Talenna Soulseer Lore: Official Story

‘Our border with Kaerok is aflame! Thank Lumaya for Felwin’s Wall. King Tayba’s treachery must be punished, his Banner Lords defeated. If we do not prevail quickly, thousands of Aravians will be lost, and our enemies will circle. Demons will emerge from the depths, necromancers will raise the dead, and Durham will lick its lips. Permit me to plead our case to the Mistwood, to give us fresh hosts that might outflank Kaerok and drive them to terms.’

– Talenna Soulseer, addressing members of the Aravian Royal Court

Talenna Soulseer was a young, dynamic influence in the Aravian Court. Naturally warm and kind, and possessing a broad perspective, she was well-liked, enabling her to navigate the Court’s web of personalities and conflict. She won further respect for her mastery of Light magic.

This magical talent was rooted in Talenna’s hatred of Darkness and wish for Light to triumph in the world. Such was her skill, she crafted an amber orb from pure luminarcana that enabled her to see the ‘Dark’ in everyone. With it, she could detect lies as well as know whether or not an interlocutor had committed a great evil in the past.

A successful persuasion campaign among the Aravian elite saw Talenna travel to the Mistwood to form a pact. She was elated when Rhaia, later called the Mourned, agreed she would speak with her on behalf of Aravia at the Sylvan Court. Her hopes of success in her diplomatic mission were soon dashed when the Corruption tore through Rhaia’s lands. Rhaia herself fell, as well as her glorious son, Folan, who had taken her mantle. Talenna fought beside both, witnessing the Corruption’s malignant power firsthand. It was far worse than that of Dark Elves and the Banner Lords combined.

Talenna realized she could not secure an alliance with the Mistwood unless she helped the Sylvan win. Even if there was no chance of a concord regardless, Talenna saw it as her duty to Aravia to help, given the Corruption was such a terrible danger.

Forced to adapt, Talenna learned powerful withering magic to help her destroy her foes. Regardless, she could see the war was being lost – more and more ground was being Corrupted, and the few remaining Sylvan warriors were exhausted.

Then, in yet another grueling battle, she was nearly killed by a hulking Dark Elf warrior, and was only saved from death by an Undead Elf called ‘Vallaryn the Equalizer’, who declared that if they formed a pact, they could halt the spread of Corruption, for the ‘balance of the world’ was at stake. She knew she was too weak to defeat Rhaia on her own. She didn’t know, however, if she could trust this being, nor if he would turn on her, or the Mistwood itself, if in their victory he saw the ‘balance of the world’ shift again. Talenna saw no other option, however. Without Vallaryn’s help, if it proved to be genuine, Rhaia and the Corruption might not ever be stopped.