Echo

Near the end of the Thassilonian Empire, a man named Xaliasa commanded one of Hellstorm Flumes of Alaznist, Runelord of Wrath. It was one of several defensive fortifications along the border between her empire and that of Karzoug, Runelord of Greed. Xaliasa was given much freedom in running his Hellstorm Flume as long as he continued researching methods of producing and perfecting sinspawn for Alaznist’s army and using his magic to divine the movements of the invaders from Shalast to the east.   Yet Xaliasa served another—he had succumbed to greed, and, in secret, Karzoug bought his allegiance, transforming him into a double agent of sorts. As a defender of the Hellstorm Flume, he also served Karzoug with regular reports on Alaznist’s troop movements.   Xaliasa’s answer was to use, in secret, his contacts with both runelords to discover the way to Runeforge, perhaps the only safe place where he could retreat if either runelord decided he was no longer of use. Discovering the secret to entering Runeforge was no easy task, but only a few days before the empire was destined to fail, Xaliasa made the discovery. When Thassilon collapsed, and the world shook, and the oceans swallowed Alaznist’s empire, Xaliasa’s plans for escape proved inadequate. He had planned for the wrath of one, perhaps two runelords and was ill-prepared for the rage of an entire world.   In punishment for his betrayal, Karzoug cursed Xaliasa with immortality and cursed him to be forever tied to the site of his betrayal. Karzoug did not know where Xaliasa was at the time of the magical curse (which had been one of Karzoug’s munition keeps). Before Karzoug could track him down, Earthfall struck.   Xaliasa cannot venture more than a mile from that spot, rooting him to the area now known as Magnimar. He had dwelt there for thousands of years, since the Irespan was new, and lived countless lifetimes in this narrow corridor of the world. He has been many people in those lifetimes, and over time, some are forgotten while others blur together.   Over the past few hundred years, Echo has been the persona of choice. The aura of being an immortal vampire tends to draw people to him. If he cannot see the World, he will bring the World to him.