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Marrishland has a long and violent history. Several civilizations have risen and fallen, here, and the book tells about events during one of the most turbulant periods - a period whose events determine whether a civilization survives or dies.

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Weard Darflaem (ca. 2000)

The most important figure in Mar history was neither a military nor political leader, though his discovery prompted many wars and made our current model of government possible. Weard Darflaem lived in Litus Albus - a coastal city not far from where Pidel Palus now stands - where he made a living as an herbalist and physician.

Domus Palus was a hotbed of activity for all major sects of the Cult of Marrish, but Litus Albus was no less populated by believers. Litus Albus worshipers were more likely to belong to more social and mystical sects - such as the Oper and the Perkeron - than to more scholar-dominated groups like the Veravenaton. Scholars disagree on whether Weard was a Perkeron mystic or simply a casual believer who happened upon the secret of magic by accident during his mundane work. His reaction to his discovery, however, indicates he believed in the Destiny of Magic promised to the Mar by Esgil Erseld, at the very least.

Contrary to popular myth, Weard Darflaem did not discover the properties of torutsen. The Zeden - one of the Hundred Tribes whose patron was later known as Cedar - drank kalysut tea as part of their coming of age ritual. It was believed that Zeden sent visions to young men and women through the medium of the swirling colors of the myst (though they did not call it this). From what is known about these vision quests, the dosage must have been high enough to cause myst blindness. Some among the Perkeron adopted this practice in their quest to unlock the magical potential of the Mar.

It is possible that a few Perkeron mystics used smaller doses of torutsen and discovered they could control the flow of the myst. It isn't even unimaginable that other Mar released the potential energy of the myst by accident, but they did not recognize how they had done it and so could not demonstrate the feat for other Mar. Weard Darflaem was the first to recognize that Mar could use magic by controlling and activating the myst.

There are many tales about the circumstances surrounding this discovery, but no one really knows how Weard discovered the myst was magic. Weard Darflaem developed only seven magical applications during his lifetime, and only one of them still sees use, and even then, only as a training tool for apprentices who have just tasted torutsen for the first time - igniting a small fire at the tip of the finger. The other applications are less practical. One of them allows a wizard to set himself on fire, incinerating clothes and hair and burning most of the skin on his body - not an especially useful application. Given that Weard had no way of knowing how the myst worked - only that the motes represented potential magical energy - seven applications is actually no mean feat, especially if you take into consideration that Weard only lived for a few years after his discovery.

Though Weard Darflaem's discovery lacked military value, it was of enormous religious significance among the Mar. Weard shared his discovery with anyone who took an interest in it, teaching half a dozen apprentices in the first year. His knowledge and magical power quickly caught the attention of the leaders of every sect of Cultists in Litus Albus, and Weard set out to teach them all everything he knew. A few of these sects did not wish for their rivals to have the religious authority Weard's discovery had allowed them to claim for themselves.

Among these were the Satrykin (meaning "belt-dancers"), who believed that only those who had dedicated their lives to the study of magical devices were worthy to receive Marrish's Blessing. They forbade Weard from sharing his discovery with any Mar, but he refused to cooperate. The Satrykin kidnapped Weard Darflaem and attempted to torture him into submission, but he remained resolute. In the end, the Satrykin used magic to burn Weard Darflaem as a heretic. It was the first execution using Mar magic, but it would not be the last.

Weard Darflaem's star is Cali'her ("dark sun"), which is the brightest of all the stars. It is often used to navigate by night, as it always points north, moving only very little throughout the year.

(Contributed by Weard Gilda Kronas)