The Bright Empire once dominated Darish De’Cour or “Land of The Great River.” (See the campaign map for a map of the area of Darish De’Cour). When the Empire expanded into Darish De’Cour, two provinces were created- Darish, east of the river, and Tharvengia, west of the river. For centuries the bright Empire prospered, standing as a pinnacle of learning, commerce, and religion. However, in the last century, two rival factions arose that would eventually tear the Empire asunder. The earthly followers of Justicia, the Goddess of Justice and Mercy, and Klazath, the God of War and Order, long at odds with one another, eventually forced the Bright Empire into a ruinous civil war. Weakened by the internal struggle, the Empire could no longer defend its sprawling provinces from the predations of marauding barbarian tribes. This was especially true in the Tharvengian Province, and it was quickly lost.

The final downfall of the Bright Empire came when humanoid tribes (orcs, goblins, gnolls, etc.) attacked the barbarians living in the defeated province of Tharvengia, routed them, and drove them en mase across the Great River into Darish. After devastating the Darish, the barbarians moved into the empire’s heartland to the east. In the battle known as The Shattering, the barbarians destroyed the last organized forces of the Bright Empire, ending the civil war not with a final victory but with a final collapse.

Ten Years after the civil war, barbarians and humanoids dominate this region, and only a single town and a few villages remain as beacons of civilization. Shortly after the fall of the Bright Empire, the remaining forces of Justicia helped the survivors, but their efforts were stymied when the followers of Klazath seized control of Yellzurthi, the last town in Darish. The followers of Klazath now use Yellzurthi as a base to launch attacks against what remains of Justicia’s followers, striving for complete control of war torn Darish De’Cour.