Spokenword

**Spokenword** is third planet from the Sun in Hymnspace on the Prime Material Plane. It is orbited by the twin moons, Tilth and Mylnn. In the ancient language of Ejuin, it was known as "**Notezan**," or as "**Warvengaard**" in Lordstounge. Some Historians and old-fashioned Ildregaardians still refer to the world in these archaic names. It is an Earth-like planet, with a high surface area of water and a wide variety of different biomes and climates, all full of life. It was created with divine purpose by the Divine Rakata, mostly populated with intelligent humanoid races and a wide array of plants and animals. The Warsong's rhythm is plentiful and strong in general around Spokenword, leading some people to believe somewhere on the planet, the origin of the Warsong resides.

## Geography

Spokenword is an Earth-sized planet that consists of various continents and islands, including Brocheran, Ildregaard, and Anckerdemn, with the unexplored Northern and Southern Ice Wastes on either side of the planet. 67% of Spokenword's population is spread between Brocheran and Anckerdemn, with 19% of the remaining population belonging to Ildregaard.

### Continents

* **Brocheran**: A large continent in the west that is constantly in political turmoil after the collapse of the great Valkran Empire 300 years ago. It has the most active composers of any place in Spokenword and is heavily connected to the Warsong. It is a greatly diverse place in terms of culture, from the honorable Reunice to the tribal Riverlands.

* **Ildregaard**: An oblong continent in the northeast that is completely ruled by a country of the same name. It is a superpower within Spokenword and is the leading figure in both military and artifice. Other countries often fear Ildregaard invasion, but truthfully, Ildregaard only wishes to improve itself in and endless attempt to prove they are the true lords of the world.

* **Mekanön**: A smaller continent that seems to have broken off of Ildregaard long ago. It is home to the Steel Union on the northern half, a large country that is allied with Ildregaard, supplying it with resources, and many less-successful sovereign countries on the southern half, known as the Ash Tray. It is the homelands for many dwarves and goblinoids.

* **Anckerdemn**: A giant continent in the south that is home to only a few countries, mainly dominated by the massive expanse of the country Wintervale. The continent is considered to be disconnected from the Warsong, but is the religious and magical capital of the world, the homeland of strange magic known as sigils and the largest place of practice for the Old Faith.

* **Irralon**: An expansive continent consisting of a central landmass and many disconnected islands resting in the east. It is the home to many exotic races, filled with tropics and wilds in the south, and frozen nothingness to the north. It has little relevance to the political world, and most of its northern regions are unexplored. Only the main island, Jennutresk, is inhabited: full of spiritual, ritualistic, and monastic people who live simple lives.

## General History

While mostly unknown to the general population of Spokenword, Historians have studied the history of Spokenword intensely, even from the days before the Valkran Empire. Some of the more ancestral tribes of elves, like those from the Ridian Riverlands, or from Ivae'Shanta in Trelstin, have passed down stories for generations about the old world, which has stuck with the current minds of Spokenword.

### Creation

Mostly studied by Wintervalen priests of Rakatism and obsessive composers, the creation of Spokenword, and by extent, the entirety of Hymnspace is believed to be the conjoined effort of Oln and the Warsong, the primal beat of existence, created by the Orchestrator, a being that is said to predate the gods. Many believe that the Warsong was not created, but simply existed as a primal fact of the universe, and that no Orchestrator exists at all. It it said that Spokenword was created as the planet most connected to the Warsong and the main place of worship for the Divine Rakata. This event is known in more detail as The Lyrics of Creation.

It is unknown for how long Spokenword has existed, but Historians generally separate it into four periods after the creation of the world: Prehistory, The Oldtimes, The Times of Change, and The Newtimes.

### Prehistory

After The Lyrics of Creation, when sentient beings first roamed the lands, times were chaotic and tribal, with the humanoid creatures of Lillith mostly fighting in great wars against the fiendish beings of Nillian, driven and empowered by the rhythm of the Warsong, the source of all conflict. Little is known about this time, and it is theorized by archaeologists that great ancient monsters roamed the lands, in constant war with the humanoids. These monsters ranged from great beasts to wicked aberrations. Some were under the control of Nillian's Legion, but many of these ancient monsters were simply abominations attacking from an unknown source, perhaps they were the will of the Warsong itself, testing the inhabitants if they were worthy to inherit Spokenword. By the grace of Lillith, the humanoids survived to form tribes and create armies, in order to better combat their foes. Thus began civilization.

Sometime during Prehistory, an unknown cataclysmic event shattered Irralon into islands and separated Mekanön from Ildregaard, causing earthquakes, storms and tsunamis worldwide. There is little more than theories for what this event could have been, with speculation ranging from the corruption of the Warsong to divine punishment from Oln. This event killed over half of the living creatures on the world. Despite this, little evidence exists today to prove the cause of this cataclysm, which is known as the Steel Sea Rapture.

As a result of this cataclysm, scholars and Historians theorize that it was during that time in Prehistory when the first portal to The Parallel opened, and the first humanoids crossed it, either by accident or by curiosity, becoming what would eventually be known as the vestren, eladrin, drow, duergar, etc. as they were warped over centuries by the astral and aberrant properties of The Parallel, where they came to worship the Eldest as the Prime Material Plane dwellers worship the gods. For more information on the history of events that occurred across The Parallel, see Elegy.

Sometime after the Steel Sea Rapture, or maybe as a result of it, the ancient dragons, powerful beings created by both Lillith and Nillian as an example of higher sentience, started to die in masses. Likely, they perished in the fights against the ancient monsters that once roamed the lands, but because of this, few ancient dragons roam the lands today. They are survived by the dragonborn and lizardfolk, who are seen as the humanoid reincarnations of the ancient dragons. These "draconic races" were created neither by Lillith or Nillian, and were derivative of the ancient dragons, making them the only races to be created by mortal beings. These draconic races lived in the haven of Irralon, mainly on the island of Jennutresk, away from the warring humanoid tribes. Here, they developed a pantheon of gods and beliefs based on the most powerful dragons that ever existed, known as the Ancients.

Also during Prehistory, the Divine Rakata created the New Gods to look after the world once they decided to leave, creating a 3rd generation of deities, each with intricate and specialized portfolios, as compared to the broad good-and-evil of Lillith and Nillian. These New Gods, part of the New Faith, are still worshiped today, in the perceived (often debated) absence of the Old Gods.

### The Oldtimes

The Oldtimes are generally regarded to have begun at -905 HR (0 IRF) and is the beginning of written history. This written history, however, is shakily recorded since it greatly predates the Historians. The beginning of this period is defined by the uniting of the northeastern continent under Great Lord Reayon I, who defeated the Four Lords of Compass, and conquered the land, becoming what is known today as the Ildregaard. However, at this time, their magisteel was not yet developed and Ildregaard's military was mostly made of eldritch knights and skilled sorcerers. Regardless, they still rose to power much quicker than any other nation, declaring themselves the true inheritors of this world, promoted by Oln himself. Mekanön consisted mostly of small tribes of dwarves, who dug out vast areas into the mountains in order to survive against the elements and monsters of the swamps. Irralon was undiscovered at this time, as the draconic races expanded.

Near the end of the Oldtimes, around -229 HR (676 IRF), Great Lord Remillien II annexed one of Mekanön's largest empires, the Terrazalvs, in an exclusive trade deal for metal and steel, which came to be known as the Steel Contract, turning the Terrazalvs into the Steel Union, which would work for Ildregaard, supplying them with the resources they needed to mass produce their then-experimental Magisteel suits and advanced artifice which would allow them to become a superpower in Spokenword, especially since they never had to deal with civil wars or competing countries.

The Valkran Empire came to be during this time, through the uniting of many different colonies and tribes throughout Brocheran (known as Valkeran at the time). Little is known about the man who united the tribes of Valkeran into the Valkran Empire, except for the fact he is the ancestor of the Reunician royal bloodline. Due to a lack of identity, he is referred to as the Warfather, and some groups in the current day even worship him as a demigod, despite him having no portfolio. It is theorized he is one of the first beings to have had been blessed with Kingsblood, alongside Reayon I, and it is likely he was a powerful composer, using the Warsong to conquer Valkeran and form the empire. It is estimated that the entire continent was under control of the empire around -700 HR, whether or not the Warfather was still alive to see its hegemony.

In southern Brocheran, past the Heart Mountains and Broken Belt, deep in the desert, a tribe known as Ulur began to expand and conqueror others, under the guidance of Daamir the Warrior, the harsh environment of the desert became a breeding ground for trade and prosperity united under the single banner of Ulur. Daamir and his tribesmen began to create a great encampment in the center of the desert, known as Qassairi, which when translated from Alsahra into Common reads "the rose of the desert." Daamir's bloodline continues through the emperors and sultans of Ulur to this day. While Ulur eventually fell to the Valkran Empire around -680 HR, the culture of the people of the sands remained strong, uninfluenced by the empire's values of unity and war.

Anckerdemn at this time was still very tribal and nomadic, but the tribes were peaceful, practicing spirituality and religion (particularly that of the Old Gods over the New), and innovating magic with sigils, ritualistic magic unique to and exclusively working in Anckerdemn. The largest spiritual leaders in the frozen lands (that would eventually become the High Church of Wintervale), controlled most of Anckerdemn's lands with their widespread teachings. The tribes in western Anckerdemn (that became Arigild) were masterful traders and diplomats, leading to great wealth, while the eastern tribes (that became Voljord) were expert combatants, fighting off the ancient monsters of Anckerdemn and mounting a great military that posed a threat to the other tribes, yet never attacked, in fear of being punished by the gods. Anckerdemn was also home to the largest group of orcs in the world, who would form a fierce rivalry with the small number of elves and dwarves who lived on the continent. They were constantly forced to retreat and surrender land to the orcs in fear of being slaughtered. These orcs would eventually rise to become the Winter Horde.

Due to the manpower of the Valkran Empire and the magical prowess of Ildregaard, the ancient monsters were either completely slaughtered, fled to undiscovered lands, or as some theorize, across The Parallel, to parts far past the reach of humanoids. However, it is hard to even prove the existence of the ancient monsters, much less where they are today, if they are even alive. Many priests and followers of the New Faith consider the end of the Oldtimes to be when the Old Gods left the world, leaving behind the pantheon of gods that make up the New Faith to inherit dominion of the world, but this is a heavily contested topic, with lots of evidence on both sides.

### The Times of Change

After the formation of the oldest factions and countries, made out of the conquering or uniting of the different tribes that inhabited Spokenword, the world went through a time great change as these now-established factions began to interact with each other as it became clear that the continents were not alone. Sea trade was something that existed before the Times of Change, but it was only across small seas or straits, not oceans. By this time in history, global sea trade was possible and divination magic had hinted there was more out there, and it was time for the world to meet its fellow inhabitants. Generally, this period as seen as lasting from around -100 HR to 170 HR. Around -100 HR, the first Historians started to record history, but they were not yet a global presence until around 0 HR, where written history is considered to be concrete and complete. A different measure, UHR (Uncertain Historian Record) can also be used, where -112 HR is 0 UHR, starting when Castlen Solisir founded the Historians and the Grand Library of Valkeran.

#### Ildregaardian Occupation

This time period begins with Ildregaard contacting the Valkran Empire, their ships finally reaching the shores of Brocheran a few decades after they had reached Anckerdemn, and immediately Ildregaard asserted dominance over the empire, imposing their taxes on them. The ruler of Ildregaard at the time, Great Lord Relatruese III, placed Valkeran under a permanent "civil watch" by the Ildregaardian military, where they would be swiftly eliminated by the occupying troops if they were ever to act against Ildregaard. This also gave Ildregaard great control for their composers to search out notes of the Warsong without opposition. The occupation began on 02-P/-42 HR, only two periods after Ildregaard had first landed on Brocherish shores. Often, there would be fighting between the empire's enraged forces and Ildregaardian surveyors, but the Valkran forces would be quickly dealt with, until they eventually stopped trying, fearing a full-scale invasion of Ildregaard's advanced magic and weapons.

The Valkran Empire was very opposed to the Ildregaardian occupation of Valkeran, but they knew they could do nothing about it, due to the large disparity in equipment and artifice between the two nations. One Ildregaardian eliminator could take on one hundred trained men. During this time, composers struggled to find any notes of the Warsong, including those who were a part of the Ildregaardian occupation. Many devouts of Brocheran consider this the occupation to be a cursed time, one plagued by diseases and unrest, that would eventually lead to the collapse of the empire. During this time, the economy and mood suffered greatly under the constant view of Ildregaard. Many of the larger tribes of the empire grew angry with the inaction of the empire's leaders.

Eventually, having suffered enough, the desert region of the Sands of Ulur seceded from the Valkran Empire, becoming its own sovereign political power after a three year war from 09-F/22 to 10-R/25 HR. The tribe was already large, but after enlisting mercenaries and raiders into a massive army, the empire's dissonant and unhappy troops eventually gave up, realizing Ulur was not the true enemies, and allowed them to secede. This added complexity into Ildregaard's political affairs, making Relatruese III question the validity of the occupation. After some consideration, in how the occupation was producing few notes, alongside the pressure from Ulur, it was decided that Ildregaard should retreat from Valkeran. They left a few troops behind in a military fort known as Fort Zephyr, which acted as both an embassy and a way for Ildregaard to continue to collect its well-known tax. While they could have easily won a war against Ulur, there was no reason to go through the suffering, since the land was not worth the losses Ildregaard would suffer, and they could retain their tax. All of these conditions were outlined and enacted in accordance to the Treaty of the Sands, signed by Emperor Maazin Syed and Great Lord Relatruese III on 34-P/26 HR.

After its secession, Ulur split into four kingdoms: the Kingdom of the High Sands, Kingdom of the Low Sands, Kingdom of the North Sands, and Kingdom of the Far Sands. The High Sands was where the emperor of Ulur resided, ruling over all other kingdoms, acting as a sort of national government. The emperor was always a descendant of Daamir, and the High Sands acted as a center for trade across the desert, with Qassairi as its capital. The other three kingdoms were created by followers of Daamir's siblings: Inaam the Merchant, Uwais the Traveler, and Yousuf the Guardian. These four are now seen as the Ascendants of Ulur, legendary mortals who gained enough favor and worship to ascend and become lesser gods. Their bloodlines can be traced to the sultans of the Low Sands, Far Sands, and North Sands, respectively.

For the rest of the Times of Change, Ulur kept to its strict isolationist ways, making trade with the upcoming world capitol for trade, Arigild, and growing as an independent nation without getting too involved with the turmoil of Valkeran. The kingdoms in the sands eventually became one of the strongest forces on the continent, becoming wealthy for its back-and-forth trade with Arigild, mostly exporting its rich oil that was uncovered beneath the sands, a key component in modern artifice, which was usually resold to Ildregaard. Ildregaard also enacted a lot of isolationism after the Treaty of the Sands. They focused on their own politics, improving their cities and technology as they turned their focus to their homefront and Mekanön for the next few decades, as they collected their tax from Ulur and the Valkran Empire.

#### Valkran Civil War

Ulur's secession was a great success, but it caused a great uproar across Valkeran, many tribes of the Empire were outraged that it took a foreign power for Ildregaard to back down. This tension was finally broken when a group of revolutionaries, called the Separation, attacked the capitol Unvaril (modern-day Uniton) on 04-Y/32 HR. It is said that the leader of these people, a man known as Blair White, killed Edrick Skyne I, the current emperor of the Valkran Empire with a deadly riposte with his dagger. This event is said to have granted the White bloodline their kingsblood and became the catalyst for the long and bloody Valkran Civil War, which lasted until 46 HR, after which many had lost their lives and the Valkran Empire was shattered into many different sovereign countries. Some say that this was Ildregaard's true intent from their occupation, as only a united Valkeran posed any threat to their dominance. After the civil war, many different countries claimed independence and then faded away quickly, as borders and leaders were constantly disputed. Ulur, who was left out of the conflict, flourished at this time, cementing its position as Valkeran's largest and most independent force, strict isolationists.

After about 20 years of political disputes and infighting, the sovereigns of a divided Valkeran were decided at last. However, "Valkeran" meant "The Land that is United" in Ejuin, which no longer described the continent. A slang term, "Brocheran," meaning "The Land that is Broken," quickly became the most popular way to refer to this "new" continent. Eventually, the term Brocheran was accepted as the land's true name, even the most anal of Historians adopted the name. In this new, broken land, there were a few sovereigns, all independents that had split from the empire: Reunice, Ridian, Trelstin, Ashmark, and Separill. When the world had settled into these new countries, Ildregaard's superiority tax was rationed between the countries, the heaviest portions of the tax resting on Reunice and Ashmark, the two wealthiest countries.

#### The New Countries of Brocheran

Reunice, "founded" the day after the civil war ended, 41-P/46 HR, was what remained of the Valkran Empire, a monarchy that continued the bloodline of the Warfather, which is now found in the Skyne royal family. They even retain their capitol from the empire, Unvaril, which has been renamed from Ejuin to Common as "Uniton." They are the strongest and largest force in Brocheran, and hope to one day reform that glorious empire. Until then, they defend themselves and seek a diplomatic route to reunification. They are the largest country within Brocheran besides Ulur, and they have the largest military by far. The quality of life in Reunice is generally quite high, especially in the grander cities, but the culture can be widely different depending on what area of the country one is in, giving Reunice a lack of patriotism outside of its major cities.

Separill was the first to secede. Blair White declared Separill's independence the same day the Separation invaded Unvaril on 04-Y/32 HR. Separill, which is as far east as you can go in Brocheran, is made up of former Separation that was the catalyst for the Valkran Civil War. They are a monarchy, and they send their forces out to other countries in Brocheran, for the sole purpose to make sure that Reunice does not ever reform the empire. They would go to any means necessary to prevent this, as they believe that internationalism is evil and even anarchy would be better. Separill's military is small but densely packed and well trained, meaning they don't have a chance at squashing out internationalism through war, but they are known for many isolated attacks on expanding nations, including Reunice and Ulur. They control a great bit of land in the east, but most of it is undeveloped ruins from the empire itself. Their capital is Hollow, one of the great cities of the empire that they overran during the Civil War. Hollow makes up for most of Separill's population and is an incredibly well-defended and well-built fortress, which makes Separill quite hard to simply overrun. Separill is a monarchy, but despite not having any noble heritage, the White royal family bears purple Kingsblood. Separill is proud of what it does and its people are incredibly patriotic, despite being hated by most of Brocheran.

Ridian, established on 12-R/46 HR, a country in the north of Brocheran that some of Valkran's richest and most powerful families seceded into, was declared an oligarchy. It is led by these families, who are the von Glevursks, the Whispermanes, and the Stukesks. Their main distinction from Reunice is that they are strong allies of Ildregaard, indulging in a lot of trade of information and goods with the superpower, which many Brocherish people see as traitorous. However, this behavior has granted them the second strongest presence in Brocheran. However, there is more to Ridian than the oligarchy, which is led in Blue Forest. There is also a large island in the northeast of Brocheran, an island usually referred to as The Riverlands, which is where tribal people live, deeply druidic and spiritual, worshiping the Great Rivers and Miridias. These tribes were always peaceful and did not partake in the civil war, staying away from conflict and living peacefully on their island. One of the families that formed Ridian had ancestors from the Riverlands, which caused Ridian to claim the Riverlands when it seceded. While nobody truly thinks the Riverlands as part of Ridian, being part of its borders means that it is protected from anyone who wishes to mess with the tribal and kind people, lest they face the wrath of Ridian's military.

Trelstin, also known as the Trelstin States, is the largest representative democracy in the world, a country made up of four partially-sovereign states that are all under the power of a strong national government, based in the largest state. Trelstin seceded from the Valkran Empire on 47-P/51 HR. It was the last country to officially secede, under President Alluin Preslynn, as sorting out its borders and government took a while to finally cement. The five states that make it up, Selvandor, Aludarn, Keryth'Ora, and Srinna, the largest and capital state, all have their own senator. This is in addition to the President, who lives in Ivae'Shanta and has the highest say on political affairs. Trelstin accounts for the largest concentration of elves and half-elves in the world, specifically in Srinna, where the White Willow resides. Trelstin has a strong military across its entire area, due to the state governments having militias of their own. They are the third strongest power in Brocheran (excluding Ulur) and possibly the most stable. Trelstin has no desire to conqueror or expand, even though it could. Its people only need the forests.

Ashmark was originally part of Reunice when it was founded, but seceded from it only 2 years later on 30-I/48 HR, for the noble and royal families of northern Reunice were directly against Reunice's mission to reform the empire. A noble family bearing purple Kingsblood, though probably unrelated to the Warfather, seceded from Reunice alongside with most of their supporters, as they had dominion over the Valkran Empire's second-largest city, Drakescorn, the city founded on the dead ashes of an ancient red dragon (this is where the name Ashmark comes from). Being in control of Drakescorn basically put Ashmark and the Massen family of nobles in control of most of northern Reunice. Haryld Massen, head of the noble family at the time, declared himself king and seceded from Reunice, so that the "horrible empire" would be harder to reform. The Massen bloodline continues to this day. Ashmark is a smaller country, finding itself stuck between Ridian and Reunice, but that is a pivotal position to be in. It makes it impossible for Reunice to fight Ridian, for Ashmark, an ally of Ridian, would not let their forces cross without having to take on both countries' armies. Today, Ashmark is a monarchy that lives on the old values of the Valkran Empire, but wishes to never see it reform, as it only brought blood and destruction.

Eventually, after being hunted down by elvish forces to near extinction, the orcs of Brocheran would split away and form Gudjag, a small and communal (very tribal) country, on 11-F/86 HR. It is home to mostly orcs and half-orcs who want to live a more brutal and simple life than the political mess that Brocheran is. In addition to this, pilgrims from Wintervale looking to practice the New Faith, which was shunned in Anckerdemn, would land in Brocheran in the 80s and eventually continue to found Freevale on 54-L/102 HR. After years of establishing small colonies and self-controlled towns in a region known as the Great Plains, the pilgrims and their influence gained the notice of Trelstin, who had won control of the Great Plains in the civil war, but didn't care too much for it since it resided outside of the forest. They allowed peaceful travelers and tribes to settle in the plains, which had always been a historically underdeveloped area on the continent.

In a treaty called the Great Plains Contract, Trelstin relinquished control of the plains to the pilgrims and their followers as they remained neutral, free, and did not assimilate into Reunice, which Trelstin is against. Now known as Freevale, the country would come to be a free nation, where every city was a self-governing city-state. This made Freevale a very diverse, but racially concentrated land. It is constantly patrolled by a force of self-volunteered peacekeepers in order to make sure no city-state (or any foreign powers) step too far on anyone else's territory. Its "capital" (it truly has none since it lacks national government) is considered to be Voyage, the point where the pilgrims landed, which is now a global hot spot for trade.

#### Brocheran's Turmoil

Brocheran eventually settled into these countries, but the conflict would never end. Fighting to the rhythm of the Warsong, countries are seemingly always at war with each other, or at least in skirmishes, with composers rampantly trying to find new notes to fight with. This everlasting unrest in Brocheran would become its signature, with fighting lasting throughout the entirety of the Times of Change.

Ridian, the Ildregaard-backed oligarchy, has had a fierce hate for Separill and their anti-imperialist terrorism ever since the Valkran Civil War, which was kept them in and out of wars with each other for centuries. Ridian has declared three full-scale wars on Separill over the years, on 22-P/112 HR, 01-M/155 HR, and most recently on 40-F/313 HR. Each time, Ridian sends their powerful Blue Insurgency in to capture the Black Castle in the capital of Hollow, and despite taking heavy losses, Hollow has never fell, due to its nearly impenetrable defenses and geography. Separill is simply too resilient for Ridian to completely wipe out with only their naval troops, since Trelstin will not allow passage for troops through its lands. However, after the Second Great War of Ridian, Separill suffered heavy losses (including the death of the black dragon Bekilip) and was forced to surrender, where the country was forced into isolation for decades as it bolstered its troops and rebuilt after Ridian's destruction, including the construction of Backscar. Currently, the countries are at war in the Third Separillian War, with small skirmishes happening constantly in the western parts of Separill, near Backscar, where Ridian ships land and arrive at Fort Victory, where they plan a great offensive from.

Trelstin has never been in a full-scale war with an outside power, due to their seclusion within the forests, even though the state Keryth'Ora borders the chaotic Separill, no Separillian attacks have ever targeted the elven states, and only a small border watch is required. However, Trelstin does occasionally have civil conflicts within itself, mostly between Srinna and Selvandor, the wood elves and high elves. The worst of these conflicts was the Srinnian War, incited when a high elf cleric of Selvandor refused to heal a dying wood elf injured in a hunt, on the basis that she was trespassing in their town. The woman died, and her tribe, outraged, razed the town that the cleric resided in. What resulted was a 10-year-long race war between the elves, from 47-P/81 HR to 05-Y/92 HR. While nobody ever "won" the war, fighting eventually died down after the suicide of the current high elven senator, Ievis Herphine, causing President Preslynn, near the end of his 50-year term, to step and impose martial law at the border, stopping the fighting. Civil conflicts in Trelstin continue to this day, under President Dain Keyren (originally a senator of Srinna), though none as bad as the Srinnian War.

In the year 116 HR, Reunice was at the height of their campaign to reform the empire, where as opposed to today where they are more lax with the idea and want to find peace in Brocheran before uniting it. After having lost more land in failed treaties to Trelstin and with constantly pestering Freevale to hand over some of their land near Galderstead, the current king, Damien Skyne II, had enough of the diplomatic lollygagging and sent troops to go take the city of Karwood, which had been under dispute for 20 years, under Ashmarken control but within a gray zone in the Reunice-Ashmark border. The local guard of Karwood panicked, leading to fighting between the royal troops and the city's defense, resulting in bloodshed. Ashmark, outraged at Reunice for sending troops to Karwood without word, declared a war between them, the Burnt Forest War, which lasted from 49-F/116 HR to 26-L/120 HR, where Ashmark surrendered Karwood and the surrounding territories to Reunice after years of fighting. If Ridian was not at war with Separill at the same time, they would have assisted in attacking Reunice, but could not spare the troops to help Ashmark, who they were only loose allies with at the time. After the war, Reunice received lots of backlash, which has since been ruled as unjust by the High Court of Reunice, where reparations were sent to Ashmark in gold. While the two countries have not fought again since, resentment remains in the back of people's minds to this day.

Ridian and Reunice have been at odds for their entire existence, but the location of Ashmark has dissuaded either side from ever having a full-scale war with one another, as the land borders would make it impossible to fight without razing Ashmark, which would support Ridian, but not if its lands were ruined. Ridian has stated multiple times that it wishes to annex parts of Reunice that are "weak" and "decentralized," saying that it would gladly rule over the weaker nothern regions of Ridian alongside Ashmark, making it a stronger continent in total. However, Reunice, who believes that Ildregaard, Ridian's greatest ally, fucked over the Valkran Empire, wants nothing to do with Ridian's policies and is generally aggressive towards them. This aggression came to a boiling point only once, directly after Reunice's victory in the Burnt Forest War. Ridian was furious at Reunice for spitting on Ashmark and taking such aggressive action against their ally, but they were still in the middle of their first war with Separill, suffering heavy losses at the hands of their black dragon, Bekilip. Fifty insurgents had just been burnt alive in Rahlsky.

Deciding to cut their losses for now and to deal with the homeland threat, Ridian withdrew from Separill on 11-F/120 HR with the majority vote of 2 barons to 1, with Baron Macrum von Glevursk being the dissenting vote. Tensions were hightened once Ridian's insurgents and army had returned to Blue Forests, and Reunice began sending troops en masse to Karwood, mounting for a border conflict. Ridian troops poured into Ashmark, making their way to the border past the Northern Gate mountain range. However, on 33-F/120 HR, days before war would break out, Great Lord Relatruese VII sent a message demanding that Ridian back down or they would lose their support from Ildregaard. This was enough to overturn Baron Cirrus Whispermane's vote, making it a 2 to 1 decision to avoid conflict with Reunice, as Baron Gler Stukesk passionately insisted on war. After the vote, his body was soon found in the Blue River just outside city limits. Reunice remained in control over the Burnt Forest area, and despite a powerful tension still between the two, no fighting has occured, mostly due to the fact neither parties wish to destroy Ashmark in an invasion.

Ulur is no stranger to war and conflict, as the Kingdom of the North Sands they often get into disputes and fights with Reunice over a region of land between the Heart Mountains and Broken Belt known as Heart Valley, which is a gray area for who controls it. It is not part of the desert, but Reunice has never really had any control of it, not caring to develop it, protect or it, or establish any sort of government. For decades, it has been a "lesser project." For most of the Times of Change, Heart Valley was fought over by Reunice and Ulur slightly, but neither side wanted to dirty their hands with war-- only skirmishes. During the Times of Change, Heart Valley was entirely composed of raiders, various tribes of nomadic and wayfaring people and small, independent times. None of these civilizations or tribes lasted long, as Heart Valley was a constant battlefield for these people.

#### Irralon & the Great Revolution of Mekanön

In the Period of Youth, 91 HR, under the command of Great Lord Relatruese VI, Ildregaard discovered and began to explore the island expanses of Irralon. The sentient life there was tribal and extremely sparse, but there were many wonders to explore, including some notes of the Warsong, as if Irralon was a haven for keeping them secret. Ildregaardian composers gathered most of the easier-to-collect notes, but soon found the country devoid of anything else except for exports that they did not need. Ildregaard instituted an embassy and small colonies within Irralon, just in case anything happened. The tribal people of Irralon began to become more advanced, and exotic races of people started to spread throughout the world, though in very small numbers. The most plentiful of these people were the dragonborn and lizardfolk.

Meanwhile in Mekanön, the Steel Union, which had been under Ildregaard's control for two centuries, started to become aware of the gradual decline in their rights and taxation. Due to this, a worker's strike was started that lasted about 3 years, from 21-M/104 HR to 03-M/107 HR. Ildregaard mostly ignored the strike at first, as it had enough reserves to keep itself stocked with steel and mithral for years to come. However, Great Lord Relatruese VI was known to be a quite fickle and anal leader, so he grew upset at the strike. Though for as short his patience was, he was known to be a pacifist and a renowned diplomat. Relatruese VI granted the Steel Union of Mekanön greater freedoms and lesser taxes, as well as granting the poorer southern colonies complete sovereignty from Ildregaard, but they would have no trade with Ildregaard and would be offered no protection. Many, elated at their new freedoms and lower tax, decided to stay in the Steel Union, which then outputted a greater production than ever before.

However, for those who lived in the southern colonies, or those who sought complete severance from Ildregaard, they formed many new countries and city-states. Over the next 12 years (107-119 HR), known as the Great Revolution of Mekanön, one country seceded from the Steel Union in the north, and four other sovereigns took their hold, creating impoverished nations in Southern Mekanön, which only saw some trade from Yovingheard and Arigild. In the north, was a small country bordering the tax-reformed Steel Union, called the People's Republic of Iron (PRI), its name almost parodying the Steel Union, created by a defecting Steel Union woman named Kurdrela Ironfall. This country's main purpose was to keep the Ildregaardian reforms in check, creating a large military with a nearly 100% draft rate, only barring the children and the elderly, which would wreak hell in the Steel Union if Ildregaard ever broke their promise. If such a conflict were to occur, the PRI would be annihilated, but the production of the Steel Union would suffer greatly-- a risk Ildregaard wouldn't take. The country only consists of rural agriculture and the large capital of Fortress One, where all "potential soldiers" live. The country is a stratocracy, funded by Arigild (who doesn't really like Ildregaard's globalism intruding on their trade). People are free to come and go from the Steel Union, where living conditions are better, but the true pride and patriotism of Mekanön is found within the walls of Fortress One, in the hearts of those who would die defending from Ildregaard's occupation. Today, the PRI is led by Kurdrela Ironfall's great-granddaughter, Commander Kassaegar Ironfall, often called "the strongest woman in Spokenword." Though, that title might not belong to her in the present day, when Izibel Rhett commands the Heart Valley Republic.

However, on the southern half of Mekanön, colloquially known as "the Ash Tray" (since it is the Spokenword's poorest and dirtiest regions), four impoverished countries try and farm the infertile land to survive, but only one has had any success, Hlavormarle, which is closest to the Steel Union, on the western tip of the Ash Tray. While all the land of the Ash Tray is politically claimed by these countries, most of it at this time was simply uninhabited, save for the feral goblinoids that roam it. Hlavormarle, the only country to find some success (but not comparable to anywhere in Brocheran), found its wealth by mining out the other side of Klarthzalv's Strait, where the Steel Union cannot mine the rich lands. They then export it to other parts of the world, but mainly just sell it to Arigild to be resold elsewhere. It is the only of the four southern countries to be a monarchy, led by the Coalbeard bloodline of dwarves.

East and West Birdarth were originally meant to be just one, united Birdarth, but during the Great Revolution, the Ildregaardian colony of Birdarth (which the country grew from) could not decide whether it wanted to be a communist or democratic country. So, they split it down the middle during the Revolution, leaving West Birdarth a poor, communist nation that survived on Hlavlormarle's loans (out of respect for a neighboring and independent country) and funneled the wealth into their wealthy leaders, leaving their people to suffer. Meanwhile, East Birdarth became a representative democracy but was still poor due to the infertile land and lack of any natural minerals in the swampy earth. If it was not for fishing in the clean water of the strait, East Birdarthians would have starved. The government tries to do the best for its people, but truthfully, the colony of Birdarth was never meant to be sovereign-- it could not survive without Ildregaard's support.

Finally, there was Dar Gerrow. It was the "smallest" of the four southern countries, but that didn't mean much, as most of the land was empty in the Ash Tray. It was originally a colony only placed within the southernmost of Mekanön in hopes that it would keep the large feral population of goblinoids away from the more important colonies in the north. It... worked. The people of Dar Gerrow were few, and they were often called "stupid" and "reckless" for pursuing independence in Dar Gerrow without the protection of Ildregaard. They were extremely poor but managed to live off the land enough in the swampy lands to support themselves without intruding on the goblinoid territory.

When the Great Revolution ended in 119 HR, everyone had what they wanted. The Steel Union had more rights, protected by the PRI. Ildregaard had a much larger yield of metals, and the Ash Tray were independent... even if life was rough, it was better lived independent.

#### Peace and War in Anckerdemn

Meanwhile, across the world in Anckerdemn, things were peaceful. Countries formed, but not out of war, instead, out of their specializations. The traders of the west became Arigild, the world's top exporter, and the warriors of the east became Voljord, a strong military force with numbers comparable to Ildregaard, but peaceful still. It was around this time, in -87 HR (0 YA) that Saint Yoving, a legendary human prophet of the Divine Rakata, first heard the voice of Oln in his dreams, causing him to become the first priest of Rakatism, reviving the Old Faith. Yoving and his followers formed the High Church to preach about Rakatism and regain the faith of the Old Gods. After his death, a new, devout and peaceful country was formed to follow his teachings, with "Yovingheard" as its capital.

Founded on 01-I/-32 HR (55 YA), this country was known as Wintervale, holy and blessed by the Divine Rakata, the "Old Gods" that still had a presence in the slow and religious lands. In addition to the religious golden age it experienced in the wake of Saint Yoving, many great wizards and priests began to study the mysterious magical art of Sigils, in hopes of finding a way to contact their precious Old Gods. For years, both religion and magic flourished as many breakthroughs were discovered. However, the practice of trying to reach the gods was eventually banned by the current High Chancellor, Pontiff Tylroc Varece, in 62 HR; calling it "an insult to Oln." Research shifted, led by Chancellor Purple's clergy, into finding a way to create life from Sigils, using spell runes made of a mithral alloy. This was both an appeal to Lillith and also an attempt to create a vessel worthy of becoming the purest prophets of the Old Gods, who were quite picky with who gained favor and blessings.

After years of hard work, breakthrough research was found in this topic and the first, earliest "anthrohumans" were given life-- if only lasting for a second, these were the 1st-Generation anthrohumans that caused a huge wave in the magical community across the continent in 137 HR. Meanwhile, the king of Voljord, Adaum Turgenev, known as "Adaum the Tyrant" was upset that the Wintervalens were ahead of his people in research. In an attempt to show the superiority of his people and seize the research of anthrohumans for himself, King Adaum declared war on Wintervale and sent in troops, hoping to cause them to fall behind in their research as the scholars of Voljord caught up. Many of Voljord's people were outraged at this war, and protested against the king. This war, which came to be known as the Voljordian War of Aggression, only lasted 3 periods, from 21-P/141 HR to 45-M/141 HR. Voljordian forces were utterly crushed by an army of one-thousand 1st-Generation Anthrohumans, who were basically war machines, more construct than human, led by the 2nd-Generation Commander Twenty-Four. Voljordian losses were large and Wintervalen forces were reduced to only the amount of spell dust and runes it took to create the Anthrohumans. Chancellor Purple's work had paid off.

Voljord surrendered on 45-M/141 HR, and the people started a revolution, furious against the king. There were thousands, and over half the despondent military was on their side. He had no choice but to surrender once again, fleeing Sagrifald to a lesser city in the south, where he was still supported (since the war had no draft in the richer south). The leader of the revolutionaries, Yahon Blueforge, "the People's King," was named the new leader of a now-socialist nation, the Commonwealth of Voljord. His legacy remains through the presidents of the Commonwealth to this day, even in the wake of a shaky economy, unsupported by Arigild. Meanwhile, King Adaum was able to retain his rule in the south, with the remaining nation of Voljord (now known as South Voljord), which is a very small country in relation to the Commonwealth, consisting of rich nobles and noble bloodlines. The Turgenev bloodline continues to this day.

Unfettered by war, Arigild continued to cement itself as the world leader in exporting goods, especially in the summer times during the Period of Fire when their crops and livestock flourished. They are on very good terms with Wintervale, but refuse to take a side in supporting either Southern Voljord or the Commonwealth. Arigild is an aristocracy, led by the four most powerful merchant companies in the lands. There is a king, of a dwarven bloodline, but he holds little power, despite what the Arigildish constitution says. The real power lies in gold, though people are generally happy and well-fed, despite a quite large class gap.

### The Newtimes

The Times of Change were unpredictable, bloody, and full of rapid political fissures. However, these events, wars, and disputes eventually started to settle as a new age honed in. Brocheran's borders were drawn in a fair way, Anckerdemn was peaceful, and Ildregaard and Mekanön had found a compromise. Historians were globalized and kept a very close record of the world's events and the gods of the New Faith were accepted and worshipped worldwide. The world had settled from its turmoil. No ancient monsters, no great wars. The people of Spokenword were ready for a new age, one that would be harkened by a world-changing discovery. The Newtimes are ongoing, starting from 167 HR all the way to the present day in 321 HR.

#### Visitors from Across the Parallel

By this time, people had a pretty good understanding of the world, thinking they knew most of what this strange world had to offer. Scholars were pretentious at this time, but everything changed around the time of the early Newtimes, when it was discovered by great wizards and bards that there were many different planes of existence and the spells "Plane Shift" and "Gate" were invented. The Outer Planes of existence were discovered to be different planes of the same world, where certain alignments, elements, and themes were highly concentrated. It was in these specialized, infinite worlds of otherworldly geometry, physics, and beings that New Gods dwelled, commanding their domains of the world and acting out their divine portfolios from the specialized purity of these realms.

The Outer Planes were hard to understand at first, before the Globe of Temperaments model was proposed in 144 HR, but there were things that even the greatest scholars and wizards could not understand. Where did the Old Gods reside? Did they ever even exist? Also, there seemed to be a great vacuum in existence near the Prime Material Plane, but this concept was not fully understood yet, so it was written off. The last of these questions would be answered on the 51st of Fire, 167 HR, when the first vestren from across The Parallel in Elegy contacted Chancellor Blue of Wintervale, who was studying the planes. After a great deal of shock, things began to make more sense.

The vestren were welcomed peacefully into Anckerdemn, as it was a land of knowledge and understanding. It soon came to be known that the vestren were from a Material Plane that was parallel to the Prime Material Plane, known as the Parallel Material Plane, or simply, "The Parallel." Many strange, aberrate creatures existed across The Parallel, all of them were alien mutations of mortals and monsters that found their way accidentally in the strange land when a prehistoric cataclysm accidentally send some of the inhabitants of the Prime Material Plane into The Parallel. In The Parallel, the aberration-humanoid hybrids (including vestren, drow, eldarin, duergar, etc.) worshiped and paid tribute to incomprehensible eldritch gods, known as the Eldest. However, similarly to the Old Gods of the Old Faith, the inhabitants of The Parallel believed that the Eldest had long left this world, having left it to the Inheritors, mortals who grapsed the power of the Eldest. The vestren, inhabitants of Theirhome, the greatest land of Elegy, had then decided to find a way to seek out their prehistoric ancestors on the Prime Material Plane by crossing the Astral Strait through the power of Ourselves, the vestren inheritor. It had worked, which brought the first vestren pilgrim, First Seeker, to Chancellor Blue.

Over the next few hundred years, people across Spokenword learned to accept and integrate the visitors from across The Parallel. Some of these visitors even remained in Spokenword, settling families and mixing their alien culture with the more "normal" culture of the humanoids. In the current day, vestren known as "Portal Barons" take people to and from The Parallel, and the sight of a Parallel being in Spokenword is certainly rare, but nothing mind-blowing or novel. Races of The Parallel keep their civilizations and kingdoms within The Parallel, but those who wish to leave are welcome to. The two planes are sufficiently integrated with one another, and many vestren and drow alike walk the world of Spokenword, either as adventurers or exiles looking for a place to call home. While some nations and people don't accept the aberrant people, most just look on in curiosity at them, while treating them all the same, save for a dash of prejudice or interest.

#### Changing Eras in Ildregaard

In Ildregaard, the "era" is determined by the Great Lord's name. Names starting with the prefix "Re" are specifically reserved for the Great Lords, as it means "lord" in Lordstongue. Usually, the Great Lord names his firstborn son after himself, to continue the Era of the same name. However, if a great change in Ildregaard happens under the reign of a Great Lord, good or bad, their name is usually retired, and a new "Re" name is given to the next-in-line Great Lord. For most of the Times of Change, the Era of Ildregaard was the Relatruese Era of Diplomacy, after the Great Lords Relatruese I through Relatruese IX. This was the second-longest Ildregaardian Era ever, but it began to fall apart when an Ildregaardian Surveyor accidentally killed a woman in the PRI with a malfunction of his Magisteel suit, causing a stray spell of Chain Lightning to incinerate her. The PRI, who were noble, brave, and hated Ildregaard, took this as their opportunity to declare a just war against the country. Thus began the longest war Ildregaard have ever partaken in: The Steel Sea War, lasting from 55-Y/172 to 22-L/184 HR. After the initial fighting, with heavy losses from the PRI, and Ildregaard only losing a few small camps and an embassy, most of the war was a cold stalemate, with neither side willing to attack one another. The PRI feared of being wiped out, and Ildregaard feared of the Steel Union collapsing, which it certainly was on the brink of.

The Great Lord, Relatruese IX, was near the end of his reign, and being a great diplomat, like his forefathers, did not want to make matters worse, and wanted to wait out the conflict pacifistically. His firstborn son, Relatruese X, could not wait to be the Great Lord, however. He wanted command of the powerful country and he wanted war. Many who worked under Relatruese X said he had fire in eyes and only destruction. In a great scandal that would not be uncovered for years to come, Relatruese X poisoned his father, killing him on 17-R/183 HR, where he became the next Great Lord, declaring a new era and renaming himself to Rekane I. His first order as Great Lord was to complete annihilate the PRI in an all-out offensive. Advisors were outraged, the military was hesitant, and the people were upset, but in the Ildregaardian Codes of the Great Lord, what their government was based upon: the word of the Great Lord was final. What happened on 29-R/183 HR, the 183rd Day of Both Moons, was the Iron Massacre, an event that would be remembered for the rest of time.

By the end of the day, the PRI was on fire, Fortress One was a graveyard, over half of its population dead, and the Steel Union had entirely stopped their production, a large portion of its people fleeing to the Ash Tray, fearing their lives. Great Lord Rekane I ordered the execution of all who fled the Steel Union, but for the first time in Ildregaardian history, the order was denied. A coup was led by Great Commander Maxus Deltrade on 14-Y/184 HR, where Rekane I was killed in the throne room in the capital of Reayonsgaard. It is said that not even a single member of the royal guard defended him as he pleaded for his life. Not looking to instate a permanent military state, Deltrade, alongside with a unanimous vote of the advising council, appointed Relatruese IX's second eldest son to the throne. He was given the name Revcarsus I, which meant "Lord of Forgiving" in Lordstongue. Rekane I's rule became known as the Rekane Era of Shame, which only lasted 26 days.

Under Great Lord Revcarsus I, who was a young and kind leader, the next two periods of 184 HR were spent making treaties, repairing relationships, and paying incredible amounts of pensions to the Steel Union and what remained of the PRI. The Steel Sea War ended on 22-L/184 HR when the PRI had recieved twenty times their GDP in pension, alongside many Magisteel suits and weapons to strengthen their military. The Steel Union was given more freedoms, even lower taxes, and the ability to trade with Arigild as well, instead of just Ildregaard. This greatly Ildregaard's income of metals, but Revcarsus I thought it was all necessary in restoring the image of their country after the "Mad Lord" Rekane's atrocity. Finally, as a last sign of peace, Ildregaard supplied the countries of the Ash Tray with a large sum of gold and supplies, in order to jump-start their economies and establishment. These series of treaties and compensations were seen as a success, Ildregaard was "redeemed" in their own eyes and Mekanön flourished. Outside nations looking in on the issue hold a lesser opinion of this treaty, seeing it as Ildregaard covering their ass instead of actually seeking compromise and reformation. The Revcarsus Era of Retribution continues to this day, with Great Lord Revcarsus IV being the current Great Lord of Ildregaard in 321 HR.

Ever since the Iron Massacre, global trust for Ildregaard has decreased, and the powerhouse of a country has become more reclusive and secretive. For the next 140 years, they made little global affairs under the policies and reforms of Great Lord Revcarsus I, instead focusing on rekindling their connection and contracts with Mekanön and helping to develop the Ash Tray countries, alongside forming a better relationship with Irralon and its budding civilizations. Additionally, as a direct result of trying to decrease their global presence, Ildregaard withdrew most of its surveyors from Brocheran and significantly reduced the superiority tax on its countries. To a country as old as Ildregaard, 140 years is nothing in terms of the greater picture. Revcarsus IV's firstborn son, in fact, is named Great Prince Rexial I, not Revcarsus V, signalling that the beginning of a new era is upon Ildregaard as tensions build in Brocheran. Surely, something is brewing.

#### Mekanön's Golden Age

While the Great Revolution of Mekanön in 107 HR was the first and largest step in distinguishing Mekanön as a separate entity and culture from Ildregaard's control, the sovereign countries of Ildregaard didn't truly flourish until after the treaties and pensions from the Steel Sea War, starting the Golden Age of Mekanön in 184 HR, which has never "officially" ended, as Mekanön continues to flourish and enrich itself to this day in 321 HR.

Hlavormarle, the most well-off of the Ash Tray countries, didn't change much, except for expanding its civilization to the rest of its political borders, creating new cities that it could further boost its economy and starting refining the ores it mined from the Strait, instead of simply outsourcing them. Hlavormarle became a strong power in independent Mekanön, cementing itself as a leader in the newly-flourishing countries of the south. However, on the opposite of the spectrum, West Birdarth, which by now had cities that bordered Hlavormarle, was on the edge of collapse, its people poor and starving, at the throats of their leaders. With nothing left to go on, the West Birdarthian military invaded a small East Birdarthian town to pillage its supplies, which was a great excuse for West Birdarth, allied with Hlavormarle, to finally rid themselves of the western communists. On the same day they invaded the town of Mirduke, 49-L/201 HR, the West Birdarthian regime surrendered, but not before the violent protesters in the capitol city had stormed the palace of the regime, killing its leaders. The country was effectively dissolved, and refugees found sanction in East Birdarth, which officially changed its name to just "Birdarth" on 20-F/201 HR, a day now known as the "Day of Salvation."

Speaking on Birdarth, ever since they had allied with Hlavormarle and taken down the regime of West Birdarth, they found economical success in a different business that allowed them to stop relying on Arigild's loans-- tourism. However, this is not a recreational tourism: it is tourism for composers. Birdarthian explorers in the early 200s discovered that beneath most of the swamps lied ruins of ancient people, perhaps the tribal people that formed Ildregaard in Prehistory. These ruins are plentiful in the depths of the swamps and utterly unexplored. It would be safe to assume that they are plentiful in notes, which of course, attracts composers. They pay a fee to explore the swamps and are welcome to any notes or treasures they find admits the ruins-- though few return. The swamps of Birdarth are considered one of the "holy grails" of composition and business has allowed the country to meet moderate economic success.

On the other side of the swamp, in the southeast of Mekanön, the small nation of Dar Gerrow managed to survive in a strange way. Nearly all the residents of the Ash Tray were sure that the colony of Dar Gerrow, which declared itself independent, would be completely destroyed by the feral goblinoid forces of the swamp tribes. However, nobody could have predicted what would happen throughout the years: the small settlement of Dar Gerrow... made peace with the goblinoids tribes and managed to live alongside them for over 80 years. They would trade with each other, help each other hunt, and even trade pieces of culture, but they would not live together in the same tribes or towns, leaving Dar Gerrow (the colony) the only official settlement within the country of Dar Gerrow. That was, however, until 09-Y/213 HR, when a young hobgoblin cleric, named Greg the Forsaken, stumbled his way into the colony of Dar Gerrow. He was exiled from the swamp tribes for praying to Klarthzalv and indulging in dwarvish culture, granting him his "forsaken" title. However, Greg was also blessed with a great sense of diplomacy, and due to his studies, knew how to speak Common. Over the next couple years, the people of Dar Gerrow worked with Greg as a diplomat, where he would talk with the swamp tribes, eventually uniting and integrating the people, where in 47-M/216 HR, the swamp tribes of the Ash Tray became official citizens of Dar Gerrow, and the colony city of Dar Gerrow was renamed "Gerrowdale," to help mitigate confusion now that the country now had more than one city. This advent made Dar Gerrow the first country in all of Spokenword to house a majority population of goblinoids, making it the highest civilized concentration of goblinoids in the world. During the golden age, many cities were made as the goblinoids became more advanced, moving on from tribal society as they learned from the human colonists. Nowadays, while Dar Gerrow certainly isn't the most advanced country, it's one of the most humble, accepting, and communal places in Spokenword, where Greg's memory is now heralded with the title "Greg the Uniting."

In northern Mekanön, not much had changed. The Steel Union continued to assist and trade with Ildregaard, but now had a stronger government of its own, beginning to branch out with other cities and trades, but was still mainly the associate and workhorse of Ildregaard, which not many had issue with-- all of the detractors had fled to the Ash Tray, and those who remained in the Union where those who either had no great sense of independence or those who had families to feed. To this day, the PRI holds a great resentment for Ildregaard, despite Revcarsus IV's attempts at diplomacy, with the people's militia of the PRI larger than ever, who will never forget Rekane's massacre. However, they would still be obliterated by the Great Lord's Army if they were ever to attack, and it is unlikely the Steel Union would support them.

#### Irralon's Uprising & Integration

Years after being first discovered and colonized by Ildregaard during the Relatruese Era of Diplomacy, the islands of Irralon started to become more civilized and autonomous, though societies with government and modernity existed only on the mainland of Jennutresk, which was an island almost entirely dominated by the draconic races, Lizardfolk, Dragonborn, and Kobolds. While the Lizardfolk were the most plentiful race, the Dragonborn were seen as blessed people, descendants of the ancient dragons who had left the lands long ago. Due to this, the Dragonborn are the kings and rulers of Dara Thaczil, the draconic region of Irralon, with Emperor Lornaar Kesteth being the acting ruler of Ith Tao in 321 HR, the largest city and strongest power of Jennutresk. While the individual regions of Jennutresk were not countries persay, the cities within them did respect the laws of the larger powers in the region they resided in, making it a land of semi-sovereign city-states. Other notable cities included Au Verthitcha, a spiritualistic and monastic city in the mountains, and Duulsin, a city that was ruled by Lizardfolk exclusively.

These cities were by no means as complex as the civilizations found in Brocheran, Anckerdemn, Mekanön, and certainly not Ildregaard, but they had a large focus on communal politics and spiritual ways, leading to a peaceful people who preferred religion and medicine to war and slavery. However, these ideals were put aside when the draconic people clashed with the yuan-ti, the only race of ancient primordial descendants on Jennutresk. After the island had evolved from simple tribes, its people started to care a lot more about territory and space, leading to conflict. While the draconic people were peaceful with eachother, they always held a resentment for the yuan-ti, who were an aggressive and irritable people dwelling within the northeastern jungles. Eventually, after a small kobold tribe was slaughtered for its territory by the yuan-ti, the current emperor of Ith Tao, Jarcrath Ilkiak, declared war on the yuan-ti, which lasted from 27-M/223 HR to 02-R/223 HR, resulting in the almost complete genocide of the yuan-ti, an event that came to be known as the Vyk Genocide (Draconic word for "snake"). The war was far more than a militaristic one, as the Ith Tao army razed cities and slaughtered innocents, committing war crimes that were despicable, but not of question to anyone in Jennutresk, since it was against the yuan-ti. Eventually, the serpent race was reduced to a fraction of its size, only existing within the walls of its greatest city, Tek-Yitluis, deep within the jungle, where the draconic people did not care to invade.

Over the next part of the century, with a much more advanced sense of society and civilization, the draconic people saw the error in their unjust genocide of the yuan-ti, but the damage was already done, the primordial descendants already hated the draconic people and swore revenge one day. The later kings of Ith Tao would apologize for this injustice and eventually declared the entire jungle of Whesjkall as part of the new region of Vyk Thaczil, a sanctioned place that protected the yuan-ti. However, to this day, the yuan-ti have no interaction with the rest of Jennutresk, and only trade by sea routes with the Commonwealth of Voljord. The yuan-ti population remains very small, but very passionate in their hatred and culture.

Within a region of Jennutresk known as Vekik Thaczil, there remains the few colonies that were established by Ildregaard in the Times of Change, most notably the colony of Jorsden, which is the lead exporter of Irralonian goods and emigrants. Other than Jorsden, there is also Fort Farlang, which serves as the Ildregaardian embassy and defense force for the colonies of Vekik Thaczil, though it has never had to be mobilized and did not intervene with the Vyk Genocide. The northern islands of Irralon, every single one north of Jennutresk, are still inhabited by tribal and feral races, such as gnolls, aarakocra, and grungs, to this day. They are largely unexplored and are said to be one of the places where ancient dragons still reside, after they were nearly eradicated by the ancient monsters of Prehistory. Not even the bravest composers tread these lands, instead they stick to the less-populated rural areas of Jennutresk.

#### Anckerdemn in the Newtimes

In Anckerdemn, which to this day is looked over by the High Chancellor, Pontiff Archael Icebow, 190 years old, of which he has been pope for 131 years since 01-Y/180 HR. In recent years, Wintervale has been peaceful, reforging its trust with the Commonwealth of Voljord, once again trading with them, though still refusing to support South Voljord after its agressive war in the Times of Change. A few skirmishes have occurred in the time since passed, but none enough to march entire armies to their deaths. Arigild, unfettered by outside politics and seen as one of the world's most stable powers, continues to commands the world's supply of goods and gold from their capital of Aurelle, the golden city. Arigild has completely embraced its aristocracy, being commanded by the four merchant families: Charrier Exports, The Dragon's Gold Family, Laffitte Supply, and Aurelle Pleasures. The royal bloodlines of Arigild has since been abandoned, all power stripped away from them, as the merchant lords took their hold in their old castles.

The Commonwealth of Voljord is currently under the leadership of President Kyrylo Yevtushenko, nicknamed "Kyryev" for brevity, and is surprisingly flourishing after decades of a shaky economy and multiple waves of famine. President Yevtushenko's policies brought new trade routes with Wintervale and financed huge fleets of sea trade, farther than any other route before, to trade with the Ash Tray, circumventing Arigild's embargoes, which does anger the merchant lords, but fills the stomachs of the Commonwealth's people. Yevtushenko is praised as a hero for saving the country from absolute poverty, but is often criticized for corruption, for some say his success has come with dark secrets. Meanwhile, in South Voljord, currently under the rule of King Fedor Turgenev III, reports of mercenaries and private militias have been increasing, as the small country of nobles seems to be arming itself, possibly for a recapturing of Sagrifald and the rest of the Commonwealth. Voljordians on both sides stay vigilant, ready to spring into action.

Wintervale, being the holy place it is, has taken the suggestion of the pontiff and has excluded itself from most other Anckerdemnish politics, and especially wants nothing to do with the conflicts of the Voljordian countries, as it had its own internal issues to deal with. The greatest of these threats were the Winter Horde, who had been steadily growing for centuries, mounting an army that not even Voljord's militia could handle at its height. In 241 HR, Uhzog Boulderstomper, the strongest and most favored warchief the Winter Horde had ever seen, planned to launch an attack on the Wintervalen city-state of Noa Nim'Von, an elven sanctuary with the highest concentration of elves in all of Anckerdemn. They would have stood no chance to the seemingly endless orcs of the Winter Horde, was it not for the intervening force of the Knights of Oln, a group of righteous paladins and devouts formed from the defectors of South Voljord's military, after it starting enlisting private militias.

The Knights of Oln, in an attack led by the young and upcoming knight, Galus of Cornerstone, took the fight to Uhzog's main camp of Darggak, on the day before he planned to attack Noa Nim'Von, 39-I/241 HR. The disorganized Winter Horde was out of its element when it was the one on the receiving end of an attack. Though vastly outnumbered, the Knights of Oln, with the favor of the Old Gods and enchanted armors, fought their way to Uhzog's tent, where Galus then struck him down after a hard-fought battle, forcing the Winter Horde to retreat south to the mountains of Gruugak where they call home. Ever since the fall of Uhzog, no other warchief of the Winter Horde could achieve his legacy, so the tribe keeps to the southern mountains of Wintervale, pillaging travelers and small towns, keeping away from the greater prizes they once set their eyes upon.

Meanwhile, over the years, the Knights of Oln expanded, their presence expanding throughout the snowy plains of Wintervale and even into Arigild, though they kept away from the Voljordian countries. Led today by Head Paladin Victor of Pouldrin, the Knights continue to defend the common people of Anckerdemn from bandits, monsters, and the Winter Horde. However, they are also religious zealots, often cited as the most radical followers of the Old Faith. The Knights refuse to help anyone who is not devout of the Old Faith and they are vehemently opposed to sigils and anthrohumans, as the magic is seen as heretical to Lillith's designs. Their protection is welcome, but often issues arise from their fanatical devotion to Oln.

In general, Anckerdemn has flourished in the Newtimes, with many advancements in magic, including the finalization of 4th-Generation anthrohumans under the work of Chancellor Purple, fueled by spell runes that are incredibly alike real people. This is alongside the new art of sigilbearing, not entirely dissimilar to composing, but using sigils inscribed upon one's self instead of notes. However, sigilbearing much more volatile and dangerous, and like anthrohumans, only works in Anckerdemn. With these advancements and the protection of the Knights of Oln, Wintervale continued to be a large and peaceful place, with many more city-states and independent civilizations arising within the country. As long as settlers of Wintervale followed the Old Faith and kept to the country's few, but lawful rules, nearly anyone with any type of government could settle in the country, for the national government was intentionally weak to allow this. Wintervale became a diverse land, even housing the first vestren city outside of Elegy, Primekeep.

#### War, Uprising, and Unrest in Brocheran

Currently, in the Third Great War of Ridian, which started in 313 HR, Separill has been less aggressive than before, which could either be due to the passiveness of the current king, Marlend White, or because they are planning something big. Ridian, who declared this war after Separillian attacks and activism resumed in protest of the Heart Valley Republic, is confident this will be the last war with Separill, for they will wipe them out once and for all. In all the previous wars on Separill, despite Ridian being allies with Ildregaard, the foreign superpower has never supported them with the war, keeping resources and troops to themselves. However, recently Separillian spies have reported a few Ildregaardian eliminators within Fort Victory, raising concerns that Ildregaard would get involved. However, this is strange due to the peaceful and diplomatic policies and philosophies of Great Lord Revcarsus III. Ashmark fully supports Ridian in the war, supplying them with weapons and rations. Trelstin is often caught in the middle of the wars between Ridian and Separill, and its grounds have been used for battle before. It tries to keep neutral between the two nations, not allowing any troops through its lands, making the war a mostly offensive naval one from Ridian's perspective. Truth be told, Trelstin silently supports Separill, for as radical as they can be, they appreciate them keeping Reunice, Ridian, and the upcoming Heart Valley Republic in check. Fighting continues to this day in small skirmishes as tension builds towards one last full-scale battle in Hollow.

Freevale and Gudjag are also never truly in large-scale wars, as Freevale is protected under Reunice's alliance as a free country for trade and religion, which one day Reunice hopes to use as leverage to integrate Freevale into a new empire. Gudjag, on the other hand, is too busy fighting itself as orc tribes are assimilated, broken apart, and reformed again and again within the mountains. Sometimes, large groups from Krusid attack Freevale or the North Sands of Ulur, but they are always quickly driven back and punished, especially by elves of Trelstin eager to spill orc blood. While the warchief of the Gudjag is constantly changing, the orcs of the small country have not seen a "true leader" in centuries.

Within Ulur, a new threat had emerged from a small movement, over the decades, it had now formed into a large group of radicals. They were known as the Kafir (Alsahra for "faithless") and were a group that rejected the Ascedants of Ulur, citing them as false gods under the guise of an unrecognized lord that was deceiving of all the sands, the Son of Nothing. Obviously, the nobles and rulers of Ulur saw this as blasphemy and treason of the highest degree, and have declared the Kafir as enemies of the four kingdoms. Despite being hunted down since the 270s, the Kafir's numbers have only strengthened, to the point where they even are in control of some small cities, and even a major one in the form of Azerzaar in the Far Sands, where most Kafir hail from. Despite this, Al Badat is vehemently against the Kafir. On more than one occasion, a deal between the Kingdom of the High Sands and Ridian has brought some of their insurgents to the desert as they are highly trained against organized threats, but none are more efficient at combating the Kafir than the ferocious Dunestriders, the best of Ulur's forces. Fighting continues to this day and the Kafir are recognized as a terrorist group in Ulur.

Meanwhile, in Heart Valley, something special was happening. Something that had not been seen for centuries within the warring wilds. There were rumors coming from the valley that tribes were falling and cities were collapsing. Though, they were not burnt to the ground, instead, they were being assimilated into an army. An army... led by a woman. Unlike the Ironfalls of the PRI, this woman was no charade of masculinity or bastion of patriotism. She was a conqueror, with a greater goal in mind. A goal that these tribes agreed with enough to raise the flag they were given. This woman was named Izibel Rhett, a former Separillian citizen who defended her hometown from a Ridian invasion, taking on and killing six insurgents before she fell. Some say Izibel died on that day, 33-P/311 HR, and was resurrected, by the favor of Kelnen, who she was the chosen of. Others doubt this tale, but there is no doubt to what Izibel did after. Fleeing Separill after her village was razed, she found herself in Heart Valley, after Freevale denied Separillian refugees. She was indoctrinated into a tribe, whose name was forgotten, and quickly became its leader after killing its former chief in trial by combat. Slowly, she took the other tribes by force, incorporating them into her army, under the flag of the "Heart Valley Republic."

The Republic grew, soon controlling the entire area of Heart Valley, but ensuring not to venture too far into Ulurish or Reunician territory. What few Reunician troops that patrolled the valley were killed on sight, or fled back north. This was no strange thing to Reunice, previous tribes in the valley had risen in power before, and had even taken a few troops. Reunice, of course, responded with high border presence, but did not wish to start a war. They were warning the Republic, but Izibel's army did not back down. By the year 316 HR, all of the valley was under the banner of the Republic, a feat no tribe had achieved before. Izibel had even slain the warchiefs of Gudjag's orcish tribes, the savage race now under the faithful command of a woman, something that would not have been possible without an extreme display of masculinity and strength. Reunice issued a final warning, preparing for war to defend itself, but Izibel was quicker. On 25-F/316 HR, Izibel declared herself as the elected president of the Heart Valley Republic, stating it as a sovereign power, and as her first act of war, declared war on Reunice, denouncing it them as "tyrants hiding behind a veil of diplomacy" and sent her troops into the Galder Fields to attack. The First Battle of Galder Keep was a terrible defeat for the new republic, but Izibel had only sent a small fraction of her troops. She was testing the waters. Fighting continues to this day in 321 HR, with Izibel's Republic as ready and willing as always, and Reunice standing firmly in a defensive position, the two countries on the brink of total war. Izibel continues to denounce Reunice, saying it is a weak country that has no culture except for that which it has forced on its people, and that once the Republic has taken it, the land will be rationed between the neglected tribes of Heart Valley, then the Republic shall be no more.

#### The Present Day

The day (as of campaign start) is Friday of the Black Moon, the 46th Day of Promise, 321 HR. Tensions in Ulur between the kingdom's army and the Kafir is reaching its highest levels in decades. The Heart Valley Republic could launch their attack on Galder Keep at any moment. A new black dragon, likely the child of Bekilip, has been sighted in Separill's Black Mountains, wearing specially-forged armor. Ildregaardian surveyors are showing up in greater numbers in more parts of the Spokenword. The Voljordian countries grow weary with rumours of war, and worse of all: King Jacob Skyne IV of Reunice and his family have been assassinated on 11-P/321 HR, all slain in a untraced magical explosion. Jacob IV had no siblings, few cousins, his parents were long dead, and his children died with him. In order to stop the country from falling into civil war in the midst of the Heart Valley Republic's threat, Royal Commander Christian Liff, head of the army, threw a small-scale coup in Uniton, seizing control of Reunice while he assured the people that a proper heir to Jacob IV would soon be found... and whoever was responsible would be... "annihilated."

Spokenword is on the brink of complete war, as some say the Warsong is slowly petering out, either doomed to end in utter silence or complete destruction, and as long as the primal rhythm of it continues, men will fight, countries will war, and blood will spill. Such is the nature of the Warsong.