- Chapter 1: Hallvard
- Chapter 2: Cilandrio
- Chapter 3: Riverband
- Chapter 4: Hearthallow
- Chapter 5: Winterstall
- Chapter 6: Claremond
- Chapter 7: The Splitting of Boundaries
- Chapter 8: Civil or At War?
It’s been said that this tundra land full of adventure, buried treasure, nations, empires, monsters, organizations, and full of historical landmarks that tell of battles of wars from forever ago.
It’s been said that the War of the giants, some called them gods or heroes of old, brought about the chill of death that coats the land in haunted tombs, freezing rivers, dense forests, underground catacombs, and ice.
Chapter 1: Hallvard
This Northern country-land, called Hallvard, is home to the Knave; In their tongue, Knave means “Bones like stone” and these hardy men and women race are called such because to their large broad stature due to their massive bone structures, their innate ability to withstand cold temperatures and a natural capability of being very difficult to exterminate. If you are of pure Knavic bloodline, you can withstand even the toughest of conditions. In these northern lands, you can come across many tombs that are home to the dead Knavic heroes of old. Some myths say these tombs hold great magical curses that carried unworthy souls to be trapped inside the corpses of rotting spirits. Some say these mummies will even rise from their crypts if disturbed.
Chapter 2: Cilandrio
Further South-westward is Cilandrio, the temperature rises to create a climate of constant autumn. Beautiful are the trees and mountains here, but deadly are the creatures that lie within. Boundaries around great aristocratic cities, such as Riverband, Hearthallow, and Winterstall, create a sense of safety and culture for many races that travel through. Brick and mortar are what one walks upon in these cities, while metal and stone create steeples, buildings and scaffoldings that stretch up the smoky sky from the many coal mines and mills that keep each city profiting.
Chapter 3: Riverband
Founded in 389 PTF, it was given the name for the many rivers that travel through this metropolis city. The people are of a high society and offer many things or art, culture, food, and entertainment. The biggest was Sehanine Citadel, a structure built in worship to Sehanine Moondow, goddess of moon and autumn. In 368 PTF, this structure was shut down and reestablished into a fighting ring, known as Hadar’s Citadel and Fighting Ring. Many people love to come and watch the spectacle of monster fights and gladiator brawls.
Chapter 4: Hearthallow
Founded in 304 PTF by Hastios Olapeiros, this scientific advanced city is home of the elves. The elves are Fey in nature, and the society took to bringing new works of metal, iron, and magic for making leaps in technology, weapons, and general lifestyle living. Autonomous robotics, vehicles, even airships were designed. When the first world war of Cilandrio occurred, the sharing of Animus Crystals came to halt, for fear of making themselves a target to their neighboring kingdom. The elves took to making the Airships, as weapons of war, and just in time for the Ashen War in their neighboring continent, Haven. Unlike their neighboring city, Winterstall, they don’t have the means to meld and make Animus Crystals, which is the power source for their creations. To this day, the elves have remains of their mechanizations, collecting dust. Unlike their neighboring city, Winterstall, they don’t have the means to meld and make Animus Crystals, which is the power source for their creations.
The Royalty:
- 304 – 410 Hastios Olapeiros
- 410 – 515 Fainoonimbar Salinglock
- 515 – 604 Niranwen Granore
Chapter 5: Winterstall
Founded in 278 PTF, this city is the home of the dwarves, the city of Winterstall is built upon a small canyon that travels downward into the ground. Because of this, they have access to underground rivers and lakes, most likely connecting to some of the labyrinths that cascade the Zandorian underground. In 299 PTF, King Goldmar Hammerkin was ruler of Winterstall and even founded the Tolith Well, a tower that was a means of travel for excavation of Gold, Silver, and Platinum. The tower was placed in the center of Winterstall, and its foundations through stairs and lifts traveled downward half a mile to where the rivers and mines were. Goldmar and a she-Elf by the name of Tolith Fawynn, created Animus Crystals. Animus Crystals are when you take pure refined Gold & Silver, and common Copper, meld then together under certain conditions of heat and fey-magic to create an elemental energy in the form of crystals. Depending on the size, these crystals give off magical kinetic energy to power certain mechanical things. Goldmar and Tolith married, and Goldmar named the tower after his new Queen. When the Uncrowned King began his conquest and began to grow in power from the souls he consumed, much of Winterstall hid underground, traveling down the tower. Goldmar sent his Queen down as well, while he stayed and fought the evil wizard. An attack from the Uncrowned King destroyed the tower, killing and burying much of the dwarves underground.
Chapter 6: Claremond
Home to the Dragonborn race, legend says Zandoria was the first place that Winged Dragonborn were birthed. They are descended from dragons, eons ago, and still carry the dragon blood in their veins. Beyond that, not a lot is said of the history of Claremond. Currently, the cities lie in ruins from the first Zandorian War. Travelers must beware of lingering spirits that remain in that ruined city.
Chapter 7: The Splitting of Boundaries
Cilandrio is considered more civilized than the northward domain of Hallvard. The Knaves are considered aliens and usurpers of the land of Zandoria, making the claim they’ve been in Zandoria longer than many of the other races. While this is true, the other races who began to expand their technological advances and deepen their cities for protection against monsters and enemies left the Knaves in their archaic traditions. When the cities or Riverband, Claremond, Hearthallow and Winterstall built their own societal structure of various races, they held hands in political friendship under the leadership and founder of Riverband, Lady Kacie Fanthavreld. She set the boundaries of Cilandrio and Hallvard, using the Savage River as a sort of guide, though some of the kingdoms surpass its boundary. Hallvard’s people agreed and there was peace.
Chapter 8: Civil or At War?
In 389 PTF, Lady Kacie Fanthavreld was assassinated by a dragonborn from Claremond. The person of who it was is the son of Claremond’s King, Prince Thexandric Parash. The four hands of friendship were suddenly turned to fists toward Claremond and there was war for the first time in Zandoria. Elves from Hearthallow, Dwarves from Winterstall, and Humans from Riverband all demanded revenge and wiped out the dragonborn from Zandoria. By the time the Rift from the Planes of Fire, Earth, Wind and Water occurred, the three kingdoms now were no longer at peace, but unrest. To this day, this unrest remains. When danger arises, each kingdom looks out for themselves, yet they are intertwined through the very ground they stand on: Cilandrio. There is no trust and there is no aid.