(Backdated entry)
The divine Essence that bonded with Manduar Develan was, in the First Age, a Night Caste by the name of Sethos. Publicly, he was a sort of wealthy nobleman. Imagine a sort of Bruce Wayne persona (and with Sethos, like Batman, it was this identity that was the persona), someone who throws lavish “social events” (otherwise known as parties), makes public appearances from time to time, and seems to live a life of leisure.
In reality, though, the truth of Sethos was something much more frightening. In the heart land of the Old Realm, one name was bandied about as a sure way to get rid of “obstacles”….if you were willing to pay his price. The name whispered in the dark was Runihura (Egyptian for destroyer). For centuries, this mysterious entity brought death and ruin where he was bidden. His “employers” feared to call upon his services and his victims never knew who stalked them in the night.
Sethos had been originally “created” as a weapon for the explicit purpose of killing the enemies of the Gods. To the grief of many, though, Sethos acquired a thirst for killing….the power and thrill it gave him had become too much a part of him for him to simply cast it aside. So, as civilization settled down and random killing became impolite, Sethos created another identity for himself……one that would hunt the night and garb himself in shadow. But Sethos didn't need money for his services….he was quite wealthy already and more money was not what he desired. Instead, he would ask for a unique price from each person who asked for his services. His purpose was to make his employer pay a price that would be truly dear to them. Many that would hire him had money…giving him some was no sacrifice. At the completion of his task, Runihura would then name his price. Two examples of payment he asked for and received:
“One day with your virgin daughter.”
Pointing to a priceless urn that was of immense sentimental value to the family, “I want that.” The head of the household picked the urn up, carrying it reverently across the room to Runihura and handing it gently to him. Without a word, Runihura raised the urn above his head, smashed it to pieces on the floor, and turned and walked out.
Amazingly enough, Sethos (and Runihura at the same time) did find a woman who fell in love with him and married him…in fact, not just one woman, but twin sisters. Their names were Shardis and Shadris, both of them Twilight Caste and potent sorcerors. In fact, these two Exalted created the powerful orichalcum fighting gauntlets that Runihura used (and which he named after them). In addition, they bound a Familiar to Runihura. A wind serpent called Mabuz-Amal; this elemental aided Runihura greatly in his work, as an invisible killer and a companion to watch his back.
As hard as it might be to believe of a man like this, Sethos did feel some compassion and perhaps even love for his wives. In the end, though, when it all went bad and the Dragon-Blooded and Sidereal turned against them, Runihura, Shardis, and Shadris fled to his Manse in the mountains. They sheltered there for a short time and the twins helped to set up defenses and concealing spells around the place. All of them knew that it was only a matter of time before they were found and overwhelmed…but all had hope that they might come again before the world died….and in that later time find vengeance. In preparation for that time, Shardis and Shadris enchanted Runihura's wind jewel hearthstone with a dual-finder spell. It would be drawn to Runihura's soul, when it returned, and would then, in turn, draw that soul towards his stronghold of old. Finally, the
combination of the jewel and Runihura's soul would unlock the Manse and cause its defenses to stand down. And waiting inside would be the fighting gauntlets and the elemental, all waiting patiently for as long as it took for their master to return.
With the preparations done and the Dragon-Blooded Host advancing on their position, they resolved to rest one more night at the Manse before setting out to slaughter as much of the traitorous army as they could before they fell. Runihura stayed awake the longest and quietly watched his wives slumber for two hours. During this time, he made up his mind. Too much was at stake for him to trust to the will and resolve of even his most trusted companions (aside from Mabuz-Amal). So, he crept silently to crouch in between them and, drawing two knives, he slit both their throats while they still slept. He crouched there, unmoving, and watched as their life's blood spilled out onto the ground. When it was finished, he buried them both, side by side in the same grave, on the very spot where they died. In the dead of night, he left his Manse for the last time and went to face the enemy. Hundreds … even thousands…of Dragon-Blooded fell before his deadly skills until he was finally cornered and overwhelmed.
Now the Manse sits empty….well, nearly. It is still watched over by the tireless Mabuz-Amal and by a huge weeping willow tree that rises from the spot where the two Twilight Caste were buried. This tree is somewhat unique in that very shortly after its trunk rose from the ground, it split in two and grew in two directions. With such violent and shocking deaths, one wonders if anything of the two sisters still lingers on that spot … watching and waiting….