The Barbarian Tribes Go To War

by Darcwulf, Staff Writer
Last Updated: Majetag, Fleurgreen 13, 2008

Southern Ansalon - The barbarian tribes of the south have emerged from their deep forest bent on conquest.

This week three mighty armies, Dragonhordes, supported by flights of dragons, have emerged from the Great Forest. The first one is poised on the border of the Silvanesti, the elves already reporting skirmishes with the barbarians and their servant race the draconians. Another army is on the coast of Straits of Schallsea, where scouts report that they are building a huge fleet of ships. The last army is marching north through the harsh lands of Blode, the ogres having willingly joined the barbarians, are reportedly being used as shock troops.

With all the confusion, rumors and legends surrounding the tribes of the Great Forest, the Herald approached the elven sage Solostaran Kanan for the truth of the tribes origin. "It was in the first few years after the Cataclysm when a ruthless exiled barbarian named Wanderer discovered the Kingpriest's Crown of Power, the Miceram. Through this artifact Wanderer was able to communicate with the most cunning of green dragons - Cyan Bloodbane, who like all chromatic dragons was exiled at the end of the third dragon war. With the guidance of Bloodbane, Wanderer summoned and let loose a horde of dark fey spirits into the then diminishing southern forest. The dark fey rejuvenated the forest and although it was with a dark malevolence, the barbarian tribes didn't care because they once more had food. Wanderer was proclaimed savior and king of the tribes and began to transform their culture of honor into the blood thirsting savagery it is today."

In 32AC the barbarians swept into Qualinesti destroying Solostaran Kanan's kingdom, the survivors fled southeast to the Icewall, before turning due east. Once they reached the sea again, they were picked up by the Silvanesti fleet. Less than a quarter of the population of Qualinesti made it to the ancient elven homeland.

"Over the last three hundred years," continued the former elven king. "The barbarians have terraformed the southern part Ansalon from Qualinesti almost to the borders of Silvanesti into one giant malevolent forest. In 56AC, Tarsis the lost lordcity was overrun and exterminated. In 97AC the Tower of Wayreth was moved to the Scallsea when the wizards found that the dark fey of the Great Forest had begun to corrupt Wayreth's protective forest."

"Most of Ansalon believes that just because they never saw them that the barbarians spent the next two hundred years living peacefully in their forest, when in fact they were fighting a war against the dwarves of Thorbardin. The dwarves made the barbarians pay in blood for every inch of ground they gained, but ultimately the more numerous, faster breeding barbarians won out. The last time we heard from Thane Hornfel was almost fifty years ago. The ruins of Thorbardin are where the barbarians created the draconians."

The Armies of Light are marshalling their strength, but as of yet they have no way to fight the dragons of the barbarians.

The Barbarian Tribes Go To War

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