West of Avalon Or: The Ballad of Elvandil
Today is the 1st of Alithifor, 5263 IN
"We who remember the glorious unification of the Old Continent are silent; the past aches within us. There is no unity here in this great valley west of Avalon, only indignation and torment for all eternity." -Assorted personal writings, 2166-5159 IN, Marguerite Ten-Voran
Five thousand years ago, the Seven Races found peace for the first time in the history of the world. Their union brought with it a vibrant renaissance of art and science, culminating in what was thought to be the greatest discovery of all time: a second continent to the west. A Great Migration was organized, and millions upon millions flocked to the New Continent to start fresh and forge a new dream.
Instead, they found a new nightmare. Upon arrival to a Great Valley, the Seven Races fell victim to a mysterious curse: the Valley was surrounded by an insurmountable sandstorm, and they found themselves unable to truly die. Seven messengers, one of each race, were identified by the Lord on High Valrea and told to deliver a prophecy to their fellow accursed: one day, two sorcerers of great power would fight to the death and set them free.
In the ensuing millennia, peace completely ruptured. The Stellist Bloc of fae, humans, mermaids, and nymphs vie for supremacy over the land with the isolationist orcs and elves, while avians scour the skies in search of a path over the storm. In the plainlands between decaying empires and corrupt kingdoms, mercenaries and criminals struggle over crumbs of power and influence. Hope was lost.
But hope never dies. Over a century ago, a new messiah emerged: the mermaid Lynea Galoris. After the death of her mentor and lover, prophetic high priestess Marguerite Ten-Voran, Lynea fled her elvish church and spread the faith to the birdfolk in preparation for the tribulation. In the past two decades, she built up the Free Kingdom of Tennerae with her partners-in-crime the Ladykillers, an outlaw gang led by legendary human gunslinger Diane Watson--but when she too vanished, Lynea wandered the Valley in search of answers and the other sorcerer who will one day fulfill her prophecy...
All the while, tension is brewing: the elves of Avalon set their sights on conquest, the humans of Glyndalli fester in decadence, the orcs of Farshah strengthen their grip on the western plainlands. All signs point to the total collapse of civilization as we know it. In the town of Lystel, far from the hotbed of impending war, Diane Watson keeps a low profile as a barkeep at the local tavern. There she plans to remain until her natural life ends--at least, that's what she tells the townsfolk.
After all, it's easier than the truth: she is Marguerite Ten-Voran, chosen wielder and second messiah. And Lynea, her lover, is destined to kill her.
Five thousand years ago, the Seven Races found peace for the first time in the history of the world. Their union brought with it a vibrant renaissance of art and science, culminating in what was thought to be the greatest discovery of all time: a second continent to the west. A Great Migration was organized, and millions upon millions flocked to the New Continent to start fresh and forge a new dream.
Instead, they found a new nightmare. Upon arrival to a Great Valley, the Seven Races fell victim to a mysterious curse: the Valley was surrounded by an insurmountable sandstorm, and they found themselves unable to truly die. Seven messengers, one of each race, were identified by the Lord on High Valrea and told to deliver a prophecy to their fellow accursed: one day, two sorcerers of great power would fight to the death and set them free.
In the ensuing millennia, peace completely ruptured. The Stellist Bloc of fae, humans, mermaids, and nymphs vie for supremacy over the land with the isolationist orcs and elves, while avians scour the skies in search of a path over the storm. In the plainlands between decaying empires and corrupt kingdoms, mercenaries and criminals struggle over crumbs of power and influence. Hope was lost.
But hope never dies. Over a century ago, a new messiah emerged: the mermaid Lynea Galoris. After the death of her mentor and lover, prophetic high priestess Marguerite Ten-Voran, Lynea fled her elvish church and spread the faith to the birdfolk in preparation for the tribulation. In the past two decades, she built up the Free Kingdom of Tennerae with her partners-in-crime the Ladykillers, an outlaw gang led by legendary human gunslinger Diane Watson--but when she too vanished, Lynea wandered the Valley in search of answers and the other sorcerer who will one day fulfill her prophecy...
All the while, tension is brewing: the elves of Avalon set their sights on conquest, the humans of Glyndalli fester in decadence, the orcs of Farshah strengthen their grip on the western plainlands. All signs point to the total collapse of civilization as we know it. In the town of Lystel, far from the hotbed of impending war, Diane Watson keeps a low profile as a barkeep at the local tavern. There she plans to remain until her natural life ends--at least, that's what she tells the townsfolk.
After all, it's easier than the truth: she is Marguerite Ten-Voran, chosen wielder and second messiah. And Lynea, her lover, is destined to kill her.