Hermit of Power
The Oblivion Hermit is one of the NPCs a player must visit while undertaking the King's Path, an event which will transform a Rank 7 player city to a Rank 8 city provided all the conditions have been met.
Location
Lore Text
Who is this I see before me? What business does one of the living have in the lands of the dead? If you seek death, you shall find it here, Not untill the Lich Queen finally wins and casts all creation into darkness. If you seek wealth or greatness, I have none to give you. Do you seek power, the power to rule? Here perhaps I can help you. If you would be a King, you must learn where power is, and where it lies.
Who are you?
You do not recognize my face, ruined by the scrouge of time and rot. Nor should you -- When I died, the first day had yet to dawn, and Time itself was not even a dream. To know me look at the statue outside. When twilight still blanketed creation and the stars still ruled the sky. I was called Sillestor. I was a king, one of the mightiest this world has ever seen. Looks upon my works, ye mighty, and despair! Now? Now I am not but bones, and dust, and memory.
When I drew breath I was mighty indeed, one of the firstborn of the sidhe, tutored by the Gods themselfs in Gilliandor's Twilight Kingdome. I raised armies against the Dragon, and after the Gods themselfs did battle with it, it was I that doubted the words of the All Father, and questioned their victory. It was for me that Thurin forged the Sword of Destiny, at my request. It was I that named it: Shadowbane. All the world has knowen that name and dreaded it.
To me Thurin gave his mighty gift, and with it came power. I looked upon the chaos and dissention of the Dragon's wake, and brought all to order. I forged the Deathless Empire, with Shadowbane in my hand. I wrought the packs with the Elemental Princes, the Beast Lords, and the Demon Lordlings in the pits of Choas. The Sidhe heeded my counsel, and obeyed my commandment. All the worlds princes knelt before me, in that age before Man was ever wrought. Power, limitless power was mine. With steel and sorcery, I showed my people that we could become Gods ourselfs. Look at me now. What a God I have become...
It was not until I turned my wrath of my empire from demons or scaly horrors to the Centaurs, the other children of the Gods that shared the twilight with us, and I learned a mighty lesson, upon the edge of Shadowbane itself. You have no doubt heard legends of the Taming. I raised my sword against Pandarrion himself and his servant Thurin, who gave me the gift of Shadowbane, the gift of power, took it away. And my life with it. As I died I learned the highest truth: Power in and of itself is nothing. Those who would hold dominion over others must temper their power with wisdome, and with fortune. In the end, there is always someone with more power, even then an emperor. Power destroys only those who never truly have it. Listen to me, and heed my warning.
My foolish Grandchild, in her greed, raised my bones from death with dark Necromancy to take council and arcane secrets from me. I tried to teach her my lesson, but she would not hear me. She wanted only wanted the blade. She took it seized power through her betrayal, but was herself betrayed. Now she is the Lich Queen, mistress of Oblivion, and hordes living dead and vampires serve her well. Yet even now her power is but an illusion. She is no Queen, she is but a pawn, a puppet dancing on the ebon stings of the Null, that dread power which waits outside, and hungers.
Now the Gods have spoken to me, from beyond, and told me that solitude and eternal shame are to be my punishment . They have also entrusted me, power's pawn, with there blessing. I can grant unto you the blessing of Power. If you are worthy. But know this: if you would rule a realm, power alone will not be enough.
King
Gods make kings -- not crowns, or armies, or palaces. To gain dominion over a realm you need a Palace. To build a Palace, you will need a full-grown Tree of Life, many followers, gold and resources in great store, and a Charter. To enact that Charter, you will need the favor of the Gods. You must walk the King's Path humbly, around the world and back again, and return home for a boon at a Shrine with three Blessings upon you.
There are three Hermits, dwelling in the far corners of the world. Seek them out, and from them gain the Blessings of Fortune, Wisdom, and Power. But beware: just as rule is a burden, so are these Blessings. They will slow your pace, deny you easy travel, and draw your enemies. You must walk the King's Path as quickly as you can, to all three hermits and home again without any aid but Runegates. If you die on the path, or if a blessing should expire before you return home again, your quest has failed. Your enemies will know you seek a throne, and may try to stop you. If you are served by loyal followers, and if Wisdom, Power, and Fortune favor you, you shall run your race well, to the end.
Once you have attained all three blessings, return to your city and use your Charter. Your Tree shall be reborn as a palace, and your dominion over a new realm will begin.
See Also
Realm and Rulership
Realm and Rulership
Hermit of Fortune
Hermit of Wisdom
