The Viscount of Adrilankha is a fantasy novel by American writer Steven Brust, published in three volumes.
Like the other books in the series, the novel is heavily influenced by and homages the d'Artagnan Romances written by Alexandre Dumas,[1] and is written by Brust in the voice and persona of a Dragaeran novelist, Paarfi of Roundwood, whose style is a tongue-in-cheek parody of Dumas, matching both his swashbuckling sense of adventure and his penchant for tangents and longwindedness.
After a conversation with Miska, a strange coachman, the witch receives the name Morrolan, meaning "Dark Star".
He meets a fellow witch named Arra, who counsels him to pledge his soul to Verra, the Demon Goddess.
His loyal cousin and strategist Habil advises him to start a new Empire with himself as Emperor, and he summons the Princes of the sixteen noble Houses to make the proposal.
Pel, who has become Kâna's agent, goes to speak with Sethra Lavode, and she expresses her total opposition to the plan.
In the County of Whitecrest, which has been largely untouched by the ravages of the Interregnum, Khaavren has become a broken man, weighed down by guilt over his failure to protect the Emperor and prevent Adron's Disaster.
During dinner with Khaavren and his wife, the pyrologist relates how a past failure drives him to achieve his fullest potential.
While the Orb is in their possession, they modify and improve it, and Verra decides to send a demon under her sway to help Sethra Lavode.
Tazendra recognizes Orlaan as Grita, the daughter of Greycat, who was killed by Khaavren's company during the events of Five Hundred Years After.
Believing Zerika dead, Piro and company bitterly fight off the bandits while Tazendra drives away Grita with her superior Elder Sorcery.
Khaavren, Piro, and their respective friends embroil themselves in the conflicts between the newly restored Empire and the forces of the Pretender, Kâna.
He enlists a number of Vallista architects and Teckla laborers to restore his family's castle into a temple.
During his study, he learns of Kâna's forces bearing down on his county and receives an Imperial order from Zerika to hold them off.
While preparing for battle, Morrolan learns of the existence of Sethra Lavode, who is technically his vassal due to her home, Dzur Mountain, residing within Southmoor county.
Morrolan's various magical allies, including the Necromancer, the Warlock, and his circle of witches all lend their aide to the struggle, but it is still not enough.
After consultation with his guests and various retainers, Morrolan decides to have his circle of witches levitate the Castle and his troops up to safety.
Grita joins with Kâna's forces and gives him information about Khaavren's companions as well as the soul that she has trapped within a staff.
Habil gives Grita's staff to an Athyra necromancer and guides Kâna in the rituals of contacting the god Tri'nagore.
It is named after a character originally introduced in the Vlad Taltos novels, which are also set in Brust's fictional world of Dragaera.
Zerika, the new Empress of the newly restored Dragaeran Empire, struggles to win the support of the remaining sixteen noble houses.
Because Zerika has only knowingly shared this secret with Pel, her royal confidant, Grita hopes this will discredit the crafty Yendi.
Reunited with his eternal companions once again, Khaavren requests a leave from duty to find his wayward son, Piro.
She prepares her defenses and sets the Necromancer, the Warlock, and Morrolan's witches to repeat the magical help they gave in the previous battle.
Using his Great Weapon, Blackwand, Morrolan easily levels all four raider villages, then defiles Tri'nagore's altar to challenge him to single combat.
In the cave where Zerika originally emerged from the Paths of the Dead, they discover Grita and Illista lying in ambush with a captive Tazendra.
At the victory celebration, Zerika gives various commendations, appointing Pel to Prime Minister and raising Morrolan to Duke.