As requested, each entry has been put into its individual category, so we will be voting in posts and not in polls, as there will be multiple votes required.
Please reply to the thread (or send me a PM if you want your vote kept secret) stating the name of the entry for each category, and which one is your overall winner.
Charcters
The last Kiorian
Pain. This was life for the kiorians, pain and suffering. They were a species known across the galaxy for their great technology and constant plundering of the materials that seemed to be limitlessness scattered across their home planet of kior. Ultimately, it would be kiors prosperity that led the yautja to invade. (Yautja is the actual name for the species from the "Predator" franchise that cameos in KRF.)
This invasion is what caused the pain and suffering that kiorians came to know as life. The yautja, a species of alien hunters that slaughter exotic prey for honour, came for kior to fuel their hunting rituals. Thus, kiorians became slaves. Sha'tra was a remarkable specimen among the kiorians. He was stronger and more quick-witted than most, but his greatest strength was his fiery will which could not be snuffed no matter how hard the owner of his family tried. He would regularly escape and cause ruckus, organizing uprisings against the yautja. Because of this, his forehead was marked with the yautja symbol for disobedience. The strict code of honour ingrained into yautja culture is what lead them to somewhat respect Sha'tra, allowing him to avoid being killed. It would be this code of honour and the arrogance of the yautja that allowed Sha'tra to escape.
Sha'tra vowed to free his race and spent many years collecting technology and studying yautja combat techniques, honing his abilities so that he may fight back against his species' slavers. However, he being disconnected from society caused him to discover an event of utmost importance too late. This event was the second invasion that kior would face and it forced both the yautja and the kiorians to fight back. Eventually, Sha'tra joined into the fray and fought fiercely, but he was forced to escape.
None of those who followed him made it out alive, which Sha'tra only acknowledged and accepted once he had escaped on a yautja-marked shuttle made by his people. Several hours later, the ships on-board computer detected damage to the interior, caused likely by an acidic substance. Sha'tra went to investigate, only to discover that his planets threat had come with him. Several reaper eggs made it onto the ship, as well as two sleeping reapers. Sha'tra fought the creatures but damaged the ship further in the process, causing it to crash-land in a jungle on an odd planet. Sha'tra thought that the reaper eggs were destroyed in the crash, so he left the wreckage after salvaging as much of its technology as he could.
The markings on the ship were then used by the savages that lived in the jungle to mark areas infested with reaper eggs. Sha'tra now fights against the reapers and any others who stand in his way. This serves as entertainment for Sha'tra and also gives him the satisfaction of knowing that lives may be saved by his exploits. Colloquially, he is known as Sha'tra the Skyhunter.
Bruce the Werelion
An old friend of Denas, and a loyal one. He was a hero of the Linirean conquest led by Denas' father. Due to his courage and noble actions, he was christened by the king as Sir Bruce Lionheart.
When Vez'nan entered the picture, Bruce didn't trust him one bit, despite Denas feeling otherwise. Whenever Vez'nan tried to influence Denas, Bruce would be there to counter his influence. He acted like Denas' big brother and would watch his back. As such, there was no love lost between Bruce and Vez'nan.
He came along with Denas to aid the elves in the Elf War as the leader of the Kingsguard. At first, he had been disapproving of Denas going into the fray himself instead of just sending troops. However, Denas stood still by his decision. Add in Vez'nan's tagging in, and Bruce knew he had to look after the crown prince.
The night after the final battle, he had a dream. In it, he saw a white lion pounce and maul him. This happened multiple times during their stay in the elven kingdom. Believing this meant something, Bruce set out on his own to find an answer, not realizing a certain dark wizard following him.
His journey led him to the deepest parts of the Enchanted Forest. There, he finally found the source of his dreams. Before him was a small glade with a pond, and the white lion stood in front of him. He had heard of it from the elves as a myth, so having dreams of one, let alone seeing one, was an overwhelming experience for him.
However, out of nowhere, a red beam of light hit the two of them, and Bruce lost consciousness. When he woke up, he saw something shocking. In the pond's reflection, instead of a man, he saw a lion staring back at him. Realizing the implication, he roared in rage and anguish.
Returning to civilization was not easy. People would run away from him. Eventually, after proving that he was harmless, people warmed up to him. From them, he learned that the Linirean army had departed the kingdom weeks ago, and that he was presumed dead after gone missing.
Lamenting his fate, he lost all hope. The entire kingdom believed he was dead, and he couldn't return in his current condition. Just then, he heard about the pockets of resistance resurging, particularly the attack on Galadrian's Wall and the news of a counterattack from Duredhel. Believing not all is lost, he stood up and joined the fight once again. If he could no longer be a hero for Linirea, then he would be a hero for Aredhel.
Spirit of Vengeance
Thundering hooves sounded the doom of the village as the raiders appeared on the horizon; only one woman gave any effort to her survival, holding her son close as she prayed to whoever would listen. Growing increasingly desperate as no spirits, Holy or Accursed, answered her, she lay down her soul as payment for aid. Istonn, an infamous Demon Lord grinned and immediately accepted the offer, disintegrating the raiders, his own minions, before turning the villagers’ simple minds dark. They grabbed the witch and prepared a pyre for her and her son, but as the flames licker her, she used all of her meagre powers to teleport him an incredible distance, before screaming as Istonn claimed her.
Drinking in Istonn’s life force, Moloch knew the coup was ended and that his other minions would take heed when considering another, but more needed to be done. To re-exert his dominance, He took inspiration from the regrettably late Mactans, beginning to wave webs of influence over the mortal world. He began close; Vez’Nan was almost as ambitious as the Overlord Himself and had had a taste of the power Demon pacts granted, the oaths they spoke had been upon his lips for nigh on a year. Sarelgaz seethed in her slumber over the death of her Brood-sister, and his masterstroke, the hobbit He forced into her lair, would soon cause her to wake. But He was yet not done; He needed a general to lead the lesser demons over the Rift of Cinders and beyond to dominion over men.
While reading through Istonn’s memories, Moloch came upon the trapped soul of the witch, piquing his interest, leading to him finding her son serving as bodyguard to a decrepit scholar. Quaint. Exerting control through the curse in their shared blood, smoke and solid shadow encased the man, twisting his blades as they seethed fire, staining his armour deep crimson and leaving only red eyes glowing from beneath his helm. But in his overconfidence, Moloch had overlooked the scholar; even as his apprentice fired purple blasts and screamed treachery, the Grand Wizard read aloud a Pandaemonic spell from his tome, rooting the demonic entity the bodyguard had become in place, and granting the man partial control, allowing him to make his suggestion to the Mages.
Instead of removing Moloch’s connection to his blood, they instead strengthened it, warping them straight to Pandaemonium. The trio quickly got to work, Magnus’ shades distracting the lesser demons as Nivus began his spell to loosen the bars of the cages. With vengeance in his scarlet eyes, the man placed his swords together, cutting his mother loose and slicing at Moloch’s neck in one swing as he named himself Oni, the title granted to a Demonkiller. Roaring infinite curses, Moloch sealed the man in his corrupted armour and flung him back to own dimension; such was his fury that lesser demons are terrified at a whisper of “Oni”, and they flee at sight of his flaming katanas.
Species
The Striking Vines of the Za'golon River
The carnivorous plants referred to as "Snapvines" were a mystery to our forces when we first encountered them. Why were they so aggressive? Why did they grow in only one small area in the jungle? We were first warned of them by our allies from the Tuk'va tribe who had recently joined us. Eventually, they explained that the Snapvines had an interesting history... Several decades ago, a great battle took place near the river. This battle was between the Tuk'va and the Ma'qwa, who were once a united force. The Tuk'va were being led by the son of their leader, a powerful nature shaman known as Rahvuk the Mighty.
In the heat of battle, Rahvuk performed a magic ritual that would transfer the souls of dead Tuk'va into nearby plant matter, transforming the plants into jungle creatures capable of continuing the fight. Unfortunately, Rahvuk was killed by a stray dart before he could complete the ritual, causing the plant-creatures to be imperfect. Rather than attack only the Ma'qwa, they attacked both the Ma'qwa and the Tuk'va. From that point on, they were referred to as "Paraa Enivu'i" by the Tuk'va, roughly meaning "striking vine" in our tongue. This is the reason that we call these peculiar plants "Snapvines". The Tuk'va do not attempt to exterminate the Snapvines despite their hostility, as they can help to defend the bridge and do still possess, to some extent, the souls of noble Tuk'va warriors. For the Tuk'va tribe, they serve to remind of the great battle from long ago, and of the power that Tuk'va shamans wield.
Shadow over Ryly'eh
Originating from lands unknown even to them, blown there by seemingly-conscious winds, the eerie people on Mompoey Island, with their narrow heads, flat noses and bulgy, staring eyes were prime candidates for maleficent forces to tempt with great power even before arriving upon the island that had been Ryly’eh. Beset upon by the flotsam and jetsam of humanity – pirates, without enough farmable land to feed their entire population and besieged by great storms and winds that ripped apart their settlements, dark thoughts clouded their minds. One by one, they disappeared at night as they walked into the jungles and the power they could feel within it.
Even at the deepest point of his forced slumber, Leviathan could examine the world around him and exert his will upon it. Feeling the growing discontent amongst the people with the lack of any aid from Regnos, he displayed many half-truths, leading them to believe Regnos was jealous of their location upon the ancient island and that the Ocean God beset them with raiders and storms so that other races, whom he favoured more, could take the island and grant him hegemony over it. In their desperation, the people listened to the dark words, and nodded. Before they knew, such black speech was all they heard, they began to feel suffocated when not in water and those who had not nodded drowned even as they doubled over on the dry land they trod.
Cutting through the dense jungles, emboldened by the deaths of their fellows, and picking off their skin in shimmering scales, eventually they came upon the stones that marked what had once been Ryly’eh. Closest to him now, their minds were completely his, as they had been before he took them - not even the monolithic Guardian of the city could stop them, the stone giant returning to the sands that had formed it as the tides rose. It was midnight when the last statue was brought down, the tide already covering the body of the Guardian, as the people stood about; retching and scratching deep gashes into their necks.
The light then increased beyond that of the moon, twice, thrice and beyond, causing the entire city to glow with the fragile patterns reflected in water. So dumbstruck by the feat, the people hardly noticed the warm water creeping up about them, nor the green, amphibian humanoids that began to walk about them. The Mompoeans, now far more than human, subconsciously formed a single line, with an equal number of the creatures standing before them, with large, masculine creatures before each woman, and lithe, ethereal marine females before each man. They took the webbed hands of the creatures in their own now-webbed hands as they were lead into the waters, shedding the last of their humanity as they twisted into the first generation of Deep Devils.
The Twilight Elves
Harbingers of chaos on the southern continent, the Twiligh elves splintered off from the main elven race.
The Twilight elves were once one with the other elves, when the reign of the kingdom span to the entire Southern continent itself and peace was seemingly eternal
The Twilight elves are different from the other elves in general, they were purple, but they lived as one in the soaring first elven city
As Elynie herself declared that the first city must be sacred after her return to the heavens, and the first elven city was abandoned, Twilight elves preferred to stay on Duskwood, while the regular elves at the tranquil forest. Despite this, they still remain good allies with each other.
However, since that, a cult of sorts began somewhere in the depths of Duredhel, who praised a dark god, the dark god was one being of constant chaos, war, and anarchy. Somehow, the cult managed to rise to power some years ago, and ruled over the twilight elves, it is said that the one who started it was directly tied to the bloodline of Queen Malicia herself
After since, the twilight elves can only be described as beings who always crave for war, since they were always preparing for one, they developed the best equipment, weapons, armor, and magic, all with the sole intent of turning everyone who gets in their way to ashes. Their entire population are drafted, if not as soldiers, then as servants for the soldiers, scourgers, or if you really want to give your life for the queen herself, zealots.
The elves, knowing this, do prepare some weapons of war of their own, but in the end, it would be no match for the twilight elves, at least, in brute force........
At the time of the great civil war, the twilight elves easily won the hearts (or tamed) of any other creature that only seek to sow chaos, like Hoplites, Orgres, and the beasts (such as the razorboars, cloud stalkers, etc), while they either exterminated or cursed the fairies to fight for them. The Gnolls are first enslaved by a Twilight division who forced them to launch an attack that would kill Alleria. But after their loss, the entire Gnoll tribes rallied together, broke free from the slavery, and waged war on their own.
The History of War between the Jungle Tribes
The war and general distrust between the two tribes of the jungle east of Linirea, the Ma’qwa and the Tuk’va, has existed for as long as the storytellers remember. Let us retell that story.
The Beginning
Lore between both tribes indicate that they were created, or at least mainly influenced by, the goddess they call Saqra, who lords over the jungle. Another point of agreeance is that she also created the Saurian race, made in her visage and meant to act as her emissaries on this world. At this point, both tribes were united, though Ma’qwa were noticeable higher-class then the what would be become the Tuk’va.
The Underground
One day, a large spaceship crash landed in the jungle. Tribesmen were sent to investigate, and returned the advanced technology found in the ruins to their overlords, the Saurians. To the displeasure of Saqra, the Saurians became obsessed with this new technology, retreating underground and losing their faith in the goddess that created them. She has not made her presence known in the mortal realm for centuries since this event.
At the disappearance of their rulers, the tribes descended into chaos, rapidly splitting apart. The Ma’qwa, unused to their new position as gatherers, began to starve, before shortly resorting to cannibalism. What would become Tuk’va society gathered around a leader, Vatauk, and began to leave the city of Urqu.
The Protracted War
The Ma’qwa eventually settled down from their early days, establishing their primary territory to the north of the crashed spaceship, while the Tuk’va headed south. The Ma’qwa centered around the now village of what they named Ma’qwa Urqu, and sent hunters to the edge of Crimson Valley to hunt those who strayed into the jungle.
When the Gates of Nazeru were constructed, the Ma’qwa, searching for prey, turned their gaze inward, toward the Tuk’va. Each party had very different strengths, as the Ma’qwa preferred close-quarters and offensive fighting, while the Tuk’va did the opposite. This lead to a stalemate, as the Ma’qwa could not break the Tuk’va, but the Tuk’va could not afford to go on the offensive. This led to what is now known as the Protracted War.
The Present
When the Linireans came to the jungle, they came hot on the trail of Lord Malagar. Malagar bargained with the first tribe he could find, the Ma’qwa, to delay the Linireans as long as possible. This lead to the Ma’qwa having to divert their forces, finally leading to a change in the status of the stalemate. Soon after, the Linireans had their first contact with the friendlier Tuk’va…
Tower
The Workings of the High Elven Mage
The machinations of the High Elves are known to few, especially those outside the Fae Forest. However, these powers are kept secret for good reason, as they are powerful, and the forces of evil may seek it.
The Time Crystal
The process of creation for a crystal powerful enough to bolster the magic of a single elf by a large amount requires crystals of immense power, durability, and purity. The first step is hiring gnomes, who will do anything for gold, to harvest crystal essence from the breath of Grootslang, the serpent of the Crystal Lake. The essence is given to special alchemists, who combine this material with certain special herbs and enchant it with other magic. At this point, the mixture still remains in a sluggish, yet gaseous form. This is moved into a vessel of extremely cold temperatures, hardening the mixture into a more crystalline form. Hence, the now solid crystal is dropped into a hot environment, such as boiling water, where it fragments. Some of it turns back into a gas, which is collected and later to make the gems that line the side of a High Elf’s Tower, the so-called “Power Gems”.
Meanwhile, the shards which survive the boiling are returned to a liquid form through hotter temperatures, and the process is repeated until the alchemists know it is strong enough for a High Elf to wield.
Battle Preparations
Before the beginning of a battle, High Elves are prepared on what to do when they reach their location. Since all High Elf Towers are converted from Eldritch Daises, High Elves are trained to reach the tower, and then sacrifice some power to transmute the floating stone into a tower. The outburst of power transforms the rocks into a smooth, dark bluish-black material, while also creating a peak for insertion of the main gem. Once the tower is prepared, the High Elf ascends the steps, places the main gem, and fights.
Timelapse
A special power of High Elves is the ability to phase enemies to another dimension, one within the confines of their gem. When the gem is used in this manner, it releases a sort of shockwave which targets enemies and moves them to this dimension. The dimension itself is a featureless plain of light blue, which constantly assaults those inside with waves of pure power. However, this dimension cannot exist for long, as the energy required to maintain it is far too great, even for the highest-level of High Elves.
Arcane Sentinels
The Sentinels summoned by High Elves are, in fact, pieces of the “Power Gems”. The Time Crystal, normally taking the energy from these crystals and strengthening it, rebounds the strengthened energy, launching the Crystal, now encased in an orb of power, at high speeds toward enemies. These crystals lock on to enemies and begin firing pulses to remove their energies. When returned to the tower, they circle the edge of it, slowly waiting for an overcharge to drive them to their targets.
500mm Big Bertha
A 50 ton bronze, brass, and steel cauldron of mass destruction. The Big Bertha is a byproduct of a continuously refined Dwarven design.
Derived from the need of a weapon that can safely bombard foes from the other side of a Dwarven underground city wall, the early dwarven bombards work by propelling ordinance using a small charge at a high angle, the result is the ordinance flies just at the right height over the city walls, but under the height of the massive underpasses Dwarven cities were once built in.
As the years pass, and the dwarves move out of their underground citadels and meld with humans, elves, and other creatures alike, more advanced designs become necessary, more powerful ordinances were somewhat easily made, while a stronger base, and a larger propellant allowed longer range. And, after some work, these artillery systems can be managed with just a loader and a gunner (trained of course, to maintain firerate and accuracy)
Eventually, heavier ordinance mean that streamlining of the shells, and a reinforced barrel is necessary, the Dwarves was pushing this weapon to its limits, the heavy shells takes the toll of even the toughest loaders, so they needed some solutions
And thus, the new 500mm Big Bertha was born, to solve the loading problem, an advanced composite loading system was introduced, built deep inside the machine, a mechanical marvel for the dwarves, it allows the loading of the half ton 500mm bombs at just the same rate of the lighter, hand loaded ordinances
The first tests on the proving grounds reveal that massive recoil have a tendency of ruining the weapon under sustained fire, to solve this, a reinforced, reciprocating barrel is introduced, dampening recoil to acceptable levels
One of the most feared of the many types of 500mm cannonballs loaded, is the cluster missile, an ingenious design, once the cannonball is launched, a secondary fuse inside the shell lit, timed to explode precisely at the peak of the shell's trajectory, releasing its fearsome payload of multiple bomblets at targets below
The icing on the cake of this weapon, is its Dragonbreath missile launcher. a weapon derived from an earlier invention, found on the Dwarven colony on the Southern continent, an aerodynamic missile is launched, propelled with an alchemically fueled small scale combustion engine, and steered using advanced radio guidance, a task done by the gunner. Despite this, the performance of this launcher will never match the sheer efficiency of the original, made by one of the greatest dwarven inventors to ever live.
Due to its massive profile, as well as difficulties in moving the great weapon, the Dwarves still use their lighter and smaller bombards
Artefact
The Hammer
The Hammer of Ages is a legendary artifact of great significance that is known by many for its power and complex history, though few know exactly how its history played out. It was first discovered by Arda II, a noble warrior, explorer and ancestor of Malik Hammerfury. Arda found it among the sand in the Azsare desert. No one knew where it came from, but Arda took its discovery as a sign and decided to have her crew camp in the nearby area. Arda would often return to this area when in need as she somehow always knew how to find it.
Over the course of seventy years, the camp became a town which eventually became a massive city after another eighty years. Arda used the hammer with pride and smote many foes with it. After her passing, it was used by her daughter, Arda III. However, Arda III eventually decided to place it in a guarded vault as it seemed to attract more enemies and battle due to its infamy and value. To make sure that no enemy attempted to steal it from its vault, she made it seem as if it was destroyed in battle by using her ability to cause mirages and illusions. Inevitably, it was discovered that the hammer was, in fact, intact. From then on, the city that housed it was called "Hammerhold". One hundred and twenty three years later, Lord Malagar stole it as he was one of the few that knew of its true power: the ability to shatter carcerite, a blue crystal created by the gods to imprison deadly foes. The hammer was created this way by an ancient demigod before he was killed. This demigod was the true form of the Lord Malagar before he was killed and reincarnated into the body of a human by his followers. The hammer was destroyed by Umbra after his release. Mysteriously, its broken pieces were never found, leading some to believe that it still exists.
Title: Eye of the Grootslang
Countless names are etched into a new Dwarven Throne once it is legitimised and the Monarch is crowned; denoting those lost in the discovery, exploration and colonisation of this new Dwarven Realm. In the correct light these runes glow to provide additional information; red indicating those poor souls slain trying to delve where the world is gnawed by nameless things; the basilisks, cold drakes, and dragons of all varieties beyond light and knowledge. The lone Dwarf took a step back from the empty seat, having placed his fifth and final King with the rest of his kingdom: etched in red upon the opulent monolith, just above his own name.
The nest they had disturbed was unfathomable, larger than any recorded, granting him a surplus of bone and scales to test, manipulate and smith. Eventually, he emerged from his Deepforge; clad in his new armour, a serendipitous union of Mithril and Golden Wyvern scales, grasping his lance, formed from a Dwarf Banner pole and the furnace-tempered horn of a Winged Colchis. Slaying reptiles great and small, known to him and otherworldly, he slew his way to the lowest point and waded into the Great Abyss that greeted him there, cold as the tide of death. The great water serpents within rose and fell with the waves they created, until finally he came upon the Kingsbane, that which had claimed four of his rulers: A Crimson Grootslang.
From the noon until the dead of night they wrestled, until at the dawn, with a tear of light scratching the waters, he pierced its eye with his great lance. From its final rattling breath, the Grootslang screamed its body into crystal; a great vapour rising around them, fire and steam, the Kingsbane splintering into infinite shards. Without a socket, the remaining eye rolled into the hand of the Beastslayer, a new frontier for his experimentation.
Mounted in bone and metal, the orb drank in the fire of Dragons, and breathed them out as if Telcagnor the White Dread lived again, proving crucial as he delved high and low, smiting any Drakes he came upon. Eventually he passed through the Grey Ravens, and came to stand afore the Dragon Throne he had heard rumours of. Such was the fury of his challenge that for the first time in a generation the Dragon King engaged in single combat, albeit with unsurprising results. The Colchian lance splintered upon his emerald scales, and the full wrath of the Staff paled against his breath. Once it was done, the King swallowed him whole and added his creation to his personal hoard, an unprecedented honour. Aredhelian scholars recounted the Dwarf’s tale, gleaned telepathically, to the King, who was so entertained he exchanged the sceptre for a tome of exploits. The Rod of Dragon now sits pride of place in the Aredhel armoury, and upon certain days, in the setting light, rumours say in its hilt a Dwarven name can be seen, shimmering in furious red.
Place
A Tour of Stormcloud
“Welcome inside. We’ll be taking the tour now.”
“Here we have the central atrium, a massive chamber. We won’t be visiting the halls to the left and right of me, but those house the living quarters and training rooms respectively.”
“The main highlight of the tour today will be the balanced nature of the temple itself. As you came into the temple, you may have noticed a platform of polished stone, topped with a diamond. That would be the Shrine of Air, one of the four elements.”
“Those willing to brave the bitter cold, come with me through the magic barrier, which keeps the temple from freezing.”
*muffled* “The gale-force winds help attune Adepts to the element.”
You feel the fast-blowing winds.
“Now that we’re back, let’s go deeper into the temple, to explore the Shrine of Earth. This is where adepts channel the power of the land itself to create Earth Elementals, who act as Guardians.”
An adept is seen funneling magic through the Shrine’s emerald and into the ground to create an elemental.
You feel very steady on your feet.
“Next, let’s head back to the atrium to board the ‘elevator’, so they call it.”
“We have arrived at the highest point of the temple, and now we must trek a bit, for the Shrine of Fire rests at the top of the mountain.”
“Everyone okay? Good. Here we have the Shrine of Fire. See the orange discs floating in the air? Those were created by the First Sorcerer, and are called the “Sun Lenses”. They focus the power of the sun, the main power of the Sorcerers, into the ruby at the pinnacle of the Shrine. Anything that touches the ruby will burn, even water!”
You feel a radiating heat.
“Now, let’s take the ‘elevator’ to the last point on the tour, the Shrine of Water. Surprising, I know.”
“Here we have the lake, of which the Shrine floats in the center, with the pinnacle of a sapphire. Note the orange crystals jutting from the bottom of the lake. These crystals grow, and are harvested very occasionally for the use of Sorcerers.”
You feel a steady rocking.
“What do the adepts study here? It’s simple. They use the flowing nature of water to create spells that make other objects flow between shapes. They call it ‘polymorphing’.”
“Ah, good. A demonstration.”
The Adept takes a small insect, and then harnesses the energy of the shrine to turn the insect into a sheep. The crowd oohs and aahs.
“Now, if you turn to your left, you can view the sheep pens.”
Grimmsburg
Ever wonder why fairy tales are called, well, fairy tales? That's because they are tales, told by fairies. Grimmsburg, being the closest town to the fairy kingdom, becomes a major source of fairy gossiping, that would eventually turn into tales.
The town itself is unique, although being located deep in a magical forest would do that to any town. For one, some of the inhabitants aren't even human. The Porcus brothers are a prime example of this, being humanoid pigs who act like humans. The eldest owns a wheat farm, the middle is a carpenter, and the youngest is an architect. A brawl in the tavern that resulted in them being kicked out made them infamous amongst the fairies.
Another interesting inhabitant is the candy witch. She really is just an old lady who owns a sweets shop and lives with her two grandchildren, Hans and Ethel. Perhaps her senility and strictness is what caused the fairies to put her in a bad light.
Somewhere between the center and the edge of the town, the Red Hood tavern and inn stands. This place is owned by the local werewolf, Lupo, and is named after his wife's childhood nickname. The werewolf stigma doesn't affect business much, but the fairies are still going to spice their story up anyways.
What makes this town really unique however, is a piece of floating ruin hovering just northwest of it. It is a part of the Soaring Ruins that somehow managed to get over Evermeet Mountains. Many have tried to reach the place, and they all failed. Some fairies managed to fly up and sneak a peek inside, and the sight of an inactive golem terrified them to the point that they thought the place was guarded by a giant. But hey, anything to make their story interesting.
Hammerhold
The citadel of the Azrare desert, the fortress of Hammerhold once sit as an icon of expansion and exploration, sitting at the very frontiers of the kingdom itself, unfortunately, its placed between a rock and a hard place
The fortress of Hammerhold was built during the kingdom's expansion, it was built to protect the vital harbor of the Zarafo river delta, as well as caravan routes to and from Lopah, it was built on the site of the ancient fort of Halfaya that originally belonged to the Nas'de kingdom.
As the fort is located in the middle of the desert, supplies are brought in mainly from sea.
The fort was built with the original intent of holding the Hammer of Ages, an ancient dwarven artifact, as the dwarves requested it to not be held in Linirea, in case of an attack.
During the period of the Barrington Keynes expedition, Hammerhold served as the final safe haven before the expedition groups set off to the east, the results of the expedition was the mapping of the areas that is far way from the very edges of the kingdom.
As the fort was built during a relatively peaceful period, little consideration was put to the fact that it was a barely defensible location, it was too far to be easily reinforced, it could be easily surrounded. This became a horrifying reality, when the dark army attacked the kingdom, commanded by Vez'nan. While the main Linirean army was occupied with attacks on the grasslands and the capital itself, Hammerhold fell to the dark army quickly. However, due to the efforts of Lord Malagar, a high sorcerer, the Hammer of Ages was able to be evacuated to sea.
Unfortunately, the second time Hammerhold came under a major attack is by Lord Malagar himself, and the Hammer fell into his hands, through monumental efforts of the Linirean Army however, it was reclaimed.
Despite its notoriety of never successfully holding the hammer, it is still kept in Hammerhold, as the kingdom now returned to more peaceful times, Hammerhold continue to stand as the kingdom's bastion of it's frontiers in the Azsare Desert
Event
Twilight of Aredhel
Aredhel. The capital of the elven kingdom, as well as the queen's residing place. To have it fall would mean the collapse of the kingdom. Mactans knew this, which is why the old spider told Malicia to set a siege for it. With the twilight elf queen's eyes set on the capital, the twilight army was prepared.
Led by Ainyl, Malicia's sister, the army marched to Duskwood, through the gnome village at Neverwonder, past the Crystal Lake, and finally stopped at the bank of Blackwater Rapids. There, they would wait and prepare to breach the city wall.
Meanwhile at the palace, the queen was having a visit from Malicia herself. Little did the queen know, it was all a trap. Malicia's arachnomancer companions snuck into the palace kitchen, poisoning the food. Come dinner time, and the queen immediately succumbed into the poison after her first bite of the meal. Everybody else save for the twilight elves followed after, except for Princess Alleria who was absent.
With the queen fallen, the elven army was withdrawn to the palace in fear of an ambush. This was exactly what Malicia planned all along. Standing on the palace balcony, she lit up the sky with magic, signaling her sister to begin the invasion. With the help of Mactans, she retreated before the palace guards could capture her.
Suddenly, the northern city walls blew up. Waves after waves of twilight elves poured in, bringing death and destruction in their wake. In the middle of it all stood Ainyl, observing the attack and helping the twilight army with her own magic.
By the time the army had been drawn again to the wall, it was too late. They were outmatched and outnumbered. Within hours, Aredhel was captured along with the queen. However, not all hope was lost. The news of Princess Alleria's safety boosted the army's morale, even as they retreated from the capital. Retaliation would be sooner than the twilight elves expected.
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