Draco Moore is an ancient land, rich in a history filled with conflicts, triumphs, and tragedies. It is a diverse realm, containing vast deserts, perilous swamps, dark forests, grassy plains, rolling hills and rugged mountains. These lands are home to a vast array of races and creatures, ranging from humans, dwarves, elves,and gnomes to fearsome dragons, the drow, centaurs, and much, much more.
Long ago, Draco Moore was inhabited primarily by the Shihobi and a race of elves called the Pine Elves. These two races lived in relative peace, having only minor skirmishes with a warrior race of women who ruled a land far to the south called Azonia.
Azonia was a land ruled by women. Men were slaves, and followed the will of the women. Azonian women were and are primarily warriors, with only the very select delving into the arts of healing and magic. They follow the adage that might makes right, and clashed with the Shihobi and Pine Elves when their gods demanded war from them.
For the most part these wars were short lived, and served more as training exercises for the Azonians, who had no real interest in lands other than their jungle islands.
The Shihobi were a nomadic people who primarily roamed the plains and occasionally deserts of Draco Moore. Their empire was vast, and for hundreds of years they were the rulers over these lands.
The Pine Elves, for the most part, stayed within the Forests of Draco Moore, and traded freely with the Shihobi. They were also the builders of small ships, and were master craftsmen and artisans. To this day many of their seemingly delicate works of art have survived the ravages of time.
Not much is known of the Dwarven Kingdoms of this time. They inhabited the mountains of Draco Moore, but rarely came down from them. They did exist and in huge numbers, but no written documents have survived from their empire, and so their past is shrouded in mystery. What is known is that they did exist, and existed for far longer than any other race on Draco Moore. What became of them remains a mystery.
Far to the northeast of Draco Moore is a large continent known now only as the Dead Lands. It is from this land that most of the races that inhabit modern day Draco Moore are believed to have come. It is not known what caused the Great Exodus, but one can surmise that it had something to do with the fact that the Dead Lands are indeed devoid of anything living. To this day the soil is poisoned, the water is foul and polluted, and nothing much grows there aside from some bitter tasting weeds and scrub brush. The land is a vast waste, and few dare venture into it.
Shortly after the Great Exodus occurred several hundred years ago, war came to Draco Moore. The many races of the Dead Lands invaded Draco Moore, and all but stamped out the race of the Pine Elves. The Shihobi were also pushed to the far northeast plains of Draco Moore, which is where they remain today. A new Dwarven Empire was established in the ruins of the ancient one. After a time new borders and empires were established, and the Royal Family came into power.
The Royal Family consisted of the House of Mariak, a royal family from the Dead Lands. This family ruled Draco Moore right up into recent history, only losing power with the death or disappearance of the Empress. For the most part their reign was one of fairness and wisdom, and the wars died down for a time. The peace lasted for several hundred years, but began to crumble in more recent times.
The first problems arose some seventy years ago when a prison island rebelled and gained its independence. This island became known as the country of Zhatar. Zhatar’s rebellion was a bloody one, and to this date there is much bitterness between the Zhatarians and Draco Moore.
Shortly after Zhatar’s liberation another island just to the south of Draco Moore’s mainland was invaded and taken by the Azonians. From that island their priestesses and mages worked their magic and brought the Azonian Jungle onto a southern part of Draco Moore’s mainland. Their empire was beginning to encroach into Draco Moore proper, and so many troops were sent in order to stop their invasion. In the end, Draco Moore prevailed, but the southern part of the continent was lost and the jungle still remains, as does an Azonian presence. This war also greatly weakened Draco Moore’s defenses.
Still the royal family maintained its dominance, and peace was restored for a time. Then Darkstorm came. With his horrible army of Walgriegs and dark mages, Darkstorm raised a Darkmount from the earth itself and invaded the realm. After a bitter and bloody war which lasted for some time, Darkstorm was eventually put down and his armies defeated, but the man himself had gained a foothold in Draco Moore’s political arena. He had also proved himself to be a very capable leader. It was the Invader’s War that allowed him to seize the throne of Draco Moore for himself.
The Invader’s War occurred in recent times. Nix, most powerful of the ancient red dragons, amassed army of evil dragons who had allied themselves with the drow and a warlord from another world. Using the dark magics of the drow, the main cities of Draco Moore were poisoned, and their people killed, turned into a horrific nightmarish creature which devoured all within its path.
From her Black Citadel Nix brought about the demise of the Royal Family, as well as Draco Moore’s capital city, Lancington. The human population was decimated. Darkstorm led some of the forces who eventually defeated Nix and her armies, causing them to retreat to Zhatar, where she now rules. Also aiding Darkstorm was a group of heroes, including Kitiarra Diminstriss, a drow who controls one of Draco Moore’s ruling magical towers; the Tower of Time. She now acts as his second in command, watching over the city of Lankhmar, while Darkstorm himself rules out of Draco Moore’s new capital, Trace. the other Tower Masters helped to stop the Invaders armies as well, and were essential in turning the tide of battle. Also key in the victory over the Invaders was the Starfire, a Nautiloid type spelljamming ship whose powerful main gun was used to attack Nix’s Black Citadel.
During this time Azonia also experienced a rebellion in which many of the men fought back against their oppressive rulers. They now follow Thargore, who has begun to lead them to freedom. Whether or not his rebellion will last remains to be seen, but the seeds of discontent among Azonia’s men have been planted, and the extent of the damage this has caused remains unclear.
Today Draco Moore is rebuilding from the Invader’s War. Darkstorm has begun his rule, and seems to have established himself as the new Lord of Draco Moore. Lancington is but a ghost town and few dare to venture within its walls. Many towns have sprung up where there were none before, and cities that had little political clout now have found themselves pushed into the forefront of Draco Moore’s political arena. It is certain that the future holds much for Draco Moore, but what the future is to be remains to be seen.
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