The Heralds of Aevilok (Ay-vah-lock)
The Heralds of Aevilok have been around since the days of Antecea, originally known as the Aboriginal Vanguard, and follow a creed that has existed for far longer. "Aevilok" is the name of the Primordial Apocalypse, which was a prophecy foretold back when humanity still worshipped the Elemental Primordials. While the religion faded into obscurity, the idea that, one day, the elemental planes will collapse in on the Material has persisted through the millennia.
The Heralds have historically been a passive group, searching the world for signs of the coming Rebirth. Those seeking atonement or a means to prepare for the inevitable were numerous among the Heralds ranks, as were fanatics who believed that joining would somehow spare them from the coming storm. Regardless, the Heralds are one of the last organized groups to pay deference to the Primordial Elementals, though they do not worship them, per se. Clerics of Aer (like Fulgur Anan, who attacked the Mithral Spire in 1218), Abhaina, Talam, and Logira lead distinct sects within the Heralds, but really only acknowledge these deities as patrons of their domains: air, water, earth, and fire, respectively.
The Herald's passive nature changed upon the return of their esoteric Harbinger. The leader of the Heralds had been in self-imposed exile for nearly a decade when he suddenly returned, claiming he had succeeded in his mission to seek out Tul'mith's Avatar, who he found in none other than Lazaros. As a cleric of death, the Harbinger has long been in "communication" with the whispers of Tul'mith (a primordial name for Cataclysm), a scarcely known entity even within the Heralds. Their writings suggest that a "great deceiver" would be the one to trigger Aevilok, but it was the Harbinger who was able to discern that this trickster was likely Tul'mith, a figure from ancient elven lore. When Cataclysm was finally unleashed on the Day of Long Shadows in Crucible, the Harbinger felt compelled to seek him out.
Once contact was made, the Heralds spent considerable time and resources infiltrating the inner workings of powerful organizations and governments; most notably Sigil, Borne, and Cognance in Requiem and Eodur in Kentro. During the events of the Long Shadow, their infiltration was brought to light --at least partially-- by the adventuring group that defeated the Reckoning, and the Heralds were forced to relocate to a hidden fortress within the northern wilderness of Kentro.
During the Extinction War, the remaining Heralds provided substantial assistance to the horde of Slaadi by summoning the Elder Elementals: terrifying beasts that embody their home plane. Between the first attack on Eodur in 1218 and the Herald's deep research into the primordial forces of the world, it is clear that they have access to some means of summoning and controlling (if not merely pointing in the right direction) these monsters.
Comments