Odus

The Mysterious Benefactor A Collection of Translated Notes

Compiled by:

Sulian Veers

If you are reading this tome, then you are no doubt interested in the hidden history of our world. The writings within were gathered and translated by the adventurers of Norrath, who discovered them on their various journeys through our world. They were brought to me not too long ago, as I was doing some studies of the discoveries made since Odus was found once again.

We may never know who this brave erudite was that sacrificed his freedom, and possibly his life, to bring us this information. It is for that reason, if for no other, that this information cannot be lost once again.

Sulian Veers, sage of South Qeynos.

The Fall of Erudin:Part One By: Khuzaymah In’am

Over two centuries ago, our forebears were faced with a great misfortune. The gods, realizing their diminishing power over mortals, forsook the races of Norrath and fled in cowardice. With the absence of the Norrathian pantheon the world was soon plunged into unease. While the seas began to churn, races bickered and fought with one another. Meanwhile the Erudites of Odus were quickly learning of the god’s real treachery. In an act of true arrogance the gods gathered all the Books of Knowledge thus removing the ability to teleport long distances. This fact, along sea travel rapidly becoming more dangerous, meant Odus was quickly becoming cutoff from the rest of Norrath.

While there were many who cared little about communicating with those outsdie of Odus, many more found the loss of magical travel to be a critical hindrance to their studies. Representatives from both Erudin and Paineel convened to discuss this matter and, in the name of knowledge, a stable measure of peace was established. Now united, the leaders of both cities declared that they would work together to unlock the secrets of teleportation. It was decided that a new Nexus must be created on Odus so that it could be monitored at all times. After a great debate on its location, it was constructed in the foothills of the Stonebrunt Mountains.

The new Nexus was built in secrecy under Quel’ule, a township created under the guise that it was a religious retreat built away from the bustling cities. In the meantime agents were dispatched to other continents of Norrath. Their missions were to recruit others to help them create a network of spires which would interface with the new Nexus. It was during this time things began to change in Erudin. A wise scholar by the name of El’Arad was quickly rising to power.

After proving his intellectual powers during the initial construction of the new Nexus, he was voted as a member of the Erudin High Council. Soon after, El’Arad rose to prominence within the council and became its leader. On a cold Feastday morning, Head Councilmen El’Arad announced the disbandment of the High Guards of Erud.

The Fall of Erudin:Part Two

The Vah Shir are an offshoot of the kerran race that originated on the Norrathian continent of Odus. Legend holds that the kerrans were once bitterly divided and in the throes of a bloody civil war when a great leader, Kejaan Kerrath, emerged to unite the tribes into a single nation. A golden age followed, during which the kerrans became the dominant species on Odus.

Kejaan proved a wise and resourceful ruler, drawing his elite nobles from among the other kerran clans. From clan Shir came nobles, generals, and warriors. From Kajek came shamans and counselors. From the clan of Shahar, Kejaan drew his hunters and farmers, and from clan Karani, he selected his civil servants and bureaucrats. The so-called Komiyat Kerrath grew in strength and influence.

The coming of the Erudites proved catastrophic for the kerrans, even though relations between the two races were good. When a small number of Erudites first took up the practice of necromancy, however, the kerrans began to fall ill, and soon plague raged through their cities and villages. Convinced that the heretic Erudites and their dark magic were responsible, Kejaan himself went to treat with their leaders, but even he returned weak and sickly. He died soon thereafter, and his son Vah took the throne.

Vah gathered his elite forces in the Shir city of Shar Vahl, intending to join the Erudites in their war against the heretics. Before he could act, however, a great battle broke out between the heretics and Erudites, resulting in huge pieces of Norrath being flung into space — and among them the city of Shar Vahl.

The rogue Rejik tells the story of the Vah Shir and their arrival on Luclin. He was a scout and a spy of middle rank on the day of the great explosion. His account is a rare record from the early days of Shar Vahl, since written works have since been prohibited there.

Luclin is a jealous and somewhat petty deity, but she chose in this case not to punish the interlopers, for she knew that their coming was not by choice. Once more, she allowed Norrathian aliens to remain on her moon. Soon after arriving upon Luclin, the kerrans also discovered that their connection to the spirits of Norrath had been cut off. Only the great beast-spirit Sahteb Mahlni remained in contact with the Vah Shir, leading many of the

cat-folk to turn to agnosticism or to worship the mighty Sahteb exclusively.