Editing Millennial King (section)

== Characters ==

=== Myrhan, the Millennial King ===

Myrhan began as a noble son studying magic, but the invasion of his homeland forced him to put his education on hold.  When he arrived, he found he was the last surviving member of all of Arran'ak's noble families, and he wielded his magic to raise an army of the dead to retake his homeland -- and its conquerors, as well.

On the final day of his campaign, Myrhan confronted his sister's killer, the Florinese count who had masterminded much of the invasion, but was wounded by his opponent's cursed blade; though he was able to bring both the count and the prince of Florin to justice (by dissolving their bodies and souls), he succumbed shortly thereafter.  Fortunately for Arran'ak, he was not unprepared: over the course of a year and a day, he became a [[lich]] and returned to life (or un-life, as it were).  After rising from his grave, Myrhan raised the Spire over his old home, and he has ruled Arran'ak from there as the Millennial King ever since.

Presently, the majority of the Millennial King's time is spent managing the legions of undead that serve the kingdom, either directly or through the state-sanctioned necromancers known as Acolytes.  Occasionally, he diplomatically engages dignitaries from other nations (though he generally defers to the Dawn Queen on such matters) and may intervene personally when dealing with a powerful invader, rogue necromancer, or undead creature.

=== The Dawn Queen ===

The reincarnation of Myrhan's sister (possibly named Anyen).  Where Myrhan has tremendous necromantic power, the Queen seems to have some connection to positive energy: harvests tend to be more bountiful and summers tend to be warmer when she reigns, and even the distant Millennial King is warmed by her presence.

When the reincarnated Dawn Queen comes of age, Myrhan is able to sense that his sister has returned to the Material Plane.  His Acolytes search the kingdom for the woman (she usually belongs to one of the Noble Houses, though some Dawn Queens have been commoners, much to the nobles' consternation).  After she has been found, she undergoes the Rite of Dawn, a ceremony that infuses her with some of the memories of previous Dawn Queens, tempering her with the wisdom of many generations of rulers (though she will have been carefully screened and tested beforehand, as it is not an easy weight to bear).  After this, Arran'ak enters a year and a day of celebration, during which she tours the kingdom, both to let the memories sink in and to become familiar with her subjects.  Though her "persona" is immortal (she promised she wouldn't leave him "while he walked the earth", which is looking to be forever), her body is not; the death of the Dawn Queen is marked by year and a day of mourning, and for the next few decades (until the Dawn Queen is reborn), Arran'ak endures colder, deeper winters, and the Millennial King grows bitter -- though both he and his Acolytes are noticeably more powerful during these so-called "Long Winters".

=== Chronus ===

Myrhan's bodyguard while he was abroad, and his right-hand man during the war against Florin and Guilder.  He actually died during the campaign, but was resurrected with his character intact -- and the world is very fortunate that he was, for he stayed Myrhan's hand from slaughtering the citizens of Guilder's capitol.  After the war was finished, he stood vigil over Myrhan's grave for a year and a day as Myrhan became a [[lich]] (a vigil that is honored in many Arran'akian ceremonies and holidays), and was made Captain of the Sentinels after Myrhan returned; presently, he leads the elite Chronus Guard.  His flesh has long since decayed away, though somehow he is still capable of drinking whiskey without spilling any through his ribcage.