Dornar's Coup

Popular name of a brief power struggle that was waged within the Merge League's Council of Sorcery. Following his return to the League at the end of the Leviathan War, Alkar the Black consolidated a great deal of political power around the office of the Chairman of the League, and refused to allow the Council to hold session while he personally oversaw such things as extended postwar reconstruction and reform, as well as the secret dealings with Surgate and Scande to foment revolution in the Balian state of Quelb.

In response to this, the entire Council of Sorcery, with the exception of Kellsig the White, turned against Alkar and attempted to vote him out of office. The results for each of the sitting members of the Council are as follows:

• Alwurt the Black: Not a sitting member of the Council, but an Archmage of the Black Magic School and one of Alkar's star apprentices. When Stantalias slew Alkar to assume control of the League, it was Alwurt who arranged for Alkar's resurrection with the forbidden Tome of Life. The conspirators offered Alwurt the position of Grand Master of Black Magic if he would turn against Alkar and join them, and being a student of Alkar himself, Alwurt succumbed to his ambition and accepted. Alkar felled him with a simple lightning spell; he was the first of Dornar's conspirators to die.
• Sheevis the Red: Elevated to the post of Grand Master of Red Magic after Stantalias was banished and branded with the Rune at the end of the Leviathan War. He was one of the first to join Dornar's cause, but wisely chose not to pursue the rebellion to the cost of his life. He survived in his position of power as a Grand Master through a great deal of snivelling and pants-wetting. To this day he is known as one of Alkar's most ardent and sycophantic supporters in the Council.
• Lord Tohm the Blue: The oldest member of the Council, and one of the most celebrated wizards in Merge. He lost his left arm to OmniSent Balefire weapons during the Battle of Atlantis, and soon after received a robotic prosthesis from the Kingdom of Guardia. Tohm was long a supporter of Stantalias, and so was the first to join (and greatly encourage) Dornar in moving against Alkar. Alkar shorted out Tohm's bionic arm with lightning magic and took him out of the fight early. Alkar spared Tohm and left him with his life and position only in exchange for an oath of loyalty. Though part of Tohm would rather have died than do that, he managed to force himself to pay the price for Lord Alkar's mercy. Some suspect (or hope) that Tohm is biding his time, looking for just the right chance to once again strike at Alkar.
• Lord Tempis of the Clock: The original Grand Master of Time Magic, in place within the hierarchy of his School when the Merge League was founded. A supporter of Stantalias, Tempis joined Dornar's coup to alleviate his guilt at betraying his friend. He was torn to pieces by a Flare spell cast by Alkar during the battle in the Council Chambers. He was replaced as Grand Master by Lord Listener, though Tyranthraxus was Alkar's first choice.
• Lord Dornar the Caller: High Summoner of the School of Summoning Magic, Dornar was the instigator of the Council's rebellion against Alkar, and intended to take the post of Chairman himself once Alkar had been voted out. Dornar was the last to face Alkar's wrath: Alkar cut his throat after besting him in a contest of sorcery, then had his head displayed for all to see in the great pavillion between the Towers of Sorcery. Dornar's summoner's horn (a gilded spike off a Kirin's antler) now hangs from a plaque in the foyer of the Council of Sorcery's Chambers. Dornar's post of High Summoner is now occupied by Lord Sendak.
• Lord Kellsig the White: Warned Alkar of the plotting of Dornar and the other members of the Council, thus sparing his life and position -- though not his honor or self-respect.