History of Rysthia

This is the land called Rysthia, a large continent on a world known as Zur. This land once was ruled by powerful kingdoms, and dominated by the race of Humans.  For thousands of years the Human empires grew to great heights, and the land was beautiful and rich.  Peace existed and the chaotic evil races of Orcs and Dragons were kept at bay by the thriving and powerful Human armies.
	As the Humans grew more powerful, so did their corruption.  In time, the Humans sucked most of the resources from the lands, enslaved other races and began wars over neighboring kingdoms to take more land.  These wars lasted for centuries and countless souls were destroyed, but the great Human empires began to grow weak -- and the more evil and bloodthirsty races that were once easily kept at bay, became a present danger again.
Orcs and Goblins could once again raid cities and the weakened human armies had less resources to stop them.  As the Humans and their allies turned their attention toward the chaotic evil Orcs, an unexpected foe appeard at what is now called the time of the "Turning".  A new race appeared suddenly on the Rysthia.  A dark race that the men called Black Elves.  (Named this because of they dressed in dark shrouds, and some of them had ebony skin, It was never known if they were actually a race of elves, but stories seem to indicate that some resembled the Elf race).  The Black Elves sailed to Rysthia on what is now known as The Black Sea.  They came in mighty barges bringing with them all sorts of siege weapons, magical beasts that had never been seen on Rysthia and hordes of Goblins and Orcs that were bred soley for destruction.
	With their incredible magic powers and superb war skills, the Black Elves began the greatest war that Rysthia had ever seen, lasting for 6 years, Until the weakened Human cities were ruined and the land burnt to ash.  The remaining Humans gathered with their allies to fight their new enemy, they united with the remaining races of Dwarves, Elves and Gnomes and in the final weeks of the Great War, drove the Black Elves back to the sea whence they came.
But alas, the battles came at a great price. The Human empires were all but ravaged.  Not a single city was left standing.  Not Human, not Elven, and not even the Dwarves were spared the devistation. Over the years to follow many Humans retreated to caves for safety.  Those that fled underground became known as Gravens.  The Gravens rarely came to the surface and over the centuries of living underground, developed pale skin and good underground vision.  The Humans that remained above ground to rebuild became known as Terrans.  These Humans settled on the landscape and started the long process of reconstructing the cities of the lost empires.

Continue >>>