The Realms of Ratha

Then, the portal was alive, the doorway leading to the fabled city of gold on the moon’s surface. In an instant, magic streamed back into the Silver City, breathing life into the dull stones of its streets and buildings, making them glow with mystical energy. All around the world, the elves felt themselves changing, restored - the elderly became young, and the young could bear child again.The population boom that followed was the stuff of legend, and the magical artifacts that made their way to Ratha from the Golden City changed the lives of many for the better.   Accompanying these artifacts, was a race - the Moon Elves, the originals from which all other elven races were descended, preserved in their original form over the millennia. While they found life on Ratha uncomfortable, many of them were driven to experience all that this fantastic world has to offer, and became a mainstay in much of the world.   The Temple City found recovery from its brief infestation of necromancers easy, with the aid of a certain group of adventurers. Its mighty cathedrals made it one of the most common destinations for religious pilgrimages over the millennia top come.   The Thieves’ Guild of the Silver City remained in operation, working semi-legally, providing intelligence to the local guard in return for them turning a blind eye to their antics.   The Grand Library remained lost for the rest of time. Though, supposedly, every now and then someone trying to travel to another plane would find themselves in a strange building, with bookshelves that seemed to stretch far beyond where the ceiling should’ve been.   The townspeople of Canopy Edge kept their promise, not pushing aggressively into the Drowned Jungle and trying to live in harmony with nature. It turned out to be far easier than any of them expected, and over time, the jungle and the village almost became one, a true example of nature and civilization living in symbiosis.   The ancient silver mines in the Dragon’s Spine were reopened, following the discovery of the ancient dwarven Heart Forge there. They became a centre of Pyandonaean industry, and a de facto temple to the warforged god who made them the site of his ascension. The kobolds, who had been inhabiting these mines prior, became stunningly proficient engineers and artificers in addition.   The Lady’s Watch remained one of the most secure places on the continent, watching over travellers and merchants until its very stones began to crumble.   For the people of Lifespring, their time under the thrall of Mora’s foul mechanism soon became a distant, bitter memory. They demolished the lighthouse that had been the site of those foul rituals, rebuilding it from the ground up, and, while some claimed to occasionally hear voices from the waves, it remained a simple, peaceful fishing town.   Free from the Snatcher’s control, the Grand Observatory rapidly returned to its position as Pyandonaea’s second city, a centre for arts and technology, even if it did take decades to truly purge the necromancer’s experiments from its cobbles.   Bandits’ Landing experienced a slow change - with the admiral providing much of their business gone, the criminals slowly became craftsmen, traders, artists, and eventually the shanty town became just… a town.   With the tear to the Abyss closed, the tribes found the Nomad Lands safe to travel once again, and many reported a mysterious figure, clad in plate armour and clouded in purple-black mist, protecting them from the dangers that would waylay them on the ancient desert paths.   Queen Aestorah XI, though wounded in the battle, survived the crisis, and remained on the throne for centuries. Calmed by the experiences she’d faced, she became a wise, just ruler, and led Pyandonaea into a new golden age.   The instant that Mora left the Silver City, Tenenbaum returned to his senses. He surrendered his office of Archmagister, and dedicated much of his life to repairing the damage Mora’s invasion had done to the city, claiming that he could never truly repent for his inflicted madness.   Marin, ever the loyal paladin of Varhay, spent much of the next few months conducting funeral services for those lost in the final battle, but rather than his lonely cloister in the Temple City, he returned to Castle Stonefang, where he had found something he loved enough to delay his duties.   Stefan remained a faithful steward to the castle for as long as its owners lived, and long after that, ever complaining about dirt in between the tiles.   Amelia left Castle Stonefang, setting out to travel the world and find some purpose, reclaim the childhood that was stolen from her by her service to the Doppelgangers. But she always remained a good friend to the people who’d saved her.   Johnny, the boy who had been a Weapon, slowly gained control of his considerable abilities, and spent a few years as a wandering adventurer before taking on a comfortable, safe position at the Arcane University.   Jim, the strange, skeletal construct, was trained as a bard, and travelled the world as a one-man band for many years, equally delighting and confusing his audiences.   Ryley’s injuries forced him to spend many weeks recovering, but as he did, he proposed to the woman he loved. And the pair lived happily ever after.   The ratfolk calling himself Mrrchan found his way back to his mysterious Undercity safely, and told the rest of his kin many tales of the wonders of the world above, swearing that he’d return for more shinies, and to see his friends again, soon.   The dragon, Zyre, returned to his cave in the Dragon’s Spine, guarding his hoard as only a dragon can. Though he did like to pop down to a certain castle for a nice little chat now and then.   Lady Rosemont, the dark times of her first few parties behind her, became a famed socialite of the Silver City, with a standing invitation for a certain group of adventurers to all of her parties.   Minras decided against working with pirate crews, instead purchasing his own vessel and becoming one of Ratha’s most well-travelled merchants.   Macintyre finally found someone to take him on as an apprentice, and soon became an accomplished, if still slightly clumsy, alchemist. And he did still sell on some of the more popular discounted potions.   Bhaldar, the dwarven archaeologist, was promoted to professor for his and his companions’ discoveries in the abandoned mine, and his work on the Heart Forge changed much of the world’s understanding of magic.   Shani led her tribe through the Nomad Lands for the rest of her life, though their pleasant experience with a group of outsiders made them that bit more trusting, and the trade they performed with the outside world greatly strengthened them.   The lizardfolk of the Drowned Jungle had a long, arduous journey, but it was worth it when they set foot in a deep jungle, at the edge of an ancient, overgrown city, where they could find their own place in the world.   Durno, the druid, never did find that fourth chicken.   Albion, the leviathan, continued to travel the oceans at a leisurely pace, always delighting in his brief interactions with the tiny ones.   The entity who called himself the Snatcher was never confirmed to be seen again, although the number of unusual contracts signed and hats stolen seems to indicate he’s still out there somewhere.   For many months, it was believed that Captain Sharptooth was dead, for good this time. But a spate of especially daring attacks on merchant ships, the crew led by a savage blood-drinker, seemed to indicate that he was still kicking.   And, when nobody was looking, the Emerald Star departed again, as quietly as it had arrived.   The knight known to his friends as Nate had the backing of an entire empire, and, with the Whispering Knives believing him to be dead, the army he was granted by Queen Aestorah was more than enough to free his kingdom from the assassins' grip. It became a rare mainstay of the Mortal Kingdoms, remaining intact and prospering for many decades following its liberation.   The bard known as Pyper boarded the first ship away from Pyandonaea, stating that her work was done. Nobody ever saw her again for certain, but her friends kept receiving letters, and legends of a tiefling cellist of impossible skill cropped up over much of the world.   Liel, now wishing to retire from the adventuring life, used her reward money to finally set up that sweet shop she'd been dreaming of. Alongside her quiet companion, and her adopted child, she led the Two Paladins Confectionery to spread across much of the old world, to the delight of children everywhere.   After Lexi married into the noble Rostbrook family, Castle Stonefang rapidly became renowned as a school of archery, training some of the finest sharpshooters the world has ever seen - the legendary shot of the headmistress, and the unpredictable hijinks of her companion, certainly aided the rapid growth of its fame.   For weeks, the Silver City's harbour was stained wine-dark by Mora's blood, shed during his battle with the warforged god. But Mora survived this encounter, slipping away into the deepest parts of the ocean once he realised his plan had failed. Aegis, on the other hand, did not survive. His body, damaged beyond all repair, remained where it had fallen in the centre of the bay, now known as Godfall Harbour, for many decades. And all of Ratha felt the consequences of the death of a god. But that is a story for another time.