Lyran Nanther

Lyran Nanther was a member of the Nanther family of Melvaunt in the Moonsea in the mid–14 century DR. He was known as Lyran the Pretender for his claim to rule over Shadowdale in the Dalelands.

History
Born to the influential Nanther family of Melvaunt, he later became a lieutenant of the Zhentarim agent Jyordhan. Jyordhan even chose Lyran to succeed him as Lord of Shadowdale.

But in the, Jyordhan was killed by Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, who took the Pendant of Ashaba away to Waterdeep and promised to send a suitable person to rule Shadowdale. Lyran was left with no claim to the lordship and was considered a pretender. This marked the beginning of the Time of No Lords in Shadowdale, which ended three years later when Khelben gave the Pendant to the Knights of Myth Drannor and Doust Sulwood ascended the lordship, who was later succeeded by Mourngrym Amcathra.

Zhentil Keep eventually lent Lyran an army of Zhentilar and Banite priests in the, however. With it, he made various incursions and attacked Shadowdale to wrest the lordship from Mourngrym in the First Battle of Shadowdale, but his army was routed in a heroic defense.

When Melvaunt's Council of Lords discovered Lyran's association with Zhentil Keep after this defeat, they immediately had him executed for consorting with their traditional enemy upon his return. His branch of the Nanther family was then banished from Melvaunt.

Home
While in Shadowdale as a lieutenant of Jyordhan, Lyran and the other lieutenants lived in a manor house built for them in an area known as the Bog.