The glamredhel were one of the three ancient elven peoples of Midkemia in Betrayal at Krondor. While referred to as extinct in the game, they remain in existence in the main continuity of the Riftwar Saga and are mentioned in the game's novelization, Krondor: The Betrayal.
History
Along with the moredhel and the eledhel, the glamredhel were an elven people inhabiting ancient Midkemia. They are associated with madness and death, and the moredhel consider themselves responsible for their destruction. The three interlocked triangles of the Elven Key of Lineages, each symbolizing one of the three elven tribes, still marks their importance in elven history.
Gorath describes the Ancient Valheru Ruins, a place of ancient power, as a loci of the glamredhel, deducing that only those in power would hold the key required to enter it.
The Guarda Revanche, associated with vengeance and known for an ability to profoundly alter the mental states of those who wield it, is a glamredhel sword. Legends differ as to whether the madness incurred by its wielders is felt only by moredhel or can affect other races as well.
Riddle chest
A riddle chest in the Ancient Valheru Ruins, its tumblers uniquely cycling through eight letters each instead of the usual four, is inscribed with the following clue, to which the answer is "GLAMREDHEL." The chest and its contents are described in the Abbot's Journal.
Where once there were three,
Now only are two,
Ancient kin ours,
Whom we sent to their doom.
Krondor: The Betrayal
The glamredhel arose from the original elven population who called themselves simply the people. After their paths diverged, the name glamredhel, "the mad ones," was given to them by the eledhel and moredhel, and the lines diverged so far that a moredhel man cannot father an eledhel or glamredhel woman's child, with moredhel healers believing that the races are now as different from one another as they are to dwarves or humans.[1]
Under Earanorn, known as Old King Redtree, the glamredhel opposed the rise of Murmandamus. Gorath's Clan Ardanien was among those who warred against them in the Northlands' Edder Woods.[2] The moredhel, seeing the glamredhel as without magic or purpose, later believed Delekhan's claim that the glamredhel had lived by their wits in the Edder until they were hunted to destruction. James, however, has spent time with the glamredhel and informs Gorath that they have joined the eldar in Elvandar, and that Duke Martin, who often visits, has reported that King Earanorn and Queen Aglaranna are debating whether the two peoples will merge or whether the glamredhel and eledhel will coexist as separate peoples there.[3]
Upon arrival at Elvandar, Gorath finds Earanorn among Queen Aglaranna's advisors.[4]
Trivia
- In Krondor: The Betrayal, the glamredhel king's name is spelled Earnon in Chapter 10 and Earanorn in Chapter 15.