Tezzeret Thuzad

Tezzeret Thuzad was a powerful Human wizard, an archmage of the Orrin Empire until his interest in the dark arts caused him to be stripped of his rank and holdings, and exiled from the empire by the emperor Khadgar. He traveled to the newly founded Kingdom of Alterin where he was offered the opportunity to freely study Necromancy.
  Now a necromancer of Alterin, Tezzeret founded in secret the Cult of the Damned, recruiting cultists among the nobility and the lower classes of the kingdoms with promises of immortality. Years later, he died and was reborn as a terrifying lich, marching over Altering to rule over the kingdom.
  For years he held control of the kingdom and fought against the forces of neighboring realms and religious cult, until his first defeat at the hands of adventurers. Tezzeret managed to resurrect and recover his phylactery until he was once again defeated at the hands of the champions of the Orrin empire.
 

History

Before the Orc War, Tezzeret Thuzad was one of the finest wizard of the Orrin Empire. Of the powerful wizard of the Orrin, Tezzeret was the most eager to hoard more knowledge, jaleous of Medivh and of his young apprentice, Khadgar. During the Orc war, Tezzeret Thuzad witnessed the demonic Magic, and the use of necromancy by some orcs, raising the deads to empower their armies, and became even more interested in necromancy after seeing what its power was capable of. A practice that was forbidden in the empire.
  Tezzeret had been considered a maverick for years due to his insistence on studying the forbidden arts of necromancy. Driven to learn all he could of the magical world and its shadowy wonders, he was frustrated by what he saw as his peers' outmoded and unimaginative precepts. Convinced that the Orrin was too squeamish to seize the power and knowledge inherent in the dark arts, he vowed to learn what he could no matter the cost.
  Khadgar, Tezzeret's rival became the emperor and restricted the wizard's ability to study the dark art even more, but an opportunity arise from the situation, as a conflict emerged between the empire and the newly created Kingdom of Alterin. Khadgar learned that Tezzeret had been experimenting with necromancy by reanimating dead rats. Fearing for the safety and reputation of the empire, Khadgar had Tezzeret's properties searched, and all items tainted by dark magic were confiscated and destroyed.
  Khadgar warned Tezzeret that he would be stripped of his rank and holdings, and exiled from the empire if he did not abandon his "madness". Leaving behind his fortune and prestigious political standing, Tezzeret abandoned the ways of the empire and joined Alterin. He sold his vast holdings and stored away his fortunes.
  David Lionheart was pleased with the wizard conscript, promising Tezzeret the freedom to study the dark arts as he pleased in exchange for his loyalty and obedience. Tezzeret, eager for dark knowledge and power, accepted.
  Over the span of three years, he used his fortune and intellect to study necromancy, gathering a brotherhood of like-minded men and women. The brotherhood, which he called the Cult of the Damned, promised its acolytes' social equality and eternal life on Toriel in exchange for their service and obedience to Tezzeret. As the months passed, Tezzeret found many eager volunteers for his new cult amongst the tired, overburdened laborers of the Orrin empire who escaped to Alterin. As the Cult of the Damned grew in size and influence, Tezzeret made sure to keep its workings secret from the authorities of Alterin, fearing even his new king might force him to stop despite his promise.
  Tezzeret now growing extremely old started to use his magic to extend his lifespan, enough to see King David die and his son, Richard Lionheart take over the throne. The cult and Tezzeret were discovered by Richard, from there he fled, but was hunted down by the king and killed in 1162 BD.
  However, the cult was not exterminated, and using Tezzeret's remains, he was reborn years later, in 1154 BD, into the terrifying form of a lich. With his newfound power, and an army of follower behind him, the lich took over the kingdom of Alterin. The entire kingdom now under his control, the lich's realm was regarded as unholy, and the enemies of good by every other realm. Consistent attacks from the other realms and religious organizations weakened the Alterin defenses, enabling incursions that led to Tezzeret's defeat.
  His phylactery was not destroyed, the Cult of the Damned securing it. This led to the rebirth of the lich only a few months after its original defeat, Altering still under his control, yet the wizard did not learn of this experience. In a manner very similar to how he was originally defeated, the champions of the Orrin Empire stormed the citadel and defeated the lich lord once again, destroying the phylactery tooin 1132 BD, at least according to the legends.

Tezzeret Thuzad


Titles
Archlich
Lord ruler of Alterin
Race
Lich, former Human.
Sex
Male
Alignment
Neutral Evil
Life
1239 BD 1132 BD 107 years old
Children


Cover image: Tezzeret by Dave Greco
Character Portrait image: by DeNA

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