COLONIZATION OF LANNITHIR
In the century that has passed since settling on the eastern continent of Lannithir, the four nations of Men have seen their share of struggle and conflict. Through their continued growth and expansion, several ancient ruins were discovered from a time long past. Within one of these ruins, an expedition of Kazdite explorers carelessly released a dreadful abomination. An abomination bound and imprisoned by the ancients over a thousand years ago. His name is Necrath, the Ice Duke, and like his western counterpart Nedred, he is a fallen servant of the living god, Er.
Strange and violent events have occurred in the sixteen years since Necrath was set free. Sinister books have been discovered and twisted the minds of those foolish enough to read them. Bands of warlike humanoids called Wittershin have struck out from the Ardamghar Mountains and raided frontier villages. These initial assaults were ultimately followed by a full-scale invasion of Wittershin led by a vanguard of giants called Rephaim. Though few in number, the Rephaim were mighty, and so the conflict came to be known as the War of the Giants.
To meet this threat, the old alliance of the West was reformed between the kingdoms of Tuanna, Draigtir, and Pohja. However, Kazdim remained neutral just as it did over a century ago. Thus the allied forces stood against the invaders, and the war raged for two blood-shedding years. But the enemy wouldn’t relent. Moreover, allied reinforcements and supplies were exhausted. Therefore the kingdoms of Men faced the sad irony that they had escaped the West a century ago, only to meet their end here in the East.
Yet when all hope was thought to be lost, a mysterious army appeared on the battlefield. They seemed to be human; however, they flew no battle standard. The unknown warriors unleashed a blood-curdling war cry and smashed into the enemy's flank. The attack was so savage that the Wittershin lost cohesion and broke ranks. Furthermore, it rallied the allied troops who took the offensive and drove the enemy back into the mountains. Afterward, the mysterious army was nowhere to be seen.
CURRENT YEAR CS119
The War of the Giants ended seven years ago, and the allied kingdoms have been struggling to recover from their losses. Several events have hindered this process. To begin with, the Kingdom of Krey declared war upon the open seas, specifically the merchant ships of Tuanna and Draigtir. This has put additional pressure on the thinly stretched navies of both kingdoms. Next, the Kazdim Empire ceased its fealty to Tuanna and ordered all foreigners within its borders to withdraw or face arrest. If that wasn’t enough, there are reports that the empire has also started a campaign to triple the size of its standing army. Tuanna, Draigtir, and Pohja haven’t forgotten Kazdim’s stance during the War of the Giants. Indeed, the countless graves of their fallen act as a reminder of the empire’s neutrality. But these recent actions have turned their bitterness into hatred. Lastly, perhaps most importantly, it’s springtime in Lannithir, but the end of winter is nowhere to be seen. The bitter cold and frozen ground have prevented farmers from sowing this year’s crop. Any further delay could result in famine, a fact of growing concern among the nations.
Meanwhile, the joint construction of a keep by Draigtir and Tuanna has been completed in the Pale Fields. Its purpose is to maintain a watchful eye over the Ardamghar Mountains and give warning of another invasion. That being said, all would appear to be calm and quiet in the area. But appearances can be deceiving... for just beyond the mountains, that same evil is stirring again.
Oh baby, it’s cold outside.