History Campaign 1

The Beginning
Trassel was a thriving continent when the first civilized people arrived on the western coast. The first humans and dwarves arrived some 800 years ago from current day. On that day the world would change for not only the adventurers, but for the inhabitants of the island. For before them, there had never been a human or dwarf on the island. The island itself was home to a number of Orc tribes, and small elven clusters. Ruling over all, were the dragons. When left alone, the dragons were harmless, and co-existed beside the native tribes, but when an unfamiliar smell fell upon them; they became curious. Upon the first meeting of the exploration and dragons, an uneasy peace came about, for the explorers had never met a dragon in the open before, only hidden away in caves, for to do so, meant they were surely going to parish.

Over the next fifty or so years the uneasy peace persisted, all was well. The dragons, left to their own devices mostly ignored the newcomers to the island, save for when adventurers would come to close to their lairs. The explorers built their first cities built of wood and stone, and over the years had brought others. Elves, Dwarves, and Humans now openly walked the land, building what they will, and taming the untamed. Slowly others came, and slowly they built. Over these years, a number of unique individuals would be born or would arrive to the island, and elf whose hands glowed a perpetual purple energy, who was able to do extraordinary things with magic, unlike anyone had seen before. A child, who was from birth, touched by the gods themselves, dwarf who wielded a pair of blade so sharp, that he carved stone as if it were not there, but would not cut for others who attempted to wield it. An Elf native to Trassel, who walked from the forest itself, wearing armor of tree bark, and wielding a blade that shone like the moon.

These, along with others were hailed among the civilized lands. However, the dragons began to take notice of these beings; for they could sense their power, and knew the consequences should these beings be turned against them. So they began to watch.

This peace lasted for another 35 years. However it was not meant to last, for word had finally begun to spread to others, of a land where dragons walked in the open. Where there was limited government structure, and plenty of land. So began the mass exodus to Trassel. Tens of thousands of beings arrived over the next five years from all walks of life. Slowly, amongst the lower rings of society, talk began of what wealth a dragon would bring back across the sea, and the plan began to form.

Now over the years, dragons grew friendly with a number of individuals, relying on them for entertainment, friendship, and for the dragons to have a say in the goings on of the city dwellers. For years this arrangement had worked perfectly, until the day word reached the dragons that a large number of individuals were planning the slaughter of a number of their kind, and the capture of others.

The End of Peace:
The peace between the two legged ones and the dragons was a contested issue. Many dragons felt that they were not shown the respect that they deserved and that they need taught proper respect. Others felt as if they were not doing enough to assist the two legged ones, that with their help, the peace could be permanent. When word finally reached the dragons that a number of people had gathered and were planning to attack, several dragons took matters into their own hands to teach respect to the two legged ones.

The explorers had since forgone the magic, and effort needed to create cities of stone, the newer settlements were constructed of wood, and clay. The Dwarves members of the settlement built their own homes and own districts by their own hands of stone within the settlements. However on that night wood, clay and stone melted equally. This night, the “Night of Fire” as it would later be called was the beginning of the clash of the raw primal power of the dragons, and the civilized world.

The Night of Fire:
There are no counts of the scores that perished that night. For no one saw the dragons coming, they came low, high and fast. Upon the first pass on the city the entire outer wall was burn away, along with whatever guard the city had hoped would protect the city. On the second pass, the Dwarven district fell, their stone houses melted like the wood around it, turning to molten magma as the fire washed over it. The third pass brought about the poison and acid, meant to end all those who had survived the first two. However, at the very center of the town, a small glowing sphere pierced the night, and rose from the fire, poison and acid. At the center, a female elf stood, eyes and hair of pure silver, her hands a vibrant hue of pure purple energy. On the fourth path, the dragons met the first resistance of the coming war, as the female elf met the dragons on their own terms, in the air.

Four dragons set out to obliterate those who wished to do them harm, only three of them remained by dawn the next day, the Night of Fire coming to an end. Those remaining three fled off to the horizon, while the elf dropped to the earth to search for survivors and to find help. To her horror, her efforts to protect herself the night before had only protected ten others. All others in the city perished. By the time additional help arrived, the fires that once burned in the city were nothing more than glowing ash.

The female elf Kamora TreeStrider became an instant icon amongst the people, being hailed a hero for challenging the dragons. She quickly is placed in charge of gathering the magic users in order to fight the dragons in the coming days.

The Future Heroes:
Over the next twenty years war rages across the land, thousands lose their lives, and the dragons suffer great loses. Heroes arise amongst the armies, Kamora Malvain whom single handedly took on four dragons. Awata’ki Dyethra, who was born of a seamstress and a blacksmith, had the touch of Kord from birth. From the beginning he was protected more than other babies, he was able to do feats that no other child was able to. Those who wished him harm were never able to. As he grew, his power became apparent, calling down beams of pure light from the sky to strike down his foes, and heal his friends. He soon forged himself a set of armor with his father infused with the holy light that he was able to call forth. He became a shining beacon on the field of battle, bolstering his allies, and striking fear into those who have never felt fear before.

Among Kamora’s troupe of magic wielders, one stood out among the rest; a recent addition to the island itself, and among the first of his race to walk the land. Arrius, though he would later go on to be known by his virtue name of Blur, was a tiefling wizard with an uncanny sense for the tactics of Dragons, quickly rose to fight by Kamora’s side.

Only legends remain of how Yovir OnyxBlade, a scoundrel, a drunk and a thief, came to stand among the ranks of Kamora, Blurr, and Awata’ki. However, they say that one day, a young large dragon, as dark as the sky itself landed in the center of town and began the destruction of WillowWill,  a former town on the outskirts of the claimed land.

The dragon rampaged for hours slaying all that opposed it, however throughout the destruction, a small part of dwarves, humans and elves began to gather in a tunnel system under the town, used by the local thieves. From the tunnel emerged Yovir, and an elf, which by all accounts was a walking tree wielding the power of the moon itself, flanked by several others, they took the dragon head on. Shortly after, the dragon laid dead, and the makeshift party victorious. Word began to spread of their victory; Yovir and the Elf, who would later become known as Evandahl, took their place among the legends.

Intrigued by the rumors, Kamora, Blurr, and Awata’ki sought out Yovir and Evandahl, and birthed what would be eventually called The Heroes of Ascendance.

The War of Yes’Dara:
The war raged throughout the land for ten years, tens of thousands of the explorers armies perished, while they claimed the lives of three dozen dragons. Over the years, Kamora, Blurr, Awata’Ki, Yovir, and Evandahl established themselves as great warriors of the land. Brave and powerful, these warriors fought for years against the dragons, and were responsible for bringing down over a dozen themselves.

During the final years of the war, it is said that the largest of all dragons, an ancient blue dragon named Yes’dara ventured forth from her lair for the first time in hundreds of years, much to the dismay of the explorers. Yes’dara personally witnessed many battles between the heroes, their armies, and her kind. Recognizing their growing power, Yes’dara began to formulate the plan that would end the war.

Upon completion, Yes’dara and the oldest of each dragon wing approached the camp of the explorers. Frightened, they gathered arms and rushed to defend themselves. However it would not be needed, for the dragons landed a mile away and awaited the heroes.

The Final Meeting:
Upon arriving at the hilltop, the heroes approached the behemoths that are ten ancient dragons. As they arrived, Yes’dara greeted the heroes, and explained that she feared for the survival of her race, as for as many of the two legs as they have killed, twice that many have taken their place. So she makes an offer of peace with the heroes, with the stipulation that once done, the heroes and their descendants would never harm a dragon again, and in return, the dragons of the land would leave, never to return to Trassel. And to honor their pledge the dragons presented the heroes with five orbs. Each orb, infused with the power of one of the ancient dragons, to grant the heroes the power to challenge the dragons should they not honor the agreement.

With the gifts bestowed, the ancient dragons and two dozen others take flight. They soon vanish westward, over the horizon, never to set foot on the continent again.

Heroes of Ascendance:
With the dragons flying westward, the heroes arrived at camp, to a thousand question, cries of joy for victory and sorrow for those they have lost ring through the air. The war has ended at long last and the First Age of Trassel dawns.

Kamora, Blurr, Awata’ki, Yovir and Evandahl are summoned to the city that would become Roddenhiem where they are declared the Heroes of Ascendance. From here, the heroes would travel far and wide doing great deeds, and slaying evil foes.

Kamora would venture deep into the forest, taking with her many of her kind and would form the city of Quam’Till, home of the elves. Awata’ki would go on to assist in the founding of the holy city of Talakar. Blurr would travel east, and build the city of Yar’ol and establish “The Order of Nau” a secretive order of magic users. Evandahl would return to his home city in wild for a time, then beginning traveling Trassel, observing the passage of time. Yovir, would go on to create the founding of Trollhiem, home of the dwarves, but would eventually pass the torch, as he joins Evandahl to travel the land.

The Passing of Ascendance:
Time passes and so do the lives of all mortal races. Over the years, the heroes accomplish many great tasks. Evandahl, and Awata’ki would face down a terrible fiend, defeating him, and pushing him back to the land of shadows in the Shadowfell. These two great heroes would never return, many say they locked away the creature, and simply stayed to ensure he never returned. Others, tell tales that Awata’ki was seen years after, wandering the streets of Talakar. Blurr never emerged from the tower he built on Yar’ol, though many wizards and sorcerers would receive invitations to join him on the island, many did. Many attempted to gain entry to the island without invitation, however no matter how long they sailed they never grew closer, so they stopped trying. Saddened by the loss of his friend, Yar’ol ventured into the depths of Trollhiem and would never again leave the city for the remainder of his days.

The Days After The Heroes:
No one truly knows what happened to the four of the Orbs given to the Heroes of the realm, or what they truly did. There are reports of them granting enormous power to the wielder, though those are simply legends told by old bards these days. Others say the orbs were dragon eggs given to the heroes to hatch their own dragons to raise so that there would be protection for the people once their time has come.

The only known orb to exist currently resides in the center of the city of Talakar, protected by an entire army of paladins and militia, behind a glass case surrounded in a holy aura. Perhaps one of the most well protected places on the entire continent.

The Birth Of Civilization:
With the help of the Heroes of Ascendance, the great cities of Trassel that we know today began to slowly rise to power, though no centralized government was formed, and no king was chosen. It was agreed that the cities would govern and protect themselves, though in times of great need, would band together to defeat a common foe. Though to date, this has never happened. Slowly civilization started flowing eastward, slowly spreading and building.

Roddenhiem - The great port city rose to the west, boasting 100 foot tall walls that jut into the bay, creating a fortified port. Roddenhiem plays host to many great features, such as the Great Library, home of the School of Magic and the Bardic College. It also features the greatest fighting ring in all the land, "The Pit of Might" where beings come from all over the world to participate.

Talakar - The most holy site in all of the land, founded by Awata'ki himself. It holds Temple, one of the most beautiful places on all of the continent. Known for it's anti-magic attitude, and properties, many magic users tend to stay away from the central districts of the city, and prefer to stay in the select markets where magic is allowed, and the Awata'ki Bazzar, the outside shopping district that extends the entire length of the wall. In the Bazzar as long as you have the coin you are able to obtain anything you wish. Slaves, Assassins, magic items, cursed items, it has something for everyone.

Kragshead - If the land of Trassel had any sort of formal government, Kragshead would be the capital city. Founded some 300 years after the Heroes of Ascendance the city stands tall with its tiered walls, and well-fortified defenses. Home to a number of merchant guilds, the Hunters Mark, a hunter’s guild, and some of the finest Blacksmiths in the land, the city itself is a beacon of what Trassel is. At the center peak of the city sits the Council of Kragshead, a body of elected leaders that rule the city, and the surrounding areas.

Trollhiem - Founded nearly a hundred years after the war, the Dwarves of the Kornagi clan came across the Grey Peaks Mountains and were instantly in awe. It was here Thoraun Ditark, King of the Kornagi clan decided would be the new home of the Dwarves. So they dug, and kept digging for years, eventually hollowing out a large portion of the mountain range. The mountains were so rich with minerals, the dwarves felt that they were now an easy target for theft, and began the construction of a great vault. Now the Vault of Thoraun has become a symbol of the Dwarven strength as no outside is really certain how deep down the vault goes.

Quam'till - The city of Quam’til is one of the first cities of Trassel. Among the first cities built on the continent by the first adventurers, it was the only city that was once ravaged by dragons to be rebuilt. Mixing with the native elves, those that came with the adventurers used a mixture of magic, and time to slowly grow a great forest of trees. While most beings prefer to live on the ground, the city of Quam’til exists in the trees and uses a system of pulleys and magic to ascend to the tree tops.