Art by Artastrophe
Players & DMs Beware!
Below is the most dangerous and private information that a PC can uncover about the Salamander War. Skill checks will not be enough to gather such intelligence; only direct and risky adventures have the chance of yielding these secrets. Thayans at all levels of society will perish to protect them, and magical means have been used to obscure them at every step.
This is DM-only material, so if you anticipate playing in Thay and want to do your DM a favor, stick with the post about what most Thayans know about the war.
Mari Agneh sent private forces to extinguish fires throughout the Priador to secure her holdings, and because she was unaware of the deal between the Zulkirs and the elementals. Ivania and The Unnamed Zulkir, who was in actuality Desa Canos, could not afford to unveil their plan to Mari but found her efforts fortuitous, so they made no effort to resist. This outraged the fire elementals, who demanded the Zulkirs build the permanent portal they'd promised or they would forfeit their deal. Desa was able to banish the efreeti back to their home plane, where they had to remain silent or risk revealing their meddling to Kossuth. Ivania sought to placate the salamanders who remained by offering to reset the fires in the Priador and bring them the person who had been stamping them out. The salamanders acquiesced, at least temporarily. Ivania traveled the Priador and set it aflame herself with great gusto, taking out some Thayan outposts in the process (as a way of further appeasing the salamanders who traveled with her).
Aznar Thrul, an up-and-coming wizard dedicated to Kossuth, started investigating the war once the fire elementals became involved. He caught the rumors that Mari was behind the drive to put out the fires and learned that she was involved in the assault of the free cities. She was also more accessible than the Zulkirs or Hargrid, who was always on the move with his army. Aznar quietly made his way past Mari's defenses to capture her and offer her as a sacrifice when she revealed that neither she nor Hargrid were in on the scheme with the elementals.
While they unpacked the plots together, word arrived that the salamanders had suddenly turned against Thayan forces. The elementals had also secured a portal - slaying Hargrid in the process - and were using it to strengthen their numbers. Thrul lashed out at Mari in frustration, but she put up enough resistance to get him to listen. She reminded him that all was not lost: Kossuth would probably be displeased that so many elementals were plotting to abandon his realm. She suggested Aznar contact the Fire Lord directly with the news. Mari also agreed to throw all of her remaining resources into the ritual to get the Fire Lord’s attention, but only in exchange for becoming Aznar's right hand in the region forever after.
Aznar Thrul managed to connect with Kossuth and convince the deity to send forces against the elementals that were ravaging the coast. He argued that Kossuth’s religion would rise to prominence throughout Thay, even in the besieged cities, if the Firelord was seen saving the day. No one, save perhaps Mari Agneh, everything he said or offered in return; Thayans only know the Firelord agreed. When the counter-offensive was over, the elementals were routed and the Zulkirs had been swept from the board. Ivania Yonago was confronted and defeated publicly by Aznar Thrul as he pelted her with accusations of treason with the rebel elementals. Although others tried to find and assassinate the Zulkir of Conjuration for years, this was what finally sealed her doom. Mari's whisper network ensured that the worst mistakes of the Salamander War were laid at Desa's doorstep. When the wizard retreated far from the battlefield, House Canos sent its regards before others could get the chance. Desa's mishandling had cost the family and navy dearly - too much to allow her to live. Szass Tam seized the opportunity to claim the assassination as his own work. Through his network of spies, it became known that the lich was wroth at the waste and stupidity of the war and took it out on Desa easily once she withdrew from the public eye. Tam’s reputation was strengthened and House Canos was content to let him take the credit.
Thrul summoned the Zulkirs to inform them of the situation as it stood: He would take over as Zulkir of Evocation, since he had beaten Ivania fairly, but the empty seat of Conjuration was now theirs to fill; he had no challenge or suggestion to offer for it. He alone had reached Kossuth, so he alone would work with the deity’s forces as they helped Thay’s beleaguered army to take down the remaining salamanders. For his services, he would become Tharchion of the Priador. The Zulkirs knew that he was in the position to demand much more and that attacking him would turn public sentiment against them in a frothing tide; Mari's agents had turned Thrul into the hero of the war, after the Firelord himself. They had also seen proof that Thrul was in Kossuth's good graces. What they did not know was that Ivania's demise was part of the price Thrul paid for the Firelord's aid, nor did they guess that the last explosive attacks on the Alaor were related to Kossuth's price. The Zulkirs agreed to Thrul's demands so long as Mari Agneh was not killed in the process. Not only was she from a preeminent family, but having to keep her alive would keep Thrul busy for years to come.
But Mari has only appeared to be his burden and his slave. Having secured his life and a unique position as Zulkir and Tharchion, Thrul returned to claim Bezantur. Rumors spread of a devastating private showdown in which Mari was conquered as his thrall and plaything. He has made vicious displays of controlling her in public ever since. She has never failed to seem haunted, obedient, and even crushed in front of others. She has remained under the best guard, however, and every attempt on her life has been brutally repelled. In truth, she is the secret heart of the region's whisper network, and continues to guide Thrul's efforts through her cunning. They have a very different relationship when in complete privacy, and she is the only one who has been able to temper his most dangerous instincts. In top secret records that are to remain sealed until after their deaths, proof of their marriage exists, as well as titles for their offspring. No signs of pregnancy have ever been witnessed and no children have been close to them, but their bloodline will remain one of the most powerful in Thay, if they have anything to say about it. If they extend their years magically, however, these revelations could take much longer to surface.
Aznar Thrul, an up-and-coming wizard dedicated to Kossuth, started investigating the war once the fire elementals became involved. He caught the rumors that Mari was behind the drive to put out the fires and learned that she was involved in the assault of the free cities. She was also more accessible than the Zulkirs or Hargrid, who was always on the move with his army. Aznar quietly made his way past Mari's defenses to capture her and offer her as a sacrifice when she revealed that neither she nor Hargrid were in on the scheme with the elementals.
While they unpacked the plots together, word arrived that the salamanders had suddenly turned against Thayan forces. The elementals had also secured a portal - slaying Hargrid in the process - and were using it to strengthen their numbers. Thrul lashed out at Mari in frustration, but she put up enough resistance to get him to listen. She reminded him that all was not lost: Kossuth would probably be displeased that so many elementals were plotting to abandon his realm. She suggested Aznar contact the Fire Lord directly with the news. Mari also agreed to throw all of her remaining resources into the ritual to get the Fire Lord’s attention, but only in exchange for becoming Aznar's right hand in the region forever after.
Aznar Thrul managed to connect with Kossuth and convince the deity to send forces against the elementals that were ravaging the coast. He argued that Kossuth’s religion would rise to prominence throughout Thay, even in the besieged cities, if the Firelord was seen saving the day. No one, save perhaps Mari Agneh, everything he said or offered in return; Thayans only know the Firelord agreed. When the counter-offensive was over, the elementals were routed and the Zulkirs had been swept from the board. Ivania Yonago was confronted and defeated publicly by Aznar Thrul as he pelted her with accusations of treason with the rebel elementals. Although others tried to find and assassinate the Zulkir of Conjuration for years, this was what finally sealed her doom. Mari's whisper network ensured that the worst mistakes of the Salamander War were laid at Desa's doorstep. When the wizard retreated far from the battlefield, House Canos sent its regards before others could get the chance. Desa's mishandling had cost the family and navy dearly - too much to allow her to live. Szass Tam seized the opportunity to claim the assassination as his own work. Through his network of spies, it became known that the lich was wroth at the waste and stupidity of the war and took it out on Desa easily once she withdrew from the public eye. Tam’s reputation was strengthened and House Canos was content to let him take the credit.
Thrul summoned the Zulkirs to inform them of the situation as it stood: He would take over as Zulkir of Evocation, since he had beaten Ivania fairly, but the empty seat of Conjuration was now theirs to fill; he had no challenge or suggestion to offer for it. He alone had reached Kossuth, so he alone would work with the deity’s forces as they helped Thay’s beleaguered army to take down the remaining salamanders. For his services, he would become Tharchion of the Priador. The Zulkirs knew that he was in the position to demand much more and that attacking him would turn public sentiment against them in a frothing tide; Mari's agents had turned Thrul into the hero of the war, after the Firelord himself. They had also seen proof that Thrul was in Kossuth's good graces. What they did not know was that Ivania's demise was part of the price Thrul paid for the Firelord's aid, nor did they guess that the last explosive attacks on the Alaor were related to Kossuth's price. The Zulkirs agreed to Thrul's demands so long as Mari Agneh was not killed in the process. Not only was she from a preeminent family, but having to keep her alive would keep Thrul busy for years to come.
But Mari has only appeared to be his burden and his slave. Having secured his life and a unique position as Zulkir and Tharchion, Thrul returned to claim Bezantur. Rumors spread of a devastating private showdown in which Mari was conquered as his thrall and plaything. He has made vicious displays of controlling her in public ever since. She has never failed to seem haunted, obedient, and even crushed in front of others. She has remained under the best guard, however, and every attempt on her life has been brutally repelled. In truth, she is the secret heart of the region's whisper network, and continues to guide Thrul's efforts through her cunning. They have a very different relationship when in complete privacy, and she is the only one who has been able to temper his most dangerous instincts. In top secret records that are to remain sealed until after their deaths, proof of their marriage exists, as well as titles for their offspring. No signs of pregnancy have ever been witnessed and no children have been close to them, but their bloodline will remain one of the most powerful in Thay, if they have anything to say about it. If they extend their years magically, however, these revelations could take much longer to surface.
This series of posts about the Salamander War have been rewritten and improved with the aid of sleyvas at the Candlekeep forums. Many thanks!
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