War for Gateway Background and History

[GM Mad]

Here is a brief look back at the history leading up to the Operation: Graystone game. This is basically what the common person knows. Scholars who are more versed in history might know more things or realize that some of the information is incorrect.

Close up of Crossroads / Fort Graystone / Gateway area. 1 hex = 8 miles

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Crossroads:

The history of the game region is essentially a tale of two cities. The first being a city now called Crossroads that sits where two major trade routes meet. Its generally agreed that the area where Crossroads now sits has been occupied for a very long time, but the history of the city itself goes back about a thousand years.

The city was founded by the Selenica family and that was it's original name. Selenica was built in a relatively safe location. The Dorwynn Elfholds were to the east and provided an effective barrier to goblinoid invaders who typically came from the Broken Lands much further to the west. To the north east was Rockhome, the land of the dwarves and another barrier. The only real path of invasion was from the north and west, an hilly region that skirted the borders between the elfin forest and the dwarven mountains. Farmland surrounded Selenica and continued on to the west until it met regular forests.

More importantly Selenica sat along main trade routes. The High Road started at the Selenica and wound its way west to a place called Darokin City hundreds of miles away. To the south was the King's Road. Today it travels south through the Black Peak Mountains into what is now called the Inner Kingdom to the capital of Alexandria and then further on to the ocean port of Kingsport.

Not long after Selenica came into being it joined what came to be called the Kingdom of Darokin, whose capital was the distant Darokin City on the shores of the mighty Streel River. That area did see regular incursions from the orc hordes from the north. Cities were captured and burned with alarming regularity. About two hundred years ago Selenica suffered this fate and the King of Darokin did nothing to help. This enraged the current Duke of Selenica and he swore allegiance to the Kingdom of Cynalon who lay directly to the south and had attempted to defend his city. This in turn enraged the King of Darokin who declared war on the Kingdom of Cynalon igniting the Kingdom War.

The Kingdom War lasted about ten years and ended with the two kingdoms being force to unite against another orc horde. The two kingdoms were victorious, but then the Darokin King attacked the King of Cynalon after the battle and lost. The Cynalonian King, Tellon the Fourth, claimed all of Darokin, proclaiming it all to be part of the Kingdom of Cynalon. Most of the Darokin Nobles agreed, as they had no love for the king who dragged then into a senseless war. Because of this merger the original Kingdom of Cynalon became the Inner Kingdom and what had been Darokin was commonly referred to as the Outer Kingdom. The name of Darokin City was reverted to an earlier name and became called Elcadan. Selenica was rebuilt and it was at this time it took the name Crossroads.

[GM Mad]

Gateway:

There was a third major trade route that sees little use today. This is the road that starts at Crossroads, travels east through the Graystone Pass and ends at a large plateau six days journey away. It was here that the City of Gateway stood. No one is quite sure how long ago Gateway was built or even who built it. Beyond Gateway and below the plateau were what was called the Frontier Lands. The city on the top of the plateau was called Gateway as it was the gateway to the lands to the east of Cynalon. What the original builders called Gateway is unknown. The original inhabitants of the Frontier Lands remain a mystery to this day. There are some evidence that someone did live there, but who?

A road leading north from Gateway travels into the dwarven lands of Rockhome and it becomes the main trade route for the dwarves to trade with the humans. This road is called the Karrak Road for it ends at the dwarven fortress city of Karrak.

About three hundred years ago a powerful mage by the name of Keln appeared in the Frontier Lands from seemingly out of nowhere with his foreboding citadel, Shadowkeep, the so-called Fortress of Dark Magic. Keln enforced his will on those who did live in the Frontier Lands, mostly goblins and their ilk, a few powerful cults and the followers of the vile God of War Hextor. Keln declared himself Emperor of the Keln Imperium and relations with Cynalon became very strained. Minor conflicts became a regular thing, but all out war did not occur.

At this point in history the old Kingdom of Darokin controlled Gateway by way of the rulers of Selenica. They saw and most likely named Gateway as an opportunity to expand trade routes into the Frontier Lands. While the Gateway was officially claimed by Darokin, it was Selenica who manned the city. When Keln's forces came to take the city, Selenica wasn't able to put up much of a fight. Instead they retreated back to Selenica.

In the years that followed, Fort Graystone was built to thwart any invasion force that might come from Gateway. The fort sat at the entrance to Graystone Pass, the winding road through the Graystone Mountains that led to Gateway. Keln's forces made no attempt to advance any further, so this situation remained in place for hundreds of years.

[GM Mad]

Recent History:

More recently, some sixty years ago, the Crown Prince of Cynalon had been kidnapped by a strange cult. The adventuring band the Swords of Cynalon rescued the baby crown prince and safely returned him to his parents. Information learned from the rescue suggested that Keln was behind the abduction. King Victor the Fifth of Cynalon did not take that information well. The forces of the Keln Imperium had always proven troublesome, but now it was war.

But King Victor the Fifth knew that this would be a long term campaign. He knew that he had to deal with the orc hordes who regularly caused trouble to the western borders of his lands. So the war with Keln was delayed several years while the western borders of Cynalon were shored up.

When that task was complete, the Cynalonian Army gathered at Crossroads and began their march east. Gateway is captured and for the first time it is under Cynalonian control. Using Gateway as their base of operations, the Cynalonian army lays siege to the Keln Imperium.

About forty-five years ago, the Cynalonian Army is on the doorsteps of Shadowkeep. The King, accompanied by his finest warriors and wizards advance into the Fortress of Dark Magic taking the battle to Keln himself. After that no one is sure just what happened. To those fighting outside the fortress, Shadowkeep simply vanished as if it had never been there. What remained of the Cynalonian Army battled Keln's Forces until what remained of both sides withdrew. In one fell swoop, the most powerful men in the Kingdom of Cynalon were simply gone. Weeks later, leaderless soldiers returned home to tell the tale of the loss of their King.

The Keln Imperium wasn't in any better shape. Lacking Keln's strong leadership, the various factions fought among themselves and this fighting continues to this very day. The foul Priests of Hextor seem like the most dominate power.

Queen Patrice of Cynalon rules in place of her missing husband until her son, Victor the Sixth is old enough to take control. Dark times befall Cynalon after the Battle of Shadowkeep. During the war the orc hordes regained their strength and invaded the north west lands. An understaffed Fort Fletcher is over run and the hordes pile into the City of Ardelphia.

What remains of the Cynalonian Army is sent to fight these invaders. In the process Gateway is abandoned once more and eventually goblins move in. On the other side of the Kingdom, more lands and cites fall to the orc horde. Thankfully, they remain on the western side of the Streel River. The wide, fast moving waters are too dangerous to attempt to cross for the horde. In essence all the cities to the west of the Streel are sacrificed to protect the rest of the kingdom. It takes nearly ten years for this orc horde to finally be broken.

[GM Mad]

Today:

Today the tale of two cities tells two very different stories. Crossroads is a thriving metropolis. It is home to around 45,000 beings. About 60% of those are human, while 25% are dwarves given the close proximity to Rockhome. Half-elves are the next most common, about 10% of the population. Elves, gnomes and halflings make up the rest of the citizens of Crossroads.

The two major roads meet at the center of Crossroads in a huge open plaza. The streets leading to the plaza are extra wide to accommodate multiple caravans. Streetlights a lit with Continual Light Spells line the streets. The city is protected by a forty foot high wall and covered with more Continual Light spells.

Sprawling out from the central plaza is an open market and numerous inns and business for travelers. Along the outer edges of the Crossroads are the various living districts for nobles, the rich, and the common folk. There is also a dwarven quarter and a smaller elfin district along with gnome and halfling neighborhoods.

At the other end of Graystone Pass sits what remains of Gateway. It's exact state is currently unknown. It is known that a huge number of goblinoids currently call it home. What else lurks in the shadows of this fallen city? No one knows of sure.

Time passed as the weakened Cynalon regains her strength. The last thirty some years have been relatively peaceful. With renewed vigor, the Kingdom of Cynalon looks to reclaim those lands and cities it has lost. It turns its eyes to the City of Gateway on the eastern edge of the Kingdom. The retaking of Gateway is just the first step into a new age of glory. Adventurers are sought for this great task. Adventurers like you are needed for Operation: Graystone!