 |
This article is currently being worked on by Weisguar (talk) 19:16, 10 December 2023 (UTC). Please check back later for changes and check if edits made will not disrupt work. This article has been tagged since {{{2}}}. |
Ketheric Thorm's war was a conflict between the Chosen of Shar, Ketheric Thorm, and the Harpers that took place in the Chionthar Valley in the 14th century DR.[note 1][1]
Conflict pre-history[]
Ketheric Thorm mourning his wife Melodia.
A former faithful worshipper of Selûne, Ketheric Thorm turned to Shar following the death of his wife Melodia Thorm and daughter Isobel Thorm. Some citizens of Reithwin and the surrounding lands followed Ketheric's example and converted to the Shar's faith out of respect for him and not on religious grounds, but some were the true disciples of the Lady of Loss. Sharran Registry bore record to a large amount of people joining Ketheric's cause at that period, including multiple members of noble families. The owner of the Damaged Journal was one of examples of the disappointed Selûnites finding their new way in Shar's embrace. Those who refused to adopt the new goddess faced severe consequences - execution or enslavement became the only alternatives to conversion.[1]
Ketheric's preparations[]
- Mason's Log
- Scuffed Manifest
- Personal Account
- Scribbled Note (Last Light Inn)
The rumors of strange behavior of local population reached the ears of the Harpers. Their agents uncovered evidence of systematic desecration of holy sites devoted to Selûne.[1]
Adamantine Forge construction
- Grymforge: A History
- Dusty Book
Selûnite Resistance[]
After Ketheric's conversion to Shar, not all inhabitants of the lands controlled by him did the same. Those that did not convert were declared heretics and persecuted. Inquisitor Verzen Wranlock's Investigation Notes shed light on some measures used in Reithwin to find the worshipers of Selûne.[1]
As the foremost expert on Moonrise Towers, Ketheric's mason, Morfred, had unparalleled knowledge of its weaknesses. He wrote a letter to his brother, Halfred, and organized a clandestine meeting at the Last Light Inn. The inn was made a base for local Selûnite resistance gathering the trusted people from Reithwin and its environs. Morfred also transported some of his supplies from Reithwin Mason's Guild to the inn. It was decided to infiltrate the Moonrise Towers and covertly get rid of Ketheric Thorm.[1]
Working in secret, Mordfred and Halfred hid the sacred relics and artefacts of their goddess in the basement of the Last Light Inn and in concealed corners of an abandoned potter's workshop located not far from Reithwin. A small shrine of Selûne was established in the basement of the inn.[1]
At some point the plan hung by a thread when Dark Justiciars rounded up every member of Reithwin Mason's Guild for interrogation.[1]
Course of the war[]
Ketheric and his Dark Justiciars.
The increasing strain from the ongoing military strife had an impact on the spirits of both parties. As a result, due to the Harpers' regular espionage activities, Sharran adherents found themselves at times punished by the Sharran inquisitors, mistakenly suspected of aiding the enemy. One of such situations was described in Justiciar Sybil's Undelivered Letter apologizing for her oversight during an investigation in Grymforge. The Harpers also conducted interrogations of the inhabitants of Reithwin and Moonrise Towers using force as evidenced by the Harper Interrogation Transcript.[1]
Shortages:
- Veterinary Log
- Healers' Ledger
- Surgeon's Memorandum
- URGENT: Request for Supplies
- Tollhouse Ledger (Reithwin)
- Patients' Registry
- Gerringothe's Logbook
Flaming Fist's leader, Grand Duke Xeremiah Eltan, ordered Art Cullagh to investigate the local activities.
Conflict with Church of Lathander[]
- Dark Justiciar's Journal
- His Holy Blood, Vol. 1, Dawnmaster Dovaer
- His Holy Blood, Vol. 2, Paladin Vaseid
- His Holy Blood, Vol. 3, Dawnmaster Vaseid
Invasion to Moonhaven[]
Battle for the Selûnite outpost
- Map of Moonhaven
- Old Letter
Alliance between Harpers and Emerald Enclave[]
Alliance between Harpers and Emerald Enclave.
The Harpers conducted thorough investigations, documenting General Ketheric Thorm's atrocities in the Scroll of Evidence. Ketheric's crimes included murder, enslavement, and temple desecration. His rule was deemed a reign of terror, driving the Harpers to unite with the Emerald Enclave and others against him and his Shar's followers.[1]
Siege of Moonrise Towers[]
The Harpers interrogated suspected followers of general Thorm among the populace of Reithwin and the lands around to gather strategic intelligence about Moonrise Towers, including details about the disposition of Sharran forces. The exigencies of war led to excesses among Thorm's adversaries and casualties among civilians. Harper Interrogation Transcript was one of the evidences of harsh methods used by Harpers.[1]
In The Waning Moon: Consignments Thisobald Thorm mentioned that, on the Eleint 23 or some time before it, Ketheric was poisoned by the Harpers, but managed to survive because of his immortality.[1]
The clash between Ketheric Thorm's devoted followers and Harper forces reached its crescendo at Moonrise Towers. A Harper's Testimonial: The Last Stand of Ketheric Thorm, Chosen of Shar said that Dark Justiciars employed darkbolts proved devastating against Harper forces. The third day of the siege revealed Sharran forces crumbling, so General Thorm strode onto the battlefield himself.[1]
Khelben Arunsun, acting with full authority from the High Harper Council and their allies, formally issued terms of surrender to Thorm's forces. The proposal, drafted with grave consideration for suffering civilians of Reithwin and the potential catastrophic losses across the Sword Coast, represented the Harpers' commitment to peace over prolonged conflict. Thorm's rejection left no path forward but continued warfare.[1]
Yurgir's Onslaught[]
As Morfred wrote in his log, during the last year of the war, he met Raphael, Mephistopheles' son, who offered him a bargain. Raphael promised to get rid of Ketheric's army in exchange for Morfred's soul. Morfred accepted the offer and was transferred to the House of Hope where he stayed ever since as an eternal debtor of the cambion.[1]
Raphael fulfilled the deal, sending orthon Yurgir and his merregons to Grymforge. Within the Sharran's Journal, there was an account of one of Dark Justiciars witnessing Yurgir's onslaught. Most of the Sharrans were wiped out during the first day. The others continued to fight back or hide for some time as the author of the Abandoned Journal. The garrisons of the Gauntlet of Shar and of Grymforge slipped out of existence, but Yurgir's contract would remain unfulfilled until 1492 DR as, unknown to him, Raphael had also made a contract with one of Dark Justiciars called Lyrthindor, hiding his presence from the orthon and foredooming Yurgir to wander the Sharran temple for over a century.[1]
Shadow Curse[]
Statue of Ketheric Thorm in Reithwin after the shadow curse was cast upon the town.
Following the near-complete destruction of Ketheric's army of Dark Justiciars, Ketheric killed himself. Not long after his entombment in the Thorm Mausoleum, however, the lands surrounding Moonrise Towers were stricken with a shadow curse, plunging the region into malevolent shadow for over a century. The curse affected the armies of both sides and the locals without distinction, turning many into undead shadows that sought only to consume the living. Halsin's Druid Notebook mentions an acquaintance turning into a shadow that possessed a glaive. After the shadow was laid to rest, its glaive was brought to Emerald Grove and named Sorrow as a constant reminder of what was lost in the war.[1]
Aftermath[]
For many years Emerald Grove druids and Harpers tried to find the way to fight the shadow curse and to heal the lands affected by it.[1]
Influence[]
- Roan Featherway, a druid of Silvanus and Halsin's acquaintance, was entrusted with compiling a historical account of the war's events. Roan drafted a four-volume series of novels that included The Unforeseen Alliance, Volume I, Love in Shadowed Lands, The Cost of Sorrow, and Shadow's Kiss. However, some of those who experienced the war firsthand claimed the books resembled romantic novels bearing little resemblance to actual events.[1]
See also[]
Appendix[]
Trivia[]
- Reithwin Necrology
Appearances[]
Video Games
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 In Baldur's Gate III, the timeline of Ketheric Thorm's story and Ketheric Thorm's war is unclear; however, it can be narrowed down through other canon sources. 986 DR is stated (Reithwin Necrology) as the year when a battle took place between Dark Justiciars and druids & Selûnites. The note only mentions Malus Thorm, not Ketheric. This suggests that the date could be an editorial oversight or simply mean that Reithwin had a cult of Shar active as early as 986 DR with Malus Thorm, an elf, as one of its members. The presence of the cult and a family member being a part of it would help explain Ketheric's quick fall from grace. Ketheric's family's deaths and his subsequent conversion to Shar would have taken place sometime around 1367 DR, as the Moonrise Towers was used by the High Heralds and Naernythra Thaloudyn as late as that year. With the High Heralds present, Ketheric's enforcement of Sharran religion and inquisition would not be possible, so this must happen after the Heralds leave; presumably, Ketheric ordered them out first. The destruction of Moonhaven is dated to 1371 DR (or possibly the following year)—this means Ketheric's fall and leading an army took place between these two dates. Lastly, Ketheric Thorm's war and its conclusion involved Khelben Arunsun, meaning the war took place before 1374 DR (the date of Khelben's death in Blackstaff (novel)). Notably, Khelben left the Harpers in 1370 DR, but his presence could be explained by the war's severity, forcing his involvement. All of these points indicate that Ketheric Thorm's war, his death, and the creation of the shadow-cursed lands took place circa 1372-1373 DR.