Timeline

News comes into the south lands of JanCastle that the city of Fray Wall has been destroyed by the Krimkar. The rumor is that an elf opened the gates just as the Krimkar arrived.

Willow Durn settled into life in the village of Frey Wall, a place she had rarely visited north of Morfell. As a newcomer, she quickly formed bonds with the local farmers and their children, who welcomed her with open arms. She spent her days visiting their homes, sharing tales of her journeys through the woods, and offering fresh meat from her successful hunts. In exchange, the villagers provided her with a comfortable place to stay, creating a sense of belonging in this rugged northern community. Over time, these connections deepened, turning brief acquaintances into lasting friendships that enriched her understanding of the land and its people.

You heard rumors that Olub, the goblin chief, came and took away a large group of women. You attempt to go look and see if Haila was among them but they were gone by the time you arrived.

Gain +2 in the Krimkar language

In the midst of performing his daily duties around the Krimkar village, Elbob witnessed a long procession of women shackled in chains being marched through the settlement. Helplessly, he observed as his mother was among the captives, her face etched with despair. Suddenly, a band of goblins emerged, their presence sparking palpable animosity between them and the Krimkar warriors. "Chief Olub," Elbob heard one goblin pronounce in a thick, gurgling accent using the common tongue.

Kram, the towering Krimkar leader, appeared and loomed over Olub, his stature dwarfing the goblin chief. "Do not address yourself in my domain!" Kram bellowed angrily. "Here are your slaves," he continued, his voice laced with menace. "Eric warned he would be displeased if these were devoured like the others. But rest assured, his fury pales compared to mine."

Olub, the goblin chief, responded in a guttural, rasping voice. "More women? We require strong blood. Where are the men?"

"The men belong to me, as per our agreement from March," Kram retorted sharply.

"Is that elf lover among them?" Olub inquired suspiciously. "We have no use for elf lovers."

Kram glanced at one of his soldiers, who gestured toward a young, beautiful woman in the line. "Clearly she is present, and you will handle her no differently from the rest. Now, proceed to excavate your tunnels while I erect my fortress," Kram commanded. With that, Olub departed, leading the procession of approximately thirty women, including Elbob's mother, into the shadows.

While doing servant duties for the shamans you learn that this place is called the Black Spire and was recently constructed as an easily defensible fortress. During your days spent with the shamans you learn some of their magic.

Learn 1 spell

While tending to his chores within the Krimkar settlement, Elbob bore witness to the brutal treatment inflicted upon the slaves by their captors. The Krimkar exhibited a harsh demeanor toward their captives, yet Elbob also observed moments of familial tenderness among them. He saw the warriors returning home exhausted from perilous endeavors, greeted by their wives cradling newborns and children frolicking in the dirt. These glimpses revealed a duality in the Krimkar existence, where savagery coexisted with the simple joys of domestic life.

You do well in your days spent with the Krimkar. You avoid the menial work that the others were forced to do and instead train with some of the Krimkar warriors. It becomes obvious that even their average soldier out matches you in combat, and their best warriors are leagues ahead in combat skills. While this intimidates you, it also helps you learn.

Gain +2 training points

Mephiston, Yohdels, and Scott’s character are sent to The Den to show the Krimkar that they have what it takes. They in turn kill their opponents, which were slaves that the Krimkar had gathered in the north. On the way back to the barracks they see Atreus raised on a spike, long dead. Mephiston is taken by the shamans to the shaman tent.

The rough hands of the Krimkar guards seize you, dragging your battered form through the dusty streets toward the heart of the town. The sun beats down mercilessly, casting long shadows over the gathered crowd that parts like a reluctant sea. Murmurs ripple through the onlookers—curious villagers, hardened warriors, and wide-eyed children—drawn by the spectacle of impending punishment. One of the guards, his voice gravelly and laced with contempt, raises a fist to silence the whispers: "This is what happens to those who are disloyal to Kram." The words hang heavy in the air, a grim proclamation that seals your fate as the crowd presses closer, eager for the show to begin. The torture unfolds slowly, deliberately, each lash of the whip and twist of the blade designed to draw out your agony under the watchful eyes of the assembly. The Krimkar man works with practiced indifference, his tools glinting in the harsh light as he inflicts wound after wound, the metallic tang of blood mixing with the dry dust kicked up by shuffling feet. At first, the crowd watches intently, some jeering, others murmuring in hushed fascination, but as the minutes stretch into an eternity of pain, boredom sets in. Faces turn away, conversations drift to mundane matters, and one by one, the spectators disperse—returning to their daily labors, leaving only a handful of indifferent guards to oversee the drawn-out torment. The once-captivated throng evaporates like morning mist, their fleeting interest a final insult amid your suffering. At last, with the square nearly empty, the end comes in a blur of final cruelty. A sharpened spike is rammed through your body, the shock of it ripping a gasp from your lips as you're hoisted fifteen feet into the air, displayed like a tattered banner for all to see. The world blurs below—the empty square, the distant murmurs of the town, the indifferent sky above. Pain surges in waves, but as life ebbs away, a strange calm settles over you. In this moment of ultimate defeat, you find an unexpected peace, welcoming death's cold embrace as the final release from the Krimkar's unyielding grasp.

Under the shadow of the looming Black Spire, a group of weary travelers—Mephiston, Yohdels, Atreus, Thrain, and young Kreefdin—approached the half-built fortress, its wooden walls rising like jagged teeth against the rugged foothills. The air hummed with the sounds of construction—slaves hauling timber, hammers echoing off stone—as Krimkar guards, clad in rough leathers and bearing cruel blades, barred their path. "Weapons down," barked the lead guard, his voice gravelly and unyielding. "Offer your coin to Lord Kram, or face the spikes." The travelers complied, laying aside their arms, though Atreus clutched a hidden dagger, hoping to conceal it from prying eyes.

As they entered the fortress gates, the hidden blade was discovered in a swift, brutal search. The guard's strike was merciless—a dagger plunged into Atreus's back, twisting with cold precision. Blood spilled onto the dusty ground as Atreus collapsed, gasping, while his companions pleaded desperately for aid. But Kram Krimkar, emerging from the shadows with a sneer, denied their cries. "No mercy for the foolish," he declared, his eyes gleaming with indifference. Atreus lay still, life ebbing away in the unforgiving courtyard.

The survivors—Mephiston, Yohdels, Thrain, and Kreefdin—were herded toward the mercenary barracks, a grim structure of rough-hewn logs and iron bars, where they would await their fate. Only the young dwarf Kreefdin was singled out, sent away with a shove and a warning, disappearing into the maze of construction as the fortress loomed ever larger, a symbol of Krimkar's growing dominion.

Under a relentless sun on the dusty southern road to JanCastle, Mephiston, Yohdels, Atreus, Thrain, and young Kreefdin pressed onward, intent on returning the boy to his uncle. The journey had been uneventful until a band of rough Krimkar raiders emerged from the scrub, blocking their path with drawn weapons and grim stares. Outnumbered and weary, the group faced a stark ultimatum from the leader: submit to a slow death impaled on roadside stakes, or surrender and go with them as captives.

Whispers passed among the travelers—Mephiston’s steady gaze meeting Yohdels’, Atreus clenching his fists, and Kreefdin shrinking back. With no clear escape and the raiders’ blades glinting, they chose survival over a pointless end, lowering their heads as ropes bound their wrists and the Krimkar herded them away from the familiar path.

Mephiston arrived at the rugged town of Frey Wall, its walls scarred by years of border skirmishes. Seeking aid after his ordeal in Hakurro, he approached Eric JanCastle, a shrewd and ambitious member of the ruling family, known for his alliances with goblin clans. Their meeting took place in a dimly lit tavern, where the air was thick with the scent of ale and suspicion.

As Mephiston recounted the goblin attacks on his cabin and the capture that followed, Eric listened intently, his eyes narrowing at the mention of Olub's forces. Mephiston described the goblin stronghold, the ambushes in the woods, and the threats to travelers, hoping to rally support against the growing menace. Eric, ever the opportunist, probed for details on the group's strength and tactics.

Surprised that the elf had survived and slain some of his goblin allies, Eric concealed his irritation behind a calculating smile. He assured Mephiston of JanCastle's protection but secretly plotted to capture the adventurers, enlisting the Krimkar raiders to intercept them on the road. Their combat prowess, he reasoned, could be turned to his advantage in the looming conflicts.

Willow stirred awake in the dank confines of a goblin dungeon, her head pounding from the brutal strike. Fragments of memory pieced together the events leading to her capture. A dwarf named Doleb from JanCastle had approached her with a task: investigate reports of goblin activity in the woods near Fray Wall. Having grown up in the area, Willow was familiar with the terrain and had spent countless hours adventuring with friends during her childhood, while her parents remained occupied with their demanding work. She vividly recalled stepping into a concealed trap net, the ropes ensnaring her limbs in an instant, followed by the swift, merciless bash from a goblin's club that sent her spiraling into unconsciousness.

Mephiston now remembered something about how he got here. He had been working on the construction of his new cabin, where he and his wife Haila were to live this coming winter. The construction was coming along slower than expected, so he was hard at work trying to finish it. As he labored, goblins appeared from the woods. He grabbed his weapon, but it was too late. A bag was over his head before he knew it. Haila was supposed to visit from her hometown of Morfell that day. He was now worried about her safety.

You now remember something about how you got here. You were working in the fields of your family’s farm when you heard screams at the house. You ran to grab your father’s old soldiers gear and weapons from the barn and then ran to help. Your fight didn’t last long, as a swarm of goblins butchered your family and took you captive.

Merth and Jilna fled into the dense woods surrounding Hakurro, their hearts pounding from the narrow escape from the goblin stronghold. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth as they navigated the underbrush, desperate to put distance between themselves and their captors. Meanwhile, Mephiston and Merth, who had been separated during the chaos, stumbled upon a clearing where Elbob, Yohdels, Atreus, and Thrain were taking refuge. The group exchanged hurried accounts of their ordeals, their voices low to avoid drawing attention. United by their shared peril, they resolved to return to Hakurro together, hoping to rescue any remaining allies and reclaim what had been lost in the goblin-infested fortress.

Mephiston, weary from decades of wandering the eastern coasts and perilous mountains, longed for a place of rest. Though he knew human lives were fleeting compared to his elven years, he found in Haila a reason to settle down. Together, they chose a secluded spot northeast of Frey Wall, deep in the woods, far from the judgmental eyes of the Dogorden family and other elves who disapproved of their relationship.

The cabin they built was modest, crafted from the sturdy trees of the forest. Mephiston used his knowledge of the wilds to select the best materials, while Haila brought her practical skills from JanCastle. They worked side by side, clearing the land and laying the foundation, their laughter echoing through the trees as they dreamed of a peaceful future.

As the structure took shape, Mephiston felt a mix of contentment and unease. The isolation was perfect for privacy, but rumors of goblins in the area lingered in his mind. He pushed aside his worries, focusing on the joy of building a home with Haila.

In time, however, regret crept in. News of goblin activity in the woods confirmed his fears, and Mephiston realized that their remote cabin might put Haila in grave danger. The peace they sought seemed fragile, overshadowed by the threats lurking in the shadows.

Merth and Jilna run into the woods after escaping Hakurro. Mephiston and Merth meet up with Elbob, Yohdels, Atreus, and Scott’s Character. The combined group returns to Hakurro.

After the harrowing escape from Hakurro, Elbob and Willow chose to separate from the group, driven by a longing for the familiar streets of home. They said their goodbyes to Yohdels, Mephiston, Atreus, and Thrain, who pressed on with their own paths ahead. With weary steps, Elbob and Willow ventured back through the dense forest, navigating the winding trails that led northward to Frey Wall, the rugged city where their roots lay deep.

You now remember something about how you got here. You were sent on an errand by your scribe master, Jilna to the town of Morfell, when your caravan was attacked by goblins. You remember only the caravan on fire, the horse being butchered, and being knocked in the head with a rock.

When you arrive at Frey Wall an elf named Elbob goes into the woods with you as well.

When a group passed through your hometown of Fray Wall on a mission to investigate the woods for goblin activity, you asked to join. You do not like the idea of goblins being so close to home.

Your mother has been missing for a few weeks after going on her normal walk in the woods near your family’s house in Morfell. A group from JanCastle passed through the other day and spoke of a mission to investigate the woods north of Fray Wall for goblin activity. This felt like the best chance so far of finding out what happened to your mom, and so you asked to join them.

During your stay in Morfell, another halfling named Yohdels joins you.

You have lived in the city of JanCastle for your whole life and have been looking for a reason to leave and ‘see the world’. Many people have warned you about your naivety but when a dwarf named Doleb offered 30 coins to investigate the woods north of Fray Wall for goblin activity, you quickly took him up on the deal. He said that the evidence must hold up in one of the Castillian courts of the city. He sends you with a halfling named Atreus.

You said goodbye to your mom as she was going on a walk and you were planning on going to an organized fight ring in JanCastle that day. You got caught up in some errands that your dad sent you on. While you were upset at the time, you're glad it worked out that way because when your mom did not return from her walk that evening, you and your brothers went looking. Since then, you have been searching for her and are upset that your dad has not devoted more time and money to the effort. He counted her as dead after only a few short weeks of looking. “The Krimkar are out there, son. ain’t no way she’s alive.”

Olub and his goblin tribe raid a small village near Fray Wall. Many Godorn's are killed and Kreefdin is taken captive. Reports come to JanCastle that many of the adults were not killed but taken captive. Doleb Godorn hears the news and shortly thereafter hears from his family members in the town that his nephew was among those taken. He goes to the Castilian courts to hear the event discussed, but it is ignored. This adds to his fears that the Castilian land north of the mountains is being ignored. He begins to attempt to bring attention the raids but finds little success.

Olub and his goblin tribe were ready to slowly and carefully launch their attack against JanCastle. They started by raiding farms and small villages on the outskirts of Morfell and Fray Wall, taking men and women as slaves and killing the children.

You defeated a high level fighter in the city, winning 25 coins. You are hoping for a shot at the championship.

After months of enduring the relentless hardships of the wilderness—battling biting insects, unpredictable weather, and the constant strain of survival—Willow Durn decided it was time for respite. She gathered her few belongings, bid farewell to the secluded cabin that had been her refuge, and set out on the familiar path back to JanCastle. The city's walls loomed in the distance as a promise of comfort, with its bustling markets, warm hearths, and the soft hum of civilized life offering a stark contrast to the solitude of the woods. Settling into a modest room near the central square, Willow allowed herself a moment of peace, reflecting on the balance between the wild's freedom and the city's security.

On a sweltering summer day in the bustling city of Carsadan, a young merchant named Atreus found himself ensnared in a sudden tavern brawl at the Dancing Dwarf Inn. What began as a casual afternoon turned chaotic when fists flew and blades glinted in the dim light. Overpowered by a gang of ruffians who blended seamlessly with the city's guards, he was dragged kicking and screaming from the inn, his collar clutched tightly as he struggled against their iron grips. Arrows whistled through the air from Carasdonian war vessels in the harbor, a futile rescue attempt that only hastened the attackers' retreat onto a waiting ship.

Chained among a dozen other prisoners on the deck, he endured months of grueling hardship under the relentless ocean sun. The slavers' vessel prowled the coasts, docking at shadowy ports to sell captives into bondage or raiding isolated villages for fresh stock. The air was thick with the stench of salt and despair, the clank of chains a constant reminder of lost freedom. Finally, in a distant port, he was auctioned off, his fate seemingly sealed in servitude.

But fortune intervened when he was purchased by Jilna Folen, a woman of unexpected mercy. She freed him immediately, offering food, shelter, and respite in her care for weeks. Restored and bewildered, he eventually ventured out into the streets of JanCastle, a city of towering walls and winding paths, where hunger drove him to accept a dwarf's offer of 30 coins for scouting goblin activity in the northern woods.

Some of the locals scratch the name off of Eldred’s tombstone. Gobed Durn, who is now up for reelection, asks the town council for money to repair the tombstone but is denied in what is thought to be a close vote, although the council members' votes are supposed to be a secret.

Olub began putting his slaves to work building small fortresses along the west side of the Dark Woods and along the north edge of the Great Mountains.

Erik JanCastle met with Olub and offered to negotiate with the Krimkar on his behalf. He also offered up a large sum of coin and a promised share of the spoils if they aided in the downfall of JanCastle.

Olub is on the run after a meeting with the Krimkar that turned bloody. He and his goblin tribe were being hunted and fled into the Dark Woods. There they found the long unused entrance to Hakurro. Warily, they stepped into the place and hid the entrance. For the next few months they began to use it as a base of operations. Eventually, they reconnected with the other half of the tribe in the Great Mountains. They raid the outskirts of the nearby Swamp Town for food and to gather slaves.

Mephiston arrived in JanCastle, a city of towering walls and winding alleys filled with merchants and travelers from distant lands. It was here, amidst the clamor of the marketplace, that he first encountered Haila Stravo, a human woman with a keen mind and a warm smile. Their meeting sparked a connection that would shape his future in unexpected ways.

In the days that followed, Mephiston and Haila spent time exploring the city's hidden corners, sharing stories of their travels and dreams. Haila, with her knowledge of local customs, introduced him to the intricacies of JanCastle's society, while Mephiston offered tales of the eastern coasts and the perilous mountains he had traversed.

As their bond deepened, Mephiston found himself drawn to the stability Haila represented, a contrast to his years of wandering. This encounter marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, one rooted in the heart of JanCastle.

Kram takes his raiders into the north lands of Swamp Town and the Nalorn desert to raid villages and gather slaves.

Eric introduce Olub and Kram in an attempt to forge an allegiance between them.

Kram returns to the lands of JanCastle with hundreds of slaves and begins construction of the Black Spire. His raiders continue going north for slaves.

Eldred passes away and is given an honourable funeral by the newly voted mayor of the town, Gobed Durn.

One day, as a young man, you were mingling in the Fish Tail Inn when a fight broke out. At the time you were not as sure of yourself as you are now and so your first instinct was to get away.

However, as you went to the door to the inn a group of bare chested, tattooed Krimkar blocked the exit. With sword in hand they went to butcher you and your friends. You covered your face waiting for the blow to strike, but it never landed. That's when she appeared. With a clang the sword was deflected by a women, equally as wild in appearance as the Krimkar. Within moments, the four Krimkar lay dead at her feet.

The woman was beautiful and strong in appearance. She wore fur clothing and leather armor. You were entranced by here presence, as were many others. She said something to calm your nerves but you could hardly manage to let out a reply. You were later informed by others that she introduced herself as Freyda Folen. After a round of drinks she left the town, and for weeks she was the talk of the inn. Who was this wild women who saved the locals from the Krimkar?

You were born and raised in Ald Satha, a fishing town in the southern lands. You often travel to the city of JanCastle but rarely would take the mountain pass and come into the northern lands of Morfell and Fray Wall. You spent your early adulthood working on the dock of Ald Satha and sometimes would take up fishing jobs on the ships of Haloorn Lake.

Gain +4 fishing and +2 sailing.

Born in the distant land of Haldoria, a young man named Atreus ventured to the thriving city of Carsadan upon reaching maturity, driven by dreams of fortune as a merchant. Amid the bustling markets and towering spires, he carved out a successful path, amassing wealth where countless others faltered and retreated to the squalor of the southern slums. The city's prosperity was tested during a devastating plague, but he turned crisis into opportunity, profiting handsomely as legendary warriors Loken and Lestat arrived to quell the scourge.

With ambitions of patronage, he sought to back their rising fame, yet the fortified coffers of Haldor's Keep outbid him, leaving him to observe from the shadows as the Orc War of 450 raged. In the war's aftermath, fate took a cruel turn when pirates seized him, spiriting him away to be sold into servitude in the unfamiliar realm of JanCastle. Bewildered by the vast distances and alien landscapes, he grappled with his new reality, far from the homeland he once knew.

Yohdels had been born and raised in the city of Morfell, where his family had long benefited from their close ties to the JanCastle lineage through enduring business relationships. Despite the family's prosperity, Yohdels harbored no interest in commerce, preferring instead to hone his martial skills and engage in brawls to test his prowess. The stories of the Krimkar, the formidable barbarian horde defeated by the JanCastles in the war that preceded the kingdom's founding, were familiar to him from childhood tales. Early in life, he developed a penchant for combat training, which sharpened his abilities over time.

Gargarash Korbul had grown up in the city of JanCastle, navigating its streets with ease as a half-orc. Constantly defending himself against accusations of sympathizing with the Krimkar—the barbarian horde vanquished by the JanCastles years before the city's establishment and the new calendar—he endured insults and discrimination. As a child, he absorbed the legends of JanCastle's founding, including the names of the current king, Storm JanCastle, and his heir, Brom JanCastle. In adulthood, he embraced a life of combat, joining local fighting rings where early victories bolstered his arrogance and fueled his ambitions for greater challenges.

You were born in Swamp Town in the north but moved to Frey Wall as a child along with your extended family, upwards of 30 people. The people of Frey Wall were reserved and unwelcoming of newcomers, especially of elves. Day to day you would receive insults, businesses would refuse service to you and your family, and not a few family members ‘went missing’. Your father, Eldred, maintained a hopeful outlook. Over the decades his positivity and kindheartedness wore upon the people of Frey Wall. A generation of human lives passed by, elven children and human children played and grew up together, and now the circumstances are quite different. The older human population still largely has disdain for the elves and there is still tension. Your father’s attitude also infected your own feelings for the people of the town and you are hopeful that the humans and elves can grow together and move on from their rough past.

Gain +4 honor

In his youth, Storm Jancastle, a bold commander of twenty years, rallied the legions of JanCastle for a grand campaign northward. Crossing the treacherous North Pass, he led his forces into uncharted territories, subduing the wild north lands and claiming them for JanCastle's dominion.

Amidst the rugged terrain, he oversaw the founding of the fortified city of Morfell, a bastion of civilization in the harsh frontier.

With relentless determination, Storm pursued the Krimkar tribes, driving them deep into the mountainous strongholds and further into the desolate swamps and arid deserts, securing JanCastle's northern borders for generations to come.

Willow grew up in the village of Frey Wall, where she maintained distant ties to relatives. The villagers, however, harbored resentment toward those they labeled as deserters—individuals who abandoned the town for elsewhere. As a teenager, her parents relocated to the southern city of JanCastle, and Willow followed, spending her adulthood there. She worked sporadically as a scribe and occasionally took positions as a barmaid in local inns, though she steered clear of that employment whenever possible due to its demanding nature. Reaching old age, she grew weary of city life and ventured west into the Dead Kings Woods. There, she eked out a humble existence, struggling day to day, yet in the process, she forged a profound bond with the animals of the forest and mastered a variety of woodland survival skills.

The JanCastle family declared victory over the Krimkar and the kingdom of JanCastle was established. The first king, Trebdar JanCastle, was crowned.

Mephiston was born on the great coasts of the east. For most of his life, he traveled eastward, always hoping to one day reach the legendary elf realm. At times, he even reached the spine mountains, as the locals called them, but he never managed to go further, as those far western mountains were perilous. He returned to the region of JanCastle only a few short years ago, where he met a human woman named Haila Stravo.