BACKGROUND

Before the great war, it was said the four Kings of the continent of Lockland would come up with a reason to go to war every few years just to keep things interesting. These minor disputes would arise every few years: the Killmeyers of the West wouldn't stop their farmers from having their livestock graze on the southern lands of the Obans or the Starlings of the Eastern shores would overtax the Northerners when they sailed down to sell the iron they mined from the lands controlled by the Lockliers. . The great war started off as a minor dispute between the House of Locklier and Starling. Some said they couldn't come to agreement on trade, others said it was because a Locklier knight celebrated a little too much after unhorsing a Starling knight at a tournament. It was two centuries ago and, while everyone had their opinions, all anyone knew was that once it started, the entire continent was split. The Killmeyers and Lockliers aligned to take to on the Starlings and Obans and war would rage for nearly a decade before the dust settled. While the Starlings were the smaller of the kingdoms, they controlled the trade routes with their superior navy and were able to able to eventually build alliances with the smaller houses and foreign allies to the point they finally broke House Locklier. Without their northern allies, House Killmeyer couldn't continue to the fight so they relented as well. Through marriage, the Starlings and Obans would join their great houses, so four Kings became one King. They would let the great houses keep their lands, though the Obans would be awarded a large piece of western Killmeyer land and the Lockliers were required to send every second son to join the King's Army to ensure peace. Tiberius Starling would be the first King of Lockland and for nearly two centuries there would be a Starling on the throne. The current King, Octavius Starling, has been one of the more beloved Kings as he has brought economic prosperity to the kingdom and even eased tensions between the four houses. But Octavius has yet to produce an heir and despite his great intellect and kind demeanor he's always been known as a sickly boy and now a sickly man... how long can this great peace last with him on the throne?

TIMELINE

The first settlers of Lockland arrived from across the great sea. The House Locklier are the direct descendants of these early settlers. There are a few tribes who offer resistance, but with steel and armor, the settlers are able to fend them off and eventually integrate with these tribes. Trading routes are established, more settlers begin arriving - 0 F.S. (First Settlement) 1702 F.S. - The Great War begins 1712 F.S. - The Great War Ends, the coronation of King Tiberius Lockland and the signing of the Treaty of Lockland 1908 F.S. - The Pirate Wars, trade Tensions with the Nation of Quarth from Across the Great Sea leads to a two year war called the Pirate Wars due the Quarth government using their vast wealth to hire pirates and sellswords to attack the Kingdom of Lockland 1909 F.S. - The North is invaded by the Reavers, a company of two thousand sellswords Spring 1910 F.S. - The King's Army is assembled and led by King Orin Starling, between Lockland forces and the King's Army they are able to drive out the foreign invaders. Winter 1911 F.S. - King Orin Starling passes due to complications from a fever, his younger brother Octavius is crowned. Octavius signs a peace treaty and negotiates a trade agreement including restitution to the North for crimes committed by the Quarthian mercenaries Present Winter 1921 F.S.

MAGIC

While there are no dragons, mermaids, or such fantastical beasts, magic does indeed exist in this world. However, it is generally low-level, everyday magic and the bloodlines of those who can work great feats of magic have long since died out. Now, there is magic to keep the torches lit and castles warm. There is magic for communication, as pieces of parchment that can transmit words over great distance are common. There is low-level healing and health magic that can ease major complaints but not heal them outright. Those who can wield this low-level magic can scrape together a living through selling minor spells but are not overly prized or celebrated.