Re: Game Info
Brief History of Laynak
The Old man at the tavern sits quietly eating some Stew By the fire. A Group of sages and Clerics from, some land on the other side of the Great Mists, make their way into the Inn, ordering what hot food and cold drink they may have.
They ask questions about this land, as their ship had been tossed off course, and they barely managed to sift through the Huge Rocks and mighty whirlpools , that where shrouded in the Mists
The Halfling with them was not afforded much manners. Until one of the Humans in Plate, spoke for him. The elder Sage, the Leader of the group began to ask questions aBout the Land, One of the waitresses, pointed to the old man by the fire.
The Older sage said,we were told, you could tell us of these lands, for they are strange to us...and our comrade the Halfing seems ...unwanted..at best?
The Man nodded,..for the price of some wine, and another bowl of stew?..I will answer and try to give you a brief rundown, For if you cannot pass through the Mists again?..You will be here, until the end of your days...
The Old Fellow Unrolls a Map of Laynak,..this is not all of the land....but i doubt if you will venture much further then the Boundries it shows?
He Nods to the Halfing,..Halflings are not a liked race here. They are seen as infestations , from the Red Isles... Pirates they are, and slavers as well..and they have Joined Force with the Red Elves, Those who are the Most evil of folk we know...They sail the seas, attacking all other ships not allied with them...now and again the sail the Rivers... and woe be those on board when they meet with Ship of the Iroundmond Empire..
Sipping his wine, Ironmound grew out of the tiny Village of Bowshot..the Village stands to this day in the shadows of the mighty walls... A trading Post where Elves ,Dwarves and HUmans would meet, That's when the First Emperor Lod, a Mere warlord then, Managed to get the Dwarves, Elves and Humans to Join forces... with help from each other , the three races built Ironmound, around a Large Hill of Sky iron... The Dwarves were given the right to live in, and around the Mound... and elves free to come in go in the city, each race extending free travel to each..
Nodding to the Halfling,..save..Halflings. Now and then odd halflings show on the shores of Laynak.. Once they are seen, not to bear the MArk of Red Isle Halflings, they are allowed to travel, though..in truth, they will, forever be distrusted.
The Middle of the Lands where divided by those who signed the treaty... The Ironwood Elves had thier forests and most of the Plains, down to where The Trade Road was layed out, with fort-like way stations to keep the travelers somewhat safe..Humans and Ironwood Elves patrol the plains and roads .
High Peak Dwarves settled into the Mound, not only help building the City, but a Huge tunnel that goes under the Mighty Storm River... They patrol the tunnels to fight of Drow and Gnomes and Goblins and such...
The Furman's chain is also Under an Overlapped protection of the Ironwood elves and the Highpeak dwarves who still live in the Mountains...those dwarves fight slavers, orcs, goblins and the CAt-folk...those who live near the river, must also deal with the lizard folk...
he takes a few spoonfuls of stew as the Younger Sages copy down what he says, and the warriors of the group listen.... All is not as bright as it seems though. The Black Timber Elves who Held a Good section of the Empire's lands.. did not join the treaty for some 50 years. Even then, only to secure more trading with the people of these surrounding towns....
Shaking his head as he looked at the map,..It was the 1st Emperor's grave mistake, that could not, cannot be undone....They took the lands , all the way to the Tou river...and the wood elves from the Trace Woods, were only given they very own woods, as their own?..the plains turned over to Humans for use.
The Dwarves, to thier credit, fought against this...the Elves of Ironwood, who's trees are much valued for the strong hulls of the Ironmound Navy.. fought just as hard to 'punish' thier cousins for not joining right away.
..There are No, more fierce, people, then the Black Timber Elves...located near the desert, they fight the CAt folks, the dark skinned raiders of the sands... Orcs, Goblins and the Lizard folks of the swamps.
..what of the Dwarves and the other elves.... asked one of the warriors.
The Old man just waves a hand to dismiss the thought,..The Dwarves are strong, and Loyal to thier friends... but few have the skills to fight in the plains or the trees.... The Ironwood Elves are the best horsemen in the lands, and maybe 2nd, only to the Black Timber elves with the Bow....The trace wood elves are great bowmen, But rarely are seen Unless the Black Timber elves call upon them... No race in the Land, know the use of bow and Blade, better then the elves of the Black Timber....
Lowering his head, he sounds remorseful,..Then, it was found, the Black Timber had ironwood trees...even better, older, then those of Ironwood herself... Plans were made. treaties signed... The Black Timber opened its trails for Humans and dwarves to come in...but only allowed to Cut marked trees.....Then... The slavers Hit..using woodcutting as a cover, the trusting elves let too many folks in, and Elves were taken as slaves or Killed out right.. iron wood did not send aid... The dwarves from the High peaks send what they could... the HUmans...only with drew thier people...It was the wood elves from the Trace Woods who showed, 1000 strong...and the Blood bath began... no human lived.. Gnomes and halflings were cut to Ribbons... and the trace Elves, Highpeak Dwarves and BlackTimber Elves, forever..became friends.
..To this day..caravans that seek trade with the Black Timber, must wait for escort..those who enter without, are never seen again.... slavers who dare used the roads, or plains rarely make it unscathed..Most are brutally killed and displayed for others to see. The Largest settlement in the BLack Timber is Razorhawk Village ..Their Totem of the savage little hawk that flies and attacks in packs, suits them well..it is also , the only Village that allows people , other then elves or Dwarves to live there...for...they taken in Slaves who have lost everything, to give them a new life.
..From this... many things have sprung.... a rivalry , boardering on hate, between the Ironwood elves and those of the Trace Woods , or Black Timber... and a strong Bound between the Highpeak Dwarves and the Black Timber Elves....on a smaller scale, but of interest, should you dare to continue upriver?....
he takes a Dramatic pause as he finishes his wine, and the older sage signals the waitress for more. Once it is filled he smiles his thanks, and adds,..The Land is run , by the Emperor, and they do not deal lightly with those who break the law... You would be wise to see the town guard, and charter yourself as a company..... the Lands now have the threat of the Hargen Empire ..and more and more folks, are trusted less..and less.And Should you Come across a Unit of Crimson Arrows?...Pray to your gods, they did not come seeking you...
The older warrior in Plate asks,..why?....Do they Follow the dark Path?
The Old man laughs a bit,..they follow thier own path... they will deal thier own Justice..and it is ...forever..harsh. There are Many a Story, of Arrows Killing 'good folks' who worked with slavers... and working with, Evil, folks who aided the helpless..it is said, they have 2 rules.......
The Younger warrior laughs,and what rules are they, Old Man?
The Old one looked the Young warrior in the eye, hard enough to steal his smile. rule 1. never leave a live enemy, behind you....2...Be the fire, that fights the fire... he finishes the other glass of wine, and stands with help of a battered looking bow.
as he bends over to pick up his soft hat, a glimpse of a tiny red arrow charm is hidden , just under his threadbare cloak.
while he walks out, a BArd comes in, soaked to the skin, but a smile on his face, ready to tell stories and sing songs...
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:50, Wed 24 Jan 2018.