What has gone before

The world used to be ruled by the elves. Chaotic evil elves who ruled with an iron fist and sorceror kings (think Michael Moorcock's Melniboneans). Then about 1,400 years ago, the young nations of man and hobgoblin joined together to overthrow the elven empire, which had become arrogant, self-absorbed, and decadent. It's been about three elven generations since the end of the Elven Era. Ancient history for most races. In that time, humans and hobgoblins have settled their lands and created their own nations.

The world is ruled by a human empire, much like Rome at its height. The current overall cultural setting is more akin to Renaissance times than medieval era. Culture, art, and personal freedom are flourishing. Meanwhile, the Imperial government is stagnating as the Emperor and Senate are, like the Elven empire of old, growing arrogant and conceited. Many of those behind the power of the Throne are paying attention to and growing fearful of these enlightened times.

The major threat to the Empire is the hobgoblin nation. The hobgoblins are a brutal, warrior race who live in temperate jungle kingdom to the south of the human lands (based on the ancient Aztecs...read up on them sometime). The hobs and humans maintain a friendly-yet-strained relationship and both fear invasion by the other. Despite the paranoia and distrust, the the two nations have open borders and a stable relations, which even allows for commerce and council between the two. But you never know...

Dwarves have their own neutral kingdom, and they also reside heavily within the human lands. They trade with the hobgoblins just as easily as the humans. Halflings are found in the human lands and avoid the hobs, except for those gypsy-like wandering halfling clans that trade with outlying hobgoblin towns. Elves still exist, but they are rare. Elven society exists in the form of scattered settlements, hidden away from prying eyes, and these modern elves live in shame of the evil perpetrated by their forefathers, at least, that's how the story goes. Legend has it that the old evil elves still live in their capital city on their island way out in the ocean.

All standard classes and races are allowed except for half-orcs. Instead, you get hobgoblins! Orcs are the hobgoblins' slave labor force. There are no free orcs in hobgoblin lands. Officially, the human leaders hunt down any known escaped slaves, but in reality, so long as the orcs stay out of civilized areas. But very few people in the human lands go to any effort who hunt down roving orcs. Ordinarily, there are no orcs in civilized areas, and thus no half-orcs either.

Gnomes traditionally are pranksters, butts of all jokes, tinkerers and squirrel-buggerers. Not so here. Since elves were evil in this world, the gnomes get the role of being masters of magic. They safeguard the world's magical secrets and lore, and are respected among all the other civilized races. A ruler counts himself lucky indeed to have the council of a gnome in his court. They participate in normal society, maybe even as shopkeepers and tradesmen. Gnomes have underground villages that very few surface dwellers are allowed to visit, yet individual or small groups of gnomes are common in any civilized area.

This game is primarily set in the city of Bard's Gate from Necromancer Games. There are guilds a-plenty for most crafts, trades, and professions. There are also specialty groups that player characters can belong to, such as churches, secret societies, gentlemen's clubs, etc. One guild of note is the Wizard's Cabal. This is a nation-wide group established by the Emperor centuries ago for the purpose of policing mages. This is a widespread group with connections and independent political power (like the Catholic church or maybe even the Gestapo). No mage is required to join, but there are benefits and responsibilities for those who do.