(DM's note: this is supplemental information to what's presented in Chapter 11 of the DMG. In case of inconsistencies, this overrides the DMG)
Well, travelers, welcome to the Nentir Vale! This place probably doesn't look like much, but it might surprise you how important the Nentir Vale actually was in the history of our little world. There's always been a kind of a frontier, rough 'n tumble attitude here in the Vale. This was one of the last lands that was brought under the Nerath empire, about four hundred years ago, almost a hundred years after the first emperor of Nerath.
It was here that the first alliance between Elves, Humans and Dwarves was formed. I guess it was out of necessity during the Wars of the Shadowfell Rifts, and what with the drow coming out of Harken Forest. But no matter how it started, it's what cemented our friendship with all these other fine folk. A lot of honest folk gave their lives fighting the undead and the drow then, and you can still tour a couple of the old battlegrounds.
During the fall of Nerath, we were pretty lucky to have been so far from the heartlands. Not too many foul beasties came around here, but you've probably already heard of the Bloodspear wars that happened about ninety year ago. Nasty creatures, the orcs, they pretty much pillaged all of the vale before they finally went at each other's throats. It's a shame you've never seen Fallcrest at its peak. I'm told it was a sight to behold. Since then, the Markelhay family, who founded Fallcrest, has been trying to hold on to what it's got and get back some of that former glory. The current lord, Faren Markelhay, is a pretty decent fellow. Still, the roads around here are pretty dangerous, and going between, say Fallcrest, and Hammerfast is going to put you through a couple of days camping in the wilderness. So all in all, Netir Vale might seem boring, but it's got a rich history behind it, and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for here.
Erandil Zemoar, Proprietor of Nentil Inn, Fallcrest
Friday, June 20, 2008
A Brief History of Nerath
Nerath is not the first empire to have stretched across the world. Before that was the Age of Fey, when the first Eladrin stepped into this world. And even before that, more than two thousand years ago, was the Age of Dragons, when the dragons and dragonborn together ruled the realm of Arkhosia. Though the earliest recorded history was by the dragonborn, we have evidence of an even more ancient civilizations, ruled by creatures so alien and fantastic that they are beyond imagination by anyone alive today.
It's been almost a hundred years since the fall of Nerath, the Empire of Man. Some say that Nerath was the greatest empire to have existed in the world. It stretched from the tiny fortress of Lands' End far to the north to the ports of the Elemental Seas to the south. The empire ruled for over four centuries, and it's greatest achievement was perhaps its openness and tolerance, bringing together elves, eladrin, dwarves, halflings, dragonborn, and even tieflings in peace and the spirit of cooperation.
However, in the end, people say that it was hubris that brought man's downfall. Unsatisfied with the taming of Oerth, a group of paladins devoted to Bahamut sought to cleanse the planes of evil. With the backing of the emperor and the most powerful wizards and clerics of the land, they assaulted the very heart of the Abyss, seeking to banish evil forever. However, they were betrayed. Some say that they were manipulated by the demon Graz’zt, the dark prince, all along. Others say that it was a betrayal by the emperor himself, having been driven to madness by power and corrupted by Asmodeous, lord of the Nine Hells. Yet still others say that it was simply the nature of the Abyss, and that if even the gods could not drive the evil from there, then the idea of mere humans taming it was pure folly, and the disaster that resulted was just punishment for mankind's hubris.
Whatever the true cause was, the result was clear: the Empire of Man fell within weeks. Once great cities fell quickly beneath the onslaught of demons, devils, and even fouler, unimaginable creatures. It is not clear why the entire world was not overrun within the year. The elves who were alive to witness it say that one day, the monsters just disappeared. However, the damage was already done. Armies that once kept roads safe were decimated, and humanoids such as goblins and orcs quickly multiplied and began raiding what was left. The world fell into a new dark age, and for decades very little changed, with minor nobles and warlords rising and falling over what little civilization was left. However, in recent years, a new force can be felt in the world, uniting the civilized races, reestablishing routes between towns and cities and driving monsters back to the wilderness. Will this force bring about a new age of prosperity and peace, or will the fledgling flicker of hope be extinguished yet again? Only time will tell.
Philel Kivvi'en, Historian residing in Aragoth, the last city of Nerath
It's been almost a hundred years since the fall of Nerath, the Empire of Man. Some say that Nerath was the greatest empire to have existed in the world. It stretched from the tiny fortress of Lands' End far to the north to the ports of the Elemental Seas to the south. The empire ruled for over four centuries, and it's greatest achievement was perhaps its openness and tolerance, bringing together elves, eladrin, dwarves, halflings, dragonborn, and even tieflings in peace and the spirit of cooperation.
However, in the end, people say that it was hubris that brought man's downfall. Unsatisfied with the taming of Oerth, a group of paladins devoted to Bahamut sought to cleanse the planes of evil. With the backing of the emperor and the most powerful wizards and clerics of the land, they assaulted the very heart of the Abyss, seeking to banish evil forever. However, they were betrayed. Some say that they were manipulated by the demon Graz’zt, the dark prince, all along. Others say that it was a betrayal by the emperor himself, having been driven to madness by power and corrupted by Asmodeous, lord of the Nine Hells. Yet still others say that it was simply the nature of the Abyss, and that if even the gods could not drive the evil from there, then the idea of mere humans taming it was pure folly, and the disaster that resulted was just punishment for mankind's hubris.
Whatever the true cause was, the result was clear: the Empire of Man fell within weeks. Once great cities fell quickly beneath the onslaught of demons, devils, and even fouler, unimaginable creatures. It is not clear why the entire world was not overrun within the year. The elves who were alive to witness it say that one day, the monsters just disappeared. However, the damage was already done. Armies that once kept roads safe were decimated, and humanoids such as goblins and orcs quickly multiplied and began raiding what was left. The world fell into a new dark age, and for decades very little changed, with minor nobles and warlords rising and falling over what little civilization was left. However, in recent years, a new force can be felt in the world, uniting the civilized races, reestablishing routes between towns and cities and driving monsters back to the wilderness. Will this force bring about a new age of prosperity and peace, or will the fledgling flicker of hope be extinguished yet again? Only time will tell.
Philel Kivvi'en, Historian residing in Aragoth, the last city of Nerath
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