As you wander into a bookkeep, you search around for any piece of literature that peaks your interest, a younger and curious version of you spots a book which stands out labeled, "Llithe". Its title being the very land you walk intrigues you, enticing you at least skim through the pages. it reads:
Llithe, land carved by the All Father and blessed by High Matron. The soils of Llithe were founded by its earliest settlers, stating its pure and rich nature attracted the Species of Tongue to find new pasture and life within its holdings. Llithe was very generous to its new residents, having bountiful harvest and good weather year round.
It was a prosperous century of building and forming its inhabitants, delegating its own borders and cities with ease. It is at this moment this era was dubbed “ New Beginnings”. Kings and Lords were formed, Including the main Capital of Llithe, Bera. Forming in the West of Llithe, Bera was settled on the most fruitful piece of land, its harvest fed many generations, coining to which any of those who look to Bera for life, a Berathian.
Bera greeted its neighbors with warmth and support, supplying The Highlands and Xemascus which requested much needed resources to establish themselves in their foundings. It is here they are also greeted with The Wisp, inhabitants of the forest who were established in these lands before the Species of Tongue, but did not mind the new neighbors. King of Bera, Locke Berathian, met with The Wisp who saw the nature of the Kingdom, and wished to share itself with them in exchange for an additional settlement near its borders for ease of access. Locke did not find any harm in doing so, and so established the second capital “Reach”. To provide an extended hand to The Wisp, which in return, shared knowledge that will change the land of Llithe and its people, Mana.
The Wisp provided knowledge of Llithe, and how Mana, although strongest within The Wisp’s borders, is all around the land. This sparked the “ Era of Creation”.
Innovation skyrocketed, knowledge surged, and lives were enhanced with the fast moving pace of Llithe. But with its increase in civilization, so did the hunger for power. Malek Berathian, Duke of Reach, grew jealous of his brother King Kestus Berathian, as the appointed successor of King Locke.
He stated that Kestus was not fit to lead, nor did Bera. Malek believed that Reach had a more powerful influence with The Wisp, it sat on the most logical and defensive location on Llithe, and ruled its people with more leadership than Kestus.
He spread this way of thinking to many, those who opposed Malek sent this information to Kestus, who promptly visited Reach and Malek to resolve this issue. Eyes were not met, and effective immediately, Reach defected from the Kingdom of Bera, creating its own sanction.
This caused The Great Divide. Having strict borders made with Berathian Troops and Knights of Reach guarding each side. Never breaking this divide under their own rule.
While Bera continued to lead through harvest and good relations, Reach ruled with innovation and grit.
Bera, being limited to innovation due to the Reach sanction, was slower in innovation, but bountiful in harvest and resources, food from rich soil, quality armament made from Xemascus Steel from the mines of Calidum and Xemascus, and enough influence to gain some resources of The Wisp across the Nexus Bay.
Reach, having The Wisp within its borders, made sure to create very good relations with them. Malek expanded more east, creating Hearth, which became a central marketplace for overseas trading and business, leading to convincing The Wisp to stay loyal to Reach with goods and resources. Later, created relations with The Deso Sera, who provided a secret passage through “The Flank”. Where Reach was able to also obtain Xemascus armament.
This went on for half a decade, up until Reach decided it was time for a new king. In the darkest of nights, Kestus was killed while travelling from a meeting in Aeor. Causing the war what we know today as “Kingdom Come”.
All of Llithe was a battlefield, even The Wisp. clashing of steel, magical impacts against flesh and soil, and mental games of espionage and betrayal. A 6 year long war comes to a close, with Reach as the victor. Although the Berathians fought valiantly, A kingdom without a crown was not going to last long, to which Malek took that crown, dismantling Bera and any Berathian that still served true to its dead king.
The Kingdom of Bera still stands, but its just a husk of what it once was, it is now just a large capital of work and transport of food and harvest. Reach claimed itself as the main capital of Llithe, and although power fueled by bloodshed, lead Llithe and its subjects to decades of peace, entering the “Era of Harmony.” It is noted that at this time, Malek passed his crown to a different house, trusted by their loyalty and merit, subsequently fully ending the Berathian leadership, starting the royal rule of House Aurelius .
The Era of Harmony could only be labeled as a time of stagnant evolution. The land had to rebuild, resupply, and clean itself from the blood spilt on its own floors, no wars took place, no uprising, no challenge to the crown nor its people. It gave a false sense of hope.
One day, a report arrives at the capital of Reach, a sighting of a very large structure hovering in the clouds off the coast of Wisp. King Ameon Aurelius, accompanied by the Kingsguard, formed a fleet to see the measure of this message, what he saw was only to be described by all who witnessed, A messenger of death.
The tower gracefully put itself between the two lands of Wisp, following it up with your eyes, you would soon see it reach and pierce the clouds. The height is unknown, but it's not the imposing stature that instills fear, it was Llithe’s reaction to its presence.
This tower blackened the sea around it, and as if by the snap of a finger, darkness looms the west side of the tower, consuming the detached settlement of The Wisp. Scouting the island years later was found to be very hostile, Unknown creatures are seen to be looming on the coast and large figures within the residing mist glides its silhouette along the haze. They claimed the land lost, renaming it Obscura.
King Ameon founded the “Marauders Scouting Legion.” Raid Parties formed by Reach to enter and scale the tower. To avoid fear taking over, information about the tower is only subjected to the current group of Legionnaires scaling the tower, and to those working within the Legion itself. They isolate themselves on the island of Ironwall, to separate the Legion from the rest of Llithe. Not even the King knows about its inhabitants or contents, just vaguely told by messengers of its progress. Rumors are spread, myths and tales are told of the Legionnaires taking on the tower, but no one really knows what is true.
King Ameon believed that the tower was mocking him and his power, his rule, seducing him closer to its presence. Where the tower stood was very visible to his living quarters in Reach, taunting his glance every moment of every day. He caved, himself and a trustworthy Kingsguard travelled to Ironwall, where after a week, he returned alone. Months later lead to King Ameon to grow ill, passing his crown to his heir Altiar Aurelius, telling him “ Do not enter The Tower.”
Reports start to come in from The Wisp, claiming the presence of Mana within the last decade has been fading, not rapidly, but enough to take notice, all the while the Tower of Soddom’s presence grows within The Mana Plane.
Occasionally, there will be a “Leak”, in which creatures/monsters coming from either Obscura or The Tower that wander onto the mainland, Reach in response has established watch points along the shared coast disguised as towns or cities, to ward off or alert of any leaks from the area.
Llithe continues to live and thrive within its own naive progression. While stories are being told within its soils, what awaits of this looming monument that watches over the land is yet to be discovered.