# Important Story Beats - Kossuthian's and Drow were in a longstanding war 300-500 years ago. The Sunfire Citadel was the Kossuthian seat of power in the North. You were sent here due to reports of increased goblin activity in the area. - Jaren sent you on a mission to find the Drow. - There was an ancient dwarven city called Gauntlgrym within the area. The dwarves found a red ruby-like gem called rubyshard. They used it to power their machines, like the metal golems called Ella'Kors (EK). EK-3 was the first successful golem. During a mining excavation with the EKs, an explosion occurred, ripping a hole in the Material Plane to the Elemental Plane of Fire. - 4 items in Regglik's journal & inscribed on the door to Gauntlgrym: - Flaming sword - Rings - Amulet - Something else that is unknown - Kossuthians were torturing Drow; Fleshsmiths were using them to create abominations: - Emberhowl - Hemogryf - Arachnilisk - # Backstory ### Kossuthians The Kossuthian Church, a militaristic, faith-based group had become the greatest non-state power in Faerun several hundred years ago. They follow the fire god, [Kossuth](https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-forgotten-realms-theaaronw0/a/kossuth-person). ![[IMG_2200.webp]] `Kossuth` With Kossuth's blazing passion instilled within them, they are intent on rising up the ranks by all means necessary, which often includes cutthroat and backhanded tactics. As the old saying goes, "In battle, a Kossuth is your sword and shield. In peace, he is your noose." These peacetime tactics of progressing forward in the ranks often has wide-ranging consequences, from murder of a fellow Kossuth to genocide of an entire race. ### Kossuthian vs Drow War (The War of Flame and Shadow) The cause of the War of Flame and Shadow, a fantastical name given to the Kossuthian-[Drow](https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-forgotten-realms-theaaronw0/a/drow-species) War by more recent scholars, is still up for wide debate. Even with still-living first-hand accounts, it has been hard for historians to identify primary inciting events. Most know of the outlandish story about Kossuth's unreciprocated, predatory love for [Selune](https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-forgotten-realms-theaaronw0/a/selune-person-1); ![[IMG_2201.jpeg]] `Selune` Selune's declination and ensuing murder; and [Shar's](https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-forgotten-realms-theaaronw0/a/shar-person-1) declaration of war against Kossuth, in response. Only the most gullible would believe such childish bedtime stories. ![[IMG_2202.webp]] `Shar` There are some who believe the Church had become too large to fully support its ventures and the lavish luxury of its elite. As a result, they were forced to find a purpose from which to seek financial support from nation states, such as security from an evil Drow nation. In honesty, this is likely a contributing cause, though it would be hard to believe that the nation states would contribute much given the minimal threat the Drow posed in the beginning. It's also difficult to imagine a time when the threat of an impending Drow attack or stealing your loved ones in the night wasn't on everybody's mind. Alas, this is predominately due to the successful propaganda war the Church waged; though towards the end of the war, there were definitely some atrocities committed by the Drow to spur on such imaginings. However, it was only after the war began that the Church's propaganda machine started churning out enough material to change minds of the public and nation states. In truth, there are likely a multitude of reasons the war started. However, no one can argue the cause of its end and the simultaneous end of the Drow people: the destruction of the Sunfire Citadel. ![[IMG_2203.jpeg]] `Sunfire Citadel` It was the destruction of this major Kossuthian stronghold in the North that lead to the progressive downfall of the Kossuthian's power. However, it was also the spark that lit the flame of genocide, as the Kossuthians systematically exterminated the remaining discordant Drow groups in response. ### Gauntlgrym ![[IMG_2205.jpg]] `Gauntlgrym` ##### 12,350 years ago The Duergar dwarves inhabited Gauntlgrym, ruling over the North x4,000 years. At this time, they discovered a vein of ruby-red crystal (rubyshard) that seemed to hold some vast amount of power. However, the rubyshard was friable and explosive, killing and injuring a dozen or more dwarves when they attempted to mine it. However, they did get a single rubyshard in the process. Mining was then forbidden until they found a safer way. ![[IMG_2206.jpeg]] `Rubyshard` Driven to find a way to harness this power, the chief engineer's son, Hercius (best friend of Kai'ser), goes on a quest to figure out how to harness this single shard. He makes a deal with a group of Drow for an object they have that can harness latent, erratic magical energy. The object is a circular crystal ball with rod iron spider legs wrapped around it, which the Drow call the Dreggith. Knowing that his people would never accept a gift from the evil Drow, Hercius integrates the object into a new master Forge before bring it back to Gauntlgrym. With the power of the Dreggith, the Forge is able to harness the power of the rubyshard, creating thinking, autonomous golems (i.e. Ella'Kor or EK-3). The first golem created in the process is EK-3; 1 & 2 were failures. ![[IMG_2207.jpeg]] `Ella'Kor` EK-3 is able to mine more rubyshard safely without causing an eruption of magical energies. They assume that the rubyshard within him attunes to it, though they're not sure. With more rubyshard, Hercius is able to create for EKs. Soon, they have an army of them mining it. Overtime, however, the Forge becomes weaker and weaker, allowing them to make less and less new, successful EKs. The last few batches are nothing more than standard golems. These weaker EKs were also more erratic, occasionally prone to attacking their masters. ##### 12,347 years ago However, an explosion occurs while mining a few years later, the cause of which was up to much debate. Although never explained what caused it, the EKs seem to be responsible in some way, as many EK parts were found near the impact; as if they were bunching up together just beforehand. The explosion also seemed to rip open a gateway between our Prime Material Plane and the Elemental Plane of Fire. It was theorized at the time that there must have been a prolonged connection open between the two planes in the past, from which the rubyshard was a leftover remnant. Once the connection was severed, there likely remained a localized thinning between the two planes, prone to reopening if enough energy was unleashed. ![[IMG_2208.jpeg]] `Elemental Plane of Fire Portal` ##### 12,337 years ago A prolonged battle between the Duergar and the enemies of the Elemental Plane of Fire ensues. During this time, the Drow also launch a campaign against Gauntlgrym to wrest control. Their intent is the divert the Duergar's attention both ways, as they are too powerful for the Drow to take on by themselves. Eventually, the dwarves realize they cannot wage war on two fronts and are losing to the Fire Plane creatures. They agree to seal off the Forge level to prevent access by the Drow and to seal in the Fire Plane creatures. They are successful in doing so and eventually beat the Drow back into the Underdark. However, they no longer have access to their great Forge, and their kingdom eventually withers.