Discord
Changelog
Zulkir and Tharchion Aznar Thrul leaned back, sipping on the Evermead he had purchased at great expense. It was well worth it though, he thought as he reflected on the events of the past half year. For perhaps the tenth time, he reviewed the report compiled for him from a variety of sources. And for the tenth time, he once again could not help but to smile with a deep sense of satisfaction, the more he read.
Hargrid Tenslayer had approached him and Zulkir Nevron close to a year ago with a grand plan to finally take the coastal cities of the Wizard’s Reach, without increasing anyone else’s influence but their own. After determining where to look for the necessary aid, Nevron and Tenslayer approached Salamander and Efreeti lords in the early months of 1357 DR, using the deep Bezantur sewers as their meeting point. There they promised the lords a permanent gate to the Plane of Fire in return for their aid in capturing the towns and cities of the Wizard’s Coast.
The summoning of the planar lords caused small earthquakes and much distress in Bezantur, forced many of the sewer dwellers onto the streets of Bezantur. A mercenary group comprised of the then unknown Maric Bross, Maus Kelm, Lander, A'ri, and Colarinee Willows were hired by the gnoll Constable Hargun Skullknuckle to investigate. Upon returning, they claimed -as directed by Nevron and Tenslayer- that the disturbance was caused by a massive fire elemental that possessed a holy symbol of Kossuth. This, in turn, led to rumors that the Flaming Brazier, Temple of Kossuth, was somehow involved in the destruction and deaths the summoning had caused. Since this fit with the triumvirate’s plans of not approaching the temple for aid, they encouraged and let the rumors spread. This turned out to be one of the few mistakes Thrul made.
Shortly thereafter, mercenaries were sent to the summoning of the Salamander and Efreet armies at a location near the Keep of Sorrows. Once again, Maus, Maric, Colarinee, and a newcomer called Sohcahtoa witnessed the portal opening, and prevented jealous fire elementals from using it to reach the plains of Thay.
Here Thrul paused with an ever-so-slight frown. The details of the report at this point were not as detailed, and in many cases the names of the mercenaries were not revealed to his operatives for the proper rewards -or punishment- they deserved.
Regardless though, it was clear at that around this time that many of the increasing number of mercenaries left cut off in Bezantur were approached by various factions vying for control or the region. Among these were the Bezantur Thieves Guild worried about maintaining its hold on Bezantur’s trade, the concerned Tharchioness of Bezantur, Mari Agneh, who was anxious to protect her city and maintain her tenuous grip on power, the Flaming Brazier priests of Kossuth who desired to reassert their authority and clear themselves of any perceived involvement, and even the rebel and despised Red Wizard Kasim used hired minions from Bezantur to place crystals along the coast in preparation for his power grab.
During these faction maneuverings, the Salamanders and Efreet proved much more efficient than any of the triumvirate had anticipated, and the zulkirs were left scrambling to banish them as they had always intended, and did not perceive the betrayal Kasim had planned. The banishing by Nevron, Thrul, and Kasim occurred in the middle of the Priador. Colarinee, Maric, and two others by the names of Bigo and Navi served as ‘bait’ to draw the now rampaging Efreet and Salamanders to a point they could be sent back to their plane. The plan went well for the Efreet and they were successfully banished. However just as the Salamanders were about to be removed, Kasim instead cast a powerful binding spell, relying on the power of his control crystals to power his spell. Unfortunately for him, his minions had not placed enough control foci and his necklace exploded, permanently disfiguring him and burning his robes black. Yet he succeeded in scuttling the attempt to remove the Salamanders from Thay - instead binding them to his control; and then he made his escape.
Thus began the Salamander War.
The war lasted for months, with the city of Bezantur being attacked which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Mari Agneh’s Priador Legion. The Salamanders were ultimately forced back with the aid of mercenaries such as Kellen Brightshadow, Ron Callahan, Layie, and Serene "The White Wench" Blake. Later, Salamanders were teleported within the city walls and were defeated with the aid of Valsharand, Kellen, Colarinee, and Maric.
During this time, the newly conquered towns of the Wizard’s Coast were valiantly defended by Tenslayer’s Legion of the Priador, also taking significant loses as well.
And all the while the Red Wizards fought over how best to eliminate the threat and find the rebel Kasim, and the factions vying for control and power continued their posturing. But one stuck out above the others - with the Flaming Brazier desperate to reassert their influence in Bezantur, Mari struck a deal with its priests to issue a public please for their aid. In return, they were to openly and publicly support her remaining in control of the Priador. One of Thrul’s many spies caught wind of the deal and Thrul recognized that opportunity for his rise to most powerful in Thay had arrived.
Thrul permitted himself yet one more smug smile before continuing on.
Thrul bought off the Constable (not a difficult task by any means), and sent assassins after Mari which she deftly escaped. Concerned that enemies lay everywhere, she even ran from the aid her long time allies at the Thieves Guild were going to provide her, and hid in the Bezantur Market Town with the assistance of one of the Market Town Bosses - Diarka.
Hired by the Constable and Thrul to track her down with the plan of ‘returning her to safety’, Yasha Fearshaler, Sion Feren, Winry, Maric, Colarinee, and Arthur Blackmoon were sent after Mari. They found her, ensured the support of the Thieves Guild for a new tharchion, returned her to Thrul, as well as explained her plan to approach the Temple of Kossuth. Needless to say, no one – even Mari, could stand against his magical might and he seized control of the Priador from her that fateful day. To ensure his position, he immediately approached the Flaming Brazier with Yasha, Colarinee, and Maric in tow as his witnesses. The professed aid and support from the temple of Kossuth was granted him for the public plea he issued.
Word of his rapid ascent to power reached Tenslayer who, always impetuous, sought to end the war without the aid of anyone else and take soul credit for himself. Transporting the mercenary band consisting of Kashan Krows, Nunally, Hans Helheim, Yasha, Maric, and Serene from Bezantur to Thasselen, he struck out against the Salamanders still ravaging the Priador. Whether he was murdered by traitors in their midst, or truly destroyed by the Salamanders remained a mystery. Yet the cold hard fact remained - Tenslayer paid for his ambition and foolishness with his life. However, his death had been the catalyst which brought the Fire Elementals of Kossuth sweeping down on the Priador, wiping out the Salamanders who were no match for them and saving those who travelled with him.
The surviving mercenaries from that battle with Tenslayer found a way to transport themselves to the Labyrinth of Kasim, who was at that point cowering in his own sanctuary, stunned at the loss of his powerful army. Fighting through the remaining Salamanders, Thayan Knights, and Apprentices still loyal to Kasim, the adventurers reached the rebel Red Wizard and destroyed him.
With the death of Kasim and the vast majority of his Salamanders, the Salamander War had abruptly ended. The gates of Bezantur opened. Normalcy had returned to Bezantur and the Priador. The coastal towns of Thasselen and Murbant were Thrul’s now as Tenslayer no longer remained to try and claim them as his own. And Nevron had made himself quite scarce since the turn of events on the Priador during the banishing.
Thrul had done it! Perhaps only with the assistance of the surprisingly lucky adventurers he had dealt with, but it was all masterminded under his leadership and he wasn’t afraid to take the credit he deserved for it.
He sat back again and closed the lengthy report. Quite pleased with himself, he poured a fresh glass of Evermead.
Life was good.
He couldn’t imagine anything now that could possibly go wrong.
I (Thayan) would like to thank ALL of our players who have logged in the first month since we have gone live who made these and other events come to life. You are forever etched in the history of the Thay PW.
For any new or returning players, come be a part of the present and make even more of a name for yourself in the land of the Red Wizards!
Hargrid Tenslayer had approached him and Zulkir Nevron close to a year ago with a grand plan to finally take the coastal cities of the Wizard’s Reach, without increasing anyone else’s influence but their own. After determining where to look for the necessary aid, Nevron and Tenslayer approached Salamander and Efreeti lords in the early months of 1357 DR, using the deep Bezantur sewers as their meeting point. There they promised the lords a permanent gate to the Plane of Fire in return for their aid in capturing the towns and cities of the Wizard’s Coast.
The summoning of the planar lords caused small earthquakes and much distress in Bezantur, forced many of the sewer dwellers onto the streets of Bezantur. A mercenary group comprised of the then unknown Maric Bross, Maus Kelm, Lander, A'ri, and Colarinee Willows were hired by the gnoll Constable Hargun Skullknuckle to investigate. Upon returning, they claimed -as directed by Nevron and Tenslayer- that the disturbance was caused by a massive fire elemental that possessed a holy symbol of Kossuth. This, in turn, led to rumors that the Flaming Brazier, Temple of Kossuth, was somehow involved in the destruction and deaths the summoning had caused. Since this fit with the triumvirate’s plans of not approaching the temple for aid, they encouraged and let the rumors spread. This turned out to be one of the few mistakes Thrul made.
Shortly thereafter, mercenaries were sent to the summoning of the Salamander and Efreet armies at a location near the Keep of Sorrows. Once again, Maus, Maric, Colarinee, and a newcomer called Sohcahtoa witnessed the portal opening, and prevented jealous fire elementals from using it to reach the plains of Thay.
Here Thrul paused with an ever-so-slight frown. The details of the report at this point were not as detailed, and in many cases the names of the mercenaries were not revealed to his operatives for the proper rewards -or punishment- they deserved.
Regardless though, it was clear at that around this time that many of the increasing number of mercenaries left cut off in Bezantur were approached by various factions vying for control or the region. Among these were the Bezantur Thieves Guild worried about maintaining its hold on Bezantur’s trade, the concerned Tharchioness of Bezantur, Mari Agneh, who was anxious to protect her city and maintain her tenuous grip on power, the Flaming Brazier priests of Kossuth who desired to reassert their authority and clear themselves of any perceived involvement, and even the rebel and despised Red Wizard Kasim used hired minions from Bezantur to place crystals along the coast in preparation for his power grab.
During these faction maneuverings, the Salamanders and Efreet proved much more efficient than any of the triumvirate had anticipated, and the zulkirs were left scrambling to banish them as they had always intended, and did not perceive the betrayal Kasim had planned. The banishing by Nevron, Thrul, and Kasim occurred in the middle of the Priador. Colarinee, Maric, and two others by the names of Bigo and Navi served as ‘bait’ to draw the now rampaging Efreet and Salamanders to a point they could be sent back to their plane. The plan went well for the Efreet and they were successfully banished. However just as the Salamanders were about to be removed, Kasim instead cast a powerful binding spell, relying on the power of his control crystals to power his spell. Unfortunately for him, his minions had not placed enough control foci and his necklace exploded, permanently disfiguring him and burning his robes black. Yet he succeeded in scuttling the attempt to remove the Salamanders from Thay - instead binding them to his control; and then he made his escape.
Thus began the Salamander War.
The war lasted for months, with the city of Bezantur being attacked which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Mari Agneh’s Priador Legion. The Salamanders were ultimately forced back with the aid of mercenaries such as Kellen Brightshadow, Ron Callahan, Layie, and Serene "The White Wench" Blake. Later, Salamanders were teleported within the city walls and were defeated with the aid of Valsharand, Kellen, Colarinee, and Maric.
During this time, the newly conquered towns of the Wizard’s Coast were valiantly defended by Tenslayer’s Legion of the Priador, also taking significant loses as well.
And all the while the Red Wizards fought over how best to eliminate the threat and find the rebel Kasim, and the factions vying for control and power continued their posturing. But one stuck out above the others - with the Flaming Brazier desperate to reassert their influence in Bezantur, Mari struck a deal with its priests to issue a public please for their aid. In return, they were to openly and publicly support her remaining in control of the Priador. One of Thrul’s many spies caught wind of the deal and Thrul recognized that opportunity for his rise to most powerful in Thay had arrived.
Thrul permitted himself yet one more smug smile before continuing on.
Thrul bought off the Constable (not a difficult task by any means), and sent assassins after Mari which she deftly escaped. Concerned that enemies lay everywhere, she even ran from the aid her long time allies at the Thieves Guild were going to provide her, and hid in the Bezantur Market Town with the assistance of one of the Market Town Bosses - Diarka.
Hired by the Constable and Thrul to track her down with the plan of ‘returning her to safety’, Yasha Fearshaler, Sion Feren, Winry, Maric, Colarinee, and Arthur Blackmoon were sent after Mari. They found her, ensured the support of the Thieves Guild for a new tharchion, returned her to Thrul, as well as explained her plan to approach the Temple of Kossuth. Needless to say, no one – even Mari, could stand against his magical might and he seized control of the Priador from her that fateful day. To ensure his position, he immediately approached the Flaming Brazier with Yasha, Colarinee, and Maric in tow as his witnesses. The professed aid and support from the temple of Kossuth was granted him for the public plea he issued.
Word of his rapid ascent to power reached Tenslayer who, always impetuous, sought to end the war without the aid of anyone else and take soul credit for himself. Transporting the mercenary band consisting of Kashan Krows, Nunally, Hans Helheim, Yasha, Maric, and Serene from Bezantur to Thasselen, he struck out against the Salamanders still ravaging the Priador. Whether he was murdered by traitors in their midst, or truly destroyed by the Salamanders remained a mystery. Yet the cold hard fact remained - Tenslayer paid for his ambition and foolishness with his life. However, his death had been the catalyst which brought the Fire Elementals of Kossuth sweeping down on the Priador, wiping out the Salamanders who were no match for them and saving those who travelled with him.
The surviving mercenaries from that battle with Tenslayer found a way to transport themselves to the Labyrinth of Kasim, who was at that point cowering in his own sanctuary, stunned at the loss of his powerful army. Fighting through the remaining Salamanders, Thayan Knights, and Apprentices still loyal to Kasim, the adventurers reached the rebel Red Wizard and destroyed him.
With the death of Kasim and the vast majority of his Salamanders, the Salamander War had abruptly ended. The gates of Bezantur opened. Normalcy had returned to Bezantur and the Priador. The coastal towns of Thasselen and Murbant were Thrul’s now as Tenslayer no longer remained to try and claim them as his own. And Nevron had made himself quite scarce since the turn of events on the Priador during the banishing.
Thrul had done it! Perhaps only with the assistance of the surprisingly lucky adventurers he had dealt with, but it was all masterminded under his leadership and he wasn’t afraid to take the credit he deserved for it.
He sat back again and closed the lengthy report. Quite pleased with himself, he poured a fresh glass of Evermead.
Life was good.
He couldn’t imagine anything now that could possibly go wrong.
I (Thayan) would like to thank ALL of our players who have logged in the first month since we have gone live who made these and other events come to life. You are forever etched in the history of the Thay PW.
For any new or returning players, come be a part of the present and make even more of a name for yourself in the land of the Red Wizards!