A Gathering of Heroes

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A Gathering of Heroes is the third book by Paul Edwin Zimmer in his Dark Border books. A series that is set in a world in eternal war that fuses classic epic fantasy with science fiction. This tale takes place approximately 20 years before the events in "The lost prince" and "King Chondos Ride"

[edit] Plot

The third book in the Dark Border series is a prequel that involves Istvan Divega, who after a season of campaigning for the Airian Empire is weary and looking forward to period of relaxation, he is in the great Hastur city of Elthar located on the western shores of Island continent of Y'Gora, preparing a ship to take him and his mercenary troop back to Carcosa which lies half way around the world. Istvan is looking forward to a long respite from the savage Norians and the armies of Sarlow, but it is not to be, Aldamir Hastur - one of the mysterious guardians of the world appears with an urgent request of aid for the weary warrior. Mere hours later Istvan finds himself on a wild Elven ride in the company of the greatest heroes of the Y'gora. To his astonishment he finds that in a few nights he has traveled almost a thousand miles. The heroes are riding to the aid of the hidden fortress city of Rath Tintallain ruled co-jointly by an elvish Lord and Dwarf King, where a secret vital to the survival of the Hasturs and the Elves is kept, a secret that spells certain Doom for them all if it falls into the hands of the enemy. Arrayed against them are the powerful armies of the dreaded land of Sarlow, evil sorcerers, hordes of Goblins, hideous demons of great power, deadly werewolves and ancient Dragon and his brood. And if that were not enough the heroes must also face the trio of warriors that lead this fearsome crew; Svaran the Black, wearer of an armour that is proof against all mystic swords, Grom Beardless a skilled deadly swordsman a match for Istvan himself and Vor half-troll a giant warrior possessing great speed and strength.

[edit] Key Characters and Realms in A Gathering of Heroes

Kandol Shadowslayer, the Hastur Lord, eldest living Hastur, born in Nardis before its fall, five thousand years ago, famed in song for destroying the web of shadows created by Nargil in Bircrandar, during the great war in which the land of Galdor was laid waste.

Dark Things, evil creatures that rule the shadow, the realm founded on the mountain range of the main continent fenced in by the mystic barriers of the Hasturs.

Sarlow, A deadly realm ruled by a feared cabal of sorcerers in league with the dark things, they venerate the Eight dark lords as gods. The Sorcerers of Sarlow are deadly enemies of the Hastur and seek to dominate the Island continent of Y'Gora. Their Sarlowaq are constantly raiding the three kingdoms on the western shores of Y'Gora for slaves and pillage. Aided by their allies the Norians they also wage war on the powerful Airian Empire that controls the huge southern peninsula of Y'Gora.

Svaran, Commander of the armies of Sarlow and their deadliest warrior. He is not as skillful or as fast as Grom Beardless or as strong Vor Half Troll his lieutenants, however he wears a suit of dwarf forged plate armour that is proof against mystic Hastur and Elven swords rendering Svaran virtually invulnerable in combat. He is sometimes known as Svaran the Invincible or the Black.

Grom Beardless, a Captain of the armies of Sarlow, an exceptionally skilled warrior and deadly swordsman who is feared and respected through out the Island continent of Y'Gora. He is acknowledged even by the sorcerers of Sarlow as their best swordsman.

Komanthodel, the last great dragon on Y'Gora - until his brood has grown. He has not ventured outside his lair in centuries not since he last attacked Rath Tintallain with his mate Rianvari 5 centuries earlier During that attack Rianvari was slain by the Dwarf King Loric and the elven hero Taurim Mac Elathan, while Komanthodel was servely wounded.

Istvan Divega, Captain of the Seynyorean mercenaries, and Master of the Three Swords School: born near the foot of Hastur's Mountain, in Carcosa in Seynyor on the other side of the world. Veteran of many battles along the Dark Border tales of his exploits are known even in the Island continent of Y'Gora. He has been in the employ of the Airian Empire during the raiding season battling the naval forces of the Sarlow and the Norians. He is famed in Song as "Istvan the Archer" - a name he hates. He bears a Hastur blade.

Carroll Mac Lir, Most famous of the heroes of Y'gora, a former slave of the Sarlowaq he escaped and discovered the mystic sword he now bears, which was said to belong to the last great hero of the former realm now known as Sarlow before its conquest by the Sarlowaq. He has fought all along the borders of the 3 kingdoms that lie on the edges of the vast forest of demons on the Island continent of Y'Gora battling the armies of Sarlow and their allies the Norians. He has fought Svaran the invincible and Grom Beardless and lived to tell the tale.

Prince Tahion, Rightful king of Aldinor, and lord of Aldinor's living forest. Though mortal he bears the memory of all the lords of the forest, even back to the Age of peace. Born in exile in the elf woods in Y'gora, he has kin amongst the elves, and studied magic at Elthar. He bears the sword of the ancient kings of Aldinor, tradition says it has been thrice broken and thrice reforged: each time with magic greater than the last.

Ingulf Mac Fingold, Hua Eliron (called Ingulf the wanderer or Ingulf the mad) is from the Island of Trey Ithir in Airian Empire. He has been to the City of the Sea Elves where men do not go, and bears a sword from the land of the ever living (homeland of the Elves) he has named Frostfire as well as the deadly bladed flail of the outer Islands.