Fantasy Witcher Tales: Lore

[MrBossMan]

Places​

Cordington Keep is the main castle of the Locklong family. It is a huge stone fortress originally built in a war that has long since been over. The keep sits high and proud on top of the largest hill within its valley and is rumored to be impenetrable. This castle is the true symbol of Locklong power and influence and its people look on it as such. Resting below in the castles lower valley, sleeps the town of Cordington. A once restless and busy people now no longer go about with the same energy they once had. The curse taking a heavy toll on the peasantry way of life most folk now stay in their homes waiting for their hardship to end. While others vent their frustration more outwardly by preying upon those they can blame. Dwarves and Elves now finding themselves victims to human indecency like never before.


Locklong lands are a wild place, forest, rivers, lakes and valleys span undisturbed for miles. In between these pockets of wilderness sprout towns, cities and villages of humans. They cling together for safety as they try to survive their grim way of life. Monsters, although rare, seem to be more common with the curse in effect. Stories and rumors are always being spread about some missing villager or another, the latest casualty of a necrophage or werewolf attack. Regular bounties and rewards are being posted by the loved ones of missing people. Village elders are also posting notices about the influx of crime nearby their cities. Bandits and thieves prey upon the roads, waiting for merchants and refugees to take advantage of.

Magic

Magic is a powerful and dangerous force within the world, only wielded by those with the talent and knowledge available to use it. The truth is although magic is a very lucrative way to power it can also be a very raw and chaotic energy. Allowing an individual to control the elements, teleport to places far away, create illusions to confuse people as well as granting them the ability to curse others. Most noble families recognize the power of those with the ability to harness magic and thus they employ magicians to help them lead their kingdoms or lands. Although magic can be a quick way to power, there is no quick way to magic. Most magicians spend years of dedicated study time devoting themselves to understanding the complexities of such a strange force. Because of this very complex nature magic can also be very taxing on an individual, who will often need to rest and recover after casting a spell. Of course this depends on the skill of the mage and the difficulty of the spell that was cast.​

 

[MrBossMan]

The Situation
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As the Northern kingdoms fought amongst themselves for a controlled and unified north, Nilfgaard waited. The Great Northern War, as it has been called, nearly brought each kingdom to their knees. Weakened and weary of fighting it was no surprise that Nilfgaard and it’s armies marched across the Pontar. They wanted to take advantage of the situation in the North, seeing this as their best chance to finally force the great northern kingdoms of Termeria, Redainia and Keadwen into submission. At first the war with Nilfgaard was easily a one sided conflict.


The northern kingdoms had just finished fighting each other, a war that lasted for years, each one had signed a peace treaty but even still tensions were high between them. With a fresh and well trained army Nilfgaard easily beat each kingdom when they stood alone. As they marched deeper into the north non-humans started rallying under Nilfgaard banners. Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes and everything in between were promised their freedom from human tyranny. Due to this tensions between non-humans and humans ran higher than ever before. Even those non-humans which didn’t side with Nilfgaard were still discriminated against without mercy. It seemed everyone, regardless of faction or loyalty, wanted to fight someone.


Nilfgaard and all of its might besieged Temeria’s capital city of Vizima. After that everything seemed lost for the northern kingdoms until a few heroes rose from the ashes. King Randel the Uneasy of Redainia marched in with his armies, then Keadwen soon followed Redainia’s example. Finally a unified north stood together against Nilfgaard and it’s armies, the war would be decided there at Vizima. However, for the north is still wasn’t enough and they knew it. Nilfgaard attacked them all, companies of non-humans leading the charge against the north. However, like in a story of older times, Mages showed up and sided with the northern kingdoms. A massive battle ensued ending with Nilfgaards greatest and final defeat. After suffering such a massive loss Nilfgaard called for a hasty peace treaty, on losing terms. One of the conditions was to completely disband the non-human fighting companies in its army and release them to the northern kingdoms for war crimes. It did so without hesitation, leading to the biggest mass execution of Elves and Dwarves the world had ever seen up to that point.


With the Nilfgaard/Northern war over each kingdom began to rebuild themselves after nearly a decade of combined war campaigns. The common folk themselves were an easy target in the conflict and to vent their anger they target the non-humans. Now Scoia’tael bands are forming all over the north, killing and razing entire villages in the name of freedom. Whether they’re terrorist or freedom fighters depends on the perspective. All agree though that the Scoia’tael are becoming more and more of a threat.


In Redainia problems are worse off than anywhere else, a curse has fallen over one of it’s most powerful lording families. The Longlocks, now suffering the most from Scoia’tael who take advantage over the curses effects. Non-humans simply seem to be fed up to the brim with human bigotry and discrimination. On top of that it is said that King Randels daughter, ( D d1uni5ys24si3o )
Princess Evy, has been kidnapped by a Sorceress and an Elf. It was a hard truth for the people to face. After once glorifying magicians for their heroic stand at Vizima they now see a Sorceress, King Randel's top magical advisor ( revalia ) Lady Liliana of Tretogor, take the Princess hostage. When people heard that an Elf ( ShadowRogue ), rumored to be a top Scoia'tael agent was with them, the sides were chosen. Magicians were in bed with the non-humans. Not a reputation one wanted to have in the north. People fear they’re to hold the Princess hostage against King Randel, maybe perhaps even give her to Nilfgaard or the Scoia’tael as a bargaining chip. Desperate and perhaps even a bit scared King Randel has hired a Witcher ( MrBossMan ) to find his daughter. Accompanied by a well known Nilfgaardian bard ( Iskandar ) the strange duo search for the Princess and her kidnappers.


There is no doubt that others have heard of the missing Princess and a secret war has been waged to find her. While amidst cursed and hostile lands the fate of a kingdom is being waged. Who is hiding in the shadows? Who waits this time to strike? Is there any truth to the rumors and who is willing to search for it? In this time of great crisis their can only be one winner. Scoia’tael, Nilfgaard, Redainia, Human or Magician only one thing is certain…..


The Curse of the Longlocks will be a story told for generations.