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.

Nalindor

There is no chain of command as you are used to in the Empire. Sure, they might pay me, at least once in a while, but as far as you are concerned, I am both Emperor, First Dragon-General, High Priest of Cyric and whatever else you might need. One person makes the decisions, and that is me. Best get used to that, Shell-head*, or you will find yourself unarmed and outside the palisades. 

-Orak Redscale, First Scale in New Kyz, Nalindor, year 5848

Located all the way to the west, Nalindor is the last place on Gemnos not fully explored. Only discovered in 5839 , the continent still holds many secrets.

In the 10 years since the discovery of Nalindor, many nations have sent explorers and colonizers to the west in order to stake their claim on this new territory.

What they have discovered is a thick jungle inhabited by bloodthirsty, flesh-eating goblins, albino mutes and very large and aggressive animals of all kinds. Rumors further speak of ancient civilizations discovered deep in the jungles, but each nation keep whatever they have discovered in the dark. Furthermore, the other rumors speak of encounters with intelligent blue ogres, dark elves living above ground, monsters warped by the Mists of Madness and ancient ruins built by what must be gargantuan creatures.

10 years into the colonization, each nation present on the continent holds one or two towns at the most and perhaps a handful of villages. While playing settlers is very appealing to some, the colonization of Nalindor has yet to be a smash hit. Sure, many nations are involved, but due to a lack of big find (gold, diamonds or something else very valuable and in big quantities), the nations aren't that invested, and being sent there can in many circles be seen as a punishment - and probably is. Thus the people living in Nalindor come in two kinds. Either they are a rough bunch or they are grossly incompetent but too well connected to have executed. Both kinds best be avoided.

*Shell-head is a derogatory term for young dragonborn. It implies they have recently hatched and are thus still very inexperienced.

Session 21

Day 84 (1st cycle of summer, 11th day)
After some long deliberations and a Contact Other Plane ritual cast from scroll, the Sons decide to find Acidbreath and try to figure out more about why the demon was looking for it.

Day 85 (1st cycle of summer, 12th day)

As the Sons make their way through the Swamp of Death on a raft, they run into a troll. And another. Soon they are being hunted by a lot of trolls, and figuring that more are arriving, Nevron transforms into a pegasus and drags the raft away at high speed. 

Day 86 (1st cycle of summer, 13th day)

After almost 3 days of traveling through the rancid swamp, the Sons arrive at the place described as being near Acidbreath's lair by Swamprot. A large body of water, with a hilly island in the middle and an old oak on top of the hill. On the way, Urnyx has caught some fish that black dragons supposedly like, and the land is to offer up the magic spoon, which is unique, as incentive to not kill them.

They climb to the top of the hill and hang the fish from the oak. And wait.

Swamprots arrives and the Sons engage in diplomacy with the great black dragon. Unfortunately, the journey through the swamp has somehow rendered their ability to lie and persuade void, and the aggressive black beast soon tires of their transparent bullshit and draws in breath to shover them in acid...

The Death Dancers

The Death Dancers? What a quaint notion. You do realize that no such organization has never existed within our church, right? Those are just lies spread by other divine agents. Probably by the church of Torax. I can assure you that our Dark Lady needs no mortals to get her souls. She just takes them, if it is their time.

 - High Raven Hrolar, Starkhold

The Death Dancers are an ultra-secret, outlawed branch of the church of the Raven Queen. Following a version of reality that none other are privy to, the Dancers see themselves as the prolonged arm of the Dark Queen, bringing death to those that deserve it, those that should have died. At least, that is according to themselves. Or rumors. Some perceive them as nothing more than very expensive and effective assassins for hire.

Either way, the Death Dancers, said to be cloaked in black and wearing raven and gold masks, allegedly leave no one alive who sees them. The magically-trained orphans raised by the church of the Raven Queen strike at night, in the dark, with their silver daggers and never leave any clues.They do leave behind a black raven feather whenever they kill.

Marquan the sage

Marquan the Sage - what a pretentious title! But I must admit that the man knows what he is talking about. But if you want him to talk, you better bring a cartful of gold or a book he has never read, otherwise you will never even get to ask the answer you badly want an answer for. I do however wonder at times, if he really gets his information just from his books. They must be some books...

-Jack 

Rumors about the old man abound. Some say he struck a deal with a devil, in order to get access to all the knowledge of Hell, while others claim that he is kept prisoner by warlord Grik Clogmark, ordered to research how to make Eletha fall inlove with the gnomish warlord.

But fact is that Marquan the Sage is famous all over the Seven Army Nations and in the days of yore, he was often consulted by men of power, both warlords, high priests and adventurers but these days, only the warlord of Rosewall, where Marquan resides, seem to have access to the aging man and his rooms filled with ancient books and scrolls.

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.

Session 20

Day 79 (1st cycle of summer, 6th day)

The Sons climb down the hillside, and attempt to sneak in on the cyclops necromancer, as he is casting his ritual. As they get almost within striking distance, a huge skeletons bursts out of the ground, and the fight is on. While Arath occupies the skeleton, Urnyx runs up and turns upside down the the giant cauldron, while taking a beating. As he does so, the necromancers calls for his minions, and about 250 zombies come crashing out the city gates, headed for the fight.

The fight drags on. The skeleton dies, but the Sons are severely and cursed, but finally manage to kill the cyclops and run away, mere seconds before they are engulfed in the undead wave coming towards them.

They hide in the jungle, and double back and climb up on the hill, where they rest. 

Day 80 (1st cycle of summer, 7th day)

The next morning, the undead have dispersed. As they climb down and prepare to head south to warn the village of Porrac about the undead which might be coming their way, a severely wounded man comes stumbling out the jungle saying:

Byedra. Demons. Help

Arath heals the poor man, whose name is Arthur. He says that he is from Byedra, further to the west. He tells the Sons that demons (which look like gorillas) attacked the village. He begs them to help. They leave immediately for Byedra.

Day 81 (1st cycle of summer, 8th day)
As they arrive to Byedra, they find a burnt out village. A kid named Simon appears out of hiding, and tells that a half-orc in armor arrived, asking about who to reach Acidbreath. When the village couldn't  or wouldn't help him, he summoned 4 demons and set them on the village. Simon survived by hiding, but noone else seemed to have survived. As the Sons are talking to the kid, two demons surprise them, jumping in on them.

With the demons dead, they head towards Porrac, with Arthur and Simon in tow. They sail along the coast and arrive in Porrac the next day.

Day 82 (1st cycle of summer, 9th day)
They talk to Aaron, the leader of Porrac, but not much is learned, other than there has been a longstanding arrangement with Acidbreath: Money for protection and existence. He does point them towards Esmeralda, an old woman living just outside the village.

She tells the Sons that she knows little, other than Swamprot, a local druid is the man to talk to. For a little payment, she tells them where to find him. As the Sons leave, she does a reading on Urnyx.

I see you fighting your brothers, killing them out of duty, if not pleasure

Leaving Arthur and Simon in the village, the Sons head northward, in search for Swamprot.

Day 83 (1st cycle of summer, 10th day)
On the way north, the Sons are attacked by a hydra, who destroys a lowhanging bridge the Sons are passing over. The fight takes place in the water, and even though the 5-headed beast is fearsome, it still is no match for the Sons of the Phoenix.

Day 84 (1st cycle of summer, 11th day)
The Sons finally find Swamprot, an orc druid. He is not convinced that telling them where Acidbreath lives is the right thing to do. They debate back and forth.