History
of Norrath
The Tome Of Destiny
Chapter
I: The Council of the Gods
Chapter
II: The Call of Tranquility
Chapter
III: Attack on the Nexus
Chapter IV: Awakenings
Chapter
V: A Moment of Reflection
Chapter VI:
The Fall of Gukta
Chapter VII:
The Burning Snow
Chapter
VIII: The Gathering Storms
Chapter
IX: The Battle of Defiance
Chapter X: The Rending
Chapter XI: The Shattering
Chapter XII: Destiny
Awaits
The Bloodline Chronicles
Chapter I: Fevered
Dreams
Chapter
2 The Mouth of Darkness
Chapter
3: The Calling of the Crypt
Chapter
4: The Fall of the Mighty T'Haen
Splitpaw Saga
Chapter
I: A Message from below
Chapter
II: The Howling in the Darkness
Chapter
III: The Fall of Faroth Mal
Desert of Flames
Chapter I: Passages
Chapter II: The Price of Freedom
Kingdom of Sky
The Shadow of the Blade I:
The Twilight Tangle
II:
Artifacts
of Lore
Soulfire
The origins of this magical blade are the stuff
of legend. It has been claimed by both paladins and shadow knights at
various times in history and has felled opponents both treacherous and
noble. Some claim that the souls of those slain by this weapon are trapped
within the sword itself. It is said that if you look closely at the
glinting metal under the bright sun, you can see subtle visages of faces
shrieking in torment.
This sword was originally found by dark elves
in the Underfoot, and it remained in the Teir'Dal Empire for centuries
before it was stolen by a band of adventurers. Taken from Neriak's vaults,
it passed through many hands and eventually found its way to the great
trade city of Freeport. Disassembled by some unknown entity, its pieces
were scattered around Norrath. As its legend grew and adventurers attempted
to find the sword, fragments were gradually discovered.
Eventually one courageous paladin collected
all the lost pieces, and the sword magically reassembled of its own
will. The valorous Order of Marr knew its power and quickly hid it far
from the empires of man in a secluded fortress called Marr. But it was
again stolen and disappeared for years, eventually ending up in the
hands of the Avatar of War as he led the Rallosian Empire in a massive
assault on Freeport. At the Battle of Defiance the Avatar was slain,
and Soulfire was snatched from his dead clutches by the evil ruler of
Freeport - the fallen paladin known as Lucan D'Lere. To this day the
Overlord wields its fiery blade to inspire fear in the hearts of his
subjects.
Places of Lore
The Cavalier
Long ago in the Age of Turmoil, the famed gnomish
artist C.M. Brushwuttle was commissioned by the Knights of Truth and
the Paladins of Marr in Freeport to create an iconic statue that could
be used to represent the ideal of a valorous knight. To do this, Brushwuttle
envisioned a gallant avatar, almost a god-like being that he called
"The Cavalier." The face of the Cavalier would be partially shrouded
by a cloak. This was done to represent the humility of the true knight
as well as mask the knight's race - something that did not matter among
the valorous. The Cavalier was heavily armored and held the hilt of
a grand broadsword. The broadsword was actually patterned after the
Sword of Faith, a sword once given to knight-lords of the Knights of
Truth. The Cavalier was not aligned to any particular deity, but was
intended to symbolize a figure of great faith.
Thus the icon of the Cavalier was born. The
Knights of Truth and the Priests of Marr were overwhelmed by the powerful
visage of the Cavalier. It was erected in a prominent place within their
quarter of Freeport, and Brushwuttle was promptly commissioned to sculpt
four more. Soon visiting knights to the city gazed upon the statue and
were just as moved by it. New orders came in to Brushwuttle from numerous
orders of knights. As time went on, the Cavalier became the iconic sculpture
for valor and knighthood. It can be found in nearly every corner of
the world where great knights gather, and even in the ruins where they
once existed.
Freeport
The corrupt city of Freeport remains fixed
grip of its eternal overlord, Lucan D'Lere. With the aid of his Lucanic
Knights, D'Lere watches over the city and manipulates its ruling factions
to extend Freeport's influence and domination. Evil races displaced
by the Shattering now make their home within the city walls. The five
strongest factions of Freeport all vie for individual power while doing
their best to appease the dark will of the merciless Lucan.
Qeynos
Qeynos is the Great City, the city of valor
and defender of the meek. It is a beacon of hope amidst the anarchy
that plagues the world of Norrath in the Age of Destiny. It was nearly
destroyed during the Age of Cataclysms, left in rubble and the land
it sat upon partially submerged.
More
on Qeynos and Freeport
People of Lore
Antonia Bayle
Antonia Bayle is ruler of the kingdom of Qeynos.
Born with the name Shirrana on a small island isolated for centuries
by cataclysms, she had no idea that she was descended from the ruling
house of Qeynos. When the cataclysms subsided and word reached her island
that the Bayle family had been wiped out by disaster, the guardians
of the young woman's secret finally revealed the truth of her destiny.
Shirrana went to Qeynos with letters that proved
her ancestry, and she began the process of learning how to be a leader.
After several years of training, she assumed the title of Antonia and
took the throne; she has led her city for over seven years. Though only
in her late 20s, Antonia Bayle is already an accomplished leader. Possessing
an enigmatic charm and an undeniable beauty, she immediately commands
the attention of all who see her. But she is far from just a pretty
face; she proved soon after her arrival in Qeynos that she has a natural
gift to inspire her people and make wise decisions regarding their future.
She speaks from the heart and motivates her subjects to believe in their
ability to achieve great things.
Antonia cares little for the accumulation of
personal power, putting all of her time and energy toward the benefit
of her city. To her, the past is simply prologue; she encourages her
subjects to put aside old rivalries for the good of the future. She
constantly emphasizes accomplishments over failures, believing strongly
that people must move past their mistakes and learn to improve the lives
of everyone around them. In keeping with the tradition that no ruler
of Qeynos should ever be called king (or queen), Antonia sees herself
as a representative of her people.
Though she does not shun her royal lineage,
she portrays herself as a fellow citizen who faces the same challenges
as the average person. Her speeches appeal to commoner and aristocrat
alike, making clear that all people have a responsibility to one another,
regardless of station. When speaking of the accomplishments of her people,
she emphasizes that a victory for one is a victory for all. Antonia
understands her people's need for faith, and so she encourages religious
freedom. Though she advocates no specific deity herself, she sees any
belief in a benign god to be a positive thing that can inspire people
to do the right thing.
Lucan D'Lere
Lucan D'Lere is the evil Overlord of the city
of Freeport. He rules Freeport from his levitating fortress called Dethknell
Citadel, keeping order with an iron fist and unbending will. His origins
and background are clouded in secrecy and lore; those who tell tales
do not often last long enough to be heard again. Some say Lucan appears
in public wearing dark, foreboding armor. Others say he came from unusual
places to command his post. No clearer information is known.
Lucan is a seasoned, battle-hardened commander
of a great army. His face is deeply scarred, suggesting an age greater
than Lucan lets on. He is an extremely charismatic individual; his stride
is that of a confident and strong ruler, and his voice is rich and deep
- audiences are mesmerized when he speaks fluidly and demonstratively.
Lucan's sole focus is maintaining and expanding his personal power.
He believes the way to do this is to make himself appear indispensable
to his people.
In his speeches, Lucan will often rewrite history
to portray himself as the key figure in epic battles and crucial decisions
that have benefited the city of Freeport. He constantly reiterates that
he is responsible for keeping his kingdom safe, and that only through
his rule can the people prosper. Unlike most human dictators, Lucan
does not need for his people to love him. He demands their respect and
total obedience, but any aspect of his personality that needed approval
or affection has long since withered away. Lucan will appeal to his
people's patriotism, their greed and their fears, but he will never
seek to play upon positive emotions.
While he praises the efforts of his subjects,
he always frames their contributions as having only been possible through
the security that his rule provides. Though he tolerates those who practice
most religions, Lucan will downplay the role of the ancient gods whenever
possible. He has taken advantage of their absence to paint them as weak
and false beings who were never really gods at all. Lucan has no qualms
about portraying himself as a divine being far more worthy of worship.
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