The Emberwild Conspiracy

In the final days of the war, there were murmurings of a grander plan from the Council of Nine. A way of succeeding even if they lost. A plan to survive beyond their deaths.

— Isarilla Verde, Myths of Aldenia

Summary

Astrona Emberwild was the leader of the The Council of Nine, the group of individual responsible for the Cataclysm War that scarred the lands. As the war drew to its conclusion and the forces of light edged towards their ultimate victory, rumours began that Astrona was working on a way to survive beyond death. Having already joined forces with a Lich during war and possessing significant necromantic powers herself, these rumours were not without reason.
The Amulet of Astrona Emberwild, which she wore always, was supposedly the key to this plan. No-one is sure or certain what the exact nature of her plan was or how the amulet factored in but over five hundred years later it has not resurfaced but the idea of a potential of the Council of Nine will always sit at the back of the minds of the people of Axora and Aldenia, in particular.

Historical Basis

The amulet was never recovered following the final battle, The Siege of Arkran. Eyewitness accounts state that it was disintegrated along with Astrona at the very end but a few suggest there may have been a separate flash moments before her death. The possibility that the amulet was not destroyed as the world would believe provides the basis for any sceptics.
The Cult of the Nine formed following the end of the war. They are a shadowy group whose motives are based in this this very belief. Their activity swells and abates depending on new rumours as to the amulet's location and any time they seem to pose a problem to society, they are dealt with by the Lawkeepers or armies, though they have been successfully entirely eradicated.

Cultural Reception

The world has moved on in the half a millennia since the world ended and the vast majority will go through their life without even thinking about this myth. For the world leaders, however, is a myth they are happy to believe is a myth but keep alert just in case it isn't...