- Astria stares off into the distance, face set, her eyes reflecting
remembered anger and a great determination. "The tale
of my world is not a good one, though it holds much hope for the future. So
many people have suffered so much, yet we have survived and are still
flourishing. Now is a time of rebuilding and
rediscovery, adventures and heroics. Perhaps you will find it in your heart
to join us as we try to rebuild our lives."
The Badlands, the Wastes; huge scars carved deep into the Earth, contrasting sharply with the more verdant areas of the Servos Jungle and the seductive, yet deadly beauty of Blood Wood. These are the legacies of the Scourge, the great plague of creatures from the netherworlds who ravaged our land, killing and destroying for pure enjoyment. Horrors we called them, not yet understanding how truly horrible they were, an understanding that we did not gain until the Scourge was nearly over, and we emerged to a world utterly changed.
The World of EarthDawn
A Brief History
The Kaers
Kaers varied widely according to need, aesthetic tastes, principles, and culture. The great structures were carved out of the earth, built as strong impregnable fortresses in the mountains, even set aloft by the magical efforts of the inhabitants. They were stocked with every necessity for 500 years of confinement, defying the terrible creatures that now inhabited our world. For as powerful as the Horrors were, they were not invincible, and often it was that brave Name-givers stood against the evil, and triumphed. Engineers spent decades designing defenses, spellcasters spent decades weaving magical protections, and Adepts spent decades preparing themselves to defend their fellows if the worst occured and the defenses were breached. And still, despite all of this preparation, so very few survived. The Horrors were very resourceful, and horrifyingly patient...
The Horrors
Evil personified. Or perhaps merely it's offspring, if certain legends are true. Whatever their origin, the Horrors ravaged this world for centuries, gleefully destroying everything they could reach, quickly or slowly, depending on their own individual tastes. Some spent centuries breaching desperate defenses, toying with their victims, feeding off of the fear and despair as Name-giver after Name-giver succumbed to the Horrors' evil. So few kaers were able to withstand their attention. Whole civilizations vanished, never to be seen in the world again.Even now, the Horrors influence still remains. In addition to the great wastes corrupted by the Horrors' touch, monstrous beasts roam the land, twisted and made savage by the touch of these evil beings. Some of the Horrors still remain, as well, inhabiting still the ruins of kaers they destroyed, or wandering the vast expanses of astral space.
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