<span class="bbc_u">World Background</span><br/>The Fey had thought victory had been achieved. The goddess of light, Hanlanil, and her children were triumphant. Their long standing battle against the Feyr had come to an end when the combined forces of Fey and Humans had laid siege and destroyed the last Obsidian Tower. These strongholds of the Feyr were erected by the dark forces marshaled by the Faceless One and from them once spewed forth the goblin and orc armies, along with a myriad of twisted creatures. Now the Feyr were driven down into the depths of Arlin. Those that dare show their face in the sun were quickly hunted down by the Fey.<br/><br/>In the time after humans, whose lives were short but bountiful with children, would spread across all lands. It was an age of conflict, human against Fey and fellow human. Eventually the wars would settle, accords granted, old rivalries spawned fruitful competition. And after a thousand years passed, all agreed it was now the time of humans. In the lands of the Old Kingdoms a human conqueror was born. Under him they would be united under his name, the Empire of Ciraxis.<br/><br/>The Empire soon set out to expand its territory. Along with the continued conquest of its neighbors, a great fleet of ships set sail to all corners led by brave explorers of all stripes and colors. These efforts are a particular point of pride of the Empire and as such the subsequent Ciraxis line of rulers has maintained them with vigor. Far across the ocean in warm pleasant waters one such ship come upon fertile ground, unclaimed by any sentient race. The peninsula curved sharply, mountains as its backbones and a lush estuary as its bay. It teased at a wild land filled with mysteries and opportunity beyond the great forest where it connected to the mainland.<br/><br/>The mighty Fort of Ciraxis was built upon the promontory as a city grew below for the trade ships sailing back and forth from the Empire. In their hulls they carried the discoveries and goods of the new land.  A bustling port emerged on the coast and tracks of rich farmland settled between. Explorers and adventurers travelled north, some never seen again others returned with sparkling treasures and tall tales. Other ships sailed further along the coasts as new outposts and colonies were established on what came to be known as the Far Lands.<br/><br/>As the human empires grew and fell around them, the Fey were ever vigilant. Their lives and memories long, they did not fully trust the humans; prone to corruption, arrogant and short sighted. Perhaps because of their new diminished position against the human surge, or perhaps in spite of it, they beseeched their goddess to grant her power to craft the Heartstone in secret. The Fey would stand as guardians of the world. But the Faceless One and his minions were only defeated, not destroyed. Over time they built up their strength in dark places, seeking human collaborators and planning on exacting revenge upon the Fey. Even some elves were lured by the whispering voice in their head. To take their rightful place as leaders of Arlin and to subdue the upstart humans, those that succumbed became known as the dark elves.<br/><br/>The Feyr now had cunning and spiteful masters and under the leadership of the dark elves they discovered the Heartstone and set a trap for Hanlanil. The Feyr assaulted the mountain temple where it was hidden and once they had overrun the temple the desperate priestess called forth the goddess. But the Faceless One lay in wait for her and they battled on the mountainside. In the end Hanlanil was defeated, the Faceless One draining her of all her godly power. It is said she turned to stone and melded into the rock of the mountain. The Faceless One then turned its attention to the Heartstone, seeking to twist the stone's power to the creature's desire. Things did not go as intended, the stone turned black and cracked, there was a mighty cheer by the Feyr present and then they gaped in disbelief as the Faceless One writhed and cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground and splitting open as its foulness poured out. The Feyr shouted in agony as their bodies bent and broke, they were transformed into vile abominations.<br/><br/>The poison flowing from the Heartstone spread quickly across all the lands. Back at the Fort of Ciraxis it was first rumors. Twisted things that had never been seen before came in the night. The orcs and goblins all but disappeared. Then the male Fey fell ill, to the last male and no magic could cure them of the disease. Ship traffic brought back news that the tragedy was happening everywhere. Eventually some crews returned, desperate and starving, claiming there were no safe ports to land.  The Curse, as it came to be called, had turned the natural world upside down and it is said the perverse power of the dark god has seeped into everything. Refugees from the other colonies flooded the city. The outlying towns and villages did not have adequate defenses and became too dangerous. Now the lands are filled with beasts and monsters that are Cursed, seeking to siphon off the life energy of others. Soon all contact with the Empire ceased and it has been fifty years since any ship had sailed into the harbor.