Amon Mordai

Mordai in his warrior attire

### Organisation(s)

Empire of Illithien, The Guardian Council, The Secret Daggers, Twisted Fate (formerly)

## Family

### Child(ren)

Ahmose Mordai

Amon Mordai is the Emperor of Illithien, former member of Twisted Fate and a founding member of The Guardian Council. He is also currently the ruler by proxy of Devilsarm. One of the chief protectors of Forestsedge, Mordai has travelled across Veiltouria in his growing quest for peace. His son, Ahmose Mordai, is Amon's pride and joy, and his concubine Velypsis is his heart.

## History

### Childhood in Devilsarm

Amon Mordai was born a blue Tiefling in the city of Devilsarm. A victim of the class based society set in place within the tiefling capital, a young Amon Mordai was forced to watch as his family and kin were brutalized and treated like dirt. As a blue tiefling, Mordai was considered one of the lowest of citizens. Despite this, Mordai was raised in a loving environment, his father Narvor working hard to give his sons all he did not have. Over time, Narvor's kind nature and compassionate soul would lead him to become a leadership figure in the blue tiefling slums.

Despite the pressure it put on his family, Narvor and his sons would eventually be drawn into a quiet, non-violent rebellion, one of protests and expression. The Emperor of Devilsarm, Malikull Demoroth, having grown weary of Narvor's peaceful revolt, used his allies from The Eldritch Citadel to destroy the rebellion in its infancy. Mordai's brother, Akromos Mordai, was subjected to potent and deadly magic, then forced to execute his father and all other members of the rebellion. When Akromos attempted to kill Amon, the spell faltered, and Amon managed to survive and escape.

Managing to flee the city and escape the Emperor's guards before he was killed, Mordai lived in the wilds and city outskirts for years, surviving on his own. Spending most of his time in the dark forests bordering Devilsarm and Barthum, Mordai became an ill tempered recluse. During his travels, he spent time with an elderly hedge witch, who taught Mordai the foundations of magic. The young tiefling, finding himself to be a natural, soon became a fierce and powerful wizard, his natural affinity for fire granting him knowledge of the arcane that far outstripped his studies.

Following the peaceful passing of his tutor, Mordai began travelling south, hoping to learn more of the arcane secrets in an effort to become powerful enough to overthrow Malikull. This journey took him to Staghelm, where he would meet a group of warriors that would come to form Twisted Fate, a group that would change Mordai's life.

### The Twists of Fate

Mordai would meet Bill High-Hill and Gesh Goldscale in the small town of Staghelm. Whilst there, the trio, along with a number of other adventurers, journeyed south past the Saigani wall into Saigan Forest, where they entered The Delve. There, most of the other adventurers died, and the three survivors encountered the ghoul king Edward The Eighth, who stole their fates. Following this encounter, they fled further north. This put into motion a game of cat and mouse between the three warriors and Edward.

Over the course of the next few months, the trio fled across Veiltouria, learning that Edward led a group known as The Godfall Pact, who intended to retrieve The Nine Keys of Anvilguardius and summon the God of Shadow and Chaos, Edwardius, to Terra Aletheia. The three warriors vowed to stop Edward, as well as restoring their fates, and became the guild known as Twisted Fate. During this time Mordai fought and lost to a Bloodthorne gnome. Enraged, he killed the fighter and resurrected his corpse, publicly shaming and executing the warrior, earning the hatred of the Bloodthorne gang as a result.

Mordai and his compatriots were initially quite hostile with one another, though over time they learned more about each other and began to trust each other more. After Bill was revealed to be the long lost heir to the throne of The Highlands, Twisted Fate grew in influence and power. During this time they battled Edward The Sixth and his undead dragon, the duo escaping much to Mordai's frustration. Mordai also accrued a powerful group of allies that became known as The Secret Daggers, these warriors were like a family to him. Their number would include:

* Charybyda: A powerful Umber Hulk enhanced with magical runes and artifacts that was Mordai's personal protector.
* Sawtooth: Mordai's sentient Mimic Spellbook that would continually grow in size, until it became a mountain.
* Vigori: Mordai's best friend and closest companion, one of four dwarven shadow assassins who were trained by a cult of Dispater. Joined Mordai with his brothers because they saw in him a kindred spirit.
* Garr: One of the four dwarven assassins who joined Mordai. Over time would spend the most time with Mordai and hold a special place in his heart as the tieflings moral compass.
* Skamos: One of the four dwarven assassins who joined Mordai. Would become his most dependable warrior, someone who could do whatever Mordai asked of him without question.
* Mako: One of the four dwarven assassins, Mako would be killed in battle by Edward's forces.
* Cthillax: An Illithid warrior and powerful psychic, Cthillax would serve as Mordai's spy and protector during political meetings.

Of particular note was the recruitment of his dwarven shadows, assassins in the service of King Thorrik Vok-Kha-Zal of Kha-Li-Daz. Mordai, seeing in the dwarves the touch of Dispater, felt connected to them. He offered them a place at his side where they would be respected and treated well. Taking up the offer, they assassinated King Thorrik and blamed Twisted Fate's rivals The Steel Phoenix. The Steel Phoenix were a powerful army backed by Edward, who had been attacking The Highlands for some time. By blaming them, Mordai pushed Thorrik's son King Tyrak Vok-Kha-Zal to war with Saschia and further into Bill's inner circle, as the young dwarf adored the halfling king. Bill himself had no idea of Mordai's machinations.

As Bill's forces grew, he sent them out to try and bring peace to The Highlands. During this time, his armies, led by Gesh and Mordai, were led into an ambush by Edward. In the ensuing attack Gesh and Mako were killed. Devastated, Mordai and Bill vowed to get revenge on the ghoul once and for all.

Following this loss, Mordai encountered the Pit Fiend Marduk. They clashed, with Mordai pursuing the devil to Ax Maboloth before being drawn into Marduk's castle. There, Mordai seized a mighty weapon named Diablus, and trapped Marduk within it. Upon taking up the blade, however, Mordai created a link with Ax Mystia, God of Fire and Schemes. Seeing in Mordai potential, Ax Mystia made him his champion and granted him great power, as well as leaving Marduk in his service. He then returned Mordai to The Highlands.

### Meeting the Sea Wolf

Mordai and Bill soon had their guild grow further, with the warriors Shanks and Jaeger Flamefeather joining their cause. They set about retrieving as many of the Nine Keys as they could, their reputation and influence slowly growing as a result. The new guild of Twisted Fate liberated the kingdom of Saschia from their rivals The Steel Phoenix, before pushing further east, intending to journey to Crows Nest. Mordai's mimic spell tome, Sawtooth, grew to enormous size and became a ship, enabling Twisted Fate to sail freely.

On their way east they encountered an elderly wanderer named Silverfang Argenti. After revealing to the group that he had been looking for them, and that he would meet them soon, he put them in contact with a pirate who may help them in their quest. After a tense journey in which Mordai's violent tendencies manifested many times, the group finally met up with the pirate, who was revealed to be the famed thief and adventurer Canis Absalom, Captain of The Black Mako and leader of The Deckhands.

Initially fearful of the pirate, they were eventually swayed to sit and talk with him. Canis revealed that the infamous pirate and Sea King Sloan had one of the Nine Keys, and that he would help Twisted Fate get it from the pirate if they would lead the charge. While most of the group were wary, Jaeger felt a bond with Canis and wanted to work with him. Following this meeting, Twisted Fate began to hunt Sloan, fighting him multiple times and nearly dying after sinking Sloan's ship. They eventually fled Crows Nest in defeat, with Mordai having earned a bounty on his head at the hands of Obstinath, the greatest tyrant in Veiltouria.

As they returned to Forestsedge, they were intercepted by Canis and his crew, who freely gave them Sloan's key which he had stolen. Reinvigorated, Twisted Fate returned to The Highlands only to find it under siege by Ghouls.

### The War of The Keys

Returning to save High-Hill, Twisted Fate fought off Edward's army but Vigori was killed in the fight. They then launched a counterattack, hoping to retrieve the key located in Devilsarm. On the way to Mordai's home city, they once again clashed with Edward The Sixth, the dragon riding servant of Edward The Eighth having escaped Mordai in their last encounter. As Twisted Fate fought the undead warrior and his dragon, the old man they had met on their way to Crows Nest, Silverfang, revealed himself to be a Silver Dragon, one of the last of his kind. Together, they destroyed Edward The Sixth. Silverfang then left to High-Hill.

The group then entered Devilsarm, Mordai's history with the city and its rulers, Emperor Malikull Demoroth and his Empress Aurillia Demoroth making interactions with the rulers tense. They eventually agreed to allow Twisted Fate to attempt to retrieve the key beneath their city, but said that another group serving Edward was also going to be looking for it. Rushing below the city, they encountered a cohort of powerful enemies, led by an undead resurrected Vigori, and Mordai's estranged brother Akromos. The two groups violently clashed, with Vigori taunting Mordai, and Akromos remaining cold and aloof.

Mordai and Akromos eventually crossed swords, with Mordai proving victorious. Running his brother through, Mordai then learned of the true evil of Edward. Akromos, now dying, was freed the magic that had been cast upon him so long ago. He could now tell Mordai the truth of their father's death and what happened. Heartbroken, and distraught, Mordai underwent such internal change at that moment that he changed his very fate, freeing himself from Edward and earning more power from Ax Mystia.

### Illithien Rises

Following this battle, Shanks betrayed the group to serve Edwardius, stealing all of the keys and taking command of the ghoul army by force. Mordai in his grief asked Ax Mystia for more power and control over the world. In response, Ax Mystia tore a section of his own realm out from its resting place and gifted it to Mordai, who rebuilt the city of Illithien with it. Now populated with thousands of devils and tiefling, Mordai had a nation to rule and an army at his fingertips. He began to build a society his father would be proud of.

It was during this initial rise of Illithien that Mordai met Velypsis, a former slave of Sloan who had heard of Mordai's great deeds and wished to me. A powerful fire mage in her own right, Velypsis soon proved to be Mordai's match in many things. They fell in love, with Mordai anointing her Illithien's chief Mage. Unable to wed her for fear of reprisal or making her a target, Mordai nonetheless made it known to all that Velypsis was his partner.

Soon after Illithien's rebirth, Edward, Shanks and their forces laid siege to The Anvil, meeting the armies of The Highlands and Kha-Li-Daz in battle. Mordai led his forces in direct challenge to Shanks, flanking them and nearly wiping them out entirely. He then left his army at the command of Marduk while he, Bill and Jaeger descended deep into The Anvil to stop Edward, who had escaped with the keys during the fighting.

### Fates Untwined

Making their through The Anvil, they eventually cornered Edward, who had begun summoning his God. Jaeger's comrade Octavius, secretly the amnesiac and lost God of Heroes and Light, regained his power and blessed the group, also allowing Gesh to return to the world of the living for one last battle. The four warriors and members of Twisted Fate then assaulted Edward, though they proved to late to stop him from bringing forth an Avatar of Edwardius.

Undaunted, the group fought on, with Bill assuming his divine storm God form, the four of them eventually pushing Edwardius back to Dorchadasdelve. Claiming the keys in secret, they returned to the surface and told the world that the keys had been destroyed. Now seen as champions and leaders of Forestsedge, the former members of Twisted Fate set about creating a land of peace.

Together, they formed The Guardians, a collection of warriors housed within many nations, that would fight to protect the innocent. With Mordai, Bill, Jaeger, Tyrak and Silverfang taking their places as rulers sitting on The Guardian Council, Forestsedge was ushered into an age of prosperity and peace the likes of which it had never known before.

### The Time of Peace

After forming The Guardians, Mordai returned to Illithien to care for his people. He took provenance of the Saigan Wall, the barrier between Saigan Forest and Forestsedge. Manning it with his forces, fewer monsters crossed into Veiltouria than ever before. Velypsis gave birth to Mordai's son, Ahmose, who would grow into his fathers pride and joy. Mordai took great pains to protect Ahmose, raising him to have all that Mordai himself lacked.

Over the next two decades, more allies joined The Guardians, with Hroarmungund The Winter King and his Jotunn forces from Jotunhall, Baron Romulon Greymane and the Wolfborn army from the rebuilt Staghelm, The Stinging King Killigan Hammerfell from Galatias and his Skraeling hordes deposed Duke Vladimir Farkas Dashkovari from Barthum all joining the council.

While this period was free from large scale conflict, Mordai nonetheless was drawn to battle many times. Some of the more noteworthy conflicts included:

* An attempted assassination of Captain Ictheous Sucker, a Sea King from Crows Nest, who managed to slip away from Mordai and Jaeger at the last second. Despite this, Sucker's fleet was crippled and his ships unable to dock south of Crows Nest. Sucker was heavily wounded in this fight and unable to ever fully heal.
* An attack on the Saigan Wall by an army of Gnolls, led by The Laughing Lord, during which Mordai was nearly slain if not for the intervention of Estarias the copper dragon of Staghelm. Mordai then unleashed Marduk and The Emperor's Fist, pushing the Gnolls far back into Saigan. Mordai left the Giggling Lord with a hideous scare upon his face.
* An invasion from deep below the earth of Fire Giants, their king personally challenging Mordai to battle by kidnapping his son. Enraged, Mordai singlehandedly broke their army before tearing their king apart with his bare hands.
* Repelling an attack from Obstinath himself, who was attempting to kill Bill after his general Lennox Sanguine had his plot thwarted by a young group of Guardians named The Chaos Hounds. Mordai and the Guardian Council, as well as metallic Dragons Silverfang, Estarias, Brutannicus and Heimdallax fought Obstinath but were nearly defeated, the Pale Dragon eventually leaving after nearly killing Estarias.
* A war against Mephistoran, who's cult had attempted to gain a foothold in Illithien. Mordai led a counter invasion into Mephistoran's realm of Phlegethos and fought the Íshnubar to a standstill, earning much reputation among The Nine Emperors and Mephistoran's eternal rage.

Following these conflicts, Emperor Malikull began executing any tiefling not of pureblood, leading to Mordai declaring open war on Devilsarm. For the first time in nearly two decades, Illithien would be fighting a war on Veiltourian soil.

### The War of The Horns

After Mordai's declaration of war against Devilsarm, The Guardian Council put together an invasion force spearheaded by Jotunn shock cavalry and supported by the most elite warriors of Illithien, a specialist infantry force of Horned Devils and Pit Fiends, supported by the artillery of Kha-Li-Daz.

Despite this mighty force, the formidable and enchanted gates of the capitol city Devilschair would prove an almost impossible challenge to circumvent, unless the walls could be breached through stealth and guile. To that end, Jaeger arranged a meeting between Canis and Mordai, hoping Mordai could convince Canis to aid in their war.

Despite Mordai’s disdain for Canis’ attitude and the shadar-kai’s lack of respect in the Emperor’s abilities, the two came to terms regarding stealth incursion into Devilschair itself. Canis’ prodding and jabs eventually incited Mordai enough that he would force himself to participate in the mission, which had two goals: Raise the gates of Devilschair and assassinate the Emperor of Devilsarm himself.

    Under the cover of darkness the duo successfully infiltrated the city, the tense nature of their relationship resulting in a competitive and dangerous game of one upmanship, in the process the pair gaining a significant degree of respect for one another.

After raising the gate, and fighting their way through to the citadel itself, Canis and Mordai eventually slaughtered their way through the Emperor’s elite guards and challenged Malikull himself. The two warriors and their foe battled throughout the citadel, laying waste to its foundations. Wounded and near defeat, Malikull attempted to flee, before Canis shot the Emperor. Seeing a chance to manipulate events in their favor, Canis pushed both Mordai and Malikull through the citadels highest window.

The two tieflings fought mid-air, with Mordai eventually vanquishing his foe and arch-enemy in front of the combined forces of The Guardian Council and Devilsarm itself. As a result, he was seen as the unanimous and legitimate ruler of both Illithien and Devilsarm.

Canis then cornered Malikull’s bride Aurillia Demoroth, the true power behind the throne and self appointed next of The Nine Emperors. Aurillia attempted to flee to Ax Maboloth, but Canis pursued her into the fiery realm of Schemes. As he crossed the threshold, he felt an oncoming presence following behind him. Turning, he found himself face to face with Mordai, who was intent on ending the threat of the Demoroth line once and for all. The duo then began their hunt for Auriliia in the realm of Ax Mystia.