Inside the Shilen Temple, Zaarr looked at his older brother, helplessly lying on the ground, and remembered...
He and Grazzt were both raised very religiously in the cult of Shilen in a small house near the Dark Elven village. Their mother died when they were still very young, leaving them with a feeling of loss that would never be fully recovered.
When reaching adulthood at 120, and despite the strange desperate warnings of his father, Grazzt decided to leave the safety of his home and explore the world of Aden by himself.
For years and years, Zaarr and his father never heard of Grazzt anymore, until one day, word came to the Dark Elven Village that a new organization had been founded by a mighty Shillien Knight, to restore the past glory of all Dark Elves over Aden : the Shillien Empire.
The name of this powerful Shillien Knight was Grazzt.
Zaarr was torn apart... He wanted so much to go out adventuring and embrace Grazzt's destiny, but he didnt want to leave his father all alone after the death of his mother and the departure of his brother...
But this time, his father talked to him in an even stranger way than when Grazzt had wanted to leave :
"Go, my son, go and meet your brother, it's time you know the truth now..."
He wouldnt say anything more, so Zaarr followed his advice and left...
His path first led him to the village of Gludin, on the South Western shore of Aden, where, following the footsteps of Grazzt, he started embracing the carrer of a Palus Knight.
Becoming a little more skilled, he then ventured inside the lands of Aden and arrived at the town of Gludio.
It was here that he met a powerful Dark Elven Caster named Olorae. Of course he asked her about the Shillien Empire, but it seemed that this once-well-known organization hasnt been heard of for quite some time...
Olorae suggested that he joined another Dark Elf-orientated tribe : Echoes of Darkness.
Zaarr was more than happy to accept the offer, and he started perfecting his skills with the appreciated help of other members of this Clan.
His adventures led him to the burried and two-sided Forgotten Temple, the wicked Cruma Marshlands, the frightful Execution Grounds and Ruins of Angony and Despair, and, fighting on the side of Dusk for the control of the Seals of the Seven Signs, the Necropolis of Sacrifice and Catacomb of the Heretic.
When gaining more power, Zaarr came back to his home in the Dark Elven region, passed the Test of Fate at the Altar of Rites, and became a mighty BladeDancer. But he didnt have the courage to come back to his father without bringing him news of Grazzt, so he just continued searching for him while adventuring, in Death Pass near Giran, Hunter's Valley, and even in the crater below the magic-infused Ivory Tower...
Meanwhile, he heard about the disappearance of Olorae within Echoes of Darkness, and of course wanted to know more, it was she who introduced him into the Clan !
He had a meeting with two other Clan members, two Light Elves, Amathal and Aenya Silverleaf, in the beautiful but very bright city of Heine. Fortunatley he was wearing his Sayha's Mask, so his eyes couldnt be hurt by the sun.
There wasnt much he could learn about Olorae's disappearance, only that Angels attacked her and she was hiding in a remote and unknown location...
What disturbed Zaarr the most during this meeting was his strange but uncontrolled attraction to Aenya, even though she was a Light Elf...
He was told to continue adventuring and perfecting his skills, so he came back once again to the Shilen Temple, this time to gain advice from Hierarch Mitraell in the path of Shilen...
And there he was now, contemplating his older brother Grazzt, lying in a corner of the Shilen Temple, almost naked, without any armor or weapon...
- "What happened ?" asked Zaar
- "There's not much i can tell you right now my young brother, as i'm still very weak... Some time ago, my path crossed the one of a Light Elf called Aelwyna, who seemed to recognize me and told me that she was our half-sister... Of course i didnt believe her, this was an outrage to our mighty Dark Race, so, you know how we are a little hot-blooded in our family, in a moment of fury i just killed her... I should have thought better, because i was then chased by a horde of Light Elves who wanted to take vengence on me... Eventually they found me, but i was protected by my Black Guard of the Shillien Empire, so they couldnt kill me.... Instead, one of them cast a spell on me, and i was banished in some sort of Hell dimension... With the sheer willpower of my mind, i just found a way to escape this dimension, and here i am now... But i realized i'm changed... I dont need to rely on swords anymore, i know i can be much more powerful with my mind... These Elves thought they have done me harm, but instead they have made me even more powerful... I just need some time now to regroup myself..."
Aelwyna, though Zaarr, a light elf... maybe this has something to do with why i have such strange feelings for this Aenya... or maybe not... anyhow this is weird...
Escaping from his thoughts, he looked again at his brother.
- "Of course", he said, "But, Grazzt, i need to help you, what can i do for you ?"
- "For now, i really only need some time, learn how to control my new powers... But there is something you can do my young brother... You remember my organization, the Shillien Empire ? When i disappeared, it has fallen apart, without any leader to guide them... While i gather my forces, i need you to recreate it, and lead it ! Please find some others of our kind, and even from different races, as long as they're ready to pledge allegiance to Shilen... Gather as much individuals as you can, and bring back the glorious days of the Shillien Empire again !"
- "That's right my brother, i will do that ! Do you want me to take you to our father ?"
- "No, not now, i dont want him to see me like that... I will stay here under the protection of Hierarch Mitraell, please go now, i will contact you again very soon..."
Zaarr looked one more time at his brother, sweared to fulfill his will, and ran out the Shilen Temple.
Meanwhile, in the small Human village of Talking Island, another evil force was rising... Kweethul had just been born...