A Wounded World
“Before the Cataclysm, there were no
gods on Solasta. No humans, either. Then the Rift opened. Some say it was a magical
accident, or the work of an evil god. No one knows for sure. The Cataclysm destroyed
the old High Elf empire - Manacalon, they called it - and twisted the land beyond
recognition.”
A thousand years have passed. The humans have survived and thrived. The former outer
provinces, less scarred by the Cataclysm, have grown into young nations. Only the brave
and the foolish venture into the Badlands where the Empire’s heart once stood, but the
few who return bring back priceless ancient treasures.
A Time of Tension
It is a time of political tension between the Principality of Masgarth and its
neighbors. Explorers recently found the Copperhead Road, a hidden pass that gives the
Principality easier access through the rugged mountains that surround the Badlands. Its
neighbors fear the Principality will use this to hoard recovered Imperial treasures, and
grow too strong for comfort.
As a compromise, the Principality plays host to the Legacy Council, an independent
organization drawn from the academic and magical societies of all the eastern nations.
Overseen by the priests of Einar, god of justice, it guarantees fair access for all.
A Political Snake-Pit
The Council sits in the heart of Caer Cyflen, the Principality’s capital. While its key
delegations are not formally affiliated with any government, political necessity
dictated that each of the Principality’s neighbors is represented, along with the
Principality itself.
These academic organizations compete for access to the secrets of the Badlands, both on
their own accounts and on behalf of their home nations. So far, this arrangement has
been sufficient to maintain a delicate peace – not least because of the diplomatic skill
with which the Principality plays its neighbors off against each other.
The Future at Stake
So the balance has stood – fragile but intact – for several centuries. While many
adventurers seek wealth in the Badlands, the finds of Council-sponsored parties are
examined by all, so that the lost knowledge of the Manacalon Empire is shared more or
less equitably.
But all that is about to change. Contact has been lost with the Council’s garrison at
the former Imperial outpost of Caer Lem. A group of aspiring adventurers is sent to find
out what has happened – and what they discover will place the fate of the world in their
hands.