The Dragon Wars
The Dragon Wars are now centuries old but their shadow pervades every nook and cranny of this great land. They represent a time forgotten by many, a time when Dwarves would venture out of their mountain strongholds in great number and the Elves were more than a chance encounter in the woods and forests. Some refer to the time of the Dragon Wars as the 1st Age of Terrinoth.
What exactly brought on the Dragon Wars is hard to fathom but if my travels have taught me anything it was likely the quest for power. A powerful Dragon by the name of Margath took on the title of Lord and if you were not friend then you were foe. Dragons were forced to take sides as protectors of freedom or those that wished to have a seat within the self proclaimed ‘New Order’.
Whilst the ‘how’ is not recorded in Bard’s Tale or written record, Margath was eventually defeated and his bones scattered far and wide. But the Dragon Wars took their toll and changed forever the future of Terrinoth and its people. Thelsvan the Great City that united many races in a common purpose was reduced to ashes. Without its great walls to unite the land the children of this world retreated to their forest and mountain homes with only the most adventurous taking an interest in modern affairs. And thus rise was given to the humans to take their place as the dominant peoples. New towns sprung up to replace Thelsvan and although some grew to become cities, none could rekindle the splendour of Thelsvan. From Vynevale in the South to Frostgate in the North, humans spread their seed far and wide. But not all seeds are good at their core...
Swords for Hire, Knights and Warriors abound but Magic and Faith also have a strong place and in the shadows lurk the Rogues, Assassins and Thieves. Some walk as exiles such as the honour Swords, a faction of Dwarves that were exiled from their homes after the Dragon Wars. Whilst others like the Griffon Wanderers and Highway Guardians lost their home of Thelsvan and search for something new to protect.
The Fire God Kellos has a dominant hand in the social fabric of Terrinoth. A powerful order worships this entity and draw their strength and powers from their faith. One arm relies mostly on spirituality to power their magic and adhere to a structured regime – this is the arm of the Acolytes, Priests and Cardinals. What Kellos cannot achieve with spirituality though he backs up with steel as many a Brother and Sister of the Order will gladly strap on armour and bear weapons to ‘Spread the Word’.
Then there is another class altogether that combine archaeology with stealth. The Rune Keepers and Seekers are dedicated to finding the ancient Runes, powerful relics of the Dragon War era. These runes hold secrets understood by few but sought by many as they hold magicks as powerful as any faith or steel.
Taverns and town noticeboards are always full of work and tales of ancient treasures. Blades for Hire can find a small purse for services rendered. For every town and city has its fair share of bad eggs and misfortunes. Lord Pakor of Frostgate is the latest leader to have been corrupted by power and greed. His name has been whispered in many a dark corner in my travels and the familiar tinkle as a small purse changes hands tells me that one assassin or another will remove him from office.
But other quests are more noble in nature such as the plight of Forge. A terrible plague grips the dwellers of that city nestled at the base of the Broken Crags. Rumour has it that the cure can only be found in a rare swamp plant...but this knowledge may well have been lost centuries before.
These are but a snippet of the possible work that awaits an adventurer in Terrinoth. As sure as the day is long, tomorrow will see the creation of a thousand more.
My many sources have revealed that a Lord seeks to resurrect the Dragon High Lord Margath by collecting his scattered bones and using dark magicks better left alone. He takes the title of Lord Vorakesh and he sets himself apart from other madmen and half-wits largely due to the powerful Lieutenants that have formed by his side and the never ending servants that pledge themselves to his cause.
What exactly brought on the Dragon Wars is hard to fathom but if my travels have taught me anything it was likely the quest for power. A powerful Dragon by the name of Margath took on the title of Lord and if you were not friend then you were foe. Dragons were forced to take sides as protectors of freedom or those that wished to have a seat within the self proclaimed ‘New Order’.
Whilst the ‘how’ is not recorded in Bard’s Tale or written record, Margath was eventually defeated and his bones scattered far and wide. But the Dragon Wars took their toll and changed forever the future of Terrinoth and its people. Thelsvan the Great City that united many races in a common purpose was reduced to ashes. Without its great walls to unite the land the children of this world retreated to their forest and mountain homes with only the most adventurous taking an interest in modern affairs. And thus rise was given to the humans to take their place as the dominant peoples. New towns sprung up to replace Thelsvan and although some grew to become cities, none could rekindle the splendour of Thelsvan. From Vynevale in the South to Frostgate in the North, humans spread their seed far and wide. But not all seeds are good at their core...
Modern Life
Whilst the Dragon Wars may be centuries old, Terrinoth is still a dangerous place in need of heroes. From the Crimson Forest to the Broken Crags, along the Thelsvan Highway and down the Morshan River, danger lurks for the unwary. So it is not surprising that the towns and cities of Terrinoth provide the only true safe havens. Humans are by far the most dominant race that reside within our borders these days but others can be found in the form of Dwarves, Elves, Orcs, Goat Folk and a variety of hybrids. Some call themselves Heroes and Champions for a cause. Just what cause they cannot always articulate but it usually involves the acquisition of gold and artefacts from centuries ago.Swords for Hire, Knights and Warriors abound but Magic and Faith also have a strong place and in the shadows lurk the Rogues, Assassins and Thieves. Some walk as exiles such as the honour Swords, a faction of Dwarves that were exiled from their homes after the Dragon Wars. Whilst others like the Griffon Wanderers and Highway Guardians lost their home of Thelsvan and search for something new to protect.
The Fire God Kellos has a dominant hand in the social fabric of Terrinoth. A powerful order worships this entity and draw their strength and powers from their faith. One arm relies mostly on spirituality to power their magic and adhere to a structured regime – this is the arm of the Acolytes, Priests and Cardinals. What Kellos cannot achieve with spirituality though he backs up with steel as many a Brother and Sister of the Order will gladly strap on armour and bear weapons to ‘Spread the Word’.
Then there is another class altogether that combine archaeology with stealth. The Rune Keepers and Seekers are dedicated to finding the ancient Runes, powerful relics of the Dragon War era. These runes hold secrets understood by few but sought by many as they hold magicks as powerful as any faith or steel.
Taverns and town noticeboards are always full of work and tales of ancient treasures. Blades for Hire can find a small purse for services rendered. For every town and city has its fair share of bad eggs and misfortunes. Lord Pakor of Frostgate is the latest leader to have been corrupted by power and greed. His name has been whispered in many a dark corner in my travels and the familiar tinkle as a small purse changes hands tells me that one assassin or another will remove him from office.
But other quests are more noble in nature such as the plight of Forge. A terrible plague grips the dwellers of that city nestled at the base of the Broken Crags. Rumour has it that the cure can only be found in a rare swamp plant...but this knowledge may well have been lost centuries before.
These are but a snippet of the possible work that awaits an adventurer in Terrinoth. As sure as the day is long, tomorrow will see the creation of a thousand more.
The Evils of the Day
Whilst I might like to pursue our history on most days, I cannot be so blind that I don’t see what is before me. Terrinoth is becoming a place of madmen and lunatics and with several centuries having past since the Dragon Wars, some memories forget what true evil looks like.My many sources have revealed that a Lord seeks to resurrect the Dragon High Lord Margath by collecting his scattered bones and using dark magicks better left alone. He takes the title of Lord Vorakesh and he sets himself apart from other madmen and half-wits largely due to the powerful Lieutenants that have formed by his side and the never ending servants that pledge themselves to his cause.
Servants & Necromancers – These cultists abound in far too great a number as they serve to create the legions required to bring Terrinoth to its knees. They have built Temples to Margath and ritual sites which have in turn helped them to raise up Ghouls, Zombies and Bone Liches. The ancient Ents have been awoken and the Vingolen, created by the Warlocks of Kier, now roam the land once again. Whilst in search of the Dragon Runes, these psychopaths have also begun to unearth long lost treasures such as the Golden Skull which now serves their evil intent. As the shadow of darkness spreads, more common forms of danger spread their wings. Razorwings now venture out of their caverns in Drurn far more regularly than in the past and take man and livestock alike.
The Mistress of the Ferrox – This mysterious woman-child, it is said, happened across an ancient book of lore that allows her to control the terrifying Ferrox. These creatures appear to be the result of horrible experiments to fuse orc, man and beast. With shoulders the size of tree trunks these green skinned beasts are a rippling mass of sinew hell bent on killing anything with a pulse. Along with their Mistress they serve the Bloodmother. Whilst never seen, she is said to be a mystical fountain that demands the blood of hapless victims and it is from her that the Ferrox Brood must drink if they are to grow strong.
Lord Farrow – Behind every mad Necromancer lies the gullible and Lord Vorakesh’ 1st Lieutenant is one Lord Farrow. Farrow has been duped into funding much of Vorakesh’ plans in the hope that his dark powers will help resurrect his fallen brother, a once mighty knight.
Sir Farrow the Pale – Vorakesh happily obliged in part to create the nightmare that is Sir Farrow the Pale. Whilst he is nothing more than a dark spirit inside the armour of a dead brother, he is still to be feared and has been given a legion of undead soldiers and the dreaded Outriders (ghostly scouts that stalk the land) to do his bidding. Sir Farrow the Pale effectively leads the armies of Vorakesh and as such serves as the Dark Necromancer’s Captain.
Sir Vyleen the Fallen – Vyleen was Vorakesh’ bodyguard before he was killed in battle. But the Dark Necromancer used arcane arts to raise him from the dead making him twice as dangerous as ever before as he serves as protector, confidant and assassin.
Lady Carthori – Only a fool believes that it is safe to turn your back on a woman and Vorakesh has managed to lure females of the ruling classes to his cause. Some say that Lady Carthori has become a vampire with the ability to make allies forget their allegiances, others believe she is simply beguiling. The only truth that I have managed to glean is that she is to be avoided and that is what I intend to do.
Lady Vorakesh – Finally there is lady madness herself. As beautiful as she is poisonous, Lady Vorakesh can win over the minds of men faster than a Ferrox can strip the hide from a stag. It is worth questioning who controls who in the Vorakesh Manor.
Lord Vorakesh – Necromancer, Dark Lord and potential portal to life anew for the Dragon High Lord Margath...Vorakesh wears many titles. Little is known about the origins of Vorakesh but it is believed that he once trained as an Acolyte in the Order of Kellos. No mention of the name Vorakesh appears in any of the Order’s records but there is reference made to a youth of imposing stature who had little patience for those that did not support their work. It would not be the first time that a religious order has felt the need to delete failed members in an attempt to reduce embarrassment. Today the self proclaimed Lord is the benefactor of a river of gold that flows from the coffers of Lord Farrow and this has been used to fund many an expedition to find lost artefacts of immense power and scrolls of ancient wisdom. The end result is that Vorakesh has managed to awaken many of the powers that were lost at the end of the Dragon Wars. But worse still, it does appear that Vorakesh has indeed found the bones of Margath and successfully raised a weakened Dragon Lord who even now hides out to build his strength. Only time will tell if Margath is indeed back from the dead and if so whether he will reward his creator or do away with him for his stupidity.
Lesser Dragons – One sign that has people fearing that the rumours may be true is the sudden awakening of lesser dragons. Kraxonis the Old, Mondovax the Cruel, Lorantis the Savage and horodrax the Terrible are fearsome in their own right but they lack the powerful secrets held by the Dragonlords. In the shadows of these lesser monstrosities can usually be found Hybrids on foot or by air. These accursed mutants are just another by-product of the Dragon Wars.
The Dragon Lords – For me the final piece of evidence that indeed turn fiction to fact is the sightings of the other Dragon Lords, who once took wing to the skies as Margath’s Captains. Each Dragon holds the energy and power of a Dragon Rune which gives it a power worthy of the title Lord.
Dragonlord Eregax is skilled at Ranged Combat whilst Dragonlord Baraxis holds a Rune with the ability to heal. Dragonlord Carnovax can stop time and in doing so prevent damage being dealt whilst Dragonlord Abarax holds the rune of Magic. Dragonlord Fromax holds the Rune of Melee Combat whilst Dragonlord Droxor holds a Rune of Speed, allowing one to make multiple attacks in the blink of an eye.
Then there is High Lord Margath. Some say that he has no special powers other than having a wingspan 200 feet across, whilst others say he has all the powers of the other Dragon Lords combined. He is certainly the most powerful among them and only to be confronted in combat by the truly greatest Hero of them all.
The Mistress of the Ferrox – This mysterious woman-child, it is said, happened across an ancient book of lore that allows her to control the terrifying Ferrox. These creatures appear to be the result of horrible experiments to fuse orc, man and beast. With shoulders the size of tree trunks these green skinned beasts are a rippling mass of sinew hell bent on killing anything with a pulse. Along with their Mistress they serve the Bloodmother. Whilst never seen, she is said to be a mystical fountain that demands the blood of hapless victims and it is from her that the Ferrox Brood must drink if they are to grow strong.
Lord Farrow – Behind every mad Necromancer lies the gullible and Lord Vorakesh’ 1st Lieutenant is one Lord Farrow. Farrow has been duped into funding much of Vorakesh’ plans in the hope that his dark powers will help resurrect his fallen brother, a once mighty knight.
Sir Farrow the Pale – Vorakesh happily obliged in part to create the nightmare that is Sir Farrow the Pale. Whilst he is nothing more than a dark spirit inside the armour of a dead brother, he is still to be feared and has been given a legion of undead soldiers and the dreaded Outriders (ghostly scouts that stalk the land) to do his bidding. Sir Farrow the Pale effectively leads the armies of Vorakesh and as such serves as the Dark Necromancer’s Captain.
Sir Vyleen the Fallen – Vyleen was Vorakesh’ bodyguard before he was killed in battle. But the Dark Necromancer used arcane arts to raise him from the dead making him twice as dangerous as ever before as he serves as protector, confidant and assassin.
Lady Carthori – Only a fool believes that it is safe to turn your back on a woman and Vorakesh has managed to lure females of the ruling classes to his cause. Some say that Lady Carthori has become a vampire with the ability to make allies forget their allegiances, others believe she is simply beguiling. The only truth that I have managed to glean is that she is to be avoided and that is what I intend to do.
Lady Vorakesh – Finally there is lady madness herself. As beautiful as she is poisonous, Lady Vorakesh can win over the minds of men faster than a Ferrox can strip the hide from a stag. It is worth questioning who controls who in the Vorakesh Manor.
Lord Vorakesh – Necromancer, Dark Lord and potential portal to life anew for the Dragon High Lord Margath...Vorakesh wears many titles. Little is known about the origins of Vorakesh but it is believed that he once trained as an Acolyte in the Order of Kellos. No mention of the name Vorakesh appears in any of the Order’s records but there is reference made to a youth of imposing stature who had little patience for those that did not support their work. It would not be the first time that a religious order has felt the need to delete failed members in an attempt to reduce embarrassment. Today the self proclaimed Lord is the benefactor of a river of gold that flows from the coffers of Lord Farrow and this has been used to fund many an expedition to find lost artefacts of immense power and scrolls of ancient wisdom. The end result is that Vorakesh has managed to awaken many of the powers that were lost at the end of the Dragon Wars. But worse still, it does appear that Vorakesh has indeed found the bones of Margath and successfully raised a weakened Dragon Lord who even now hides out to build his strength. Only time will tell if Margath is indeed back from the dead and if so whether he will reward his creator or do away with him for his stupidity.
Lesser Dragons – One sign that has people fearing that the rumours may be true is the sudden awakening of lesser dragons. Kraxonis the Old, Mondovax the Cruel, Lorantis the Savage and horodrax the Terrible are fearsome in their own right but they lack the powerful secrets held by the Dragonlords. In the shadows of these lesser monstrosities can usually be found Hybrids on foot or by air. These accursed mutants are just another by-product of the Dragon Wars.
The Dragon Lords – For me the final piece of evidence that indeed turn fiction to fact is the sightings of the other Dragon Lords, who once took wing to the skies as Margath’s Captains. Each Dragon holds the energy and power of a Dragon Rune which gives it a power worthy of the title Lord.
Dragonlord Eregax is skilled at Ranged Combat whilst Dragonlord Baraxis holds a Rune with the ability to heal. Dragonlord Carnovax can stop time and in doing so prevent damage being dealt whilst Dragonlord Abarax holds the rune of Magic. Dragonlord Fromax holds the Rune of Melee Combat whilst Dragonlord Droxor holds a Rune of Speed, allowing one to make multiple attacks in the blink of an eye.
Then there is High Lord Margath. Some say that he has no special powers other than having a wingspan 200 feet across, whilst others say he has all the powers of the other Dragon Lords combined. He is certainly the most powerful among them and only to be confronted in combat by the truly greatest Hero of them all.
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