Astroth

Astroth, sometimes known as the Old World, is the largest continent known thus far. Astroth is home to many kingdoms and houses.

### Undead

According to Thomas, Astroth is currently overrun by undead.

## The Story of Astroth

***At the beginning, there was nothing.***

***That was, until a powerful being known in the mythos as “The Alchemist” created the land of Astroth, along with its surrounding areas. But before the land ever truly developed, a race of god-like entities roamed the Earth, named the First Elves for their supposed proximity to the current Elven race. This race supposedly worked directly with the Alchemist to further the development of their people. After their fall at the hands of a great catastrophic event, then emerged the first settlements and small hamlets of each main race.***

***The Humans decided to settle in the middle of the continent, making it easier for future trade routes. The Elves dispersed evenly due to their culture. The Wood Elves headed for the trees to the East. Dark Elves were at some point forced to populate the Caverns of the South. While the others did that, the High Elves established a large kingdom to the North near the Sylvan Forest. Large groups of Orks headed South to the deserts and created their tribal villages there. The Dwarves are a special case, they made their homeland in one of the bigger islands that surrounded the main continent, but later on would make outposts in Astroth too.***

***The first kingdoms started to come to life, with the Human Kingdoms reaching their grand state before the other races, The Kingdom of Idos, whose founder and first King was Remus Pendragon “The Charmer”, as well as The Kingdom of Duskar, whose founder and first king was Vulthral “The Gravekeeper”. The Wood Elves didn’t make a specific kingdom, rather they stayed in their nomadic bands making small hidden towns camouflage by the foliage and often migrating after several years. The High Elves established the quickly prosperous Kingdom of Celarin who was founded by Lady Quinn and the Magical Order, who up to this date is still the Queen. The Dark Elves, for quite some time, were governed by one of the only known Blood Elves. It was not until his sudden disappearance that the masses were granted the peace to begin governing themselves, yet the clear power vacuum left a deep desire within the masses for someone to guide their people. The Dwarves created The Empire of Iarann, known for being easily the richest single empire of all the world. The empire was formed by a group known as The Great Ten. A group of ten dwarven clans that united to work together. Smaller groups of races like Aborians, Beastmen or Tieflings also found their ground in this large expanse of land.***

***During many decades, there was peace, the kingdoms flourished, trade was plenty and there was a general well-being all around Astroth, with only minor skirmishes with Orks who usually opted to become Raiders.***

***But peace is never everlasting.***

***No one currently knows what brought such misfortune, but it started one usual day of Spring, nothing out of the ordinary. Undead sprawled from the ground, soon amassing a great force. They started by attacking the Orks and the Dark Elves. The Orks put up a massive fight, but they were disorganized and soon many Ork tribes fell, whereas surviving ones made their way to the center of Astroth. Many of the fallen Orks would soon join the ranks of the undead…***

***During several months, the undead marched on villages, then towns, and even against cities. Many of the Kingdoms started retreating to the Center of Astroth. The Kingdom of Duskar was the first and easiest to fall, as their undead workers turned against them, the whole kingdom fell within days. Many Wood Elves decided to stay in their forest, thinking it would keep them safer. Aborians stayed in the Sylvan forest, besieged by hordes of undead attempting to burn or enter, but the Forest is old, and strong magic lurks in it. With all seeming lost, the Kingdoms ended up sprawling together in the Center of Astroth. In a quick political and military effort, The Kingdom of Idos and Celarin joined together in marriage, with the current King Kosak Pendragon’s daughter marrying Lady Quinn’s son. Together they formed the Kingdom of Varia, which is now the only safe haven in Astroth with their four great walls to fend off the undead hordes.***

***All seemed lost for the Kingdom of Varia too, but they discovered that the son of Lady Quinn had an unnatural affinity for magic. Inscribed on his back appeared symbols and marks, appearing like a map. Quinn, being very old and wise, explained to her son and a number of Lords that this could be a sign from the gods. Clinging onto that hope, the Kingdom of Varia sent scouts and one House in particular. The Rosefires to these lands so they might retrieve this item.***

***The Rosefires searched Estadia for whatever the map led to, as some scholars even theorized the possibility of the treasure being lost, First Elven technology. Clinging in the center of Astroth, the main Lords and Houses of Varia are currently defending key borders. A cobbled together mess from a variety of different kingdoms, as the internal politics of Varia grow ever more difficult to manage with the developing events. No one knows the current situation with the Dwarves, but they have made an outpost in this safe haven too. Many races have also come to this zone, hoping for the best.***