History of Aerim

Once, these lands were wholesome and good. As was most of the world. It was a Golden Age. Civilization had prevailed. The races of the light ruled the lands, and fairly at that. The races of darkness had been driven into hiding and routed from the lands during the great wars that lead to this utopia, or so it seemed. In truth, the evil that these creatures embodied, had in fact ebbed into the world with each monster slain. This fell energy festered and grew until at lastit found power enough to infest the souls of the weak. At first it manifested as petty insicurities, lust and scheming. In time though, this dark seed found purchase and evolved into plotting, violence, betrayal and hatred. As has forever been the cycle in this world, the utopia had ended and the cycle was begun anew. 

 

991, The Year of The Ebbing Tide

 

Those dark hearted souls began to dabble in dark magics once more, fouling the lands, raising the dead from their graves and manipulating the dark races into doing their bidding. Those who remained in the light fought hard against these new evils, and although much time had passed since the last wars, they were still mighty, and alliances among the goodly races were still strong. Once more the battle between light and dark raged, and on all but one continent, the forces of light held the upper hand. On that far continent though, the forces of darkness prevailed. Temples to the goodly gods burned, and many a city was claimed by the forces of evil, while still many more burned and crumbled.

 

1112, The Year of Enlightenment

 

In the civilized lands, the greatest sages and scholars came together to find a way to beat back the darkness once and for all. Their conclusions rocked the status quo. No longer should they purge the lands of evil. Were they to invade the darkened continent and wipe the evil from it’s face once more, not only would the hearts of the weak be corrupted once more, but the evil may well begin to corrupt other races and perhaps the land itself. Instead, it was decided that they would let evil hold court over the lost continent and would cast out the tainted and the corrupt. They would be sent into exile on this dark continent. Evil would feast upon itself, not the light. Let them destroy themselves. Perhaps this would give balance to the world at last.

 

The downside to this plan was all to apparent. What was to become of those peoples native to the lost continent. Would this “civilized” world just sit back and watch as they were overrun by hordes of beasts and the machinations of evil tyrants? What could be done? It was predominantly the clerics and paladins of Erathis, as well as a few other organizations, that took it upon themselves to become the quiet wardens of the continent, roaming it and keeping what tabs they could upon it as well as quietly aiding what few pockets of civilization still remained. They would act as the first line of defense, should the dark ones decide to travel outside the bounderies set by the white council.

 

1147, The Year of The Blue Flame (current)

 

For fifty six years the people of Aerim have fought a losing battle for their lands, and for thirty five years, they have had little to no help from the outside world. The missionaries of Erathis are spread thin and taxed, so much so that many communities have yet to meet one. Strange things are beginning to occur on Aerim. There are rumors of cults, plagues, blue fires, weather anomolies and even thin points between these lands and worlds beyond. Natural disasters are becoming more common, and some are even saying that large areas of land have fallen away into the Aerth, revealing chasms inhabited by strange creatures and lost civilizations. With so much change, some have even stopped calling it Aerim and have resorted to calling this falling continent The Shadowlands.