Kanziganthir

Legend

“The last of “the true blood’, born a thousand years ago, vitalized by aincient rituals… or merely a hoax wearing a fantom legend mantle.”

Skjald Ulrich

 

Description

Standing at almost 2 meters, he gained a slightly taller impression the way his hair was cut and tied, which, combined with his broad shoulders and massive chest, gave him an impressive appearance. On top of that, he walked straight and held his chin high, so he was always a figure noted as soon as he entered a hall or marketplace.

Of course, his antler staff and the way he wielded it added to the looks as well as gave away his area of skills. Looking like a shamanistic druid of considerable skills, but also of immense physical power, he fooled quite a lot. Because his power was not in strength but in speed and agility as well as in his magic capabilities.

I’ve heard some claim the present is not the original Kanziganthir but instead the great-great-grandson, merely continuing a centuries-old hoax of a shaman of immense power. Yet, one who ages so slowly that he’s seen kings come and go. Regardless of this, Kanziganthir is, or was, without a doubt, among the most powerful shamans alive.

I never met him personally, but he’s said to have vast knowledge about the myths and rites of Ye Olde Zephyrs and the rest of The Realm. He ensured everything was always in accordance with the ways of old. And if the legend is true, he would have known hundreds of great kings and lords. If he still lives, as some claim, I’d love to meet him and share a pipe and a mug.

Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

History

Fourth Age

He was born in the year 200, making him 1083 years old, and at his birth a visiting Ogryl shaman blessed him with sprinkles from Oantuurs Spring. And blessed he became, just a tad hard to tell by whom, as although he became studious he also became remote to the other kids. Especially those of little or no inherit mana flow were of no interest to him.

Skjald Ulrich

 

Some of the elders of Ye Olde have told me that should anyone diverge from their ways of old, he would have a chat to restore order, which was then followed strictly once more. Most of the time, though, when he was not performing rites himself, he spent the time studying folklore and myth. Especially their brought-along scrolls and tomes caught his attention, as he thought they might reveal a hint for their quest. Also, whenever he could, he oversaw prisoner interrogations, and often he talked with merchants, huntsmen, and ragtag groups arriving at their gates.

So, he was always busy with lore and stately matters when others ran for this and that skirmish. He always tried hard to find that little hint about the target of their original quest. Yet as time passed and comrades withered away, their children’s children growing distant from their holy task, he longed once again for what they should be pursuing and felt discomfort with their growing role in shaping this realm. But honour-bound, he stuck with his king’s bloodline and served faithfully as the crown passed from head to head.

Skjald Vinotis

 

Let me tell you a rumour, found in a cryptic poem in the Lochellan Library, about Kanziganthir. The visiting shaman that blessed him as an infant sprinkled him with water tainted by the Deep Blue Tsunami. Which is why he ages as he does and has an inherent feeling of powers to come.

Maybe that connection is why he became so deeply interested in liches and aided in the downfall of some of them. Some claim he secretly gathered valuable tomes and items from the hoards of the defeated to gain further power. He told me once it was slightly true, but it was mostly seeking clues about his own unique taint. As it might reveal a cure for those who lost their spirits in the tainting.

Over the meal he also shared the story about Madzy Udzel, his first lich encounter. Madzy, a slightly mad rogue lich apprentice, tried to assassinate him at a marketplace in 463. Out of nowhere this madling stabbed him in the side with a poisonous dagger, but luckily it hit the belt and thus didn’t go in. Smacking the attacker in the face with his staff, Madzy stumbled back but quickly regained his wits.

Then, Madzy spread his arms, and from the crowd several arisen emerged, attacking. As Kanziganthir dispersed the minions, Madzy escaped. Unaware of the tracking skills of his prey, Madzy retreated to the rest stop Havlund and had just begun planning the next attack. When Kanziganthir appeared and destroyed the assembled minions and the foul energies of Madzy—leaving him powerless on the ground.

Skjald Valgrif

 

Thus he was present in 480, when Zizu was born, and stood as honorary guest at Zizu’s side when Dawn Reborn was formed, just as he was present when Junnatu Weavers were proclaimed in 625.

He is said to have been one of the orchestrators around 650, when the Age of Hordes began. And he stood at the pier when Den Godan announced le Draugr Riders, as well as overseeing the birth of Painbringer.

Her coming eluded him, but he felt the powers shift when Wrekazi was born in 999. Powers he felt once more in 1128 when Meanbone was born. But those were nothing compared to the off power drain and immediate surge he felt in 11 when Deepminded gave birth to herself.

In 1149 he aided in forming the Council of Colours, and in 1165 he once again felt forces move, thus he attended the birth of Da'Vey.

In 1221 he was in the Free City of Muldum and saw the forming of the Bulls Order.

In 1232 he was at Meanbones Banquet and actually aided the Holy Star Order in claiming their peninsula.

Skjald Sejrik

 

In the reign of King Black Oak, many things happened that stirred his pot…

It all started with an increased traffic of other kings, lords, guilds, and grandmasters, and what the sea could wash ashore of so-called important people…

Feasts, receptions, dinners, meetings, counsels, and summaries took place at an ever more rapid pace. Taking its toll on the servants and the scribes…

For it was indeed grand things being forged at nightly meetings and by grand officials during the day… They worked hard to make a High King of Kings…

to be elected every fourth year at the Coloured Fairs and governing due to a set of laws based upon prior court decisions.

Skjald Kazumix

 

With initial work circling around him and with his deep and broad knowledge, he was the prime pen in writing the Codex Hordium, a compendium upon which the High King and the Council of Colours based their ruling. And on the great day, at the first fair, it was with great joy that he saw his king elected and elevated to this honour by his equals: Black Oak was indeed the High King of kings.

Thus, Kanziganthir passed his temple guardianship to Elder and followed Black Oak to the new palace, Grimsborg. He stayed for three periods and helped at the coloured fairs. His looming presence, outstanding wit, and sharp eye for details are attributed as one of the cornerstones in Ye Olde Zephyrs and the Counsel of Colours success in transforming The Realm from petty warring states to a realm of unified progress. But as the third fair concluded, he bade his farewell to the High King, the Counsel of Colours, and all the hundreds of emissaries, nobles, and scribes he counted as friends. And without looking back, he trotted out of the east gate to start his pilgrimage and quest.

Skjald Sigurd

 

I’ve met him a couple of times, and how he continues to stay vital despite being away from his temples and rites is a secret. Some claim it involves the release of souls from selected captives in a rite; others say it’s just a quick touch of the unfortunate victim. He doesn’t seem to me to be one such person that would live on at others expense, and should I be fooled about him, it would be a first. One thing is certain, though: the old careful selection process is no more, not only when he left for his quest but also when the invasion struck and made a mess of society. So all of the gossip can’t be true.

Age is beginning to show on him, though, so maybe the stories about him being the great-grandson and not the original are true. Or maybe he is finally caught by the trap of time, which he not only uses on the odd paths of the realm seeking his quest but also to crush invaders and traitorous scumbags whenever he encounters them.

Skjald Sejrik

 

Organisation

Currently, he is unbound by any oaths and serves none but his own urge to discover more about the taintings. Alongside this, if he finds any foe of the Realm, he does away with them at once.

Skjald El Mary

 

Special

He is able to perform a rite where he soaks up another spirit, revitalising him anew.

Skjald Valgrif