The Children of the Apocalypse of the New World Order is one of Medievia's more ancient clans, founded in the fourth century by the first True Believer, Yuri.
Through his inspired leadership and with the help of those worthies whose names are inscribed within the Hall of Honour, the clan rose to a position of power and prominence.
"...and the mortals created vast cities, towering castles and great halls, and they were all defended with blood: but none so fiercely as the halls of the Clans."
Deacon Froto, Historia Lachrymensis, libr. III roll xviii.
The success lasted many decades, until the dark hand of corruption swept the land, sowing jealousy and pride amongst the clans of Medievia.
Clan fought with Clan. Halls were invaded, their occupants slaughtered in their sleep and their secrets looted. Hundreds of impaled heads looked down from roadside stakes along the avenues of Medievia City, casting accusing glances at the living from the empty sockets where once bright eyes shone.
Soon the corruption pervaded the sanctity of the Clan Oath, with members turning against each other, even within the dark vaults of Bloodstone, and where normal sense dictated comradeship only betrayal was seen.
"Cleric, Warrior Mage, and Thief,
The power of all was beyond belief.
Yet power made nothing but tears and hate,
Bloody swords, orphaned kin their only fate."
Mostafa Al-Ahran bi Hassan, Travelogue, verso 43
These were the times of the Cataclysm.
This was the end of the Old Order.
In an effort to stem bloodshed within the cities, the Duke of Trellor issued letters of consent for
the construction of castles in the Wilderness.
The Clans were allowed to install small garrisons
of soldiers for their defence. It was hoped that the prospect of assaulting these impregnable
fortresses would stop the Clan Wars, but they merely became objectives - a warning of what would
come in the Age of the Kingdoms.
Sieges were set and relieved, castle upon castle fell to new owners - coveted for the magical coat-of-arms each castle possessed.
It was during this time that Yuri tired of the burden of leadership, and the True Believer Perrry became leader. Our own clan had not been unaffected by this betrayal and destruction.
Many members had been slain or had succumbed to the dark temptations that other clans laid before them.
The Gods saw that mankind was dooming itself to an endless cycle of destruction.
They sent to several powerful individuals visions that seemed to foretell of divine annihilation lest the killing stop.
"And the Queen desired to keep peace with the other kingdoms, for she feared the vision sent by Vryce.
She spoke of it once to me and once only:'As the sun set, the final strands of crimson light illuminated a battlefield unlike any other in history.
Corpses of citizen-soldiers and horses and Heroes were piled high amongst smouldering pyres and cavalry stakes. Black dragons swooped down and finished off the mortally wounded to take their gold. On a small hill lay my body, enfurled in the singed and shredded standard. This hill is not of nature, but is my retainers and entourage, breathing their last in defence of the monarch.'"
Scribe Royal Ernst Fischler, Kronikl der Landestaadt.
The dreams told of great alliances of the clans, each alliance strong enough to resist the ambition of another.
Within the year four great kingdoms had formed, each dominating a corner of the continent. A period of hope, stability and ambition followed. Trade increased one hundred fold as roads were maintained and the Wilderness was pushed back. Co-operation between clans and kingdoms funded expeditions to the darkest parts of Medievia to find legendary equipment that would assist in the everlasting fight against the demons of the Catacombs. This was the Golden Age.
The multiplication of trade allowed the rulers access to wealth never seen before in Medievia. Taxes were levied on the citizens and
used to finance huge standing armies that it was believed would maintain the balance of power.
Such was the amount of money generated, the kingdoms
felt confident enough to reach agreement with the good dragons, and thus provided free flights within their lands for all citizens.
But of hope, stability and ambition it was the latter that proved most powerful, and none so great as the malevoelence that nestled silently amid the merchants of Medievia. The trading posts throughout the world became strategic, as each kingdom realised that the larger portion of their income was generated through these few establishments.
Diplomacy and trade were not the ways of the warlike Perrry and he tired of the peace, seeking his fame elsewhere.
He was succeeded by the True Believer Sayne.
Raiding parties were organised into neighbouring lands with Royal consent, the aim seemingly to disrupt trade and commerce. Soon each kingdom allowed the killing of these invaders on sight, as each raid lowered the morale and prestige of the monarch. It was not appreciated at the time that these raids were spying missions, designed to find poorly-defended regions and divert attention from army manoeuvres in the borderlands.
Unfortunately, the dreams had been interpreted wrongly by the advisors - they were not visions but prophecy.
When the first attacks came, the two kingdoms that had adopted a peaceable posture collapsed within weeks, their Heroes slain and rulers driven into exile. Millions of gold coins were expended on conscript armies, whose slaughter was so great that orcs and goblins were considered when there were no more suitable humans to recruit.
Medievia polarised into two kingdoms of equal strength. Each was capable of destroying the other, but with such fear and vigilance it became impossible for either to gain an advantage. There followed a brief period of stalemate, although the raiding bands continued their work.
In the same way that Perrry had tired of peace, so Sayne tired of war, and the True Believer Baldy took the reins of power. Trade and exploration tailed off as resources diminished, and many of the clan retired through age or injury. These were barren times for all the clans.
Many clans, supporters of now-dead kingdoms, rebelled against their overlords and set up secret alliances and mobilised personal armies. With each of the two kingdoms so afraid of each other, they failed to see the internal conflict before it was too late. In a rapid civil war, several new kingdoms were declared and walled towns built within them. Treaties were signed and torn up and borders changed by the hour. It became apparent that no kingdom could indefinitely fund a standing army. As the conscripts failed to receive pay, they fled back to the towns and villages and the kingdom system collapsed. Some lesser-known clerics have said that it was the Gods who brought this about, out of despair for the fate of mankind.
"Is it any surprise that Vryce has had a hand in this? We have turned prosperity into bloody slaughter, exactly that which the kingdoms were created to avoid - created may I remind you, through divine visions. The crows peck the eyes the fallen and what have we gained? Is the luxury of dragonflight worth such murder?"
Bishop Akkatana of Lyryanoth, Eldrick's Day Sermon, year 530.
All that remained were loose federations of clans, based on their new and privately built towns.
Baldy had expended all his energies in maintaining the clan, and seeing that his work was completed, resigned his leadership to give his wisdom to others.
In his place was chosen True Believer Dagobert, the current leader of the Children of the Apocalypse.
This is the Medievia we know today...