Icathi War

About 400 years ago, a demonic horde of creatures that became known as the Icathi appeared, ravaging the land and slaughtering kingdoms. Humanity seemed at the brink of destruction when a brilliant tactician, Desren la-Sren emerged from a small kingdom to lead the fight. Only then did humanity begin to turn back the tides. Desren brought not only brilliant tactics and a charisma that compelled unity, but also he worked with scientists and mages, creating enchanted weapons and magic golems specifically tuned to cut Icathi flesh.

At long last the Icathi were driven from the earth, vanishing into folklore and myth. Much of the land north, where the Icathi had first appeared, had become barren, a wasteland where no life would grow. To the south, the kingdom of Telharan, Desren's birthplace, grew in power, having come out of the Icathi War in a far better position than their neighbors.

Now the dominant power in the land, Telaharan expanded its borders, consuming nearby kingdoms into their own empire. Some joined voluntarily, others were conquered. Today, there remain only two real powers not under direct Telaharani control. To the west, sloping hills quickly gain in height and turn into the daunting Dragonspeak Mountains, a range of jagged peaks that extends hundreds of miles in either direction. Nestled somewhere within those nearly impassible mountains are the Akerou, a mysterious civilization of isolationists. The only real contact any have had are with their Sentinels, men and women who descend upon the backs of wyverns to trade for supplies. Though of late, there has been less in trade and more in violent raids, and Telaharan begins to look west for new conquest...

To the north lies Gozo, once the most powerful and expansive kingdom, before the Icathi War. Gozo took the brunt of the fighting on their land, most of which became unrecoverable once the Icathi were finally defeated. Poverty and political corruption run rampant within their borders. Over the centuries Telharan has been slowly expanding their economic and political influence over the kingdom. Gozo may not be a part of Telharan in name, but the reality of the situation is they have no true sovereignty over their land. In recent years, pockets of rebellion have begun to flare up, seeking to overthrow both the corrupt Gozo government and the influence of the Telharan.