Rayclast Styxx - A Revision On History

**Chapter One: The Foundation Age**

'We set sail to the west for the Sacred Isles to seek hives of the dark elf filth - only to be turned back by winged beasts that rained fire from the sky.' The first proof of existence from mortal eyes of lands we now know as our home. Words uttered by no other than Halastar Blackcloak. Such proof intensified when adventurers never returned and strange lights shone all the way from here to Baldur's Gate itself. Sing song of beasts rung throughout the Sword Coast. A venture that was meant to be explored. It was then Balduran had gone out to explore and in his wake The Flaming Fist followed. On their arrival they had established a colony where now the Cursed Isle lays. But colonisation on such an isle had ghastly repercussions for dragons loomed over the skies and sought to destroy those that had established a new home there. Driven to the caves below the settlers had to fight for their lives for many years to come. They pleaded for assistance from the mainland and assistance did they get. Adventurers, heroes and dragon-slayers banded together and what was once a small colony now became a thriving camp with many outposts throughout the isle. But with colonisation and war at hand against such great beasts, the land was victim and nature soon fought back. The isle began to fracture more and more. Priests bound to an oath of life forbade hunting parties to move out. Civil unrest was abound. Through this era the high priest sought to an end. With a catastrophe of an explosion a volcano was shaken. Its vast metal riches poured over settlements and turned all to bronze. Entities sought for a solution and found it in false words of a witch. In the brink of this war he cursed the isle they stood upon. The priests on the opposing side were forced into a new life as Outsider beings. Those amongst the witch turned into eternal undeath. This witch we now know as the Master of the Void. An entity that bares one of the sacred shards of the artifact of creation. He wished to feed of energies of the dying to strengthen himself. Commence the first age of the Sacred Kingdoms.

**Chapter Two: The First Age**

With the ruin and loss came news to the mainland. With a spell so strong, known as the Dragonsleep, the second largest isle soon found itself colonised to become the bastion to fight the Cursed. But as man is they sought to explore more. With the Dragonsleep in effect the loremasters of Yore had investigated these mighty creatures in their sleep. Yet these dragons awoke and did so in fury. A colony that once stood firm, once more took to caverns. During this time the largest isle which was colonized had flourished and sought to band together to assist the second isle in their fight against the dragons. Xusoth the largest of dragons was first to fall but the casualties were severe. A few months thereafter the last of the two dragons were defeated, yet they perished in light and various coloured energies as if it were but an illusion.

**Chapter Three: The Second Age**

With little more than death lurking on the second isle the settlers had left it. We now know this isle as the Forgotten Isle. These settlers ventured towards the northern hills of the largest isles and established the settlement of Eladramere. With tales spun of heroic deeds and the felling of ancient dragons, the settlement soon found itself flourishing into a city. The Cursed had remained on their isle, the forgotten isle has been left as is and the last of the isles had nothing to contest this aspiring city. Traders came in influx, especially a few of them from Kara-Tur. Amongst them settlers from that very same region who were allowed to establish the trading outpost we now know as Almariah. Archaeologists had then discovered shards that we began to know as Relics. Three of a kind that were unbared. With intensive research these relics have been identified as shards of a creation stone. That which is used to create life in and of itself. It was then a struggle for power had unleashed within the city of Eladramere. A dame named Maryssa took a squadron of like-minded and stole these relics. She fled to the south where she established the city of Helzbelt. The war between Helzbelt and Eladramere was fierce. Eladramere had strength so vast through sheer mass and heroes of old. Helzbelt had to opt to use the Hellmouth to summon hordes from the very Hells itself. In this war Almariah began to flourish as a city as the two other factions had battled for the relics. During this time Almariah decided to trade for allegiance with Eladramere and secured its hold on its own relic. The first sin of this island was made then. A point I will revisit later. The King of Eladramere known as Michael Gend, a guardian of the relics, had decided to use their power to defeat his foes. Gend pacted with the Triad deities with use of these artifacts to summon an army of celestials to conquer Helzbelt. Yet these relics were used again by the Helzian King Talavar. The aftermath being the Hellmouth, the angelic army and the Paladin King Gend being sealed away. With such cataclysm life begins to cease. With sin of using an artefact to break balance, the islands in an entirety have gone below sea. But balance was then restored for life took form again. The islands ascended aknew. Those lost were called back to shore. This is the tale of old. A tale we still sing and know. But much has changed over the years.

**Chapter Four: The Third Age**

Helzbelt took to balance with guidance of the Gardener King Talavar. Eladramere underwent many changes in rulership, seeking new paths and alternatives. Almariah began to flourish in its own morals, fighting back oppressive leaders and destroying corruption under the guidance of heroes. Now lead by Hiroto Takahashi. But let me tell you of each faction, for each bares their charms. For true balance comes in all things - and in this case it belongs in threes. Eladramere was a faction I got to know first-hand. When I first came upon this isle it was my choice, for it was the first to bare the relics. It's people needed guidance, but their hearts were made of gold. Good, heroism and aspiration to follow a divine codex is what makes this city flourish every time it is forced onto a knee. Even now when dark looms and terrorizes the palace, its people see to fight the oppression of dark. Helzbelt, which I often venture and have the pleasure to speak with its people, bares no one more loyal to their faction than its very people. Once you are a Helzian you do not go away. One for all, all for one. Even if it's past and current present have tight knits to the hells themselves, its people use the power garnered to fight for a cause so right that it is ironically pure. For true power comes through knowing how to use it... ... and Helzbelt does. Almariah is a faction of opportunity. Swaying their allegiance from one to the other over the eras they are known to get the best of both worlds. Their trade flourishes unlike any other for their ties with the mainland are still prominent. This city of trade and prosperity is a foundation that Helzbelt and Eladramere can rest on when needed... for a price. Be it honour, submittance, goods, a simple thank you or all of the above.

But now let me tell you the tale that we now dance within and its genesis on how everything came to how it is now. Life was quiet when I first stepped foot into the Sacred Lands. The factions were doing their dances within the warzone, pendling relics from one to the other over pools of blood. Most I asked knew not even its isles history. It was as if this island had once more undergone a fresh start. There was one however, who remembered. Talavar. 'Seek the libraries, they have answers'. Such a simple, obvious task but so rewarding in its own right. Seeked I did, and found I have. The word of history shared through the folk and the folk began to hunt for a time that had once passed. Some even hunted their purpose now, looking to each other if they chose the right side. For it was in many souls that knew not what they fought for, but with knowledge gained, they found revelation. There was still things left to query. What are these artefacts of creation? Who do they belonged to? So upon a gentle night a soul had sought for answers. Staring into a mirror, the mirror stared back at her. But the reflection was not her own. Images of a Grove had bared itself before her eyes and within this Grove the most beautiful women of them all. It was The Lady, as we know her now. The Lady of the Isle. She who bares life to this Isle with her claim upon a shard of the artefact of creation. But with her unveiling the deep abyss has been breached... ... and from this breach emerged The Beast of Entropy, for she and him had shared a prison. The Beast of Entropy we once knew as The Desecrator for he came to Eladramere and... desecrated. It was on that fateful day where he made a promise that one was to be taken - but who we knew not. Upon second meeting he made a promise come true and took the Archmage of Eladramere, Agaros, into the abyss. Avast he was defeated by combined prayers and the current Eladramerian King, Darian's, staff. Weakened by this holy relic, made with the Lady's power and conjured by Nana'ei, the Beast of Entropy had to flee. What seemed like a victory was naught more than the eye of the storm, for the Beast of Entropy had laid in wait to bundle an army. That which lays within the Isle of the Cursed. During this wait followers of the Black Sun had used Eladramere's instability to infiltrate it. All attempts to fight back had lead with only a delay of what seemed to be the inevitable. Entities had little time to muse the history of the past and the positions of the Guardians was a subject and a title often past around. These Guardians, four of which exist at current, represent a faction each. There is that of Helzbelt, Eladramere, Almariah and lastly that of the Grove. Their purpose is to ensure that each faction will band together into a holy army to fight back anything that may threaten the existence of this isle. The title of Guardian was established by a trio predating the factions themselves. It was said that these Guardians are chosen and then guided to their duty. But in the now, with a few positions vacant or the chosen guardians unknowing of the past, such duties could not be fulfilled. The factions kept to themselves to deal with their own issues till the storm was just on the horizon. You may have heard of the recent battle that occurred. One that quaked the very earth we stand upon. But the first time in all these eras a single mistake was not made. Relics were not used to threaten an opposing faction. No... this time the holy trinity banded together as one. A decision by the people. A decision of the heroes each faction does claim. And through this holy trinity a battle unlike any other was fought. An overwhelming force of sentient undead, perished by the valiant defenders of Eladramere and Almariah - overrun lastly by the forces of Helzbelt that had taken their flanks, the Beast of Entropy stood lastly alone. Now we stand with riddles at hand and time to ponder on history not yet unveiled. What is known that the Master of the Void, The Lady of the Grove and the Beast of Entropy all bare their own relics. The Beast of Entropy unveiled that it is the child of two Cosmic Beings. The child between the Master of the Void and The Lady of the Isles. As such he claims that the artefact of creation is his birth-right. This Beast of Entropy furthermore is immortal. No blade or weapon can defeat it but weakened it gets through piety and creation itself. In the Abyss it was once cast and kept there like a festering cist. However... temporary solution such will still remain, yet exists. At long last a new faction now emerged. That of the Grove which bares both the Druids and their Wardens. These individuals have departed from the eternal war over the Relics and focus on maintaining the Isles we now live upon.

Information of Ancient History derived from the Six Volumes of History.

Recent history stems from the eyes, experiences and chants heard by Styxx.

Signed by,

Styxx