Points of Light Elsir Vale

This written history describes that of several mighty empires to have existed throughout antiquity, marvels of civilization that wax and waned throughout time only to be reclaimed by the wild. Ruins of these empires, filled with monsters and sometimes ancient artifacts, dot the wilderness outside villages, towns and cities. These safe havens are the remaining ‘Points of Light’ that keep the wilderness at bay and provide relative reprieve to their inhabitants.

Long before the modern human towns like Brindol rose to prominence, the Vale was part of an ancient Dwarven kingdom—most commonly known by the name Kho-Tharkk. At the height of its power, it spanned the entirety of the Vale. But this did not last. The decline of the dwarves in the Elsir Vale came gradually, accelerated by multiple threats: The region’s ancient past hints at wyrms from the Wyrmsmoke Mountains forcing the Dwarves to abandon deeper delves; the Giantshield Mountains were home to powerful ogres and giants who warred with the dwarves over territory. Legend also speaks of a curse that spread through certain halls, driving dwarves to insanity or undeath. As their connections with distant dwarven kingdoms faded, innovation slowed, and the population dwindled. The latest empire in Elsir Vale to rise was the human empire of Rhestilor that peaked 500 years ago, and the fell into ruin 200 years ago. The Rise and Fall of Old Rhest and Rhestilor was well chronicled. Most recently, the inhabitants of Elsir Vale fought off a great host of orcs and goblins during the rise of The Red Hand of Doom. The tenuous peace has lasted 40 years, but in the shadows, an old enemy stirs and plots.