The Black Stele
"Before me, cities.
Behind me, ruins."
~The Black Stele
Southeast of Lake Zirash on the northern Zhaporian plains, stands a rocky hill, and upon it, a broken slab of black stone known only as the Blake Stele. Time and weather have taken their toll on the stone, and it was evidently larger once, but now ends in a broken edge at the top. What has become of the rest of it is not known. Nor do we know the name of the king or warlord who placed it there. It is very old, dating to times before the Istragan Empire.
The script on the Stele is only partially legible, but rubbings were taken by a Knight Mendicant and scribes in Emberhold have deciphered and copied what could be read. The message is in two languages, Dwarvish, and Asuran - the language of the Dominion of Asura beyond the western mountains. It appears to be a record of the exploits of an Asuran warlord who came across the mountains in ages long past. Without the upper portion of the stele we cannot now give the name of this warlord, but portions of his boast remain.
"Zruk... I destroyed, and it's people deported.... and left them as... for carrion of the plains.... to place in the... of my gods.... so that they paid me homage and gave me much tribute, which I also... my gods.
Before me, cities. Behind me, ruins."
While the Dominion of Asura still reigns in the lands beyond the Western Mountains, it is impossible to say whether the current rulers have any relation to this ancient warrior who came with fire and destruction into the lands of Zhaporia. The Zhaporians have no songs of these events, and they do not approach or speak of the Black Stele, holding it to be a thing of ill omen best left alone. They believe a curse lies upon the place and according to the commentaries accompanying the translation work, warned the Mendicant not to approach and were deeply troubled that he had touched the Stele, refusing to let him rest in their camps - a very strange behavior for the normally hospitable Zhaporians - on his return journey. A note appended to these commentaries notes that the Mendicant was slain by a roving beast shortly after bringing the transcription to Emberhold, but considering the dangers of this darkening world, that can be safely put to coincidence.
Behind me, ruins."
~The Black Stele
Southeast of Lake Zirash on the northern Zhaporian plains, stands a rocky hill, and upon it, a broken slab of black stone known only as the Blake Stele. Time and weather have taken their toll on the stone, and it was evidently larger once, but now ends in a broken edge at the top. What has become of the rest of it is not known. Nor do we know the name of the king or warlord who placed it there. It is very old, dating to times before the Istragan Empire.
The script on the Stele is only partially legible, but rubbings were taken by a Knight Mendicant and scribes in Emberhold have deciphered and copied what could be read. The message is in two languages, Dwarvish, and Asuran - the language of the Dominion of Asura beyond the western mountains. It appears to be a record of the exploits of an Asuran warlord who came across the mountains in ages long past. Without the upper portion of the stele we cannot now give the name of this warlord, but portions of his boast remain.
"Zruk... I destroyed, and it's people deported.... and left them as... for carrion of the plains.... to place in the... of my gods.... so that they paid me homage and gave me much tribute, which I also... my gods.
Before me, cities. Behind me, ruins."
While the Dominion of Asura still reigns in the lands beyond the Western Mountains, it is impossible to say whether the current rulers have any relation to this ancient warrior who came with fire and destruction into the lands of Zhaporia. The Zhaporians have no songs of these events, and they do not approach or speak of the Black Stele, holding it to be a thing of ill omen best left alone. They believe a curse lies upon the place and according to the commentaries accompanying the translation work, warned the Mendicant not to approach and were deeply troubled that he had touched the Stele, refusing to let him rest in their camps - a very strange behavior for the normally hospitable Zhaporians - on his return journey. A note appended to these commentaries notes that the Mendicant was slain by a roving beast shortly after bringing the transcription to Emberhold, but considering the dangers of this darkening world, that can be safely put to coincidence.
by MidJourney
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