THE RISE OF NERATH
On Valoth Mett's corpse you find a sodden parchment, tucked into the pectoral. The ink has started to run, but the words can still be deciphered.
"To the Lords Coff, Cormarrin, Crowfinger, Doomfire and Mett, to the Five Princes of Nerath Restored, I send thee my humble greetings! I hear from Lord Mett of the loss of my esteemed colleague Sir Roake, who had so recently uncovered the Staff of Olnehr. Our investigations of the Shadow Nexus beneath the Stone Axe Inn may have to be delayed. Yet this is but a temporary setback to our plans. I can now confirm that the tomb I have uncovered is indeed that of Nemeia, the accursed Demon Empress of Bael Turath! The Necrotic energies within this place are almost beyond belief! Yet Zehir's Gaze has protected me from the witch's ancient perils, and I now feel confident that soon I shall fully be master of the Fell Power she has summoned. Then, truly, Nerath shall rise again!!
Your equable servant,
Sir Tal Lorvas
Knight Concordant of Nerath Restored"
Morthor Coff is said to be the legendary High Priest of the Gate-Castle of the Black Sun, far to the north beyond the Carnelian Plains and Lagoldurma jungle. He's said to command legions of Orcs - and worse, and to have subjugated a vast swathe of northern Altanis.
Borritt Crowfinger is rumoured to be a very powerful Necromancer who has haunted these lands for decades. Normally very reclusive, he was last seen some months ago, investigating an ancient and sinister Cairn on the Carnelian Plains, near to Mountain Lion Clan territory. The Altanian barbarians believe the Blood Cairn is haunted by undead spirits that prey on the living, and won't go there.
Borritt Crowfinger
Borritt Crowfinger
Both Tal Lorvas and the now-deceased Malac Roake are rumoured to be fellow Necromancers, apprentices to Borritt Crowfinger.
Tal Lorvas
Commander Cormarrin (dec'd) is the undead Nerathi Captain, hero, bastard son of Nerath's last King, Eliydr, and founder of the Cormarrin dynasty, whose victory at the Battle of the Line in 4200 BCCC saved Bisgen from the gnolls of White Ruin. He was returned to un-life alongside his 300 men, by Tal Lorvas' employment of the Ring of Nemeia, the Demon Empress of Bael Turath. He was destroyed while leading the defense of the Nerathi estates south of Bisgen from the invading Altanian horde.
The Staff of Olnehr is a Staff of Ruin, rumoured to be a powerful Necromantic device dating from the time of the Glorious Doomfire Empire of Bael Turath. During the wars with the Dragonborn Empire of Arkhosia to the south which ultimately destroyed both empires (ca 2500 BCCC), the great Turathi Necromancer Olnehr crafted his staff with aid of the dark Power known as Angall of the Perpetual Void. Olnehr used the Staff to raise legions of Turathi war-dead from their graves in defense of Bael Turath. His efforts stalled the Arkhosian advance long enough for the Turathi High Magi to call down the Rain of Colourless Fire upon Arkhosia, burning the Dragonborn capital and surrounding lands to ash. But they could not control the energies unleashed, and Bael Turath was itself consumed in an inferno of wild magic, along with all the High Magi. In the aftermath the long-oppressed Altanian clans rose up against the surviving Turathi, and aided by the Arkhosian Legions in Turathi territory they swiftly destroyed the remnants of the Doomfire Empire. The fate of Olnehr himself is unknown.
The Staff appears to be a 6'6" length of fire-blackened wood, topped by a large bloodstone.
The Ring of Nemeia - worn by Tal Lorvas, this is an ebon ring set with a huge ruby, the sign of Asmodeus, patron deity of the post-Ghinoran 'Glorious Doomfire Empire' of Bael Turath (ca 1500-2500 BCCC). About a century before Olnehr's time (ca 2400 BCCC), the 'Demon Empress' Nemeia was one of Bael Turath's greatest rulers, a master of Necromancy and other dark arts, a High Mage and also Arch-Priestess of Asmodeus. In her conquest of the Feywild she slaughtered an entire tribe of Cyclops, renanimating some as skeletal warriors who would later serve her as immortal Tomb Guardians even after her own death. Later she initiated the great wars with Arkhosia that would ultimately destroy both empires. The circumstances of her demise are unclear. She was buried with great pomp and ceremony on the western slopes of the Castellan mountains, but some sages believe she may have been assassinated by her fellow High Magi - many were ambitious, resentful of her power, and fearful of her mad rages.
The 'Demon Empress' Nemeia, depicted early in her reign over Bael Turath.
BISGEN NERATHI
Tal LorvasThe Staff of Olnehr is a Staff of Ruin, rumoured to be a powerful Necromantic device dating from the time of the Glorious Doomfire Empire of Bael Turath. During the wars with the Dragonborn Empire of Arkhosia to the south which ultimately destroyed both empires (ca 2500 BCCC), the great Turathi Necromancer Olnehr crafted his staff with aid of the dark Power known as Angall of the Perpetual Void. Olnehr used the Staff to raise legions of Turathi war-dead from their graves in defense of Bael Turath. His efforts stalled the Arkhosian advance long enough for the Turathi High Magi to call down the Rain of Colourless Fire upon Arkhosia, burning the Dragonborn capital and surrounding lands to ash. But they could not control the energies unleashed, and Bael Turath was itself consumed in an inferno of wild magic, along with all the High Magi. In the aftermath the long-oppressed Altanian clans rose up against the surviving Turathi, and aided by the Arkhosian Legions in Turathi territory they swiftly destroyed the remnants of the Doomfire Empire. The fate of Olnehr himself is unknown.
The Staff appears to be a 6'6" length of fire-blackened wood, topped by a large bloodstone.
The Ring of Nemeia - worn by Tal Lorvas, this is an ebon ring set with a huge ruby, the sign of Asmodeus, patron deity of the post-Ghinoran 'Glorious Doomfire Empire' of Bael Turath (ca 1500-2500 BCCC). About a century before Olnehr's time (ca 2400 BCCC), the 'Demon Empress' Nemeia was one of Bael Turath's greatest rulers, a master of Necromancy and other dark arts, a High Mage and also Arch-Priestess of Asmodeus. In her conquest of the Feywild she slaughtered an entire tribe of Cyclops, renanimating some as skeletal warriors who would later serve her as immortal Tomb Guardians even after her own death. Later she initiated the great wars with Arkhosia that would ultimately destroy both empires. The circumstances of her demise are unclear. She was buried with great pomp and ceremony on the western slopes of the Castellan mountains, but some sages believe she may have been assassinated by her fellow High Magi - many were ambitious, resentful of her power, and fearful of her mad rages.
The 'Demon Empress' Nemeia, depicted early in her reign over Bael Turath.BISGEN NERATHI
THE CORMARRIN
Men who here with El'dyr Bled
Men who oft Cormarrin's Led
Welcome to your Gory Bed
Or to Victory!
-Cormarrin family motto
The Cormarrin Nerathi-Alryan noble household claim descent from the ancient Royal Line of Nerath, a claim made clear by the golden crown that is their family crest. According to Cormarrin family history, Commander Cormarrin, an unacknowledged son of Elidyr, Nerath's last monarch, led a small detachment (Equithrong) of Nerathi elite royal cavalry who survived the Battle of Gedden (4197 BCCC), cutting their way out through the Gnoll hordes of White Ruin following the death of King Elidyr. Along with other survivors they fled west over the Castellan Mountains via the Bisituni highlands, reaching the Nerathi-Altanian town of Bisgen. Three years (4200) later a fragment of Ruin's gnoll horde was approaching along the north bank of the Endgate River. Commander Cormarrin made a stand with his small Nerathi and Altanian forces along the southern riverbank east of Bisgen, at what became known as the Battle of the Line. After hours of fighting the gnolls proved unable to cross the river. Badly bloodied they turned north-west, into the Carnelian Plains, and Bisgen was saved. The grateful Baron of Bisgen made Cormarrin a Lord, with an extensive estate south-west of the small city.
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During the Nerathi siege of Bisgen, Meg & Tessa were murdered by a band of home invaders led by Varek of the Tigerclaw, who looted and then torched the mansion. The next day Varek duelled Halvath to the death outside the walls of Bisgen, killing and decapitating the Nerathi leader. The undead Commander Cormarrin made Varek return the head.
Halvath Cormarrin was born 39 years ago, in 4395 BCCC. When he was three years old (4398) his mother died in child birth, the baby (a boy) was also lost. His father subsequently took a slave-concubine, Lyssa, to whom was born Halvath's half-sister Tessa (4410). His father recognised the child as his own daughter, Tessa Cormarrin, freeing her mother.
At age 17 (4412), 22 years ago, Halvath became head of the Cormarrin when his father Lord Halvath (snr) was accused of treason by the old Baron Valomar, along with several other prominent aristocrats, and sacrificed to Hamarkhis in a wide-ranging purge. The young Lord Halvath managed to survive the next two years, until in 4414 BCCC the Altanian adventurer Parre overthrew Valomar - decapitating him on his own balcony, and throwing his head to the crowd below.
Other Nerathi Aristocrats in Bisgen Area
There are around a dozen Nerathi aristocratic families with estates near Bisgen, including the Cormarrin, Moondew, Foxwood and deLampton. The current practice is for noble titles to pass to the firstborn heir of either gender, however married women are commonly expected to defer to their husbands. Combined with the military tradition of the male Nerathi and the purges of Valomar, this has often led to the Nerathi families being headed by a single woman (eg Moondew, Foxwood, DeLampton), although many marry eventually.
Lady Chelarre Foxwood (4409-4446) is another female aristocrat, an only child. She is holder of the Foxwood title, and cousin to Lord Halvath Cormarrin. She was rescued from Shadar’s Brigands by Saryth & Megaera. Following the deaths of Halvath & Meg Cormarrin at Varek's hands, Lady Chelarre took the three young Cormarrin children into her care: Halvath (4423-), Fion (4425-), and Lucan (4427-)
Update: In 4446 BCCC Chelarre was Emissary of Nerath east of the Castellan Mountains. Halvath is a Prince of Nerath, while Lady Fion has become a promising Grey Mage and Lucan is a military officer. None have forgotten the murder of their mother by Varek Tigerclaw, or his slaying of their father. Chelarre was captured by brigands while seeking the Lichway on the Korm Basin, and subsequently captured and executed by a band comprising the Altanian Sword Knight Hakeem, Sarene the Pirate, Lord Reynard and the cleric Thuruar.
Lady Elizabeth Moondew is a glamorous young (4413-) Nerathi aristocrat, a devotee of the moon goddess Alinah. She became heir to the Moondew dynasty as a babe, when her father Lord Bronnager Moondew and all her elder siblings were accused of treason, arrested and executed by the Hamarkhite Baron Valomar. At the time she was with her mother, visiting her mother Lady Metara’s family near Renth. After two year’s exile, when Parre overthrew Valomar her mother Metara returned with her to Bisgen and reclaimed the family estate. Metara died two years ago (4432 BCCC).
Lady Lucinda deLampton (23, dec'd 4434) was a glamorous blonde Paladin of Erathis & Pelor, daughter of the widow Dame Jillian deLampton (50), and the eldest of six siblings - four girls and two boys. The run-down deLampton estate lies south of Bisgen. Bored with life on the manor, in 4434 she took up adventuring for a brief spell, but following capture by Shadar's Brigands and rescue by her companion the warforged Bulwark, she reconsidered her career choice. Horrified by the murder of her friends Tessa & Meg Cormarrin by Varek & co, she led the Nerathi force tracking down the killers, only to be swiftly slain by Varek in turn. Both Lady Lucinda's brothers perished shortly thereafter when the Altanian horde overran the Nerathi Vasthrong south of Bisgen.
Other Nerathi Aristocrats in Bisgen Area
There are around a dozen Nerathi aristocratic families with estates near Bisgen, including the Cormarrin, Moondew, Foxwood and deLampton. The current practice is for noble titles to pass to the firstborn heir of either gender, however married women are commonly expected to defer to their husbands. Combined with the military tradition of the male Nerathi and the purges of Valomar, this has often led to the Nerathi families being headed by a single woman (eg Moondew, Foxwood, DeLampton), although many marry eventually.
Update: In 4446 BCCC Chelarre was Emissary of Nerath east of the Castellan Mountains. Halvath is a Prince of Nerath, while Lady Fion has become a promising Grey Mage and Lucan is a military officer. None have forgotten the murder of their mother by Varek Tigerclaw, or his slaying of their father. Chelarre was captured by brigands while seeking the Lichway on the Korm Basin, and subsequently captured and executed by a band comprising the Altanian Sword Knight Hakeem, Sarene the Pirate, Lord Reynard and the cleric Thuruar.
Lady Elizabeth Moondew is a glamorous young (4413-) Nerathi aristocrat, a devotee of the moon goddess Alinah. She became heir to the Moondew dynasty as a babe, when her father Lord Bronnager Moondew and all her elder siblings were accused of treason, arrested and executed by the Hamarkhite Baron Valomar. At the time she was with her mother, visiting her mother Lady Metara’s family near Renth. After two year’s exile, when Parre overthrew Valomar her mother Metara returned with her to Bisgen and reclaimed the family estate. Metara died two years ago (4432 BCCC).
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