History...
A short historical primer of Haven. As before, the first time I refer to a term, I do so in bold.
"Ancient" History
Mare than 1000 years ago, the Peoples (the civilized races) came to Haven. They came from somewhere to the east of Bareira, fleeing a great enemy. This migration is known as the Flight. It must have been great enemy indeed, as the Peoples found Haven to already be occupied by Goblinoids, with whom they were soon in conflict.
The Peoples soon found themselves at war with the Goblinoids and were eventually successful, pushing the Goblinoids back from what are now the civilized lands. During this time, they decimated the Goblinoids leadership cast, the Hobgoblins. This time is known as the Foundation Wars. During the Foundation Wars, the city of Ascension was founded at the feet of a mountain carrying the same name. Records of this time and of the Flight are rare and incomplete.
Some time around or after the Foundation Wars, Aeries were invented. This opened up an even greater area of expansion for the Peoples, allowing them to travel safely over the heavily forested terrain of Haven. A great period of expansion began, though this expansion involved further conflicts with the Goblinoids. The Goblnoids offered little more than temporary setbacks, however, they being largely disorganized and leadership since the massacre of the Hobgoblins in the Foundation Wars. This time is know as the Safing of Haven. Goblinoids were to remain a continuing nuisance and hazard, as were the variety other hazardous wildlife/creatures in Haven.
Some time around or after the Safing of Haven, the Eladrin Schism occurred, forever dividing the Elvin race. The reasons for the Schism are no longer known, but it forever split Elvin into those who flew the sky in Aeries, and those who lived in the forest below.
"Recent" History
Time progressed. Roughly 600 years ago, Mount Pushkin was discovered by a halfling by the same name, who first observed the unique magical properties of the mountain. It was unique in that the fabric of magic was such that one could open a portal to another world. Soon thereafter, the wizards of Haven developed the means to open such a portal (the Portal) to the world of Furlough, and Treffenholm as a trading town in a mountain nearby.
Soon thereafter, the Godwar blew up. This was a war between the peoples and the Gods of Haven and Furlough. It raged for many years, and was devastating to both worlds, but particularly Furlough, leading to much immigration from Furlough to Haven after the war. Treffenholm was destroyed by magic unleashed during the war, which blasted a huge, long hole in the ground called the Trench.
After the war, Second Chance was founded beside the Trench, again to serve as a hub for trade coming through the Portal. Steirhold was also founded nearby, to exploit the mineral wealth that was revealed by the formation of the Trench, and to hopefully recover some of the treasures lost with the blasting of Treffenholm.
"Current" History
200 or so years ago, Prince Burundis of Ascension went with a large group of followers to found a new settlement. Things went drastically wrong, however, and the settlement was over run by undead, ever since being known as Burundis's Doom. These undead were lead by the Lich-Queen Felosial and her general, the Protector Demarcis. They originally tried to invade and destroy the kingdom of Ascension, but were repulsed at great loss, success being in a large part due to the involvement of the Holy Order of Saint Tach'ol, an order of paladins based in Furlough.
In the present day, the Lich-Queen is trying again, with an army of undead the likes of which have never been seen before. They are marching on Ascension, and it will surely fall without outside help. Bareira, a long standing rival of Ascension, and the kingdom with one of the largest armies in Haven, refuses to help. As a result, the characters have been sent as ambassadors to Furlough, to hopefully get support from the kingdoms there. The fate of Haven depends on it.
Post a Comment