Until five centuries ago, the continent of Ventar was a land of relative peace and prosperity. Containing countless cities and towns, along with numerous mineral-rich mountain ranges, it had taken centuries for peace to take hold, but take hold it had. At least until the miasma appeared.<br/><br/>The miasma first appeared near the foothills of Mount Inferno. A thick fog that was by turns gray, purple, pink, or crimson, it began to spread. At first few thought anything of the miasma, simply sending magi to study it. But then creatures began to mutate into monsters within the miasma, and those who went to study it either went mad or were corrupted by it.<br/><br/>Spreading quickly, the miasma infected almost every living creature it touched. It soon became obvious that only those with strong faith in a deity of light could even hope to resist the miasma’s corruption. Clergy and those of power could ward it off with the granted powers of their deity, but even their own powers could only slow the miasma down. By the time a method of purifying others of the miasma’s corruption was determined, it was far too late. The foul mist had spread over much of the continent, and an enormous segment of the population had fallen to its foul depredations. Worse, those infected by it longed to bring others into its grip as well.<br/><br/>So the churches retreated to cities in the mountains above the miasma, even as it spread over even the oceans themselves. The valleys, plains, and forests were shrouded in the miasma, and they could do little but furiously research defenses. Wards were erected over the towns and a few of the higher mountain valleys to keep the miasma out, as it surged upward from time to time. Those without strong faith were never allowed outside of the cities, and ways of purging the corruption were researched. But every so often the forces from below would attack, trying to abduct the inhabitants of the cities and ‘enlighten’ them.<br/><br/>And even within the fortress cities, they did not have everything they needed. Occasional caravans would pass between their cities, heavily guarded and filled with vital trade goods, as well as taking those who wished to marry those of other cities.<br/><br/>Only ten true fortress cities still exist in the mountains, with lesser towns and communities eking out a living, in fear of when the miasma surges. And through it all, the faithful pray that a way to destroy the source of the miasma might be found.<br/><hr/><br/>Where followers of Serise forged holy weapons and armor for generations, Lightforge is blessed with a virtually unending supply of metal from a gate to the border of the planes of earth and fire, and is one of the most powerful of the fortress cities. Unfortunately, the Ashmounts are small, and Lightforge does not have many secondary colonies to call upon for aid. When able, they send shipments of weapons to the other cities, as they have the most knowledge of combating evil of the cities.<br/><br/>Armed with a shipment of weapons, destined for Citadel, a small, well-armed caravan made ready to depart. Led by the renowned human paladin, Samuel, their intent was to move quickly and quietly along the routes between the cities, skirting the edges of the miasma, to get there as quickly as possible, while attracting little attention. Little do they know that fate has other plans in mind...