The Wolf and the Merchants

In the opulent city of Bakshaan, Elric of Melniboné, the infamous albino sorcerer and exiled emperor, is approached by desperate merchant princes. They want him to destroy their rival, Nikorn of Ilmar, whose wealth and power threaten their own. Elric, accompanied by his loyal companion Moonglum, feigns interest in their gold but is more intrigued by the presence of Theleb K'aarna, a sorcerer from Pan Tang and Elric's old nemesis. The merchants' plot is a mere pretext for Elric's true aim: vengeance against Theleb K'aarna, who has wronged him in the past. Elric's reputation as a bringer of doom precedes him, and his acceptance of the job sets in motion a chain of events that will draw in old friends, enemies, and the supernatural.

Sorcerer's Vengeance Unleashed

Theleb K'aarna, hiding in Bakshaan, is entangled with Queen Yishana, who still pines for Elric despite their bitter history. Theleb's jealousy and fear of Elric drive him to desperate measures, summoning demons to protect Nikorn's palace. Meanwhile, Elric seeks out his fellow exiles, the Melnibonéan mercenaries led by Dyvim Tvar, hoping to recruit them for his assault. The reunion is fraught with tension—Elric is both kin and betrayer, responsible for the fall of their ancient city. Yet, shared hatred for Theleb K'aarna and the promise of plunder unite them. The stage is set for a confrontation where sorcery and steel will decide fates.

Stormbringer's Price

Elric's sentient sword, Stormbringer, is both his greatest weapon and his curse. As Elric and his allies march on Nikorn's fortress, Theleb K'aarna unleashes a demon, Quaolnargn, to destroy him. Elric barely survives the encounter, saved only by Stormbringer's soul-drinking power and a desperate invocation to his patron demon, Arioch. But victory is hollow: Theleb K'aarna captures Elric, steals his sword, and delivers him, broken, to his enemies. Without Stormbringer, Elric is weak, his very life force dependent on the blade's dark magic. The sword's appetite for souls—foe and friend alike—haunts Elric, foreshadowing tragedy.

The Queen, the Betrayer

Queen Yishana, once Elric's lover, is now caught between him and Theleb K'aarna. Her affections are a weapon, and both men are ensnared by her. Theleb's love is obsessive and impotent, while Yishana's feelings for Elric are a mix of longing and resentment. She aids Moonglum in recovering Stormbringer, exploiting Theleb's exhaustion and her own wiles. The triangle of desire, betrayal, and vengeance underscores the personal costs of Elric's quest, as love becomes another battlefield.

The Demon in the Forest

As Elric's forces approach Nikorn's palace, Theleb K'aarna's demon attacks. The battle is brutal and otherworldly, with Elric's soul nearly consumed. Only by channeling Stormbringer's power and invoking Arioch does he prevail. Yet, the victory leaves him drained and vulnerable, leading to his capture. The episode highlights the ever-present danger of sorcery in Elric's world, where every magical act exacts a price, and the line between master and victim is perilously thin.

The Siege of Nikorn

With Elric imprisoned and Stormbringer locked away, his Melnibonéan allies prepare to storm Nikorn's fortress. Moonglum's daring infiltration, aided by Yishana, returns the sword to Elric, restoring his strength. Elric summons elemental forces to counter Theleb K'aarna's magic, unleashing a supernatural storm. The siege is a clash of steel, sorcery, and vengeance, culminating in the breaching of the gates and a bloody melee within the castle walls.

The Dragon Master's Doom

Amidst the chaos, Dyvim Tvar, Elric's kinsman and friend, is slain. His death is a direct result of Elric's quest for vengeance, a bitter reminder of the costs of power and the curse of Stormbringer. Elric avenges Dyvim Tvar by confronting Theleb K'aarna, whose own sorcery has driven him mad. The cycle of revenge is complete, but at a terrible price—Elric's victories are always shadowed by loss.

The Curse of Stormbringer

After the battle, Elric is confronted by Nikorn, who seeks retribution for the destruction wrought upon his home. Elric, bound by his word, tries to spare Nikorn, but Stormbringer acts of its own accord, killing the merchant and consuming his soul. Elric is left in anguish, cursing the blade that sustains and damns him. The sword's sentience and bloodlust make it both a tool and a tormentor, symbolizing Elric's tragic fate.

The Forest of Troos

Elric and Moonglum, fleeing from enemies, enter the haunted Forest of Troos. There they meet Zarozinia, a noblewoman seeking protection. The forest is a place of ancient evil and transformation, its unnatural flora a legacy of the Doomed Folk. Elric and Zarozinia are drawn together, finding love amidst peril. Yet, the forest's dangers are real—misshapen men attack, and the trio is forced to fight for survival.

The Dance of Death

Seeking restitution for their losses, Elric, Moonglum, and Zarozinia travel to the kingdom of Org. Elric uses sorcery to protect them, but the mad King Gutheran and his court are not easily deceived. A banquet turns deadly as the guests are drugged and betrayed. Zarozinia's dance, meant to placate their captors, only delays the inevitable. Elric is chained atop a burial mound, a sacrifice to the ghoulish ancestors of Org.

Three Kings in Darkness

The mad minstrel Veerkad, blinded and vengeful, seeks to raise the King from Beneath the Hill, using Zarozinia's blood in a dark ritual. Elric, with Arioch's reluctant aid, escapes his bonds and descends into the barrow to rescue Zarozinia. The tomb is a place of horror, filled with the undead and the legacy of the Doomed Folk. Betrayals and deaths abound as the past erupts into the present.

The Barrow and the Betrayal

Elric and his companions flee the barrow, returning to the citadel of Org. There, amidst drunken revelry, Elric retrieves Stormbringer and confronts Gutheran. But the true threat emerges as the resurrected Hill-King and his undead host invade the hall, slaughtering the living. Elric and Moonglum, using fire and cunning, destroy the Hill-King and escape the burning citadel, leaving Org and its ancient evils in ruins.

The Hill-King Rises

The Hill-King, last of the Doomed Folk, brings destruction to Org. Elric's battle with the soulless monarch is desperate—Stormbringer is powerless against a foe with no soul. Only by luring the Hill-King into the flames can Elric prevail. The destruction of Org is both an end and a warning, a purging of ancient evil but also a reminder of the world's lingering darkness.

The Wedding and the Blade

With Org destroyed, Elric and Zarozinia marry in Karlaak, seeking peace and a new beginning. Elric contemplates abandoning Stormbringer, relying instead on the herbs of Troos for strength. Yet, doubts linger—can he ever truly escape the blade's curse? The promise of happiness is fragile, shadowed by the knowledge that doom follows Elric wherever he goes.

The Flame Bringer's Horde

Peace is short-lived. Moonglum returns with dire news: Terarn Gashtek, the Flame Bringer, leads a vast horde westward, aided by the enslaved sorcerer Drinij Bara. The horde's devastation is total, and Karlaak is threatened. Elric, compelled by duty and love, takes up Stormbringer once more, breaking his vow to Zarozinia. Disguised as mercenaries, Elric and Moonglum infiltrate the barbarian camp, seeking a way to free Drinij Bara and halt the invasion.

The Cat and the Sorcerer

Drinij Bara's soul is trapped in a cat, making him Terarn Gashtek's slave. Elric and Moonglum plot to reunite the sorcerer with his soul, enlisting the aid of Meerclar, Lord of the Cats. Their plan succeeds, but not without peril—battles with barbarians, the loss and recovery of the cat, and the ever-present threat of discovery. When Drinij Bara is finally restored, he and Elric unleash their combined sorcery against the horde.

Dragons Over the Waste

As the horde threatens Karlaak, Dyvim Slorm arrives with the last dragons of Melniboné. Elric, riding a dragon, leads a fiery assault, incinerating the barbarian army. The victory is total, but Elric is left hollow, disgusted by the carnage and the blade that made it possible. In a moment of defiance, he casts Stormbringer away, seeking to end its hold over him. Yet, the sword's return is inevitable—its curse is inescapable.

Tanelorn Besieged

In the epilogue, the city of Tanelorn—haven for the weary and outcast—is threatened by the forces of Chaos, led by Narjhan and a beggar horde. Rackhir the Red Archer embarks on a metaphysical quest through strange realms to seek aid from the Grey Lords. With the help of magical allies and the airships of Xerlerenes, Tanelorn is saved, but the struggle between Law, Chaos, and the human spirit continues. Tanelorn endures as an ideal, a symbol of hope and rest in a world of turmoil.

Characters

Elric of Melniboné

Elric is the last emperor of the ancient, decadent island of Melniboné, an albino reliant on sorcery and the soul-drinking sword Stormbringer for strength. Haunted by guilt over his role in his people's downfall, Elric is both a seeker of justice and an agent of chaos, driven by vengeance, love, and a fatalistic sense of doom. His relationships—with Moonglum, Zarozinia, Yishana, and his kinsmen—are marked by loyalty, betrayal, and loss. Elric's psychological complexity lies in his self-awareness: he is both victim and perpetrator, unable to escape the consequences of his actions or the curse of his blade.

Moonglum of Elwher

Moonglum is Elric's closest friend and foil—a small, red-haired adventurer from the East, quick-witted and resourceful. He provides comic relief, practical advice, and unwavering support, often risking his life for Elric. Moonglum's pragmatism and resilience contrast with Elric's brooding fatalism. He is the anchor that keeps Elric from succumbing entirely to despair, yet he is also drawn into the sorcerer's tragic orbit, sharing in both triumph and suffering.

Theleb K'aarna

Theleb K'aarna is a powerful magician from Pan Tang, driven by envy and fear of Elric. His love for Yishana is obsessive and unrequited, fueling his vendetta against Elric. Theleb's reliance on demons and dark magic ultimately leads to his madness and destruction. He embodies the dangers of unchecked ambition and the self-destructive nature of vengeance.

Queen Yishana of Jharkor

Yishana is a complex figure—beautiful, cunning, and emotionally scarred. Her relationships with Elric and Theleb K'aarna are fraught with passion, resentment, and manipulation. She uses her allure and intelligence to survive in a world dominated by powerful men, yet her own desires often lead to disappointment and betrayal. Yishana's actions are driven by a longing for love and power, making her both victim and agent.

Dyvim Tvar

Dyvim Tvar is a Dragon Master of Melniboné and Elric's childhood friend. He represents the lost glory and honor of their people, torn between loyalty and resentment toward Elric. His death during the siege of Nikorn is a pivotal moment, underscoring the personal cost of Elric's quest and the inescapable reach of fate.

Zarozinia

Zarozinia is a noblewoman from Karlaak who becomes Elric's wife. Her love offers Elric a chance at peace and redemption, a respite from his cursed existence. She is courageous, compassionate, and steadfast, yet ultimately powerless to save Elric from himself. Zarozinia's presence highlights the possibility of happiness, even as it is continually threatened by Elric's destiny.

Nikorn of Ilmar

Nikorn is a self-made merchant prince, targeted by his rivals and caught in the crossfire of Elric's vendetta. He is shrewd, brave, and, in his own way, honorable. His death at Stormbringer's hand, despite Elric's intentions, exemplifies the sword's curse and the collateral damage of Elric's battles.

Drinij Bara

Drinij Bara is a powerful Eastern wizard whose soul is trapped in a cat, making him a slave to Terarn Gashtek. His eventual liberation and alliance with Elric are crucial in defeating the barbarian horde. Drinij Bara's predicament reflects themes of powerlessness, manipulation, and the dangers of sorcery.

Terarn Gashtek, the Flame Bringer

Terarn Gashtek is the embodiment of chaos and violence, leading a vast horde across the world. His ambition is matched only by his brutality. He is ultimately destroyed by the combined might of [sorcery](#sorcery

Last updated: May 14, 2025