The Resundering and Beyond

Illibar's Assignation

Merth Lemon, 1998

Description

The first book in the The Resundering and Beyond series of ElemenstorLance. The book focuses on the two characters of Perilous Circumstances and Enseven Illibar. The book begins with Perilous receiving her orders from a shining throne that she sits on to assassinate Illibar with a crossbow bolt to the head at point blank range. As Perilous wanders the land she reflects on her past and childhood in Pizzlemoore and her former friendships/rivalries with Theenis Dwarvelfan and Osteorin the Couldn't Resist a Dare. As she thinks about her past she also manages to track down Illibar who is in the city of Shenda. As she makes her way there her thoughts turn to a fateful day where she was exploring Glamis Blair Castle on a dare by Theenis as Osteorin was not around. As she stalks her target, she reveals that she found a shining throne in the supposedly non-epic castle. Thinking it beautiful she approached it and tried it out. At that time the throne spoke to her and revealed its true nature as The Singing Throne of Startokfenliazane. She then proceeds to execute Illibar via a crossbow bolt to the skull at point blank range.

During his untimely demise Illibar reflects over his life. His childhood among The Willestrians on the Cataclysmic Bluont, his time at the Vermillion Forum Culvert and his ascendancy through the ranks of the Chaotician Gemmerach-dancers. He recalls his original meeting with Merrh Meminmon and Vfathfur Achgrem and their growing companionship. He remembers his binding with Merrh and his promotion with her to the rank of Gemmerach Triolet Warder along with Vfathfur and his first exposure to the raw power of Gemmerach Prime. Finally he recalls their quest to unite all the lands of Battal using the combined power of Gemmerach Prime and the Starborn Gem. The story ends with Perilous dashing through the surrounding crowd as Illibar dies.

Fan Reaction

Fans praised Illibar's Assignation for its storytelling through retrospective and its description, albeit obtuse to most, of the Willestrians. After the disappointment of the Eldritch Assignation Saga this a welcome addition to the series. Several fan favorites made surprise appearances in this work including the Eldritch Beings Beyond Comprehension who make several appearances in Illibar's flashbacks and Benedeir the Mediocre who was referenced multiple times during both halves of the book. This work is considered to be the best description to date of Willestrian culture. However the complexity and otherworldliness of the description make it rather hard for most fans and critics to get their minds around. Still interpretations abound among those who claim to have successfully read the work, and a lively debate circuit has arisen out of the resulting disagreements.