The Kinship of Eradell
After the Masixi were mercilessly driven out of Embazar in the year 532 of the Second Dawn—present-day Uln Alzor—those who remained ventured into the great marshes of Insetia, a region in the southeastern part of Eradell. There, they were greeted warmly and hospitably by the Insectoids. As a token of respect for this hospitality, the Masixi constructed a grand pyramid for them, modeled after the many they had built in Embazar.
As the decades passed, however, the Masixi slowly died out. The Insectoids, it turned out, were not as warm as they had first appeared. They were cruel and cold, ultimately forcing the Masixi into slavery. Worse still, the Masixi could not survive long in the noxious air and fumes of Insetia. The thick atmosphere contained a harmful microbe. By the year 600 of the same Dawn, the last of the Masixi had died, warped into sickly beings before their end.
By 2D 1665, the Insectoids had grown ever more sinister. Using the same microbe that had decimated the Masixi, they harvested it in great quantities using special siphoning devices. Once enough had been gathered, Insectoid apothecaries released a potent and deadly disease across Eradell, wiping out millions. This event came to be known as the Dark Plague.
One year later, as the Dark Plague continued to ravage the land, the Insectoid legions of Insetia launched a full-scale invasion. Weakened by disease, the armies of Neledar, Elves, and Dwarves were swiftly overcome. The Edeians, possessing one of the smallest populations, refused to assist but, by a stroke of luck, discovered that the Insectoids could not survive well in deserts.
The Insectoids likely believed their conquest would be swift. But those Elves, Dwarves, and Neledar who remained unaffected by the plague were driven by rage and grief, becoming formidable foes. Gradually, the tide turned. After six long years, the Insectoids were finally defeated at the conclusion of the War of Mandibles.
Many believed the Dark Plague vanished on its own—this was untrue. As the Insectoid apothecaries were killed, so too did the plague die out. To prevent such devastation from ever occurring again, a mighty alliance was formed: the Kinship of Eradell (K.O.E.), composed of the Elves of Ni’shorus and Edelas, the Neledar of Nell, and the Dwarves of Uln Alzor.
The Dwarves, without mercy, drove the surviving Insectoids back to Insetia and imprisoned them within the marshlands with the the construction of the Aragorus Wall. As part of their surrender, the Insectoids also ceded the continent of Hilrayn.
A key task of the Kinship was to help its members rebuild by offering worker assistance, the import and export of vital materials, and the sharing of many essential resources. With millions lost to the Dark Plague, important roles went unfilled, leading to widespread decay and diminished upkeep.
The Kinship endured relative peace until the final years of the Third Dawn, when the War of the Netherid erupted under the vile leadership of Karxas, a Netherid from the Nethirmire and the son of Orma the Dark Primal. The Kinship, now joined by the Goblins, united once more to aid Da’thanis the Netherid Victor, who wielded the sword Elloc to defeat Karxas.
The symbol of the Kinship is easily understood:
The bow and arrow represent the Dwarves, known for their skill as marksmen—taught by the Elves in ancient times—and their unmatched abilities as builders and machinists.
The sword stands for the Neledar, who, before mastering magic, relied on the blade’s edge to conquer their enemies.
The star, placed behind both sword and bow, honors the Elves, who draw strength and guidance from the Stars above.