The Kingdom of Alban - Introduction.

Far to the south of Gauldin lies an ancient kingdom situated upon an island of its own, a land called Alban. Once, long ago, its empire was great and powerful. The world knew Alban’s 

name, and it’s great navies and vast armies were feared and respected by all. Now, it is torn by a violent civil war that pits brother against brother, father against son, countryman against countryman. This is a land of subtle magics, dark mystery, and powerful tradition.  

It is said in many kingdoms that the king has a divine mandate to rule. In most cases this is merely propaganda. In Alban, it is truth. Since time immemorial Alban has been ruled by House Arach. Under their rule the land was rich and fertile, and the wylds were held at bay, thanks to the mystic blade An Dlí. 

There are three forms of magic and three native races found within Alban: The Druidry of the Fae, The Blood magics of the Wildlings, and The Metallurgy of the Dwarves. An Dlí is the living symbol of a pact between the natives, and the humans. The blade was forged from all three magics and bound to the bloodline Andurin Arach. It was decreed that the blade must always be present in the lands, and wielded by the hands of a trueborn son of Andurin. So long as this was true, the Wyld’s growth would slow, and Alban would prosper. This truth was passed down for years until history became legend, and legend became myth. 

Twenty years ago the treacherous Duke Hevrin Bànach lead a revolt against King Derim Arach. While Derim was a weak and ineffectual king, Hevrin was a brilliant general, and a skilled and powerful warrior. The Duke’s coup was successful, and the Arach royal family was slaughtered. During the battle An Dlí was lost, but Hevrin cared not. To him, it was just a sword. A sword surrounded by myth, perhaps, but simply a piece of steel with a story.  

The newly crowned King Bànach ruled for five years. In that time once rich soil became barren, wells began to dry, and the wyld, once thought to be defeated, started to spread once again. Eventually it became obvious that the ancient legends were true. Without An Dlí, Alban would wither and die. The people, angry at this turn of events, revolted. Bànach was cast down and killed, his name spoken alongside the vilest of curses. The only hope for the people of Alban now lies within a rumour: the youngest son of King Derim was said to have escaped the slaughter of his family, and disappeared to a foreign land.