History of Corvall

During the Age of Dragons, when the tallest peak in Drak Noir, Dragon's Maw, exploded in a horrendous roar, it sunk part of the continent underwater and created a lake near the western coast with what remains of the mountain in the middle, still spewing lava. Over a period of eruptions, dragons, which were always thought of as long-gone, started to frequent the skies over Drak Noir and wreaked havoc over the quiet hamlets and towns in search of plunder and people to terrorize. Many believed that the great eruption has disturbed them from their rest. During this period, many were forced to live near large cities defended by armies utilizing elven weapon technology, which was the only defense against the marauding dragons. Corvall was one and the only surviving last stand for the last surviving human settlement in the continent. Other races of Drak Noir have also retreated to the largest cities of ther respective nations to put up a final struggle against the Black Dragons of the Lazarus Isles. The elves took cover in the great forest of Dalwood, under the cover of trees so tall and vegetation so thick that a winged creature will have a hard time tracking down the last of the elven race. On the highest peaks of the Scourge Mountains, the dwarves have hidden in caverns protected by solid granite and the ravaging tempest of the altitude winds. In the grassy hillside of the Northern Shire, the only halflings the survived were the ones who escaped the dark menace by digging burrows deep enough to safeguard them.

After months of secret planning and hard diplomacy among nations, The Order of the Red, led by Tumulus of Rath, supported by the greatest magicians of The Circle of Six, led his troops to battle with spears fashioned by elven allies against the great lizards on what now is called Plains of Corvall. He led the dragons to fight on the plains with suicide shock troops led by Crimson High Lanceman Romney, who was second in command at that time, while the rest hid in the forests surrounding the plain. Archers were also posted near the fringe of the forest to provide support. The dwarves joined the first suicide line while elven archers provided missile support with enchanted arrows that hit their target unerringly. The initial lure was taken by the dragons who circled the battlefield thinking that another slaughter was at hand. Daelis, of of the Six, supported by his peers, cast a spell that created a maelstrom that covered the skies above them but did not affect anyone in contact with terra firma. The dragons were forced to land and battle it out on foot. Many perished that day. Of 200,000 men, only 230 survived the ordeal including Tumulus and Romney. Many cheered for Tumulus, who was the one who thought up the strategy of luring the dragons into the suicide troops and participated in the final stages of the battle. None recognized Romney's valor in the battlefield. The fact that he was one of the handful who survived the suicide attacks, spoke much of his bravery and skill. Tumulus didnt know that his future arch-nemesis was the one standing beside him as the men cheered. Only one of the Six survived the magical torture of unleashing spells so destructive, it drained ones lifeblood for every time it was cast. Of the 20 dragons who came that day thinking they would decimate the pitiful force put up by Tumulus, only 2 escaped unscathed, who left hours before the battle ended. The rest died on the battlefield as they struggled with wounds made by enchanted missiles, enchanted weapons, and destructive spells, desperately trying to fight off the never-ending horde of revenge-hungry men of different races. At the end of the day, after the initial victory cry of the men, there was a silence long-unheard of in the plains. The only sounds were the scraping of dead being dragged across the dirt and the clang of metal weapons and armor being collected. The final sacrifice was made by one of the Six, Daelis. Daelis knew that the remaining pair of dragons would return to the Lazarus Isles. He looked forth into the sky and blinding light escaped from his mouth and the clouds in the sky seemed to all head southwest in a violent chain of wind and vapor. Nobody knew what final spell was cast until sailors discovered that the seas to Lazarus was surrounded by a permanent maelstrom so strong that no man-made vessel would survive the tempest. Daelis has trapped the last of the dragons in their own home but paid for it dearly with his life. That same day, the unsung hero, Romney of Dall, disappeared and was never heard of again.

Twenty years has passed since "The Fall of Serpents", as many refer to it. Tumulus is now sovereign lord of Corvall Keep, in the center of the human city Corvallis. Great magicians have emerged to fill in the positions of the Circle of Six. Tumulus has also created the "Council of the Red", a group of wise and intelligent councilmen that carries out governmental duties for the Red Order. The races of Drak Noir have established peace within their representative territories. But far away in his self-named part of Drak Noir, Former Crimson High Lanceman Romney has reappeared and is rumored to hold his own castle which he has built for himself, with the money he inherited from his noble family. His activities and that of his stronghold have been secret until an assassin he sent to kill Tumulus gave information about Romney's underground society of thieves, slave traders, mercenaries and assassins. The assassin was given a quick and painful death escaping the infamous chamber of the damned, where assassins and enemies of the Red Order are mercilessly tortured for a week, and kept alive at the same time, until the final day where they are stabbed in the abdomen with a red-hot iron lance by the one called Crimson Executioner of Justice, more commonly referred to as the "Executioner". With the assassin dead and Romney's plans exposed, Tumulus has declared war on Romney and his many holdings in Drak Noir. But it was too late, Tumulus can do little to hold back the spread of Romney's influence, even in his own city, Corvallis, Romney's long reach has created a notorious area near the easter city walls, known among the underworld as Romney's Quarter. Tumulus now has to employ mercenaries and "compensated adventurers" to carry out missions that will help bring about the fall of Romney's hold on Drak Noir. He doesnt know that the struggle between Romney and the Red Order is just a prelude to the emergence of a greater evil in the lands of Drak Noir.