Netheril, once a flourishing city and the heart of the Mytharil Empire, has become lost within a forgotten and accursed land, hidden deep within the furthest reaches of The Shadowfell. Long lost to time and history, Netheril is a tragic remnant of an ancient civilization of Mythar, the Celestial beings created by Unknown. Once noble and radiant, the Mythar of Netheril have been irrevocably corrupted by the shadowy energies of the Shadowfell, turning them into dark, twisted forms of their former selves, known now as Shades.
The Fall of Netheril
In the golden age of the Mytharil Empire, the Floating City of Netheril was the pinnacle of arcane mastery and Rift Magic. It hovered in the skies of Tolria as a testament to the Mythar’s divine power. Under the leadership of Archmage Valekith, the Mythar sought to push the boundaries of magic and science, even attempting to harness the unfathomable power of Unknown. Valekith, consumed by his own ambition, sought to use the crystal’s power to achieve immortality and ascend to godhood. His plan, however, had catastrophic consequences as it opened a rift to the Plane of Khaos. This rift allowed -- Eyes of Stars -- a terrible Revenant Titan to enter the Prime Plane and cause untold Chaos.
In a desperate attempt to escape the impending destruction caused by the Continuum Crisis, Valekith activated the Soulmonger Crystal, an artifact he had created to consume the life essence of the Mytharil citizens below the floating city. The crystal drew upon the souls of countless innocents to power a Rift, pulling the city out of the Prime Plane and into the Shadowfell. While the city escaped the initial cataclysm, its fate was sealed as it became trapped within the shadowy dimension.
Corruption of the Shadowfell
Over centuries of exposure to the Shadowfell's bleak and twisted energies, the once-beautiful city of Netheril and its inhabitants became warped and corrupted. The radiant Mythar, once angelic in form, were slowly transformed into Shades and other dark beings, their divine essence replaced by shadow and despair. The vibrant city became a gloomy, floating fortress, a reflection of its inhabitants' fall from grace.
Valekith himself, now known as Valekith, continued his descent into darkness, mastering the shadowy magics of the Shadowfell. He established the Shadi Order, a secretive and malevolent cult of necromancers and shadow mages devoted to furthering his twisted ambitions. The Shadi Order manipulated the very fabric of shadow and death, feeding off the souls of the lost and damned in the Shadowfell.
The Floating City of Netheril drifted across the shadowy planes, gathering power through the Soulmonger Crystals and the dark rituals of the Shadi Order. The city became a place of torment, where the souls of those who followed its dark path were consumed and twisted, fueling Valekith’s ever-growing power. The Mythar who remained were no longer beings of light, but hollow shells bound to the darkness of the Shadowfell.
Legacy of the Shadi Order
As the city of Netheril became entrenched in the Shadowfell, its purpose changed. The Tribunal of Netheril, once powerful mages dedicated to maintaining order in the Prime Plane, was corrupted by their dedication to restoring the Hands of Valekith, a council of necromancers and shadow-mages who sought only to increase their control over the shadowy energies of the plane. These dark mages, under Valekith's command, now rule the city, forever seeking a way to return to the material plane and reclaim the glory that was lost.
Over the millennia, the Shadi Order and their dark magics became more powerful, as they learned to manipulate the shadow energy of the plane to their will. With each passing century, Netheril consumed more souls, growing in power but losing any remaining sense of its former grace and purpose. The citizens of Netheril were consumed by shadow and despair, losing their identities and becoming mere extensions of Valekith's will.
The Myth of Netheril’s Return
There are those who believe that Netheril will one day return to the material plane. It is said that Valekith still plots his return, using the Soulmonger Crystals to gather the energy needed to tear open another rift and bring the floating city back to the Prime Plane. The Shadi Order, ever loyal to their ascended master, works tirelessly toward this goal, feeding the Soulmonger with the souls of those unfortunate enough to cross into their domain.
However, the return of Netheril is not seen as a hopeful prospect by those who remember its tragic fall. Should the city return, it would bring with it the corruption of the Shadowfell, spreading darkness and despair across the Prime Plane. The once-noble city has become a place of nightmares, a relic of a time when ambition and hubris led to the downfall of an entire civilization.