🔵 LORE: The Netherese Resurgence

Parent Note: 120_🏛️ The Great Archive of Faerûn
Status: Final

The Second Empire of Netheril, led by the returned Shadovar, represents a century of arcane hubris. Unlike the ancient empire that fell to Karsus’s Folly, this resurgence was fueled by the Shadowfell and the dark patronage of SOURCE Shar.

The Return from the Void (1372 DR)

The era began with 1372 - Return of Thultanthar, when the City of Shade pierced the veil back to Toril. Led by the Most High Lord Telamont Tanthul and the 1372 - The Return of the Archwizards, they immediately sought to terraform Anauroch. Their arrival was punctuated by 1372 - Destruction of Tilverton, a demonstration of shadow-magic that proved the "modern" mages of Faerûn were no match for Netherese High Magic.

Expansion and Subversion (1372 – 1439 DR)

The Shadovar realized that total war was inefficient. Through 1372 - The Conquest of Sembia, they seized the wealthiest trade nation on the Sea of Fallen Stars via political infiltration rather than siege. During the 1374 - The War of the Shadow, they tested the limits of their influence against the Dalelands, utilizing the Shadow Weave to remain invisible to their enemies.

The Shadowbane War and the Fall (1482 – 1487 DR)

As the Weave began to destabilize during 1482 - The Second Sundering, the Netherese launched a desperate, total-war offensive known as the 1484 - The Shadowbane War. This conflict reached its zenith with the 1487 - The Fall of Thultanthar. The capital city was brought down by Elminster, crashing into Myth Drannor and effectively decapitating the Empire. This cataclysmic end ensured that the Present Age would be free of the Netherese shadow.