Ketheric Thorm

General Ketheric Thorm was a Chosen of Myrkul and a leader of the Cult of the Absolute who led an army of undead and monstrous creatures from Moonrise Towers in the Western Heartlands during the late 15 century DR. He played a significant role in the Absolute Crisis that plagued the Sword Coast during that time.

"I'll tell you a story, True Soul, about a man who sold himself piece by piece. He had...everything..."

- Ketheric Thorm.

Description
Like most half-elves, Ketheric still showed signs of aging in his latter years. He had long gray hair that he wore over a circlet bearing the symbol of the Absolute.

Personality
Ketheric was a devoted family man in his mortal life. After losing them, he became utterly distraught and lost all semblance of his former self. His despair drove him to desperation, and in turn obsession. In his final years he became wholly devoted to getting back his family, keeping them safe, even if it was against their will.

Activities
Before his conversion to the Church of Myrkul, Ketheric was former Selûnite and later a worshipper of the goddess Shar.

Relationships
Ketheric had a wife and a daughter named Isobel, whom he loved more than anything else in life. Isobel challenged her father, but brought him such joy he could never despair despite the loss he suffered. In time, Isobel fell in love with Aylin, a servant of the Moonmaiden Selûne. Unfortunately, both Ketheric's wife and Isobel died, the latter death especially bringing Ketheric tremendous grief that drove him to pledge himself to Myrkul in exchange for her resurrection.

Three other individuals with the surname Thorm were encountered by adventurers within the shadow-cursed lands surrounding Reithwind: Malus Thorm, the physician; Gerringothe Thorm, the toll collector; and Thisobald Thorm, the brewer. As a product of the shadow curse, each of them had become horrifically twisted in some way and driven to madness. Their relationship to Ketheric is unclear, although Thisobald referred to Ketheric as his "father".

The necromancer Balthazar served as the general's trusted advisor and ally in all matters in service to Myrkul.

Abilities
"That is the power my Lord Myrkul has granted me - command over the immeasurable legions of the dead."

- Ketheric Thorm.

In his time in service to the Absolute, Ketheric was granted invulnerability by profane magic that involved binding a celestial being within a 'soulcage' in the Shadowfell, accessible from a portal within the Gauntlet of Shar. The power of the celestial being was siphoned away by necromantic magic, and bestowed both Thorm and Isobel with everlasting life and immortal strength. Ketheric was able to survive injuries that would instantly kill a mortal, such as an arrow through the eye or an axe through the chest, and heal his wounds nearly instantly. However, the trapped celestial was in fact the aasimar Dame Aylin, Isobel Thorm's one true love. Isobel hated her father for imprisoning Aylin, and for manipulating her in such a twisted manner.

Possessions
Ketheric Thorm wore a suit of plate armor known as the Reaper's Embrace, and wielded a unique warhammer and shield.

He was also in possession of one of the three nether stones, powerful Netherese artifacts associated with the once-god Karsus.

History
"I have fought great wars before, in the service of other gods, and other powers. But for Myrkul, I would condemn all of Faerûn to death."

- Ketheric Thorm.

In his first life, Ketheric Thorm was a worshiper of Selûne, as Thorm's family had been faithful servants of Selûne for generations. He had a family who lived in Reithwin. Ketheric's wife died while still young, and although he grieved, he continued to care for his daughter. Unfortunately, Ketheric's daughter Isobel also died young, leading Ketheric to grieve her death deeply. To take away his own sorrow, Ketheric turned to Shar, the Lady of Loss. He eventually became Shar's chosen.

Some time during or before the, he raised an army of Dark Justiciars beneath the Thorm family mausoleum. He and his followers managed to release the shadow curse across the lands surrounding Moonrise Towers. Ketheric and his army were turned away by an allied force of Harpers and druids of the Emerald Grove. Notable among those that opposed him were the hero Jaheira and Master Halsin. Ketheric himself was locked within the Thorm family mausoleum.

Some time during or before the, the god Myrkul appeared before Ketheric and promised him that which he desired most: Isobel returned to life once again. Ketheric sacrificed his body and soul to Myrkul in exchange for that boon. Isobel hated that which her father had became, and rejected everything he had done to bring her back.

He joined Lord Enver Gortash and Orin the Red, in their plot to cultivate the cult of the Absolute and seize the Sword Coast for their own. Thorm would raise an army of undead at Moonrise Towers and march on Baldur's Gate, while the other chosen of the Dead Three would carry out their own roles.

He would later be defeated within a mind flayer colony beneath Moonrise Towers by a group of adventurers who had been infected with the cult's altered mind flayer tadpoles, but who were granted resistance by a mysterious artifact. Mortally wounded, he called upon Myrkul to aid him, and allowed himself to fall into a pool of brine. He reemerged transformed into the Apostle of Myrkul, the Lord of Bones's avatar, and fought the adventurers again before being defeated a final time.