Reign of the Blightlord
"...and they never paid heed to our tales of the End Times. The day when even the Fury of the North could not subdue a foe so horrible he would cast a dark shadow over the land. A day when the Warriors of the Ice, the Stormguard, even the Keepers of the North would fall. Their lives shattered into legacies, their legacies into legends, their legends into myths, and their myths into the forgotten annals of history. We tried to warn them; we tried to save this world, but this world wasn't yet saved from itself. And because of this failure, there came the day when the sky darkened and the terrible Reign of the Blightlord had begun... and we knew it would happen. We all knew. And yet we could do nothing about it"
-The Prophecy Comes True, Torik Valgard, Former Keeper of the North
"At first it was ourselves. We bickered over land, over taxes, sometimes over nothing. Our Kings waged war while our Queens whispered false promises into our ears. Whole armies clashed, some broken, others destroyed. Then came the Terrible Winter; a winter so frigid that even the Varan in their Northern Castles shivered. The Keepers of the North never left the mainland that year, fearing the cold would kill them before they could reach the Everwinter Isles. Even after the Terrible Winter our crops wilted and died. Our livestock took ill and rotted in our fields overnight. There was sickness as there had always been, but then the Plague came. 'The Great Blight' they called it, mocking the 'old myths' that the Northmen: the Varan, had long spoke of. People starved. They fell sick and died. It was a horrible time, and one that I wish I had not lived through. Villages and towns were deserted, abandoned, or wiped out by the sudden and unforgiving Plague. Whole cities were locked up and burned to the ground to keep it from spreading. But it seemed nothing could contain the malicious outbreak. Our mages, our healers, and our arcane masters did everything they could... but it wasn't enough. I saw children with rags for clothes; they were not but bags of bones with a thin strip of flesh wrapped tightly around them; some of them hadn't even spoken their first word, and they died of starvation, of dehydration, of illness. The older folks too: starved, deprived, sickly. Families were shattered as fathers murdered their own children for a scrap of bread. Mothers killed themselves in the middle of the streets so as to not experience these awful tragedies. Protests turned to riots, riots into battles, battles into fields of slain commoners. There have been wars both bloody and long, but at least we could fight our enemies; at least we could forge weapons and armor, we could ride out mounts into battle, we may have died glorious deaths, but in the end we could fight our enemies. But not the Plague; how do you fight a curse so terrible?
-The Plague, Unknown Speaker
"Hordes of demon-kin riding on nightmarish beasts came from all sides! Our pikes proved useless against their charge! Our lines had broken, our greatest, yet hated knights slain within seconds! Our gates were bashed in, our mighty walls crumbled, and oh how the already-broken families perished beneath the bloody hooves of our enemies! We fled, we ran, we tried to escape, but every city was naught but ash rubble! I saw the heads of my comrades and allies perched atop pikes! Bodies of the innocent lay strewn about the streets and across the fields! Remains of half-eaten children could be found mangled in their deserted camps! An enemy so terrible, that not even Evil could hope to match his horror!
-The Blightlord Invades, Sir Cousta, Knight of Westmarch
-The Prophecy Comes True, Torik Valgard, Former Keeper of the North
"At first it was ourselves. We bickered over land, over taxes, sometimes over nothing. Our Kings waged war while our Queens whispered false promises into our ears. Whole armies clashed, some broken, others destroyed. Then came the Terrible Winter; a winter so frigid that even the Varan in their Northern Castles shivered. The Keepers of the North never left the mainland that year, fearing the cold would kill them before they could reach the Everwinter Isles. Even after the Terrible Winter our crops wilted and died. Our livestock took ill and rotted in our fields overnight. There was sickness as there had always been, but then the Plague came. 'The Great Blight' they called it, mocking the 'old myths' that the Northmen: the Varan, had long spoke of. People starved. They fell sick and died. It was a horrible time, and one that I wish I had not lived through. Villages and towns were deserted, abandoned, or wiped out by the sudden and unforgiving Plague. Whole cities were locked up and burned to the ground to keep it from spreading. But it seemed nothing could contain the malicious outbreak. Our mages, our healers, and our arcane masters did everything they could... but it wasn't enough. I saw children with rags for clothes; they were not but bags of bones with a thin strip of flesh wrapped tightly around them; some of them hadn't even spoken their first word, and they died of starvation, of dehydration, of illness. The older folks too: starved, deprived, sickly. Families were shattered as fathers murdered their own children for a scrap of bread. Mothers killed themselves in the middle of the streets so as to not experience these awful tragedies. Protests turned to riots, riots into battles, battles into fields of slain commoners. There have been wars both bloody and long, but at least we could fight our enemies; at least we could forge weapons and armor, we could ride out mounts into battle, we may have died glorious deaths, but in the end we could fight our enemies. But not the Plague; how do you fight a curse so terrible?
-The Plague, Unknown Speaker
"Hordes of demon-kin riding on nightmarish beasts came from all sides! Our pikes proved useless against their charge! Our lines had broken, our greatest, yet hated knights slain within seconds! Our gates were bashed in, our mighty walls crumbled, and oh how the already-broken families perished beneath the bloody hooves of our enemies! We fled, we ran, we tried to escape, but every city was naught but ash rubble! I saw the heads of my comrades and allies perched atop pikes! Bodies of the innocent lay strewn about the streets and across the fields! Remains of half-eaten children could be found mangled in their deserted camps! An enemy so terrible, that not even Evil could hope to match his horror!
-The Blightlord Invades, Sir Cousta, Knight of Westmarch
Story
The roleplay takes place on the fictional continent of Asgeir. Asgeir is set in a fantasy/medieval setting. For more information, read the Setting category. For the past few centuries Asgeir was dominated by three major groups: the Humans, the Elves, and the Beasts. For the longest time the Elves maintained an advanced civilization commonly referred to as 'the Elven Nation'. A lot of problems arose that would later culminate in the downfall of the Elven Nation and give rise to the Reman Empire, a Human civilization. Centuries would pass and the Elves were ultimately forced into the east and northeast, while the Humans controlled the central region (now called 'Remes'), the north, the northwest, the west, and the southwest. The Beasts were scattered throughout the continent but were mostly concentrated in their native regions: the south, southeast, and parts of the east. Before the Reign of the Blightlord occurred, the Elves lived through their forests of Elaria, the Humans controlled the Varan Kingdom (in the North), Westmarch (Northwest and West), and Sulture (Southeast), and a free-state was formed in Remes (the central region), while the Beasts continued to control the remaining territories.
A lot of stories came out of this event and no one is really quite sure what happened except the people involved. The Keepers of the North had long protected the Varan Kingdom (and all of Asgeir) from the Icelord and his minions, who would attempt to invade the continent every winter. There was one fall when the High-Commnader of the Keepers, a man named Valius Valgard, led an expeditionary force into the Everwinter Isles, attempting to surprise the Icelord before the winter. It is speculated he and his forces infiltrated the Icelord's tower (Ice-Crystal Spire) and he personally slew the Icelord, although these are mere rumors and the truth may never be known. Some believe this event caused the Terrible Winter, but that is not necessarily the case. The following Spring saw the invasion of the Darklord, who was slain by Valius Valgard. Valius disappeared soon afterwards and has not been seen since.
The Plague was a terrible event most commonly believed to have been caused by the Blightlord. Many believe the Plague was meant to weaken and demoralize the races of Asgeir so that the Blightlord's armies would have little difficulty in fending off his invasion. The Plague caused citizens to die within hours of contracting the deadly virus. It became such a crisis that kings and queens were forced to lock infected citizens up and burn them alive. Entire towns and cities were erased from the maps. Just prior to the Plague farmers had difficulties growing crops and keeping their livestock alive, and many believe this was the initial appearance of the Plague. The Plague combined with the scarcity of food was known as 'the Great Blight' and was perhaps the greatest crisis in Asgeir, other than the Reign of the Blightlord that is.
It was a tragedy when the Elven Nation fell. It was a tragedy when the Darklord fled his prison and invaded the Varan Kingdom. The Plague was a tragedy. The Blight was a tragedy. But all past events would pale in comparison to the Reign of the Blightlord. His large army of minions, tribal-folk, demons, dragons, undead, and more invaded from what is assumed all sides of Asgeir. They demolished whole cities, entire kingdoms fell at their whim, and by the end of it all they slaughtered approximately 90% of the world's population. They were known to leave behind gruesome sights so that any survivors would lose hope and die of grief; pikes were adorned with heads of the Blightlord's enemies, the bodies of innocents were strewn about the ground, and half-eaten children could be found mauled and chewed everywhere you went. It is a terrible, terrible event, and one that will echo throughout history for as long as anyone can speak.
Our story begins in Westmarch, or at least what it left of it. The majority of the Human survivors have retreated to a small town in the western lands of Asgeir. The Varan Kingdom has fallen, the Remes region has been demolished, Sulture is nothing but rubble, and Westmarch is no more. Elaria has been burned into ash and its Elven inhabitants forced into hiding, on the verge of extinction. Many of the Beasts have actually become extinct and the remaining orcs sought refuge on Sanctuary under the leadership of Ghor Skullgrinder.
Our goal is to form whatever party we can and set about trying to defeat the Blightlord and his armies. But to do this we need allies and whatever else can help us. Our quest will take us all across Asgeir as we explore the remains of a once-great continent; we will find unlikely allies, discuss alliances, and prepare for a final standoff with the Blightlord himself. But even if we succeed there's no guarantee we'll save the world; whatever world we left behind is long-gone and everyone is back in the dark-ages. The ultimate question is, if that Dark Age is worth fighting for.
I plan to take us through an emotional journey of grief, despair and hopelessness. I want to play with your emotions and promote as much sadness and depression as I can.
Setting
The roleplay takes place on a continent called Asgeir. To the north of Asgeir is a region known as the Everwinter Isles, which is largely undiscovered but it is a cold, harsh, and unforgving land. Asgeir itself is divided into three main categories: Elaria, a forest region where the Elves live; the Badlands, where the Beasts mainly live; and Old Remes, where the Kingdoms of Men are located.
Elaria is home to the High Elves who lived in tree-top villages; they are immortal, beautiful, lithe, and skilled in magic. They possess great agility, perception, and intelligence. Their bowmen are some of the greatest archers in history. In recent years, the Blightlord has completely burned down Elaria, and so the High Elves have been forced to flee elsewhere - anywhere but Elaria. They once ruled the Elven Nation, an advanced civilization that would succumb to the growing threat of the humans and the pressure of the Beasts. The Elves retreated into Elaria and would divide into High Elves, Wood Elves, Night Elves, Dark Elves, and Blood Elves. High Elves are the only ones who remain immortal. Wood Elves are like High Elves, except they've always lived in the forests (unlike the others who lived in the cities of the Nation) and they do not possess immortality but they do possess long lifespans. Night Elves have blue/purple skin and live in the more heavily forested regions of Elaria in magically-hidden tribes. Dark Elves live in dark cities along the southern border of Elaria, often at odds with the other Elves. Blood Elves are practically High Elves and Wood Elves but resisted the culture of their kin and represented their own selves. (Northeast and East very forested, chilly climate)
When the Elven Nation fell the Humans rose to power. The first major faction of the Humans was the Reman Empire, which formed in the southwest but conquered much of the south and the central region. They are responsible for pressuring the Beasts and for causing the collapse of the Elven Nation. The Reman Empire would later fall, but its influence still remained in the central region now known as Remes; it is an independent state ruled by the Council, which is made up of politicians from the other three kingdoms. (Central region temperate, rolling hills, many rivers and lakes)
While the Reman Empire formed the Elven Nation also lost a grip in the north and the Varan rose to power. The Varan are also human but are nords: strong, fierce, courageous warrior-folk. They formed the First Varan Kingdom but was ultimately absorbed into the Reman Empire. When the Reman Empire fell the Varan Kingdom resumed its independence and existed until the Blightlord's invasion. There capital was Stormhold, home of the mighty Stormguard; Joria also existed here, home of the Jorian Riders; the Keepers of the North was founded to resist the invasions of the Icelord up in the Everwinter Isles. They produce gifted warriors known for their relentless bravery. (Northern region is cold, mountainous, with lakes and rivers)
After the Reman Empire fell, two kingdoms formed to the west: Westmarch (Medieval) and Sulture (Middle-Eastern). Westmarch was ruled by Kings and Queens who enforced feudal systems while Sulture was ruled by a grand Sultan and his advisers. Westmarch experienced many civil wars before its formation and often clashed with both Sulture and the Varan Kingdom. (Northwest chilly, mountainous, hilly; West temperate, rocky, hilly, steppes; Southwest hot, arid, barren, exotic)
The Beasts, comprised of trolls, goblins, orcs, minotaurs, lizard-men and all other sorts of beings are generally considered the 'natural races'. Over time their tribes were pushed into the southeast, but they remain scattered throughout Asgeir. They are never united, living in thousands of tribes and clans throughout the south, southeast, and parts of the east. They often clashed with the Remes people, the Sultures, Westmarch, and the Dark Elves (but by attacking Remes they attracted the ire and sometimes the armies of the Varan Kingdom). (South and Southeast is hot, rocky, and some places are arid)
Characters
Torik Valgard - (TJByrum) - Torik Valgard is a former Keeper of the North from the Varan Kingdom. Torik fought against the Darklord a decade ago, is the brother of Valius Valgard (High-Commander of the Keepers), and was proactive in preparing for the Blightlord's invasion. He is now a proactive member of the council trying to resist the Blightlord.
Mangle - Mangle is, to put it lightly, one of the strongest men alive. He stands taller than any other living man, is stronger than even an orc, and is perhaps one of the most fearsome and capable warriors in Asgeir. Mangle was rescued by Torik Valgard some time ago and has remained his bodyguard ever since, even though Torik constantly dismisses his services.
Avelynn - An envoy from Elaria, the forest-home of the Elves. Avelynn came to investigate the events outside of Elaria and do whatever she could to save the mortal races, but she now realizes that is the greatest task she will ever undertake.
Valius Valgard - The older brother of Torik Valgard who single-handedly defeated the Icelord and the Darklord ten years ago. He soon vanished and has not been heard from ever since.
Ghor Skullgrinder - An orc chieftain who has led his orcish followers to a lone island called 'Sanctuary'. Unfortunately, other high-born orcs are questioning his leadership and there's no telling what manner of conflict is occurring there.
The Blightlord - Perhaps the greatest enemy Asgeir has ever faced. His dark magic cast a terrible plague across the land and his armies annihilated over 90% of the world's population.
The Darklord - The 'brother' and rival of the Blightlord. The Darklord was imprisoned by the Blightlord and the Icelord eons ago, although he later escaped. After his escape he quickly formed an army and attempted to sack the Varan Kingdom only to be defated at Stormhold by the legendary warrior Valius Valgard.
The Icelord - A common enemy to the Varan of northern Asgeir. The Icelord commands a large army of monsters, beasts, and tribal-folk in the Everwinter Isles. every winter, when the White Sea freezes over, he wages war on the Varan only to be beaten back by the Keepers of the North. He was a longtime rival of Valius Valgard utnil he was forced to flee during the Incident in the North.
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Encyclopedia
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