The Forgotten

The Forgotten came into existence long before written history in an era now referred to as the Forgotten Age. Elderkin folklore from multiple unrelated civilizations claims that the Forgotten were the unquestioned masters of the entire world at the time. Many mysterious ruins and unexplainable artifacts are known to have originated from this age. However the Forgotten’s reign came to an end in an event known as the “Blessed Nightmare”. A global cataclysm of some sort struck Tyrrell. The cataclysm caused such destruction it came close to driving the early races into extinction, a fact that many archaeologists seem to agree with. 

The Blessed Nightmare came to an end in year 0 of the First Age with the final sealing of the Forgotten behind the gates. The Forgotten were now trapped in an alternate dimension known as the Accursed Realm. While the Blessed Nightmare left little standing of the previous world, the scattered survivors were no longer under the Forgotten’s control. The newly freed peoples of the Elderkin then set about rebuilding and restoring what had previously been lost. 

The earliest Elderkin civilizations arose in regions around the gates such as Midboria, Hvel'Luthnor, or Pharakaatus. These countries would closely guard the gates to ensure that the Forgotten could never escape. Throughout the early centuries of the First Age powerful artifacts and unexplainable entities created by the Forgotten could still be found. When unleashed these could, and sometimes did, snuff out early civilizations. In time these threats were all destroyed, sealed away, or brought under control by the Elderkin.

As the Elderkin societies advanced and the ages passed by, the memory of the Forgotten began to fade into myth. The few early records about their existence slowly crumbled away due to accidents and neglect. Over 3000 years would pass without any signs that the Forgotten could ever return. By this time even the oldest of the Elderkin had never known anyone, who had met anyone, who was alive when the Forgotten still walked the world. 

By the final years of the First Age the Forgotten were only dimly remembered in obscure legends. Some had even begun to believe that the Forgotten were entirely fictional, nothing more than fairytales and vague metaphors to frighten children with. The locations of many of the gates would be lost to time. The few that were known became lightly guarded. The role of protecting them was now seen as little more than ceremonial tradition. 

After thousands of years of dormancy, the Forgotten would make their dramatic reappearance in year 0 of the Second Age. A human from the Vosk Basin had come to learn about the legends of the Forgotten. This individual managed to sneak through the lax security in place around the First Gate in Midboria. Unsealing the gate he walked through the portal and into the Accursed Realm. He emerged transfigured into a being of unimaginable power now known as the first Dark Lord. Unleashing the armies of the Forgotten upon Tyrrell, this Dark Lord would lead a war of conquest on their behalf. 

The Elderkin were completely caught off guard and unprepared for the Forgotten’s return. Millions would die during the First Gate War. As the Forgotten’s forces swept across West Ciradon, the Forgotten would use the Dark Lord as their proxy to gain new servants in the form of mankind. Tempted with the promise of new magical powers and enhanced longevity, many humans would join the Forgotten’s ranks willingly. However Elderkin nations, realizing the Forgotten were on the cusp of world domination, would eventually unite and come to Midboria’s aid. 

After 18 years of grueling warfare the Dark Lord and his armies fell in battle and the Forgotten were resealed into the First Gate. Despite hopes that they were defeated for good, the First Gate War was only the beginning of the conflicts with the Forgotten that would erupt over the next thousand years. In less than a century the Second Gate opened beneath the mountains of Pharakaatus. Though their invasion was eventually thwarted, the insect-like creatures the Forgotten had created continue to infest the mountains of the Eternal Empire to this day. In 506 SA the Third Gate opened, devastating the ancient elven homeland of Hvel'Luthnor. 

With each Gate’s opening the Forgotten would create new monsters, appoint new Dark Lords, corrupt new minions, and attempt unique strategies to regain their lost dominance over Tyrrell. However the Elderkin too would adapt, and with time they became increasingly proficient at resealing the Gates. The final Gate War would occur in 1180 SA with the opening of the Ninth Gate on Velta Island in the Ruby Sea. 

The Ninth Gate War would prove to be the most destructive of the Forgotten’s invasions. Mutating people and animals to serve their will, the Forgotten laid siege to 4 of Tyrrell’s 6 continents. East Parthus was almost entirely conquered and many nations were entirely wiped from existence. It was only through the Champions of Sperrhis’ sacrifice and a globally coordinated counterattack that the Forgotten were defeated. In the aftermath of the Ninth Gate War, all of the known Gates were secured and powerful magic put into place to ensure they could never be opened again. 

For over a millennium and a half, Tyrrell would be free from the scorge of the Forgotten. The Gates were tightly secured and every effort was made to root out any lingering Forgotten influences in society. However as their memory once again fades into history, the dawn of the Third Age has opened up new possibilities for the Forgotten. With the Elderkin and Lesserkin both fighting for dominance in the Third Age, the Forgotten and their remaining agent's plot from the shadows to exploit both sides. 

With the rise of heavy industry, pollution, and industrialized warfare, the field has begun to weaken across Tyrrell. The powerful magic keeping the gates sealed is increasingly becoming strained. Many of the oldest and wisest Elderkin have begun to worry that mankind's careless destruction of the leylines will inevitably lead to the Forgotten's escape. Some of the Elderkin who fear loosing their power and magic have begun to seek out the Forgotten's forbidden abilities to stave off humanities rise. In utmost secrecy, a few Elderkin individuals have even pledged to release the Forgotten in exchange for their help in preventing their loss of magic. 

While the citizens of Tyrrell continue to prepare for the next war between the Elderkin and the Lesserkin, perhaps no greater threat has ever faced the world than the one that now lurks unnoticed beneath the shadows... 

• Artwork by Werewolff Studios