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Transcribed from notes by Gwynn Asserios, Sage of Pandona C.E. 5220
The lands of Anoria has undergone many transformations through the course of recorded history. The greatest and most terrible change came about during the Age of Darkness. This brief assessment of the lands of Anoria may help further generations not to ignore the signs should Accuris and his followers ever arise from their grave.
In 3592 the Northlands were divided into seven kingdoms. Each kingdom was rich and fertile producing enough agricultural products for its own use. Each also had surplus for export to the Southern city-states in exchange for silk and rare spices. Though peace had reigned throughout the North for several centuries, competition for a greater share of the trade with the South bred distrust among the kingdoms. This distrust became increasingly evident in the Council of Kings, the body given the task of promoting peace and cooperation in the North.
The South was envious of the rich lands of the North. Their parched fields bore little at harvest and few had enough to eat. The majority of Southerners turned to radical religions, such as the cult of Accuris or Baal, to give them hope or a way to understand their condition. Religious leaders from these two temples saw the despair in their people and fed the hatred for the Northerners in their sermons. From their common lust for power the priest of Baal and Accuris created the Shadow Alliance. Their efforts soon turned the entire Southlands into one huge army waiting to conquer the splintered North.
The city-states of the South had few good captains or ship builders so the only route to the Northern Kingdoms was through the Pass of Liam. But, Liam had been heavily fortified with men, and the magic of Tarrus One-Eyed made a siege unthinkable.
The Northern Kingdoms relied upon Tarrus for their safety, letting their armies grow weak. This one man held back the combined might of the South. They assumed the money that Tarrus collected from merchants was enough to keep him from allowing the Southerners through the Pass of Liam. The fact that one man must eventually fall did not occur to the Northerners until it was too late.
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