Age of Darkness
Over 200 years of fear and death that almost resulted in the eradication of all life on Ketal, the Age of Darkness is a time rarely talked of by the peoples of Gelland. To speak of it is considered bad luck akin to speaking the name of a god. Because of this taboo, along with the destruction of many written records at the time, the true events of the Age of Darkness itself aren't well known by most people, though myths and legends about the period abound. Many stories tell of an army of mindless undead that marched across the continent destroying everything in its path, and a small group of heroes who faced down the horde by themselves.
What is well-known is that the sun itself was obscured for almost the entire period, and the peoples of Ketal lived in constant fear of the creatures that stalked the endless night. What humanoid communities survived did so by hiding underground or retreating behind the walls of the few well-fortified cities. It is also generally accepted that the Raven Queen ascended to godhood near the end of the Age of Darkness and was instrumental in bringing about its end by taking control of the Gates of Death. Many maintain that the Raven Queen's continued reign over the Land of the Dead is what keeps the Darkness at bay to this day.
Before the Age of Darkness, great empires and other civilizations existed throughout Ketal with magical and alchemical knowledge that now exists only in legend. Spells that could reshape reality, techniques for forging enchanted weapons and armor, and other secrets that can now scarcely be imagined. Unfortunately for seekers of arcane knowledge, most of these secrets are likely lost forever, though many surely lay buried in the deep places of the world, waiting for adventurers to find them.
What is well-known is that the sun itself was obscured for almost the entire period, and the peoples of Ketal lived in constant fear of the creatures that stalked the endless night. What humanoid communities survived did so by hiding underground or retreating behind the walls of the few well-fortified cities. It is also generally accepted that the Raven Queen ascended to godhood near the end of the Age of Darkness and was instrumental in bringing about its end by taking control of the Gates of Death. Many maintain that the Raven Queen's continued reign over the Land of the Dead is what keeps the Darkness at bay to this day.
Before the Age of Darkness, great empires and other civilizations existed throughout Ketal with magical and alchemical knowledge that now exists only in legend. Spells that could reshape reality, techniques for forging enchanted weapons and armor, and other secrets that can now scarcely be imagined. Unfortunately for seekers of arcane knowledge, most of these secrets are likely lost forever, though many surely lay buried in the deep places of the world, waiting for adventurers to find them.
Historical Basis
Considering how few records of the events were kept, and how many such records were lost during the Age of Darkness, the details of how the sun was snuffed out and the events leading up to it are known only to those scholars who have spent the better part of their careers studying obscure history and primary sources, and many details are hotly debated by such scholars.
After the Shadowland War, The Firelord was left badly injured, and the Land of the Dead was left without a ruler. The Unliving Prince stepped up to fill that power vacuum with relatively little resistance. A little over a century later, he launched a surprise attack on the Sun, taking advantage of its ruler's weakness to bind and capture the Firelord before defenses could be mustered. Without the Dawnfather there to power it, the light of the sun died. The Prince of Undeath then threw open the gates to the underworld and allowed his unholy children to roam the earth, unhindered by the sunlight they fear.
Almost 250 years later, a mortal sorceress of unknown origin ascended to godhood, and with the help of some mortal heroes, mustered an army of lost spirits. She led these spirits into battle against the undead hordes led by the demon's champion, banished the Demon Prince back to the Abyss, freed the chained sun god, and then took up the mantle of Mistress of Death, which she has held ever since.
After the Shadowland War, The Firelord was left badly injured, and the Land of the Dead was left without a ruler. The Unliving Prince stepped up to fill that power vacuum with relatively little resistance. A little over a century later, he launched a surprise attack on the Sun, taking advantage of its ruler's weakness to bind and capture the Firelord before defenses could be mustered. Without the Dawnfather there to power it, the light of the sun died. The Prince of Undeath then threw open the gates to the underworld and allowed his unholy children to roam the earth, unhindered by the sunlight they fear.
Almost 250 years later, a mortal sorceress of unknown origin ascended to godhood, and with the help of some mortal heroes, mustered an army of lost spirits. She led these spirits into battle against the undead hordes led by the demon's champion, banished the Demon Prince back to the Abyss, freed the chained sun god, and then took up the mantle of Mistress of Death, which she has held ever since.
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