Ragtag Bunch

## Background:

Welcome to the world of Ghoorra, and the
continent of Ebreisium. But more specifically the Lands of Avencia. The year is
the seventy-seventh of the Theodoron Dynasty (TD), the country of Avencia and
the Theodoron Empire is split by a civil war led by Prince Uriel and a group of
dukes and barons. It has been waging for last 8 years with the prince staged in
northern Avencia at the old capital of Oxenburt, his father Emperor Kiggard
Theodoros who resides in Perinoss southern Avencia. However, before Kiggard and
his father Herguard Theodoros the Deposer, the Caligulan dynasty had
ruled all the lands from Avencia, across what was the southern plains which is
now the Halfling Provinces and western coasts of Norden Nar.

The first of his name Devalos Caligula was a
great warrior, hailed from the lands of Avencia and set about conquering the
land in the name of his family and the god Tempus, first taking the entire
Country of Avencia, moving across the Halfling provinces and securing the
allegiances of the roaming hordes of the Orcish Plains, securing the western
seas and Norden Nar as well as fighting against the defenders of the North, the
Goliaths and their winter holdings, however after several battles and a
disastrous defeat and the loss of his first born son, he sued for peace.

His second son Mervin Caligula soon succeeded
the throne and went about expanding the empire and provoking the anger of the
southern kings. After a twenty-year war and ending in a stalemate after
territorial border was pushed back and forth for the last four years with no
decisive engagements an agreement was made, however this made the final son of
the Caligulan Dynasty enraged.

Yassar Caligula was infatuated with his
grandfather's legacy and was determined to conquer the southern lands. He was a
cruel man, only fire in his heart, no compassion for the people and was
determined to be immortalised like his grandfather. He set about gaining as
much power from the vassalised states which belonged to the empire, increased
taxes to fuel his war machinations and set about attacking the northern goliath
holdings as well as pushing into the southern desert lands.

However, Yassar had start to turn those
closest to him away, his paranoia becoming more prevalent, he started
dismantling councils, evoking outright rule and even going as far as declaring
a war against the god Deneir. He started destroying all the temples and shrines,
slaughtering the priests and burning all the scriptures.

This was the last straw for first general
Herguard Theodoros, after securing a devoted following of powerful high-ranking
individuals from around the empire, he organised the assassination of the
Emperor and dealt the killing blow himself and took the throne. From this point
he decreed the start of a new calendar and immediately suing for peace with the
Goliath's of the north as well as placing an agreement to support the Goliath
kingdom if their northern wall were to weaken.

War continued in the south, but the empire
was weak. Theodoros split the empire into three, Norden Nar was ruled by the
Winter Kings, the halfling provinces were given autonomy and were abiding by
plutocratic council called The Golden Harvest and the lands of Avencia became
the Empire of Theodoros. Being able to consolidate his power Herguard started
to look towards the never ending eastern sea and dispatched adventuring ships.

Tales of another world and even new races
lurked on the horizon. However, the dwarven hold of Krag Magduggon had
disappeared into itself, rumours of plague and other unworldly aberrations
became well known tales as the dwarves started to leave the mountains and head
to the expanding towns and cities of the land.

The discovery of the new eastern world came
to Herguard on his deathbed, not even a few weeks later, he died of an illness
leaving his young son on the throne. Kiggard Theodoros, nine years old at the
start of his reign and relied on the unwavering support of his barons, his
knightly order and his mother Diana.

Kiggard ruled fairly, securing the borders
against the southern kingdoms, joining the goliaths in holding the north and
dealing with the roving bands of Orcs and nomads that inhabit the Orcish plains
who raid the surrounding provinces. Marrying a fair princess from Norden Nar
who bore the first of his sons, Uriel.

Sadly, she was to pass when Uriel was young
from a fever. A few years later and the emperor married the duke of Riverford's
daughter, a strong, independent woman who bore him a second son Ivan, and
persuaded the emperor to defer Uriel's claim to the throne to Ivan leaving
Uriel upset and outcast. Uriel was exiled from the kingdom at sixteen and sent
to the Goliath holdings to fight the northern tribes.

Years later Uriel returned, demanding his
right to the throne as the emperor grew weak with an rumoured illness, raising
an army and declaring war. The north rose in revolt.

## Avencia:

Placed on the northern-eastern part of Ebresium, a medley of races inhabit a land streaked with mountain ranges, thick forests and meandering rivers.

### Map:

Read more using our World Anvil interactive map here

## Non Playable Characters:

As the list of "noteable" non-player characters has increased over time, please click here to see the full list.