O. Shaya'Nor (The "Shadowlands")

Shaya’Nor. The Shadowlands, where all things dark and dangerous move. It is home to many shalakar, childer, goblins, demons, and all other beasties born of evil. It is a place few, if ever, dare to tread. Those who do, are either fools or those seeking death. Of course, the sole possible exception being said individuals Gornon, Vrrll, Sable, Vance and Almorek who were part of The Dark Hunt Expedition in 3026 A.C. Organized by the Galean crown because “evil never sleeps the eternal sleep.” What was found was that the land radiates evil from its very core, which is reported to be near or at Ey’Mord.

The lands were not forever populated with the dark and dangerous as it is now. Very early records show that it was once called Dranak’Or where the dwarves lived and breathed for many centuries dating to as far back as 4283 B.C.  It is described as a picturesque land full of majestic mountains, verdant valleys, and forests. It was here that the dwarves perfected their metalsmithing and ironwork craftsmanship as the mountains were rich with many metals. Great towns and majestic stone cities grew. The land flourished. But then something happened to change the very lands and the forever mark dwarven history and memory. Early records found at Castle Gorgon and some in the Elven lands speak of a great and terrible black windstorm that fell upon the land:

It happened midday when the sun was at the highest and shone most bright. A sudden flash which burned the image of two great burning eyes plummeting from the sky into all who saw.  And then, a great and powerful wind swept its darkness across the valleys, mountains, and streams. The winds wrapped around the inverted body of a terrible black mountain whose peak touched the earth. Everything. Everything in it’s path was swept away. 
                                                                                                     Dain 2500 B.C.

And there are dozen more accounts that state the same. By all accounts what a great many witnessed was a physical manifestation of  the fall of Vianar. Many dwarven metal smiths write that the iron mined after the great windstorm of 2500 B.C. was much darker and more difficult to shape. Much of what was mined was tossed aside as corrupted metal. These are the first accounts of the appearance of Black Iron in the lands of Shaintar. 
A shadow seemed to befall the land of Dranak’Or as historical records show more and more creatures of Darkness seemed drawn to the lands.  Dark elves or Shalakar gather in the lands that they rename Shaya’Nor in 2400 B.C. More creatures and beings that follow Darkness and Flame converge in Shaya’Nor and by 1700 B.C. the denizens of evil are united under one rule. Haarak Tuul, Vianar’s right hand man,  unites them all and becomes the greatest and most terrible of the Necrolords whom walked upon Shaintar. 
In 1600 B.C. Tuul unites his ‘people’ to eradicate any and all dwarves in Shaya’Nor. It begins the genocidal war called Hecatomb that leaves no dwarf alive in the Shadowlands by 1603 B.C. After the dwarves were driven from Shaya’Nor, Tuul and Vianar begin the centuries long preparation for conquest over the lands of Shaintar. 
The amassed power and strength of Shaya’Nor’s armies begin to sweep over the lands with the Coming of the Hordes in 700 B.C.  Vianar and the first Thirteen Necrolords lead the Hordes and engulf almost all of Shaintar in what is marked as the beginning of Age of Darkness in 600 B.C. Only the dwarves of Hellstorm Mountains, the area of what is now called the  Freelands, and Dregordia withstand against the terrible might of the Hordes. 
The Hordes ruled for nearly 300 years until the Ascended and their heavenly hosts once again walk the lands in 300 B.C. and drive back the armies of Darkness into Shaya’Nor. The first Thirteen are destroyed and their condensed essences are encapsulated in the Netherstones. But it is not without great cost, as that it is found that the weaponry forged and wielded by the dark hordes can cause deadly harm to the Fae and and other spirit folk. But the forces of Light lead by Vianar’s younger brother, Saiderin, do not succumb. They press on and drive Vianar and his forces back.  Vianar escapes into the realm of the Nether but not before unleashing a devastating and terrible plague that wipes out nearly two-thirds the population of Shaintar. 
Without direction from Vianar and the First Thirteen the inhabitants of Shaya’Nor fell among themselves in petty wars and tribal warfare. An occasional leader emerged to unite a few tribes to create minor havoc in the lands outside their borders but it never encompassed one-tenth the scale of what happened in the Age of Darkness. Shaya’Nor appeared to remain leaderless and without direction for over 2,000 years. Most all decent folk of Shaintar were more than happy to let the minions of Shaya’Nor stay cowering in the farthest regions of northwestern Shaintar. Centuries saw the rise of Ceynara, the Queen of Hell and Goddess of War, in the Goblin lands and Kal Empire. Vianar seemed to be all but forgotten. 
But all is not what it seems. Having regained some of  his strength from sending the plaque that bears his name, Vianar once again emerged in 1998 A.C. Still recovering his strength from casting the deadly curse on Shaintar long ago he quietly and secretly began building up his armies over the course of the next few centuries. Determined not to be defeated again, Vianar carefully plans out how he will defeat his foes and place the lands of Shaintar under one rule – his own. Vianar his minions dig deep into the mines long, long ago abandoned by dwarves.  Black Iron soon was being crafted in very large quantities into weapons and armor in preparation for a second ‘Age of Darkness’ . Vianar begins to forge strong ties  in the lands of the Kal Empire and secretly places his agents in the courts of Olara, Galea, the Freelands, and Camondel.  In 2109 A.C. Harkor ki Doman allies himself with Vianar who is proclaimed the Kal Empire’s patron “God of Knowledge and Wisdom”. Harkor is granted unnatural long life by Vianar (it is said he reigns to this very day.) The Goblinesh soon gather into the fold and join Vianar’s growing army  in 2189 A.C.
But plans for conquest are derailed by events that shaped the Dragon War in 2216 to 2234 A.C. Vianar’s plans for conquest are put on hold. The Dragonlords and the Dragons refused Vianar’s invitation to join the forces of Shaya’Nor. Proclaiming that they were the first ‘true gods’ long before Shanias and Targon, they instead attacked Shaya’Nor. In the first and only time in history, Shaya’Nor along with the Empire worked with the free peoples of Shaintar to defeat The Dragonlords and the Dragons. The Dragon War is brought to an end in 2234 A.C. While the victory was a source of rejoicement by the free peoples of Shaintar it was a bitter disappointment and major setback to Vianar who lost much of his armies.   
Shaya’Nor withdraws into the shadows for seven hundred years. What nebulous doing and dealings largely remained  Vianar betrayed his ally Ceynara by withdrawing troops and engineering the murder of an agent of Flame,  Glain Nollan. 
won't mean dragon spit when the day turns

Jonkeph Skein
                                                                                    Shaintar: Yesteryears and Today