Current State of Affairs

Era beginning/end

Fifty years following the onset of the Second Dark Age, the diminished Kingdom of Riverhold struggles under the stern rule of The Holy Dominion of Daghda, which continues its aggressive crackdown on all forms of magic. Trade is slowly resurging, reconnecting the isolated cities and outlying territories, yet mysterious events told by trade caravans and explorers fuel fear and speculation. While The Church attributes these incidents to the estranged elves, rumors of unseen threats and hidden dangers persist among the populace. Amidst these harsh realities, a new generation emerges, bearing both the burdens of the past and the hopes for a different future.

Five decades after the institution of the theocracy and the descent into the Second Dark Age, the former Kingdom of Riverhold was a shadow of its past glory. The central authority, once sweeping across the continent, now barely reached beyond the capital's immediate vicinity.   The area of total control under The Holy Dominion of Daghda was limited to the area surrounding Lake Aurora, Crown Meadows, Mystwood, Whispering Woods and just beyond the Vyre River to the North. The Church still sent emissaries and preachers and established schools for indoctrination outside this area to grow their area of influence. However, without sufficient strength to enforce their will, they had to rely on local support to establish a foothold. And the further they traveled, the more resistance they met as people knew very well The Church could not risk to spread their forces to thin.   The Holy Dominion of Daghda, maintained a relentless crusade against the use of magic. Its decree, persistently upheld over half a century, had woven itself into the societal fabric. Practitioners of magic, once respected scholars and healers, were now whispered legends, their tales carrying the dangerous allure of the forbidden. Any suspected use of magic was swiftly and mercilessly dealt with, the transgressors made public examples of to instill fear and obedience.   The elves, officially declared enemies of the Church, were held responsible for all ills befalling the people. Preachers pointed fingers at the "sinful" alliance between The Druids and the elves as the root cause of the kingdom's fall. The fear of the elusive elven race ran deep in the hearts of the populace, their tales distorted by fifty years of religious propaganda.   Amidst this bleak existence, sparks of resilience were visible. Trade, the lifeblood of any society, had begun to make a comeback, albeit slowly. Caravans, carrying goods and hopes of better days, ventured between the surviving cities and the far-flung territories, strengthening their slowly reviving connections. The tales of traders, full of strange encounters and mysterious events, offered a respite from the harsh daily grind.   Yet, these stories also brought disquiet. The Holy Dominion of Daghda was quick to blame these incidents on the elves, fueling the existing animosity. However, among the populace, speculations took different routes. Whispers of unknown threats, hidden enemies, or a curse haunting the lost lands floated in the marketplaces and taverns.   As the world marked half a century since the cataclysmic change, it teetered on the edge of another evolution. Trade was picking up, stirring the stagnant waters of the past decades. New alliances were being formed, old enemies re-evaluated, and forgotten histories revisited. The major cities and territories were awakening from a long slumber, looking beyond their walls, and listening to the distant echoes of a changing world.   Underneath The Holy Dominion of Daghda's relentless reign, the embers of curiosity and resistance were slowly heating up, heralding an era of change. Despite the fear and hardship, a new generation was rising, carrying the weight of the past and the hopes of the future. The kingdom, or what was left of it, was facing its past, grappling with its present, and gazing towards an uncertain future.   Previous event