Seanan Stormwind

Sir Rassilon Shiroken hosted a meeting to discuss the few facts known of General Seanan Stormwind of Chaos. In attendance were Lady Datai d'Aggravaine, Warcouncil Irmli of Wargar, and Drakonn Garat of the Wrath of Justice.

Sir Rassilon started us off: 'Since we have so very little cold, hard facts about Seanan Stormwind, this is going to be more discussion than lecture. I encourage all of you to theorize possibilities based on what knowledge I'm about to present. I will start with facts we know, and offer my own theory based on them. Then see what you all think of such. I'm hoping we can come to a clearer understanding of our mutual foe.

For instance... it is a Fact that Seanan Stormwind once lived during the days of the Old Gareth's Keep. It is also a fact that during this time Sinarous and Nagash both lived as well, and are known for being keepers of portals. Now, when I learned of this, my theory was that the three were linked... because Sinarous, while mad, wore white robes... and Nagash is an infamous black magic user. While Seanan at this time wore red. A familiar pattern, it seems.'

Warcouncil Irmli inquired, 'In wha' shape were the Towers at this time?'

To which I answered that they were unified, and probably still out of Shinalstin.

Sir Rassilon also added, 'If my historical studies are correct this was at a time when the Conclave was a merged entity, in that it was three Towers each aligned with a single God of Magic and Moon, but drawn together as one Conclave'

I then asked, 'There was a quest that some embarked on, which involved the consulting of Nagash and Sinarous, correct?'

This sounded familiar to Sir Rassilon as well, but neither of us had the book on hand at the time. I will direct the curious reader to our History section for the scroll titled "Quest for Nadrik's Salvation (Nadrik's Demise)". There if one scans for their names you will come upon the notes from that quest.

Warcouncil Irmli inquired, 'Do we 'ssume the three "portal keepers" draw Arcane power or Divine?'

Sir Rassilon answered, 'Arcane. They are most definitely mages, whatever else has been done to them or become of them'

I also answered the question, 'I'd say arcane, arcane so powerful that the divine tend to disapprove of the bending of the magics for the time travel portals and what all Seanan created.'

With that we moved on to Sir Rassilon's next point of consideration: 'We have recorded information that Seanan once worshipped Sebatis as his God. The trouble is, we know this because it was recorded that Seanan was abandoned by Sebatis in the Abyss. Now, as the good General reminded us, Seanan was notorious for transportation magics and portals on a level that's dangerous for mortals to ascend to. So my theory is... he accidently portalled himself into the Abyss, and Sebatis abandoned him there as a lesson in humility, or as punishment for using forbidden magics.'

I responded with, 'The Gods of Balance are not compassionate in their form of justice. Seanan consistently seemed to walk the extreme edge of power, in spite of his own beloved God's warnings. I can see how Sebatis might have finally given up policing a time traveling, portal hopping, mage and stuck him somewhere where he could not upset the balance of things.'

Sir Rassilon replied, 'A just and fitting punishment, some could argue'

I was unsure about how Seanan got into the Abyss, and then inquired about the sequence of events surrounding the mage.

Sir Rassilon attempted to clarify for me: 'That is the trouble when following the timeline of a time traveling mage but... so far as I can understand... after. Because it leads to another fact. We now know whom Seanan pledges allegiance too, after all, and someone had to get him out of the Abyss. So far as I can tell, when he was amongst the Conclave in modern times, he was still in Sebatis' favor. I'd hoped to invite Conclave here to verify this but they're... difficult to contact and deal with.

I then tried to put it together from what I know: 'Malachive, so, he was living in our time with the Conclave, got himself trapped in the abyss after his death fighting a dragon from his previous time where he originated (Maylstrom the Red), and Malachive got him out.'

Sir Rassilon concurred, 'Seems to be the case. Malachive has a knack for finding those during desperate or dark times and... coercing them to his side. Takes after his father in that respect'

I mentioned a few facts which I remembered from speaking with Sir Ramias Thurazindall, 'I do know, from talking to a former Clavest, that they liked him well while he lived with them. Was the most extraordinary and helpful teacher, and listening ear.'

Sir Rassilon added, 'Gave them knowledge of battlemagic. This is also recorded fact, though I've no theories on the why or how of it'

Sir Rassilon also reminded us that Galeru the Red had been somehow magically enhanced by Seanan after his return from the Abyss.

I also added, 'Apparently he had much more he wished to teach them (the Conclave), and it worries me he may now decide to teach it to the followers of Chaos instead.'

Sir Rassilon replied, 'That -is- a frightening thought. It may actually explain something we discussed previously. How Chaos is still using magic despite the supposed death of Malachive.'

Irmli then inquired, 'Was there a period of time between bein' bandoned by Sebatis and recuited by Malachive? Did Seanan retain 'is Arcane powers during this time?'

I answered, 'He would have been a soul adrift in the Abyss, I can't imagine what such a thing is like. Empty? Do yah have yer powers and strength, but there is nothing there to use them on? I think the only person who could answer that question is Seanan. I reckon its normally a one way trip there.'

Sir Rassilon also knew of no known records of what exactly the Abyss is.

Here Drakonn pondered, 'Wasn't Lanival Illithi Guardian of the Abyss at some point? I remember some place that he was actually guarding.. And there was some portal leading somewhere..'

But the rest of us knew nothing of this, and Drakonn could not recall any more details.

I reflected, 'It does seem now more logical as to how Seanan ended up with Malachive though.'

Sir Rassilon remarked, 'Some would argue his only option available'

And I continued with my thought, 'At least to me... consider his history, a time traveling mage always mucking with magics which could unbalance the world or at least give the Gods of Magic a headache. 'He was sort of a trouble maker.. a chaos maker.. all his life. He wanted to do what was best, of course, and loved the Conclave.. but... the path he traveled... was chaotic.'

Here Warcouncil Irmli reminded us that we always have options.

Sir Rassilon then presented his last point of discussion: 'Seanan created the eleven Shards which have power to transport Gods. That's obvious enough, everyone is talking about them these days, and we've found only four. And it is said when casting his chronomancy spells, he uses crystals. That's less study of a fact but the line of thought follows easily enough, but... and this is purely theoretical... If Seanan created or found these shards (he may be claiming credit for something not his) that do something even the Gods cannot... then he's achieved or tapped into a level of magic above their level. And that means that there's a level of magic above the Gods. A power greater than them.

I pondered, 'Or he is a god of chaos magic now? And that's why followers of Chaos can use it still?'

Sir Rassilon remarked, 'A terrifying thought, but somehow I don't quite think so. To my mind, Seanan is... a beaver poking at a dam. He doesn't control the water on the other side but he can let it through from time to time. Although if that analogy follows... if he pokes too much...'

Warcouncil Irmli gave his thoughts, 'T'magic itself does nah 'ave to be stronger than t'Gods. Jus' it's contrary magic or tha' which resist it is nah as strong, or per'aps does nah even exist yet'

Sir Rassilon considered this, and remarked, 'That's a possibility. We can't exactly research Seanan's history if he's traveled into the future at all'

I then considered, 'We were the future to him. No reason he couldn't have been to some future future.' (However as I write this record, I'm unsure I've ever read tale or seen evidence that Seanan can move backwards through time, only forward. Yet, since we all may travel to the strange anomaly of Sinarous' place and time, it may well be possible.)

Sir Rassilon remarked, 'I hadn't even thought about that... that opens up whole new possibilities'

'And ways to make chaos,' I added.

Drakonn pondered, 'I am not sure about whole time traveling thing! So.. if he will do some kind of actions in the past, will it affect the future?'

I said to Drakonn, 'Presumably.'

Drakonn remarked, 'So, fine! We just need to charm him and order him to move to the past and slay himself there!'

I considered the following thought: 'Well, Seanan was saved from the Abyss from Malachive, and now is leading Chaos in Malachive's death.'

And here Warcouncil Irmli interjects, "presumed death"

Sir Rassilon pointed out, 'That's correct. And although he's now proclaimed himself "General" of Chaos, he's yet to try and take Malachive's claim to Godhood'

I continued my thought, 'In a way, he's a good friend to Malachive.. lets say Malachive was killed and his soul is now in the Abyss or something similar... no one mortal anywhere more likely to be able to teleport a God out of something like that.'

Sir Rassilon remarked, 'A point I've tried to raise when Good and Evil clash over the shards... if Chaos claims them before we do, its a far, far worse scenario'

I asked, 'Have the forces of Chaos intervened much that we know of in the battles and contests for the shards of Seanan?'

Sir Rassilon replied, 'That we know of, no. Not yet. And we know that four shards have been found'

Drakonn also remarked, 'No, not really! They did nothing as I know.'

Sir Rassilon observed, 'Even if they have the remaining seven, that's not enough to use them'

I asked of Warcouncil Irmli, 'I know that Wargar has fought with Chaos some, have yah all ever met Seanan on the field?'

And he replied, 'I've nah personally, no. Canna speak for t'others'

I remarked, 'I am very curious in their quiet of late, what is being planned. Seanan has proved anything to be one who is idle. At every point of life we have recorded, he's been in deep doing something.'

Sir Rassilon remarked, 'That's true enough'

Drakonn agreed, saying, 'He is tricky and smart fella it seems! With whole time traveling thing, he can think of some evil genius plan to bring everything to chaos!'

Sir Rassilon started to bring us to a close, 'Well, that's the extent of the facts known to me, and the theories I've drawn from... but I'm willing to indulge anyone else if they have questions or their own theories to share, which we can help prove or disprove'

I replied to Drakonn, 'He really may be better at it than Malachive Himself, Malachive creates chaos through destruction and violence and fear. Seanan has all sorts of uncharted unendorsed magics which will do Siccara probably doesn't even know what at any point in time. Now that's Chaos.. a sort of chaos yah can't plan for or react to. Or well, yah will react to, but surely surreal and strange.'

Sir Rassilon added, 'This mixes in well with the third member of Chaos then. The one who corrupts ideals with misguided notions of freedom and equality; Enduriel Artreri. As mortal agents of Chaos go, I can think of few more well known.'

I remarked of Enduriel, 'Or yet endure on after Malachive's supposed death. Enduriel, not to underestimate our enemy, seems much more ordinary, even with manatonic powers, than Seanan.'

I made a few remarks in conclusion, 'I'd say, this discussion has made Seanan's fall to Chaos more understandable in my eyes, though that disappoints me in a way. I'd always sort of hoped perhaps we could use his love of Conclave and Magic to woo him back away from that path. Now I'm less sure that he's so vulnerable in his heart.'

Sir Rassilon replied, 'If anything his love of magic will continue to drive him further away. That's always struck me as a problem with much of the Conclave'

I replied to Sir Rassilon, 'The really crazy magic power hungry ones which give us trouble are always the renegade mages.'

To which he noted, 'They're only made renegades when their power comes at the expense of their fellows. Until then, they're usually just regarded as "enthusiastic"'

I agreed, 'Yah are right, Suh. So there probably is no going back, I reckon.'

Sir Rassilon softly remarked, 'Not for him'

I reflected, 'Well, yah can't blame a Siccaran for wishing to heal a crazy mage, even if it is impossible. I am what I am. That is all my thoughts for now, and I will as Drakonn mentioned earlier, draft what we have shared and considered here into a tome for the Library. Seanan seems a more daunting foe than before, but perhaps we can find some weakness.'

Sir Rassilon said, 'Everything we learn adds to our knowledge of Chaos, so we'll have to all remain vigilant for information'

And I noted, 'It is disturbing, truly, to see how little we can put a finger on regarding them. That is something which must change if we are to defeat them.'

Rassilon replied, 'But for now, I feel we've all learned a little... I know I have. So I thank you all for coming'

After the group left for home, I did have a final thought which I observed to Sir Rassilon about the name of Chaos' Clanhall, the Warp. It certainly makes sense in light of Seanan's powers to warp time and space!