Helga Copperwind

409

For centuries, the Calradia Empire stood as a beacon of unity and strength under the wise and fierce leadership of the Crowned Barbarian Empress. However, corruption, greed and lust for power eroded its foundations over time. Petty squabbles and factional divisions simmered beneath the surface, awaiting the perfect moment to boil over. That moment arrived with the Empress's passing, leaving a power vacuum that plunged the empire into chaos. Rather than rallying behind the rightful heiress, the tribes succumbed to their baser instincts, sparking a devastating civil war. To safeguard trade routes, wealthy merchants and tribal leaders hire mercenary groups to escort goods. Helga Copperwind, a warrior who specializes in archery, leads one such group comprising of ex-pats from the Golden Suns army. After completing their military service, they sought adventure, wealth and a chance to maintain their skills and sense of purpose. *A Merchant's Quest* Aron Vexer is a traveling merchant from the Howling Caverns, a pacifist tribe living in the caverns underneath the expansive Khutulun Desert. Seeking to expand his trade, he’s hired Helga's mercenary group to escort himself and his valuable goods to Terrasol's capital. With Helga's group by your side, you set out on the perilous journey, navigating treacherous landscapes and hostile factions. Your cargo, worth a small fortune, includes rare minerals, precious metals and exotic spices. As you traverse Calradia, you'll encounter various tribes, each with their own agendas and motivations. Will you and Helga's group overcome the challenges ahead, or will the treacherous road prove too great to overcome?

Sarita Ravensteel

144

For centuries, the Calradia Empire stood as a beacon of unity and strength, binding disparate tribes under the wise and fierce leadership of the Crowned Barbarian Empress. However, as time passed, the insidious forces of corruption, greed and lust for power began to erode the empire's foundations. Petty squabbles and factional divisions simmered beneath the surface, awaiting the perfect moment to boil over. That moment arrived with the Empress's passing, leaving a power vacuum that plunged the empire into chaos. Rather than rallying behind the rightful heiress, the tribes succumbed to their baser instincts, sparking a devastating civil war. The civil war would stir that of the supernatural. Those who controlled the dark arts took advantage of the conflict, rising the undead in a means of power. In a historic convergence, three fearless leaders united their tribes against a common undead threat. Lysara Ironheart of the Dead Bones, Sigrun Skullcrush of the Mute Hands and Astrid Flamebreak of the Rabid Arrows forged an uneasy alliance. Their victorious battle against the necromancer Eliza Corpsereaver would spark the dawn of a new era. Inspired by the radiant sun, the three queens merged their tribes to form the Golden Suns. This powerful union laid the foundation for the kingdom of Terrasol. Lysara's formidable Ossaria Keep became the capital, proudly bearing the Golden Suns' emblem: three intertwined suns symbolizing unity and hope. To safeguard their joined lands, the Golden Suns reinforced border security by constructing watchtowers along major trade routes. There, travelers, merchants, and refugees passthrough a checkpoint before allowed entry into the kingdom. Beacons atop the tower light up with threats of raiders and enemy forces. Sarita Ravensteel, a former Mute Hands warrior, now stood guard at the 4th Stone Watchtower on Terrasol's western border. Her vigilant eyes scanned the forested horizon, ever ready to defend the realm.

Golden Suns tribe

44

The war-torn realm of eastern Calradia teetered on the brink of collapse. Three queens of the east ruled over their respective tribes: Lysara Ironheart guided the Dead Bones tribe, Sigrun Skullcrush led the Mute Hands, and Astrid Flamebreak from the Rabid Arrows. Yet, a new threat emerged, one that would alter their fates. Eliza Corpsereaver, a ruthless necromancer, animating the fallen and turning them against the living. The necromancer's power spread, disrupting trade routes, threatening famine and further bloodshed. Recognizing their common foe, the three leaders forged an uneasy alliance. High Priestess Cybil Dawnbringer, leader of the Holy Paladins, offered her aid, recognizing the necromancer's evil as a threat to all of Calradia. Together, the unlikely allies launched a final assault. The battle raged relentlessly for days with Eliza’s undead minions, but as the final morning broke, the tide turned. The dawn sun rose, casting its golden light upon the battlefield. Eliza Corpsereaver fell, her powers dissipating, as undead horde crumbled to ash. In the aftermath, they stood victorious. As the High Priestess and the Holy Paladins returned to the Calradia Empire, the queens realized their unity was more than a temporary alliance. Lysara, Sigrun, and Astrid founded the Golden Suns tribe, inspired by the victorious dawn sun, with their flag bearing three intertwined suns, symbolizing unity and hope. Renouncing their claims to the crowned barbarian throne, they relinquished their titles as queens, now equal leaders of a noble triad. Their combined lands formed a new kingdom of Terrasol, an act of succession from Calradia, with Lysara's fortress Ossaria Keep as its capital.