 he origins of the craft of Black Magic are lost in the mists of time, but most scholars agree that the first true necromancers arose shortly after the beginning of the Second Age. The human mage Boltar became a master of Black Magic in those days and though he never attained lichedom, he deserves mention because of the impact he made on Thera. He was the leader of the old church of shadows for some time and many a citizen fell to his spells. To the this day some citizens of Tar Valon still honor him as a saying to children will testify: "Come home before nightfall, or Black Boltar will put you to sleep."
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he human Scarabaeus Sacer was the first to truly master the craft. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Intrigue and strove for immortality through his dark magic. He succeded with aid of demons and the blessings of the dark gods. He became an immortal lich king and founded his own religion, the cult of the ruby scarab. Scarabaeus is still very much active, gaining new followers and influence in Thera daily.
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hen came the human Coprophagous Sacer. He was a master of the five magicks and though he spent much time on research, he still had time to hunt paladins and others objecting to the practice of the Craft. Though a lich lord he was not immortal and died at the age of 93.
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 andor and Zauephuaes were two drow dedicated to master the five magicks. They both had necromancy as their primary study while under the rule of the Masters' Tower. After having attained lichedom Zauephuaes felt a need to use his powers more actively and left the Masters' Tower for the Church of Shadows. He became known as the Lord of the Grave. He killed many elves and paladins and was in turn killed by the master of alteration Reese and the paladin Krow. Zauephuaes died his final death in Arboria, slain by Robilar, a knight of Thera, after he and the transmuter Ordyh had attacked Robilar who was battling one of the undead guildmasters. With his last breath Zauephuaes cursed Robilar, and not long after the fight Robilar felt that his time was due and went to the shrine of Cador. Zauephuaes had intended the knight to die alone, painfully, and such was the power of the lich that even in the shrine of his lord, Robilar was in pain and only two people came to watch his final hour. Jandor died of old age after having lived a long life battling ragers. His wife Esarvee, undead master poet, was with him in his final hour.
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 umenides was another drow following in the footsteps of Jandor and Zauephuaes. He cared for nothing but power, exploiting groupmates and using deceit to cover his acts. He was so skillful at this that the late dark Lord Julias noted him and made him his avatar. Thus became Eumenides known as First of Julias. After having attained lichedom he too left the Masters' Tower for the Church of Shadows, spreading darkness on a more active basis. He later aspired to the immortal ranks, but dissipated before attaining true immortality.
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he sixth lich lord of Thera was the dark-elf Llarandaz vom Klammovitch. A scholar by trade he is rumoured to have studied in the Masters' Tower, but has certainly left it long ago. He was at friendly terms with the masters in the second age, though, having befriended many of the leaders during that time: Xurinos, Riallus, Crkvenac. He has not made much of an appearance in the third age. Little is known about the mage, though he is believed to be afflicted with the Church of Shadows. Mostly interested in gaining new knowlegde he still collects corpses from the ranks of young paladins and elves using them for research.
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 ot long after Llarandaz, the drow Maelfeshtus attained lichedom. Strong in his craft he had killed throughout his rise in rank and became rightly feared as one of the great huntsmen of the Church of Shadows. After having been the cause of much woe and suffering he ventured to the netherrealms near the end of the second age never to return.
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he arial Necrucifer was the first of his race to master the craft, and though many has followed in his footsteps only one have come remotely as far as he. A student of the Masters' Tower he showed remarkable prowess as a fighter, perhaps being the first mage actually mangling his opponent with physical blows, not magic. He earned the title Master of the Hunt, seeking out and destroying many of those who opposed the Tower. He bears the mark of the panther, having gained Pico's favor. He is still quite a force in Thera, though he hasn't made an appearance as of late.
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 hortly after Necrucifer the dark-elf Yortrich became a lich lord. He was not known as a great hunter, working more discreetly on the designs of the Church of Shadows. Little is known about him and no doubt he wants it that way, having more freedom for his work. He makes himself show from time to time, but mostly he is absent from Thera scheming and scrying in some shadowy place.
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he human mage Quazark showed great promise in the craft, tormenting and hunting with the blessing of the Church of Shadows. His current whereabouts are unknown, perhaps he is truly dead, but it is known that he did attain lich status before disappearing.
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he latest human to master the craft is the mage Sortiarius. He is known as the Vampiric Lich Lord and has the blessing of the Church to act openly, thereby showing the power of the Shadow. Sortiarius was on good terms with the Masters' Tower aiding them with intelligence regarding their foes in the second age, but his current afflictions are unknown. He is still active, though.
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ear the end of the second age the drow Crypticos attained lich status. At the beginning of the third age the arial Rakeem mastered the the craft. Both are students of the tower of magic. While the latter has been rather active, exploring the realm and experimenting, the former seems to have retired to the underdark.
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o sum up, the following 13 are the lich lords of Thera in their order of appearance: Scarabaeus, Coprophagous, Zauephuaes, Jandor, Eumenides, Llarandaz, Maelfeshtus, Necrucifer, Yortrich, Quazark, Sortiarius, Crypticos, Rakeem. At present Llarandaz, Sortiarius and Rakeem are the only mortal masters of the craft likely to be seen in Thera.
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