The Nine

Overview

Composed of nine wizards of unparalleled skill and valor, The Nine arose during the beginnings of the Sword Age as the leaders of the organized resistance against Balor and The Fallen Lords. Though they were a disparate fellowship, each of The Nine bore the title of Avatara, and thus each, as their order dictated, was trained in strategy and martial warfare in addition to magic. As the threat of the Dark became ever more apparent, it was perhaps inevitable that The Nine, with their unique dedication to understanding war in all its facets, would rally the nations of man to oppose their aggressors even as they struggled to comprehend the nature of their enemy. Despite being outnumbered and outmatched by Balor's hordes, under the leadership of The Nine the human nations were successful in fighting back the threat of The Leveler, though the price of their lengthy war against The Fallen would be immense, with countless lives lost and nearly every free city of the West ransacked before the conflict, later known as The Great War, concluded. The ranks of The Nine were similarly decimated, as only one of their number, King Alric, would survive to see the war's end. With only one living member remaining, The Nine is for all intents and purposes defunct in the present day, though it is always possible that Alric may be on the lookout for men and women of courage and ability to help him revive his former organization.

Known Members

Alric

Leader of The Nine and the most esteemed member of their order, Alric ruled the Province in the time before Balor's appearance, and would return to the throne at war's end. Being in many ways the epitome of the ideals of the Avatara, Alric was equally skilled in sword and spell, and was as shrewd a statesmen as he was a strategist. He masterminded the defeat of Balor himself, a being that was technically his better, and sixty years later fought off the assault of Soulblighter, who vied to finish Balor's work. He was neither the strongest nor the most magically proficient of The Nine, but was certainly the most well-rounded, and arguably possessed the keenest intellect of his Avatara brethren.

Cu Roi

Little is known of the Avatara called Cu Roi. He accompanied Murgen to Forest Heart when the two attempted to recruit the Forest Giants to their cause, and was imprisoned within the Tain when Soulblighter unexpectedly attacked. When the Legion discovered a means to escape their magical prison, Cu Roi was unable to survive the Tain's destruction, perhaps choosing to stay behind to ensure that as many of his men as possible made it through safely.

Maeldun

A man of renowned valor and tenacity, Maeldun was reportedly so tireless that upon returning after a lengthy campaign in the East to find his home city of Tyr razed, he immediately and without rest set out after the pirates responsible for the destruction. He died toward the end of the war, after he succumbed to wounds received defending the Cloudspine passage of Bagrada.

Murgen

Perhaps the greatest sorcerer among The Nine, Murgen was also extremely skilled as a diplomat. He was unfortunately ensnared along with Cu Roi when Soulblighter used the Tain against The Legion in Forest Heart, and like his compatriot he would ultimately die to ensure that the men under his command could escape their prison.

Rabican

One of the few men who can lay claim to defeating one of The Fallen Lords, Rabican clashed with and defeated Shiver on the first night of the siege of Madrigal, striking her down and proving that The Fallen were not in fact infallible. He would later be defeated by The Watcher, another of The Fallen, though by all accounts it took the full extent of The Watcher's power to subdue him. In terms of abilities, Rabican was renowned as the most physically adept of The Nine.

Unknown Members

The remaining four members of The Nine have not been identified in any of the Myth games or their associated companion materials. Some theorize that their names have simply been lost to time due to a failure to distinguish themselves during The Great War or by being overshadowed by others of The Nine. Whatever the case may be, the reduced importance and uncertain future of The Nine may preclude the telling of their stories.