Plot

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A World at War 

The threat of war had always hung over the nations of Thrella. Disputes over territories and valuable natural resources defined many a empire's early history. It wasn't until a treaty had been signed with the city-state, Goldcrest, to allow the five nations to convene on neutral soil did the conflicts cease and an uneasy peace settled over the land. Unbeknownst to the world a great evil was brewing in the West. A cabal of mages, known as the Coterie, had been waging a secret war and, with the aid of a pact with the nation of Ederbrecth, amassed a great army.

With the hopes of shuffling off their mortal coils and ascending to the ranks of gods, the mages of the Coterie turned their forces South to the unsuspecting nation of Ederhund in the first act of outright war. The fighting was fierce but the combined might of the Ederbrecht army and the Coterie's mystical forces brought about the utter destruction of of the once proud empire.

Prisoners taken by the Coterie were placed in camps where their lifeblood could be ritualistically drained to further power the mage's spells and incantations. The blood of the Ederhundians that couldn't escape was used to draw a powerful ally to the side of the Coterie; dragons. With the great beasts on their side the Coterie then turned their attention to the South to Astilon and East to Therin. The battles were fierce and brutal with both sides suffering great losses. Even the might of the Therinian army couldn't stem the progress of the Coterie and soon large tracts of land fell under the mages' control.

Pushing forward, the Coterie ceased the land bridge connected Therin and Abrea in hopes of gaining a foothold and cutting off their supply routes. It was here the Coterie would amass for the final ritual that would, as they claim, spread darkness across the land. The forces of Abrea, Astilon and Therin combined for a last stand, keeping the Coterie occupied while a group of heroes embarked on a suicide mission to halt the ritual.

While the heroes were successful, the losses suffered during the final stand were severe. The magic released from the abrupt interruption of the powerful ritual cracked the earth and created the Shattered Isles. The dragons under the sway of the Coterie were wiped from existence, severely crippling the Coterie forces. With their archons decimated, the remnants of the Coterie retreated to the West where they licked their wounds, leaving a scarred world attempting in vain to heal in the wake of war.

The World As We Know It

The Argent Accord had been signed in a time of war but it remains a valuable document in today's world. It bound the nations to work as one, ending conflict and turning a united front toward the Coterie. Many believe the Accord is crucial for the rebuilding of nations less than a decade after the war had ended. Unfortunately, a number of the leaders who signed the document didn't survive to see victory. Power vacuums exist at all levels of government where nobles scheme in order to move up the ranks and gain more authority. Rumors of revolt come from the Southern nation of Astilon while many remain wary of Therin to the North resorting to conquering instead of rebuilding.

Worse still are the remnants of the Coterie to the East. The head of the serpent had been severed but, as many feared, two had grown in its place. While incapable of outright war, the Coterie remains a constant threat. Their spies are everywhere, attempting to permeate the highest levels of government in hopes of sabotaging plans or stealing secrets from the nations. The battles between good and evil may no longer be fought with thousands of soldiers but many fear the war is far from over.