BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
REALM
Little is actually known about the true history of Azoth as
so much of it is shrouded in mystery and legend. What is derived from the different
sources may also be steeped in the lore of fable but as with all history, one must start
somewhere. It is important to note that humans are the one race that finds a great
significance in history and often the historical references are discussed and recorded
regarding the human race at the sometime exclusion of the other races.
The Coming  of Man
The origins of man’s appearance in the Realm is an
area that is full of speculation but it does appear that man first appeared in the
northwest area. How and why they crossed over the Black Mountains into East Azoth is
unknown but some of the historians claim that a great climatic disaster drove the humans
away from their origin land. Perhaps it could have been that man was driven our by another
race. Much of the theory of man’s appearance as a migratory race in the northern
regions of the eastern part of Azoth is based on the fact that not only does it seem to be
where the more primitive tribes are located but old legends among the many tribes tell of
the Great Crossing which was well before the printed world recorded such events.
Man migrated slowly towards the south to take advantage of the
warmer climates. It is not known what other races existed at the time but it appears that
certainly the elves were heavily populated throughout all of Azoth before man’s
appearance. It is not certain about the other races but early archaeological digs indicate
that man may have been the last primary race to make an entry onto Azoth.
The Embracing of
Magic
The presence and cohabitation of the other races
drove mankind into the study of magic as opposed to technological advances. Man embraced
the arcane arts and rapidly used their newly gained power for exploitation and destruction
of the other races. Perhaps the most dominate race at the time of man’s ascendancy
were the elves and it would only be natural that a war would break out between the two
races that struggled for control of Azoth. The elves, superior in skill, seemed to be
assured of victory and man’s reign would end before it truly started. However,
through the use of magic which many other races now shunned because of the potential
danger, man called forth a great demon from the darkness of the netherworld. It was the
Shinde Imas, the terrible Elven Slayer. Man had unleashed this terror upon the elves
without realizing the full destructive wrath. The Shinde Imas and his minions virtually
wiped out the entire race of elves until he was finally defeated with the aid of a magical
sword created by the elves. It was obvious to the elves that they too, would have to
return to magic to survive.
The Formation of Nations
After the great Human/Elf War, both sides settled into
their own autonomous ways. The humans continued to move south and with the slowly
developing growth of a new religion, the moved away from the magical arts and instead
concentrated on a more simpler and natural lifestyle. The religious movement took hold and
the followers of Othariss retreated to the Isle of Ardonus to build a great nation of
peace and harmony. The other humans still on Azoth scattered throughout the land and
relative peace in Azoth as all races settled into their own territories.
As
Ardonus was following its peaceful course and many other humans were developing their own
pockets of society, a disruptive force came from the eastern coast in what is now Drohm.
It is said the great Black Dragon had set out to rid the area of all races but because of
the lack of communication between the lands of Azoth, it is believed that this was merely
a fable. However, a young warlord did emerge from there and he quickly set up a small
kingdom. His name was Darkoth.
The appearance of Darkoth was just one factor that
set in motion the great battles among the segmented human race that is usually referred to
as the "Forever War". Great armies formed to do battle and each had their sights
set on the rule of all Azoth. The wars lasted for centuries with occasional periods of
undeclared peace. Nations grew and fell during the Wars. Empires reached out and grabbed
other lands only to fall themselves later. The Forever War became just that, a war that
would go on forever becoming just a part of life for the different nations and kingdoms.
Only once during the Forever War did the humans call a general truce
amongst themselves. The massive Orc armies had taken advantage of the warring human
factions and marched throughout the land to wreak havoc among the populations of all
races. Even the combined might of all of the human races were helpless to stop the huge
numbers of Orcs and most of the other races combined forces as well to eliminate the Orc
menace once and for all. The battles culminated into what is now known as the Great Orc
War and the final battle was in the Great Field of Azoth. It was a battle that lasted for
weeks. For those who yearned fore eventual peace, the sight of almost all of Azoth’s
races working together against a common enemy gave them hope. However, after the Orcs were
finally defeated, the races returned to their respective distrust of the other races and
the humans resumed their own destruction against each other.
As the forever war continued, the people of Ardonus faced
the torment of the great Black Death. It was an evil plague that ravaged their population.
It was not a random force of pestilence but rather directed by the evil force known as
Terroreck which arose to fight the goodness and light of the powerful religion of
Othariss. Faced with defeat, the people of Ardonus left the island and moved onto the
continent of Azoth in a land previously unsettled. A new kingdom was settled that would
surpass even the glorious heyday of Ardonus. The new land was Called Ardonia and a great
wall was created on its borders for protection against the possible invasion of Thorin or
Drohm which were now the two primary combatants left.
 Drohm, led by the wizard Prince Darkoth and Thorin which was guided by the
latest ruler, Thoragg, both continued their quest of growing their kingdoms. Most of the
other lands had withdrawn from the warring ways and settled into the lands that they
firmly held. The first of the ruling hierarchy in the Kingdom of Shamir, Lady Falla,
pulled out of the battle after conquering Carahill and combining the two kingdoms. The
scattered armies in the north formed the fragile but peaceful union of Brachman. To the
south, the revered Minister of Peace who negotiated many of the truces and alliances grew
tired of the greedy plans of a few and formed a nation out of the wilderness the southern
coast. The nation would later take his name for its own and O’koth was formed.
As the wars settled down between a war not between only Drohm and
Thorin, the people of Ardonia who for the most part remained untouched during the Forever
War, now found themselves under attack from the evil force that drove them out of their
island kingdom. Terroreck had moved against them in Azoth as well. With Thorin losing
ground to Drohm, Terroreck reached out to Thoragg to join forces. This resulted in Drohm
and Ardonia forming an alliance against those two. The Forever War finally ended with
Terroreck being defeated and the former kingdom of Thorin being virtually exterminated
completely with only history and memories recalling the once and great powerful land.
The End of War
Relative peace has blessed Azoth for many years. Most
of the kingdoms and lands settled for self growth and little thought was given to the
illusions of one united empire of man. Cities flourished, generations passed from one to
the next with little regard to the other lands, relations with the other races of Azoth
headed for a minimum of diplomatic respect in some cases, actual trade agreements with
others. It appeared that true peach had come to Azoth.
To one however, the peaceful existence gave hope that it was a sign
of weakness of the t others. Lord Darkoth of Drohm saw the prosperity throughout Azoth and
wished to claim it as his own. The complete rule of Azoth became his quest. His first
attack went against the tribes of Brachman. Carahill, wishing to avert another long drawn
out war agreed to negotiate terms. Ardonia watched to see what the plans of Darkoth were
before acting but then Darkoth unleashed what he thought would be his guaranteed victory,
the terrible entity of Daemonstorm and the world of Azoth was changed forever.
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