Mahhal
High Prince Mahhal Becel ev Luvlin (a.k.a. Spear Demon)
In the Old Days before the Great Flood and the arrival of the gods during Lordscome, there was a race of people in the Mountains of Das EkLachen called the Caládolhn. They were a fair-faced people of the Elves, known for their wooden Homely Houses and hardy living conditions. They were ruled by the Three High Kings: Iver, Jermaïnnen, and Viben; and the Three High Princes, sons of the Kings: Liliger, Fenviiki, and Mahhal. Together called the Double Triumverate, they ruled the Caládolhn in council with each other, and fought a desperate defense against the eastern Yeqitari, who were captained by the evil spirit Abayin.
In that war all the Kings were slain; and of the Princes only Mahhal survived. In the afterward, after the world was remade, the Caládolhn were left a shadow of their former strength. Mahhal reclused himself in his hometown of Luvlin, not to be seen again by those beyond its borders until his last defense against the Asklja Pasikrates, where he fell amidst the flowers of his garden; and his body was crucified and paraded as a banner of the Nelqorana.
Before Lordscome
As a being of extraordinary age, there is scant information on the High King Mahhal that is not in some way colored by later, legendary stories. We know that he was born in the great city of Luvlin, firstborn to the House of Becel, which was headed by the illustrious High King Viben. His mother was called Wenilur. His inheritance was to be all the central mountains and valleys of the Mountains of Das EkLachen. But already the Wars of Hate were underway — now being the fifth one — and the Caládolhn shook under the weight of the Yeqitari smashing upon their borders.
So Mahhal grew up as a prince of war. And he was a solid captain, being both cunning towards and ruthless in his treatment of his enemies. Many terrible thing he did, being pitiless, and there were cruel deeds by both day and night. But he found great success. The fires of his hate scorched his foes, and he was the head of many of the victories against the Naharaim, rebuffing them beyond the central Ucar Valley and providing a steady defense. But his skills proved worthless when Abayin arrived with the Naharaim's Lead Engineering Officer, Enki Hassar. Then his defense crumbled, and all was lost.
The siege of Luvlin was quick. It was a starless night, and then the sky was filled with lights like many red flowers. These lights fell down like comets, and slew many by the eruptions of their falling and the fires that sprang where they fell and by the wind that rose like hurricanes about their craters. His father the High King Viben was slain by Hissa, lieutenant of Cabr. Luvlin's walls were destroyed by the siegemen, and all the city was razed, and all its fine woods were burned, and all its people were put to the sword.
But Mahhal survived. And he fled. With him he took his wife and his children. She was called Aiwendil; the children were Alcimino, Alstamir, Alfinngar, and Itisya. They were all great princes and Itisya a great princess. Together they fled into the wilderness and lived like beasts. They often feared to be discovered by the many legions of Naharaim that scoured the countryside. They were ever on the move, skipping between abandoned barns and dank caves, for the mind of Abayin was ever bent towards them, and his thought followed them.
The family fled westwards. They sought the camps of the Eresdolhn, hoping that they would be taken in and sheltered. But Abayin discovered them. Alfinngar betrayed his family, hoping to parley and to have pardon from the mighty Lords of the East. They were all taken to Luvlin, which had been recast as a strong fortress of iron and steel. There they were tortured for many years.
Abayin duly rewarded Alfinngar with lordship over the central mountains, and his seat was in Luvlin. But he met his just end with the Lordscome. It is written in the Giingen Kine, a Caládolhn historical text, that Velziel Seat of Burning pried him from his throne and slew him on the threshold. His throne was later taken and melted, and it was written by the smiths that the seat was cut deep and stained bloody with the clawing of his nails.
Mahhal and his family were released by the Hosts of Fionn eä Vanwi. But only he and his wife survived. Together they tore down the fortress of their captivity and rebuilt Luvlin, though it remained ever small and rustic, never regaining its former majesty.
But after this great project Aiwendil tired of living. And she was ever wearied by the terrors of her past, which she could not forget even a little. So together with Mahhal she grew a garden. And on the Hill of Nindell amidst the flowers she laid herself and fell asleep. So then passed Aiwendil of Luvlin, fairest of all northern women.
After
Mahhal kept to himself in Luvlin. He tended the gardens around it. There were two of the ancient ash trees still alive, and he prized them above all else. Filled with grief and weariness, he didn't follow the gods and Fionn when they went to Omkrondur to cast out Gendûet. He tended to his few people — many of them once held in the iron fortress — and looked for nothing more than peace and quiet.
When Fionn eä Vanwi returned and beckoned all in Luvlin to return with him and find pardon with the gods, Mahhal rejected. In part he feared their justice, as he had done many evil things against his enemies. But he was also wary and hated the dreadful gods, for they came so late and let all his griefs come to pass.
So the Hosts of Heaven departed, and in the world there were few Elves left. The few people of Luvlin were now fewer, and Mahhal was grieved over his losses. He went about clean-shaven, though he could grow a beard. He hated his face and wished it could look as it did before the hard times.
The ages passed.
Nelqora Comes
Mahhal ruled in peace if in unhappiness. But his end was brave.
In the Third Invasion of the North, commenced in 1300 Year of Nelqora, Pasikrates full of wrath led a great host into the central mountains seeking the legendary prince. He found Mahhal and began a battle. Because Luvlin had few who could fight, Mahhal had some mercenaries in his pay. The Luvlinites fought in the narrow pass leading towards Mahhal's garden. The going was tough, and in a short while they were overwhelmed. The Nelqorana began a slaughter. They captured the women and children but killed the men. Mahhal fell with his guard upon the Hill of Nindell. He died amidst the flowers, and as they were trampled so was his body.
The Nelqorana took his body and crucified it. They bore it lofty as a banner as they marched upon Little Taurtauc. When they burned the city they burned the body. So ended the line of the High King Viben.
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