Prince Ulcanov of the Shattered Waters
born 2087, slain 2278, ruled 2119 to 2278. Truly the most infamous Chaos Ruler of the Middle Ages, Prince Ulcanov exercised a natural gift for chaos magic with an instinctual insight into spellcasting. Capricious, cruel, and darkly imaginative, Ulcanov became lord of Corundy and Throvy, ruling out of his bale palace, the Gourd of Summons, that fed on the blood of children, crawling over land and sea. He insisted upon many styles, most notably, "Tyrant of Irresistible Chaos, Duke Chaotic of Fair Corundy, King of Aurice, Nephew of Chaos Immanent, Lord of the Nine and Ninety Sounds."[1] In history and literature, Prince Ulcanov is often called the 'Dark Prince' because of his foul acts of inhumanity and his dark and somber temperament.
Birth and Early Life
The year of Prince Ulcanov's birth is dated to 2087 based upon accounts preserved from the Codex Noctium, the court history which the Dark Prince ordered to be kept. This date is deemed spurious by many scholars, but in the absence of any alternative evidence has been traditionally accepted by historians. It is well-accepted that powerful magics can extend human life and Ulcanov's suggested life of nearly two hundred years is possible. Ulcanov's early life is scarcely known. Scholars believe that Ulcanov was born in Throvy and probably in Aurice or Goscundy, that he was of noble birth and well educated in science, history, mathematics, and religion. Scholars do not agree on his likely birth religion but concur that if the Dark Prince converted to the worship of Chaos Cults, he did so early on in his career. Scholars believe his worship of the Chaos Gods was apotropaic, that is designed to avert their anger and destructive power rather than out of any real piety.
Scarab-of-Night-Turned-Day
At some point in his life, Prince Ulcanov acquired the Scarab-of-Night-Turned-Day. The earliest date we can be sure of is 2117 when at two different accounts report that he used the Scarab to slay contending Chaos Priests in magical combat. The Scarab itself was thought fanciful up to that time and would have remained an obscure legend had Ulcanov not brought it to light. The Scarab's own origin is much contested and merits it own account.
Bizarre Self-Preservation
Ulcanov through his wicked concourse with gods of Chaos, placed his various bodily members and organs in different containers when he slept through the night, his soul voyaging through alien realms beyond our own. In the morning at the conclusion of his travels, the boxes would open and his members reassembled into his corporeal form. Each box holding an organ or member was thoroughly enchanted to prevent tampering or removal by any would-be assassin or usurper. Several attempts brought about the gruesome deaths of their perpetrators. The heart box, for example, was guarded by a rare female Aio which is a Throe Race who sang in multiple dimensions and drove the listener permanently mad. The kidneys were kept plugged up in tall vases made of highly enchanted glass that glimmered all manner of opalescence in the shapes of lizards and bugs.
Transformation of the Knights-Magi of Aurice
Wielding the already ancient Scarab-of-Night-Turned-Day, Ulcanov destroyed the Knights-Magi of Aurice and the noble warriors who revolted against his evil reign and forced the survivors to give birth to throe-children through the navel, to form a new army to serve him. This obscenity, causing one gender unnaturally and with excruciating pain to perform the behavior of the other alone has fouled Ulcanov's already hateful memory through the ages.
Construction of Colossus to God Lygdamion
Prince Ulcanov enslaved throes, magical beasts of chaos, to construct a great statue rising out of the sea south of Aurice to commemorate the Anarchs, the most powerful gods of Chaos. It is generally accepted that the image is of the Chaos God Lygdamion whom Ulcanov worshiped. The monument reached nearly 57m (187 feet) high. Years after Ulcanov's rule, the colossus was reshaped into the likeness of the Isxinthion god, Amrulon, since it was impractical to have it destroyed.
Wars against the Uhlaks
His summoned army of throes and human minions warred continuously against the uhlak tribes of the Great Khan to the east. During these wars, the Witchlands or Throe Wastes arose east of Throvy through the use of baneful chaos magic, due in no small part to Ulcanov's wizardry.
Epithet "Of the Shattered Waters"
He is called "of the Shattered Waters" for his peculiar use of the Scarab-of-Night-Turned-Day to affect the waters in which the city of Aurice rests. His powerful magics caused the waters to behave completely alien to natural water, generating holes, cracks, and fissures in the sea. Thus the waters were said to be shattered.
Gourd of Summons
The Gourd of Summons, as Prince Ulcanov called it, was the beetling, monstrous palace in which he resided. Legend says that the palace devoured some of the islands of Aurice and created new rivens, although this is now considered apocryphal by most scholars. The Gourd of Summons moved slowly but steadily and could cover both land and water and on some occasions flew under Prince Ulcanov's influence. The gourd's architecture was alien, beautiful, and thoroughly enchanted. The faces of the palace bore the likenesses of the victims and favorites of Prince Ulcanov, animate and posing, as if trapped in glass.
Treatment of Juffa Pretenders
During the reign of Prince Ulcanov of the Shattered Waters, there were many who presented themselves to the Prince as Juffas. The Prince both rejected and slew them until no such candidates visited his court any longer. In turn, the Prince sought out potential Juffas and slew them. This is one reason that some believe Airdred the Wily avoided the court of Ulcanov, though in fact Airdred never made any pretense to the role of Juffa. Some say that Prince Ulcanov was an unsuccessful Juffa and thus detested those who would achieve what he failed to accomplish.
Demise
Prince Ulcanov was slain in the Fifth Isbajath, 2278 AI, by Saint Gidhoniel Kab S'ephah, a powerful Shenimite warrior and older brother to then Incarnandina, Eseleth Kath Besheth. Gidhoniel slew Prince Ulcanov by means of the Sword Wanewake in personal combat. According to legend, Gidhoniel said calmly, 'I release you,' when he plunged the sword Wanewake into Ulcanov's heart.
Servants
Lord Khavost Olima was a loyal servant to Ulcanov whose more famous daughter, St. Olmima Olima, converted to Incarnandism and founded a monastic order. Amnwbis of Medibgö slew Khavost Olima in combat.
Depictions in Music and Literature
The Bathtimes of Lord Ulcanov, written in the twenty seventh century, is an Aurician opera set in the palace of Lord Ulcanov.
References
Sources
Primary Sources
- Codex Noctium, disputed
Secondary Sources
See Also
- Chaos Magic
- Fifth Isbajath
- List of Greater Chaos Rulers of the Middle Ages
- Gidhoniel kab S'ephah
- Gourd of Summons
| This article is a stub. It requires further development by the creator. |