MASAR-BANE OF NAHEEM (ma-sar)

Masar was born in Kerrosano to a family of traders who made a modest living trading fine clothing, including fine silks. Masar had a good childhood growing up, receiving his education in a local school. His life changed when the Old Conflicts occurred as various warring factions led by vicious Warlords arose. One of these Warlords was a female Human mage named Naheem, who led a invading force into the village Masar lived in. While the exact goal of Naheem's invasion wasn't known, she did led a razing of the village to the ground. Masar's family barely escaped thanks to the efforts of the local resistance who had prior knowledge about Naheem's plans. However, Masar's mother was slain directly by Naheem during the escape.

Masar would never forget this event and swore revenge against Naheem for the downfall of his home. Masar would live among the local resistance forces for the reminder of his childhood, living in guarded locations deemed safe from the battles of the Warlords. Masar would soon join the resistance with a knack for planning, tracking, and leadership. He led various battles against Naheem's forces for a few years, climbing the ranks of the resistance to the post of commander. Masar was one of the many resistance leaders to ally himself with the rising power of various adventuring groups would be the future Champions.

This alliance proved vital as Masar gained powerful allies, and gained much knowledge about how the state of Lavantia was outside of his home. He also bore witness to the corruption of those in power, who either sided with the evil factions or simply refused to do anything about them. Masar was enflamed with fury over the injustices that was done to the common people, and sought to do something about it. He found himself meeting with five other people who were also resistance leaders from other nations, and learned that they had similar experiences with various corrupt leaders. Comparing information among each other, they came to the conclusion that a group was needed to keep leaders honest & remove corrupt leaders from power. Bringing many followers with him to a conclave at the foot of a mountain, they all discussed how to form this group. Masar lent his voice to the arguments, and brought the voices of his followers to the discussion. In the end, everyone present decided to form a semi-secret group dedicated to preserving freedom and fighting corruption in the various halls of power.

This group was collectively called Collens, with Masar named as one of the Six Founders. With the group formed, Masar's branch set out to deal with the remaining Warlords who hadn't fallen to the might of the Champions yet. Masar sought to bring down Naheem, who was still active in western Kerrosano. Masar learned that Naheem was recovering from a fierce battle from a group of Champions, barely surviving the encounter with her life. She fled to her stronghold called Falwinter in the west.

Taking his branch with him, Masar set out to remove Naheem for good before she could regain her influence. He led a campaign of freeing the local population from the iron grip of Naheem's forces, while also sabotaging their command structure. Supplies were taken, communications disrupted, commanders removed, and corrupt leaders surrendered fearing the people. This lasted for several months until Naheem's personal guard at her castle were the last of her forces. Masar led a special task force into Naheem's castle, fighting their way through magical traps and vicious undead warriors.

Unsure of what had happened, Masar pressed on until he reached the throne room of Naheem. Masar found a warlord who didnt even bother to prepare for battle, and looked defeated. A puzzled Masar yelled at Naheem reminding her of the deeds she had done at his home village, and the family she took from him. Naheem simply looked at him before speaking that she remembered everything she did, and what it had cost her in the end. How she lost nearly everything to the wrath of a group of Champions, how the specters of her victims haunted her, and how she lamented what she had become.

Masar couldn't believe that this was the same warlord who once laughed at slaying his mother in front of him. He demanded to know why her domain was in this state. Naheem replied that she hadn't done this, but a necromancer in her forces betrayed her by summoning the spirit of a dead dragon for power. The ritual went out of control as the undead dragon killed most of her men, turning them into undead warriors that forced her to seal the castle. Naheem was taken into custody as Masar restrained himself from attempting to slay her, remembering the oath he had taken despite his burning desire for revenge.

Masar would return to the village to help rebuild it, working with local sages & clerics to purge the castle of all magical influences within. Masar was present when Naheem was tried before a Tribunal for her various crimes, and sentenced to death by weapon fire.

The day before the execution, Masar visited Naheem in her cell wanting to know the truth about why she burned his village. Naheem admitted that she learned that his mother was aiding the resistance, and that she refused to help Naheem cured her infertility due to her actions as a warlord. Naheem wanted to deprive Masar's mother of her family for refusing to help her gain a family. And that she was truly sorry for the evil she had done.

Masar left the cell with the feeling that soon justice would be done, and that closure had finally come. He still was angered at Naheem for what she had taken from him, but also felt mercy as he saw that she was truly repentant. Masar would later dedicate himself to the formation of the branch of Collens that he lead, becoming a wise and beloved leader of the branch.

The story of Masar is an actual historical event as the evidence still remains at Castle Falwinter, where the Collens branch that Masar was headquartered for many years after the Fall of Naheem. They would later relocate to another site for operate, but each year they would travel to the castle to both remember their leader & teach new members the history of the branch. The village near Castle Falwinter still remains to this day, having become a large city.

Due to the events happening in Kerrosano, the story of Masar is a well-known local legend in the country. It is told by bards & historians throughout most of the land, with most people being somewhat familiar with the legend. It is not known outside of Kerrosano except by travelers who manage to hear the story. It is known in Gershon as Kerro historians freely shared this information. The Collens especially have shared this story with the Zethamites in many discussions.