Prologue
Loud footsteps echoed throughout the long, highly decorated hallway. They were rushed footsteps and the man running toward the twin doors cared little for the rich tapestries of long forgotten places, portraits of grumpy old men, and the myriad of artifacts carefully arranged for full display. Such privilege flaunted so carelessly might have been tempting to take, if it wasn't for the person who owned them. The man, perhaps in his late twenties, was sweating profusely and his cheeks were flushed. Upon his body was a black uniform lined with silver and had a blazing yellow symbol of the sun a top his right breast. It signified his position as a commanding officer in the Sol Protectorate, but that company was supposed to be on the front lines...
Behind the doors, a small number of men stood around a table, looking over a war map. At the head of this table stood a man wearing a small crown, he too wore a simple black uniform except his symbol was an ornate owl of silver. His grave expression and cold steel eyes were worrisome. And then the doors burst open, all eyes at the table turned to the newcomer as a few cautious guards glanced wearily with their hands upon their hilts. The man's breathing was ragged and he spoke out of breath.
"Mi'lords... Westgate has fallen. Commander Tyberius held out for as long as he could but the enemy is too great. I.. I am sorry."
The man then collapsed before them, and a few aids rushed to his side. The crowned man sighed, bowing his head as if in defeat for a moment before looking up at the others surrounding him. They were generals and lords and he was their Emperor of a land besieged. They looked to him for guidance and authority but the war was straining the stability of the Empire and he had ignored them for far too long.
He spoke, his voice commanding respect but held a hint of shame, "Give out the word then, tell them Emperor Janus calls for champions. Tell them they are to strike at the heart, the Ebony Mountain of Kazath." He sighed and gritted his teeth, "And tell them they'll be rewarded handsomely."
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Plot - Two years ago, in the far western reaches of the Empire, a seed sprouted in the womb of the Ebony Mountain. What came next was horrific. Great tendrils of a dark green shot up from the ground in the immediate area surrounding the mountains in pestilence and decay. From the vines, as people called them, came the Scorned. So the war began, between the peoples of the Empire and the new threat that unified them even more so, then the bonds of old. In the two short years of the war, the Empire has been steadily loosing ground as the Vines grew from the mountain. The fall of Westgate finally prompted Emperor Janus to call for outside help as his military forces were only useful as defense for the empire. Now, it's time to strike the heart of the Scorn itself, one desperate attempt to stop the Scorned from advancing any further. And you won't be doing it without help.
World Lore - The Empire of Caldania has long since stood as the pinnacle of cultural achievement and prosperity on the continent of Eon. There was no need for petty wars or rivalry between other kingdoms, because they all bent the knee centuries ago in the Age of Strife to Dramoria Caldan, first Emperor of a united Eon. He was a a scholar first and warrior second only out of necessity. However, the means of his unification have been a topic of importance as of late. He had used the fabled artifacts of Dran'Kurath, weapons of power and jewelry that bestowed great gifts, as means of pacifying the people. Those artifacts were held back by Janus himself, as they were to valuable and a symbol of power. Now, with his Empire collapsing, what little choice is there but to use them?
World Lore - The Empire of Caldania has long since stood as the pinnacle of cultural achievement and prosperity on the continent of Eon. There was no need for petty wars or rivalry between other kingdoms, because they all bent the knee centuries ago in the Age of Strife to Dramoria Caldan, first Emperor of a united Eon. He was a a scholar first and warrior second only out of necessity. However, the means of his unification have been a topic of importance as of late. He had used the fabled artifacts of Dran'Kurath, weapons of power and jewelry that bestowed great gifts, as means of pacifying the people. Those artifacts were held back by Janus himself, as they were to valuable and a symbol of power. Now, with his Empire collapsing, what little choice is there but to use them?
Note- This page will constantly be updated with lore bits and other items as the RP continues.
