Necromancy: The Driving Force behind Mortal History -- a Perspective/Contents
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SPOILER ALERT! |
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Necromancy: The Driving Force behind Mortal History -- a Perspective
By Necrolord Xzean Faelrlyn
As my reader may well know, there is significant academic bias against the practice of Necromancy and the impact this practice has had on the history of the mortal races. Although the coming of Lyras represents a change in this narrative, I would be remiss if the rest of this history was not given a thorough re-examination in the same vein. The focus of this paper is to show that Necromancy has shaped mortal history far before Lyras, and while she may remain the most infamous Lich known to modern times, she is not the only, nor even the most important.
The Fallen Prince
To progress forward through the span of known history we must start at the beginning. While the apocryphal Fallen Prince of the Elves is the first recorded myth, we must regard any information about him as baseless speculation. Zamidren Book states in the Undying Threat, "I surmise that many of the names he is known by are actually curses and other assorted vulgarities in the languages of ancient Elven and ancient Dwarven." Zamidren goes on to state the Dwarves have myths of their own and speaks of an ancient battle between necromantic forces and the living. However, details on the event are sparse and the purpose of this paper is historical fact where it can be acquired.
Sidhlot SilverVeil
The first recorded instance of a Necromancer is an Elf known as Sidhlot SilverVeil. Timelines show that Sidhlot's rebellion against Morganae came only 30 years after the revolt which won the enslaved Wind Elves their freedom from the Dwarves of Iron Clan in 2650 BL. It can be surmised that Sidhlot was a contemporary of Morganae and participated in the revolt. The first recorded necromantic feat of power Sidhlot performed was the corruption of the remaining Iron Clan Dwarves into what is now referred to as the Dark Dwarves, in the year 2557 BL. This major use of necromantic power, a scant 37 years after the creation of the Mountain Elf Clan, can indicate several things about the origins of Sidhlot's powers. Such an act is replicated only twice in known history (see Sithsia and the Dragon Priests later in this text) which implies an inherent difficulty.
If we take other examples of powerful Necromancers throughout history, we can see that all of them had to take some time in their early life to develop their skills. This leaves Sidhlot as either someone who had practiced Necromancy since birth as a youthful prodigy, or Sidhlot is significantly older than has been previously guessed. This would provide him the time needed to become strong enough to perform the act of transformation. The later path leads to speculation about the connection between Sidhlot and the Fallen Prince which lies outside the scope of this work. Sidhlot is also the oldest known being to claim the title of Necrolord and may be involved in the origination of the term.
While there is a date for the founding of the Bone Elf clan in 2600 BL, there are no written records of their early teachings and organizations. Sidhlot led the Bone Elves so we can assume Necromancy had a heavy influence, which bears out in later writings about the clan and common knowledge places him as their leader to this day. Sidhlot and his clan disappear from history until 250 AV, at which point Sidhlot is blamed for the murder of Mountain Elf princess Anloralhe. This event caused the shutting down of the gondola and complete isolation of the Ilithi province for the next century.
An Ambassador by the name of Catrayth arrived in Zoluren around 350 AV and talks ensued to resume trade and travel. Shortly after, another man came forward claiming to be the same individual using the similar name of Catraith. In truth, this second man was Sidhlot in disguise, attempting to prevent the restoration of the gondola. Fortunately, he was revealed and, as my reader is likely aware, the gondola was repaired and travel to Ilithi was re-opened. Sidhlot appeared again during the Sorrow War beginning in 359 AV. Sorrow himself displayed necromantic abilities and here we can again assume the influence of Sidhlot.
Queen Morganae Sunderstone
Morganae Sunderstone was born to Tivhiri the leader of the Wind Elf Clan. She later founded the Mountain Elf Clan in 2650 BL and rules her people to this day. She remains active and when seen by outsiders appears to be in good health. As my readers well know, the most common path to immortality remains Necromancy. The influence of Necromancy in her affairs may be heavy indeed, as evidenced by several political upheavals and turnarounds in the long years of Morganae's reign. The Elven-Human War began in 1015 BL, yet the Mountain Elves withdraw from the war nine years later in 1004 BL.
Emperor Arcadius moved the capital of the Seven Star Empire to the clan home Elamiri in 485 BL, and this caused a period of civil unrest and attempted assassinations. After the reign of Arcadius, the subsequent Emperor immediately ordered the return of the Empire's capital to Throne City. Trade sanctions were placed against Morganae by the Empire in 478 BL, along with an order "to cease her political meddling." These sanctions remained in place until 389 BL and resulted in the Elven Delegation voting to remove the Mountain Elf contingent from the Empire in 438 BL. The alliance with Corik in 238 BL during the Resistance War was their only activity of note in scholarly timelines until the gondola incident outlined above.
Morganae's seemingly immortal youth and use of Necromantic magic have allowed her to meddle in politics to a degree unrivaled by any who have not had her presumed to be three millennia lifespan.
Sithsia, the Forest of Night, the Bloodworm Comet and the Zaulfung Stones
The human known only as Sithsia is first mentioned in the histories when she enters Lord Ellington's service as a mage in 480 BL. The book "Forest of Night" by Asha Viriki details the events, so they do not need repeating here. It remains an indisputable fact that Sithsia created the Forest of Night in 448 BL. This feat of necromantic power and corruption of living beings is the second instance in known history to rival Sidhlot's creation of the Dark Dwarves, being comparable only to the works of the Dragon Priests.
Somewhat later Sithsia was centrally involved in the events beginning in 408 BL with the appearance of the Bloodworm Comet. This appearance of this comet has been linked to the creation of the Zaulfung stones. It has appeared several times throughout history, and each time presided over an event of demonic manifestation. It again appeared in 846 BL. The Emperor of the Seven Star Empire Chezarek was then killed a mere five years later, in 841 BL, after a well-documented case of demonic summoning. More recently, the comet reappeared in the night sky to herald the arrival of Lyras in 393 AV.
Sithsia was a part of Farn's company, a cadre of mages formed by Empress Merthamone of the Seven Star Empire directly. The company created the Zaulfung stones in 400 AV in an act which resulted in nearly all of them perishing. These stones were made to contain the demon known as Maelshyve, so again we see another example of Sithsia's extreme power.
Sithia's most famous appearance, however, may be when she appeared to the Empress Dzree of the Dragon Priest Empire in 4 BL to deliver her prophecy of death. The Empire's decline after the prophecy came to pass was swift.
High Priestess Dzree, Empress of the Dragon Priest Empire
A great deal has been written about Dzree. We could not come close to doing the subject justice within the scope of this paper. I shall present the bare facts and let them speak for themselves. We do not know her date of birth, but she rose to power in 205 BL when her predecessor, the High Priest Sh'kial, was killed. Under her dictatorship, she turned the Dragon Priests into a powerful force capable of forming an empire, which she used to raze Shard to the ground in 198 BL. The Crossing then fell to it in 193 BL, and Riverhaven in 190 BL. Therenborough lasted until a mere three years later in 187 BL.
The story of the Empire's fight with Highhold is where we have the most heavily documented case of Dzree's use of necromancy. The birthplace of the Adan'f, the area now referred to as the Dark Hand, was created in 195 BL. Its creation destroyed and blighted the land around it, which resulted in Highhold's fall in 158 BL. Lambache D'Remilliard writes in On Necromancy, "After two abysmal failures, the Dragon Priests attempted something relatively less daring. Based upon the tales of Hav'roth and Peri'el converting lizards into S'Kra Mur, the Priests felt they could accomplish the same task. Using a race of lizards that originally inhabited the lands about Shard, the Priests once again used 'dark' magics to warp these creatures into their current form. The Adan'f were born."
The area later grew out of control and even consumed its masters after the fall of the empire. The Dark Hand was pushed back by the Emerald Knights in the time of Ferdahl Alec. The Hand has to this day been kept at bay by Corik's Wall as well as the Human Shadow Clan, which was established in 20 AV.
Conclusion
There is a bevy of those declaring themselves, or being declared by others, as Necrolords in modern times. Archrost, who once prevented clerics from calling upon the power of resurrection. Velmix Strawn who sold his soul for demonic power. Sirolarn Tirof-Sorvendig who used necromantic poison to ensure his rule over Zoluren. Sura Ravenblades, known more commonly as Lord Sorrow, who brought war to an entire continent. Lasarhhtha Oshu'Erhhsk the Bone Dancer. Xerasyth the body master and the author's teacher. Zamidren Book whom we all know as the Triumphant of the Philosophers of the Knife, and, of course, Lyras Maorgwelder, the Devourer.
Lyras used demonic power alongside unusual Risen who were stronger than most adventurers in that war. Yet, for all of her power, her expression of that it was mundane and lacked the skill the true masters of our path have shown in the past. Let us look back and learn the lessons that history has to teach us.