Dalamar the Dark

Appearance

Dalamar is a tall, handsome Silvanesti elf. Once of good physical build, his time within the demiplane is slowing taking its toll on his body. The elf yet wears the black-robes of his order (the black moon Nuitari), although the runes upon it now exude a faint bluish radiance - a somewhat stark contrast in the red moonlight of Sithicus - as a symbol of his newly acquired power and status as a darklord of Ravenloft.  Heavily cowled, dark shadows completely hide the elf's features even in the bright light of day.

Background

Dalamar was born a Silvanesti elf on the world of Krynn. As he grew up, Dalamar began to seek power. He wanted to control and be respected by others. To do this, he figured, he had to learn magic. And not just any magic - dark magic was the true power - everybody always respected the darker wizard, he reasoned. And the warrior, albeit powerful, was helpless when up-against the power of magic.

Thus he made his choice and the elf began studying dark magic. He did so secretly however as the Silvanesti, a race who considered themselves the purest of elves and a goodly race, would never accept one of their own kind studying 'evil'. So it was, when he was inevitably caught, he was outcast from the forest and his race. Par-Salian, Master of the Conclave of wizards on Ansalon, had been watching him however. He knew of the elf and his power, and also knew it must be nurtured in a controlled manner. So it was he ensured that the elf learned power, by making him apprentice to the great Raistlin Majere. Par-Salian, in return for the boon of apprenticeship, demanded that the young elf spy on the mage to ensure that the balance of magic was kept even.

When Raistlin Majere became a force to rock the balance, Dalamar acted with concern. Raistlin rounded on the 'traitor' and scarred the dark mage for life. Dalamar, after the event, was humbled. The young elf knew from that day on, he would never have power to rival Majere. He never stopped hating him, and yet had a great respect for him - the way he used his power, used it to its full limit. Others, he knew, would squander such power. After that day, Dalamar swore he would never again underestimate anyone.

When his shalafi was thought to have died in a battle against the Dark Queen Takhisis, Dalamar became the Master of Black Robes and keeper of the abandoned Tower of High Sorcery. So began a mundane existence. Yes, everyday he was learning. Learning new spells, and growing slowly but steadily in power. But what did that mean? It meant very little. Power was nothing without respect and the feeling of power. He had always followed in the footsteps - been in the shade as it were, of Raistlin. Now that he had control, it meant nothing. Indeed, even when the great Justarius died and the dark elf became Head of the Conclave - essentially the most powerful mage on Ansalon - he felt empty.

When Raistlin later returned, devoid of magic, Dalamar could do nothing against the mage to ease his inner feelings as his old master was completely barren of power, and, as such, nearly defenseless. Besides, Raistlin was needed to help prevent the coming chaos which threatened the world. . .

Deliverance

During the chaos on Krynn, the Three Cousins - the moon gods Solinari, Lunitari, and Nuitari - knew magic could be lost from the world, and, if such were the case, they would simply cease to exist. Solinari the White himself was ready, even willing to accept his final death, if it came, to rest at the side of Paladine. Not so Nuitari of Black however. The dark one was unwilling to accept his possible fate. Lunitari the Neutral, as usual, was down the middle - as in all things - and uncaring.

Nuitari, watching the battles on Krynn, became even more fearful of his extinction, and chose then to take to extreme measures - dark measures to try and preserve his 'soul' in the case of the worst happening. Thus the dark powers of Ravenloft heard the god's call. They whispered to him of promises of an eternity of magic and darkness in another land very much like the one over which he resided at present. Nuitari hypnotically fell to the powerful suggestions, and he knew he had to convince the others of this offer - he was, after all, tied to his cousins and if he must go - then all must.

So it was Nuitari knew he had to upset the balance, and thus it was he began to try and talk around Lunitari. Perhaps the chaotic time on Krynn had a bearing on the matter, or the dark powers themselves, as Nuitari managed to talk her around, and even, somehow, managed to convince Solinari to some extent. The truth of the matter was that they all agreed on one thing - chaos could prove to drastically upset the balance of Magic - all that they stood for.

This was all that was needed - general agreement. When the time came of the second Cataclysm, the three gods ceased to exist over Krynn...and found themselves transported to a hellish trap of darkness and whispering voices. . .

At this time, Solinari, of white, goodly magic, struggled desperately to keep his sanity in the plane of evil. Lunitari also found the darkness overwhelming and thus she aged many, many years in a short time. Nuitari, on the other hand, was wholly one with the darkness. Thus he was 'released' by the powers and appeared over the sky of Sithicus.

For the others, their fate was not so simple - they were held in torment by the dark powers. If the two ever found the concentration to listen, they would hear a softly whispering voice, "whence you are so tainted, you will also breathe the night and darkness." The two, at this time, felt helpless and most certainly did not think they would ever escape the darkness. . .

Their escape was, in fact, caused in part by a dark plan set in motion by Nuitari. He did not accept Lord Soth as ruler of the land - he was too lazy. To be rid of him and a new lord of power put in place, he decided, was the way forward - and he had just the character in mind. Thus he conspired with the dark powers and let his feelings known. The Mists agreed that the death knight was indeed doing very little in his large domain - but to remove him, there was a price. For withdrawing Soth and delivering a new lord, the powers would release Solinari and Lunitari back as cousins to Nuitari (note the dark powers were also beginning to fear Nuitari's growing power). The black moon god reluctantly agreed and thus Isolde was born of the plan.

Note here that it was not the dark powers that delivered Isolde to Sithicus - it was the magic of both Solinari and Lunitari (here note the distinct naming of the "White Rose"). Although trapped, the dark powers knew of their wishes to escape and relaxed their hold on the two, to develop their feeble attempted escape magic. This the Mists nurtured slowly into the form of Isolde. . .

Later, Solinari and Lunitari were released - with the help of dark powers but essentially by their own magic; Soth was removed from the land; Nuitari got his new darklord - who better than the Master of the Conclave and the Black Robes; and yes, everybody got what they wanted. Even the dark powers. In two ways. Firstly, you see, Soth had no ambition. This new lord, they knew, although lacking ambition for now on Krynn, was sure to fire up when placed within a land of Lords his equal. There, the Mists knew, he could rise to gain the respect he desired and possibly become more powerful as a result.

Secondly, as a result of freeing the trapped Solinari and Lunitari - now suitably weakened and tainted (one was near mad and the other was too old and wasted to be of concern) - the dark powers could keep a firmer rein on Nuitari. You see, if Nuitari got out of hand, he was linked to the other two...(note that part of the reason the Mists had kept the two in captivity was to keep loose control of the dark god).

* * * * *

During the chaotic summer on Krynn, the mage Dalamar bravely went up against the dragonriding fiends and shadow creatures who threatened to overwhelm Krynn as they rose never-ending from the large rift in the Turbidus Ocean. As the dark elf challenged the creatures with fellow mages Mistress Jenna and Dunbar Mastersmate, the three fought the oncoming forces with increasing pressure.

As the battle wore on, Dalamar knew things were becoming futile. The number of chaotic creatures coming from the rift were too numerous to combat. He had to close the tear and lock them out of the world. Thus it was the mage, with the aid of Jenna and Dunbar, began casting the spell which would attempt to do just that. However, as the three chanted, a strange mist arose from seemingly nowhere

It soon became a horrible fog filled with dinful screaming and dark, fleeting shapes. Dalamar, although shaken, merely took this to be a part of the chaos and continued the spell. Suddenly the grey haze became thicker - much thicker. Somewhere in his mind he registered that Jenna and Dunbar were lost to him in the fog. A little annoyed at this since the three were now split, the mage nevertheless continued on. When he completed the spell, exhausted, the mists began to part and Dalamar could make out a landscape before him, albeit a dark one - night had fallen. If this confused the black robed mage, he went pale with shock when he looked up at the sky to see the single strange moon lurking there.

In that moment however, three strange figures appeared before him, one clad in red-robes - no, not red he realised, a darker, blood red shade; another in dark grey and a third in complete black. Before Dalamar could wonder what these three were possibly up to, the grey-robe spoke to the outcast Silvanesti elf:

"Dalamar. You are chosen." Dalamar noted the use of his name and arched an eyebrow. "Indeed. Chosen by whom?" At this, the red robed figure stepped forward and lowered her hood, revealing haggard and worn features as she looked steadily at Dalamar, "by we: Solinari, Nuitari and, Lunitari" the figure bowed. Dalamar's eyes narrowed at this introduction. He had met these three once before his Test. They were the Cousins of Magic. Yet now. . .now Lunitari was old and withered. She had been young and beautiful then, Dalamar remembered. . .  Then he was brought back to reality as the black robe whispered from his hood with a certain smugness, "Welcome to the darkness." With this last statement, the three stepped back into the mists, which dissipated thereafter leaving the weakened Dalamar to his own devices.

Current Sketch

Dalamar was suitably shaken when he learnt of the land named Sithicus (elven for Land of Specters) and indeed more so when he learnt of its previous lord. At first he did not believe it, but when he caught sight of the remains of Nedregaard Keep, that unmistakable familiar rose-shaped castle that could only belong to one cursed Loren Soth, Dalamar silently despaired (although he was in a sense glad the death knight was not present).

As he had looked at the empty remains of the keep that day from the edge of the Great Chasm, a hellish noise arose behind him. As the dark elf turned, he saw a small white carriage careening wildly towards him, with, what looked like, a dwarf at its helm. Dalamar sighed. As the horse-drawn carriage drew up, the dwarf reigned the hard-driven animal in. The mage bowed his head to the dwarf, who looked, in truth, wilder in appearance than his insane driving. The dwarf snarled as he jumped down from the carriage, which was constructed of bone Dalamar noted wryly, and stormed towards the dark elf, "who the hell d'ya think you are, black 'un!? No-one goes near my keep. I oughta. . ." Dalamar held up his hand and the dwarf stopped - and not by will. "I am new to this place, dwarf. Do not test my patience." The cold certainty and promise in the words spoken by the elf and the power by which he was steadily held was enough to quieten Azreal, enough to even make him shudder slightly. He had never trusted mages. "Yar from a different place then. . ."

"Indeed. Your keep?. . ." Dalamar motioned at Soth's broken castle. . .[and so the mage met Azreal the werebadger, and would learn yet more of the land.]

For now, Dalamar lives in a high tower within the city of Mal-Erek. He is darklord but not the ruling power. This is left to the Lord Speaker. Shortly after his entry into Ravenloft, Dalamar visited the Speaker and voiced his intentions to found a place of study of magic in the land. Although the Speaker was reluctant, Dalamar subtly convinced him of the benefits of such a thing to Sithicus.  Dalamar has at this time set up a mage-school, although it is in its early stages. Dalamar wishes to offer budding mages the service he did not have as a child in Silvanesti. Also in his thoughts is his duty to the Cousins of Magic.

Dalamar is not really cursed as such. If you would consider such a thing though, you could recount Madame Girani's curse bestowed upon Soth, "you will never return to Krynn again, though your home will always be in view!"   Dalamar sees much in the land which reminds him of Silvanesti, his homeland from which he was outcast long ago.  Sithicus however is somewhat perverting of Silvanesti and at that the mage is muchly annoyed.  When Dalamar journeyed to Har-Thelen to visit Mason the Speaker, the broken marble statues and unkempt gardens of the city were almost too much to bear as they painfully reminded him of his heritage and past. The dark elf has buried these feelings for now yet swears he will bring out the best in these cities and somehow later restore them to their true beauty.

Dalamar has many inner thoughts and one of these, at the back of his mind well hidden, is the thought that he is still unrespected and lacking in power. Deeply, he feels the only way he will gain this full respect and freedom of mind is by defeating in open battle his former master Raistlin Majere who humbled him so completely. Then his mind would truly be at ease. Yet, although Dalamar believes this, there is a conflicting thought that he will always be the apprentice to the great mage.

Perhaps these feelings will become more conscious as his time within the demiplane lengthens. Certainly the dark powers know that in this place of dread, the dark elf will gain new ambitions - more so when he learns of the Lords within the surrounding domains of Sithicus. Then perhaps Dalamar will feel the potential to gain the respect of these 'equals'.

As it so happens, the mage has already met the demon-fiend Malocchio Aderre of Invidia, who foolishly thought to claim Sithicus when he heard of Soth's 'passing'.  Dalamar met him at the border, a lone black cloaked figure calmly watching from the darkness, the single full moon lurking high above him in the sky.  Aderre had been daunted by this eerie scene, realised his folly and had cowardly called off the plot to find out more about this enigmatic individual.

It is of note that Dalamar has recently heard voiced rumours among the populace that one named Kitiara uth Matar has returned to haunt the land. Dalamar could scarcely believe these comments. He, at one time her lover, had gone against her in the Tower of High Sorcery and killed her. . .

Closing the Borders

Dalamar can close the borders of Sithicus by casting an 'innate' spell granted him by Nuitari. When he wishes it so, translucent writhing purple-blue fire fully encircles the domain and reaches high into the sky. Looking harmless, those that attempt to pass through the mystical fire will find themselves knocked back into the domain with severe shock.

The fire is not deadly unless repeated attempts are made to break the barrier.

Combat

Dalamar is extremely patient. He is not one to panic in a fight, and he is most certainly no coward. He has faced and braved death countless times. His past experiences have left their mark - he is a hardened, worldly intelligent character.

The elf, despite his will to admit it, was the most powerful mage on Ansalon at one point. He has lost none of his previous magical power on entry to Ravenloft (The Three Cousins still 'maintain' his magic) and an assortment of spells are at his ready disposal. What is more, he has been offered more spells and power by the Cousins of Magic. As a result he is now somewhat more powerful and even partly resistant to magic (20% max on any night of the full moon).

The only weakness of Dalamar is his figure. Once of very good physical build and extreme dexterity, he is now becoming weaker in body - this can perhaps be attributed to the additional magical energies he has taken into his mind. His chest, which bears the five wound marks of his legacy with his shalafi, bleeds more steadily than ever within the demiplane. His rage at Raistlin grows daily with this painful suffering.

Note that Dalamar, although weaker, still knows how to use that poison-tipped dagger concealed beneath his thick cloak however.

As darklord, if destroyed he merely fades into apparent non-existence. Within the space of eight days he will be 'remade' to reappear within his Tower in Mal-Erek, as a result of the power of the dark Nuitari (next full moon).

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