Arko - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Arko

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dm_trandahl
Jul 10, 2010 17:44:42
In 2001 I created a setting of woodland high fantasy called Arko when I first got 3rd edtition and laid my 2nd edition books to rest. Throughout the ensuing years Arko has been constantly evolving, growing, and reworked in an assortment of rpg systems. It still retains it's classic sylvan high fantasy flavor but now that I have settled on 4th edition it's time to once again get back to the drawing board and convert it. But with this 4th edition conversion I've done a complete reworking of the history and lore of the setting since I have a lot of different players now. I'm gonna post some stuff up on here as I write it out for all you ladies and gentleman to take a look at. Advice is welcome!! Thanks!
#2
dm_trandahl
Jul 10, 2010 17:56:18 First up is the history:

Ancient Age
The temperate island of Arko was an isle very connected to the Feywild, and within time all manner of fey began staying in Arko. The region with the largest connection to the Feywild ws the forest called Old Grow. It was there where the Eladrin built glorious Anytaphilia. Many crossed the Skyslice Mountains to the north and pushed Arko's troll and lizardfolk populations into the fringes of the forests of South Grow, Heart Grow and North Grow. These Eladrin claimed these northern woods as their own and their return trips to Old Grow and the Feywild became very infrequent. Over many generations these fey became elves, and they grew to love Arko with much passion. In following centuries the elves, eladrin and other fey of Arko turned back two invasions by the dragonborn empire of Arkhosia and another invasion by the tiefling armies of the empire of Bael Turath. Well-known as an isle with abundant arcane currents and planar connections, Arko was a sought-after prize for empires. But all failed to claim that prize ... until humans rose to power.
#3
dm_trandahl
Jul 11, 2010 15:32:52 Conquest of Arko
When the human-dominated empire of Nerath expanded its reach across the globe it did not hesitate to invade Arko. Whereas previous invasions landed in fey-claimed Old Grow and were defeated, the humans of Nerath landed in the North Bay and in significant numbers. The elves and beasts of the forests north of the Skyslice Mountains were overwhelmed and soon soundly defeated. The elves were forced to take refuge in Old Grow as the folk of Nerath founded the settlements of Port Arko, Roth, Birchfall and Woodsong and The Road began its construction. Arko truly became a province of Nerath when Nerath's armies crossed the Skyslice Mountains and invaded western Old Grow. Whent hey marched on the elven town of Feybough a number of elves fled to take refuge in Anytaphilia, but most remained, resigned to Nerath's rule. The Road was extended to Feybough, and Castle Southguard was built to regulate traffic into north Arko. The conquerers tried invading eastern Old Grow three times but Anytaphila proved too well-protected and too hostile. In time Nerath sent more troops and settlers.
#4
dm_trandahl
Jul 11, 2010 15:44:16 The Elven Reclamation
When the empire of Nerath fell, its province of Arko was left cut-off and abandoned in the sea. Seizing the opportunity to retake his beloved land from its conquerers, a young elven cleric of Corellon named Aenir gathered a force of elves and eladrin and invaded Castle Southguard. The fortress was overwhelmed and quickly fell. In their triumpth Aenir's army laid siege to Roth and Woodsong. Woodsong fell in two days, and it provided the fey with a defense against Roth recieving reinforcements for it was situated upon the only safe crossing through Heart Grow. Within a month Aenir and the fey overtook Roth and its Castle Arko and its ruins were left abandoned. When the army crossed the Scaleshore River to reclaim North Grow they were met by Ambris, the young human governess of Port Arko. There, Ambris and Aenir established a treaty of peace that allowed Ambris and the descendants of Nerath to remain in North Grow and the elves to resettle their orginal wild lands, though many chose to remain behind in Feybough, in the forest of Old Grow. Ambris and Aenir also secretly had a passionate but brief romance together and soon after Ambris gave birth to a half-elf daughter named Lenna. Thereafter, Aenir married an elven wife and produced pure-blooded sons and daughters in Feybough.
#5
dm_trandahl
Jul 11, 2010 16:03:22
The Troll War
Nearly sixty years ago a frighteningly intelligent War Troll named Vorgore made a pact with an exarch of Gruumsh to recieve the help of Gruumsh's angels in retaking Arko from the civilized races. Gruush also personally sought the destruction of Corellon's spawn. Trolls, angels and lizardfolk swept through Heart Grow and began raids throughout North Grow and South Grow. Some even pushed into Old Grow. The armies of Arko were ill-equipped for such a foe and the outcome looked bleak. But a band of five adventurers formed and in a short time they began to be known as the Knights of Arko. The Knights consisted of Lenna, the half-elf daughter of Ambris and Aenir and a cleric of Pelor, Noku, a self-assured witty gnome wizard, Thel, an elf rogue of tremendous courage and skill, Fendolf, an eladrin fighter possessing the artifact sword Infernix, and Globbel, a very brave and powerful gnome ranger. This band gained immense fame and amassed tremendous power and ability in a very short timepan of only a couple years of savage combat and daring questing. Within this time they had quelled the threat of the lizardfolk, defeated countless trolls and slew their leader Vorgore, tracked Gruumsh's exarch to the interplanar city of Sigil and slew him, and finally they even did battle with Gruumsh in his own terrible cosmic fortress. They slew the evil god of slughter but since they didnt possess the appropriate rituals to utterly destroy him forever, his essence escaped to heal. The Knights of Arko were practically gods themselves in power and renown following the Troll War, but afetrwards they retired from adventuring and took up seperate endeavors as they aged. Heart grow remained infested with trolls and lizardfolk thereafter, despite repeated patrols by soldiers and heroes, and thus it was soon renamed the Troll Territories. To help protect travelers that used the bit of The Road through the Troll Territories, between Birchfall and Woodsong, Port Arko and its new governess, Lenna, authorized the construction of Trollhaven Keep along this cobblestone roadway.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dm_trandahl Jul 10, 2010 17:44:42	In 2001 I created a setting of woodland high fantasy called Arko when I first got 3rd edtition and laid my 2nd edition books to rest. Throughout the ensuing years Arko has been constantly evolving, growing, and reworked in an assortment of rpg systems. It still retains it's classic sylvan high fantasy flavor but now that I have settled on 4th edition it's time to once again get back to the drawing board and convert it. But with this 4th edition conversion I've done a complete reworking of the history and lore of the setting since I have a lot of different players now. I'm gonna post some stuff up on here as I write it out for all you ladies and gentleman to take a look at. Advice is welcome!! Thanks!
#2 dm_trandahl Jul 10, 2010 17:56:18	First up is the history: Ancient Age The temperate island of Arko was an isle very connected to the Feywild, and within time all manner of fey began staying in Arko. The region with the largest connection to the Feywild ws the forest called Old Grow. It was there where the Eladrin built glorious Anytaphilia. Many crossed the Skyslice Mountains to the north and pushed Arko's troll and lizardfolk populations into the fringes of the forests of South Grow, Heart Grow and North Grow. These Eladrin claimed these northern woods as their own and their return trips to Old Grow and the Feywild became very infrequent. Over many generations these fey became elves, and they grew to love Arko with much passion. In following centuries the elves, eladrin and other fey of Arko turned back two invasions by the dragonborn empire of Arkhosia and another invasion by the tiefling armies of the empire of Bael Turath. Well-known as an isle with abundant arcane currents and planar connections, Arko was a sought-after prize for empires. But all failed to claim that prize ... until humans rose to power.
#3 dm_trandahl Jul 11, 2010 15:32:52	Conquest of Arko When the human-dominated empire of Nerath expanded its reach across the globe it did not hesitate to invade Arko. Whereas previous invasions landed in fey-claimed Old Grow and were defeated, the humans of Nerath landed in the North Bay and in significant numbers. The elves and beasts of the forests north of the Skyslice Mountains were overwhelmed and soon soundly defeated. The elves were forced to take refuge in Old Grow as the folk of Nerath founded the settlements of Port Arko, Roth, Birchfall and Woodsong and The Road began its construction. Arko truly became a province of Nerath when Nerath's armies crossed the Skyslice Mountains and invaded western Old Grow. Whent hey marched on the elven town of Feybough a number of elves fled to take refuge in Anytaphilia, but most remained, resigned to Nerath's rule. The Road was extended to Feybough, and Castle Southguard was built to regulate traffic into north Arko. The conquerers tried invading eastern Old Grow three times but Anytaphila proved too well-protected and too hostile. In time Nerath sent more troops and settlers.
#4 dm_trandahl Jul 11, 2010 15:44:16	The Elven Reclamation When the empire of Nerath fell, its province of Arko was left cut-off and abandoned in the sea. Seizing the opportunity to retake his beloved land from its conquerers, a young elven cleric of Corellon named Aenir gathered a force of elves and eladrin and invaded Castle Southguard. The fortress was overwhelmed and quickly fell. In their triumpth Aenir's army laid siege to Roth and Woodsong. Woodsong fell in two days, and it provided the fey with a defense against Roth recieving reinforcements for it was situated upon the only safe crossing through Heart Grow. Within a month Aenir and the fey overtook Roth and its Castle Arko and its ruins were left abandoned. When the army crossed the Scaleshore River to reclaim North Grow they were met by Ambris, the young human governess of Port Arko. There, Ambris and Aenir established a treaty of peace that allowed Ambris and the descendants of Nerath to remain in North Grow and the elves to resettle their orginal wild lands, though many chose to remain behind in Feybough, in the forest of Old Grow. Ambris and Aenir also secretly had a passionate but brief romance together and soon after Ambris gave birth to a half-elf daughter named Lenna. Thereafter, Aenir married an elven wife and produced pure-blooded sons and daughters in Feybough.
#5 dm_trandahl Jul 11, 2010 16:03:22	The Troll War Nearly sixty years ago a frighteningly intelligent War Troll named Vorgore made a pact with an exarch of Gruumsh to recieve the help of Gruumsh's angels in retaking Arko from the civilized races. Gruush also personally sought the destruction of Corellon's spawn. Trolls, angels and lizardfolk swept through Heart Grow and began raids throughout North Grow and South Grow. Some even pushed into Old Grow. The armies of Arko were ill-equipped for such a foe and the outcome looked bleak. But a band of five adventurers formed and in a short time they began to be known as the Knights of Arko. The Knights consisted of Lenna, the half-elf daughter of Ambris and Aenir and a cleric of Pelor, Noku, a self-assured witty gnome wizard, Thel, an elf rogue of tremendous courage and skill, Fendolf, an eladrin fighter possessing the artifact sword Infernix, and Globbel, a very brave and powerful gnome ranger. This band gained immense fame and amassed tremendous power and ability in a very short timepan of only a couple years of savage combat and daring questing. Within this time they had quelled the threat of the lizardfolk, defeated countless trolls and slew their leader Vorgore, tracked Gruumsh's exarch to the interplanar city of Sigil and slew him, and finally they even did battle with Gruumsh in his own terrible cosmic fortress. They slew the evil god of slughter but since they didnt possess the appropriate rituals to utterly destroy him forever, his essence escaped to heal. The Knights of Arko were practically gods themselves in power and renown following the Troll War, but afetrwards they retired from adventuring and took up seperate endeavors as they aged. Heart grow remained infested with trolls and lizardfolk thereafter, despite repeated patrols by soldiers and heroes, and thus it was soon renamed the Troll Territories. To help protect travelers that used the bit of The Road through the Troll Territories, between Birchfall and Woodsong, Port Arko and its new governess, Lenna, authorized the construction of Trollhaven Keep along this cobblestone roadway.