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Maximillian Rutherford

Maximillian "Max" Rutherford was a pre-War writer, soldier, and sailor hailing from Valtoria, achieving modest fame and success for the popular serial adventure series *Nebukar: Wildman of Davmoor*.

## Background

Rutherford fought in the Sol Rebellion when Valtoria joined the war, though he became disillusioned with the Sol Empire later in life, believing that the order that the Empire had brought made the world seem small and that he was witnessing the erasure of the adventurer's lifestyle. In his frustration, Rutherford took to writing the adventures that he longed to experience - captivating readers with fantastical stories of travelling warriors, bloody wars, and exploitative barbarism. He spent much of his time after the war travelling and writing, often sailing the southern seas near Sethulhmet. His fate after the War of the Nine Knights is unknown, but he is presumed to have been one of the many casualties of the collapse, having disappeared some time prior to the end of the war - the final volume of *Nebukar* having disappeared from record.

In his time, Rutherford's work wasn't viewed as being particularly highbrow literature, though he had his share of loyal readers, and he was considered a cult writer. Now, Rutherford is vaguely remembered in a more positive light in the post-war wasteland, where the *Nebukar* series and it's fantastical and exploitative elements have resonated with the far more untamed and once-again adventurous landscape - becoming classics sought after by certain historians and collectors.

## Collected Works

* *Nebukar: Wildman of Davmoor*
	+ *Volume 1: The Dragon's Curse*
	+ *Volume 2: Call of the Wolf-Woman*
	+ *Volume 3: The Starman Cometh*
	+ *Volume 4: City of the Serpent Queen*
	+ *Volume 5: Voyage of the Man-Eaters*
	+ *Volume 6: In the Den of Demons*
	+ *Volume 7: The Fisher King of Walridge*
	+ *Volume 8: The Blood Hordes of Lau-Teng*
	+ *Volume 9: Secret of the Ruby Temple*
	+ *Volume 10: The Brain of Castibar*
	+ *Volume 11: Passions of a Princess*
	+ *Volume 12: Revenge of the Fisher King*
	+ *Volume 13: Island of the Ape-Men*
	+ *Volume 14: Son of Nebukar*
	+ *Volume 15: King and Conqueror*
	+ *Volume 16: The War for Davmoor* (Missing Volume)
Ormond Stoneward

King Ormond Stoneward was the penultimate King of Mordenheim, and the father of Osmand, the Knight of Iron. A skilled warrior in his own right, Ormond had many children and ruled with a fair and just attitude, with many viewing him as a righteous and good king - if reluctant to enter into international affairs. When the Mage-Emperor arrived in Mordenheim and swayed his son Osmand to the cause of the Sol Rebellion, Ormond eventually conceded to aiding in the conflict, sending armies across the sea to fight. When the Rebellion ended and the Sol Empire arose, Ormond willingly joined Mordenheim with the Empire out of respect for the Emperor, his son, and the Knights that had fought alongside him. Ormond died some time prior to the War of the Nine Knights, and was succeeded by his son Osmand, who would have to deal with the approaching conflict - ultimately losing both his life and the kingdom in the war. Ormond's own legacy has mostly been lost to time, with a few historians in Dreadmont maintaining that he was a good king, if unprepared for the full consequences of Imperial rule.
Jezebel Zalharad

Jezebel was the second Sovereign of Jadus, succeeding her father, Jarod Zalharad. Jezebel was the eldest of Jarod's children, born of his first sister-wife. Jezebel ruled effectively for fifteen years before she was usurped in a coup led by her younger brother and sister, Tash and Zahara. Jezebel was as politically shrewd and cunning as her father, but perhaps more practical and has plans to reform the Zalharad traditions and practices - particularly condemning her siblings' incestuous relationship. This ultimately led to the coup and her execution. While Jezebel maintained the control and power her father had established over Jadus and Sethulhmet overall, she is now mostly remembered as a footnote compared to the other longer-serving and more colorful rulers of the Zalharad Dynasty. It is often thought by historians in the north that had Jezebel survived, the slaver state might have been a place of true progress in the wasteland, as opposed to the den of luxurious iniquity it is today.
Esther (Pharaoh)

Esther was an ancient Pharaoh of Sethulhmet during the Great Romance era. A heroic and inspiring figure, she was one of the many "Great Romantics" of the period - with her life being immortalized as a legendary, sweeping tale of justice and honor.

Esther was originally a slave born into the Caliphate of Kadhar in the eastern desert, who was presented as a diplomatic gift to the Pharaoh of Sethulhmet - the head of the Muatep dynasty of rulers. Esther was given to the Pharaoh's son and heir as a concubine wife, intended to be nothing more than a trophy to be displayed for her beauty, and unceremoniously used to continue the Muatep line.

In a twist of fate, however, Esther's husband was killed in battle, with the Pharaoh himself dying of illness as well. The Pharaoh's counselors elected to name Esther as Regent. With her newfound power, Esther built up a sense of good will and loyalty with the desert kingdom's people and eventually declared war on Kadhar - the kingdom that had sold her to Sethulhmet to begin with, in a grandiose act of revenge for her enslavement. In this brief war, Esther proved herself not just to be a stunning beauty - but a stunning warrior as well - garbed in armor resembling a dark desert hawk. Victory after victory, Esther became known as the "*Hawk of the Midnight Sun*" to both her people and her enemies. Eventually, Esther negotiated the surrender of Prince Hasan Al-Saad of Kadhar, and conquered the whole of the Caliphate for Sethulhmet.

After this victory, the high priests and counselors crowned Esther as a true Pharaoh in her own right, not just a slave-Regent - but a warrior queen of great renown. Esther was said to have taken a new husband some years into her reign - a former gladiatorial slave - and ruled comfortably, forming a new dynasty that would last until the Reckoning, when a secret cabal would work to unseat her descendants as well as other major powers across Noxerra during the Reckoning War.

Her life served as a great inspiration to many artists and historians, written about in Carlo Zavetti's play "*The Desert Queen*," as well as being the namesake of the tiefling Esther in the post-war era.
Black Maiden

## The Black Maiden

The Black Maiden is the Apotheon Artifact of Zyara, the Knight of Pain - and former Queen of Zventhos.

Created sometime before the War of the Nine Knights from Zyara's Apotheon Shard, the artifact is a variant of a standard iron maiden torture device. However, the Black Maiden instead has the power to seemingly heal wounds as well as inflict them. In legend, Zyara would enter the Maiden for some time, and upon exiting appear impervious to damage - suffering wounds, but experiencing no pain or adverse effects from any damage she sustained in battle. She would then return to the Maiden to heal, and emerge unscathed, miraculously healed. Thus, the Maiden's main power seems to create a sort of magical link between itself and Zyara - storing her pain, and then reapplying it to her later, as well as healing her.

For many years after the War, the Maiden as well as Zyara's Blood Rune (which rests in the crown of the device) were thought to be lost. That was until the Orrukov Regime came into possession of an Imperial Oculus device that allowed them to locate the magical energy signatures of remaining Apotheon Artifacts, discovering one such signature below the city of Durkheim, still in the underdark of Zventhos. This led to an expedition to retrieve the Maiden led by Jurza Setrov, made up of a team including mercenaries - such as the Party, who were after the Maiden for their own ends.

The expedition located the Maiden in the ruined city of Byzaria, sealed beneath a Mausoleum to the Dark Seldarine. Adrio Keist - one of the mercenaries - revealed himself to be an agent of the Illuvari, and was revealed to have the Blood Rune in his possession. He used it to release Zyara, aiming to kill her and take the Maiden for the Illuvari - but was instead easily dispatched by Zyara herself. Zyara and Triz'ztari, commander of her Queensguard, then teleported and escaped with the Maiden to the city of Rahzad-Nul.
Knight of Time

The Sol Empire

The Knight of Time was one of the members of the Betrayed, formerly the Knights of Nine that served the Mage-Emperor. A noble from the desert kingdom of Sethulhmet, the Knight was regarded as a powerful mage and valued member of the order. There have been disputes over whether the Knight was a human or desert elf - or even a half-elf - given that he is depicted as masked in art that remains of the era. He disappeared at some point towards the end of the War of the Nine Knights, before the Collapse. He is presumed to be dead - his Apotheon Artifact having been lost as well.
Redbrook

Redbrook is one of the major standing cities in Yarmouth. It is ruled by Baron Orm Sothog. Unlike the other cities in the region, Karstein and Sunvale, Redbrook was founded by various raider gangs and other miscreants that settled in the area. As such, it is closer to a bloody and impoverished crime-ridden slum than a proper city. Despite this, Redbrook does have a healthy lumber trade due to it's proximity to the Wyrdwood and the neighboring rivers. It's name is derived from a particularly bloody battle said to have taken place near these rivers that "stained the waters red." Redbrook is relatively unpoliced, and home to a great many illicit markets - including drugs, prostitution, and even some open slave trade which is typically rare in Yarmouth

.
Kala Malstaff

Justiciar Kala Malstaff, a dwarf, is one of the members of the Tribunal of Kaath. Prior to becoming a Justiciar, Kala was the right hand woman to a half-elven warlord by the name of Venzin. Venzin was leading a campaign of terror across the desert, harassing the armies of Kaath and it's Tribunal. His army eventually made it's way to Kaath itself, where he demanded a seat on the Tribunal. The Tribunal agreed to his terms if he agreed to fight a champion sent by them. They sent forth their most formidable slave fighter in the Crucibles at the time, but Venzin instead sent Kala to duel the slave in his stead. She eventually defeated the champion after a harrowing duel. Instead of honoring their original agreement, the Tribunal offered a seat among them to Kala in light of her master's cowardice and her clear superiority. She obliged, killing Venzin - unopposed by his army - and took her seat on the Tribunal.
Fyrello Cathyrion

Fyrello Cathyrion was the eleventh and last ruler of the Cathyrion Empire. A mere child when his father Emperor Syrlucio was betrayed and killed by his uncle, Kyber, Fyrello was kept as a political prisoner by the new, traitorous Emperor during his thirteen-year long reign. Kyber spent most of his rule at war with his own citizenry and vassal states, until eventually a rebellion would rise to unseat him and install Fyrello on the throne. This battle was ultimately won, with Kyber being executed and the young Fyrello hurriedly crowned as Emperor to restore balance and authority to the shaken Empire.

This last-ditch effort to restore the crown's authority however came too late for many within the Empire - with the many foreign kingdoms under imperial rule having long grown tired of the Cathyrions' infighting, and many of the elves within the borders of the Empire's capital having experienced a religious reawakening - demanding a return to their religious roots worshiping Corellon and the Seldarine rather than the mortal veneration of the Emperors such as Galahad, Shaddar - or even the Syrlucio, who had undergone the marytrdom treatment since his death. This religious uprising - originally organized by the priesthood known as the Mission Protectorate and eventually championed as the Larethian Crusade - would lead an even greater rebellion against the crown only two years into Fyrello's reign. The Crusaders succeeded in overrunning the Imperial guard and took the young child-Emperor prisoner. Within days of their victory, the Crusade would mercilessly publicly execute the boy before the Empire's citizens, deeming him the product of centuries-long heresy against the elven gods and a testament to the Empire's failures.

With Fyrello's death, the "true" lineage of the Cathyrion dynasty would end, though during the Shattered War, Kyber's son Kyberion would rise up as another claimant, who imperial loyalists would rally around and form the Cathyrion Imperium. The Imperium would ultimately be defeated during the war however, and with them would die the last remnants of the Old Empire. Historically, Fyrello is viewed as a great victim - not just of the bloody Crusaders, but of the lords that put him on the throne to begin with, and of his own ancestors and their hubris that led him to his untimely death.
Holding Era

The Holding was one of Noxerra's eras or ages. Immediately following the brief but turbulent war of the Reckoning, Solerra once again achieved some degree of peace, but it was far more uneasy than it was during the Great Romance. The powers that be became more shrewd, politically-minded, and suspicious. Spies were sent across borders, and everyone feared another outbreak of bloodshed on the battlefield. Yet, none truly came. The real consequence of this period - which roughly fifty years - were the individuals who were brought up during it. It was during this time that many of the Betrayed were born or came into adulthood - the legendary Knights who would go on to change the world for the worst in the last great War. It was also during this time that the young elf who would become the Mage-Emperor began his career in the elven kingdom of Sol. His actions and others would lead directly into the next, and final pre-war era - the New Imperial Era.
Karl Quint

Reverend Karl Quint is a Priest of the Church of the Lost Dawn, who resided for many years in Nightport. Originally a missionary, Quint was sent from the city of Sunvale in Yarmouth to spread the word of Pelor to whatever lands remained east. The ship carrying Quint and the other missionaries however was shipwrecked during a storm on the magical island of Krakengärd, where Quint was the sole survivor. Stranded, Quint eventually found a place among the people of Nightport as a spiritual leader within the community, introducing the religion of Pelor to the many cultures that had all taken root in the township. While well-meaning and deeply religious, Reverend Quint is a struggling alcoholic coping with his separation from the mainland, and grapples with his faith constantly.

He was also a member of Virün's conspiracy to uncover any connections the Stronghold may have with the Drowned, however, after speaking with Nymue, he had a change of heart and freed the deep one Uthogn'taa - leading to a confrontation with Celtiar that resulted in the party executing Virün, and a final alliance against the Drowned.

In the aftermath of the Drowned's defeat and the island's release from the curse, Quint departed on board the *Blood Diamond* with the party, where Nymue would entrust her with her true identity as the daughter of Declan and Elaine Solamor - colleagues of Quint's back in Sunvale. Taking a letter meant for her parents, and warning him of the true nature of Reverend Daniel Becket, Quint departed the ship for Sunvale, accompanied by Sigrid.
Norden

Norden was a dwarven slaver and a member of Trask's slaving band. He was missing one eye, and wore a distinctive eyepatch with a dwarven rune sewed into it. He was regarded as a cruel and often drunken individual, and about as unpleasant as the other slavers. He helped to capture and enslave Merric Mandrake, and later the other halflings in the Crater - including Merric's sister Marissa. While escorting Marissa and others from the razed Crater through the Deadwood to deliver the slaves to the Forgeborn, the slavers were set upon by a wendigo. In the struggle, Marissa's arm was eaten as well, though she survived - but Norden was outmatched and left for dead by the slavers. He was killed and eaten by the creature, the only thing remaining of him by the time the party fought and killed the same wendigo being his distinctive eyepatch lost in the creature's digestive track.
Prospyr Atrius

Lord Prospyr Atrius was the military leader of the Larethian Crusade during the Shattered War, and later the first High King of Sol after the Crusade's victory over the Cathyrion Imperium. For his exploits during the war and the foundation of the influential elven kingdom afterward, Atrius is well-regarded as one of the most important individuals of both the Shattered Kingdoms era and the Great Romance.

He was originally merely one of many heads of those noble families that joined the Crusade after being motivated by the priesthood of the Mission Protectorate, before eventually becoming a legendary war hero. In what few historical texts remain detailing his life, Atrius was said to be a deeply spiritual and convicted man, with a great faith in the Seldarine and Corellon, as well as a charismatic leader to his men both on and off the battlefield. Despite these alleged traits, evidence of he and the Crusade's ruthlessness can still be found - starting from their original act of the execution of the child-emperor Fyrello, a decision that Prospyr resolutely stood by.

Unfortunately, because he was the ancestor of the High Queen deposed by the Mage-Emperor during the Sol Rebellion, much of the information regarding him and the royal family had been purged from libraries across Noxerra. Still, despite the vilifying of his descendants, Prospyr himself was generally regarded as one of the many heroes of the Shattered War - to the point of many elves believing him to be either chosen by Corellon, or a sort of spiritual reincarnation of the god himself.
Kzzartha

Kzzartha is a tengu former pirate living in Nightport, on Krakengärd. She was a member of the crew of the *Lion's Fang*, working under Shaw. Born in Sethulhmet, Kzzartha took to piracy easily, relishing the freedom that a life at sea gave her. She and the crew of the *Lion's Fang* eventually resolved to sail east in search of other opportunities for pillaging and plundering, but were stranded by a magical storm on Krakengärd. The survivors of the shipwreck took up residence in the fledgling community of Nightport, which Kzzartha and others helped turn into the flourishing haven for castaways it is now.

After a few years, Kzzartha became the leader of a movement of individuals in Nightport who desire to escape the island rather than simply carry on in Nightport. They included Sigrid, Aufric-Mace, Raz, and Quintus. She and her compatriots originally intended to rebuild the *Westward Wolf,* but were unable to salvage enough of the ship's wreckage to do so. By the time of the party's arrival on the island, Kzzartha had turned her eye on the Mariners, and with the party's aid stirred up support for a plan to commandeer their ship, the *Blood Diamond*, and take it for herself and her crew.

She eventually achieved this goal after helping to liberate the ship from Drith's mutiny - during which became bound to the drowning devil Sythaneryx. With the devil's backing as well as that of most of the remaining the Mariners, Kzzartha usurped Z'yarthox as captain of the *Blood Diamond*. As it's new captain, she played an instrumental role in aiding the party in defeating the Drowned. During this time, she also struck up a fleeting relationship with Pezzack, though she ultimately broke it off once it became clear that their paths would diverge, and that their deaths were no longer imminent. After sailing the party to the city of Durkheim, Kzzartha sailed south towards Raider's Run to resume her pirating lifestyle.
Court of Colours

The Court of Colours is a loose organization of pirate captains and crews that operate in the seas surrounding Raider's Run. When a captain and crew gain a certain amount of respect and reputation, they are considered to have joined the Court, and have their flag hung in the halls of the Court's headquarters, the famous Flagfort in Port Sestyra. The Court is "led" by a single captain, chosen by the others for their dominance and prestige. Currently, this is the enigmatic "Red Captain," of the *Crimson Queen*. While there is technically a truce between Captains who count themselves as members of the Court, there is little stopping them from declaring open war on one another and attacking on the open waters, though conflict on the neutral ground of Port Sestyra is strictly forbidden. Membership within the Court can also be revoked if there is a strong enough dispute to warrant a vote between members.

The current pirate captains that are considered members of the Court in the year 237 A.C. include:

* The Red Captain - Captain of the *Crimson Queen*
* Nestor Crenshaw - Captain of the *Black Gull*
* Jacob Warsaw - Captain of the *Executioner*
* Titania Laveau - Captain of the *Good Fortune*
* Klara Newel - Captain of the *Laughing Jackal*
* Batuul Sharog - Captain of the *Fallen Star*
* Mochran Tull - Captain of the *Amber Dragon*
* Glint Blackwater - Captain of the *Venture*
* Kragg Larkness - Captain of the *Mistcutter*
* Horace Dangstrom - Captain of the *Augusta*
* Asani Kenyatta - Captain of the *Windreaver*
* Qar'iel Zenthis - Captain of the *Serpentsbane*
* Raylan Martow - Captain of the *Braveheart*
* Clenardier Feng - Captain of the *Prosperity*
Mundiata Zandt

Admiral Mundiata Zandt is the chief executive of the Fortunato Privateering Agency, and the official Admiral of the Agency's fleet. An ex-pirate, while he is primarily based in the Agency's main office in Ruby Point, he is also known to personally lead trading voyages and raiding parties across the seas himself.
Ahm-Sethotep

Ahm-Sethotep was the capital city of the kingdom of Sethulhmet. It is now a ruin buried deep in the western reaches of the Dunelands. While it has managed to remain standing, the city - once a center for progressive scientific and arcane study - is widely considered to be impossible to reach given the expanse of the Dunelands, and even the most daring of treasure hunters consider it folly to venture there, given the mystery surrounding what may still lurk in the city's ancient walls.
Lyeta Orrukov

Lady Lyeta Orrukov is the cousin of Tsar Ulrich Orrukov. She is the daughter of Hakor I. Much younger than Ulrich and being less directly related to him, Lyeta and her branch of the Orrukov family have less royal duties, but are considered royals nonetheless. Many suspect that Lyeta is resentful, spiteful, and a threat to the Regime. She has two children by her husband, Lord Melor: Hakor III and Domna.

The name of her son is a point of great contention - as Ulrich named his second son Hakor after his uncle - Lyeta's father. Because Hakor II was born first, Lyeta's son was given the title of "Hakor III" to distinguish him. With Ulrich as Tsar and Lyeta as Hakor I's actual daughter, there is much dispute over who has more "right" to the name between the two of them - and this entire affair has divided the two branches considerably.
Mordecai Von Smythe

Doctor Mordecai Von Smythe is a human alchemist, originally from Dreadmont. He was the mentor and adoptive father of Pandora, who took on his last name. In his youth he was a wayfaring adventurer himself, travelling the Eastern Wasteland for scientific and arcane study, making notes of many of his discoveries. At some point, in his older years, he found a lost and half-mad Pandora and - taking note of her peculiar status as a dhampir - resolved to take her in to study. Instead, he developed some kind of affection for the girl and saw promise in her an alchemist's apprentice. He was, however, a cruel and sadistic teacher - and he regularly kidnapped and experimented on hapless victims he brought in from the wasteland of scooped off the streets of the Witching District. His morbid fascinations with the undead and pushing the limits of alchemical science rubbed off on Pandora, who became just as demented as her mentor.

Desiring to understand her own in-between undead state, Pandora incapacitated Von Smythe and performed twisted experiments on him, severing his limbs and leaving him a helpless torso that she kept on the brink of death. She took his notes on the *Necros Arcanos* and traveled to Kethis.

Upon her return with the party, Von Smythe had disappeared - leaving behind a recording that alluded to having been rescued by an unknown party, instructing Pandora not to follow him as he would be hard at work on his most important project yet. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Illyana Havelock

Lady Illyana Havelock is the ruling governor of the Witching District, representing it on the Council of Dreadmont. She is the head of the Havelock Family. Illyana is the daughter of Illyan and Helena Havelock, and the mother of Han and Wanda Havelock. She was the brother of Rennen Havelock and thus the aunt of his daughter Reya. Lady Illyana is regarded as a firm and sometimes cruel ruler of the Witching District, taxing its many traders that choose to operate within the Havelock Bazaar, and enforcing the prestige of the Havelock name as one of the most powerful lines of mages in Eastern Noxerra.
Frederik Kaerwald

Frederik Kaerwald the Grand General of the Southron Hordes during the Shattered War, and after securing Yarmouth's independence during the conflict, the nation's first Kaiser and patriarch of the Kaerwald dynasty of rulers. Like the other great leaders of the Shattered Kingdoms era, Kaerwald rose to power as a Cathyrion-appointed nobleman who helped to overthrow imperial rule in favor of establishing a new government in the lead-up to the war. Frederik himself is less well remembered for his later governorship of Yarmouth - which proved to be controversial and would indeed later see the fall of the Kaerwald line thanks to a succession crisis and civil war - but better known for his stellar management of the different factions that made up the Southron Hordes.

Frederik parlayed peacefully with the orc and dwarf tribes that bordered Yarmouth, bringing them into the fold and promising an end to the imperial expansion into their territories should they join them in fighting against the imperial remnants of the Imperium, as well as the Larethian Crusade who were forced to march into southern lands after being ousted from Sol. Frederik's diplomatic nature was among the most effective of the Hordes' leaders, recognizing that the combined strengths of such diverse armies was well worth the cultural tensions the alliance brought with it.

Unfortunately, Frederik's political nature would rear it's head when he was named Kaiser, as he also recognized that this alliance was moot without a common enemy, and thus turned his back on the dwarves and orcs when Yarmouth finally settled into a predominantly human kingdom. Beholden to a nervous people who wished to return a homogeneous lifestyle, Kaerwald made enemies of some of his former allies - including noblemen such as Count Evon Dagar, who elected to reject the aristocracy of Yarmouth for the frontier of Morninguard.
Halestrom

Halestrom was a loose frontier nation in Northeast Noxerra, located in what is now the Tribal North. The region was originally settled by sea-elf tribes that had landed ashore long ago, dwarven mountain clans, and nomadic humans and orcs. These many cultures and factions were in constant conflict, until they were briefly united due to the efforts of Sartorius - a skilled sea elf warrior and sailor who would go on to become the Knight of Storms. Sartorius managed to conquer various tribes and broker peace between others, eventually uniting most of the region and paving the way for the fledgling nation to rise as Halestrom. Halestrom operated without a central government and it's culture was still very tribal, with a few frontier cities and towns beginning to form as a result of trade with Mordenheim to the south.

During the Sol Rebellion, Sartorius came to the Mage-Emperor's aid, joining his Knights of Nine. In the aftermath of the Rebellion, Halestrom joined the Sol Empire and fell under the rule of imperial regional governors. This more imperialistic form of governance combined with the Mage-Emperor's growing madness led to Halestrom being among the first provinces of the Empire to rebel, leading to the conflict that would become the War of the Nine Knights.

During the war, Halestrom was closely allied with Mordenheim, and fought primarily against the invading armies of Valtoria. Sartorius took a fleet of sea-elves and fled west towards the island of Krakengärd, failing to return. The increasingly brittle peace between tribal cultures collapsed in his absence. Already weakened by the war, Halestrom as a nation slowly broke apart and the tribes resumed warring against each other - until the nation reverted into the primitive state it is now, the Tribal North.
Hellmouth

The Hellmouth is a region in the northwestern part of Noxerra, in the ruins of the nation that was once Valtoria. Originally a highly civilized gothic kingdom, Valtoria fell into ruin during the War because of mass summonings of demons from the Abyss and devils from the Nine Hells, as well as an uprising of necromancers swarming the region with undead. In the war's aftermath, Valtoria became the Hellmouth - a vicious hellscape overrun with hellish beasts and undead, and is now widely held to be the most dangerous region in the entirety of post-war Noxerra. In the present, the Hellmouth is home to little in the way of civilization, save for two major city-states that are seen as centers of dark magical practice and study - Ramsgate in the ruins of Valtoria's former capital, and the Boneyard.
Kholmog

Kholmog was a half-orc druid employed by Dre'Gardde to serve as a competitor sponsored by the Cauldron in the Witching Royale of 237 A.C. He made it to the second round of the competition when he was eliminated, along with Pezzack. In the aftermath of the competition, Kholmog was tortured and killed on Dre'Gardde's orders for his failure.
Blood Rune

A Blood Rune is a magical artifact connected to a respected Apotheon Artifact. There were nine Blood Runes total, each holding the blood of one of the Betrayed. The Blood Runes were part of a curse placed on the Knights by the Mage-Emperor when they battled him for control of the Sol Empire. The Emperor cursed the Knights so that they could not use the full power of their Apotheon Artifacts unless the artifact was used in tandem with the Artifact's respected Rune. An Artifact also cannot be destroyed, except with it's Rune.

Physically, the Runes appear as small, marble-like orbs in which flows a combination of blood and magical life energy, encircled by metal bands in which several ancient runes are inscribed. It is unknown how each Rune works in tandem with it's Artifact, as - like the Artifacts - the Runes have long since been lost to history in the time since the end of the War of the Nine Knights. The War itself was even directly fought not just for control of the Empire's provinces, but to separate the Blood Runes from the Artifacts, so each Knight could limit the power of one another. The fate of most of the Runes are for the most part entirely unknown.

### **Known Blood Runes**

Currently, only three Blood Runes have been confirmed to be destroyed- that of Osmand Stoneward, the Knight of Iron, that of the Knight of Shadows, and that of Sartorius the Knight of Storms. Zyara, the Knight of Pain's Blood Rune has also been located, but not yet destroyed.

* **The Knight of Shadows:** Centuries ago, Bram Havelock managed to destroy the Blood Rune of the Knight of Shadows towards of the end of the War, causing the armies of Valtoria to retreat from the Eastern Wasteland.
* **The Knight of Iron:** The Party found Stoneward's Blood Rune buried with him, in the Iron Tomb, kept in the pommel of his hammer, the Warden's Arm. In the Battle of Mordenheim, Jorg-Hammer dropped the Rune into the fiery vats of the Forge itself, causing the Artifact to rupture the Temple of Steel in which it was built to the ground, destroying the Temple and the Forge with it.

* **The Knight of Storms:** Sartorius's Blood Rune was lost towards the end of the War during a Valtorian invasion on the island of Krakengard led by the dragon, Syn-Sogoth. In the chaos, the Rune fell into the sea, where it was later discovered by Cthar-R'yatha, an aboleth who plotted for centuries to use the Rune and the Tempest Armillary to summon the Sunken God. The party managed to foil this plan, and destroy the Rune and Armillary, returning the island from it's demiplane to Noxerra permanently.

* **The Knight of Pain:** The Illuvari Conglomerate at some point found Zyara's Blood Rune, and sent it with their agent Adrio Keist as part of a secret operation to steal the Black Maiden during an expedition to find it orchestrated by the Orrukov Regime. Keist was instead killed by Zyara, who returned with the Rune and Black Maiden to her capitol of Rahzad-Nul.
Anton Hedwin

Captain Anton Hedwin is the manager of the Hellfort Enlistment Office in Durkheim's Elite Level. Mostly a bureaucratic position, Hedwin is responsible for recruiting new soldiers for the Hellfort, as well as transporting acquired prisoners to be appointed to positions within the fort's army.

Despite his efforts to bury the evidence, thanks to the tiefling slave Karina alerting Esther and Pezzack confronting him over it, Hedwin reveals that he had met with the prostitute Cecilia the night of her murder at the hands of the Blind Alley Butcher - the werewolf Seamus Walsh. While Hedwin claims to have attempted to fight the beast off, he was unsuccessful and forced to flee. He ultimately pointed Pezzack in the direction of the killer's last known location, when the tengu claimed to represent Karstein - potentially threatening Hedwin's comfortable position away form the Hellfort's front lines.
Larethian Crusade

The Larethian Crusade was one of the major factions that fought in the Shattered War, during the Shattered Kingdoms era. A religious movement that began during Emperor Kyber's reign in the Cathyrion Empire, the Crusade was born out of a sect of the Empire's elven citizens who believed that the elves had strayed from their spiritual roots, and had venerated and martyred the Emperors to the point of heresy and that they should return to worshiping the true gods - Corellon Larethian and the Seldarine.

## History

This movement was led by the largely defunct priesthood known as the Mission Protectorate. Together with a contingent of noble families and military commanders, the Protectorate ignited a rebellion against the newly installed Emperor Fyrello, formally establishing their organization as the Larethian Crusade.

They captured, deposed, and executed the young Emperor and were in place to declare a new theocratic sovereignty, but were caught off guard by the rise of a loyalist faction - the Cathyrion Imperium - led by Kyberion, son of Kyber. The Imperium faction managed to oust the Crusaders, who were forced to flee en masse southwards, into Valtoria - who were in the midst of their own revolution. These various rebellions against the defunct Empire led to the Shattered War across the continents of Solerra.

The Crusade eventually fell under the military command of Lord Prospyr Atrius, as well as the Archpriest Eurys of the Mission Protectorate, who became the "civilian" branch of the faction, and the spiritual heart of the army. Also among it's leadership was the great strategist Cypherius Sarthyn.

The Crusade became a powerful force despite their early losses against the Imperium and Valtoria - as well as their conflict with the Southron Hordes, who saw them as little better than the imperials. They eventually triumphed however, after allying with Valtoria and marching on Sol, slaying Kyberion and laying claim to their homeland once again.

The Crusade's victory cemented the establishment of the Sol Kingdom, of which Lord Atrius was crowned High King by the Protectorate. Like it's predecessor the Empire, however, Sol itself would come to face an uprising in the distant future at the hands of the Mage-Emperor during the Sol Rebellion, which saw the Kingdom's collapse and replaced by the Sol Empire. Still, the legacy of the Crusade and it's heroes are well-recorded and can still be studied by some scholars in the wasteland, despite the grisly end faced by it's descendants.

## Notable Members

* **Lord Prospyr Atrius**: Military leader and later High King of Sol
* **Archpriest Eurys**: Leader of the Mission Protectorate, the Crusade's priesthood and highest religious authority
* **Lord Cypherius Sarthyn**: Military commander and famed strategist, "the Hero of Canwale," and author the Cypherius Stratagem.
Arkin-Hook

The Havsbladen - Warriors

Arkin-Hook was a former Havsbladen Warrior and seer, who resided in Sel-Duarmia on the island of Krakengärd. Arkin earned his warrior's name after losing his left hand, and favoring a hook replacement as his chosen weapon.

After joining Ragnar the Bold's expedition west, Arkin-Hook was stranded on the island along with many other survivors by one of the island's magical storms. After leading a failed raiding party deep into the island in pursuit of the Drowned, Arkin-Hook was captured and forcibly drowned by his foes - gazing into the red eyes of the aboleth Cthar-R'yatha, though he was spared and left alone in the jungle. This experience led him to develop the gift of the Sight. He was eventually guided by his newfound visions to the Stronghold, where he acted as an emissary for the fledgling community of Nightport. He and Hogarth worked closely to establish trade relations between the two communities, and Arkin-Hook eventually came to remain in Sel-Duarmia, studying the Sight as an apprentice under the tutelage of the ancient and experienced seer Xaal-Tuogurrath, a deep one native of the island. Together, the two have uncovered much about the history and nature of the dark magic on Krakengärd.

Arkin-Hook at some point came under the influence of Cthar-R'yatha, unknowingly becoming a thrall of the aboleth. The aboleth used Arkin-Hook's status as a mediator between the two communities on the island to his advantage - sewing discord between them. Cthar-R'yatha made Arkin-Hook kidnap women from Nightport to use as breeding slaves for the Drowned's Deep One population, while leaving traces behind to suggest that the deep ones of the Stronghold were truly responsible. Arkin-Hook himself had his memories of these events forcibly extracted - his crimes unknown even to him.

This information eventually became known to the party after Quintus informed them that he had kidnapped Sigrid when the three of them were intended to return to Nightport after having escorted the party to the Stronghold. A rescue mission was staged, with Quintus and Shaw accompanying Jorg-Hammer and Nymue to confront Arkin. Nymue managed to release him from the aboleth's control by severing his arm which had become a tentacle growth embodied with the aboleth's will.

Arkin-Hook went on to atone for his actions under the aboleth's influence by fighting alongside the party during their venture to the House of the Drowned to stop the ritual summoning of the Sunken God. Arkin himself, while a physical liability due to his severed arm, managed to psychically hold off the Sunken God's summoning with the power of the Sight before eventually succumbing to it's power, disintegrating as he called out for the party to destroy the Tempest Armillary. They managed to do so and close the gate shortly thereafter, ensuring that Arkin-Hook's sacrifice was not in vain.
Rev

Rev was a gnoll fighter who was a one-time competitor in the Obsidian Ace's fight ring on Durkheim's Lower Levels. He competed briefly against Jorg-Hammer. Despite the gnoll's fierce efforts to best the young tribal, Jorg-Hammer ultimately prevailed - killing the gnoll, whose reason gave way to a bestial rage when he refused to yield. Rev's body was taken away from the ring to be disposed of elsewhere.
Dark Seldarine

The Dark Seldarine are the pantheon of deities historically worshiped by the drow of Zventhos. While viewed as a cohesive group presiding over various divine spheres of influence, the Dark Seldarine - in contrast with the traditional elven Seldarine from which it takes it's name and is a twisted reflection of - were a group of gods and goddesses in constant competition with one another. While Lloth was their progenitor and Queen, the others did not always answer to her - and had sects devoted to toppling her influence, often to little avail. Worship of the Dark Seldarine was rare outside of the underdark Queendoms of Zventhos, though records and mythologies regarding them made there way out into Noxerra, and some record of them and worshipers can still be found in the post-war wasteland.

The Dark Seldarine includes:

* Lloth
* Eilistraee
* Vhaeraun
* Selvetarm
* Kiaransalee
* Ghaunadaur
Hakor II Orrukov

Prince Hakor II in the second son of Tsar Ulrich Orrukov of the Orrukov Regime. The younger brother of Vaerald IV, Hakor is named for his great uncle. Unlike his warrior-minded brother Vaerald, Hakor is a more intellectually minded man, and is rumored by many to be somewhat physically frail and weak. Hakor is currently dispatched on a diplomatic mission to Sethulhmet - specifically the city of Kaath.

His name a great point of contention within the Orrukov family; Hakor is named for his great uncle, Hakor I, brother of Tsar Vaerald III. Ulrich named him thus to honor his uncle, despite his cousin Lyeta's plans to use the name for her own son in the future. Hakor II was born first, however and Tsar Ulrich named his son Hakor. Out of spite, Lyeta - who claimed to have more of a "right" to her own father's name - named her own son Hakor when the child was born. To distinguish the two, the royal Hakor has gone by Hakor II, with the more distantly related Hakor going by Hakor III (despite the lesser Hakor being far below in the line of succession).
40 Lashes

The 40 Lashes is a religious order of assassins devoted to the goddess of lust and revenge, Calistria. Very little is known about them - their members, locations, or beliefs - but those who are aware of their existence regard them as the finest assassins in post-war Noxerra. Their victims tend to be largely personal scores that require settling, though members are often hired by third parties as well. They are led by an enigmatic and legendary assassin known to most as "the Lady of Blades." The order's name is derived from Calistria's holy weapon - a whip - and the common belief that it requires forty lashes of a whip to kill a man. As such, it is widely believed by many that the order is composed of the surprisingly small number of only forty assassins at a time.

The party eventually discover their main hideout in the Lowers of Durkheim, hiding in plain sight in and around a pleasure house known as the "Golden Cabaret."

Confirmed members thus far include:

* Kastille, the Lady of Blades
* Lancius
* The Priestess
* Takashi
* Karrow
* Hothul
* Winther
* Aezarion Vathyr
Kurz

Kurz is an orc weapons and armor smith operating in Durkheim. One of the few independent smithing contractors practicing in the city, Kurz is the owner of "Tuskblade Industrial," a small smithing business that he operates with other associates. While somewhat naive in his understanding of how to market his small business, Kurz is reliable and professional at his craft, and Tuskblade Industrial is a fledgling business on for the city's ground level for those wishing to avoid some of the larger and pricier Regime-sponsored arms factories.
Edo Samada

Edo Samada is the ambassador of the Tribunal of Kaath, stationed in the Kaath Embassy in the duergar city-state of Durkheim. Representing the collected interests of the entire Tribunal and their families, Samda's title is that of "Executor." A refined and experienced warrior in his own right, Samada enjoys a close personal relationship with the Orrukov Regime due to both the Regime and Kaath's focus on personal strength and fighting prowess. Samada even counts himself as one of many informal instructors to Vaerald IV. His more official duties include procuring fighting slaves from the Regime, and selling the Regime slaves for it's various mining operations in the city.
Nolana

Nolana is a member of the Taken Sisterhood, serving as an overseer of the region of Golgotha, keeping watch over the region for supernatural threats and signs of artifacts and anomalies of interest to the Sisterhood. A suel woman, Nolana is deeply ingratiated in the cultural roots of Golgotha and the native suel who occupied the area.
Cymbidia

Cymbidia is a vishkanya scholar and the chief librarian for the Taken Sisterhood within the library of the Jasper Garden. She is tasked with maintaining the Sisterhood's historical and arcane records, organizing ancient tomes of forgotten lore and keeping watch over those artifacts that do not fall under the domain of the even stricter watch of the Pontifex Shaedasa Umbel. Due to her important position within the sisterhood, Cymbidia wields a great deal of unique authority and is a reliable source of information on a plethora of different subjects, being among the most well-read of the Sisterhood's already studious members.
Cypherius Sarthyn

Lord Cypherius Sarthyn was an elven war hero and strategist of the Shattered Kingdoms era, in Noxerra's more ancient pre-war history. One of the most influential leaders of the Larethian Crusade, Cypherius earned renown during the Shattered War by liberating the fortress city of Canwale in modern day Morninguard during a siege, and then marching northwards to further victory during the war. This feat earned him the epithet of the *"Hero of Canwale."* In both his lifetime and long afterwards he is regarded as one of the most brilliant strategic and military commanders to have walked Noxerra.

Much of Cypherius's life has been lost to history, though a few texts - such as his famous Stratagem - remain to inform those of the wasteland of that history which has been forgotten since the collapse.
Nastalia Einar

Nastalia Einar is a half-drow assassin, a member of the 40 Lashes. Recruited into the order by Colm McCallum sometime after leaving behind her home city of Karstein due to familial disputes, Nastalia found a second home within the assassin's guild, becoming a skilled and devoted member of the group, with a talent for infiltration - even marrying a fellow assassin, Kaleen Cersei.

Some years later, Nastalia was sent by the inner circle of the Lashes to pursue the Priestess when she fled to the underdark of Zventhos. While there she was captured by the forces of the Queensguard where she was tortured by agents of Klavus the Cruel while in the custody of Xaegaroth the Merciless. Fortunately, Nastalia found herself rescued by the very woman she was there to save herself, along with the party, whose Orrukov-sponsored expedition she joined at the Priestess's behest.
Kord

Kord is an ancient Suel god, primarily worshiped by the indigenous tribes of Golgotha before the rise of the Sol Empire and the collapse. Worship of Kord and his sister-god Wee Jas died out as the human Suel tribes were largely slaughtered by the wood elves of the forest, though small sects persisted, and Kord is now one of the few gods still revered in the forest communities and druidic tribes that remain in the wilderness. Kord is a god of strength, competition, and battle, as well as a thunder god often prayed to for powerful storms and rains. In contrast to the cerebral arcane nature of Wee Jas, Kord appeals to those for whom physical prowess comes more naturally, and is a patron to great warriors both within the tribal cultures and more rarely - those outside of them.