Rise of Thornhaven & Fall of Cassimolair

The Rise of Thornhaven and the Fall of Cassimolair

In the earliest days of the dream, barbarian tribes roamed free, following no formal leadership. They lived by the sword and the strength of their wills, scattered across the harsh landscape. Yet from this chaos, a warrior of great vision arose: King Thorn, a warrior of unmatched prowess and visionary leadership, recognized the strength of unity in a world threatened by outside forces. With his mighty presence and magnetic charisma, he began to rally the disparate tribes under a single banner. Thorn recognized the need for unity. The endless infighting and warlord squabbles weakened them, leaving them vulnerable to the lurking dangers beyond their lands.

King Thorn traveled across the harsh terrains of the uncharted Dream challenging tribal leaders to meet him in combat. One by one, he bested them, not merely through strength but with honor and respect, proving that a united people could achieve more than any single tribe could on its own. With each victory, Thorn extended an invitation: join me in creating a realm where all could flourish. The tribes, seeing the promise of a stronger future, began to flock to him, and soon Thornhaven was born—a citadel of strength, resilience, and camaraderie.

The Dream itself took notice of everyone's efforts and blessed Thornhaven with a beautiful, verdant garden known as the Garden of Life. The Garden of Life flourished alongside the growth of the city, and eventually smaller spirits began to emerge. These spirits wielded subtle forces of nature and provided a means of maintaining balance. They were known as Elementals, and as they gave rise to balance, even stronger forces started to present themselves. The Primordial Elementals—Zephyr, Pyra, Terra, and Aqua—emerged from the Garden of Life and served as the guardians of the city's equilibrium, overseeing the wind, fire, earth, and water.

The Primordia's gifted the King Thorn the Four Orbs of Being, which contained the powers of Wisdom, Stability, Passion, and Strength. These orbs were essential for Thornhaven’s growth; without them, the city's defenses would eventually fall beneath the weight of The Chaos. King Thorn, along with other Dreamwrights created a device that would harness the chaotic essences of the Nightmares. This device became what creates and maintains the strength behind the barrier thicket surrounding the city and adding an additional layer of protection. With added protections in place, Thorn looked to expansion. Reflecting back upon the many blessings of the Dream, Thorn decided to give the Dream a blessing of his own in return, and so the Divine Summit was born. Carved from the very fabric of the Dream, the Divine Summit sat high above the peaks of Mt. Illapse, heavily guarded and towering over the city as a beacon of hope, honor, and strength for the people. It gave the citizens a place of worship, ceremony, and also served as the last point of defense.

As Thorn continued to secure the loyalty of all the tribes, he needed a trusted advisor to guide him in matters of strategy and magic. Enter Cassimolair, a sorcerer of rare talent and intellect. He was a man of the shadows, a seeker of knowledge who had traveled far and wide, delving into ancient tomes and forbidden rites. His expertise in the arcane arts quickly caught Thorn’s attention. Cassimolair became the king's right hand, advising him on matters both mundane and mystical. Under his guidance, Thornhaven thrived, fortified by magic and the strength of its people.

Sydrah, the God of The Void and a master of time and space began as anyone would in the Dream. Sydrah is an ancient being with an unknown origin that dwells within the realm of the Void. The Void is a place within another realm of the Dream that draws power from the Rifts. Many dreamers have attempted to find it and travel there, but none were successful and the few who came close were never seen again. Through the ages of the Dream there's mention of Sydrah all the way back to the earliest of records in some cities. While no dreamer truly knows his goals or aspirations, they are seemingly harmful in nature. Sydrah is responsible for the creation of the time portals and has placed them all over the vast Dream. Early on the dreamers learned that these portals had the power to create a link between parts of the Dream that they never thought to have existed. The Dream was suddenly much more than a mere city. It was an endless plane with infinite possibilities. Some dreamers sought to use the devices while others sought to worship them, believing that Sydrah would unite all dreamers and ignoring the growing concern in Sydrah's purpose.

Sydrah has always manipulated those who hold power but have weaker minds that were easier to sway. The promise of ultimate power and dominion over time and space has corrupted the minds of many dreamers over the centuries. Sydrah watched with great interest from The Void as Thornhaven grew and expanded. Shrouded by a powerful Invisibility, he began to visit the city and keep watch on the many citizens. Sydrah took time to learn about how these people functioned as a society. He made note of their strong, weak, and everyone in between. During the time of King Thorn's expansion Sydrah took notice of Cassimolair, and little did the King's advisor know at the time, but he was about to attract the attention of incredible force. What came next began with a whisper...

Targeting the King's right hand, Cassimolair’s ambitions began to grow darker. He yearned for knowledge and power beyond what any mortal should possess. As Cassimolair further succumbed to Sydrah’s whispers, he began to delve into even darker magics. His research shifted from protective wards and healing spells to experimenting with life and death. In his desperation for power, he stumbled upon the ability to create Dreadspawn—horrific creatures born from the twisted remnants of life itself. These abominations drew their power from the void, wielding fear and destruction as their primary tools.

The kingdom of Thornhaven soon found itself facing the terrifying consequences of Cassimolair’s ambition. Once a place of unity and strength, it became marred by the horrors unleashed by the Dreadspawn. The barbarian tribes, now united under Thorn's leadership, were plunged into a struggle against the very creations that had once promised them protection.

King Thorn, realizing the gravity of Cassimolair's betrayal, confronted him within the depths of Thornhaven’s grand hall. "You were meant to guide us, not to bring destruction! The Dreadspawn are a blight upon our lands!" he thundered, his voice echoing against the stone walls.

Cassimolair, consumed by his lust for power and influenced by Sydrah’s dark gifts, laughed coldly. “You cannot comprehend the greatness I am achieving! With the Dreadspawn at my command, I will become a god!”

Furious and heartbroken, Thorn drew his sword. “You have betrayed us, Cassimolair. I will not allow you to destroy what we have built!” The clash between king and sorcerer erupted, a battle of wills and might that shook the very foundation of Thornhaven.

In the end, Thorn’s resolve proved unyielding. With a powerful incantation, he invoked the ancient rites of banishment. The air crackled with energy around Cassimolair, and his form began to dissipate. Yet in a final act of defiance, Cassimolair transformed himself into a Dreadspawn just before the energy could consume him and, in a flash, escaped into the depths of the Chaos.

Thornhaven was left shaken in the aftermath, but its people remained resolute. Though Cassimolair was gone from the Kingdom he remained a constant source of fear for the citizens as there was no telling when he would return next. The Dreadspawn he had created continued to roam the city, wreaking havoc on the people who were caught unprotected.

As for King Thorn, he stood alone in the grand hall, heart heavy with the loss of a friend turned foe. The shadows of Cassimolair’s actions would continue to linger over Thornhaven, but Thorn vowed to protect his people and their hard-won unity. The battle was over, but the war against the darkness had only just begun.

Reference

• https://forums.underlight.com/viewtopic.php?f=132&t=11016