The Nerevarine Chronicles Peace and Prosperity The kingdom of Avalon had existed for nearly a millennium, enjoying peace and prosperity for many of those centuries. In the ebb and flow of time, the races of Avalon united when necessary to converge on a common foe. For the most part, however the dwarves and elves tended to themselves and let the humans, with their shorter life spans, micro-manage the kingdom. As was the custom among humans at the time, people were addressed first by their surname and then their given name. The family name had taken precedence some generations prior, when the Great Houses of Northwind took prominence. Each ruling family was designated as House so-and-so. It did not take long for the custom to trickle out to the human rulers in Dai-Rynn and Dormack. The Great Houses were sometimes referenced by the family crest. House Dagoth, who were worshippers of Pelor, sported a rising sun above a sword, and was commonly called the Sun-and-Sword. House Indoril was called the Moon-and-Star, after their crest, which resembled a tiny slice of the night sky. House Indoril followed Heironeous and the origin of their crest remains a mystery. After the events surrounding the Nerevarine Prophecies, however, this all but ended. Family names were held with honor and pride, but took no more importance over the individual than they had prior. The Great Houses stopped referring to each other as such and that era was left in the wake of these unfortunate events to fade only into the annals of history. The year was 955 and in the baronies of Caldera (now southern Belois) and Ilien (now northern Belois) in Dai-Rynn, two heirs were born. Indoril Nerevar was born to King Indoril Khader of House Indoril in Ilien and Dagoth Ur was born to Kind Dagoth Ulvin in Caldera. Though they were located in different kingdoms, the two kingdoms shared a common border and had been allies for generations. Such were the ties between them that one often consulted the other for advice and children of the ruler would often spend a great deal of time in the court of the other if they had children as well. Their armies also often worked together, almost forming an unofficial militia of sorts. With both kingdoms blessed with heirs only a few months apart, both lands were chaotic with revelry and festivals. Both kings were very well thought of and liked by their populace and friendly neighbors as well. The unfriendly neighbors, well, they had been dealt with and no longer lived to voice opinions. It was widely rumored that one of the two would become the next ruler Dai-Rynn and possibly High King at some point. Surlan Ogrier of House Surlan currently held the High Throne and was a wise and just ruler. He would rule for another 36 years, to the astounding age of 66, but much of what was to come would come in turmoil. Dagoth Ur and Indoril Nerevar essentially grew up together, hit on the same girls at society functions, and trained as soldiers alongside one another. They led their respective armies to victories across their lands and when the need arose, into others. The two armies combined when needed to create a formidable mobile military unit, known as the Fedaykin, elven for “swift blade”, or “swift strike”. Neither had tasted defeat, often saving victories personally at an opportune moment. In their 22nd year, their combat prowess would be needed. And tested. Evil Rises It began as most things do, rather small. In the year 975, one of the members of a small sect of Nerull worshippers (they tend to kill each other off, so sects never get big) attempted to become a lich. He succeeded. One lich in a land is a serious concern, yes, but that’s what adventurers are for. And once word spread, adventurers did heed the call and slew the lich, destroying his phylactery gem. However, unbeknownst to all (even the lich), another member of the sect had made other plans for his brethren. He had taken the opportunity to seize the phylactery when the lich was slain, and while the party searched for it, replaced it with a fake one. No one would be the wiser for a few years to come. Then, in 677, the lich was seen again. Folks assumed that it was the same one, since only a few saw it and lived to tell about it. Rumor has it that those folks were only servants of Nerull, sent to stir the pot. The adventurers who slew the lich were cursed as liars and cowards and shunned by all. They went out in search of the lich once more. They never returned. Only a few months after they set out, did the truth become clearer. Undead rose across the lands of Avalon. Strange undead, with flesh of ash. They were stronger and more resistant to being turned. Worse yet, those they killed rose up just like them the next day. Burning the corpses only speeded up the process and other forms of damaging the corpse did not work, as the undead seemed to form from the ground itself at times. No manner of priestly magic could prevent the ash undead from rising. They just had to be slain once they rose. The more powerful ash undead, known as Ash Vampires, could curse a person. Once cursed, the ash undead disregarded them. They were soon afflicted with a horrible disease and doomed. The disease quickly became known as The-Curse-of-Flesh-and- Soul. It made the body swell into a grotesque shape and caused the mind to deteriorate rapidly. Those who suffered from this quickly perished and rose themselves, as sort of an off-shoot of the ash undead. Only paladins were safe from this disease and no means of healing, magic or mundane, could cure it, only delay it. It officially became known as Corprus Disease. The disease spawned from the lich itself. The original phylactery had been desecrated by the other priest and enchanted such that he could control the lich. The desecration and following rituals gave birth to the ash-lich and the ash undead. Armies across all of Avalon banded together to fight off the ash undead, whose numbers continued to grow despite their efforts. Priests of all deities met to attempt to find a solution. Humans, elves, and dwarves alike found the same measure of success and failure against the ash undead. Elves and Dwarves too became undead and also fell to Corprus. With so many people lost and the enemy’s numbers growing, everyone who could fight was called to. In some ways this led to more ash undead as those untrained folks were quickly slaughtered just to rise again on the opposite side. Those who would not normally ride into battle had to, such as the kings themselves. In the year 980, Dagoth Ulvin and Indoril Khader were slain in a pitched battle where the mastermind evil priest was killed. Their sons would assume the roles of kings, but continued to fight. The two returned to their lands only briefly to officially become liege lord then to turn around and appoint someone acting regent while they road off to battle once more. For years to come they and many others did not return home often, but waged war against the lich and his ash undead. Many times, the lich was found, only to have everyone who attacked him killed and turn against their land. Dagoth Ur and Indoril Nerevar won countless battles and lost fewer soldiers than anyone. For eleven years, the two took their armies across the whole of Avalon, destroying the ash undead by small pockets. After each passing year, the threat lessened. The armies of Avalon and their soldiers found time to return home for months at a time before heading back out. The two kings visited their homes less, but even they needed to see their families. Both had married and both had children; Dagoth Ur a son and Indoril Nerevar a daughter. Nerevar promised Dagoth Ur that his son could marry his daughter and the families would unite. In that eleventh year, 991, tragedy again struck. Feeling that the battle was almost won, High King Surlan Ogrier decided to lead the last battle against the lich himself. He was in the twilight of his life and he knew it. He had ascended to the high throne at the relatively young age of 28. He was a paladin of Heironeous of great skill, courage, and wisdom. He had battled the ash undead as need be since he was immune to the Corprus disease and had faired very well, despite his age. He was determined to save the kingdom. Fearing a cowardly reputation, the kings of Northwind, Dormack, and Dai- Rynn all headed into battle with him. All of the kingdoms that had rulers who could fight followed suit, otherwise heirs or commanders were sent and in most cases, they were sent as well. They road to where they had pinned in the lich, a region known as Red Mountain. The combined armies of Avalon took the Red Mountain fortress by storm. They fought bravely, but large forces of the lich’s Ash Vampires were present at the fortress and soon it became apparent that all was lost. Well, not quite all. Lord Nerevar, as he was known, ordered a retreat despite not being the highest ranking commander present. He and Dagoth Ur saved many lives in the face of the defeat and earned even more respect and admiration for seeing that the remaining rulers and soldiers survived.