THE RULE OF SALMARIK
[ Librarian's note: This book was co-authored by the brilliant
scholar Gerdan and his protector Hain. Gerdan and Hain proved
themselves to be a near perfect pairing of mental and physical
prowess during their many years of adventuring. Hain's sword
guarded Gerdan's notebooks, and together they interviewed
countless individuals, friendly and malevolent, all over the
isle of Belaern while preparing this tome. ~ K.D.E. ]
The first and only true king of Belaern, Salmarik's reign
was marked by great accomplishment and violent tragedy.
He was born about 370 years before the founding of Stormfront,
one of many children on a farm in the eastern part of Belaern
(what is now the Blood Sands, but was then a rich agricultural
area). The farmers had no real leader, and traded amongst
themselves for items they needed. It was a peaceful existence,
marred only by occasional raids by the native population.
These raids were rarely violent, but often took provisions the
farmers held in storage for emergencies, which made life a
risky, day-by-day thing.
As Salmarik grew up, resentment toward the natives increased,
and groups of men organized to defend the farms from the now
more frequent raids. Salmarik was the leader of one such group,
and was considered a highly effective captain.
Salmarik is eventually proclaimed King, and proceeds to organize
and expand his dominion to include all of Belaern from the base
of the volcano to the southern tip of the isle. He does this
in a seemingly effortless manner, and it is rumored that he is
recieving help from a drow mage named Rakmar [see book on Rakmar
Horgashax].
At an elderly age, Salmarik steps down and hands the throne over
to his eldest son, Orfod. Orfod's power is not the equal of his
father's however, and turmoil in the kingdom results. Frodo, Orfod's
younger brother, desires the throne, and war ensues [see book about
the Sons of Salmarik]. Mighty armies are mustered, but in the end,
neither son is victorious. Both father and sons vanish in a
mysterious, magical, and environmentally catastrophic event that
results in the destruction of the fertile kingdom and the creation
of the Desert.
No one knows for certain what has happened to Salmarik or his sons.
The sons have been rumored to live on in some undead form on
opposite ends of the wasteland that was to have been their kingdom.
The stories say they continue to plot to uncover the source of their
father's power, possibly some magical item that disappeared along
with Salmarik.
The Rule of Salmarik [ Q to quit ]