Valzerian

King of Men, approximately 7000 to 5000 years ago, the Chosen of Urlaneth, ageless and powerful. But he sought greater power, as all men do. He petitioned the Gods for the power to Create and Destroy as these powers were denied to Men. Urlaneth cautioned the other gods to be wary of the ambitions of Men, and so Valzerian was denied.

For 1000 years thereafter, he waged war upon the Chosen of the other Gods until he was master over all Lannent and the peoples of all of the gods. He mastered all magic which has the power to change, but he still could neither create nor destroy.

Thereupon he came before the gods again to petition them again. He asked, he threatened, he begged. He prostrated himself before the Gods, clutched at their garments and kissed their feet. Only Urlaneth did he avoid. (Urlaneth would have known his plan had they touched) Again, he was denied. He left, vowing that he would gain what he sought despite their refusal and become One God above them all.

What the Gods did not know was that, when he went among them to beg, he came away with ritual links to eight of the nine. Using these ritual links, he planned to forge a cord between himself and the Conduit through which all of Lannent was bound to the fundamental forces of power, Ur and Eth.

Using the might of the combined Empires of the Olkan, Man, and Faer, Valzerian crafted great mystical works to channel the magical forces of the world at the three places where the Table of the Gods touched the world of Men. This took 1000 years. But he was betrayed. A group of blasphemers, working in secret, perverted the works of Valzerian. They did not want One god. They did not want Nine Gods. They wanted No Gods.

Valzerian came before the Gods a third and final time. He demanded their blessing. If they would grant him the powers he sought, he would rule over them justly and fairly. If they denied him again, he would destroy them. They refused. Urlaneth, moved by pity, took Valzerian's hand to strip him of magic, knowledge, and ultimately life.

This was exactly what Valzerian was waiting for. With that touch, and the weight of 200 years of preparation and mystically forged links to the other eight Gods, Valzerian Forged his own connection to Ur and Eth. It lasted but a moment. Betrayed, Cataclysm broke the conduit and all magic drained from the land.

As punishment, Valzerian was bound by Urlaneth to the center of the Table of the Gods in the Sand Sea to act as Oracle and as Keystone to the great working to restore the conduit.

(see also Oracle)