The Story of Nerath The Nerath Campaign & The Nerath Timeline The current year for our Nerath campaign is set during the year 103AE. Inspired By Gary Gygax

The last of the three great empires in the history of the world, and the most recent is the Empire of Nerath.

Throughout the period after the fall of Bael Turath and Arkhosia, various small kingdoms and large warbands have risen throughout the world. However, many of these small kingdoms and warlords fought between each other incessantly. The House of Nerath, the ruling house of one such great kingdom, united most of the world under one banner. Legend has it House Nerath was guided by Erathis herself. The first Emperor Margath claimed the land that was to be the grand city of Nera over the site that used to be the home of a great gold dragon.

To avoid the tragedies of warfare and tensions between the various races (such as the war between Arkhosia and Bael Turath), the Empire of Nerath instituted an open tolerance to all races of the world. There were exceptions of course, abberant creatures, orcs, goblinoids, gnolls, were too savage to join the civilized world. While this did indeed bring much peace throughout the land, as these civil rights were heavily enforced by law, it eliminated any real sense of racial culture.

For 500 years, Nerath reigned supreme throughout most of Aetheria. The Flame Imperishable burned strong in the capital city of Nera.

Like all civilizations, Nerath too, went into decline. Discontent and rebellion soon became common occurrences throughout the many provinces. The Imperial Legions were stretched thin as they attempted to maintain order, but this was a portent to a war of cataclysmic proportions.

The many gnoll tribes, once so disorganized, now join under a single banner. Their leader, known as the Ruler of Ruin, a proclaimed prophet of the demon lord Yennoghu, called for the Empire’s destruction. The Ruler of Ruin commanded many demons to join in with the gnoll hordes. The gnolls rampaged across all of Nerath, leaving nothing alive in their wake.

The beleaguered Empire was ill prepared to repel the massive gnoll invasion. Within months the Empire was crumbling, and it wasn’t long before they reached the gates of Nera itself. The Gates of Destiny, the majestic city doors that many had hoped to force any invader to surrender, were brought down and defiled by the gnolls.

With the fall of Nera and the death of the Emperor, the provinces began to bicker among themselves who would be next to claim the imperial throne. King Elidyr, who had a claim to the throne, took the Imperial Crown without the other nobles consent, and rallied the Imperial Legions to resist the gnoll horde. Seeing the desperation, the remaining nobles ceased their bickering and lent their own forces to supplement the Imperial Legions.

At the Battle of Sarthel, Elidyr finally clashed with the Ruler of Ruin. The gnolls were defeated, but only at the cost of Elidyr’s life. With the Legions in disarray, the gnolls rallied and consolidated their hold on Nerathi territory.

The Empire of Nerath fell at last, as the many provinces broke up into their own city-states, the most notable of them being the Kingdom of Astraean. While many gnoll tribes have moved on, they are still very present in Nera one hundred years later.

When Nerath fell, the world descended into chaos. While civilization was weak, the demon lord Yeenoghu, ancient enemy of the minotaurs, sent an immense horde of gnolls to stake his claim upon the world. The Guardian Clan of minotaurs, led by Asteron Stonesplitter formed an alliance with the civilized races, and with their combined might they defeated the gnolls and drove them back into the wild. Other minotaur clans attacked the Guardians as traitors to the Horned King.

With the collapse of imperial authority, the leading noble families of Sarthel established a Council of Lords to govern the city. The arid plains and dry woodlands east of Lake Sarn are virtually depopulated in the great wars that marked the end of Nerath.

Not long after, The Bloodspear War began as orcs from The Stonemarch swept across the Nentir Vale. Kalton Manor and Raven Roost are abandoned, Fastormel is destroyed. Lowtown in Fallcrest is razed, but Hightown is saved by a swift footed messenger who warned the city of the defeat of Fallcrest’s army at Gardbury Downs, which the current Cross City Race pays tribute to.

Our campaign however, focuses on the region known as Nentir Vale. Once the heart of the Empire of Nerath, Nentir Vale is now a land in almost total chaos, overran by evil with only a few points of light still remaining in the growing darkness. Here is where we focus our story, here is where champions and heroes are made. Welcome to Nentir Vale.