Library of Erudin“…for knowledge is the greatest quest of all.”Erud
Figure· Norrath at large

Severan

Direwind gnoll necromancer in the Serpent Spine Mountains who wielded plague winds and death magic, leading a massacre of nymphs near Goru'kar Mesa.

Connections

Overview

Drawn from TSSArtifactBook14 in-game book.EQ1Primary · official · best available source

Redmoon Massacre of the Nymphs

It has been the way of the nymphs to guard and protect the natural elements they were created from. The mountain nymphs, or oreads, protect the stone and rock whereas the napae watch over the fields and soils they grew from. The dryads guard the trees they sprouted from and the potameids protect the waters they sprang from. Over the many years, their fondness and desire to protect all nature extended beyond that from which they were born.

There were many oreads, napae, potameids and dryads in the timberlands of northern Tunaria created by Tunare's tears after Solusek Ro interfered with her elves and the lush lands of the continent named after her. Many years later, while living to heal and protect the waters, the potameids became ill from the Serpent River's waters. The same illness also crept through the centaur village. The illness moved rather quickly from the river's waters into the earth where it sickened the grasslands and trees. The disease moved at an unnatural through the lands.

One night, as all in Goru'kar mesa region looked into the sky, they saw the moon was bathed in a crimson hue -- the result of a powerful illusion the nymphs use as a sign of danger. The swathel of nymphs in the southwest cast the illusion as they were attacked by a foul beast.

Nymphs of all manner flew over the crest dividing the lands around Goru'kar Mesa and cried in terror and anger with what they saw. A haggard gnoll with rotting flesh hanging from his limbs had summoned winds of fury and death upon their sisters. His name was Severan.

The first nymphs who dove in to rescue their sisters were caught up in Severan's whirlwind of death and disease. The rest hovered helpless, watching their sisters rot and die before their eyes. The nymphs could do nothing but watch, knowing that if they attacked, they would all surely die. With sadness in their hearts, the nymphs retreated to the Windwillow on the mesa to be sure it remained protected. They waited in fear for many hours, but to their surprise and relief Severan did not pass their way. Nymph scouts returned to the Windwillow and said the terrible beast had moved into the pass to the northeast.

A small group of nymphs were tasked with learning who Severan was and how he used his magic so they could devise a way to destroy him.

Official Lore

1

Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out.

EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

The Direwind Gnolls

In-game bookVerant/SOE

The Direwind Gnolls The Clan Direwind gnolls have dedicated themselves to the art of necromancy and corruption over many years of living in the Serpent Spine Mountains. Their leaders, Severan and Narseekin, have mastered a ritual which enables them to carve and erect Direwind Totems, great wooden monoliths which call plagued winds from the sky.

Read the full source

Further sources

1

Lore that mentions this in passing.