BY RALDIN

Rua'n Famkul which, means "mind's eye" in an ancient long dead Dwarven dialect, was founded in secret 200 years before the Ascendancy by 12 powerful Dwarven Mystics: Midazal, Rumkul, Kaiania, Remtul, Lazinti, Enitan, Becula, Thorik, Coznos, Belkun, Fin, and Re'Dos. All of the founders passed their knowledge and wisdom on in books and to their students. The Rua'n Famkul are based on the Mainland in a mountain fortress known as Black Stone. This sect is devoted to the Mystic arts and teaches its students with discipline and tradition that has been passed down for hundreds of years. The Rua'n Famkul is made up of only Mystics and Mystic Apprentices. The group is primarily made up of Dwarves but has been known to have other races involved. This secretive sect upholds the Mystic secrets and guards them with great zeal.

BLACK STONE

This subterranean fortress is the home of the Rua'n Famkul and its society. Black Stone is completly encased within a mountain on the southern end of the Sword of the World range. Its entrance is a secret cave known only to the members of this secret society.

RALDIN'S HISTORY

Raldin, firstborn son of De'fnar and Firnia, was born in a great mountain fortress called Black Stone. Black stone was a home to a rare group of Dwarves called the "Rua'n Famkul." The Rua'n Famkul were practitioners of the Mystic arts. Black Stone was a Huge Keep built within one of the tallest mountains on the southern end of the Sword of the World Mountain Range, Its exterior completely hidden within a Mountain, its only entrance was a hidden cave on the western side of the range, known only by members of this secret Dwarven society.

Raldin was born on the 631st anniversary of the foundation of Black Stone. One year after Raldin's Birth his mother and father were called away to investigate the rumors of some Darshak activity near a Dwarven Outpost in the Mountains. They left Raldin and his brother Galdim in the care of a powerful Mystic who taught students in Black Stone, a Thoom named Himkolan.

Then one day a messenger came into the keep and informed Himkolan that De'fnar and Firnia, Raldin's parents, had been killed in a Darshak attack. So Himkolan raised Raldin as his own and when Raldin was old enough Himkolan began to teach Raldin of the Mystic arts. Time went by and Raldin grew up and made a great many friends within the Dwarven Community that dwelt within the keep. When Raldin's training was nearly half complete he was sent on a Mind Quest, which meant he would have to leave the fortress for some time and return when his mind was at balance with his body and spirit. Many Dwarven mystic apprentices use this time to explore the world and learn about other races and customs.

Himkolan had some family members that ran a shipping and trading fleet on the coast of the mainland, so Himkolan arranged a job for Raldin on a trading vessel. Raldin saw it as a perfect opportunity to learn the customs of other races. So Raldin traveled to the Eastern coast of the Mainland and reported to his ship, The Legacy, where he served as a crewman. The Legacy was captained by Himkolan's Nephew, Mitoz, and had a crew made up of 12 men: four Humans two Sylvans and six Thoom. Raldin spent the next five years serving aboard The Legacy which was trading along the Thoom - Sylvan coast.

Then one black night The Legacy was shipping some cargo to a Slyvan port in the Southern parts of the Mainland when they spotted a strange ship that appeared to be abandoned and adrift. Right away Raldin sensed an Aura of Danger from the Vessel. As the Legacy drew closer to the strange ship they noticed a eerie violet light emanating from the deck of the seemingly abandoned vessel. The Captain decided to board the ship and see if there was any sign of the crew. The Legacy pulled alongside the ship and slowly and cautiously the crew boarded the strange ship. With their eyes wide and their swords drawn the crew searched the glowing ship till they came to a cabin. Slowly, Mitoz the Captain began to open the door to the cabin, just as he began to turn the knob Raldin felt a presence materialize behind him. He turned to find a hooded figure staring at him under a cloak with red glowing eyes. Suddenly more hooded figures began to appear. Frozen by fear Raldin could only alert his comrades with a stifled scream. The men frantically swung their swords and began to run back to The Legacy. Raldin however was caught by some sort of spell and could not break it using his mind. The men of The Legacy cried out for Raldin to run away but he could not: the powerful spell bound him where he stood. The hooded figures began casting bolts of red lightning toward The Legacy which rent large holes in her hull. The Legacy was forced to leave Raldin behind and retreat.

Raldin then felt a sharp pain in his head and he collapsed on the deck of the mysterious vessel. Still conscious, the pain ripped through Raldin as the hooded figure began to fill his mind with dark thoughts. Raldin fought the dark thoughts entering his mind and used what little talents he had to stay alive in the mind battle that ensued within his mind. Just then one of the figures began to limp over to Raldin and appeared to be holding a violet stone. Raldin recognized the stone from a book that he had read in the mountain fortress where he spent his childhood. His fear and desperation rising Raldin with a last effort used all his mental force to break the spell around him. As he did this all the hooded figures around him were taken back and began to howl in pain. The figures then began to vaporize and shimmer till they no longer could hold their shape and Raldin was left alone on this strange ship in the middle of the sea. Raldin, exhausted from his battle, passed out on the deck. He awoke the next night still weary but alive. He then began to search the ship and found a small library of books in a language he could not understand and several strange objects that he could not make sense of. Weeks passed and Raldin, starved and giving up hope of a rescue, spotted a ship coming from the east. The ship's flags showed symbols of the Acendencey and at a distance Raldin could see a Sentinel towering on the deck of the ship. Instead of a rescue the Sentinel took Raldin and threw him into the Brig. Later he was found guilty of being a Darshak and was sentenced to die by hanging. Himkolan intervened and got the sentence reduced from death to banishment and Raldin was sent to live on the islands.

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