|
The group started in the Dalelands on the continent of Faerun in the Forgotten Realms. The Dalelands are in the heart of the continent, and they brush up against the Moonsea, which is a great inland sea that lets out to the ocean, on the east, Cormyr to the south, the Savage North to the north, and the Sword Coast to the west. The temperment and setting are similar to 14th century Scotland, if Scotland was bordered by Mongolia during the Huns, Constantinople n the 12th century, 15th century central Europe, and a kingdom made up of all the bad stuff from Africa, Rome, Sparta, and Egypt. A quick overview of what is going on in this part of the world. The Dalelands' position in the center of the continent and their rich resources have made them a premier trading spot for as long as any can remember. However, the Dales have always remained more or less independent. No one has ever been able to unify all the Dalelands, either by mediation or by sword, though many have tried. The current concerns in this part of the world is the threat of the Evil and Racist Kingdom of Thay and the Zhentarim, also known as the "Black Network." The Black Network controls the Moonsea cities of Hillsfar, Moonsea, and of course Zhentil Keep. They have also occupied several areas in the Dalelands, including their most recent conquest of Daggerdale. They have made no secret of the fact that their ultimate goal is to control all of the Dales as well as the Moonsea region, and then plan to shut off Cormyr to all overland traffic. While details are scarce on the Black Network, they are known to be worshipers of dark gods, extremely racist, and are responsible for most of the traffic in stolen goods, looted treasures, extortion, brothels, and slaves. Their influence spreads from one side of the continent to the other, and the only kingdoms to really thwart them in any spectacular way are Waterdeep, Shadowdale, Ravenloft, and Cormyr. It is difficult to simply cut off contact with them, as they control so much trade on the Moonsea and run many (maybe as much as 30%) of all caravans crossing the heartlands. Thay is another human kingdom very hostile to outsiders. Like the cities of the Black Network, slavery is encouraged, and the best that a non-human can expect should he fall into Thayan hands is to be captured and thrown into a life of service. What makes Thay especially dangerous is their Red Wizards. The Red Wizards of Thay are very powerful Battlemages who are never seen without their signature red cloaks, with their faces concealed. Every bad thing anyone in the Dalelands ever heard about power-hungry, evil mages applies to them. They have recently tried to kill the King of Cormyr in Suzail and stage a coup along with the Zentarim that would have split Cormyr in half. They failed when a group of strangers appeared in the middle of the royal throne room of King Azoun the Fourth, crashing right through the ceiling on dragonback, just as over three hundred mercenaries, red plumes, and red wizards were bashing into the palace and battling the royal guard. A Suzailian mercernary group called the Black Phoenix met many of these invaders in combat right on the palace steps. Their bravery and the actions of the strangers who entered the King's hall so dramatically saved the Empire, and swift trials, executions, and assassinations of the traitors in several cities of Cormyr restored full control back to the throne in little more than a week. It is now rumoured that as soon as the King deals with the last of the treacherous elements in his own government, he will march against Zentyl keep and Hillsfar. Even the great Kingdom of Cormyr cannot invade Thay without first dealing with this cancer in the center of the continent. As for the identity of the strangers who saved the King and hired the Black Phoenix (all 150 of them paid in gold), it remains a mystery. Rumors, however, say the riders flew from a frigate flying no pendants but covered in omother of pearl and mounting great cannons of unknown design. It is also said that since the siege, the King has allowed many merchants, instructors, and advisors from the Triumvirate Empire of Ravenloft, Farkeep, and Maldor Keep into the land. It is also whispered in the streets that a black and silver shrike in a cage of mithril now adorns the throne room. Since the failure of the coup and the uncovering of the Black Networks part in the scheme, the Zentarim have redoubled their efforts to take lands and power in the center of the continent. They have invaded Daggerdale, but failed to take Shadowdale, Tassledale, or Archendale when their soldiers were thrown back by two hastily raised armies, one (defending Shadowdale) headed by Elminster himself, and composed of many warriors from the Dales as well as a good number of Harpers. The other army was much smaller, and headed by Drizzt Duordin. Duordin's warriors struck the Zentarim army in the dead of the night, and dealt horrible damage on the enemy while many were in their beds. The small band of only about 150 engaged the army of over 800, and when all was said and done, they had lost only 37 of their number while the Zentarim had almost 500 killed or wounded. This battle also marked another first. The forces of Duordin were comprised of both Moonelves from the elven court, and Darkelves (Drow) that had chosen to walk the surface, and hearing of his great deeds and reputation, came to serve Duordin (who is himself a Drow) and his adopted land. This is the first time in history of man that the two ancient enemies have ever met in battle not against each other, but fighting together as brothers against a common foe. No one nows how this alliance will be received by the general population, or what it might purport, as Duordin and his followers vanished into the woods after the battle. After containing the threat to the other dales, the leaders of the various Dale forces fell prey to the same infighting and squabbling that has always plagued the Dalelands, and no other efforts were made to liberate Daggerdale. As if this were not enough to plague the heartlands, the forces of Hellgate Keep have lain siege to Citadel Adbar in the north. This great city is the last of the cities of legend, and older than any city left in the land. It is the home to elves, dwarves, and humans, and is a major center of trade and mining. The troubles with the Zentarim, as well as with ogres, trolls, and dark creatures moving south from their homes in the frozen mountains, spurred on by rumors of easy plunder and what promises to be one of the coldest winters in ages, has kept the citadel isolated. No one is sure if the great citadel, last refuge from the time of legends, will still stand at winter's end. Now the other Dales guard their borders most carefully, and mercenaries and fortune seekers are pouring into the Dales, along with refugees, and surely Zentarim spies. It is a time of great struggle, but these are the times when heroes are born, and kingdoms rise and fall on the stroke of a single blade. Many think that a new age will dawn, and whether that new age will be controlled by the forces of evil or led by the light, only time will tell. |