Emperor Szass Tam

**Emperor Szass Tam** was a 500-year-old lich. When he was 12-years-old, he accidentally killed his father and his friends. A lake monster attacked them while they were on a fishing trip and Szass' innate magical abilities activated, freezing the monster and his loved ones solid. His mother, Raven, comforted him saying he inherited her gifts and she began training him in the arcane arts.

On his 18th birthday, Belladonna Suprema introduced Szass to Sirgay Von Astra. Szass and Sirgay married three years later.

When he was 25, King Barov Moros killed Raven for denying his hand in marriage. Szass started a rebellion to dethrone the mad king. His allies included Cleo Patra, his mother's best friend and Magister of the Purple Sandes, the drow elves, Belladonna Suprema and her bannermen, and an army of undead created by Szass.

He took control of Thay at 30 and has ruled for 470 years. At the age of 50, he survived a poisoning attempt. This led him to killing his entire kitchen and wait staff against Sirgay's wishes. After this incident, he sought out magical power to avoid death and became a lich thanks to Sensia's research at the Amber Temple and Abnegazar Falzor's assistance.

Sirgay pleaded with Szass to not turn himself into a lich. The emperor took this to mean Sirgay didn't wish to spend eternity with him despite their marriage vows and that he was losing faith in him as a leader. Szass couldn't handle this betrayal so Sirgay became the first soul he fed to his phylactery.

The Acquaintances With Weapons destroyed the emperor's phylactery, which rendered him mortal and showed his true form - a skeletal and decrepit human man. The group killed Szass Tam in their war to liberate Thay.

## Reign

Originally, Szass Tam was seen as a liberator when he defeated King Barov Moros. The people cheered for his victory and gladly welcomed him as their emperor.

Szass Tam's reign brought a renaissance of dark magic, slavery, and oppression. His word is law. Dissent is not tolerated. Those who speak out often finds themselves hunted by red wizards and zombie soldiers. More often than not, the dissenters joined Szass Tam's ranks as a zombie recruit. Szass also saw most religions as a threat to his reign for he wanted his citizens to see him as a god - or at least the only mortal to truly best death.

Under his leadership, Thay became even more isolated than it already was. Szass Tam greatly expanded the country's spy networks and it's generally believed Szass Tam has spies in every country in Toril. Whether this was actually true, propaganda, or paranoia is up for debate. The county had no official or public allies or partnerships. However, it was common for political entities and businesses to buy stolen secrets from Thay to learn more about their enemies. Most nations took no action against Thay, and many believe it is because of Thay's large catalog of blackmail on them.

There was no legal regulation on magic in Thay. The underground sale of powerful magical items, artifacts, rituals, and spells to well-regulated areas was a large revenue source for the country. Szass Tam's wardrobe budget took up a sizeable chunk of the country's expenses.

Over the centuries, Szass Tam made Thay's economy dependent on slave labor. These slaves were a mix of zombies and living humanoids of all races and ethnicities. Even slaves who died did not find freedom or rest as they were raised as zombies to serve for eternity. Most living humanoids became slaves by breaking the law (Thay had little need for prisons when most sentences were either slavery or death) or incurring too much debt.

## Magical Prowess

Szass Tam was perhaps the realm's strongest necromancer. Becoming a lich requires magical power that is rare and often dangerous for the user and the people around them. Aside from necromancy, Szass Tam's favorite spell to use on his enemies was meteor swarm.

Despite wielding great magical power, the emperor wasn't necessarily in control at all times. His innate wild magic often manifested when Szass Tam felt strong emotions or was in physical danger.

## Circle of the Eternal

Szass Tam was advised by a circle of immortals and each specializes in a unique school of magic. Their phylacteries were destroyed alongside the emperor's. The Covenant is now on the hunt for the circle.

## Honor Guard

Strahd Vonovich, Szass Tam's boyfriend for the last 100 years, served as his general and Emperor's Guard.

## Animal Companions

* The emperor's personal steed was a nightmare named Neigh Neigh Leakes

## Titles

* Emperor of Thay
* Lich King
* Defier of Death
* The Once and Forever King