Lords of the Cruth Lowlands - Vaults of Pandius
Lords of the Cruth Lowlands - Vaults of Pandius
Lords of the Cruth Lowlands - Vaults of Pandius
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
History <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong><br />
develop special servant races, like <strong>the</strong><br />
albarendi and <strong>the</strong> lycanthropes (<strong>the</strong>y<br />
follow one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> beliefs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir patroness,<br />
Nyx, who likes creating new races,<br />
especially ones accustomed to a nightbased<br />
activity cycle).<br />
Albarendi were common Taymoran<br />
humans bred as albinos by <strong>the</strong> kings and<br />
ending up ostracised by <strong>the</strong>ir own people<br />
in fear <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir link with <strong>the</strong> undead<br />
masters.<br />
Lycanthropes are created by some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
most cruel necromancer kings, desperate<br />
to keep <strong>the</strong>ir minions subjugated. They<br />
devise a magical disease which would<br />
impart more bestial aspects onto its<br />
victims.<br />
BC 2000 A number <strong>of</strong> Necromancer-Kings<br />
try to increase <strong>the</strong>ir power by shifting <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
allegiance from Nyx to Thanatos. The<br />
effects are devastating, as <strong>the</strong> war<br />
between followers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two entropic<br />
immortal rages for years.<br />
BC 1978 Kosmoteiros is destroyed in <strong>the</strong><br />
war between <strong>the</strong> followers <strong>of</strong> Thanatos and<br />
Nyx. The Zargosian Sorcerers are almost<br />
wiped out in <strong>the</strong> war.<br />
BC 1850 By this time, Taymor is reduced<br />
to a fractured land, both geographically<br />
and politically, while <strong>the</strong> star <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nithian<br />
Kingdom north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mountains rises.<br />
BC 1750 Taymor sinks under <strong>the</strong> waves.<br />
The <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong> are not submerged,<br />
but <strong>the</strong> earthquakes that destroy Taymor<br />
also bring to <strong>the</strong> collapse <strong>of</strong> Magos. The<br />
Turnwood research facility is hit by a<br />
tsunami. It survives mostly unscated, due<br />
to <strong>the</strong> magic wards and <strong>the</strong> natural magic<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area, but <strong>the</strong> few remaining<br />
inhabitants are killed. The <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong><br />
suffer a major loss <strong>of</strong> population, with only<br />
scattered villages surviving.<br />
The few surviving descendents <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Zargosian Sorcerers regroup into <strong>the</strong> Sons<br />
<strong>of</strong> Night, an informal network <strong>of</strong> magic<br />
users and followers <strong>of</strong> Nyx.<br />
The Traldar Age<br />
BC 1500 The Nithian-led Traldar people<br />
settle along <strong>the</strong> coast south-east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong>. Within 50 years, <strong>the</strong>y<br />
expand into <strong>the</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong>, absorbing <strong>the</strong><br />
remaining Taymorans, or “people <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
night”. The only legacy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Taymorans<br />
are <strong>the</strong> Sons <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Night, who survive as<br />
a secret society.<br />
BC 1400 A series <strong>of</strong> harsh winters,<br />
plagues, and attacks from native monsters<br />
has destroyed <strong>the</strong> Nithian aristocracy and<br />
turned <strong>the</strong> Traldar back to <strong>the</strong> stone age.<br />
The Hutaakans take over, rebuilding <strong>the</strong><br />
city <strong>of</strong> Magos, and constructing Achelos as<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir capital in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong>. A<br />
leader <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hutaakans, <strong>the</strong> High Priest <strong>of</strong><br />
Achelos, takes direct control <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cruth</strong><br />
<strong>Lowlands</strong>, spreading “new” agricultural and<br />
medical techniques that allow a rapid<br />
growth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city. The Achelos<br />
Protectorate becomes <strong>the</strong> most populous<br />
Traldar nation, with <strong>the</strong> Hutaakan<br />
leadership still in charge.<br />
Instigated by Pflarr, <strong>the</strong> Hutaakans create<br />
<strong>the</strong> legend <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> “cursed hill” <strong>of</strong> Koskatep,<br />
to keep <strong>the</strong> Traldar from investigating <strong>the</strong><br />
ruins <strong>of</strong> Kosmoteiros.<br />
BC 1370 The High Priest <strong>of</strong> Achelos dies<br />
and is entombed in a pyramid south-east<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city. Actually, <strong>the</strong> high priest<br />
embarks in <strong>the</strong> quest for Immortality.<br />
BC 1000 The Hutaakan priests, warned<br />
too late <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> impending invasion by <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
eastern compatriots, retreat frantically<br />
from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cruth</strong> <strong>Lowlands</strong>, which are<br />
invested by <strong>the</strong> Gnoll hordes. Part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Traldar population flees west through <strong>the</strong><br />
Hin lands.<br />
A great Traldar healer, Chardastes, rises to<br />
fame right before <strong>the</strong> invasion.<br />
Militarily unprepared, <strong>the</strong> Traldars <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Kingdom <strong>of</strong> Achelos are butchered. The<br />
city <strong>of</strong> Achelos itself is reduced to ruins.<br />
Chardastes is able to reduce <strong>the</strong><br />
casualties, and becomes <strong>the</strong> leader <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
few surviving Traldars. Actually,<br />
5