RuneScape Forum Archive | The Expedition [RP*

NotFishing

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Introduction

The Elven Empire.

At one point, such a name would fill any resident of Gara with dread.

You see, the empire pre-dated any human settlement. By the time the first human village was founded, the empire had already been formed. They were notoriously greedy, hoarding the best lands for themselves and forcing the humans to live on the rocky coast, with mediocre farmland and only a few mineral resources. Here they formed several city-states, small independent kingdoms consisting of one city and some nearby towns and villages.

Inevitably, the Elves took notice of all these new settlements popping up along the coastline. They thought little of it. There was no way this small collection of lesser beings with limited resources could threaten their position on Sorus!

But eventually, they began to worry.

For the humans had unlocked and discovered the secrets of magic. They became more ambitious and started to lay claim to more and more land. Most of the city-states had even allied with each other and were pressuring the rest to join - mere steps away from unification. If this continued, how far would it go?

The elves did not want to find out.

So the Elven King marched into Gara with the largest army the Garans had ever seen at his back. All their soldiers put together could not equal it in strength.

They stormed the city of Itum, the most technologically and magically advanced of all city-states - truly a symbol of human progress - and burned it to the ground. Anyone who so much lifted a finger to stop them was slaughtered, and the rest were taken away, sold into slavery or worse - experimented on or used for research. They then salted the earth so that nothing would ever grow there again.

Then they moved on to the next city-state, Vorum. Again, they slaughtered everyone who stood against them. Legend has it, they broke down the castle doors to face the Vorumian King himself. Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

17-Jun-2015 23:03:46

NotFishing

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The dispatched his personal bodyguard and then the Elven King approached the cowering ruler of Vorum and pointed a sword directly at his throat.

But instead of killing him, the Elven King made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Bow to elven supremacy, and both he and the rest of his people would be spared. He accepted. Then, the elves sent a message to every city promising to spare them if they surrendered to some very harsh terms.

-Every year, each city must give ten men and ten women in good health as tribute.
-Every ten years a generous amount of gold.
-The ruler of each city was to send their eldest son to be held hostage.
-A limit on the amount of soldiers and ships they could build.
-They could not research any magical or technological advancements.

And in return, the city-states could continue their existence. They accepted. All tribute was brought to Vorum, and the king was given a share of the gold wheb the eles came by to collect the tribute, If a city failed to uphold their end of the bargain, one of their villages was burned. If a city rebelled, the city was destroyed.

The captives were subject to horrible treatment. Vile experimentations and mutations were done. And then the Elves started to merge their DNA with dragon DNA, creating a horrendous race of creatures called Draconites. These very beasts were sent to help gather tribute, and the first responders in any rebellions.

This continued on for hundreds of years. Until eventually, the elven "ambassadors" in each city all disappeared. No soldiers came to Vorum to collect the tribute.

Time passed, and eventually the city states worked up the courage to send scouts out to investigate. But in place of what were once mighty elven cities, they only found abandoned ruins. Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

17-Jun-2015 23:04:12 - Last edited on 17-Jun-2015 23:33:42 by NotFishing

NotFishing

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They returned home with the news, and the people of Gara were not sure what exactly they should make of it. What if the elves returned?

A few more years passed. But eventually the city-states grew tired of all their citizens and all that wealth sitting in Vorum with no one coming to collect it. So, they asked for it back. And Vorum had been more than willing to give up the slaves, but the wealth they asked to keep. They argued that was what the elves would value the most if they did return, that they should wait. But the cities were persistanr.

And then they found out that king of Vorum had spent half of it.

His city was given the same treatment Itum had been given all those years ago.

Deciding that enough was enough, the cities got together and decided it was time to get a group together and eplore these ancient ruins. An expedition, you could say.

-----

Gerus was, without a doubt, one of Gara's finest cities. Men and women walked along the cobbled streets, going about their daily business. And indeed, things were quite happy now. It had been years since anyone had last seen elf or draconite, and optimists believed they were gone for good. And those who didn't would rather live in the moment.

A lone armored man walked through the streets. On his back was a spear and a shield, and at his belt a sword and dagger. His armor was that of a knight, giving no indication as to his actual physical appearance. The metal clad warrior strode with purpose, his destination being the castle that overlooked the city.

And what was his purpose? To join the expedition, of course. Soldiers, mercenaries, heroes, mages... all manner of people had been invited to the city of Gerus to investigate the deserted Elven cities. If the elves truly were gone, it would indeed be a gift from the gods.

He walked up the fancy marble steps which led to the castle's doors. "I am Sir William Darren, knight of Virtus. I believe I have been invited?" Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

17-Jun-2015 23:04:27 - Last edited on 18-Jun-2015 21:02:54 by NotFishing

NotFishing

Posts: 16,946 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

He asked, holding out the summons he had been given.

The guards nodded at him. "Go on in." One of them said in a gruff voice.

"Thank you." William said with a nod, pushing the large doors open and stepping inside. Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

17-Jun-2015 23:04:42 - Last edited on 18-Jun-2015 21:04:44 by NotFishing