or any sign of its arrival.

They did not come alone. The god of combat and bloodlust, V'tull, sent his advocate to the isle, Zerroth the Berserker. Across the island his armies strode, searching for the sword or any who had seen it. The followers of good warred against Zerroth, but his forces were legion while theirs were few, and they succumbed.

Finally, near the brink of defeat, a small party set out from Kharam-Dzu towards the molten heart of the island, the great volcano that towers over the jungle and the city and whose cindered shadow blots out the very light of day. Deep beneath the cratered surface the party delved, following rumors of the fallen star. Finally, in the lowest depths of the glaesine caverns, a pocket was found, and in this pocket they discovered the Hilt, a set of metal eagle's wings with a hollow cleft running betwixt them. They had beaten Zerroth to his prize.

But they were all deceived. One among their number did not seek the sword for the gods of light; her allegiance lay with a different master, and in his name she claimed the hilt. Thus did Mularos, He Who is the Suffering of The World, acquire the first piece of the sword.

The battle left Teras a broken shell, and back across the waters the war came.

The searchers went next to the Freeport of Solhaven. The forces of good had already experienced two horrible losses, two towns burned to the ground and all their people slaughtered. They formed alliances, militias, and defenses. They organized the town to resist the coming invasion, opposing the invading forces which were led by the High Priest of the Sheruvian Order, Draezir.

Word of the war had spread, and many people traveled across the lands to come to Solhaven's aid. Many who had witnessed the terrors in Wehnimer's and Kharam-Dzu warned the people of Solhaven of traitors living in their midst, individuals sworn to the dark gods, folk who would betray them if given the chance. Fires were lit, and many of those named as traitors burned.

It was for naught, however. Draezir's armies came, and though they were cast away from the city's wall dozens of times, there was no stopping them. They broke through the defenses, captured the town, and Draezir claimed it for himself and declared it his capitol, Nighthaven.

Ulstram, the wayward priest of Lorminstra whose works had sundered the sword, appeared to defend the town. However, traitors -- agents of Draezir -- trapped the priest in a magic bauble. For weeks the town was without his aid, and the people suffered.

Finally, Ulstram's guardian, Kendryth, hatched a daring plot to destroy Draezir's camp and attack his supply line, in order to recover the bauble in which Ulstram's soul was stored. With the aid of a group of daring adventurers, Kendryth succeeded and Ulstram was restored.

Once recovered, Ulstram began preparations for an end-run against Draezir's forces, a lightning strike into his camp with the hope of destroying it and finding the next piece of the sword in a single stroke. With as much secrecy as they could muster, Ulstram gathered his forces and magically transported them into Draezir's camp. Laying waste to his forces, they battered through his defenses and found a secret path into the forest.

Deep within the forest, they found a crater, and in the crater rested the second piece of the sword -- the quillons.

But again the forces of good were undone. Unbeknownst to them, a second party had set out from the town, comprised of traitors and spies, who sought the piece for themselves. Following secret paths to the forest while the forces of good were distracted, they arrived upon the quillons first, and claimed it for their lord, Draezir.

The forces of good despaired, but Ulstram had not yet lost hope. Eastward, he saw, the search would go, into the elven lands across the great mountains.

And so to Ta'Illistim and Ta'Vaalor, the questers have come, and behind them the agents of darkness have followed. The advocates of Mularos have arrived, and begun working their dark magicks against the elves and those who would aid them.

Two pieces of the sword have fallen into darkness. Two remain. We must not lose hope, for it is all that remains to us.