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History: Located within the Eastern Territory, this relatively young kingdom has been on the fast track to
greatness. The region was relatively unsettled and unknown up until one hundred years ago. Then around a century ago followers of the legendary Prestor John settled the area
establishing several small towns and villages. Being devout followers of The Holy Order of The Creator they tried to establish communities of freedom and good will to
all. However, with no central government bandits and monsters often plagued the communities preventing any real form of growth or prosperity. Then a little over
twenty-five years ago a young squire named St'vaan sought out those custodians of ancient and arcane secrets known as the Elders of Avalon, petitioning them to join their
order. Moved by his devotion they gave him a potion to drink and sent him upon a quest only the most worthy could complete; to find the enchanted shield Excelsior,
which was said to be impervious to any weapon forged. And so St'vaan embarked on a grueling journey of many months, enduring all manner of privations, until he neared
death- when at last an Angelic Lady appeared to him, (many claim this was the goddess Rurga). She bestowed upon him the legendary shield Excelsior and told him
the secret of The Heart of Avalon. St'vaan awoke to find himself healed and imbued with the peak of human vitality by the Lady's radiance, the shield at his side and
realized what transpired was no fever dream. In the years to come, he fought countless battles in defense of the region, and became its king by popular acclaim. Showing
prejudice toward none, he gathered champions from across the land and the many races of the world to form the Champions of The Realm. The kingdom was
prosperous and grew at a wondrous rate. The King courted a lady knight of The Sisterhood of the Sword , a Lady Sharan by name. They fell in love and eventually
wed. In recent months the happy couple gave birth to a healthy baby boy. However, happiness was not to last.
(Within the past year)
Suddenly and without warning assassins crept into Castle Avalon and murdered the Queen, her Royal Bodyguard and the Royal Herbalist. A separate team of infiltrators
kidnapped the baby prince. Enraged St'vaan pursued the attackers, they split up into several groups. One group headed straight for Blackwater, that dark fen was long
suspected of harboring witches (and worse). The other group headed towards the Great Divide. The King and his champions were forced to split their forces as well.
One group, led by the ranger BlackThorn caught the assassins at Blackwater and in a viscous battle all of the assassins were slain. The King himself pursued the other group
to the Great Divide, despite a desperate battle a dark warrior holding the infant prince escaped upon a Dragondactyl.
Vowing vengeance and the recovery of his son, the King and his champions formed the Covenant of The Shield and set about to recover the prince.
Distracted by all of these horrors, the King no longer cared about the business of running the kingdom. Trusting the Church of The Creator to govern in his absence,
St'vaan set up the Church as the reserve government and departed to find his son.
Nothing has been heard from the King or his champions in many months.
This Kingdom is loosely based on the Marvel Comics series "Avataars Covenant of the Shield" #1-3. -RR
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