Age of Conquest - The Calamity of Dragons

Under Construction: Reconstructing this old Chronicle is a still ongoing process

The Age of Conquest is a fantasy chronicle and campaign, which started during the summer of 2017 and ended in the winter of 2021.
The plot takes place in the Kingdom of Aurun, in the year 3168 AoM, the 50th year of rule after the rebellion of the mysterious Overlord against the former king of the country. Only the oldest inhabitants still remember a time before the rule of The Overlord. The realm has become more wild and violent since and the inhabitants have to live with the new laws and hard reality, they are confronted with.
The plot of the chronicle is based on the path of adventurers, called "Ratcatchers", who don't have a good reputation among the nobility of the realm and are openly despised, but their existence is important to do the things, The Overlord and his armies can't or don't want to do. And so these interesting folk are often loved by the people of the realm, but despised by the nobility and leadership at the same time.

Plot Summary

Season I

The Heroes of Hommlet (Chapter 1 - 9)

Called to help by the local smith, the heroes venture out from the small village of Hommlet to rescue his daughter from a band of savage Goblins. On their journey these adventurers become friends, as they battle side by side, while exploring the mysterious Crypt of the Delian Order to safe the girl.
The Goblins seem to be part of a much larger cult to some sinister Demon Lord and soon the heroes find themselves in the middle of an elaborate ploy by The Forces of Orcus under the leadership of Kalarel the Vile and his right hand man Lareth the Beautiful.
Defeating the cult in the nearby Moathouse, the party then soon has to repel a brutal attack on the village of Hommlet, which earns them the respect of the local regent, Elmyrr Saxton, in the capital of Verbobonc. Impressed by their talents and bravery, the lord sends them on a quest to retrieve a mystical artifact sword from the nearby village of Gravesford, but the adventurers get defeated by the sudden appearance of the powerful Vampire Serena of Ravenholm, who forces them to give up the sword and return to Verbobonc.
When they return, things have turned to the worse, the local wizard, Allura Vysoren, who until now served as a valuable ally to the party has gone missing and the ruthless regent Elmyrr Saxton plans to use this opportunity to make a grab for power within the barony and establish himself as its new ruler. To cover his own schemes, he sets the heroes up as murderers of the wizard and puts them into jail.
During their escape and the following struggles within the city, the party manages to make an ally out of the dangerous assassin Lenia, but lose two of their own in the process. With new allies and their faith in the local government shattered, they must set a new course for their adventures, still determined to rescue their wizard ally Allura Vysoren, who turned out to have been captured by the same Orcs, that retrieved the artifact sword for Serena of Ravenholm. It was time to stop their menace and take back everything these orcs took from the heroes.

Season II

A Tale of Two Keeps (Chapter 10 - 19)

After escaping Verbobonc, the adventurers journey through the wildlands, facing a brutal attack by werewolves, during which Bellatrix Montajay is infected with Lycanthropy. Seeking shelter, they encounter mercenaries offering to help them capture Castle Rend, but the cost is too high. Instead, they come across Paladin Iraea Erinmane, who defends her dying lord. Suniri Gorefall strikes a deal with the Raven Queen to save the lord’s life in exchange for slaying the false archon Rauriel. Grateful, the noble offers them future aid.
The group infiltrates Castle Rend, battling orcs led by Bonebreaker Dorokor. Calfan invokes Ymix’s power, unleashing a devastating fireball to turn the tide. They free Lady Allura Vysoren and a boy named Edmund of Bedegar, the rightful ruler of the county. In gratitude, he grants Suniri the title of Baronetess and ownership of Castle Rend.
As they establish their new home, Bellatrix’s werewolf curse worsens. Seeking a cure, they visit the seer Iszûla, who reveals ominous prophecies about their fates. Meanwhile, they form alliances with nobles and secure a garrison for the castle. They take on quests, including hunting a giant and battling a demon in the ruins of Narthaal, leading Bellatrix to strike a deal with a pit fiend in exchange for a cure.
Serena of Ravenholm, a powerful Vampire, attacks Castle Rend, demanding an artifact Bellatrix unknowingly took. The group resists, but Serena abducts Calfan. In a twisted turn of fate, Calfan falls under Serena’s spell and betrays the group, poisoning them to let her reclaim the artifact. However, the item is lost in a mysterious abyss beneath the castle.
While investigating the depths, they accidentally open a portal to the Plane of Water, nearly unleashing Olhydra. Calfan once again calls upon Ymix’s aid, transforming into a dragon to stop the elemental threat. Their exploration leads them to a ruined drow city in the Underdark, where they encounter Ku’Thorn, a mind flayer. He follows them back to the surface, attacking Castle Rend with intellect devourers. Though defeated, he claims Mortimer Silverbeard’s life and shatters Suniri’s mind.
The group allies with the exiled drow noble Vierna Baenre, who helps them slay Ku’Thorn for good. However, Vierna grows too ambitious, seizing control of Castle Rend. A confrontation ends with her exile, though she vows revenge.
Soon after, signs of a necromantic ritual appear in the castle, linked to Kalarel the Vile. The adventurers track him to the ruins of Shadowfell Keep. There, they face their most brutal battle yet, losing many companions. Suniri falls, her soul bound to the Raven Queen forever.
As the survivors regroup, new allies emerge, determined to bring the fight to Kalarel the Vile before his dark plans come to fruition.

Season III

The Chains of Fate (Chapter 20 - 37)

After escaping the horrors of the underworld, the adventurers arrive in Dawnlight, the heart of the Kingdom of Aurun. They quickly realize that their return is anything but safe—Yuan Windrivver, a bounty hunter they encounter, is being hunted by the elite Overmen, and their presence in the city draws unwanted attention. Seeking refuge, they navigate the treacherous alleys of Bane’s Refuge, where crime and power struggles define life. Here, they witness the brutal arena hunts and learn of Baldric, Prince of Thieves, whose influence stretches far beyond the city’s underworld.
In their search for allies, they meet Lady Minerva Summergale, a noblewoman suffering from a mysterious curse. She tasks them with retrieving a powerful crystal hidden near the ruins of Correnhain. Their journey leads them through undead-infested caverns and forgotten temples, where they secure the artifact after intense battles. However, their return to Dawnlight is marred by growing suspicion—Serafina Ellian’s bond with the Succubus Elenya begins to manifest in troubling ways.
Serafina’s connection to Elenya deepens, culminating in a fateful moment during a grand festival. Under an irresistible compulsion, she takes the stage, weaving magic into her music. The audience falls into a trance, murmuring the name Elenya as if compelled by an unseen force. As Serafina’s performance enthralls the crowd, her eyes glow a deep crimson, and the presence of the Succubus becomes undeniable. Elenya’s power is growing, and Serafina is her conduit.
Realizing the danger, Serafina’s companions begin to question whether she can still be saved. But her fate is already intertwined with that of the dark entity—Elenya now has a foothold in the material world, and Serafina is no longer just a bard; she is the first priestess of a rising cult.
Their next journey takes them to Greenview, a city scarred by recent tragedy. The former Baronett of Greenview was accused of necromancy and fled into the mountains, leaving behind a city in turmoil. There, the group encounters Lady Viridia Morgand, a former officer of The Knights of the Black Rose, who aids them in tracking the rogue noble.
Deep within an abandoned tower, they find the Baronett—but before they can strike him down, a greater horror reveals itself: Serena of Ravenholm, the Vampire duchess, arrives. With effortless power, she annihilates the Baronett, proving that his ambitions were nothing compared to her own. In a terrifying display, she forces the adventurers to make a choice—one of their allies must die to sate her thirst. The group is powerless against her, forced to accept her mercy at a terrible cost.
Back in Dawnlight, the weight of their actions lingers. Serafina Ellian’s growing power does not go unnoticed—whispers of her connection to Elenya reach The High Sanctorum, the religious authority of the Imperium. Despite the help of Keira Brightwater, an archmage of The Arcane Conclave, Serafina Ellian is captured and taken into custody, accused of heresy and cultism. The Overlord himself decrees her fate—trial by combat against Termacht, the Overblade, the Imperium’s deadliest warrior. Her friends scramble for a way to save her, but the system is unyielding.
The duel is brutal. Termacht toys with Serafina, his strikes precise and devastating. Wounded and exhausted, she collapses. As the Overlord steps forward to deliver the final judgment, Serafina’s vision fades, and she finds herself in the presence of Elenya. The world has not yet grasped the depths of what has begun.

Season IV

Legendary Companions (Chapter 38 - 47)

Season V

Journey across the Frozen North (Chapter 48 - 56)

Season VI

Lost in the Underdark (Chapter 56-66)

Season VII

Dragons, Fey and other Dark Entities (Chapter 67-77)

Season VIII

Dark Dealings (Chapter 78 - 99)

Season IX

Freedom's new Home (Chapter 100 - 110)

Season X

The Ley Line Wars (Chapter 110 - 138)

Season XI

The Jade Dragons and Jigoku (Chapter 139 - 155)

Season XII

Dangerous Festivities (Chapter 156 - 168)

Season XIII

The Calamity of Dragons (Chapter 169 - 181)

Season XIV

Svea's Return (Chapter 182 - 198)

Season XV

An Epilogue of Heroes (Chapter 199 - 208)

Trivia

Popcultural References

• The trading card game, played by Alvyn McGarrick, now retroactivel decided to be Legends of Arceiron in the official canon, was originally thouht as an hommage to Blizzard Entertainment's Hearthstone.
• A few characters like Allura Vysoren and Sean-Paul Gilmore are based on characters from Matthew Mercer's Critical Role.
• The character of Roderic von Thurgau is losely based on Gehrman from From Software's Bloodborne.
• The character of Rachnera is based, solely in name and appearance, on the character of the same name from the manga Monster Musume.

Crossover

• The tavern owner and friend of the adventuring party, Peter Bagmoore, first appeared as a minor NPC in an unrelated campaign based on the 5th Edition Starting Adventure "Mines of Phandelver".

Behind the Scenes

• Together with the chronicle "Age of Conquest - Fall of the Gods" this was the first ever campaign and the beginning of the shared universe of Arceiron.
• Formerly the chronicle just had the name "The Age of Conquest". Since there was a second chronicle in the same universe, which also had that name, it later got's the subtitle "The Calamity of Dragons" to separate it from the other chronicle and make sure, they are both part of a shared universe.

The Warden's of Freedom by Ardisia

Start of the Chronicle

June 2017

End of the Chronicle

November 2021

In World Starting Year

3168 Age of Men

In World Closing Year

3170 Age of Men

Seasons

15

Chapters

208

Genre

High Fantasy

Player Characters

• Alvyn McGarrick
• Forest Gnome, Rogue
• Episode(s): 1-7
• Amlin Phina
• Half-Elf, Warlock of Morwel
• Episode(s): 1-22
• Ayumi Jinsoku
• Shifter, Fighter
• Episode(s): 83-106
• Bambus Björndiel
• Firbolg, Sorcerer
• Episode(s): 3-14
• Bellatrix Montajay
• Lightfoot Halfling, Rogue
• Episode(s): 8-16
• Calden Tungston
• Half-Elf, Warlock of the Raven Queen
• Episode(s): 106-152
• Calfan
• Rock Gnome, Alchemist
• Episode(s): 1-16
• Eliona Mostana
• Dune Human, Monk (former), Ranger (later)
• Episode(s): 23-82
• Finnead Ryvardan
• Moon Elf, Ranger
• Episode(s): 17-22
• Finneya Daothan
• Half-Elf, Cleric of Skadi
• Episode(s): 153-190
• Hyggr Schmelzpelz
• Gnoll, Wizard
• Episode(s): 15-16
• Gulliver
• Deep Gnome, Rogue
• Episode(s): 20-24
• Kermit the Hermit
• Kobold, Druid
• Episode(s): 63-83
• Liandra Neridiel
• Sun Elf, Rogue
• Episode(s): 191-Campaign Ende
• Millenna
• Thoralian Human, Wizard
• Episode(s): 39-62
• Mortimer Silverbeard
• Gold Dwarf, Fighter
• Episode(s): 8-18
• Nemeia Vrago
• Tiefling, Wizard
• Episode(s): 65-87
• Rava Silverkin
• Thoralian Human, Paladin
• Episode(s): 23-62
• Revi Cainhurst
• Tiefling, Warlock of Asmodeus
• Episode(s): 17-22
• Roderic von Thurgau
• Thoralian Human, Blood Hunter
• Episode(s): 75-Campaign End
• Sallazar Cravaris
• Frost Elf, Rogue
• Episode(s): 71-74
• Sayuri Hisui
• Jadan Human, Monk
• Episode(s): 110-Campaign End
• Serafina Ellian
• Thoralian Human, Bard
• Episode(s): 13-37
• Shana Whitefall
• Feyblood, Bard
• Episode(s): 71-Campaign End
• Skari Thunderfury
• Norscan Human, Shaman
• Episode(s): 17-24
• Suniri Gorefall
• Thoralian Human, Cleric of Talos
• Episode(s): 1-16
• Svea Windemeer
• Norscan Human, Fighter
• Episode(s): 88-110
• Tessa Arachin
• Half-Orc, Fighter
• Episode(s): 1-7
• Velor Dragonbane
• Half-Elf, Fighter
• Episode(s): 23-Campaign End

Guest Characters

• Dante Volaris
• Ivailan Human, Rogue
• Episode(s): 92-93
• Nyxonix
• Changeling, Warlock of the Raven Queen
• Episode(s): 65-65
• Quentin Littlebranch
• Lightfoot Halfling, Druid
• Episode(s): 17-22

Episode Summaries