Welcome to Initia

The history of Thalor is one of war and strife. A story of famine, plague, but ultimately one of strength.

The founding of Thalor

Thalor's history begins in 1103 PS ( Post Tempestas). A group of early fishing villages on the eastern coast of Initia began to notice a dramatic decline in the fishing harvest every season. As rumors swept through these humble villages another dark tale began to creep; a tale of a perpetual storm growing to the south. The tale begins with a humble fishing vessel known as The Indomitnus heading southward to a cove inland well known as one of the most dangerous, but most profitable fishing spots. The Indomintus began its' journey and had many days of smooth sailing as it left the port of the early village known as Perth. However, as The Indomitnus neared the Coast of Crones a mighty storm began brewing around the vessel. Tsunami like waves rocked the vessel, ever drawing closer to capsizing it and the crew. It took every second of 28 years of experience the captain had in order to keep the vessel upright, and after 4 hours of this torture they finally reached the eye of the storm. There they spied a beast like none other, and the source of the storm: A sleeping elder dragon. The being before them was made not of flesh and bone, but of water and foam. It's eyes glowed like luminescent algea in an umbral night, and its maw was composed of mighty coral reefs. The Indomitnus immediately turned around and fled back into the storm. As the vessel fought against odds that meant certain death, every second dragged out like years. The storm crashed against the vessel like a dragon roaring, lightning and thunder boomed in the background, an eerie chorus to what the crew expected was a final requiem. Much to the crew, and the capitain's, surprise the vessel finally did return to still water in the end. With a new lesson learned, and the fear of a god imbued in them, they returned to the humble village of Perth and began to speak of the danger to the south. As the tale spread from village to village it became clear that no longer could they survive on their own. Indeed, these first few villages began to unite, sharing resources, expertise and all vowing to keep an eye on the perpetual storm in the Coast of Crones. This new state, was the young Thalor.

The Rise to Power

The young kingdom of Thalor was one of the first to unite their resources. Indeed, peace was rare and hard earned in this time and as such, Thalor's unique binding allowed them to quickly grow while others nations diminished and died. In order to lead this fledgling nation, it was decreed that a council would be formed of the wisests of each of the 7 villages. This council became what is now known as The Corsair's Court. The court was responsible for handling not only the economics of resources, but also to begin plotting on how to deal with the threat to the south. Although many spoke of the elder dragons, few truly understood these creatures, and even fewer had survived a run in with the servants of these beasts. Of those first initiated to The Corsair's Court, the clear leader was a tabaxi known as Shadow Stormwalker. Shadow had sailed aboard the indomitnus years earlier, on that fateful voyage and as such had gained a notorious status with many seeking to hear his tale of laying eyes on the dragon. Shadow however did not rest on the laurels of his sighting, but instead saw the power of the united villages, and with his vision he began to expand Thalor, first by building new villages along the coast to increase their access to new fishing grounds, but then Shadow lead the court as Thalor pushed an aggressive expansion to the top of Mt. Orion. These early expansions presented many boons to Thalor, be it gems from the mountain caves or new fishing spots from the untapped coastal grounds, resources seemed to be plenty.

The Crone's Curse

With every rise must come a fall, and indeed just as Thalor began to expand and build a kingdom worthy of its' name, darkness stirred in the land. The Corsair's Court had kept an eye on the storm to the south, and watched as it slowly expanded and grew more violent. In this time however, they did not feel the threat lurking, as the storm still laid thousands of miles to the south, and the brightest mages predicted it would be hundreds of years before the storm reached the growing kingdom. What the court failed to account for however, was the coven of crones that had lived on the coast, that had now been flooded out of their homes. Hearing tales of the growing kingdom to their north, the coven disguised themselves as a trio of dwarfs seeking shelter on a stormy night in the now booming village of Perth. However as the trio asked around at many a tavern none would offer any rooms to these poor travelers, and instead the coven was forced to sleep on the street. It was with this act of maleficence that the crones began to plot their revenge. The next morning, the trio presented themselves before The Corsair's Court, however no longer did they disguise themselves as dwarfs. As the crones entered the marble halls of the court, they began chanting:

As the crones finished their chant their bodies burst like shadows in the morning sun. The new day found Thalor a darker place, where the crops withered, and the fish could not be found.

The Rise of Fel

Darkness smells weakness, and Thalor was weak. The crone's curse had led to famine, plague and death across the kingdom. The Corsair's Court was powerless to stop the ravaging that lie before them, and it took every resource they had to keep the coast secured from the new hordes of monsters rising from the ocean depths. It was in this moment of weakness when the now growing nation of Fel invaded. Fel was a new principality ruled by Prince Zol'or, a Drow. Rumors spoke that Zol'or had sought a deal with a being from The Underdark, and been granted an army of undead and monstrosity alike. These rumors were proven true when out of nowhere a legion of monsters attacked a newly established city on the border of Thalor. The defeat was quick, and the invaders merciless as they burned the remains of the city to the ground, leaving behind naught but ash. The Corsair's Court mustered forth what warriors it could, and even sent word to the newly growing kingdom of Rhiak. Despite all of this, it was not enough. Soon the legions of Drow and monster poured forth, an obsidian wave unable to be stopped by an already weakened Thalor. It was in the moment nearest defeat, that an unlikely ally arrived.

Quaggel Awakens

As the legions from Fel poured into Thalor, they had made one large mistake. Nobody believed that the Coast of Crones was a habitable land, and so as Fel advanced, and focused all of its efforts to the north, leaving its southern front wide open. None know why, or how the ancient one stirred, what they do know is that Quaggels wrath was unbreakable. As the Felian Legions moved northward, the elder dragon rose from behind, and in one fell tidal wave obliterated them all. However this victory was not enough for the ancient one, as it turned around and brought forth its perpetual storm, flooding the fields of Fel and ruining their supply lines. As quickly as the storm came, it abated. Quaggel returned to its slumber, although no living person is quite sure where.

The Rise of the Empire

With the wounds of the invasion still fresh, The Corsair's Court decided it was time to grow a defense force such that it never risked such an easy defeat again. Over the span of decades the court raised what is now known as The Crested Corsairs, an army of trained experts skilled in the art of the sword, with an affinity for naval warfare. Adorned with enchanted cutlasses, and armor of the finest steel the corsairs were sent north, to began the expansion of what now was a growing empire. The Crested Corsairs brought peace through dominance to many of the still tribal villages of the north, and with time Thalor secured its new borders and began to spend more time searching for the slumbering dragon.

Modern Thalor has become far more bureaucratic, as officers from the military have retired and taken up wealthy positions as heads of local governments. Many cities have begun to forget lessons learned during the crones curse, and indeed the impoverished are once again left out on the street with no beds, and little food. This growing poverty gap has perhaps been the reason Orion's Children has grown so strongly, with Thalor being its center of recruitment. Indeed, religion has broadly grown across the empire, as many seek the favor of gods who have long since left.