Azrai`s Servants

[Jim Cooper]

Craig Dalrymple wrote:
> Now then, give a few thousand years for the rise and fall of Anuire, and old rockbutt, and the Thirteen again set their eyes on the land to the north. The Magian being the boldest of them all (or perhaps the last) goes on a blitzkrieg attack and picks up his new land
and foothold in Cerilia with relative ease.
> What comes from this is of course going to depend on all our individual campaigns. Perhaps a few other wizards will attack other parts of Cerilia. That's a frightening concept if they are as powerfull as the Magian. Perhaps they come to his land and really raise some Shadow Hell in the Khinasi lands. Perhaps the strike from the
shadow world????

[the Falcon]

> This is essentially what I am doing in my campaign. Azrai, still alive
> but a shadow of his former self in the guise of The Cold Rider, has been
> building up his forces, quietly, secretly, over the past 1500+ years.
> Of 'The 13 (Servants)', only 4 survived the BoD: The Raven, The Magian,
> The Dread, and my own homegrown dude, The Ghul Lord. The Ghul was the
> best of the 13, Azrai's right hand man and second in command of all His
> Dark Forces. The Ghul is the only one of The 13 who knows that The Cold
> Rider is Azrai (the other three are unaware of his existenc yet IMC),
> and has been His chief servant in slowly gathering His forces this side
> of the veil (Cerilia). The time is almost right for Azrai to enter the
> world again ...

Don't forget the GHOUL lord who sides with those gnolls in Khinasi (but
sides mostly in the Shadow World anyways).

[Mark A Vandermeulen]

On Fri, 19 Feb 1999, Jim Cooper wrote:

> This is essentially what I am doing in my campaign. Azrai, still alive
> but a shadow of his former self in the guise of The Cold Rider, has been
> building up his forces, quietly, secretly, over the past 1500+ years.
> Of 'The 13 (Servants)', only 4 survived the BoD: The Raven, The Magian,
> The Dread, and my own homegrown dude, The Ghul Lord. The Ghul was the
> best of the 13, Azrai's right hand man and second in command of all His
> Dark Forces. The Ghul is the only one of The 13 who knows that The Cold
> Rider is Azrai (the other three are unaware of his existenc yet IMC),
> and has been His chief servant in slowly gathering His forces this side
> of the veil (Cerilia). The time is almost right for Azrai to enter the
> world again ...

What about el-Sheighul, the regent of the Black Spear Tribes of Gnolls in
the Khinasi lands? The CotS books comes right out and says that he is one
of the Lost. I believe that it also says that the name means "the Lord of
Ghouls," (I read it as sort of "Shah of the Ghouls").

Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu

[Pieter Sleijpen]

Jim Cooper wrote:

> This is essentially what I am doing in my campaign. Azrai, still
> alive, but a shadow of his former self in the guise of The Cold Rider,
> has been building up his forces, quietly, secretly, over the past
> 1500+ years. Of 'The 13 (Servants)', only 4 survived the BoD: The
> Raven, The Magian, The Dread, and my own homegrown dude, The Ghul
> Lord. The Ghul was the best of the 13, Azrai's right hand man and
> second in command of all His Dark Forces. The Ghul is the only one of
> The 13 who knows that The Cold Rider is Azrai (the other three are
> unaware of his existenc yet IMC), and has been His chief servant in
> slowly gathering His forces this side of the veil (Cerilia). The time
> is almost right for Azrai to enter the world again ...
>

What about el-Sheighul, who according the books is one of those 13
wizards?

Pieter

[Ben]

>This is essentially what I am doing in my campaign. Azrai, still alive
>but a shadow of his former self in the guise of The Cold Rider, has been
>building up his forces, quietly, secretly, over the past 1500+ years.
>Of 'The 13 (Servants)', only 4 survived the BoD: The Raven, The Magian,
>The Dread, and my own homegrown dude, The Ghul Lord. The Ghul was the
>best of the 13, Azrai's right hand man and second in command of all His
>Dark Forces. The Ghul is the only one of The 13 who knows that The Cold
>Rider is Azrai (the other three are unaware of his existenc yet IMC),
>and has been His chief servant in slowly gathering His forces this side
>of the veil (Cerilia). The time is almost right for Azrai to enter the
>world again ...
>

Wasn't that guy Atar one of the Lost also? I think I read that
somewhere...


Ben

[Jim Cooper]

the Falcon wrote:
> Don't forget the GHOUL lord who sides with those gnolls in Khinasi (but sides mostly in the Shadow World anyways).<

Oh, will ammend:

I don't consider him one of the 13 - el-Sheighul is one of The Lost. To
me, I've always made the distinction between "The Lost" and "The 13
Servants of Azrai".

The Lost are those handful of material and extra-planar (which
el-Sheighul is) creatures that Azrai taught the art of True Magic to.

The 13 Servants of Azrai were the best of Azrai's servants, not
necessarily wizards (notice that The Raven is also a figher - despite
the obvious, I considered that he was first a fighter; tis only recently
that he has schooled himself in magicks). Thus, I assume Azrai picked 3
of the best of each class (F,P,R,W), with my homegrown dude, The Ghul,
as their immediate superior, to make 13 awesome lieutenants to help
Azrai fight the coming battles.

At least, that's the way I imagine it!

Cheers,
Darren

[Jim Cooper]

Ben wrote:
> Wasn't that guy Atar one of the Lost also? I think I read that
> somewhere...<

Not IMC! Those really *are* just rumors ... :D

Man - I guess I should have put the caveat out that "IMC - this is what
is happening!" :D

Cheers,
Darren

[Manta]

> The 13 Servants of Azrai were the best of Azrai's servants, not
> necessarily wizards (notice that The Raven is also a figher - despite
> the obvious, I considered that he was first a fighter; tis only recently
> that he has schooled himself in magicks).

I have to disagree with you here Darren.
If you refer to Blood Enemies you see that it was Tsar Lenski (former ruler
of Usk Atka) who "in desperation turned to magic", and did so not by
becoming a wizard but by bringing from "Meraset"(af) a wizard.
The body inhabited by the Raven is that of Warlord Tusilov, a great warrior
(he was Lenski´s military advisor). So, it is the body the Raven inhabits
that is a Fighter, not the Raven himself (at least that´s how I see it). He
probably was not 17th level when the Raven flew down his throat, having
gained levels when the Raven united Usk Atka)
The body of the Raven is also a Wizard. I believe these powers are inate to
the Raven and were not studied by the body (i.e. I don´t think Tusilov
swiched classes and raised his level till Wizard 14 - he gained those
powers when he had that final meal - the live crow from the shadoworld).

César Manta
ip209007@ip.pt
ICQ: 17080887

[Tim Nutting]

Hmmm - wish Id caught this one when it was still alive.

I think Darren's spelling of Ghul was intentional and appropriate. See
Al-Qadim's complete Sha'ir's Handbook for the kit "ghul lord" and check
darkstar's site for my interpretation in BR "the Socerers"

Just to throw my own "IMC" stuff out here, this is my work in progress on
the Lost Ones.

___________________________

THE LOST

Ancient times bring with them ancient mysteries. One of these is the little
known and certainly unlamented legends of the Lost, the near mythical First
Disciples of Azrai. In a time when the world itself had turned asunder and
it seemed that the heavens would rip themselves apart, the forces of the
newly christened Shadow required leadership, and boundless were they who
would betray all they held dear to gain the powers granted by a god.
If one were to look deeply enough into the ancient histories surrounding
Aduria, long buried and oft forgotten though they be, one would find records
ancient beyond belief if lucky enough, ancient rumblings that give hint to
the structure of the world during the Flight from the Shadow, and before.
Perhaps counted as the ramblings of a madman, a scrap of work remains from
an author almost unknown that speaks of the old gods, and in particular it
speaks of Azrai.

The first hints of this incredibly ancient work speak of the Keeper of
Power, and Loremaster. They also title Azrai the Boastful, and the Prideful
Youth. Another work, this but a scrap, two pages from a tome show drawings
of the interior of a cathedral focusing on a graven image of a young man and
extreme beauty that appears to view the world at the length of his nose, and
text that declares this the image of Azrai the Beautiful “whose glory nearly
outshone the Light of the World”. Little can be pieced of these, but they
full reading and compilation of other small sources indicates that Azrai was
not at all times the Shadow and Cursed of the Light, but perhaps something
less so, something less (or more?) than the incarnate evil he represented at
Deismar.

The truth that all these hint at is perhaps unguessed by most mortals, and
certainly not of import to the immortal Sidhe, tricked as they were by the
Oathbreaker. Azrai was for a time the keeper of the Adurian peoples, the
most secular and least holistic of the races of humanity. Rather than
seeking the glories of their god in the life of simplicity favored by Reynir
or in the endless pursuit of the seas as Masella, the Adurians glorified
Azrai in the building of monuments and cities. Industrious, devoted and
innovative these peoples grew to such an extent as to nearly outnumber any
of three of the other “tribes” together.

In this endless chase of graven perfection, the Adurians crafted wonders to
stun the world. Grand bridges of huge rivers, cities with towering
monuments and incredible structures rising high enough to make a man
senseless, and in some cases harnessing the powers of the elements to create
works of power whose existence is scoffed at by modern era scholars, for
surely modern Aduria does not boast these awesome feats, does it? And yet,
some point to the towering monolith that is Kal-Saitherak and say "There is
one of their contemporaries, see what he has done?"

Beyond all of this, Azrai the Knowledgeable, the Beautiful became
infatuated with himself, for what other perfection could there be than the
perfect god. And was it not the perfect god’s right to have all worship
devoted to him? So did Azrai begin the slide to evil, first becoming vain
and malignant, and slipping downward from there.
Over the coming centuries Azrai would slowly begin introducing a new power
to humankind, a power that could surpass the godless creatures of this world
and the servants of other gods. Thus was there born the first Sorcerer of
humankind, Atar, a Vos chieftain and devoted of Vorynn who was seduced by
the lure of new magic.
Until this time there existed only one form of human magic, that being the
power of the magician. Rumors abounded of the Land of Monsters far to the
north where strange Faerie dwelt, wielding power the likes of which had
never been seen by human eyes. In fact, some superstitious tribesmen of the
Vos at first thought that Vorynn had taken form before them, and so the
rumors spread of powerful “elves” and their otherworldly magic.

THE GODS AND POWER
An Outsider's Perspecitve
exceprted from a work by by Tannith Annul of Sigil
(editor's note: this material will seem fragmented due to the editor's
desire to remove much of Annul's ravings and obviously outlandish
speculation from the text presented)

At this time, perhaps a brief primer on the relationship of the gods (or the
powers of Aebyrnis) to their people is best given. In the ancient world on
the home of humankind, the Mother Land now called Aduria, the peoples of the
gods existed in careful balance, neither truly sharing lands and resources,
but not truly competing at the same time.

Their gods likewise lived in a semi-balance. In a convention since
disbanded by the new gods, and unheard of in the multiverse, the gods knew
that to compete so openly would be to destroy the fragile balance of the
southlands. Unlike any other sphere in the Prime, in Aebyrnis the gods
walked openly. Unfortunately the thruth of their birth is lost to history,
but the strongest and most likely speculation, heathen and blasphemous
though it is, is that the gods of the tribes were the first beings of each
tribe, the initial creations of a much more powerful entity. It is
speculated that with this unlikely and strange origin would account for what
observers from Sigil say is impossible, for the gods to manifest their full
powers openly on the prime material.

That this speculation exists throws new light on the debate of the powers of
the Outer and Inner Planes, and on why it is that the powers do not walk the
prime freely, and perhaps is contradicted or supported by the events known
as the Time of Troubles on the sphere of Faerun (editor's note: Annul goes
into a long and obviously fevered connection between sweet Aebyrnis and a
forgotten backwater of the multiverse, see his works for further pursuit)

In the unique state of being on the sphere of Aebyrnis, the powers of Aduria
(ed note - Annul differentiates between the human and demi-human powers,
noting that he believes the human powrs were NOT responsible for this
sphere's creation, and are merely caretakers) held relations to mortals in a
very similar manner to the powers of the outer planes. Like their
bretheren, these beings also chose proxies and servants whom they chose to
bless with certain auspices and abilities. In some cases, proxies became
lovers, and I speculate that the subsect of the angelic branch of swarphim
in the Haelyn, Cuiraecen, Neserie triumvirate are a result of such a union
breeding true. This can be seen in their superior status to low order
devas, while they remain quite subservient to the high order solars.
(note - solars also serve Avanalae)

Further speculation of the nature of 'magic' on Aebyrnis shows that this
energy is particularly more potent than on any other sphere. The sheer raw
power that springs live from the depths of Aebyrnis and flows across the
surface is astounding. In a hazardous journey through their Shadow World, I
broke through and hapened upon a particular valley in the Gorgon's Crown
where I saw a quite active volcano of immense proportions (see my maps,
named Shaitan). My specially altered detect magic spell near blinded me
with the immense power flowing from its peak. I caution any who try to
acquire the secrets of their "realm magic" to not even think of attempting
the chanel the magics of the active volcanos, and stick to the safer
wellsprings in forests and vales.

I also suspect a hugely secret connection between the elves and the magic of
this sphere (editor's note - more of Annull's ravings)

Anyway, after prolonged exposure, it seemed that certain entities,
particularly proxies, were quite open to the energetic outporings of the
land, particularly that the huge wellspring of Cerilia. I think that before
the catalclysm caused by the powers of Aduria on the shores of that island,
that a very small group of beings was quite able to tap and manipulate that
power, largely due to their intense alteration by the gods. Certain legends
point toward one gods manipulation on a much grander scale than the others,
that being their shadow bretheren, Azrai.

After some time, these experimentations were able to wield the potent magic
of this sphere and the first humans of this strange union of godly essence
and human spirit were his disciples. I believe that their legends cal these
beings the Lost, though they hold quite a different significance in the
south lands.

(editor's note: from here Annull's speculations turn very wild, but the
core of them indicates that he believes Azrai manipulated these "Lost Ones"
with his essence, thus allowig them access to the magic of the elven
peoples, though twisted by his dark imagination)


THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE LOST ONES
The Nine Disciples of Azrai, The Chosen of the One God,

Name - Class - Level - Race - Sex - AL
Atar the Viper, Shadowlord - Fighter/Sorcerer - 19th/23rd - Vos - Male - NE
El-Sheighül, The Lord of Ghouls - Priest/Sorcerer - 17th/19th -
Masetian/Undead - Male - LE
Allustriel the Lady of Pleasures - Priest/Sorcerer - 9th/20th - Andu -
Female - NE
Kirgaa the Paingiver - Priest/Sorcerer - 17th/17th - Rjuven - Female - CE
Nesterix the Striking Shade - Fighter/Sorcerer - 10th/17th - Adurian -
Male - NE
Ysmalla the Honeyed One - Thief/Sorcerer - 18th/25th - Basarji - Female - LE
Koll the Nightbringer - Fighter/Priest/Sorcerer - 20th/6th/11th -
Thrannish - Male - CE
Gelsdimall the Golden - Guilder/Sorcerer - 19th/15th - Brecht - Male - NE
Annishall the Raven - Fighter/Sorcerer - 15th/21st - Andu/Vos - Male - CE

________________________________________________

Hope this stirs up something!

Tim Nutting
zero@wiredweb.com

[Gabriel]

Tim Nutting wrote:

> Hmmm - wish Id caught this one when it was still alive.
>
> I think Darren's spelling of Ghul was intentional and appropriate. See
> Al-Qadim's complete Sha'ir's Handbook for the kit "ghul lord" and check
> darkstar's site for my interpretation in BR "the Socerers"
>
> Just to throw my own "IMC" stuff out here, this is my work in progress on
> the Lost Ones.
>

Bravo, Tim! While I'm not sure how big of a part I plan on having the Lost play
as of yet in my campaign, the way you tie in the Planescape setting with this
certianly has potential with what I'm running. (I've been telling my players for
months that I'm going to take them offworld). Either way, makes for a great
read.

Alaric
alaric@deltanet.com

[DKEvermore@aol.co]

Damn good stuff, Tim N.!

I must say I'm very impressed. I had to double check who this last posting
was from, because it sounded so solid, I thought it could be official!

I very much enjoy your perception of the human gods. They explain the elven
position well. Until now, I viewed the elves as simply far too headstrong and
proud to admit there were human gods who could do magic better. This
explanation shows that even the old human gods are not the ultimate creators
or Cerilia. One can even see how elves, dwarves, and goblins could decide
that the human gods should have no place in their homeland--interlopers in the
land of Cerilia!

Yet, on the other side, now humanity has truly great symbols of their
strength. The first of them became gods! What race can say that? Even now,
the greatest of humanity arose 2000 years ago to take the place of the
originals, the Adams and Eves of humanity on Aebyrnis. These gods, having
normal human origins, illustrate the pinnacle of human success, for they can
challenge the power of those gods whose origins are truly unknowable and
divine.

Thanks, Tim. Your ideas have opened whole new landscapes of invention in my
campaign.

Dustin Evermore

[Pieter A de Jong]

Tim Nutting wrote a post on Azrai's Servants, and I like it a lot! It
fits very well with some of my own thoughts on Aebrynnis, pre-deismaar.
>

>
> Their gods likewise lived in a semi-balance. In a convention since
> disbanded by the new gods, and unheard of in the multiverse, the gods knew
> that to compete so openly would be to destroy the fragile balance of the
> southlands. Unlike any other sphere in the Prime, in Aebyrnis the gods
> walked openly.

This fits in perfectly with my ideas about the elven-human wars. I say
that direct divine intervention would be required for the humans to win
those wars, and here we are, pre-deismaar, with the gods stomping around
fully manifested.



A very nice job Tim.



Pieter A de Jong
Graduate Mechanical Engineering Student
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada