Bristlebane's Delirium:

The beginning of it all

The first of these personas was Alnon Wyndstopper, a High Elf from the beautiful city of Felwithe. He was trained young in the ways of the Enchanter and quickly mastered his art. As with all fast learners, they yearn for something more. Alnon set out on his own, unaware of what fate would have in store for him a few years later.

Early in his wanderings he ran across a group of people calling themselves Knight of Truth. They were a small group, but kind and generous. Alnon joined with them, and thus started the walk down the road which had been set for him, for the people he would meet in here would lead to his place on the Council of Three.

Now here we must pause with Alnons story and direct our attention to Cattiebry Zaknafien, a Ranger hailing from the tree city of Kelethin. Being a ranger she always wished to explore the rest of the world. As rangers came and went from Kelethin she had heard many tales of strange places. Continents by the name of Antonica, Kunark, Odus and Velious. All of these harboring different types of creatures. Some of them capped in snow and ice, others carved in fire and lava. These things drew her from her home in Kelethin and out into the world of Norrath.

Like Alnon she wandered for a while. Also, like Alnon, she ran into Knight of Truth and joined ranks with them there-by changing her destiny forever. Once in Knight of Truth her and Alnon met and became friends. Traveling together frequently they wandered much of Norrath in one anothers company.

As much as all of Knight of Truth would have wished it to last forever, all good things must end. When the leader of their guild vanished they had no choice but to split off. It was at this time they elected a young Dwarven Cleric by the name of Yaargh Halfkeg to take over in leading a new guild. Yaargh, reluctantly, agreed and they Knight of Truth became the Eternal Crimson Guardians.

Eternal Crimson Guardians led way to many good times, but eventually Yaargh vanished, much as the leader of Knight of Truth had done. As time passed the guild withered and died leaving scattered remnants through out Norrath.

Despite the departure of Eternal Crimson Guardians, Cattiebry and Alnon stayed together. In time they met back up with Yaargh. After explaining his disapperance (he claimed a hill giant had swallowed him whole and it took him forever to fight his way out) he learned that Cattiebry and Alnon were engaged to be wed and was honored when they asked him to be the priest to marry them.

The ceremony went well. For the reception the newly weds got everyone drunk as drunk can be and arranged fighting in the Freeport Arena. Yaargh, being no stranger to alcohol, drank much more then he should have. He stumbled drunkenly though the streets of Freeport and straight into a Barbarian Warrior calling himself Raznok Snowbound.

Raznok claimed The Tribunal had sent him on a sacred quest. According to his story, The Tribunal told him the only way to rid their lands of Lady Vox was to seek out a Dark Elf Paladin and end his life. Raznok, being one of little wits but great heart, agreed to find this foe and slay him. Later that evening he helped Yaargh back to the inn he was staying at and rented a room for himself. Thus stepping onto the same path of fate Cattiebry and Alnon were destined to.

In the morning Yaargh was gone once again. Cattiebry and Alnon sat outside the inn looking a little green, but very much happy. Both totally unaware of the Barbarian heading toward them. If one were to look at Raznoks face they would think he was in a great amount of pain, but truth be known, he was merely thinking as hard as he knew how. Lost in this procedure he didn't see the two Elves sitting on the dirt and stumbled into them, tripping himself and pinning both of them under his bulk.

Once he stood up he apologized profusely and explained he was thinking very hard about the Dark Elf Paladin he had to seek out. Alnon and Cattiebry found this hilarous and thought he was joking. They began to laugh and soon Raznok joined in with no clue about what he was laughing about.

Cattiebry and Alnon enjoyed Raznoks company and explained that they traveled far and wide. They welcomed him to join them explaining that he may well find his Paladin on their journeys. Raznok agreed and the trio set out for the first time of many.

For months they traveled together. Visiting the Oasis of Marr, Timorous Deep, Fironia Vie, Lake of Ill Omen and many other places. All the while remaining lost to the fact of what was to happen soon, when Bristlebane came down and stole their sanity.

The night they became the Council of Three they were in Freeport once again. By this time they had all become great friends and Bristlebane was going to make sure they stayed that way. They had stumbled through a false wall in East Freeport and were exploring the vast tunnels underneath when a sound like a thunderclap came from behind them. As they spun, ready to fight, they saw a giant elf dressed in the clothes of a jester. Hundreds of bells dangling from every place possible.

"Hello! Hello, my chosen ones!," the man said and bowed, "I am your host for the evening, Bristlebane. God of mischief and trickery!"

The three merely sat there, dumbfounded.

"Quiet, ay?," Bristlebane asked, "Well, thats just fine! Just fine indeedy! Give me a chance to explain what I've got in store for you! Yes yes it will, my children."

"In store for us?" Alnon manages, still soundind a bit stunned.

"Yes, Alnon. In store for you, but worry not! Just because I said the word store does not mean I'm selling anything. No, on the contrary, this is something without value, something words could not describe! Ah, this is a gift from a god and not just any god, but me!"

"A gift?," Cattiebry asked, "Why would a god give us a gift?"

"Because I am bored, dear lady. Bored out of my wits and you three are to be my cure! From this day forth you shall call yourselves Bristlebane's Delirium, for that is what you shall be!" With that he reached into his head and pulled out three small glowing spikes with three arms and three hands that did not exist before. In one swift movement he slammed the spikes into the heads of our three friends. This, but powers beyond our understanding, created no wounds and did no harm to our friends. No physical harm, anyway.

"The spikes I've inserted, oh so carefully, into your beings are pieces of my being! You three will no longer think as others think. You will be missing something, some will say, but the truth is; you will have gained more then they could ever understand. You will be the start of a thing called insanity and others will come to share this gift. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be off, my Council of Three.".

And thus Bristlebane departed back to his spot above where he watched his creations with joy. People did come, as he had said they would. While not many of there were followers of Bristlebane, they still shared some of what he had given our three friends, now known as The Council of Three, leaders of a thing we can not yet understand...

...and thus Bristlebane's Delirium was born