D&D Backstory Stuff

The Shudder.

Before Erdan was born his parents Rolen and Shava had to deal with their problems. Rolen and Shava were a part of a clan named Amakiir. They lived in a secluded concord in the woods named Imelin. For some time, there was a sense of peace until something emerged from beyond the tree line. A nomad group of High Elves pushed their way into their territory and soon a bloody battle persisted. The Liadon were fierce and vicious and for a time, it seemed Amakiir wouldn’t last.  However, the tide of war would change once a decisive blow was made to the Amakiir. This was caused by a battle known as “The Shudder.” Why was it called this? 

Amakiir had a group of elders. The most prolific of these elders was called Ratha—the oldest and most inspiring leader of the clan. As the battles raged through day after day, they lost many of their own, including most of the other elders. Ratha was the last of the elders to remain. This was realized before the final charge of the Liadon was to begin. Ratha stricken by grief cried out. She was done with this war. She wanted the bloodshed to stop. The combination of her grief and desperation caused her to do something unprecedented. 

The commander of the Liadon let out a fierce call as the remaining strength of their army advanced. The Amakiir fell into a defensive line in response, but they knew the chances were slim. Suddenly Ratha would fall onto her knees and cry out. Her cries were filled with pleading for someone to help. She didn’t care what it would take. She would give everything in exchange for her people to live in prosperity. 

The onslaught of the horde didn’t persist as each word she shouted caused them to run faster. They thought it was an empty threat. But that’s when it happened. Suddenly and without any warning. Energy would shoot forth from Ratha. Her eyes glowed with excessive and unforetold power. With one scream this energy would burst from her very being. Before long she was consumed by this dark magical energy. Upon seeing this the commander and his army would stop and look upon in horror. Ratha was gone. And all that remained in her place was pure magical essence. 

Everyone who witnessed the event can agree that they felt the same feeling during the silence. Chills. The magic rapidly and unnaturally moved which would split apart and shoot into the crowds of the invading army. Not everyone was hit, however most of the army was stricken by the magical energy. The energy which was once Ratha had consumed those who had been hit by it. 

Soon enough, those afflicted would fall to their knees. A grotesque retch would come from all of them that obscured even the loudest of cries. A black ooze would spill out from their mouths—excessive amounts to where you would think that they ejected all their blood. And just like that, they fell in silence, and the battle had ended. 

Out of fear for what the Amkaiir had done to their people they pleaded for mercy. Mind you, the once large group of high elves had been reduced to a small fraction of what they once were. Surprisingly, the Liadons were spared from what few were left of them. This was met with an upheaval of feedback, although the Liadon had their uses and were kept. The Liadons were shrugged off by society but were soon integrated into the group of elves. 

But even if the battle was done. And how the next generation was ready to fill in the place of the elders, there was still a present issue. This darkness had never left. Even if the people are unaware. The being that created The Shudder is still present inside the region. And possibly even spreads out beyond that. But the most important aspect of all of this, that even rivals The Shudder is that it has infected the bloodline. 

What does that even mean? It means it has crept its way into the next generation. After The Shudder it seemed that the newborns were magically attuned. Many had become Wizards, Bards, Sorcerers, Clerics, and even some Warlocks.  It seems that whatever Ratha had invited into their concord is here to stay and is engrained in the magical capabilities of its strongest casters. As for what it has planned. No one knows. Only time will tell when the time comes.