Netheril Overview

Conception: -3830 DR Fall: -339 DR Return: 1500 DR, when the Shade Enclave returned from the Shadowfell
Brief History Netheril was an ultra advanced civilization where everyone knew to use magic and owned magic items. The top arcanists used 10th and 11th level spells casually. They had many floating cities created using a Mythallar (magic battery that retains the casting of a spell, the Netherese used it for the spell “Move Mountain”). Many years later an amazing prolific mage known by Karsus was born and started to combat the Phaerimm (beings who eat magic and destroyed the land the Netherese grew crops on). Eventually he grew tired and blamed the Goddess of Magic, Mystryl, he thought that if he became the God of Magic he could save his empire from its impending doom.
He crafted a Level 12 spell called “Karsus’s Avatar” and it replaced the target god with the caster. Karsus cast the spell, targeting Mystryl, and killed her. Due to the strain on the Weave (where magic comes from) needed to cast spell, the weave shattered and when Karsus became the God he realized he couldnt fix it and the weave killed him. Since magic ceased to function, all of the Netheril cities fell, except for one which eacaped into the Shadowfell, the Shade Enclave, Tultanthar. Soon after Mystra became the new goddess of Magic and told of “Karsus’ Folly” which ended Netheril.
During the Second Sundering the city Tultanthar emerged from the Shadowfell and now plot to control the dalelands, already controlling Sembia.
Other Major Events Magic for Mankind The Netherese were the first humans to learn magic from the Elves, the Elves saw them as a useful tool...until they became better at magic than the elves.
Orc Genocide The Netherese Led an invasion into Orc territory with the goal of killing every single one. They believed they succeeded, but orcs always return. This genocide was assisted by the Delzoun Dwarves as well as the Elves of current day Cormanthor. At the end of this conflict Netheril unveiled the first enclave.
High and Low Netheril Once the wealthy went to the sky cities on enclaves low Netheril was a lawless place for a time and was ravaged by orc raids, experiments by mages and Arcanists, etc.
Delzoun Massacre The Netherese had excellent trade deals with the Delzoun Dwarves and the Netherese exploited this to their hearts content. The Dwarves couldn't match what they wanted a few times so Netheril decided to kill one of their cities.
Netherese Society The Smart Prevail Over All Netherese Arcanists (Wizards beyond level 20) are some of the most powerful entities to ever walk the face of Faerun and even the planes. To become a recognized arcanist you had to create a Mythallar and cast the level 10 spell Move Mountain which created an Enclave, a floating city. The Arcanist who made the enclave had absolute say over everything that happened here. Even the most powerful gods feared the Netherese.
Since Arcanists had nearly zero regulations and were above the law, they did mass experimentation often leading to near-genocide level threats in the Low Netherese (the ones who lived on the ground) and Mass-Murder type threats in the High Netherese (the ones in the Cities)
Crime and Punishment If you were caught commiting a crime (or the Ruling Arcanist wanted you gone) you were sent to what would be known as a Concentration Camp...but far worse. Any recognized Arcanist could take a criminal from here and use them in any unregulated experiment. If you do wrong, you should be punished for it and used as a tool for advancement.
Religion Religion was permitted, but not practiced often by the Netherese. Arcanists believed they were as strong or nearly stronger than gods, and that gods were merely powerful mages like they were. Due to this thought Arcanists would not recieve any divine healing of any kind, they believed it was submitting to a greater rival.
Class Split Most of the inhabitants of Netheril lived on the ground, known as Low Netheril. Low Netheril supplied food for High Netheril (The Ones who lived in the Floating Cities) and were treated as necessity for the High class to survive.