Riverside - The Falls

==The First Fall (about 200 years ago)==
As the human tribes moved South, they drove out many of the original inhabitants of the regions they occupied. Many of the cities now known as part of the Old Kingdom were originally founded by others and simply taken over by the humans who expanded and fortified these settlements to provide solid bases for further expansion.
One city that resisted the waves of humanity was Faricity (or Riverside as it is now known), a prosperous Native Orc settlement based around a large central citadel imbued with arcane protections laid down by generations of Orcish shamans. Initially the emerging Kingdom realised that Faircity would prove too difficult to conquer and so they simply moved around it and began to isolate it from its natural trading partners.
As the Kingdom solidified around Stormhaven, the campaigns against Faricity began in earnest, outlying settlements were razed and the Native Orc population forced to flee into the wilds or seek refuge in the city itself. Within a few years Faricity was effectively under siege, the Kingdom could find no was to breach the defences of the Citadel but the inhabitants of the city had no means of escape.
After three years, the Kingdom was finding itself in financial difficulties – maintaining a full scale siege proving to be a massive drain on resources. Inside the city, things were also in a dire state, even with Shamans constantly working to create and preserve supplies – food was short and in the overcrowded slum settlements, disease was rife.
….and so an accord was reached. Faricity agree to hand over the city to the Kingdom in exchange for safe passage North for its citizens and remaining soldiery…..
…however, once the magical ‘keys’ to the citadel had been handed over and the Native Orcs were out in the open, the kingdom reneged on its promises. The frustrated soldiers in the besieging force were let loose to slaughter the Native Orcs.
Directly or indirectly, this event is believed to have led to the emergence of two new branches of the Universal Church. The Gemihadists, who saw the event as a required action in order to secure the supremacy of Humans broke away from the main Universal creed, which was horrified by the Kings actions. Also, the Perceval faith arose around this time, some would say emerging from the need to have an arbiter of deeds – to hold all accountable for their promises.
Similarly, these events also led to a change in kingdom policy towards Native Settlements, one of diplomacy and treaty – that would in the end lead to Hightower being part of the Kingdom and give Alvera the basis upon which to make peace and eventual alliance with Torgan.
==The Second Fall==
By the time of the Elven invasion, Riverside had grown dramatically – with the Citadel now being surrounded by suburbs, and with another city wall having been constructed. The Citadel itself had been maintained and the wardings on the entrance strengthened such that if closed the gates could only be unlocked from the outside by the rightful King, or a direct descendant.
It is said the Alvera himself was planning to use Riverside, which had remained loyal to him, as his headquarters, but the speed of the Elven assault resulted in the city being invested even as he started heading North from Starport.
The Elven assault on the city itself was brutal, and costly, once the walls were breached the Elves and Dark Elves poured into the city enslaving any human they found and killing all of any other race. Much of the garrison and many citizens did however manage to seek refuge in the citadel, and its gates were sealed. The Citadel housed the cities religious centres and so unlike the Native Orcs before them – there was more than sufficient clerical support to ensure the health of the Citadels occupants.
The Elves had obviously prepared for this state though, for late the same day – even as Elven forces were assaulting the wall, a large flying column approached the Citadel gates. In the vanguard was a hooded figure, probably a human male. Unfortunately for a brief period the gate guards put their trust in the wards, only to see the gates unlock as the hooded figure reached the gate and put his hand out to the central seal….. The Elves poured past the hooded figure, who was seen to turn and return into the streets of Riverside..
Those very few soldiers that managed to escape the rape of the Citadel still talk of betrayal, nearly everyone in the Royal Family has been considered to be under suspicion.
Since that day, the few reports that come out of Riverside indicate that the Elves have never closed the Citadel gates, accepted wisdom is that they are not able to break or subvert the ancient wards.