A story huh?  There are many to tell, I’m not sure where to start.  I know more stories, at least truthful ones then even the minotaur sage.  Perhaps I should tell you more about this unique fortress that we’ve come to call home.  While it’s not been around as long as I, its story is possibly just as strange as my own.  Now the fortress didn’t start its construction till into the new age, or age of war.  Though I prefer to call it the age of idiots and dishonor.  Hmm?  Oh I guess I am rambling.  Hey when you reach tens of thousands of years old then we’ll see if you don’t ramble on sometimes as well.

Now the fortress was built in this age, but its past started in the Age of Death.  Now you know that the necro legions conquered all kingdoms except that of the High Druid.  Most would have you believe that besides a few special places, that there was little to no true resistance to the necro.  This is not true though, there was one kingdom with a strong army left when the necro’s true invasion began.  Most kingdoms lost their major forces in the first war of the four against the necro.  

There was a powerful and vile warlord though that refused to help.  His lands were surrounded partially by water and part by impassable mountains.  And I do mean impassable, no dwarf, dragon, nor even elemental could pass these peaks.  This left only the kingdoms southern plains as access to the lands.  The warlord did not care for anyone and laughed as the armies and lands were slaughtered.  The necro finally came to him, instead of surrendering he insulted them and told them to leave him alone or face his wrath.  The necro of course attacked, but were actually pushed back by the warlord.

What?  Yes this does have to do with this fortress, quiet now and listen.  Hmph such impatience no wonder the underdark didn’t want you.  Now then, the warlord’s armies were actually doing well.  Not only that, but in a daring move the Warlord himself broke the enemy lines and killed one of the High Necromancers.  Yes by himself, that’s how powerful and skilled the warlord was.  You all know how few High Necromancers there were during the invasion so this enraged the others to no end.

For their second invasion they sent a massive army and powerful magics against the warlord.  He fought with everything he had, and the battle lasted for days.  So powerful were the magics, hatred, and bloodshed on both sides that the plains from the sea all the way to mountains were tainted by it.  The bog of death it has become know as.  So dark and deadly that nothing can pas through it, not even the undead.  Imagine and area so seeped in blood and death that even the undead are drained and destroyed by it.

The Warlord was dead as were his armies, but the necro could not pass the bog themselves in large numbers.  So they searched for another way in, that when they found an single path through the mountains that could let them pass.  The necro worked and widened and cleared the path.  In the end they did conquer the lands, but never did have large numbers there.  It was just to hard moving people in and out of the area.  When the necro started to loose one of the High Necromancers fled here, knowing that it was better defensible.  

Hahaha, imagine his surprise when he was met by hastily set up wooden ramparts and human soldiers.  When the uprisings started the cut off area had actually been one of the first to free themselves, and since then they had been working on defending the mountain pass.  The High necromancer saw only the pitiful ramparts so attacked.  To late his armies discovered the traps set along the hill leading to them.  Few of the necromancer’s army even made it to the ramparts.  He fled and the people remained safe.

You see while all the other peoples of the world were rebuilding and scrambling for land and resources and to flaunt their newly found freedom.  The protected area had a strong leader in the man who brought them together against the necro.  They followed him happily.  Nor did they need for resources, for since their strength was weak in the area they had never killed the land there.  It was the most fertile and crop worthy land on the continent at the time.  They did not need for room either though mostly cut off they had plenty of land and good waters as well.

The now king of the people realized that others would covet the land his people had and would wage war to take it.  He wanted peace and happiness for his people though after so long under the necro.  He had learned how good a defense point the mountain pass and it’s approach was.  So it was decided that is where the defenses would go.  The king would not conscript people but those that longed for violence and wanted battle were sent there.  Meanwhile the king was having a great fleet built to protect them from the sea.  Early after the necro’s defeat, the threatening armies were small, not many people to be in an army.  But as time went on the armies got stronger.

The king’s defenses were better but his forces were still small.  Few volunteered for the front, they enjoyed their peace and were becoming a soft people.  The king knew sooner or latter his mountain defenses would be overwhelmed.  However he couldn’t trust an outside force not to turn on him.  He had to find someone trustworthy that could lead and strengthen the defenses.  Hmm, no this isn’t the same king that over threw the necro, it’s several generations later.  Of course I mentioned it before, you just weren’t listening well enough.

The king had met a powerful young adventurer once, shortly after the new powerful fortress started construction.  His daughter loved one of the adventurer’s companions and he knew they all had good hearts.  They did not stay because the call of adventure still called.  But perhaps the king thought, if offered now they would settle and help protect the Kingdom of Peace as it had come to be called.  Lord Tanis was his name now, he had been called and did respond.  He came with a small band of war elves.

No they weren’t war like elves, they were War Elves, a sub-race.  No I didn’t make it up.  Which one of us is older then the mountains?  That’s what I thought, now stop interrupting me.  I’ll tell you about War Elves another time.

Now Tanis and his war elves took over command of the defenses.  His first year in command major changes were made.  For the first time since the Necro invasion someone not belonging to the kingdom passed through the path.  Lord Tanis had invited refugees into the lands.  Not from another human kingdom, but large Clan of centaur.  The Kingdom of peace had much unused lands and Tanis allowed refugees in, in return that their battle wanting members would join the defense force.  Later on the King agreed to this tactic as long as the refugees allowed in would live in peace.

And so races combined the centaurs and humans made a good connection, racial separation slowly faded.  Elves came as well, invited by the War Elves they set up in the woods of the kingdom of peace and so too joined defense forces.  When the Mountain of Tragalorn collapsed due to halfing curiosity.  Yes I’ll tell you that story another time, it’s a fun one.  When the mountain collapsed the Dwarves that called it home were left with no place to go.  Tanis invited them.  They helped retrofit the fortress and it’s defenses with dwarven stone craft.

They mined and joined in the community well.  They also set up brand new underdark defenses incase someone attempted to tunnel under the fortress.  The dwarves did a lot to set fortify defenses.  The fortress was imposing as was the wall guarding the approach.  Armies tried to invade from time to time, but none came close to succeeding.  Especially when the giant trebuchets were set.  Operated by several Storm Giants that Tanis had befriended.  It was brought up that the fortress would be weak from the air, and so Tanis had his agents move out and befriend several honorable Bronze dragons.  They joined the defense along with a small band of dragon riders.

Tanis’ agents, oh my of course I must explain them.  Shortly after taking over the defenses he started this group.  Members of all races were allowed.  They were called Guardians.  They were the best of the defenders, but also were sent out on missions by Tanis.  Few could understand the reason behind these missions until all were completed.  Suddenly they would come together to bring some new resource or ally to Lord Tanis.  Even I don’t know how he was able to plan this all.  I met the man, he is a great tactician, but these missions are like chess moves on an epic scale.  Lord Tanis himself is business savy enough to pull all that off himself.  So someone is helping him.  Perhaps even that lich, I’m not sure.

Anyways, Tanis had befriended many.  The last was a tribe of cat warriors or Tigreans.  I’m glad they came, not only are they a beautiful people but fine warriors as well.  I think I may spend a generation or two with their people, maybe take on the form for a while.  Now with all these friends and forces Tanis has set up a diverse yet still cohesive force the likes no one has seen.  The kingdom of peace itself enjoys a unity between the races.  Even without a generation passing the people of the kingdom willingly except new members with no reservations now.  I think some of the newer additions are almost put off by it.  So used to seeing mistrust and hatred because they look different, that these peoples acceptance actually frightens them a bit.

After all, where else will you find a place that elves wouldn’t even look twice at a drow walking past.  Here is truly a land of peace if there is such a thing.  Tanis has set up defenses that will last for generations.  While the royal family has set up many rules and customs to help keep corruption out of their system.  A place of true wonderment, considering how dangerous the lands surrounding it is.  In all my time I haven’t seen such a thing as this kingdom, not even in the famed golden age of peace before the necro came.

So that is how this place came to be.  Many peoples joined together, all their violent members here in this one fort holding back the evil and corruption in the world.  All held together by a great leader Lord Tanis.  But what happens when this charismatic general falls in battle or dies of old age.  Yes those that remember him will keep his legacy, but such things become legends and stories and start loosing their personnel influence.  Now the people here are really evil, just more physical and longing for combat for various reasons.  But bad things can happen in a group if they don’t have the right leader

I believe that this fortress will never fall from an outside attack, but someday it will fall from within.  And when that happens, I fear this age of war will take it’s vengeance out on the people of the kingdom for living so peacefully.  I can only hope when that happens that I am not in the area. I would hate to see another great wonder be destroyed.  Oh yes you are right, I am getting rather melancholy.  I should stop now before I start crying again.  Well I hope you enjoyed this little story.  Alright yes it was more a history lesson, but it was still interesting.