Gorath — Chieftain of the Ardanien

Gorath — Chieftain of the Ardanien

Aliases & Titles

  • Gorath of the Ardanien — Chieftain of one of the most powerful Moredhel clans in the Northlands.

  • The Oathbreaker (to his enemies) — for turning against Delekhan’s war plans.

  • The Betrayer Who Saved (to some in the Kingdom) — for risking his life to warn Krondor of an impending invasion.

Race: Moredhel (Dark Elf) Homeland: Northlands, Ardanien Clanhold Known For: Defecting from the Moredhel war effort, warning the Kingdom of the Isles of Delekhan’s plans, and surviving both human suspicion and Moredhel vengeance.

I. Origins and Allegiances

Gorath was born into the Ardanien, a proud and warlike Moredhel clan whose lands lay deep in the Northlands. As chieftain, he commanded warriors, negotiated with rival clans, and upheld the ancient customs of the Moredhel — a people bound by blood, vengeance, and the long memory of exile from Elvandar.

For much of his life, Gorath served the cause of Moredhel unity under Delekhan, the self‑styled leader of the Northlands. But unity under Delekhan meant war — not just with the Kingdom of the Isles, but with any who stood in the way of his vision of conquest.

II. The Turning Point

Gorath’s loyalty began to fracture when he learned of Delekhan’s pact with the Pantathian Serpent Priests — a bargain that would see the Northlands drenched in blood for the sake of an ancient, alien agenda. The Pantathians’ designs threatened not only the Kingdom but the Moredhel themselves.

The breaking point came closer to home: his former mate, Liallan, and their children were caught in the crossfire of Delekhan’s purges against dissenting clans. Whether by direct order or the chaos of war, they were slain when Ardanien lands became a proving ground for Delekhan’s loyalists.

Gorath returned from a campaign to find his home burned, his family gone, and the banners of another clan flying over his hall. The grief was a blade, but the betrayal was the poison on its edge.

III. Exile in All But Name

Though still chieftain in title, Gorath’s position was untenable. His refusal to swear absolute fealty to Delekhan marked him as suspect; his loss of family left him with nothing to anchor him to the old cause.

Among the Moredhel, vengeance is a sacred duty — but Gorath’s vengeance was not aimed at the Kingdom. It was aimed at the rot within his own people’s leadership. That made him dangerous to both sides.

IV. The Decision to Defect

When word reached him of Delekhan’s full war plan — an invasion of the Kingdom aided by Pantathian sorcery — Gorath made the choice that would define the rest of his life. He would go south, into enemy lands, and deliver warning. Not as a supplicant, but as a man who understood that survival sometimes meant standing beside those you once sought to kill.

It was not an act of mercy. It was an act of defiance — against Delekhan, against the Pantathians, and against the fate that had already taken everything from him.

V. The Road South

Gorath left the Northlands under cover of night, travelling alone through hostile passes. He carried no banner, only his weapons and the knowledge that both Moredhel assassins and Kingdom patrols would kill him on sight.

Captured near the borders of the Kingdom, he was brought to Krondor in chains. There, he demanded to speak to Prince Arutha — not to beg for his life, but to trade information for the chance to stop a war neither side could afford.

VI. Personality and Traits

  • Pragmatic Strategist: Weighs every move, whether on the battlefield or in conversation.

  • Dry, Cutting Wit: Uses humour to test allies and defuse tension without lowering his guard.

  • Unshakable Bearing: Even in chains, carries himself like a chieftain.

  • Haunted Loyalty: Though he turned against Delekhan, his identity as Moredhel is unshaken — his betrayal was of a leader, not of his people.

  • Grief‑Tempered Resolve: The loss of his family fuels his defiance; every choice is measured against the memory of what was taken from him.

VII. Legacy in Motion

To the Moredhel, Gorath is an oathbreaker. To the Kingdom, he is a dangerous ally whose true loyalties are untested. To himself, he is simply a man who refuses to let his people be destroyed by the ambitions of one warlord and the schemes of inhuman priests.

VIII. Where the Story Stands

Gorath now sits in a Krondorian cell, awaiting an audience with Prince Arutha. Outside, the city hums with rumours of unrest in the Northlands. Inside, Gorath measures his words, knowing that the next conversation he has could decide the fate of two nations.

The war has not yet begun. The invasion has not yet crossed the border. But the first moves are already in play — and Gorath is about to step onto the board.