Neo-Nerath and the Battle of Gedden Plain

Black Sun Sigil of Neo-Nerath

Comrades, the voices of the dead battalions
Of those who fell, that Nerath might be great
Join in our song, for they still march in spirit with us
And urge us on that we regain the national State


The land is still, the final battle has ended
Flushed with the fight, we proudly hail the dawn
See over the streets, Erathis’ emblem is waving
Triumphant standard of our race reborn


-Neo-Nerathi Battle Hymn

The Plain of Gedden

Many Alryan Nerathi blame the Altanians for the disaster of Nerath’s Last Battle, the apocalyptic Battle of Gedden Plain (4197 BCCC) outside the walls of Nera, when the Gnoll Horde under White Ruin destroyed Nerath’s last Vasthost, slew Elidyr her King, and went on to sack and plunder Nera, devouring her inhabitants in a week of horror.  According to Nerathi myth, the Army of Nerath was betrayed at the last by her Altanian auxiliary allies, who at the crucial moment fled the field and left Nera to Ruin.  The Altanians claim that the battle was already lost, the Army of Nerath doomed.

In the intervening centuries (237 years, 4197-4434) a movement has grown up, Neo-Nerath, which seeks to restore the lost empire. Neo-Nerath lays heavy emphasis on Altanian treachery and Nerathi-Alryan racial superiority.  While believed few in number, Neo-Nerath is rumoured to enjoy financial and logistic support from some factions within the Clanute of the Invincible Overlord, far to the north.  Neo-Nerathi warlords have bound several legions of Orc auxiliaries to the cause with CSIO gold and promises of land and plunder, while Neo-Nerathi Necromancers work to make the slogan "Nerath will rise again!" quite literally true...

Neo-Nerathis bear particular enmity to the Altanian noble Mountain Lion clan, whose half-Nerathi war chief the Lord-General Ral Hoth-Nor commanded the Altanian Auxiliary Vasthrongs which abandoned the field at Gedden, leaving Nera to White Ruin.  Ral Hoth-Nor is also a direct male-line ancestor of Rameses (PC)...

Nerathi Deities

The principle gods of Nerath are derived from the standard (4e) pantheon, with Erathis the patron goddess of the Nerathi Empire, a symbol of Civilisation over Barbarism.  The Black Sun Wheel is associated with Erathis.  It is said to represent the past/future birth/rebirth of both Civilisation and of the Alryan-Nerathi race.  Erathis is associated with the Ghinoran goddess Athena, patron of the Amazons/Shield Maidens.

Among the Neo-Nerathi, the Zehir snake cult has grown strong due to its emphasis on subtlety and deceit.   An alternate symbol among the Zehirite Neo-Nerathi is the snake eating its own tail, the symbol of infinity and the endless cycle of death/rebirth.  More broadly, as a god of subtlety and success, Zehir tends to be popular among the wealthy Nerathi merchant class, rather than the oft-impoverished aristocracy.  Zehir is also known as a god of sorcery and necromancy.  Elsewhere Zehir is known as Set, Sett or Seth, eternal foe of the sun god Mitra, and is referred to as Zehir-Seth by scholars.

Pelor is the traditional Nerathi god of sunshine and the gentle rain.  A protector of all Mankind and foe of the Undead, he has limited appeal to committed Neo-Nerathi.  Scholars associate Pelor with Ormazd/Ahura-Mazda, the Father of Mitra, or with Mitra himself.

Infinity Symbol of Zehir-Seth