Daerdich Sorrowclaw

"Such horrors are told from that time. We all know Faranach the Lich and his terrible rule from the Shadowflare keep. Many historians claim, that he was the greatest catastrophies of 12th Millenia. But his conquest never came truly to be for he was slain before he could spread his influence far enough. Yet everyone has decided to forget Daerdich Sorrowclaw, a true terror. In beginning of 12th Millenia, he had subjugated most of Marghuin under his reign of terror. And he too sought power beyond death. And thus, the Dragolich was born."

Hekiliah Averius

Summary

Daerdich was an old blue dragon in the end of 11th Millenia. He ruled large areas in the northern parts of Marghuin. But despite his powers and his might, Daerdich feared death and that it would end his reign. So he sought secrets known only by the gods, and in the end he found his answers from the priests of Tarananh. Together Daerdich and five most devoted followers of Goddess of Undeath ventured deep in to the secrets of undeath and in the end they were able to conduct a ritual on Daerdich, tranforming him to a terrifying undead dragon, the Dragolich.
After this Daerdich began to aggressively expand his realm, and in less than a year he had whole Marghuin under his terrible reign. At that time he took the name Sorrowclaw, and carried it proudly.
For a time the rule of Daerdich Sorrowclaw seemed unchallenged, and all of Marghuin was full of despair. But then a kobold Walduk Lostember, a devout follower of Cerastha the Guide and a powerful sorcerer, received a vision from his goddess, and with the aid of the Guide he was strong enough to fight Sorrowclaw face to face.
It is said that the two fought for a tenday without brake, neither tiring, neither giving up. The battle is said to have taken place in Starfall Bay, and before that battle it looked much different. In the end it is said that Lostember summoned a piece of a star from the heavens to crush his foe, and together with his goddes he was able to destroy the Dragolich.
But the power of undeath was strong, and very soon after the fight the form of Sorrowclaw began to form again. Thus Lostember built a fortress on top of the body and took the dragon's phylactery away and hid it somewhere were dragons servants nor the followers Tarananh could ever find it again. As long as the phylactery and the body could not be together, the Dragolich could not rise again.

Historical Basis

The stories of Daerdich Sorrowclaw and his reign are true. Also it is known that a kobold with the name of Lostember was able to subdue the beast, also it is thougth by scholars, that Lostember did not do the deed alone, nor did the fight take as long as it is claimed. The facts about the Dragolich are also debated about. Not a single mention has been made of such creature in any other historical scriptures, and thus it is commonly thougt, that whole undead dragon is just exaggeration. Probably Sorrowclaw was just a powerful dragon.

Spread

The tale is told everywhere in Evernight, although it is commonly placed in some other place than Marghuin.

Variations & Mutation

Many small details have been changed as different story tellers have told the tale. The size of Sorrowclaws conquest vary gretaly between only a small part of Marghuin to whole Evernight. Also the true nature of the Sorrowclaw has been changed often. He has been almost any kind on dragon and also other powerfull creatures.
The Lostember has also been depicted as many races, usually depending on the culture the tale is told in. The historical fact that he was kobold has almost totally disappeared from stories.

Date of Setting

Beginning of 12th Millenia