The Chronicles of the Blind by Faern'Aerthras

[Aethereal]

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=callig][SIZE="6"]The Chronicles of the Blind[/SIZE]



By Aerthras the Blind Seer[/tface][/COLOR]

[Aethereal]

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=callig][SIZE="6"]Volume I: The Prison that is Ymph[/SIZE]
Originally published Mirtul 6th, 1381 DR[/tface][/COLOR]



It is known by those who reside upon the shrouded isles archipelago that the isle of Ymph is a prison to the most unacceptable elements of Netheril. Here reside those who practiced magics and rituals that were considered deviant and profane by the ken of the already self assured realms of human hubris that was Netheril. Here were sent all who attempted to achieve power akin to that of Karsus in his theft of Godhood.

It is not the intent of this work to explain the specific histories of colonisation upon Ymph, as such literature already exists for those who wish to learn of it. The purpose of this work is to expand upon the truth that Ymph is a prison for Netheril, for colonists from abroad, as well as you and me.

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=callig]Of origins, magic and the passage of time[/tface][/COLOR]

The Netherese who were granted their magic by tel’quessir, abused what was given and uncovered from the ruins of elvenkind, the magics of the Nether Scrolls. This ancient and potent spellcraft that the wisdom of tel’quessir prohibited the use of was harnessed by Netheril from which was raised their floating enclaves and Karsus’ own ascension to Godhood.

The Weave of Magic is an intangible ocean which ebbs and flows in unison with our existence. It has existed before mortals walked Abeir-Toril and is not something that relies upon us to sustain itself. Yet it is known to the truly knowledgeable amongst us that there were beings who scribed the ancient scrolls of power. It is then apparent that we are they who reside upon the dwellings of ancient and great powers beyond our time and recknoning; any who argue against such are but deluded fools.

I shall be expanding upon this notion in my later volumes, for example, the place and influence of the ancients and dragonkind upon Abeir Toril and their specific impacts on the island of Ymph.

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=callig]The Inmates[/tface][/COLOR]

As with all prisons, they exist to contain criminals and deviants; in this case inmates who almost always have pursued arcane experimentations and goals unacceptable even by the high hubris of Netheril - sponsors and witnesses of the usurping of Godhood.

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=fraktur]H’Bala the Maiden; Betrayer of the Natural World and the Starpeople
Status: Lich (unliving)[/tface][/COLOR]

[INDENT]Her name in the times of Netheril is available to those who seek it with knowledge in their mind and heart; H’Bala is the moniker of the lichess who curses the isle and all life on Ymph with the Withering of Undeath.

H’Bala once masqueraded as the dead God Moander, convincing the Darkbringer’s followers into believing her shell was the malformed incarnation of the deity. This event is recorded in the annals of Ymph within the archives of the Order Numinous of Brethren Votarient and other historical sources as the Great Rot War. Brave templars and heroes ensured she was not successful in ascension, yet the culmination of this event would see the shell of H’Bala, her husk walk freely within Ymph beyond incarceration of her spirit in the dread tower.

In less than a year after her husk’s release into the world, H’Bala would be freed from her tower by the folly and gross incompetence of a group led by the Stewards of Ymph. The Transcendent Conclave would then, months later and shortly after “King,” Antoine Trenada’s failed assault upon the dread tower, abandon the living Dominion of Nebezzdos and themselves fall in their stand against the maiden.

Catastrophe would spill into the isle as one after the other, the power players of Ymph, who stand for the living, would fall and all the greatest defenders of life would be taken into the embrace of the Mist. A three year slumber known by the reckoning of the Dreamers as the Second Great Shrouding of Ymph would befall the isle.

During this three year period, H’Bala would recover from the aftermath of the Conclave’s assault and in her ravenous fury, instigate an Unholy ritual cursing upon the isle a slow yet eventual conversion to Undeath; known to us all as the Withering curse.

She now continues her dark workings, seeking to command the natural fonts of power, the ley lines of Ymph to enhance her grasp over the island; in the hope of her final realisation: to see all in her eternal service as undead servitors.

As a curious sidenote it is said that H’Bala the Maiden was granted the privilege of being the Warden’s gardener in life.[/INDENT]

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=fraktur]Warden Lotheri Sanq; Imperator of the Empire of Netheril
Status: Extended (living or unliving, it is not clear)[/tface][/COLOR]

[INDENT]Once upon a time this being was known to the living Dominion of Ymph as naught but the ancient and memory-bereft custodian of the temple of Jergal.

How surprised were the living when the Nightrisen rose from the bowels of Nebezzdos, finally free of the Conclave’s Shield, with jars of memory to restore this high power of Netheril to his throne. Said to rival Karsus himself, the Warden does not think like mortal man, or even the longer lived beings. His quest to lift Netheril to its former glory may take centuries, his containment of H’Bala eventual, yet in a timeframe that does not benefit the living.

The Warden is precisely that, a warden. He shall, by his own reckoning tame the discordant elements of his people once more, by containing them or harnessing their power to return Netheril to a glorious new age; much like the New Empire of the Conclave (only under alternate rule.)[/INDENT]

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=fraktur]Razul the Oracle of the Transcendent Conclave
Status: In the form of mystical child (living)[/tface][/COLOR]

[INDENT]Revelations of the Twice Awakened Augur name this prodigious child as a Netherese prisoner whose original name, much like the Maiden can be uncovered by those who seek it with knowledge in their mind and heart.

Who can trust the words of the villain that was Neerix Valashar however, and furthermore who can know the source of her information; assuredly not her drug induced leanings and mist addled and entirely befuddled mind?

I shall not slander the mighty EMPIRE of the Conclave, or their dozen or so number now struggling for survival above the desert lands of their sovereign territory. Despite their humble number, the claims of New Netheril are grandiose and highly unlikely to reach fruition due to their inability to shrug off universal distrust stemming from their shady past and the well kept secrets of their coterie.[/INDENT]

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=fraktur]Barakat Djaeranus the Darkener
Status: Vampire (unliving)[/tface][/COLOR]

[INDENT]Barakat is said to hold coven in the depths of the sunken enclave, somewhere amidst the nightrisen and larvals. The vampire and his spawn are undoubtedly working in unison with the Imperator-Warden. To what extent Barakat is granted freedoms to pursue his various rituals under the ruler of the unliving empire is unknown. The vampire is known to have held Razul imprisoned beneath Nebezzdos and there may also be a connection between these two beings beyond the fact they are both prisoners of Netheril.[/INDENT]

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=fraktur]Prassix Rijoritive
Status: Unknown – possibly deceased[/tface][/COLOR]

[INDENT]The architect of Dunwarren and the great “Machine,” that lies in the dark realms beneath the surface of the isle. This very fact proves that the taint of Netheril reaches every corner and crevice of Ymph. This being is perhaps the most promising of Netheril to investigate, for his achievements seem to be the least volatile and most evidently successful.[/INDENT]

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=fraktur]The Mist
Status: Ancient and enigmatic sentient entity? [/tface][/COLOR]

[INDENT]The Mist protects us from the Withering for one reason and one reason alone: We are the resource, the fodder shared between it and H’Bala. H’Bala desires our souls to be bound in eternal servitude whereas the Mist devours souls for unknown purpose, quite possibly for survival in its current form.

There is much more to be revealed and learnt about the Mist; this may be seen in future volumes.[/INDENT]

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=fraktur]Father Michael, the Psychopomp
Status: Living?[/tface][/COLOR]

[INDENT]This being is said to be unaffected by the Withering curse, he knows something that the rest of the living do not. Whatever this dark secret is, is not known by this Blind Seer. The Psychopomp is one of the most intriguing beings on this isle, sheathed in layer upon layer of pure evil; he manages to stave off the curse either through divine will or through the fact he too is a Netherese prisoner, extended in life.

This possibility requires investigation, this entry must be expanded upon and in the conclusion of the first volume of the Blind Chronicles; let this mystery guide those who search for knowledge and understanding.[/INDENT]

[COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=fraktur]You and Me
Status: Transient, irrelevant[/tface][/COLOR]

[INDENT]The powers that be have dictated that we were not fit for our former existences; whatever that may have been. Here we are, either selected by unknown forces or taken by some connection to the empires that came before, either Netheril or something more.

Many theories exist on our purpose here, but does it really matter? We are here just like the prisoners; to be contained. To witness the depravity of one another, to war against one another, to cause rife and conflict; I have seen it, time after time.

Too many of us are content to nothingness, to fight each other without any true progress, any advancement in understanding. To simply perish due to one mistake, one error in what is this game of survival in the prison that is Ymph.

So my dearest reader, please think, please understand, there is more than violence and conflict due to simple clash of mind. Attempt for a moment to think, where exactly are you? Why are you here? What have you done to be placed  in this position?

Think and if you cannot, then read, read and read, and present to me your theories.[/INDENT]

[INDENT][COLOR="LightBlue"][tface=fraktur]Disclaimer:[/tface][INDENT]As a Seer, I am incapable of lies. Everything contained within my works are the truth as far as I am able to ascertain or theories based upon evidence, logic, rationalisation and reason.[/INDENT][/INDENT]




[SIZE="3"][FONT="Tahoma"]Aerthras the Blind Seer[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE]