Armies of Adrecanth

[Dale]

King Aldric of Darvidor has gone missing. No one knows why or how or even when; one day he simply wasn’t there. Naturally, a massive search was swiftly put together and executed, but it was in vain, for no trace of the king could be found within the castle. The searchers then scoured the countryside, searching through that darkest caves and most gloomy forests, all eyes hoping to find some sign that of the king. This again was a fruitless search and still the king’s disappearance could not be explained away. There was no evidence of abduction, no overturned furniture, no blood, nothing. It was utterly baffling.

Teams of guards continued to search as the spring wore on, but the land needed a ruler, and badly. The King’s Council of Advisors set to work on this problem immediately and with great vigor. It was a problematic situation to say the least. The next to take the throne would have been Queen Astrea, but she had passed away four years previously due to a bad riding accident. Next of course would be the Crown Princess Daella, but she was only eighteen and had two years still before she was of age to ascend the throne. The next possible candidate was the King’s younger brother, Duke Rickert – who had oh-so-conveniently reminded the Council of that little detail. The Duke did not have the best of reputations, but he was powerful, and it would be folly to overlook his claim. But the Council did not completely trust Rickert and thus decided to confer upon him the title of Regent until that day which the Crown Princess came of age or he proved himself a worthy leader with the support of the realm. The Duke was not pleased with the Council’s decision, but he could not openly challenge them. He had always desired his brother’s position, ever since childhood; he wanted that position now, and he would do anything to get it. To be fair, Rickert is as much in the dark in respect to his brother’s disappearance as the rest of the realm, but his ultimate purpose is to use the situation for his own benefit.

Unfortunately, Rickert still needs to gain the approval of the citizens of Darvidor before he can become king, so his first plan of eliminating his competition for the throne (specifically, his neice, Daella) would not be entirely wise. That in mind, the power hungry Duke instead formed a secret alliance with Darvidor’s neighbor and longtime enemy, Gardranth. In exchange for fake raids and attacks on Darvidor, Rickert agreed to release Gardrean prisoners as a gesture of peace between the two nations.

Of course, as the case nearly always stands, the Regent Duke is not the only one with a secret agenda. King Gereon of Gardranth has his own plans that the Duke, blinded by his lust for the throne and power, has unwittingly played right into. It had long been the goal of Gardrean rulers to annex Darvidor, but all previous attempts failed. Darvidor may be small, but its military might is unparalleled across the land. Now, after nearly one hundred years of relative peace, the time is ripe for Gardranth to make its move, and if Gereon plays his hand right, Darvidor’s days could very well be numbered. The first stage of the king’s plan hinges on Duke Rickert. With a supposedly good rapport (secret though it is), Gereon can help the Regent establish himself as a ruler, but would make some “false” attacks just brutal enough so that the citizens of Darvidor would not have complete trust in their Regent Duke. Gereon’s plan is supposed to involve little bloodshed, this accomplished by a state marriage between the Heirs to each respective realm (an offer that he has yet to propose to the Regent Duke, but is sure that Rickert would accept, for it would eliminate his most pressing opposition and obstacle keeping him from the throne). Then of course the Regent Duke would have to either be imprisoned or sentenced to death, because such an adversary would certainly cause problems for the newly expanded Gardranth.

So sure is he of his plan that the King of Gardranth has enlisted the help of the old Sorcerer Xisriik and his compatriot and nephew, the Sorcerer Caldren. The Sorcerers and those left of their kind are under instruction to delve into their fabled Mistlands and bring out the monsters that dwell within – in strictly controlled numbers of course. The monsters would then be used to terrorize the people of Darvidor, and if done in a discreet manner the plot would never be pinned on Gardranth.

Yet, the saying about the best laid plans rings true here, for unbeknownst to either the Gardreans or the Darvidorians, both nations are playing right into the hands of a long forgotten power: the Sorcerers.

Long considered a non-threat, this ancient group of people have hidden away out in the Wastelands, secretly growing in strength, fueled by their hatred of the invaders (the Gadreans and Darvidorians) and their shame at having been so easily overpowered and suppressed. The rulers of Gardranth and Darvidor may believe they are in control, but the Sorcerers are the ones truly holding the reins, and if they succeed in their quest to retake their ancient lands and reform the long dead land of Adrecanth, the people of Gardranth and Darvidor face a terrible doom.

The Armies of Adrecanth are rising.

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