Lord Tenuchli is a Slann Mage-Priest of Xlanhuapec, subordinate to the great Lord Huinitenuchli and one of a select few who are permitted to contemplate within the Eternity Chambers of Xlanhuapec, under the protection of Chakax the Eternal Warden.
History[]
It was during the year of the Jade Star Sea (2223 IC[1a]) that the largest Daemon incursion since the Great Catastrophe came to Lustria. Its leader was Slaa'Ulaan, a Daemon referred to in ancient stone tablets as ‘the nether-thing of the second moon’. Slaa'Ulaan was amongst the most destructive and vile of fiends during the Great Catastrophe and had been responsible for the capture of many Mage-Priests, all of whom were sacrificed in obscene rituals. It was the great Lord Huinitenuchli of Pahuax who had finally banished the foul Daemon at Xuhua Lake all those years ago[1a][2a], though the Slann's body was grievously wounded and he took many years to recover from the harm done to him.[1a]
When Slaa'Ulaan returned to Lustria many thousands of years later, Lord Huinitenuchli, who had relocated to Xlanhuapec, could not be roused[1a][2a] despite his attendants' persistent efforts.[1a] Only Lord Tenuchli, subordinate Mage-Priest to the great Lord Huinitenuchli, could be awakened. Accompanied by Chakax, the Prime Guardian of the City of Mists, Lord Tenuchli led an expedition to the Pillars of Unseen Constellations and there found the full might of Chaos assembled.[1a][2a]
The pillars had been daubed with blasphemous runes and obscenely pulsing chains were wrapped about them. Waves of impure energy radiated from the defiled masonry, stunning the Lizardmen and dulling their senses, making their steps sluggish and sapping their strength. As the Saurus struggled to even raise their weapons, Slaa'Ulaan struck and the Lizardmen were cut down by wave upon wave of Bloodletters and Daemonettes. In scant moments, only Lord Tenuchli remained, with Chakax immobile by his side.[1a][2a] Having stood guard within the Star Chamber of the Slann, Chakax was accustomed to magical effects, and was able to shrug off the Daemon's disorienting spells.[1a]
Slaa'Ulaan charged the Prime Guardian, believing him rendered as helpless as the other Saurus[1a], but in reality he was only static because as of yet there was no direct threat to himself or the Mage-Priest he guarded.[2a] In an instant, Chakax exploded into violent motion, hacking the Daemon Prince's form into a steaming mass of bubbling daemonic ichor before returning to immobility at his master's side.[1a][2a]
But the Daemon had one last deception to weave. As his spirit fled his ruined body, Slaa'Ulaan unleashed a fearsome arcane blast, directed straight at Lord Tenuchli.[1a][2a] Chakax saved the Slann from instant death by stepping in front of part of the blast,[2a] yet The Mage-Priest was grievously wounded, and his palanquin crashed to the ground.[1a][2a]
With Slaa'Ulaan's death, the daemonic host dissipated,[2a] but Chakax was the last surviving warrior of the army, and would not leave his master's side to seek help.[1a][2a] Instead, he stood over his master's supine form, protecting him against the predatory beasts of the jungle day and night[1a] for an entire cycle of the moon. Eventually, a search party from Xlanhuapec found the Eternity Warden and his charge.[1a][2a] The still unconscious Tenuchli was returned to the City of Mists upon the back of a Stegadon, the ever-devoted Eternity Warden keeping pace beside it every step of the way.[1a]