Editing Dericostian Lore (section)

=== The [[Dericoi Eipoth]] ===
The Dericost Kingdom reaches the height of its power approximately 5,000 years after the arrival of the Falatacot refugees.<ref name=HistoryAubereanVolI>[[The History of Auberean/Volume I: Empires Clashing (-30,000 to -9,000)]]</ref>

Although generations of the Kingdom's subjects lived and died, many of those who originally accepted undeath were hidden in a great cavern beneath the Kingdom's seat of power. This vast cavern was called [[Vasmora]] and  carved from the permafrost below the [[Plateau of Gelid]]. From here, [[His Eternal Splendor]] ruled the Kingdom, using the living nobility as puppets. To maintain his control over the living, His Eternal Splendor kept the rituals of necromancy secret for millennia. Fear of true death was inculcated in the hearts of the living nobility from birth and becomes a powerful tool for His Eternal Splendor. Through this manipulation, the subjects of the kingdom were kept ignorant of the fact that it was an undead caste which truly rules over them. The living nobility still enjoyed many privileges and advantages, as long as these did not conflict with His Eternal Splendor's decrees.<ref name=HistoryAubereanVolI>[[The History of Auberean/Volume I: Empires Clashing (-30,000 to -9,000)]]</ref>

However, as the numbers of undead increased, so did their arrogance, and for some the idea of hiding from the living seemed contemptible. A schism developed until the undead divide into two opposing sects.<ref name=HistoryAubereanVolI>[[The History of Auberean/Volume I: Empires Clashing (-30,000 to -9,000)]]</ref>
The two original Dericostian factions, the [[Latzimestal]] and the [[Filinuvekta]] warred for ages. The Latzimestal believed that as the generals of Dericost they controlled the true power of the Kingdom, and should be able to rule it as they saw fit - openly as undead. The Filinuvekta were Dericost nobles and the secret leaders of the [[Ice Throne]], and wished to continue to rule their kingdom in secret.The Latzimestal seized the realm from the Filinuvekta.<ref name="AC:DMBestiary">2001/11 [[Dark Majesty]] - [[AC:DM_CD_Lore/Bestiary/Derethian_Bestiary#Undead|Bestiary: Undead]]</ref>

The Lord and the Lady of [[House Mhoire]] fled the court from Dericost to [[Dereth]] when Lord Cynreft Mhoire learned that Prince [[Geraine IV]] had become undead.<ref name=AncientJournalPage>2007/03 [[Ancient Enemies]] - [[Ancient Journal Page]]</ref>

The situation reached its climax when the living King [[Sarvien II]] was transformed into an undead and proclaimed, after his conversion, that he would not step aside to allow a new living ruler to take the throne. Previous challenges to His Eternal Splendor's rule had been swiftly swept aside, but Sarvien II's political maneuvering with other disaffected undead allowed him to resist the forces loyal to His Eternal Splendor. Sarvien is also aided by the [[Filinuvekta]]'s unwillingness to expose themselves to the living. Since the Lords have no such compunction, [[Sarvien II]] reveals that an undead caste rules Dericost, of which he is the King. All resulting unrest in the Kingdom is put down, and Sarvien sets his sights on expanding the Kingdom.<ref name=HistoryAubereanVolI>[[The History of Auberean/Volume I: Empires Clashing (-30,000 to -9,000)]]</ref>