The History of Otara and her People

However not all was as it seemed. The Dragons, though alike the elves in many of their ideas were also very different and followed other gods. The Gods of the Dragons, during the time of the Gods War stood to the side supporting neither the Seldarine nor the Nid`Seldarine. It was their idea to wait and watch. One of the Dragon Gods, The mighty Styphon, Black Dragon God of Knowledge and Death, had the idea to conquer the survivors of the God War, and achieve power over all the Gods with little risk to himself and his kin. The other Dragon Gods knew not of this plan and were content to just watch and await an outcome. After watching the great battle between Corellon Larethian and Gruumsh, Styphon changed his plan.

He instilled into the heart of all Dragons, greed. Each Dragon would feel this greed in different ways. Also, while the Elves were of all one race, the Dragons were of many clans and types. In some Dragons, the greed manifested in a craving for knowledge, and it was these Dragons that the elves allied with, teaching them the secrets of magic and other secrets not shared with other races. But in other Dragons, this greed manifested as a craving for power and wealth and it was these dragons that the elves knew nothing about. These dragons were to be the tool of conquest for Styphon. For millennia Styphon allowed his tools to remain hidden, allowed them to learn in secret from the dragon allies of the elves, and then one day the Dragons of evil attacked. The Elf/Dragon war would last for 10,000 years with neither Elf nor Dragon gaining the upper hand. It seemed as if both races would be destroyed.
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The War of the Dragons

The Good Dragons fought on the Side of the Elves but soon stood aside as they discovered that Tiamat, Queen of Darkness, Styphons mate had stolen all the eggs of the good dragons. THe threatened them with the destruction of the eggs if they did not stand down. However she had other far sinister plans for the Eggs. With them the Draconians were created, as her personal army of minions, by corrupting the eggs of good aligned dragons using dark magic called the corruption ritual. These rituals were carried out by Dracart, a Dark wizard of the Black Robes, Wyrllish, a priest of Tiamat, and Harkiel, a dark-hearted red dragon. From birth Draconians were taught that the world in which they were born into is cruel and that Elves are most of all. They were forced to fight for the scraps of leftover foods that their caretakers threw to them. This insured that only the strongest survived and their hatred of Elvenkind: by the the time they were ready to join the dragon armies they have little regard for Elven life. On the other hand they are taught to revere dragons. Tiamat and her dragon highlords use Draconians as Shock troopers troops against her many enemies. Draconians tended to be more loyal soldiers than goblins or ogres and mercenaries in general and there were various types of draconians, each with a special ability. Some were skilled spellcasters.
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The Fall of Gila`Ysse/Atlan`Ysse:

Then was born the Last and Greatest King of Gila`Ysse. King Rhysal Starweaver, last of the line of Tharadryn and Gwenna, was both a powerful mage and a great warrior, and for a time seemed to shift the tide of the war.

Styphon sensing that all might be lost, inserted a new piece into the fray. He transformed his greatest warrior Alestria Tirandiel, the Silver into the form of an Elven Maiden. He then left her seemingly near death where she might be found by the Elven King. Alestria as well as being a warrior had the gift of prophecy and was well skilled in the arts of magic.

The Elven King played his part well. He found Alestria as planned and personally saw to her re-cooperation, and as time passed he fell in love with the false elf. All seemed as Styphon planned. However, Alestria, quite against the plans of Styphon, fell also in love with the Elven King. She told her Love the truth of her origins and of the designs of the God Styphon. Styphon, having learned of his tool's betrayal sought to strike her down. Almost was he successful, but the Elven King was able to save his queen and love.

In her near death state Alestria was taken by several prophecies. In one of her visions she saw both the destruction of the Elves and the Dragons, as well as a way to save both races. She foresaw the coming of a great Elven King who was a servant to the God Styphon. He would come to lead the elves and form a bond of love and marriage with a Dragon Queen who served the Seldarine. This bond would unite both races in friendship and ensure the survival of both. She spoke of this to the Elven King and together they then contrived to work a great magic that would ensure the survival of races. The magic would not be without its sacrifices.

To save the Dragons and Elves, it was necessary for the Elf King and The Dragon Queen to merge spirits. Their merged spirits would then split into equal parts each holding the essence of Elf and Dragon and the spirits would be cast out to find new bodies in the form of the prophesied Elven King and Dragon Queen. 10,000 Elven Highmages would assist in the task and the Land of Gila`Ysse would be lost until the prophecy could be fulfilled. The elves of Gila`Ysse were sent out to the other lands and worlds and the magic was cast. Gila`Ysse sunk below the waves, and sent to another world, lost to the Elves and forever after to be known as Atlan`Ysse.
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The Dark Times:

After the fall of Atlan`Ysse, the Elves were in disarray. Leaderless and lost they wandered the realms searching for a place to be. During this Dark time the elves broke of into clans, and over the generations changed and adapted to the different climes of the various worlds they were now part of. Some clans remained in contact with their brethren while others were lost. Still as ever the elves, at this time, were all one people. There were variations, but these were individual, rather than any sort of societal rift. All differences were a matter of personal inclination, and the Elves lived in harmony with one another. The dark times ended after nearly 10 millenia and a time of great building was seen across the realms and worlds, as cities of crystal and tree emerged through out the lands. This golden era of building would last 15,000 years
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The Elf/Orc Wars:

Throughout this time of building, the Art of High Magic thrived. The Circles were established (small bands of powerful High Magi who together could cast spells beyond the imaginings of any solitary elf). Each Circle was based in a tower, which quickly became the focal point of any Elven community. One of the more immediately useful functions of the towers was the ability to send communications swiftly from one Elven enclave to another, preventing the communities from becoming isolated. However this very wealth and prosperity drew many new dangers upon the elves. Although the Dragon attacks continued they were on a much reduced scale, for between the high magic and the sacrifice of Atlan`ysse, the Dragons no longer posed the same threat as before. The most dangerous enemy had become the Orcs. For many years orc attacked like the rogue wolves that from time to time stole a goat from a remote pasture. The Orcs struck at the elves whenever they happened upon them. Most Elven communities, even tiny farm settlements, were more than equipped with arms and magic, being adequately skilled in both, to turn back these occasional attacks. However, Orcs are nothing if not prolific. From time to time, their numbers grew so great that their clans spilled out of their highland lairs to form a horde that swept like locusts over the land, devouring everything before them. A time came to pass where the Orcs amassed in numbers greater then any before. They overran city after city slaughtering all. The High Mages gathered together in a desperate plan to end the Orc threat. Gathering volunteers from some of their greatest warriors and Mages the subjected these elves to magical experiments in an attempt to create a race of Superior Orcs that could lead the hordes and turn the tide of the wars in the Elven favour. They were created as a means to both Understand the Orc mindset and to use to supplant the Orcan leadership. The experiment both worked better then expected and failed beyond belief. The transformed Elves became so Orc like they joined in the war against their once Elven Brethren and nearly turned the tide of the war in total favour of the Orcs. If not for the intervention of the some of the other races, such as the Dwarves and the humans, that were also falling under the attacks of the Orcs, banding and allying with the elves all would have been lost. The Orc wars eventually tapered down after many years and huge loss of life. All told the Orc wars would last nearly 5,000 years
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The Sundering:

Then came the stirring of Lolth. Lolth, Queen of the Demon web pit, cast out of the Seldarine for her treachery against the others of the Seldarine. Lolth saw the chaos of the Orc Wars as the perfect chance to further fracture and destroy the Elves. She began whispering into the ears of the children of the Seldarine. The Elves' thoughts grew dark, and they mistrusted their brethren. Many turned to the sanctuaries of home and hill, seeking to understand what was happening. Whispers spread, promising dark power should some follow the Spider Queen's tenets.

Each Elf thought he knew best, and each tried to impose his views on his brother. Evil flourished in this atmosphere of distrust and dissent. The great Elf cities of old deteriorated, and the Spider Queen Lolth gained a foothold in the hearts of many Elves. They used her to gain greater power and influence, and her evil ways led them even further astray. These Elves practiced dark magic and forbidden lore to make themselves mighty, and they turned from the light they had loved so much. The tension grew unbearable. The Elves who had embraced the teachings of Lolth marched into the cities and slaughtered their brethren. The first attack came under cover of darkness, and the other Elves could not mount a defense. But now they had seen that even darker times had come, and they readied themselves for war. The Elfwar raged for nearly 1,000 years, neither side gaining victory. Thousands of Elves perished on both sides, and the number of wounded grew ever higher. The Elves of Lolth took the name Drow to signify their new allegiance, and they took the cities they had captured as their homes. They massed for the final battle, and Lolth covered the land in loathsome clouds of black to strike fear in the hearts of mortal Elves. The Drow were prepared to win, but then the Seldarine themselves intervened. Corellon Larethian and his companions struck deep into the heart of Drow territory. Long and hard they fought, seeking the evil in that land. Finally, Corellon Larethian came upon the dread Spider Queen, and he attacked. Magic flared and spat; blood merged in rivulets. Then Corellon struck Lolth a telling blow, driving her deep into the earth. With her defeat, the haze over the battlefield lifted, allowing the bright light of the sun to bathe the land in its healing rays.

The Drow turned their faces away from the sun's purification, preferring instead their fallen goddess. They consciously chose the shadows over light, and Corellon decreed that such treachery would forever show upon their faces. It is for this reason that the skin of the Drow is dark.

Corellon forced the evil Elves into the rift where he had banished Lolth the Spider. After the last Drow was driven underground, he and his fellow gods left the Elves to their own devices.

A time of peace fall across the world but it was relativly short lived, a mere 500 years. There were those who lusted for power, and those who could not bear to live within the confining walls of a city. Others were rabidly xenophobic, wanting to bar outsiders such as Dwarves and Humans from the Elflands, keeping away the taint of those "unfavoured by the gods." Still others, more moderate in most things, were scorned by their brothers or even despised.
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The Crown Wars:

Some Elves were wise and foresaw the terrible war to come. They quietly began to gather their people to forge items of might: armor, to protect the heroes they must send to battle; helmets, to inspire faith and trust in all who see them; and swords, to smite their foes. They constructed, too, other weapons of force: subtle arrows of defense and attack, not-so-subtle rings of power, and awesome spells of destruction designed to fight the coming battles.

The Crown War began, and brother fought brother, daughter against mother. Mages from all sides unleashed their powers. Sparks lit each clash of sword against plate, pointing the way for arrows to seek and wound hoping to kill.

for 5,000 Long and bloody years, was the Crown War, but in the end, the Grey Elves won, and peace was restored. Disheartened, and sick with shame at the destruction and killing of their people, the Elves set aside their weapons, their armor, their rings and staves of might. Many left them littering the battlefields, for they could bear no more the taste of war.
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The Formation of The Elven Court of Kael and Miryth Dragkor:

With the ending of the Crown Wars, the people decided that a better way was needed to settle disputes and to select a ruler. The priests of the Seldarine prayed to their gods and soon were given an answer.

Clan Elders, High Mages, and holy elves in all the Elven settlements across the world received a summons from Corellon Larethian the creator while in states of reverie, They were to prepare for a court to decide the fate and future of the Elves.

Almost instantly Elves began disappearing at dawn when they first greeted the sun. Their disappearances were consistent with legends of Corellon summoning an elf to his side, so few elves worried about the abductions. In all 500 elves magically arrived in a deep, untouched wood far from any known Elven realm yet established. There, Corellon's voice proclaimed, this is the place and Time of Elven Court. Now you all must decide your future, for the path on which you all now walk leads to destruction.

For the next nine hundred years, the founders of Elven Court built homes and temples amid the trees and around the deep wells, pools and underground rivers of the aquatic elves. As this site was divinely chosen and visited, many temples rose up around the central clearings that became Elven court. Even with all this work to establish a colony here, the elves knew this was a judgment place and that they must come to an accord over how to resolve conflicts so that the horrors of the Crown wars would not be revisited.

Even though the summoned elves were a mix of clan elders and high mages and common elves, Elven court was always perceived and operated as a settlement of peers. Old hierarchies were set aside to allow for freedom of expression and discussion among the court members. There was little need for law or government therein, as their duty kept the peace. All elves were equal here, for they were called to judge themselves, not measure themselves by social status or magical prowess. The Elves of Elven court looked long and hard at themselves and their brethren to find where the people's path had strayed.

By the time of the judgment, the original 500 elves placed in the virgin wood had grown to a small city of temples halls tree dwellings and a population of over 6000. It was decided that the Elven peoples would be ruled by a single king. This King would be chosen by merit of his ability to govern, and lead the people into a strong bright future. To aid in the selection of this King a sword was crafted by the high mages and blessed by the priests of the Seldarine and enchanted with the ability to select a king by Corellon himself. The sword was called Ar'Cor'Kerym. The next judgment was that 500 additional swords would be crafted, one by each of the original elves summoned to Elven court. These swords would be enchanted and offered to those worthy to wield them in defense of the Elven King and the people. These swords came to be known as Moon Swords. It was felt that the King should be ever close to the Elven Court so it was decided that a city would be Constructed within this same forest. This city was called Miryth Dragkor and the land about it called Kael.

Having decided these things, the elves of Elven Court began to implement them. Within the next two hundred years a King was chosen by the Sword, 500 Moon Warriors were selected and the City of Miryth Dragkor was built and thousands of elves migrated and populated the new Kingdom of the Elves. All looked bright for the Elves.
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The Elf/Dwarf Wars:

After the horrors of the Crown Wars and the rulings made in Elven Court, the world entered a second golden age and the Elven Empire reached fabulous levels of wealth, power and majesty. During this period of nearly 20,000 years, They built towering, shimmering cities throughout their new kingdom that were as much a testament to their mastery of magic as they were to their appreciation of beauty.

This golden age proved to be a time of greatness for other races as well, but foremost of these were the Dwarves. During this time the Dwarves constructed incredible underground realms that rivaled the Elven cities and were considered the greatest feats of engineering in the world. The Dwarves too were masters of their own forms of magic, and they used them to bring their empire to greater glory.

For millennia, the Elven and the Dwarven realms peacefully co-existed, exchanging gifts of magic and wealth. Where the Elves ruled the surface world, the dwarves reigned supreme under the ground and there did the two realms live almost as one.

But as they say, familiarity breeds contempt, and slowly the closeness of the Elves and Dwarves began to dissolve. The Elves became haughty and superior, while the dwarves grew bitter and vengeful. The two realms began to drift apart. Although many great magic-wielders, clergy, scholars, sages and statesmen tried to heal the growing rifts between the two races, the seeds of schism had been sown, and a tree bearing bitter fruit began to grow.

Too make matters worse, the Goddess Lolth, ever watchful for an opportunity to harm the Elves of the surface , decided to take advantage of the growing rift and set into motion several atrocities to the Dwarves. The Dwarves, not knowing of the Drow and growing more distrustful of the Elves, blamed the elves of the surface for these heinous acts and retaliated by utterly destroying one of the Elven cities.

And lo, did the elf and dwarf draw unto arms against the other, causing the golden age of peace to collapse before the iron age of war.

For one hundred years did both do war on the other and many were the lives lost. And for one brief second did it seem that this bloody conflict would draw to a close. In the lands of the surface did these great powers meet for one final reckoning of peace before both were flung headlong into the abyss. As the great armies glowered at each other, far across the field as their generals met and traded words edged with steel, a great disturbance between the two hosts drew them into arms. The Dwarves thought they detected an Elven ambush heading for the conference tent, while the elves thought the same of the dwarves. Both rushed to their generals aid and met with a terrible clash of arms.

Thick into the press did both armies fly, and a day of hideous bloodshed soaked the earth and split the air with cries of dying. By the sun s retreat, the field was piled high with the fallen, and the fates of the two empires were sealed. The elf/Dwarf war lasted nearly eight thousand years, and in the end though the elves stood victorious both peoples suffered great losses in both people and culture.

A time of quiet settled over the lands and in time the survivors of both races looked to the errors of the past and overtures of peace were made, but never again would Elf and Dwarf be as close as they once were.
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The Elf/Human War:

During the many years of the Elf/Dwarf wars, a third race rose to greatness and soon began to spread over the world. This race, the humans, while short of life when compared to the elves, proved to be extremely adaptable and nearly as fertile as the Orcs. The humans quite literally flooded the lands with people and by the close of the Elf/Dwarf war, were pushing the elves out of their long held territories. The elves, weakened by the devastating battles with the dwarves, and the many millennia of battles fought with the Drow and Orcs, were unable to stem the tide of human encroachment and retreated to the only still purely Elven holding, The forests of Kael, and the city of Miryth Dragkor.

Peace was maintained for a time and the elves began to slowly recover from the great Wars, but soon the humans again started to push into Elven holdings and the Elves once again found themselves at war. The Elf/Human War was fought over a period of 1,000 years and fought in a series of 4 wars. The Bloodshed in this short time made the losses during the Elf/Dwarf wars pale in comparison. Almost were the Elves brought to the point of extinction. And then the last great king of Miryth Dragkor came to rule, Endar Arcelduin.
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The Creation of Arethane and Lorien and the Elven Retreat:

King Endar, was both a great warrior and a very devoted priest to the Seldarine. He knew that unless something was done soon, the elves would cease to exist, and so prayed to the Seldarine, seeking an answer to the dilemma. For many years did he remain in prayer, devoting much time in service to the gods, while allowing the ruling of the Kingdom to fall to his most trusted general, Jeraillae Elessedil, who later became his consort, then wife. As General Elessedil fought, an answer to the prayers of the king was granted. The King fell into a deep sleep, and there he saw a vision of two Island realms form from the mists of his dream. The voice of the gods called these lands Arethane and Lorien, and Endar was instructed to Divide the remaining elves into three parts. The first group would go to the Land of Arethane under the leadership of Endar s younger brother, a High Mage named Marek. The second group of Elves, under the leadership of Jeraillae Elessedil and with her their infant daughter, Sylvranae, would go to Lorien later to form their new Kingdom. To the third and smallest group would fall the price of these new realms. Endar and his remaining peoples would remain in Kael, and protect the retreat of the others and later join Elessedil in Lorien, once the way was safe. Unfortunately, Endar's daughter, who was staying in the royal sanctuary until the retreat could be implemented was lost when the sanctuary was overrun by High Orcs in the service of the Archwizards of Myraletch. Jeraillae barely escaped with her life, and in fact was dragged away by her retainers, grievously injured, while she tried to rescue her daughter.

As earlier stated, when the human kingdoms began to rise up and challenge the elves for supremacy of Otara, the elves feared the worst. The cruel Archwizards of Myraletch had control of mighty magics, the likes of which, thankfully, have not been seen since. With the Myral encroaching upon the High Forest, some of the Elven clans there began a migration elsewhere, following the instruction provided by the vision of King Endar Arcelduin. Other elves in other parts of the World slowly began to follow their brethren. The plan of eventual Retreat was formally adopted by the Elven race. After considering ways best to consolidate Elven power, large numbers of elves joined the Retreat and after years of secret preparation, many elves left the mainland. Elven settlements that were indefensible or too near encroaching humans would be moved to Arethane or Lorien. {For more information on the Elven Retreat, see The Secret of the Elven Retreat.}
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The Battle of Endar's Field and the Fall of Miryth Dragkor:

Even as the retreat grew more popular, and more Elves left the mainland for the Island strongholds, King Endar held fast to the high forest realm of Kael and fought the human armies that threatened to overwhelm his people. In this he was successful for several months, covering the retreat of the others to their respective islands. However, the Human armies continued to come, and the Elven defender's numbers continued to dwindle in what was fast becoming a war of attrition. King Endar, saw only one chance to accomplish his goal of protecting the island strongholds of the retreat, though it would surely result in the death of most of the remaining Elves of Kael. It has been speculated that he had yet another of his prophetic visions, though no one knows for sure. Endar decided to bring the war to the humans. The loss of his daughter and a desire for revenge, may also have added to lead him to this decision. His plan was to force the humans of Myral to bring the bulk of their forces to the fight, thus weakening Myral enough that they would be vulnerable to their other enemies, and saving the elves as a whole. As stated, he knew this would certainly spell the death of the elves of Kael, but would in the end achieve the goal he had set the elves upon.

One bright morning he gathered the whole of his army, as well as any elf that was able to carry arms and formed a mighty host which then marched out of the high forests and brought the battle to the Myral city of Faredshaer. In a swift and bloody battle the city was completely leveled and the humans of the city, save a handful of survivors left to carry word of the attack back to Myral, were slaughtered. Surrounding villages were put to the sword and the lands salted and put to the torch. Fortifications were then constructed from the rubble of Faredshaer, and Endar's army waited there in the fields for the Myral force's retaliation. The battle with the humans of Faredshaer, and the surrounding area, was not an easy one and Endar had less then 5000 soldiers left to hold the field.

Myral's did not make the elves wait long. In a battle that became known as the Battle of Endar's field, they arrived in mass and attacked the remaining Elven host with everything they had. Myral, with nearly 30,000 soldiers, struck the Elven defenders and in a battle which lasted nearly 25 days, completely slaughtering the remains of the Elven army, leaving none alive. Although Endar and his elves were dead, the last plan of the King was a vast success. Of the nearly 30,000 soldiers that attacked, a mere 500 left the field alive, and most of them wounded.

The Battle of Endar's field changed much of the power structure on the mainland. With the loss of most of it's army, Myralrech was nearly defenseless against the armies of other races and other human kingdoms, and in short order were themselves eliminated as a power on Otara.

With the death of King Endar and the massacre of the remaining Elven army on the mainland, it was decided by Most of the elves remaining in Miryth Dragkor to evacuate the city and join the retreat. The Bulk of the Kael Elves took all they could carry and left the city to it's own devices.

Many of these elves went to Lorien, but in the end most elected to settle in Rhyanne, a large forested stronghold of elves on the mainland used as a staging point for the retreat. Although it would never achieve the greatness of Kael nor the splendor of Miryth Dragkor, Rhyanne became a strong Elven Kingdom, that due to the elimination of the Myralrech threat, was able to survive and thrive, acting as a bastion for the elves on the mainland.
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The Withdrawal of Lorien:

News of the death of Endar did not take long to reach the strongholds, and in fact was known by General Jeraillea Elessedil, immediately, due to the bond shared by the General and his King. This additional loss, along with the grief of losing their daughter, caused Elessedil to fall into a deep depression that only deepened when details of the Last stand of the elves reached the Islands. This depression seemed to be shared by many of the Elves of the islands as Endar was much beloved. To make matters even more complicated, Jeraillea discovered that she carried her second child, who now would be heir to the Elven people. It is speculated that the loss of her King along with all these added stresses drove Elessedil insane. She became obsessed with the safety of the elves and the dream of her now dead king. and as her madness and obsession progressed, something happened to push her over the deep end.

Humans attacked and drove the elves from the Island of Jordaine, an island principality belonging to Arethane. Elessedil decided that so long as a single human remained alive in the world, the elves were in danger. Her solutions were few. She could kill all the humans, which she knew would be a near impossible task, that even if accomplished would most certainly result in the mutual destruction of the elves or she could remove the elves from harms way.

20 years after the death of Endar, the Island kingdom of Lorien vanished into the mists, leaving only Arethane as a retreat for the elves. The loss of Lorien shocked the elves. The priests sought answer from the gods as to what had happened. and mages searched alternate planes of existence for some clue. No answers or clues were found. Not long after the disappearance, the Humans of what was now called Vordan again attacked, but this time were repelled and could not gain further footholds in Elven territory. A time of peace settled across Otara.
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The Kingdom of Harak: A Legacy Forged in War and Shadow

The Kingdom of Harak, like much of the continent, traces its ancient roots to the once-mighty Elven Kingdom of Kael, a realm of breathtaking beauty, profound magic, and deep wisdom. For thousands of years, Kael flourished across the continent’s forests, mountains, and plains, its society marked by graceful longevity and an ordered aristocracy. Yet beneath this elegance, a rot began to spread. The noble houses grew insular and indulgent, their ambition curdling into rivalry. Petty feuds and succession disputes undermined the unity of the realm. Compounding this decline was the rise of Myretch, an ancient and ambitious Human kingdom dominated by wizard-kings. Obsessed with arcane supremacy and conquest, Myretch shattered the balance of the world, releasing wave upon wave of human tribes across the land in an attempt to reshape it in their image. These human migrations, often violent and uncoordinated, added strain to an already faltering Kael. When Kael inevitably collapsed under the weight of its own pride and external pressures, only Rhyanne, a north eastern province fortified by tradition and mountain fastness, remained intact—a final bastion of Elven sovereignty. Harak, once a peaceful southern duchy under Rhyanne’s dominion, soon found itself at the heart of upheaval.
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Dhelcrist and The Knights Templar

The History of the Templar Knights of Dhelcrist is one of a distant origin on a different plane of existence. Millennia ago in a land known only to Templar historians by the enigmatic name as the Kingdom of Heaven, the Poor Soldiers of Crist and of the Temple of Solman, commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order of the Temple, were among the most famous of the military orders of that land. The organization existed for approximately 200 years. It was founded in the aftermath of a great holy war, to ensure the safety of the many who made pilgrimage to a holy city called Gerisalum after its conquest.

Officially endorsed by the Church of their God, the Order became a favored charity across many lands and grew rapidly in membership and power. Templar knights in their distinctive white mantles with red cross were among the best fighting units of the times. Non-combatant members of the Order managed a large economic infrastructure throughout many kingdoms, and built many fortifications across the Holy Land.

The Templars' success was tied closely to the holy wars then called the Crusades; when the Crusaders suffered defeat and lost the Holy Land, support for the Order faded. So great was the power of the Templar at this time that even kings became jealous of them and feared them. Rumors about the Templars' secret rites created mistrust, and a King, who’s name is lost to history, and was deeply in debt to the Order, began pressuring the Leader of the church to take action. The King had many of the Order's members arrested, tortured into giving false confessions, and burned at the stake. The Church, under continuing pressure from this King, disbanded the Order.

The King thought that he had won, that the Templar treasure would be his, and as he raided the Templar headquarters, he found that all the records and more importantly the treasure had been removed. His deputies, as they moved to seize the Templar fleet, the largest in all the known lands, had already set sail. Where either had gone was a mystery.

The truth of the matter is that the Templar were taken from those lands and transported to the world of Otara by the God Moranthis. Dhelcrist, a land of the followers of Moranthis had been beset by attacks for nearly 2 centuries and could not hope to survive much longer. Their god decided to take a hand in their salvation and searched for a means to safeguard his people. He found those means in the Order of the Knight Templar.

Assuming a more familiar form that the Templar would recognize, he appeared in the dreams of the knights and indeed they did recognize their god. He told them that he had watched the plight that had befallen them and that their sacrifices in his name would not be in vain. He promised that he would deliver them unto a new land where they would be free of the persecutions of those who had betrayed them. He commanded that all that remained of the order as well as their treasures and amassed wealth be gathered and their Fleet set sail. He then told them that upon the third day of their voyage, he would deliver them to their new land. He then told them that although their salvation was at hand, there was a price to be paid, but one they were overly qualified to pay. They must save the peoples of the promised land from the ravages of the invading monsters and demons that threatened to destroy them and the lands they would soon inherit, and then once saved they must rule over the lands in fairness and kindness and help them prosper. Each knight of the order thus visited agreed. Within 2 weeks the vast fleet of the Templar, loaded with the entire wealth of the templar and it’s knights, save for those incarcerated and unable to join their brethren set sail as instructed. 3 days later a massive rift was opened before the mighty fleet and the ships sailed through and found themselves on a vast ocean near the coast of a strange land.

That they were indeed on a new world was immediately evident as this world had several moons. They looked upon the land before them in wonder and Moranthis appeared before then in the skies and cried down to them.

“Here now the voice of your God. This is now your place and the lands you see ahead are the holy lands of Dhelcrist. In this land I am called Moranthus. From this time forth you too shall call me such. Go forth Holy Templars of Moranthus and save my peoples and thus be one with this world.”

Within seconds many of the knights and priests fell to knees in awe as the power of Moranthus filled them. When they arose they knew that they had been accepted as the first Paladins and Priests of Moranthus. The order to make for the Land and dock were given and the vast fleet came finally to rest.

Within 5 years, Dhelcrist was saved and the Templar began the task of rebuilding.
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The Raise of Vron and the Cursed Lands:

As already stated the bulk of the elves from Miryth Dragkor and Kael decided to follow the path of the retreat, however this was not the case with all the elves. King Endar had a young cousin, a Warrior Mage known as Arekal Mordnakon. Although a noble of Kael he was of a lesser house and not in line to rule the elves when his cousin died. This however did not lessen his desire of rulership nor his ambitions to ultimately rule over the entire world. He was a very Charismatic Elf and in short order had built up a following. When most of the Elves of Kael and Miryth Dragkor left for the retreat he and his following remained behind. Miryth Dragkor became known as Veridistan and what remained of a greater part of Kael was renamed Vron. Liikewise a smaller desolate portion of Kael became the Kingdom of Grondar. Arekal Quickly started amassing an army, however his means of recruitment are what lead to the Cursing of Vron. Arekal was a Necromancer and Paladin to the God of Death, Thaid. The war had left many dead and Arekal hated to let such a resource go to waste, and so raised these dead to form a massive undead army. With the formation of this Army of Darkness he began his attacks. Under Arekal s rule, the Undead made their way across the mainland, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. With the Undead hordes threatening the entire mainland, Taki Rassien, A half Elven General from Rhyanne, took the armies of Rhyanne west to make a stand at the fortress ShadowGuard. Taki believed, using the fortress of ShadowGuard, that he could stop the horde.

The battle of ShadowGuard lasted weeks; and although the undead destroyed the entire garrison, leaving very few survivors of Taki s army, it is said that the battle of ShadowGuard was the turning point in the Undead War. It was this battle that forced the other races of Otara to band together, and the forces of Rhyanne were able to unify the command of all the armies. The Dwarven Overking sent his infantry to aid the Elves, and the Orc Warmasters ordered their tribes to support them as well. It is said that even some Halflings and Sylvankind joined the elves. And the humans, after seeing the other nations banning together, also joined in the fight as allies of the elves.

For years the battle against the undead raged on. Neither side was making any progress. It was at this time that a group of Human Mages called the Kiadrothi proposed a lightning strike in the heart of Vron to end the war. They claimed to have developed a new magic that would help end the undead threat. The army assaulted Veridistan. It was then that Arekal released his latest undead creation, the Banshee. The Banshee with it s tattered robes and decaying flesh, screamed through rotting teeth at the armies. These screams alone forced the soldiers to their knees, causing them to drop their weapons and cover their ears. The battle appeared lost; this is when the Kiadrothi chose to release their new magic. The Kiadrothi Mages, kneeling, inscribed circles upon the ground. Gazing to the heavens they chanted as one, summoning a flight of lesser demons to battle the undead hordes. When the undead were pushed back through the gates of the keep, the Mages then cast their final spell. This spell called upon the heavens to release the wrath of lightning upon the Veridistan. The war was ended, however a new threat seemed ready to tear the victor s apart. The summoning of demons was thought to be dangerous and it was feared the opening of the veil was as vile and evil as Arekal and his undead. The Kiadrothi Mages argued that the magic they used was a necessity in destroying Arekal and insuring the survival of the world, but the others did not agree. They banished the mages, sending them in exile to the Island Rhoska-Tor, Which later became the Mage Kingdom of Kiadroth.

The remaining Mages and Priests of the several races, gathered together and with the power of their magic, in conjunction with the powers of the gods through their clerics cast a curse on the lands of Vron, with the intent of destroying all the remaining undead within. This however is not what happened. As the curse was cast, the God Thaid through his servant Arekal, who had survived the Kiadrothi attack, changed the curse so that anything within the borders of Vron became Undead and would forever do so for the rest of time. Anything that dies within Vron becomes undead. The Curse did have one beneficial result. The undead of Vron, save for the most powerful, cannot survive long out of Vron. Typically they survive until the first raise of the sun. Another result of the Curse was that Arekal became a lich in the service of his Dark God.

The Rise of Humanity and the War for Independence, The Second Elf/Human War About 20,000 would pass without significant change. Initially marginalized and treated as second-class citizens in their own lands, the human tribes endured decades of servitude and disdain. But in this crucible of oppression, a leader emerged, Mikal Corvase, a charismatic warrior and statesman of rare vision. Mikal united the fractured human tribes through a message of shared destiny and freedom, igniting a movement that would challenge Elven supremacy across the south. The resulting conflict, known as The War for Independence, or the Second Elf-Human war, was a cataclysmic struggle that engulfed the eastern reaches of the continent. Mikal’s rebel armies, though vastly outnumbered and poorly armed, were driven by conviction and led with tactical brilliance. The war’s turning point came at the fabled Battle of Black Fire Pass, where Mikal, exploiting the terrain and the arrogance of his foes, won a miraculous victory. There, among the smoldering ruins and broken swords, the Kingdom of Harak was born. Mikal declared himself king, establishing the Corvase Dynasty, and forever altering the balance of power on the continent. Mikal’s reign was not merely one of conquest, but of construction. Understanding the fragile foundation of his new kingdom, he reached across racial boundaries and forged the Oath of the Dwarfs, a pact of mutual defense and prosperity with the neighboring mountain clans. This alliance brought Harak access to superior weapons, stonework, and mining expertise, while providing the Dwarfs with food, trade routes, and military security. To maintain unity and prevent another aristocratic decay like Kael’s, Mikal institutionalized the Trial by Combat, a public rite that became both a legal practice and a cultural symbol, where disputes among nobles and warriors were settled by strength and honor, not politics. His legacy, immortalized in song and sculpture, became the gold standard by which all future kings would be judged.

The First Millennium: Glory Amid Trials

The first thousand years of Harak’s existence were marked by both triumph and adversity. Encroachments by Orc warbands, Beastmen hordes, and rogue human factions tested the kingdom’s resolve. Internal factions emerged. some loyal to the crown, others dreaming of independence or conquest. Yet through all, the Corvase line held firm, expanding the kingdom’s borders through diplomacy and war, and founding key provinces that would form the backbone of the realm. Harak’s armies grew into a disciplined, honor-bound force, shaped by the teachings of Mikal and the Dwarven war masters. Fortresses sprang up along the mountain passes, and vast roads linked the heartland to its provinces. Trade flourished, culture blossomed, and for a time, it seemed that Harak would become the continent’s dominant power.

The Second Millennium: Decline and Discord

But as with all great empires, Harak’s golden age could not last. The second millennium brought a slow and painful unraveling. A string of ineffectual monarchs and bitter succession disputes weakened the royal authority. Noble houses, once bound by oath and loyalty, began to act with impunity, carving out their own territories and forming petty courts of intrigue. Amid this growing instability, a secretive and heretical sect, the Order of the Black Flame, rose to prominence. Cloaked in shadow and guided by malevolent powers, they infiltrated the highest levels of society. Practitioners of forbidden sorcery and necromancy, they conducted vile rituals and sowed terror throughout the land. Paranoia and fear spread like wildfire, and one by one, the provinces declared independence or descended into anarchy. Harak splintered, and the once-proud kingdom teetered on the brink.

The War of Shadows:

1,000 years would pass before the elves yet again found themselves embroiled in a war. However this time it was not a war against humans, dwarves, Drow or even Orcs.

It was with other Elves. The Shadow Elves, an offshoot of the Grey Elves that had settled in Arethane along with other elves of the retreat. These elves practiced darker Magics and though not evil like the Drow, tended toward a darker path then other Elven types. One thing they had in common with their Grey Elf cousins was the belief that they were the most pure of the elves and as such the only Elves with the right to rule.

It must be stated that at this time little was known about the Shadow Elves, In fact most considered them to be fairy tales, used to scare small children. The Shadow elves did everything they could to foster this belief.

Because they were an offshoot of the Grey elves they easily hid themselves, pretending to be just ordinary Grey Elves, scoffing at the mere mention of the shadow elf threat, all the time building up their strength and infiltrating the government of the Elves. Kaerathal Arcelduin, then King of Arethane, took Jairdren Kardimal as an advisor.

The Kardimal House, were to the eyes of the elves, the perfect Grey Elven House. They were skilled warriors, powerful mages and reverent in the ways of the Seldarine. They were also Shadow Elves. Jairdren, the speaker of house Kardimal, was a very charismatic elf, skilled in many arts, and evil to the core. He was a warrior without peer and a very accomplished Mage. He had to all appearances become very close friends with the king and when he was taken on as the chief advisor to the king no one was surprised.

Jairdren was also many other things, as well as being a wizard, he was also a necromancer of incredible skill as well as a Shadow Mage. He worshipped the Demon Lord Jubelex.

He held the position of chief advisor for several years "advising" his king into doing things that began causing rebellion.

What in reality was happening was that the King had been dead for several years, and Jairdren, through his necromantic arts had kept the king animated and under his control and had in fact been ruling the kingdom. Eventually the true nature of the king was discovered and all out rebellion and war set out.

Because of the time it took too discover the truth about the Shadow Elves and that they had been allowed to build up their strength without hindrance, the shadow War was swift and decisive. The Shadow Elves won. The Members of the royal house were either all killed or driven deep into hiding and Arethane was ruled by King Jairdren Kardimal for 57 years.

Through out this time rebels remained active but for the most part ineffectual, that is until the coming of Rhysanus Ariquis, a Grey Elven wizard of incredible power who was a Priest and Paladin of the Dragonwright, specifically to the Black Dragon God Styphon.

Little is known of where Rhysanus came from other then he was known as a World Walker. As stated earlier, Styphon was much desirous of being First among the gods, and thought that the elves were the key to this. Through the worship of all elves, he would ascend to the position of Supreme power. With the worship of Rhysanus he saw yet again a chance to accomplish this goal.

Styphon was well aware of the magics cast so many years ago by King Rhysal Starweaver and of the prophecy of the dragon queen Alestria. Within Rhysanus he found his prophesized Elven King. Styphon brought Rhysanus to Otara along with much of the Elven lands Rhysanus ruled on another world and merged them with Arethane. He then set Rhysanus with the task to overthrow the Shadow Elves and restoring the elves to grey elf rule, as well as the establishment of Dragonwright and the worship of Styphon as the principle god of the elves.

Rhysanus up until this time was a very devote worshiper and quite evil. He had already conquered several realms in his own right and was as said, an extremely powerful mage and warrior. When his lands were merged with Arethane by his God, he proceeded to do just as commanded, and in short order removed the Shadow Elves from Arethane. As the only surviving member of the royal house that could be found was a mere baby and that Rhysanus was able to draw the Kingsword of the elves he was accepted as King of the elves of Arethane.

Something else quite unexpected happened. He fell in love with a Silver Dragon and made her his queen. This marriage began to change him. He began to question much of what his God commanded, seeking out the hidden motives behind the commands, and becoming a force of good. Styphon was not pleased and took Rhysanus' wife Silvarae away from him. This was the last straw in the eyes of Rhysanus and he ceased to follow the god Styphon and reverted to the worship of the Seldarine.
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The Re-Surfacing of Atlan`Ysse:

In one of her many visions, Alestria Tirandiel, foresaw the joining of Rhysanus and Silvarae. Through the combined magic of thousands of high mages, this bond was keyed to the Land of Gila`Ysse, now called Atlan`ysse. On the day of their union, the magics that held ancient Atlan`ysse, beneath the ocean, began to unravel.

Within months the lost Kingdom of the elves resurfaced, merging with the Island Kingdom of Arethane, literally splitting it in 2 pieces to break through the middle. The mainland were hit by massive tidal waves and incredibly destructive earthquakes, however, save for the restructuring of the Geography of Arethane, the Elven lands remained untouched.
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The Re-Emergence of Lorien:

The unraveling of the magics that had held Atlan`ysse also had a secondary effect. They caused the undoing of the magics that had moved Lorien into the mists. 6 months after the re-surfacing of Atlan`ysse, Lorien returned. King Rhysanus by this time had lost his queen to Styphon, and when the Rulers of Lorien proposed a political marriage to once again unite the Elven kingdoms under one rule he agreed.
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The War of Reunification and the Gathering:

With all the ancient Elven lands returned there remained only one Island to reclaim, the Island of Vordan. In this age of chaos, a tragic figure emerged, Seth Corvase, a duke of royal blood and once a national hero. Fueled by ambition, envy, and whispers from the abyss, Seth betrayed his kin and consorted with dark forces. He committed heinous atrocities, including a colony of 25,000 elves that were slaughtered, and ultimately performed the Rite of Binding, transforming himself into a Death Knight, a spectral mockery of his former self. Seth’s reign of terror reignited ancient hatreds and nearly plunged the continent back into all-out war. His dark army ravaged borderlands, and it took a coalition of Elves, Dwarfs, and loyal Harakians to banish him. But the scars he left, on both the land and its people—would not fade easily.

The Resurgence of Faith

In the aftermath of Seth’s darkness, a powerful movement rose in opposition: the Church of Light and Dark, a faith that embraced both balance and unity. It taught that only by accepting the duality of existence, light and shadow, life and death, could Harak survive. The Church became a political and spiritual force, spreading across villages and cities alike. Its clergy offered hope, justice, and purpose. Paladins and inquisitors hunted down cultists and monsters, while preachers reignited the old stories of Mikal and the Founding War. The Church also supported the revitalization of military traditions, promoting unity under a shared spiritual cause.

The Modern Era: A Kingdom on the Brink

Today, under the leadership of King Sigmar Corvase, Harak stands at a perilous crossroads. The king, a battle-hardened ruler of sharp wit and weary heart, must contend with a realm that is both proud and fractured. Whispers speak of Skaven lurking beneath the cities, of ancient horrors stirring in forgotten ruins, and of cults, both new and reborn, plotting in secret. The noble houses are restless, the common folk fearful, and the borders increasingly threatened by warbands and strange, otherworldly beings. Yet amidst the gloom, the fire of Harak’s spirit endures. Festivals still ring with songs of Mikal’s glory. Children dream of taking the Trial. Knights polish their blades by candlelight, awaiting the call. The fate of Harak hangs in the balance, but as always, its people endure.

Current Status: The Elven Kingdom of Arethane vs. The Human Kingdom of Harak

Relationship Status: Cold War of Culture, Power, and Memory

The Elven Kingdom of Arethane

Forming the sovereign and magical homeland of the Elves and ruled by the powerful and ageless Rhysanus, who governs both politically and spiritually.
The island of Jordaine, once the site of the ancient Human kingdom of Vordan, is now an Elven principality, governed by Prince Jarrod Nar'Xaid. Jordaine's reconquest from Human control (when it was known as Vordan) marked the Elves' resurgence on the seas and near-continental influence.

The Kingdom of Harak

A mainland Human kingdom that once drove the Elves from Jordaine (then Vordan) approximately 2,500 years ago. Harak sees the retaking of Jordaine by Arethane as an act of Elven aggression, a symbolic reversal of Human victory. Its monarchy supports military expansion, religious fervor, and Human pride. It views Arethane's growing naval and magical presence as strategic encirclement.

Geopolitical Reality

Jordaine is now being fortified and spiritually revitalized, serving as:

A military projection base.
A symbol of Elven restoration.
A homeland for relocated Elves (including those from Rhyanne).

Harak, unable to challenge Arethane directly by sea, is:

Beefing up its coastal fortresses.
Developing fleets and magical deterrents.
Spreading ideological resistance among Human cultures neighboring the Elven islands.

Tensions

Issue	Arethane's Position	Harak's Reaction
Jordaine's Reclamation	Rightful Elven dominion, spiritual homeland	Theft of Vordan, national humiliation
Religion	Ancestor-worship, Elven pantheons, ley-line devotion	Church of Duality (Light and Dark), inherently opposed
Naval Expansion	Guardianship of ancient waters	Militarization of coastline
Rhyanne's Evacuation	Strategic consolidation of Elvenkind	Interpreted as Elven failure, leverage for Human pride
Diplomacy	"We offer stability through principled hierarchy"	"You offer chains in silver and call them crowns"

Summary

Arethane, including Jordaine, is an Elven island empire: ancient, mystical, and increasingly assertive. Harak is a proud Human land power facing a naval Elven superpower just off its coast. No open war exists, but the conditions are volatile:

Trade is restricted.
Spies are active.
Skirmishes at sea are rising.
Both kingdoms prepare for what they call "the inevitable test of will."

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