Folan Silverhart Lore: Official Story
‘It wasn’t Rhaia’s fall that broke her glades’ people. It was Folan’s. Even when the Corruption took his mother, he never stopped fighting. He assumed the mantle of leadership with beautiful ease, even at the height of the worst crisis in centuries. The Rhythm itself became discordant and erratic. But Folan stood firm. Until the Corruption seized him. Despair claimed all of us who were left, then.’
– Talenna Soulseer
Rhaia’s son was the living promise of a future full of peace and prosperity, growth, and renewal, his mother’s hopes and dreams made manifest.
Though an Elf of few words, his careful listening, incisive strategy, and quiet charm, backed with undeniable physicality, won him much respect in the Sylvan Court. When Rhaia’s domain was under threat, she could rely on Folan to bring aid. When she had political goals, he saw them through. He was deeply loyal to his mother and aspired to uphold her principles of protecting the Mistwood and the Sylvan, and making life better for all.
Folan had bled for these ideals. In just one battle, when a horde of Orcs and Ogryn tore upon Rhaia’s lands, he slew an Ogryn chieftain in single combat, first shattering her knee with his mace, Thornstar, to bring her down, then her skull. It was a victory, but Folan had been mauled by a Terrorbeast. He took to wearing a mask bearing a stoic expression to match his feelings about the ordeal afterwards – he did, and suffered, what he must.
But there was much more suffering to come. Kurosa the Covetous’ invasion caused the Corruption to erupt in the Mistwood once more, and Rhaia’s domain became a scene of ferocious fighting.
Folan fought with all the quiet courage and valor he was known for, leading bold counter-attacks, rescuing the populations of surrounded villages, and always in the thickest fighting.
He did not even stop when word came to him that his mother had been consumed by the Corruption. It was only more reason to fight. This greatly inspired his warriors and, though the death and destruction were terrible, they knew they could rebuild with Folan at their head.
The Corruption’s nauseating dissonance overwhelmed Folan’s connection with the Rhythm mid-battle. His veins throbbed a predacious crimson, and a single, grotesque blood-red antler-wing burst through his back with a sickening chorus of snaps, crunches, and meaty squelches. Finally, pulsating red veins curled around his hart-pronged helm. Then he butchered dozens of his own warriors.
Shortly after, on another battlefield, Vallaryn the Equalizer saved Talenna Soulseer from Varkos Headsplitter. Vallaryn told Talenna that there was a chance to vanquish Rhaia who, in her Corrupted form, threatened the whole region. A fragment of Folan’s former self remained, so soon after his fall. They could restore him. Not forever, but long enough for him to aid them slay his mother, who was too far gone and a terrible, overwhelmingly powerful danger.
The plan could fail. But they had to try.