Nae’Va

Nae’Va is the first Lich and is credited as the inventor of Necromancy. While not a god, they amassed vast amounts of power through experimentation and study sparking a horde of innovations and terrors. Nae’Va’s experiments are directly responsible for birthing the Scaragán and, as a result, Nae’Va is despised by Fae and Scaragán alike.

Nae’Va is bald,gaunt, and pale. When they do appear to mortals they come draped in a heavy hooded cloak with broken shackles on their wrists and ankles. They also have a coffin chained to their back.

Birth of a Lich

Cozauh was the name of the first headmaster of Hawthorne Academy, the second and sister academy to Asha Academy. He was a close childhood friend of Thalin, the founder of Asha Academy, and was approached by Thalin to help establish the second academy. Cozauh had recently lost his wife, Naeva, to a terrible disease and Thalin hoped that the academy would help give Cozauh a new focus and help him process his grief. Cozauh was also a powerful mage who specialized in rituals, research and pushing the boundaries of magical knowledge. With some effort, Cozauh accepted Thalin’s offer and named the sister school Hawthorne Academy. The academy was established near Zira and would focus its main research efforts in studying the remains of the Ōmukade that was slain by Atreyu.

During his tenure at Hawthorne Academy, Cozauh dedicated himself entirely to developing the school into a prestigious academy and was single-handedly responsible for multiple breakthroughs in magical academia—specifically focusing on the various ways schools of magic can be used to heal. Cozauh become more of a recluse over time. When he was seen in public, he appeared disheveled and pallid. He would brush off the concerns of his colleagues by saying he was on the verge of a breakthrough and return to his quarters not to be seen again for fortnights.

Cozauh never had trouble recruiting willing participants in his experiments as his reputation alone was able to attract more than enough bushy-eyed students. When something went wrong, he would explain their disappearances by saying he sent them out into the field, or they returned home. His colleagues had no reason to question him. 

His experiments lead to a multitude of discoveries and academic breakthroughs, including a new school of magic—Necromancy.

Through his experiments with necromancy, Cozauh learned to animate the dead and, by infusing living subjects with large amounts of necromantic energy to test the limits of the magic, he transformed them into Goblins and Orcs. He even learned how to use Necromancy to make himself immortal and transformed himself into the first Lich. Cozauh achieved many great and terrible accomplishments, but never what he truly wanted.

Upon achieving lichdom, Cozauh discarded his name and took the name Nae’Va to reaffirm their one true goal and justification for their actions, to resurrect their late-wife.

Thalin unfortunately discovered the misdeeds of his friend far too late.

When Thalin confronted Cozauh, questions turned into arguments and arguments turned into battle. The two fought furiously for their beliefs, destroying large portions of Hawthorne Academy in their wake; but, nonetheless, the fight ended in a stalemate. Neither was able to get the upper hand on the other—or perhaps neither truly wanted to.

When the dust finally settled, Nae’Va left Hawthorne Academy behind and ventured out into the world to continue their quest, dressed in a heavy cloak and carrying the casket with their wife’s remains chained to their back.

Nae’Va is rarely initially hostile to those they meet when travelling; however, they are never afraid to leave a smoldering ruin in their wake if they believe it warranted. Eventually growing tired of frivolous encounters, they retreated into the mountains, erecting a tower that gleamed like the blackest obsidian to call home. The tower is typically concealed by the most powerful rituals, and its appearance is considered the gravest of omens as it means that the Lich is active and walking amongst the living once again.

Epithets

While not a god, Nae’Va has amassed a large number of followers. Cults that worship Nae’Va refer to them as the Undying King and use the following symbols in their worship: a White Lily, an open skeletal hand reaching for sky, and Broken Shackles.