Darkreach — History
activeHistory of Darkreach
The Shattered Empire (Before the War)
A fascist regime of conquerors and colonizers. The Empire of Brelmare expanded into neighboring nations promising safety, peace, and prosperity — but delivered tyranny and cultural destruction. Conquered nations’ scientists were press-ganged into improving imperial technology.
Eventually the oppression broke: The Great Scorch — factories, farms, cities, and whole nations burned as the people revolted.
In desperation, imperial scientists discovered The Haze — an iridescent fog that was actually a gateway to other realms. Before they could weaponize it, something answered their call: The Ravaging arrived — a storm of pitch-black clouds whose thunder was the screaming of tortured souls. Anyone caught in it was transformed into an eldritch horror.
Both imperial and rebel forces fled into The Haze.
The Stam-Dwall (Before the War)
A collection of disparate clans and tribes — the original people of Darkreach, believed by some to have been shaped by the gods from the land itself. Skilled hunters and apothecaries, eventually given dangerous quarry by the gods, leading to the Kindred of the Fang (children of gods and mortals).
A disaster struck when hunters killed the daughter of Vir’Drinkte (god of the deep) in a great lake. In punishment, the body of the leviathan became water, flooding the land and creating The Second Sea. Losing land forced the clans to unify as seafarers and raiders — becoming the Stam-Dwall.
The War
The Shattered Empire crossed through The Haze into Darkreach, guided by the Hallowed. Still in their civil war, the Empire’s forces devastated the land. A Stam-Dwall diplomatic delegation was killed — starting the War.
Technologically outmatched early on, the Stam-Dwall adapted to guerrilla warfare. A tentative truce formed between Stam-Dwall and rebel forces. Together they assaulted the imperial stronghold.
The majority of the imperial army had sailed north to march on the Lignum Vitae (The World Tree), home of the gods. They burned it — killing one god, injuring another, and banishing a third to The Echo. But they were cornered by three forces. Many surrendered; those who didn’t were executed. Officers received no such offer.
The Peace (Current Era)
A peace treaty was signed between Stam-Dwall and Shattered Empire leaders. Tensions persist — petty conflicts and skirmishes continue. Dominescus has isolated in their northern stronghold. The south remains a neutral region of lawlessness and free trade.
Last updated: 2026-04-06