Who are/were the Witch lords?
DM Celtic contributes: In late 800s, kingdom of Cormyr entered conflict with Witch Lords to the east of Cormyr. The Witch Lords were evil necromancer lords who ruled territory east of Wheloon and Wyvernwater and west of Sembia. In the Year of Thirsty Swords (900 DR), King Galaghard of Cormyr battled the forces of the Witch Lords at Wheloon, Juniril, and Manticore’s Crossing. The final battle between the two forces occurred at the Vast Swamp, with Cormyr winning with help from elven stag cavalry. You can find information on that battle in excellent “Cormyr: A Novel” chapter 20, named “Battle of the Witch Lords”. In said chapter, you can see that these Lords have a strong affinity for necromantic magics, as they animated a whole army of undead (even the fallen soldiers of Cormyr and their own fallen mercenaries from other battles) along with some alive humanoids (orcs and goblins IIRC) to face the brave king of Forest Kingdom. The Lords’ wizards flew on the backs of giant bats and battle
