The Purple Death

The Purple Death was the work of Natalia Blackhorn, I tell you. Her demons brought the magical plague with them from Hell. Next time they bring a plague, there will be nothing left, then they can rule Gemnos, as they have always intended.

Anonymous wizard of the Arcane Academy. 

In the year of 5784, a plague swept across the Cursed Lands.  It was called the Purple Death due to the purple lumps that were the first symptom of infection. Purple Death might have been a odd choice of words, since it was not *that* lethal. Only about 2 or 3 out of 100 died from it, but almost half of the population was infected, and many were extremely weakened for months and months. In fact, more died from starvation due to nothing getting harvested that from the plague itself.

The plague broke out in a small town in the Kingdom of Drahar. From there, it spread north, east, west and south, and within weeks, most of the Cursed Lands were infected.

The plague never spread outside the Cursed Lands, mostly because the Empire of Zun and the Kyzian Empire completely closed off their borders and all who attempted to flee were sent back or killed.

Some sages has later speculated that the Purple Death was a magical plague, spread on purpose, but none have been able to prove so. The fact that such a plague has never been observed before or after and the fact that not a single person outside the Cursed Lands was ever documented to have gained the Purple Death, are the two chief arguments for a magical plague.

The War of Opposition

The War of Opposition? Sure, I remember that. Fun times. A pity it was stopped so soon. I had a brilliant plan, just waiting for the right moment. But Eletha wants what Eletha wants. And what she wants, she gets. Always. 

The War of Opposition is a holy war between the church of Bahamut and the church of Bane, which lasted from 5779 to 5784.

To this day, it is still unclear, at least to those outside the two churches, what precipitated the war. Most sages think that it was something that happened elsewhere, in another part of the world, or perhaps in Heaven or Hell, that forced the hand of the churches. Contrary to popular opinion, it was actually Bahamut that officially instigated the war, declaring holy war against Bane.

For two years, the "war" was kept out of the cities and limited to fairly small skirmishes. Quite a few died, but only devout followers of the two churches. The situation in the Seven Army Nation was tense, but not untenable.

However that changed in 5781, and the first big - and perhaps the greatest - casualty of the war was the Temple of Bane in Ironville. For years, both gods had dominated the city life. Since the war had been announced, Ironville had been split down the middle, literally, until the church of Bahamut broke the deadlock. For months, they smuggled loyal soldiers and mercenaries into Ironville, in very small group so that no one would notice. When they had enough men, they attacked the temple of Bane. The temple, which had stood since before the Second Demon War, was sacked and all the Bane clerics were executed on the temple grounds.

From there, the war spread and swept through the Seven Army Nation. Old allies suddenly found themselves on opposite sides of the war, and the warlords were incapable of stopping the churches.

At some point, the war ceased to be about Bahamut and Bane, at least for the common man. It became an ideological fight of good vs evil, as more and more began to take sides.

Fast forwards to the end, in 5784. The Seven Army Nation was on the brink of complete and total war, the fragile alliance buckling beneath the pressure for the warlords to declare for one of the two churches.

Out of her wood came Eletha Moonray once again, this time to meet with the two high priests and a last attempt to stop the war. They met in Ironville, in the ruins of the Bane temple. Details of the meeting are sketchy, but the result is not. The war was stopped, documents were signed and sealed and a lot of gold changed hands between the churches. Also several temples were destroyed and consequently a lot of followers had to move their home. This is why no city or town in the Seven Army Nation holds both a church of Bane and Bahamut. Whether it was a demand of Eletha or some elaborate part of the deal struck, not many know for sure.

The Birth of the Seven Army Nation

The Seven Army Nation? It might not have been the grandest of ideas, but it sure beat the alternative at the time.

-Eletha Moonray, year 5846 

In early 5776 the western part of the Cursed Lands, now known as the Seven Army Nation, was ravaged by war and had been for a long time. With people returning to their lands after the devastating war against the demons, the power vacuum had created anarchy and chaos everywhere.

For the first 15 years, chaos stayed within the cities who were being repopulated, as diverse individuals tried to assert their influence and struggled for power. Then, with the advent of warlords who acquired control over the cities, the struggle expanded in scale, and many wars were fought. Warlord against rebels, warlord against warlord, warlord against anyone nearby not bowing to him.

For 45 years, there were wars on and off, and the people were suffering as no one had time to tend their crops, if they were even allowed to stand as many were simply burnt down by the enemy. Thus the people was starving, but the seven warlords kept coming at each other, like rabid dogs. There was little hope of peace, as the warlords refused to meet and discuss terms face to face.

Fortunately for everyone, Eletha Moonray thought otherwise. Already a powerful political figure before the Second Demon War, the seemingly eternal elven ruler had as always kept close ties to all men of power in some capacity from her hidden Crystal Palace in Oakwood. Some warlords valued her council, some were smitten by her otherworldly beauty while others were - allegedly - afraid that she would ally herself with another warlord.

So when Eletha called on them, they travelled in secrecy to Oakwood. Although they had no idea that she had invited all of them to her palace, they would probably have come none the less.

What happened in the Crystal Palace is sketchy at best, as none of the warlords spoke of it in details for many years, and most never said anything at all. But in 5811, on his deathbed, Ergard Durant, warlord of Lochhurst, revealed some of what might have happened.

For five days and five nights, the warlords were adamant that they did not want to create a nation with more than one ruler. And none of them had any interest in having one of the other warlords as ruler. After five days Eletha had enough and the seven warlords were called to her throne-room.

My Lords, it has come to my attention that you have not yet managed to find a solution. You have spent five days in my palace and nothing has come of it. I know you mistakenly believe that I merely invited you here to facilitate the possibility of finding a solution. You could not be more wrong. I invited you all here, because I want a solution. I want peace, and believe me, I am accustomed to have things my way. 

You now have until dawn to find a lasting solution. If you do not have one that you can agree upon, I will have you all executed right here, on the dais in front of my throne, and maybe your successors will be more amendable. 

Also, just in case you think you can make a fake deal, return to your castle and then continue your petty struggle for power, let me enlighten you. While you have stayed in my castle, my royal mage has stolen a little bit of your soul and keyed it to a gem kept in safety. Should you double-cross me, I will crush the gem, your life and your soul, leaving you to haunt the Underworld for eternity.

Any questions, my lords? I thought not. Now leave and I will be seeing you at dawn.

Now, this may just be the ramblings of a dying old man ravaged by disease of the mind. All other accounts speak of negotiations, diplomacy and a wish to make something good for all men. Then again, it might just be the truth.

The Black Mass

It's kinda ironic - or frightening perhaps. Despite the fact that Kranak was the head of a church that kidnapped thousands of people and tried to turn them into undead, despite all the vile things he did against our fair city, he will always be known as the father of Krakas the Dark.

 -José Stark, year 5846

The priests of the Raven Queen were for a very long time exclusively run by women. Around 5310, that changed and the Black Kings were formed. A male-only fraction of the church, which through the years grew to power, a in some parts of Gemnos even managed to wrestle control from the women.

The Black Kings were focused, nay obsessed with the death aspect of the Raven Queen. Only through death could you truly understand the Dark Queen, only through death could real power be gained. In fact, all members of the fraction had to die before joining. Not for long, obviously, because it resurrection was not the way to come back, nor was undeath. No, you had to die, just for a minute or two, then be brought back through the will of another priest, if you wanted to join.

At first viewed with some distrust by the general population, the Black Kings soon found themselves admired. Dying for their faith, only to come back, even stronger. Now that was something even the common folk could admire, and in some areas of Gemnos, the Black Kings flourished.

After the Second Demon War, when people returned and built what is now Starhold, the Black Kings had a huge part in the rebuilding and their power in Starkhold grew. Come 5750, it was a forced to be recognized.

High Priest Kranak took office and was not only running the church, but also a close advisor of the Starks.

However, unbeknownst to everybody outside the church, the Black Kings had begun to push the teachings of the Raven Queen in another direction. Obsessed with death and power, the clergy had begun experimenting on live victims to create intelligent and obedient undead. They thought they could find a way to create an unbeatable army and conquer the Seven Army Nations. For years, literally thousands of people disappeared and were experimented upon, and had the experiments been allowed to go on, surely the Black Kings would have been able to complete and perfect their necromantic ritual.

Unluckily for them, someone in the dark of things decided to spill the beans and the Starks were told what their close allies were doing in the dark dungeons of their temples.

High priest Kranak and all other Black Kings were brought to justice in Starkhold and had their heads chopped up, while (allegedly) the Death Dancers of the Dark Queen brought swift justice to all other followers of the Black Kings. In a few weeks during 5797, the Black Kings, along with their temples, were no more.

Of course, as everyone knows now, Kranak left behind a son, Krakas, who would soon grow to be even more infamous than his father.

The Second Demon War

Achgarud, Pfaragir and Yangou. Every child living the Second Demon War knew their names. The three Pit Fiends, named the Red Triad by mortals, who in the name of Asmodeus led the forces of Hell to Gemnos and proceeded to destroy most of what is now known as the Cursed Lands. Achgarud, Pfaragir and Yangou, names that will never be forgotten, because they will live on in our nightmares forever.

Archibaz Delvar of Oldtown, Principality of Churaz, 5701

In the year of 5679, what is now known as the Cursed Lands, 101 cultists of Asmodeus, armed with an ancient artifact called the Dimensional Sword and more than 1000 devotees to sacrifice, managed to open a demon-hole, a semi-permanent portal to Hell. In poured thousands and thousands of devils and demons, led by a trio of Pit Fiends who eventually would go down in history as the Red Triad.

This was no ordinary war of conquest, it was a war for souls and destruction. No quarter was given, no mortal left alive when taken. It was a war for survival and for 21 years, the infernal armies swept through the lands of men, destroying cities and killing all. Those who had not died had fled, with only a few brave armies staying behind to halt the progression of the infernal host. Had it not been for a band of adventurers called the Brave Wyverns, the infernal forces would surely have consumed all on Gemnos.

The four adventurers had figured out a way to reverse the portal. They snuck and fought their way to the portal, and while Karan Demonslayer, Red Jack and Arthuro the Pure occupied Yangou and his servants, Esteban Timebender managed to reverse the portal. Alas for the heroes, the reversal created a great explosion that rocked all of the continent (and created the Great Crevasse) before it sucked all devils and demons back to Hell. The war was over, but at what cost? The greatest heroes were dead and along with them, millions of others. More than 9 out of 10 people who lived in the empire prior to the war were dead. Cities and farms stood empty, and all but the biggest city walls were destroyed.