Thayan Intervention in Unther

In 1371, Mulhorand launched a full-scale invasion of Unther, crossing the River of Swords, which had been their inviolable border for thousands of years. The invasion was precipitated by the death of Gilgeam at the hands of Tiamat in 1358. With the last of its patron gods dead, the nation of Unther fell into chaos. Seeing an opportunity, Mulhorand invaded, under the pretext of bringing order, while, of course, bringing their religion and authority into the region as well.

The capital city of Unthalass, having been ravaged by the deific battle in 1358, was an easy victory for Mulhorand, who had spent over a decade preparing their rapid assault. The loss of the city served as a wake-up call for conservatives in upper Unther, specifically the massive city of Messemprar, who had assumed Mulhorand's threats were empty, and their armies incompetent.

Over the next year, Unther waged a campaign of miserable failure. The initial waves of the invasion were slaves, meant to overwhelm the scattered defenders of the capital province. They and their substandard equipment fell quickly, as they were meant to. Overconfident, the early Untheric armies pushed forward to liberate their capital and found it defended by one of the most technologically advanced and well-organized armies in the world.

The Mulhorandi armies utilized elite shock troops, Tuigan-inspired light cavalry, Cormyr-inspired heavy cavalry, and endless masses of archers. Still, the most surprising of all were their cannonades; smokepowder-fired weapons that lobbed exploding projectiles deep into enemy lines. Those few who made it within range of the city's walls were assailed by lead projectiles hurled from smokepowder-fired muskets.

This new Mulhorandi army demonstrated generations of research and enormous investiture of resources. Clearly, they had learned well from the armies of the far west and the far east alike. Their trade with the far-flung lands of Kara-Tur had given them an unprecedented advantage.

The army of Unther quickly evaporated after the failed attempt to liberate Unthalass, and thereafter, the Mulhorandi began advancing. Despite massive contributions of resources and mercenaries from Thay, Unther was unable to stem the advance until they reached the River of Metals. There they encamped, gathering strength for the final push over the river and into Messemprar, the last free Untheric city.

With the city's population doubled, and all foreign aid to Unther now funneled into one place, the prospect of conquering the final remnants of Unther became far more daunting. Mulhorand spent upwards of a year gathering its strength, while solidifying their hold on their conquered lands. It became apparent that the Pharaoh was experiencing resistance in his own court, who pressured him to accept his gains and sue for peace.

The issue came to a head when the renegade Chosen of Gilgeam, Shuruppak, personally crossed the river and attacked the Mulhorandi encampment. The Pharaoh's 100,000 troops could not stop him as he tore through their ranks. Ultimately, the massive army was forced to scatter, due to the efforts of one man. No one knows what became of the man after his attack.

Though none could believe the tales, the evidence was plain; the Mulhorandi army was routed. Just as the Northern Wizards, those who had taken nominal control of Messemprar, were considering a counteroffensive, the Pharaoh arrived by sea, with an army of equal strength, raising the flag of truce.

The negotiations were short. With Shuruppak missing, the short-lived confidence of the Free Untheric people was shattered. The Northern Wizards agreed to a truce.

It was the Pharaoh's intention to watch Messemprar destroy itself. Those who wished for the liberation of their homeland would not long stand for inaction. Those slaves who envied the relative freedom their now Mulhorandi brethren enjoyed would rise up against their masters. The weak government of Messemprar would fall, and the city would be easily taken.

In late 1375, the Pharaoh returned to Messemprar. He poised his massive army south of the river, and filled the waters of the city with his endless navy. He made it known that he had no confidence in the so-called leaders of Messemprar, and he intended to liberate the city and its lands unless they could convince him otherwise.

Aznar Thrul landed with an army of 30,000 men and a sizeable navy. While nowhere near large enough to contend with the Pharaoh's forces, the true bulk of his army was on standby in nearby Alaor. Still, the combined forces of Thrul and Messemprar would seem inadequate in the face of the Pharaoh's million-man army.

Worse, still, the Church of Tiamat began secret negotiations with the Pharaoh. With the city's population doubled with refugees from the south, and the fertile lands south of the river under foreign rule, Messemprar would have been plunged into famine if not for the magic of the Dragon Queen's clerics. Though the people despise her, they still found themselves willing to accept her aid to feed their starving children.

Tiamat's church boasts a great army of dragonkin, which she claims has the power to make or break Unther. She long held the city hostage by controlling its food source, and implied she would use the armies to free Unther only if she were its ruler afterward.

In early 1376, the Tharchioness dispatched agents from Eltabbar. They quickly infiltrated a Temple to Tiamat beneath Unthalass, and discovered proof that her priests were working with Set, the ancient foe of the Mulhorandi pantheon. This unforgivable sin permanently made the church an enemy of the Pharaoh, and put to rest any worry that they would work together. The High Priestess of Tiamat, Ankhisis, attempted to take credit for the plot, as if to credit herself with furthering the fight against the oppressive regime of the Pharaoh. While none truly believed her, she saved herself from immediate retribution.

The agents of the Tharchioness then uncovered two ancient, nearly forgotten artifacts--The Scepter of Judgment, and the Ruling Blade of Enlil. Hamurza Warbringer, in their charge, brought these artifacts back to Messemprar and paraded them for all to see. By their nature, they are proof not only of his fitness to rule, but also of the continuing power of Gilgeam and the Untheric pantheon.

In response to this development, the Pharaoh recalled his forces. Isimud of the Northern Wizards bade him attend a summit on neutral ground to discuss the future of occupied Unther. He did not commit to a date.

In the days following the great parade in Messemprar, changes began to sweep the lands of Free Unther. The Church of Gilgeam rallied under their new leader, renewing their oaths to Gilgeam and his grandfather, the true patriarch of the Untheric gods. Hamurza led them in prayers and dedications to The Father, and they found they could once again cast divine spells.

The great temples of Gilgeam rapidly became hubs of activity, as the new Great Church of Enlil supplanted the Church of Tiamat, not only as a provider of food, but also a source of wisdom and guidance for the troubled people.

Motivated by their renewed faith, and positively glowing with nationalistic pride, the people of Messemprar began cleaning up their city overnight. Crime rates plummeted, and economic activity boomed. Elements of corruption that had so long plagued the city were swept away, including the priests of the murderous goddess Tiamat.

Meanwhile, reconstruction efforts began in earnest. As the temples of Gilgeam were restored to their former glory, the streets of the city were swept clean of the dust of neglect. The long-lost wonder of the ancient city began to resurface.

Tiamat, promising revenge against this "false" god, called back her priests to their strongholds in the west. Ankhisis swore that she would return, with the armies of the Dragon Queen, in the name of the one true god of Unther. Hamurza bade her to avoid being struck on the backside by the door as she departed.

Hamurza, claiming to be a priest first and a ruler second, asked the Northern Wizards to continue their administrative role in government. He found a fast ally in Aznar Thrul, whose knowledge and expertise helped him greatly in the hectic first days of his new empire. Thrul warned him to be cautious of his enemies--that the Pharaoh and Ankhisis would undoubtedly return--and he took heed of his warning.

First, he called upon the faithful of Enlil to follow him into battle against Tiamat. The time had more than come for justice, following her murder of Gilgeam. The Dragon Knights of Bahamut swore their service in the campaign, and an army began to assemble. 40,000 of his finest troops heeded the call, and marched westward to confront her.

Hamurza is in the west, doing battle with the dragonspawn armies of Tiamat.

Aznar Thrul has generously loaned his army as an expeditionary force, to guard against possible attacks from any angle. The Red Scourge and other Thayan vessels keep the waters of Messemprar well-patrolled against any ill-advised landings from the East, while the armies keep a watchful eye south.

Thrul has also been in contact with the High Imperceptor of Mourktar, who is willing to discuss alliance and even possible merger with Free Unther. His army, while a mere 10,000 strong, is as elite a force as ever graced the land, and promises to be a match for ten times its number of modern Mulhorandi troops. He pays lip service to the Father of Gods, and offers Hamurza blessings from the Faerunian god of war.

Isimud has kept in contact with The Tharchioness, who would like to exchange knowledge with the ancient order. She publicly approves of the Northern Wizards as the ruling body of Unther and the Church of Enlil as an independent religious entity. She is for Untheric independence, and calls for the Pharaoh to unconditionally release the conquered lands. She is currently building a consensus among the other Tharchions to offer a full military defense pact with Free Unther.

A delegation of priests was sent to Mulhorand in peace, to beseech the Pharaoh to honor the cousin of his god and free the people of Unther. They were brutally slain in their quarters in Skuld shortly after arriving. The Pharaoh has strongly denied involvement, swearing vengeance on those who would violate his sanctuary, and issuing a statement saying he will fast for three days to atone for this egregious act against brothers of the faith.

Information remains sketchy, but the divinations of the Northern Wizards have yielded only one solid clue: the way in which they were murdered--the cleaving of the face from the skull--is characteristic of a man long thought to be dead or gone...Shuruppak.