---
layout: journal
no-footer: True
tags: seventh-lore
title: On Arconis, Barri and the Traitor's Noose
---
# {{ page.title }}

The noose was first discovered by Barri, Argon, Calder and Helga as the journed
through the Long Pass with the remnants of the 18th Infantry of the 4th Army of
Altay under the command of Lt. Sydney. The Hanged Man was being used/worshipped
by the Dark Folk that lived in the Spire as a prophet. The party, acting on
Helga's dream, raided the the Spire and took the noose for themselves. Barri
decided to wear the noose personally, to help mitigate the ill effects of the
curse Sulnaj had inflicted upon him. Over time, the party learned the Arconis's
story; he was a prince of a small human city state subservient to the Dwarvish
Triarchy. When the Triarchy declared war on the Halfling Empire, they cled on
Arconis's people. At the time, the human city-state had more in common and
better relations with the Halfling Empire than their suzerain. Arconis resented
being forced to a war his people dis not want, and resented that an unrelated
law would force him to give up his daughter so she could serve as a priesthood
as an oracle. The war declaration pushed him over the edge into rebellion.
Knowing his dutiful father would bring his people to war, Arconis killed him and
his older brother both. His rebellion failed, largely because of the interence
of a Magi, whondefeated Arconis and his followers. However, before he was
captured, to prevent the Magi from taking his daughter from him, he threw her
over the Spire instead, earning the appellation 'Child-slaying Arconis".
Afterwards, he was hung as a traitor and cursed by the Magi, the nature of the
curse forces all his male descendants to eventually betray what they should
protect and in doing so, meet a painful death. Arconis was cursed with unlife to
watch this happen to all his line, unable to die while it endures. The party,
largely at Barri's insistence, promised to help Arconis kill off his remaining
heirs so he could finally die. Presently, all but one have been killed, and
Arconis has gotten more powerful with each death. He has become more lucid, but
when confused his madness is contagious and the living around the bearer of the
noose can be convinced they are Arconis's long dead companions. Such as Argus,
his spear bearer, or Clytemnestra, his lover. At night, any of the souls held in
the noose can manifest as ghosts, during the day, they can attempt to commune
with or posses the bearer, these abilities work best at dawn/dusk and poorly at
noon. At Barri's request Arconis is willing to fight Sulnaj and has helped
design a ritual so the revivifying god can be stopped and destroyed once and for
all. Barri's motivation is because the god cursed him at one point. The current
concern is that Barri's subservient Dark Folk may torture Arconis's last heir to
death before the ritual is performed, nullyfing the ritual and leaving Sulnaj
unchecked and able to return to true godhood. Sulnaj itself hungers to return to
power so it can proclaim and witness the end of the world. That would probably
not be helpful for anyone who wants to live.
