"Much is revealed to me by the Glorious One and I have many orbits of studying the language of your bodies and expressions. Shall I, now, begin my story or would you not be so respectful as to introduce your accompaniment?"

Kilien turned and motioned to each in turn as he said their names. Both bowed slightly as they were introduced. Once finished with introductions Klite climbed from the well and lay in the tall grass.

As soon as he was comfortable Klite began his tale from memory, yet his slithering accent held true throughout, "There once was an Illuminarch called Gregory. He was selected from among the people of Alum at the young age of ten orbits. You are familiar that most Illuminarchs are not chosen until their fifteenth birthday?"

All three nodded their heads in acknowledgment and Klite continued, "His family was poor but faithful. He had no brothers or sisters, no aunts or uncles for both his parents were only children. He was born in Lyxshur or what is now called Lakebank and was raised with other poor children as both his parents found need to work as laborers."

"Even as young boy, he was enamored with soldiers and longed in his heart to become a royal guard. At the time there were no real wars, and only a few small skirmishes still occurred among the eastern tribes."

"The young Gregory was led to the Illuminarch's castle and received his bodyguard. His captain was a Tanthris from the eastern highlands named Bruce Quicksword. The lieutenant was an island man from Tira. Gregory was brought before Illuminarch Gallyon. Yes, the same Gallyon who has the month named after him."

"Gregory was shown around the continent for the span of three orbits. Upon his return he was instructed in history and statecraft. He was also brought up in the tradition of the Glorious One, although, his heart never fully accepted the truth."

"Now Gallyon was a young Illuminarch. Thus, it makes full sense that he pursued youthful sports such as fencing and archery in his spare time. He was also deeply devoted to the Glorious One in a way few Illuminarchs have ever been. He was a wise ruler and held the peace and unity of the continent with the aid of the Glorious One. It was during his reign that the first great ships set sail in hope of finding distant shores."

"Gregory spent his time studying strategy and tactics as he feared the fragile union of the eastern tribes might breakdown and cause him to use force to hold the peace. He also often left castle leaving his bodyguard behind to be by himself."

"The time came when Gallyon, only thirty-five orbits of age, was informed by the Glorious to step down and live among the eastern tribes with his family. Gregory eagerly ascended the throne of the Illuminarch and began his reign. Peace was abundant for the first five orbits until Gregory reached the age of twenty-five."

"During the peace Gregory raised a formidable army in the south, loyal to the generals and him. Gregory was not evil all at once. It took three orbits before his depravity and duplicity was known to all who would see. First, Gregory occasionally did not speak the Glorious One's message. The Glorious One Himself warned Gregory of the sin to which he was soon to fall prey. Gregory ignored this message and continued in his disobedience."

"Trouble fell upon the continent as the blade of an executioner. Drought ravaged the north and great storms besieged the islands. Disease began to spread and many of my kindred were corrupted by the Shadowed. These were the first signs of the Glorious One's rebuke, but Gregory would not listen."

"He continued to blacken his heart with pride and lust for power. The services of the Glorious One were discontinued and Gregory held counsel with the dark ones. And so pride rooted itself in his soul, and he called one last meeting of the chiefs." The meeting was ill-fated and some ambassadors were assassinated along the way by the henchmen of Gregory. The absence of these few caused a stir in the assembly, but Gregory silenced them."

"Then he spoke as though held by a dark one and said, 'I am no longer Gregory but Nobus, Great Noble, and High King, Ruler of Alum.' In saying this he claimed himself equal with the Glorious One. 'Surrender now your lands to me and I shall place governors over them of my choosing.' Some chieftains immediately surrendered their land and bowed too deeply before Nobus. These he left with their land as they were easily controlled by their greed. Other refused him and tried to flee from the room. Most of these were cut down by archers, although, a precious few escaped. And precious they were, indeed."

"The servants of the Glorious One were cut down mercilessly. Even the captain of his own bodyguard was cut down by an archer as he aided the escape of the faithful chieftains. The lieutenant was never discovered among the bodies, but he was never confirmed living either, at least not recognized."

"Nobus' army wasted no time. The West was crushed and subdued before its defenses were made ready. Nobus incited the Southerners against the others causing pride and jealousy to drip from their lips. The North allied with the West, although far too late to save its demise. Westerners joined the ranks of the North and readied a defense against the Southerners. The commander was an Insidis named Aimius. Aimius was wise and cunning. It is said that he could detect an ambush by the dimming of the air. His small army fled before the South, striking when it could, and retreating into the Eastern Highlands."

"Now the East lost all unity as some of its leaders were murdered and others were not. Many went over to the south if for no other reason than a small bribe. A few went over to the North but not many. Gallyon was not found nor many of the chieftains who escaped. More can be told of them in due course."

"Nobus pressed hard after Aimius, but Aimius eluded him through the highlands bringing his army to camp at Respite. While there Aimius realized that he would soon have his back to the sea. He knew he could not escape the wrath of Nobus long on the Eastern Plains. The Glorious One sent a messenger to him in a dream with instructions to flee the continent to a place that would be shown him. With this in mind he sent word to Tidewater to ready the ships for an escape by sea. Word was also sent to North Watch to flee as they would soon be undefended."

"As Aimius led his army from the pass near Respite the Glorious One sent a great storm originating in the North Sea across the Eastern Highlands. The storm was great and many were killed by lightning. Nobus' army was effectively paralyzed as they sought shelter from the freezing and driving rain."

"The storm lasted two full waking days and allowed Aimius enough time to gather supplies and put out to sea. Nobus himself, looking from Dragon Pass, was given vision by the dark ones to see the last ship sail over the horizon."

"Nobus was filled with wrath and destroyed the vacated city of Tidewater. An evil messenger suggested to him that he might build a great prison in which to hold his enemies when they returned. Nobus took this suggestion and made plans for a great tower to be built overlooking the dense Hidden Forest to the west of Etz Lomah confined within the eastern White Mountains."

"The tower was built using stone quarried form the White Mountains. Its base was actually built into the rock of the peak on which it stands. The tower took fifteen orbits to build and was built by slaves. The lowest level was six hundred handbreadths across and sunk deep into the mountain. The only entrance to the tower was found at this level as it corresponded with the level of the valley at the foot of the mountain. The lower levels housed guards and keepers. Thirty levels up the tower rose from the mountain being nearly three hundred handbreadths across. The tower slowly narrowed as it rose another one hundred and twenty levels into the sky."

"It is said that the Shadowed revealed to him an arcane technique to raise the materials from the floor of the valley, and the sound of the construction could be heard as far away as Gilead. The quarrying also left many tunnels and passages within the White Mountains. Here the slaves were housed until the tower was complete."

"When the tower was early into it’s building Nobus was persuaded by his dark counsels to destroy the Tanthris merchants of the continent. For many of these were servants of the Glorious One and they spread the knowledge of Him wherever they traded. Many of these traders were slaughtered but many more escaped into the Misty Mountains. Here they banded together and soon fled the continent."

"The merchants met others in West Bank, buying and supplying ships without Nobus' knowledge. When everything was secure the bulk of the merchants boarded the ships along with numerous other servants of the Glorious One who sought to escape the cruel wrath of Nobus. They set sail and were lost for nearly seven hundred orbits when their descendants arrived on our shores to trade."

"Nobus soon stopped his sacrifices to the dark ones and angered them. This was the beginning of his downfall. Once in the service of the dark ones, one becomes their slave. Nobus instructed all the continent to worship him or die. Many died, and many bent their knee."

"The tribes of the east soon began feuding as they always had. Nobus sent small reinforcements to those loyal to him, but many of those never reached their destination. Complaints were received by Nobus about the lack of assistance and threats to turn against him if he did not honor his treaties. Nobus had no idea what was happening at first."

"These were the first acts of The Woe. The Woe apparently intercepted these troops and decimated them during the passage. Only one report exists of an actual sighting of a fleeing member. Soon it was reported that Nobus' great prison tower had been lost to this band. The name of the band was not given by themselves. Rather, the people who saw the results of their actions said that 'the woe' of Nobus had come. Thus they were known as The Woe."

"Nobus became frustrated and accused the dark ones of his problems, but they had little patience with him. One darkening at Illumina Castle shortly after Nobus claimed deity and supremacy over the Shadowed, he was met on the castle wall by a mysterious figure as the guards report. The figure exchanged words with Nobus and then slew him with a sword. Upon Nobus' sudden death the figure vanished into the air, and Nobus' body disappeared as well."

"The land was divided into five territories which now exist today with only slightly changed borders. A general was given charge of each of the five parcels. Over time, these fell and better kings rose up in their place. And so ends the story of Nobus."