Merge

Merge is the main continent of Kelrune. Its center cities host a plethora of immigrated races, cultures, and ideologies that rest in massive lake shoreline cliff sides. The country holds the more obvious scars of war, with continuously rebuilding villages and broken tree lines. Magic and technology constantly conflicts. The Weaves power upon this world grows thinner with less souls to inhabit. Steam rises from the factories pipes like a prayer to the sky. A land this unbalanced holds the universes potential for suffering, warring, madness -- and *hope*.

## History

Many years ago, the world of Kelrune was as normal as any other fantasy world could be. Races did not live in harmony, but they lived in balance, as did their G-ds that roamed the celestial skies above or the depths of Hells below. This all changed when a meteor fell from the sky, *smashing* into the mainlands main lake with an astounding crash. Aside from widening the lake significantly, the meteor made the waters churn and buckle to create steam. Steam with odd, magical properties. Purification of this steam could create healing potions in half the time of an enchantment. The pressure that could be created from it boosted the range of gunfire weaponry. It could burn the skin of near any creature if they got too close. As such, this steam became very valuable very quickly for its variable usage.

The Dwarves and Elves were the most prominent races near the lake, so they fought brutally over its power for many years. It was only when the Dwarven G-d of mechanics and innovation created superior weapon technology based off of the steam that the tide of war changed. This G-d struck down the Elven Goddess of Innovation in a brutal battle that marred history forever. The Elves, shocked and grieving over the loss of one of their deities, were in no solid position to battle. Without their Goddesses inspiration, the Elves responsible for tactical mechanics began to fail and fall. Realizing that they would soon be fighting a losing battle, the Elves brought allies into the war. Realizing their advantage in combat, the Dwarves did the same.

Mainland Dragonborn became split due to this conflict. Arcane practitioners moved to the Elves, technological innovators moved to the Dwarves. Humans became a respected species for the first time in history, as their mercenary and supply work quickly became crucial to both sides of the war. Rock gnomes flocked Dwarven laboratories, while the Hill and other Gnomes retreated into the forests to protect their lands. Halfling villages became collateral damage in the conflict, and the race fell into an ever wandering search for quiet lands once more. Orc raids grew increasingly common to take advantage of the chaos, the hunts against them grew more popular, and their population began falling in the wake of the world pushing even more against their culture.

From the distant southern lands of Eshillva came variant humans assisting the Elven nations. Eshillva used to be a land plentiful with magic, several Elvish rulers, and Fae worship; it was near guaranteed they would join the Elves. Their involvement changed the course of the war against the Dwarves. Enraged with their losses, a radical solution was proposed by a seasoned Dwarven steam inventor. The first steam bomb was created. With the help of archmages the bombs capacity was enchanted greatly. The bomb dropped on Eshillva's borders a near five years after its first blueprint. The detestation was immense. It cleaved a chunk of land off the border, splitting Eshillva from the main land completely in a blaze that killed a large amount of creatures. Worst of all, the bombs unstable energies warped the exploded lands. To what extent is not known. It is rumored The Serseer Wastes, the new label for this broken lands, is an ever shifting dead zone of horror and torment than none should pass through. Eshillva's population either still somehow reside within the wasteland or are a war torn immigrant people without a homeland.

The detestation did convince the Dwarves to *never* use a bomb of that power again in the war. But the damage was felt. Without Eshillva's forces and the now crazed fear people had of Dwarven power, the Elves and their allies lost ground bit by bit until they were pushed from the mainland into the eastern forests or the East island of Actuao. Actuao is large set of islands that has long been known to be a fertile land rich with life. However, the immigration has packed it full of people who need resources to live. Resources from the lands can not sustainable with the demands. Import or export for Actuao is forbidden on the mainland in all Dwarven controlled settlements.

With the war considered well won, the Dwarves and their allies made haste to set up the massive "Steam Pipe System (SPS)" that sent Steam power to all nearby lake cities or power stations. While that was done, general technology grew at an increased rate as people were finally able to focus on non-war production. The Steampunk era began in the mainland of Merge, which gained its title through the mainlands now increased merging of cultures. Merge remains a cultural hub of many races and ethnicitys, yet it is held tight against the iron grip of its Dwarven rulers.

One culture in particular that did not merge with the Dwarves were the arcane and some technological Dragonborns left over from the conflict. Tired of war and hate towards their ideals, many of these Dragonborn moved to an island in the West. Little did they know, there were already dragons living there. More specifically, an ancient red dragon named Xuithcoatl. He welcomed the Dragonborn as his meek subjects, teaching them how to survive the terrain while protecting them from all harm that would come to them. Xuithcoatl, who named the island after himself, became the home of Dragonborn.

Not all is peaceful though. War still continues, though not through the avenues one would expect. Dwarves have grown set in the ways of power. The Gods still real from their creations newfound breathe of innovations. Many races are war torn, as are the land where blood was shed and souls extinguished. Balance in the world has been ripped from its roots. The real question is of the future, of who shall lets this broken world grow one more or plunged it into further horror.

*Who will be the next soul to write histories pages?*