The Legend of the Nine Eyed Sage

This old folk tale stems from the northern mountain region of Renvere and has been told for years in taverns, now it has been written down.

It is said that long ago a mage, one who claimed to be apart of the Arcane Triumverate of old, and other imaginary titles, constructed a stone tower in the mountains with magic. It appeared to be forged of stone, but that was only the outside. It is said that the inside of this wizards keep was bigger than it was on the outside. He went inside and hid there, denying safe harbor to any weary travelers or refugees, which may have been a kindness. For once he did open those doors, only death and suffering waited inside.

Many years after it’s constructed it is said that he began to welcome in folk from time to time, but they were never heard from before. At first it was people that would not go easily noticed, merchants, travelers, missionaries and the sort. Suspisions grew from nearby villagers and rumors started spreading like wildfire. Then more prominante people began to go missing, specifically those who had strong magic bloodlines. Stories told of a tower filled with magical artifacts, richest, or tortured souls, and sparked interest in those who considered themselves heroes or in desperate need of funds. Those who attempted to break in were met with what seemed to be an ordinary, abandoned tower, but in those walls something much more sinister lurked. The few that survived entering that accursed place could never quite figure out where the mage inside hid, or where all of those missing were hidden. There we no signs of graves by the tower, no signs of where bodies could have been burned, when the elven dream-seers were consulted, all they felt was immense pain and fear. Then the doors closed once again.

Another generation went by, those lost to the tower of death were forgotten to all but the legend. Then, without warning, strange creatures began to appear in the nearby woods, unnatural creatures. Some say they were monsters brought here from some dark plane, others say they were creatures of the Mortal Realm, twisted and deformed by magic. Whatever they were, they started attacking locals and driving out settlers, hunters, and miners in the mountain and forest alike.

Not more than a year later, around 62AS, a group of mages began to gather, claiming to be the mad wizard's apprentices, and said they had come to put an end to his nightmare made manifest on the Mortal Realm. Legend has it that one of the apprentices referred to him as the Nine Eyed Sage, due to his mastery over all forms of magic. Some of them believed that he was one of the Arcane Triumverate, and said he was once a protector, alongside Hrothgar the Betrayer and Visya. The one that went mad, Malkor the Magister, which of course is nonsense, as that would have made him nearly 150 years old. They gathered in a small village, although it was said they were one man short. Despite all the power his many apprentices claimed to have had, despite that they came from all over Renvere and abroad from all walks of life, it would seem that they were no match for the man. Maybe it was trying to keep all that power bottled up within that drove him mad, but his so-called apprentices were never seen again. The tower did go silent again, not a light nor sound to be heard from it. The stream of monsters also ceased. But all those who heed this legend should know, that one day it’s doors will open again, and if you are wise, you will steer clear from it.