Background story

Over the
generations, conflicts are only getting worse. The ancestors of our ancestors
were already killing each other for reasons we have forgotten since hundreds of
years. Yet the conflict has never stopped, or at least it never *really* stopped.

There
was a very short period during which the conflict stopped, yes, a period during
which a strange calm, an enforced peace, causing hatred and resentment deeper
still, were imposed to the people by the will of one man. This man, or rather
this Nervian was called Hel Karn and to understand how he managed to
impose his will over the Red Kingdoms it is
necessary to trace back to the known origins of Nervians.

Within living
memory, there is no time when Nervians did
not exist. They seem older than the earth itself and the mystery of their true
origin is likely to remain unsolved despite numerous attempts by various
historians. They once agreed they were here long before us, but they most
likely gave that information inadvertently. The Nervians
always live separately from each other, meeting on very rare occasions.
They are traveling alone, using their powerful magic to protect themselves and
never take part in political or other forms of struggles. It seems that their
only goal in their existence is to collect gold and silver, therefore they have
proven to be extraordinary merchants. They then consume the precious ores
collected; chewing them like one would eat a piece of bread. Yes, you heard
right, they eat gold and silver. It remains unclear how their body can absorb
these but it seems that this "food" is the foundation of their
longevity and power.

Hel
Karn was a particular Nervian in that he had managed to gather a few of
his kind under his command. A small group for sure, but it was and still is the
unique instance in history. Indeed, he had a very special charisma, almost
irresistible, just like witchcraft. At first he contented himself with sending
his companions all around the world to collect gold and silver for his benefit,
but whatever quantity they would bring back to him, he was never satisfied.
When he had eaten what was to be a mountain of gold and silver, Hel Karn decided it was time to satisfy his
insatiable hunger.

At that time, the Red Kingdoms were in a state of total war. The Tower, led by Dwarves, Validurians and
Ancients, had come down from the mountains and was defending the Fool’s Canyon
against any invader while they pillaged and ravaged everything that was farther
East. The Circle, composed of Orcs, Redicis
and Durathis was assaulting enemies’ camps at night from the edge of their
forest, exhausting the enemy soldiers who could never sleep. Finally, the Alliance, consisting of Humans, Elves and
Mirgens, went deeper and deeper into the territories of their opponents
gradually hogging the smallest land parcels, building huge fortresses to
protect every inch they managed to take ownership of.

The landscape was
torn, covered of dead bodies and buildings burnt to ashes. From North to South,
the people were victim of famine while armed troops were running at the front.
As usual, the conflict was mired. That's when Hel Karn appeared in the open.
Helped by his friends, he made use of a magic unequaled up to now. Helped by
lightning and fire he wiped out entire armies on his own. When calm settled on
the battlefield and only the groans of the dying were heard still, he invited
the leaders of each kingdom to come and meet him. Forced into submission to his
omnipotence, each and everyone went to meet him. Until then, no one really knew
what to expect, it was the first time a Nervian mingled
political problems and war moreover! Finally, the meeting between the various
commanders took place, everyone expected the interview to be hectic and last
for days, but it actually was very brief.

Hel
Karn demanded that the center
of the lands should be entrusted to him immediately and without restriction. He
would keep the lands that would be absolutely neutral to any conflict. Now the
factions should deal with him and with him only for trade. Having no
alternative in terms of power, all the commanders bent to his will, marking the
birth of the Core, at the heart of the
continent.

Conflicts
instantly ceased and everyone returned home to lick his wounds and brood his
revenge. Despite the general dissatisfaction and hatred that almost everyone
had for Hel Karn, he succeed in maintaining
rules strictly and if new conflicts started he made sure to immediately punish
anyone responsible. The Core became a rich
trade ground in which Hel Karn received a
fee for each trade made. Several decades passed during the reign of Hel Karn.

Since the
inter-factional exchanges were forced to operate in the
Core, gold and silver piled at his feet so quickly that even he was
unable to consume everything, therefore stacking huge wealth in caves and cellars,
fueling even more hatred and jealousy on the part of his rivals, evidence that
his plan had worked perfectly. And that's probably what caused his loss.

No one really
knows what happened to Hel Karn. Some say he
was murdered by some assassin sent by the Red
Kingdoms. Others claim that he was killed by his companions, jealous of
his power. Others say that he had become so powerful that his body was
dissolved in the universe, reaching the final stage of evolution. Whoever is
right or wrong, Hel Karn is gone.

That was two years
ago. It took a while for the news to spread, the early companions of Hel Karn tried to keep a stranglehold on the Core, but the situation gradually eluded them,
they had neither the reputation nor the strength of Hel
Karn and others took the reins of power in the
Core. A guild of influential merchants from around the world set up to
rule the Core. Now that all the kingdoms had
become accustomed to this system, it was possible, they thought, to maintain it
neutral land and make profit. If their first days, say their first months, were
successful, the situation deteriorated quickly to lead us to the present day.

The
Core was once a rich and
neutral land but now it is nothing but a misshapen ground with heap of broken
bones, blood, mud and ashes. The Tower, the Circle
and the Alliance took arms to engage incessant battles again. Men and
women are mobilized for the war effort while everyone tries to conquer enemy
territory and capture legendary hidden treasures in the darkest recesses of the Core.