Three Gates

On the southern plains by the great river lay the three gates of law. They were first discovered by the great mariner, ASTROLABE, himself. Returning to the lands the elves had abandoned when they fled from the rage of the Dragons at the end of the War of Dragons & Elves. He found that while much of their lands had been flooded and become the Great Sea. Sailing into this new body of water he found many islands and even a peninsula that extended from the north shore out into the sea. Coming there he found a river and a short way in from the sea he found a settlement of Orcs. They had built three communities on three hills each with a large standing stone, each showing the glowing of a gate on two of their sides. Furthest North was the bright yellow of a Portal of Law. Furthest South was the black Gate of Death. Between them was the sickly green Gate of War.   Astrolabe reported back that these orcs were of the highest order of orcs he had ever encountered. To the North was a village that featured a group of the most learned and capable of druids. To the South was a small village where death was worshiped, and undead and half-dead mixed with the living. Between them was a great warriors camp. These Orcs were the finest warriors of their race, they didn’t act in the normal rash and haphazard manner, but were finely organized, and used advanced tactics. Astrolabe could see the visible marks of the magic working it’s wonders on these people, and he saw that they walked more upright, and had a more regal bearing than any orc he had ever seen. This revealed to him the power of these gates, and he knew that he must find a way to get his kin to make the move to these fair hills.   Astrolabe and his men made their way back down to the Gates of the West and then sailed home. There he tried until his death to get some of the Elves of Tritigonia to go and take these hills. There our story would have ended, but for Vellus. Vellus was but a young efling when Astrolabe was nearing his end, but he was always fascinated by all his tales, and none more than that of the Three Gates. As a Prince of the Realm Vellus did not have the luxury to explore this land of his dreams. Until his Father was overthrown; Vellus escaped death and knew he must flee these lands he grabbed Astrolabes documents, and fled. He and 31 high born companions and their retainers made their way to their ships. The great swan boats with many castings of protection from the Wizards on board got them out to sea unnoticed and they slipped away into the East.   Vellus led his followers toward the rising Sun, finally coming to the Gates of the West and entering the Great Sea. Using Astrolabe’s charts he was able to sail to the river and coast of the hills. Leaving their ships they headed inland on the river and in two days’ time they came to the hills where they saw the Three Gates, and their orcish residents. After Vellus offered to pay for the land, and it was refused he determined to take the land. Knowing they had nowhere else to go, and the newest of powers the spell of a ball of flame, they vanquished the orcs. Forcing them into the swamps South of the river. Then Vellus and his followers set up their new City. Knowing the Three Gates would give them power and wealth greater than any City before them. They embraced the Law, and centered their religion around their gods of Knowledge, War, and Death. The Elves and their religious orders all sworn to protect the source of the City’s great powers.