A Weary Traveler's Journal — The History of Norrath

My companions, warriors and members of Evil’s Bane, are sleeping close by as I write. It is our first night on blessedly dry land after a long sea journey. Only a sputtering candle lights this darkened common room of the first inn by the docks in Firiona Vie, as a fresh quill scratches my words on the parchment. We've all sailed a long way from Antonica, following the trail of stories and rumors about an unusual winged beast that swooped down during a battle and carried off Lysel — our sworn companion and the Bane’s best swordswoman — in its hooked talons.

Weeks ago, we were about to give up the search when Rallos Zek intervened and sent us a spark of hope in the form of a tall, cloaked visitor. He told us that he had heard of others being captured by flying creatures, and he told us we needed to forget about our friend — that she had been taken as a slave to the Ring of Scale on “Kunark,” and that no slave has ever escaped.

None of us had ever been to this place, Kunark, but we were encouraged by the fact that Lysel might still be alive. We all agreed. If there was a chance that she lived, there was a chance we could rescue her. Our mysterious friend only shook his head. Then, he slipped back the hood of his cloak so that we might see his reptilian face. He introduced himself as Vanusk and told us he was boarding the Seahawk that evening to sail to Kunark. In return for our companionship on the long voyage, and payment of his passage, Vanusk offered to tell us about his homeland. His tales included much that we already knew. However, so that I would miss nothing, I recorded everything he said.

Tn the Beginning ...

~ ay

Trakanon and a number of the younger dragons decided more direct action was required. They conjured a squall at sea that destroyed Rile’s warship while the King was on board. This action triggered a spectacular war among the Dragons that lasted for almost a half century. Since this Ring of Scale was, in all likelihood, responsible for the capture of our companion, we were understandably curious to learn as much as we could. Vanusk answered only one question with, “There are lesser dragons that fly across Norrath and pluck candidates for slavery to the Ring of Scale.”

f Artrebe's Tksar Empire

) Atrebe, Rile’s first-hatched son, then became King. This young Iksar

was different from his father. He was reclusive and enamored of the dark arts. All feared his use of the evil magic of the Shissir and his

_ grandfather, Sathir. His foul experiments joined a dragon with an

Iksar, creating the Sarnak, a race of intelligent Dragon-men. He also

joined a Dragon with a Froglok, creating flying mounts for his armies, he Sokokar. On these flying beasts, the Iksar were deadly. Soon, only the hardiest Dragonkind stood unconquered by the Sebilisan Empire.

ksar vs. the Ring of Scale

Over the next half century, Dragonkind struggled against the Iksar’ airborne army. Atrebe was succeeded by his son, Ganak, a most capable warrior. The war ended inconclusively over the Field of Bone with aerial duel between Ganak on his Sokokar mount and Jaled-Dar, then leader of the Ring of Scale. Both were incinerated by magic and fire.

The Dragons retreated, but not before destroying the imperial palace and all Ganak’s hatchlings in a daring final blaze of revenge.

“Che Emerald Circle

Instead of a new king, the Iksar nobles created the Emerald Circle, a body of five nobles who wisely worked to enhance the Iksar cities and trade, rebuild the navy, and return prosperity to the empire. Unfortunately, whenever the ambitions of rulers are involved, strife soon follows and the empire was ultimately divided into the original five tribal-states. Even that treaty was soon forgotten, as the tribes began to wrestle for supremacy over each other. Unbeknownst to the Iksar, the Ring of Scale had also rebuilt and was meddling in every alliance and affair, pitting the tribal-states one against another.

Ns

ae

es : End of the Sebilisan Empire

The slaves revolted in Sebilis. Goblin lords from Faydwer invaded a : Kunark. The Giants mustered an army and destroyed the warlord

outposts before they attacked the cities. The final destructive attack \ on the Iksar came when Trakanon and his Dragon allies descende don what was left of the Iksar cities and reduced them to ashes and ruins. The grand Sebilisan Empire was no more. Free from

_ Iksar restraints and rule, all the other races established themselves

» and began warring amongst themselves in their lust for domination. ie me, se t I WQAE ODV10US LO Two last warnings came from Vanusk as we bedded down for the 2 fro evening. Our new friend told us that the undead King Venril Sathir had ,/’ "4 indeed been brought back into existence and ruled in Karnor, in The Venush ¢ Cone,

Dreadlands, a place he recommended we avoid. The second warning that he felt the was to avoid the Frontier Mountains. That foul bastard race, the other

Sarnak, had set up outposts there to breed Goblin and Froglok slaves. (te ae CSSE f J

FACES had been better of in the security of lksar dependence,

And now, the hour grows late. My notes are complete and I have

_ Prepared a new parchment to record upcoming events in our journey. s. I Pray that Rallos Zek guide our will and that Vanusk will agree to guide our way to these mountains of Veeshan’s children.

3 We are in bis world of Nunark HOW, ,,