Mayong Mistmoore

Ageless

Mayong Mistmoore has been a power in Norrath “since the dawn of time.” He is ageless, and little is known of where he came from. A journal written by Dorvias N’Keth curses “blasted Mistmoore, always with his foul nose in that which does not concern him,” and says that although he was once Teir’Dal, he “no longer swears fealty to Innoruuk or any other.”

The castle on Ranthok Ridge

His castle stands among the shadowy peaks of Ranthok Ridge, off the southeastern edge of the Lesser Faydark, a greater threat to the fey than any orc. Its household is his own making. Pledge familiars are dark elves he has kidnapped or seduced and changed into thralls and consorts. Dark necromancers are female Teir’Dal lured away from Neriak who act as “Mistmoore’s voice in the larger world.” Deathly warriors form his first line of defence, cloaked dhampyres are sent to the far reaches of Norrath, and even in death his living minions keep serving, as semi-vampiric will sappers.

Decades ago he grew worried that the elven holy site Faygannen, Temple of the Vines, stood so close to Castle Mistmoore. It is Bloodmoon Keep now.

How the drachnids were made

The dark elf sorceress Tserrina Syl’Tor bred giant obsidian-black drachnids and sent some as gifts to those she admired, Mayong among them. Her gift spider came back changed. He had grafted the head and torso of her emissary, L’Dalt, onto the spider’s body; L’Dalt’s memories seemed gone, but his cunning and magic remained. His thank-you note mocked her: “Thank you for supplying Mistmoore with suitable raw ingredients for true servants.”

When he began releasing drachnids into Norrath in packs, she studied them, and noticed that the mature males seemed to be carrying out orders she could never work out. They serve him as agents across Norrath, especially on Kunark. Tserrina herself was first his student and then his partner, and her Tower of Frozen Shadow in Velious was to become a vampire stronghold from which he could watch the dragons.

Old grudges

He made enemies of the mighty. He became Venril Sathir’s enemy over the disappearance of Dencarja of the Ebon Masks and the Imperatrix Zhelebati of Caerthiel, and in Secrets of Faydwer Tunare sent adventurers back to the Elddar Forest to recover knowledge for the fight against him.

A myth by design

For hundreds of years he laid the groundwork for his ascension. He wrapped himself in mystery and myth until historians and fame-hunters everywhere were desperate to find him. Few had ever seen the vampire, but everyone believed in him, and that was the point: the gods are strengthened by those who revere and believe in them.

Dreadspire

When Norrathians accepted his invitation to Dreadspire Keep, they unknowingly acknowledged his power and became disciples who fed the enchantments around him. Mayong was fought as a raid in Depths of Darkhollow, and on January 5, 2006, Kytherea’s Keepsakes congratulated Raging Fury of the Antonius Bayle server as the first guild to defeat him. With the final blow his blood spread across the enchanted floor, and his last breath was a promise: “My age begins.”

Their awe at his power and their pride in defeating him were the last ingredients. His soul rose into godhood, the Demi-Plane of Blood took shape as a crimson realm of death and darkness, and even Norrath’s sun dimmed as his plane bled through the pantheon. Two weeks after that first kill, the same column warned of “a new presence walking among the gods,” released into godhood “by the follies of mortals.”