Category | Militaries |
State | Black Tide of Thasmudyan |
The undead armies of the Black Tide were fearsome to behold and combat. They were the largest of this age, and possibly the largest since the Demon Spawn War. Fighting the undead is not like battling a mortal army, the undead are immune to fear and other mind affects effects, and impervious to poison, sleep spells, paralysis, stunning, and ravaging diseases that can cripple a garrison, and death spells - forbidden magic banned in the Lands of Purity. They are of course immune to necromantic magic, being creatures of that art anyway, and unaffected by pummeling into submission, or ability draining. They can see in darkness like something from beneath. Most are resistant to cold and electricity, and polymorph attacks. These are just the basic defenses of undead, some are far more powerful. When faced with an undead army, it is best to have plentiful priests on hand, and invokers priming their fireballs.
- Tarag-Khilad, chronicler of the 8th Owl Brigade - "Year 1545, Undead Ranks"
The current military composition of the Black Tide of Thasmudyan is unknown. Below is a list of major units that operated during the Black Tide War (1465 - 1504), Athenian Crusade (1539 - 1551), and the Artery War (1546 - 1554). In the Athenian Crusade and the Artery War, nearly all of these units were wiped out.
Anâth Nâru
The Anâth Nâru was a regiment sized military force led by Raxcvillibus Dumu-loc. In addition to a horde of specialized undead, the Anâth Nâru comprised of devils, hell hounds, and the death knights of Lix Tetrax.
Ghul Armada
The naval operations of the Black Tide War were headed by Admiral Jairall Bloodtusk. His navy, the Ghul Armada, became the navy of the Kingdom of Bloodtusk.
Kambar-Ghul
This army was formed in 1461. It was built and led by the adventurers of Black Banner. The Kambar-Ghul was initially composed of goblins recruited out of Othrangad, Graagvrii from Ghar-Lakh, hill giants out of Bauru-Tûr, and mercenaries from all over Hells Womb.
The first conflict for this army was the Grim Harvest Crusade (1462 - 1464). Nearly all the troops that fought in the first two years of this war would be raised as undead. The army increased tenfold in the war, with new recruits that sooner or later breathed their last, and then rose again as undead. The two greatest necromancers of those early years were Dax and Katrana. By 1463, they had trained a staff of death priests and necromancers to carry out these lesser tasks of raising undead.
In the Black Tide War, the Kambar-Ghul was led by Garn Othrannas. When Garn was killed at Ebonstar, Kambar-Ghul was for a time led by Raxcvillibus Dumu-loc.
In addition to a sizable force of undead, this army comprised of thousands of mercenaries.
Kazurâg-Gulan
Kazurâg-Gulan was an army led by Pinth Blackstrike. This army group comprised two armies. One was undead, with hundreds of ju-ju zombies archers and the other was an army of mostly Umahanbad mercenaries.
Knuckle-Bone Slingers
Mauhúrz-Dúrak
The Mauhúrz-Dúrak was constructed by the lich Katrana. The most powerful unit of this army was the Pitch Bone Legion. In 1484, Katrana's army gained respect by the other Black Tide leaders with her capture of Elamir. A year later, the Mauhúrz-Dúrak captured the city-state of Voruner.
Phanêthil Division
Tharn-Mol
The Tharn-Mol army was led by Dax Jagg. During the Black Tide War, the strongest troops of this unit were the Pyrmidian Ghouls out of the Pyramid of Merioss. When the war ended, the Tharn-Mol was headquartered at Vraga Moltus. In the Athenian Crusade, they went into action again. Once considered the cream of the Black Tide, this army was annihilated at the Severed Neck Battle. It was never rebuilt after this disastrous defeat.
The Black Wing
A unit of wights mounted on giant vultures out of Kilth.