The Realm - Elethril - Forward & Introduction

Forward By Elethril Creator:
Welcome to the world of Elethril, a custom AD&D campaign world created by me. This website is designed to serve as a supplemental source of information for my campaign world. Elethril is not available for play over the internet (yet) and no gaming will be occuring on this site. Any information provided on this website is available for others to use as they wish provided they first ask me.

On this website you will find copies of all the files I have provided to you in your startup packets. If and when I update or change the info provided in those files, you will be directed to this website to print out the newer version of the file. I will also be adding some files which will not be included in your packets, such as a map of the campaign world as well as maps of cities that you have come across. I will also be creating a gaming journal. Each gaming week I'll update the journal with a brief synopsis of what transpired during the game session. This journal will be written by the DM, however, it is encouraged that the gamers add some information to it themselves each week. With some descriptions of the characters being added as well, I hope the journal will serve as a source where people outside the game can read up on how the characters are doing and perhaps enjoy the story of my world as much as they are.

If you have any comments or questions about the context of this website, please feel free to email me.

Introduction:
And that's the way it is in the world today

It is the month of Uktar (November) during the year 425 AV (After Vordak). It's been 425 years since the collapse of the largest empire known to man, the Vordak Empire. At it's height, the Vordak Empire ruled over most of the known world. It was once said that the sun never set on the Vordak Empire, so vast was it. The Vordak Empire sprang up about 2500 years ago, and ruled the world for nearly 2000 years. Like all empires in history, the Vordak Empire eventually collapsed. The exact cause for the collapse is not known. In less than 5 years the Vordak Empire collapsed sending the world plunging into a dark age.

When the Empire collapsed the world went into a dark age. Hundred of thousands of people died. Whole cities were burned and forgotten from memory. Petty nobles tried to grasp whatever power they could and founded their own tiny countries, only to be conquered by their neighbor, or wiped out by plague. Either way, empires, countries, cities, and people rose and fell in an eye blink.

Possibly the greatest change to have occured from the collapse of the Empire was the coming forth of the Orcs. Once a slave race to the nobles and bueraucrats of the Empire, the orcs threw off their shackles and picked up swords during the time of the Collapse. Some sages even suggest it was a massively organized riot by the slave orcs that caused the Collapse. Whatever may have happened, at the time of the Collapse, the orcs came out of their cells and carved themselves out a piece of real estate. Over the next 400 years, the orcs have expanded their real estate by force to become the largest empire in the world. Making kings of the slaves, and slaves of the kings, the Collapse changed the world.

Its has been 425 years since the Collapse. In the last hundred years or so there has been relative stability and safety. The orcs of Kul Tiras are now the dominate force in the world. While peaceful now, the orcs have forever been blood thirsty, and every 15 years or so they start a war with their neighbors to increase their land. An increase in orc patrols have been seen along the River Parta, the natural divide between Kul Tiras and Lordaeron. The whispers of war are heard daily on the wind.

The dwarves of Khaz Modan, always a reclusive group, have been even more reclusive of late. Trade with the dwarves have almost ceased, and when asked about the reclusiveness, the dwarves speak not a word. Some rumors state that the dwarves are fighting a war undeground, a war which they are loosing.

The elves, once rulers of the world before the coming of man, were pushed back from most of their lands during the Vordak Empire. Now they are sequestered in their forest kingdom of Quel'Thalas. Even more reclusive than the dwarves, it is said that the elves are about to Retreat again from the lands of man, though where they will go is not know. Humans from Gareth have been encrouching on their forest land, cutting their trees, and there have been some battles between the elves and the humans. A racial war may be inevitable.

And what about the humans? The Emperor of Lordaeron rules his empire with an iron fist. He needs to, for the orcs are a constant threat, and one that Lordaeron hasn't not done well against in the past. There has been recent civil unrest in Dalaran, a country usually very stable. Assassins recently killed the king and queen, leaving their young boy as the only heir. The Broken Lands have been a seat of unrest for longer than anyone can remember. No one seems to know the cause, nor seems to be able to solve it. Civil war, if it can be called that, continues to plague the Knights of Aven. Rumors of civil unrest and riots are heard from Toltendra. Perhaps the worst rumor is that the Vordakians are no longer being quite in their little corner of the world. Perhaps a new Empire will be upon us.

And what about you? With dreams of great riches and fabulous adventures, you joined a large group of adventurers. You've been with them for about 6 months now. Your dreams were quickly shattered as you found out what the true life of an adventurer meant. The bulk of your adventuring life so far has been escorting merchant caravans through the perilous Jungle of Parta. While the pay was decent, it wasn't the adventure you expected.

You and your adventurer group were part of the muscle and magic guarding a caravan on a "routine" trip through the jungle. It was nearly the end of your trip when you were beset upon by a large orc war party that had ventured across the river. It did not go well. You manage to repell the war party, and save most of the wagons and cargo, but the damage was great. You, and a few others of your large adventuring group were the only ones to survive the attack. The rest of your comrades died during the fight. Battered and weakened, you escorted the merchant to a nearby village; Thonvil. The merchant had planned on spending the winter in this village, as he usually does, but with the damage sustained from the attack, he definately won't be going anywhere soon. And so you are now on your own. You and your comrades are the last of your group. You ARE the group now. Your fate is now yours to determine. Those dreams of riches are still with you, and perhaps are now yours to make real.