Jewel in the Skull
"Dorian Hawkmoon, late the Duke of Koln, fell under the power of the Runestaff, a mysterious artifact more ancient than Time itself. His destiny, shaped by a vengeful oath sworn by the maddened Baron Meliadus of the Dark Empire, pitted Hawkmoon in battle against his won allies and forced him, by the Black Jewel embedded in his skull, to betray his very heritage."--BOOK COVER.