The Loping Plains, Bloodmoon Keep and the Hills of Shade

The Loping Plains

"The Loping Plains occupy the central area of Faydwer." The plain was once "a healthy habitat for a large variety of Tunare’s creations", and is now "cursed and twisted by the influence of dark powers." SOE describes two pressures on the plain. From the south, the Bloodmoon tribe comes out of Bloodmoon Keep. From the north, "the curse of an angry god pulses from the northern coast and the Hills of Shade." Source [1]

The new orcs are "believed to be a splinter group from the Crushbone clan led by Ralkor Bloodmoon", who is also known as "The Prophet". Rumours that they are lycanthropes drew "Norrath’s most famous werewolf hunters, the Fangbreakers". SOE’s Unfolding the Lore Part 5 (Sep 20, 2007) names Larquin Fangbreaker and his band as the ones who came to stop the curse "before it can spread beyond the plains." Source [1]

SOE did not name the third party that arrived as well: "An unlikely ally has also emerged from the depths of Darkhallow [sic] to combat this new curse, but their ultimate goal is as yet unknown". The same article introduces the threats in the hills: a "holy order of paladins" hoping to cleanse the curse; "a conclave of necromancers" hoping to use it; and, in a crypt below, "the Soulbleeder", amassing "the power of thousands of souls and an army of undead". SOE warned that when the spirits run out it will "head south to begin the culling of the living." Source [1]

Bloodmoon Keep

Before it was Bloodmoon Keep, it was "the elven holy site known as Faygannen, Temple of the Vines". Mayong Mistmoore had it destroyed and cursed, "trapping the spirits of the slain elves in the halls of the castle". The ghosts could not pass "into the Realm of Growth and the presence of Tunare." With Ralkor’s arrival, the spirits of Faygannen "find themselves twice cursed." Source [2]

"Once the Prophet of Clan Crushbone, Ralkor Bloodmoon failed in a foolish coup to overthrow Emperor Crush." Ralkor fled into the Faydark with a few loyal orcs. "Somewhere between the Crushbone court and Faygannen", the tribe was "overtaken by a dark curse and infused with terrible, feral might." Source [2]

The Fangbreakers, "a society of werewolf hunters", are investigating but "have so far had little success". Travellers report "a new race of lycanthropes" inside the keep. SOE closes: "Given time the shadow of the Bloodmoon could overtake all of Faydwer." Source [2]

Kirathas and Blackwater

The Elddar fled Tunaria, "the land now known as Antonica", to escape what Solusek Ro did to it. On Faydwer they split into the Koada’Dal and the Fier`Dal. Kirathas was the village in the Hills of Shade where some of them settled, living in "simple wooden huts not unlike the structures of Kelethin." Source [3]

It was fishermen under Captain Han Jensen who "discovered" Faydwer while looking for fishing routes; the quote marks are SOE’s. They built a port on the northern coast named Blackwater and kept its location secret. SOE notes the cost: the secrecy "eliminated any possibility of a rescue should disaster strike." Source [3]

A young fisherman, Fendel, met Amber, daughter of Kirathas’ leader, "at an elder oak tree". In SOE’s words, "Curiosity turned to friendship, and friendship blossomed into love", a union "blessed by the goddess of love, Erollisi Marr." Source [3]

The curse of the hills

Skirmishes between the villages grew into "all-out war". SOE’s 2007 ’Unfolding the Lore’ (Part 7, Oct 4, 2007) says that not long after Amber "gave birth to Norrath’s first half-elf, she was slain by her own father", who thought the sacrifice would end the conflict. Source [3]

Fendel’s screams reached Erollisi, who was furious that her gift had been "twisted into such hatred and pain". Erollisi "cursed the inhabitants of the hills to relive their mistakes, forever." The dead of both villages still fight, "seemingly unaware of their tragic fate." Source [3]

Life in the hills now includes twisted Sporali feeding on decay, cursed foliage guarding a statue of Erollisi, and "a flock of crow aviaks known as the borrowers" decorating their home with "scavenged baubles, brightly colored cloth, and bone." Source [3]

Camp Valor and the Chosen

Two camps recruit adventurers. Camp Valor’s paladins want "to fend off the undead and destroy the curse", but "They are failing thus far" and "their membership dwindles." The gnomes calling themselves Bertoxxulous’s Chosen collect the dead. To a necromancer, SOE says, the hills are "a valuable untapped resource". Source [3]

The Crypt of Shade

The Crypt of Shade is where Kirathas buried its dead. Before the curse its passages were vines and roots "pulsating with life", with blossoms on the arches "acting as a colorful memorial for the dead". The crypt is now "a series of twisted and tainted earth-filled tunnels" full of undead elves. Source [4]

A necromancer haunts the crypt, said to use its souls in "dark rituals" and perhaps to raise an army. SOE leaves it open: "Only those brave enough to venture into the Crypt of Shade will learn the truth of this." Source [4]