Moraeulf is a moredhel warlord in Betrayal at Krondor. He first appears in Chapter 4.
Overview
Moraeulf is a son of Delekhan. He hates his father and aspires to take his place, and faces allies and enemies alike with belligerant, contemptuous entitlement.
Chapter 4
Declining Gorath's offer to free the Northlands by killing Delekhan, Liallan predicts that Moraeulf would simply take his place and use his death to inflame moredhel sentiment against their allies. Gorath reluctantly favors her leadership potential over Delekhan's "bastard get." Liallan also lets the party know that the Six are with Moraeulf at Harlech.
Arriving at Harlech, the party knocks on a wooden door, where a guard stares at Owyn for a moment before presenting them to Moraeulf in a back room. Gorath, reporting that Narab and unknown allies besieged Sar-Sargoth, freed dissidents from the dungeons, and fled north, claims that Delekhan is now requesting progress reports and immediate assistance from Moraeulf and the Six. Moraeulf scoffs that Delekhan cannot wish to divert troops that are already in position for a week's march to their target just to pursue "a handful of cowards" into the snowplains, snapping that he would slit Delekhan's throat if he were not his father.
- The Six (after meeting Cullich)
- Gorath demands a report for Delekhan on the Six's activities. Moraeulf retorts that they only speak to their leader, who only comes when he pleases, and otherwise only complain about the cold and the food; if it were his decision, he would turn them out and let them freeze. Asked if they are not crucial to the Northwarden attack, Moraeulf waves Northwarden aside, citing concerns about what will happen if Murmandamus returns. Believing Gorath to be a mere messenger, he curtly dismisses his curiosity about how Murmandamus could still be alive.
- Passwords (after meeting the guards at the Inclindel)
- Gorath claims to need the day's password to authorize the movement of stolen Kingdom goods over the Inclindel Bridge for provisioning of the hungry soldiers mustering at Sar-Sargoth. Moraeulf orders the shipment to stop at Harlech on the way so that his own soldiers can take precedence, snapping that Delekhan can come down and retrieve the goods himself if he is displeased. The password, he adds, is Serpentslayer.
After the discussion, Gorath takes his leave with thinly veiled contempt. Moraeulf retorts with a threat on the party's second departure, but Gorath points out that Delekhan does not allow interference with his possessions. If the party returns, Moraeulf asks sarcastically whether Delekhan has sent them to check if he is capable of feeding himself.
Chapter 7
The party learns from Duke Martin and Obkhar that Moraeulf is in the south of the Dimwood, acting as leader of the rearguard and staging troops for the final advance on Sethanon.
The party finds Moraeulf just west of the forest's southeast bridge. James, claiming to be Quegian, asks to converse in the Kingdom tongue, and Moraeulf asks about the progress of the transfer from the Tsurani gate. James relates a fictitious attack by heavily armed men moving through the Dimwood, accompanied by the sounds of what might be an approaching army. Moraeulf curses, believing that Obkhar has escaped to raise the alarm, complicating the march toward Sethanon.
- Rift Machine (if the party has met Obkhar)
- James claims that the rift machine has failed, leaving the gate beyond repair and requiring one of the devices the magicians had stored away. Moraeulf directs them to a canyon with the "VICTORY" riddle chest in the Dimwood's southeast corner.
- Food (if the party has run out of Rations)
- James tells Moraeulf that food has been unavailable, leaving dozens of mercenaries starving and threatening troop loyalty. Moraeulf complains that the Kingdom soldiers found their caches and must have known they were approaching.
Upon departure, Moraeulf orders the party to report any further complications immediately.
Epilogue
| Warning! This article contains plot or ending spoilers. |
Moraeulf, enraged at the success of the combined relief forces and the Sethanon garrison in forcing his troops toward a blind corner of the city where surrender or death would be the only options, silently curses Delekhan's name as he snarls orders at his terrified lieutenants from an elm-shaded hillside. A commotion draws him to a cobbled square below a flame-blackened parapet, where he witnesses the apparent deaths of Murmandamus and Delekhan. Devoid of grief in his new role as Delekhan's successor, Moraeulf orders the combined goblin and moredhel army to retreat to the Northlands.
Locating Delekhan's corpse, he reflects on the useless collapse of his father's grand plans and foolish trust in his Tsurani ally, and retrieves the golden sword sought by Murmandamus, hoping to exploit whatever power it might possess though he knows little of the prophecy in which it figured. Hearing his name called, he turns and meets a knife driven through his left eye into his brain by Narab, falling dead across his sire's body with no chance to react.