Lanfir (Lan-fear)

These shadows of the dark gods are on the same power level as angels. They are remnants of the Ymir who once served the gods, and helped foster humanity's growth. The dark Ymir are those who either sympathized with the Umbrals or otherwise were unhappy with some of the actions of the Pantheon, and so sought out the Umbrals after the Second Beginning. The Scourge, while those alive at the time knew it was an act of war by the Umbrals, was a key indicator to some Ymir that the Umbrals were not being given a fair chance to build relationships with humanity like the Pantheon were, and so defected. After the Scourge and before the dividing barrier rose, some of these Ymir entered service of the Umbrals. They say that only the strong were allowed to serve, let the weak watch over humanity and entertain the mortals, while the celestials, the real power grew the strong. Many Ymir died during trials were they would have to withstand fire, poisons, disease, mortal combat, for no other reason than to weed out the weak, rather than train them to be strong. This process of burning and poisons changed the Ymir (light one) in appearance, to reflect their dark souls. These dark Ymir became known as the Lanfir (dark one). Coming originally from the celestial plane, even the gods aren't sure how it happened to the Ymir - perhaps Mask's taint found it's way into some of the Ymir through humanity, or perhaps there's darkness within us all? Banishment will not work due to the divine barrier.

Lanfir Today

Before the Scourge, there were Ymir who sympathized with the Umbrals, and began to serve them. These six became the first Lanfir, and were known as the Hexad. It was the Hexad who responded when Torm moved against the attack on Ihliziyo within Ishtana, and so it was the Hexad who were frozen with Torm in the sunken city. However, it has been many years since then, and Torm's hold is fading, and time is releasing. As it does, the Hexad, one by one, are awakening with each passing season. Kazimir woke 1-2 Rellavar RE 1657. Locryn on 1-3 Araleth RE 1658. Carasphyx on Barren Eve 3-1 Solonor RE 1658. Gwyar awoke on the Winter Solstice, 10-3 Rellavar RE 1658. Ourenia will awaken 2-1 Faenya RE 1659, and Maledict, leader of the Hexad will awaken during the first moon of Erevan. Torm himself will not come free without assistance - being stopped in time nothing can touch, hurt or harm him. It was the external influence the Lanfir had been exerting to counter Torm's power that finally broke it down.

They will have limited ability to speak with the gods, but they do possess similar means that mortals use to receive signs and direction from their gods. Through these, the Lanfir are able to comply with some of the plans of the Liar, sparing the Legion in order to keep pulling them along the puppet string to clean up any inconveniences on the Material Plane. When not preoccupied with the Legion, they are working with other lowlifes to prepare to unleash chaos unto the world, setting grand plans into motion. The Hexad will return to those who served it or their descendants and forge, or force, new alliances; orcs, illithids, giants, undead, monstrosities, etc. Ultimately, Maledict does not want the gods to return, even the Umbrals. With the passing of the last age, the Lanfir are poised to be the most powerful beings on the Material Plane, and he craves that control and power, and so is not interested in following orders from the Umbrals on the other side of the barrier.

The Hexad

All of the Hexad possess an ability known as Life Eater. The ability can be found in the Nightwalker description (their ability is called Soul Eater, and the souls they consume exist inside the Lanfir, though the longer a soul is digested, the less like itself it becomes, so even a soul retrieved from one of the dead Hexad may lack its humanity. Also certain souls are split among the Six when consumed by one, so all of the Hexad would need to be defeated to retrieve that soul). Through their trials to rise the ranks of the Lanfir, the Hexad actually worked together to infiltrate the Negative Plane itself to siphon power from a Nightwalker, and have split its undead soul among them. Each of them favored the methods of one or more Umbral gods and so were loyal to them, to a point. Cyric however never took on a direct protégé, as how could he ever trust them? Shar and some others were not sought out by the Hexad for zealotry either. Items/Effects to inspire from:

• Amulet of Immutability (Saddlebag)
• Antipathy/Sympathy spell to gather forces where they want them
• One/Some of them should have the spell Clone to preserve themselves in the event of their death (Gwyar for sure, maybe Maledict too)
• Some have been gifted by Ourenia's Mindblank
• One of them should have Shapechange spell (with jade circlet component and no Concentration)
• Some should have the Harm spell effect available
• (this will tie in well with the trophies the Legion will receive from the Lanfir, confirming this theory - the aetherium crystal hearts of the Lanfir can be conduits for intense magical energy). When a Lanfir is defeated, its heart can be taken and is a powerful magic item.

Maledict, the First

Servant of Misfortune, The Calamity (Beshaba)  - Bad Luck ability - either gives disadvantage on hit, within melee, or with legendary action Possesses the Annihilating Aura ability of the Nightwalker. Possesses the Lair and Regional abilities of the Balhannoth that he has slain. - need to ask the Legion what all their deepest desires are Maledict's statblock should feel unique from the other Lanfir - I want him to feel threatening in a way the others became predictable. He will not have legendary actions, but instead have 3 turns of initiative in the order, but cannot do the same action in the same round of combat. Maybe craft the stat block to have certain threat tier actions, and limit him to mixing those together.
Maledict knows that one god comes afore the others to rule, through grand deception, the one known as the liar. He will tell the Legion perhaps, to make the Liar's task more difficult, but he his bound by an enchantment to never speak the name of the Liar aloud. A dispel magic on that oath would allow him to survive.

• Tudar - get his mom's necklace symbol of Lyir back, retrieve his old captain's ship which was taken by the Leviathan and remove the pirates, and create and protect a world where children of the world like Tudar can be safe and happy
• El - get Carasphyx out, kill all Lanfir, and settle down with the Legion in Torren and starting a commune
• Finn - know who the Liar is, right the wrong that the gods are selfish humans, but doesn't know how to fix it, spend time with friends in Torren and read books and stare at El's feet
• Dab - things to go back the way they were before he joined the Legion (no more scary world threatening stuff), open up a quaint tinkering shop in Torren

Radiant (Dark Radiant - same thing, different appearance)

Ourenia, the Second

The Endless Hunt, The Lady of Pain (Loviatar and Malar) Gennis Mountain Range and Northwest Coast Psychic Aberrant Mind, Aberrant Touched, Alhoon Illithilich inspired Affected by the Mindblank spell Possesses the Psychic Drain ability of the aboleth. Tamer of the Neolithid to be. Likes to toy with her victims Lover to Gwyar

Gwyar, the Third

The Undying, Prince of Undeath, Dreg Manifestation (Myrkul and Talona) West Coast and Ovenga Fens Necrotic Undead, Boneclaw (Shadow Jump), Cadaver Collector (Summon Specters), Necromancer, Spawn of Kyuss (Regeneration), Dracolich thrall (Venomfang) Lover to Ourenia, and if she dies first, he will resurrect her in undead form COFSA Blood Cartography to track the Legion (someone to steal their blood) and Dark Empowerment boss phase

Carasphyx, the Fourth

The Heretic, Devourer of Truth (Bane, the Tyrant) Vile Heresies and Unknowable Truths Lightning The Accursed Archives, the Silent One Has the spell Demiplane to provide a safe, secret space Equipment: Celestial's Spiteful Armor, the Bloodstained Quill, and Ink Razor (from COFSA), (Accursed) Archivist's Key (Saddlebag) Intelligence based saving throw attacks Carasphyx has made camp in Ihliziyo and is flitting between there and his demiplane making preparations for Maledict to awaken, as he is a loyal servant of Maledict. He has covered the entire topper where Torm and Maledict are frozen in Symbols (he can activate any Symbol effects as a Legendary Action when fighting here). He's also desecrated it to have Energy Vulnerability to radiant damage in a 60ft radius.
In his last moments, Carasphyx willed the Blood Stained Quill to write instructions upon Finn's flesh in a dark bloodred ink - "Seek the liar"
Defeated by El, Carasphyx's failsafe Clone has proven worthwhile, though the Clone must complete its 120 days growing period and so will not awaken until 12-3 Erevan, RE 1659 on Merryfrond's Day. The Clone is encased in a crystal chamber hidden in the lowest levels of the Accursed Archives. Until then, not having a Clone to return to, Carasphyx's soul will live inside of El, sharing her body. Anytime El casts a spell of 1st level or higher, she will take 1d8 of damage - that is the curse of Carasphyx.

Locryn, the Fifth

Keeper of the Void, Fomenting Madness, Darkness in Truth (Dark Lyir) Deep Oceans, Brine Firth, exists underwater Acid Kraken, Deep Scion, Morkoth, Aboleth Possesses the Hypnosis ability of the Morkoth it has treated with. Possesses an ability similar to Mucous Cloud of the aboleth. Chaotic, likes to incite the darkest desires within people, to give voice to the things they push away. Not having the darkness that Lyir once brought available, Locryn will be searching out that great evil slumbering in the depths - some twisted kraken built to break the world. A kraken controlled by a Morkoth parasite perhaps (removing the parasite gives boost in combat).

Kazimir, the Sixth

The Blood Drunk, The Ravager, Reaver of Souls (Bhaal) Hills of Varune and Bhaerynde Force (Resistance and favored type of damage (internal force a la bursting)) Possesses the Bloody Rampage ability of the Gray Render he has tamed. Barbarian Rage abilities? Hobgoblin Red Legion and Ancient Red Dragon at the Shattered Steps

Spring, RE 1659

• Locryn: reports from the Jewel Sea of frequent attacks, as few ships are returning from the seas. Locryn is stretching his muscles, he has not yet released the parasitic Morkoth Kraken into the seas. No strong ties to other Lanfir
• Kazimir: He is attacking trade routes from north to south, and not quietly. There are whispers growing of some impossibly strong creature. He seems to be heading to Salt Marsh....(to the orphanage). No strong ties to other Lanfir. (Yorick the Spooner was a witness to one of these attacks)
• Carasphyx: is lurking in Ishtana, seeking relics there and spending time in the Accursed Archives. He's laid traps (with spells) and is one of the more loyal followers of Maledict, and is awaiting his awakening. He does not intend to die before Maledict awakes.
• Gwyar & Ourenia: have joined in underground lair of unknown location. They are remaining quiet for now while they prepare weapons for an attack on Salthis.
• Carasphyx's heart was taken by Gwyar, along with his magic dagger, and now Gwyar is using the heart in his Soul Cage, and the powerful Ink Razer.

Related Historical Events

• 6550
  The Legion's Rise, the Liar's Fall