For a long time now, the region of Notharis has been long under the influence of wars and terror that has spanned since the earliest days of the region's history. Over a 100 years ago, the region had 12 barbarian tribes that once lived in mutual peace as the elves considered the barbarians a large threat. However, when the elves turned a blind eye to the barbarians in the north and focused on their own lands, the barbarian tribes grew restless. The Elven convoys and borders were too heavily defended for raiding parties, forcing the barbarians to seek means of local ambitions to feed their growing tribes. Though no other tribe had any reason to fight, it was the stress of both a coming war and the need to control a key trade center that drove many leaders over the edge. Taillteann was a large and boastful city built by the Kathons in order to gain a foothold against the warring tribes in the first war. When all the other tribes realized that the center of trade was focused through this city, many leaders planned to seize it for their own. One after another, every barbarian tribe fought against a neighbor, taking no sides in an all out, dog eat dog, war. Eventually, some had to surrender while others fought for every inch of land they had to their name. Even under attack for every year of the war, Taillteann did not fall and the Kathon's held their ground. When only 6 remained, the wars came to a sudden stop 10 years later with the appearance of the Nothern Hordes of twisted Uruk Hai threatened the region from the frozen wastes. After defeating the hordes, the region was at peace while the tribes contemplated the benefits of having peace in their time. This peace was not meant to last as the curse of war reigns strong in the region. 50 years later, the barbarian tribes began to grow the need for more land to support their ever growing population. However, a pact of peace was keeping the barbarians tribes, now nations, at bay. The elves were too strong to be attacked even together and the harboring nations to the west are too well defended to try and bleed into. With the northern wastes never being an option, war was imminent. Jerraxus Tyrein, leader of the Crimson Blades, decides to act first but not with the use of armies, but the secrecy of assassins. After many deaths of high ranking officials sweeping the neighboring nations, Jerraxus was almost ready to use his armies against his neighbors. However, soon after the deahts, his own generals and his eldest son, were assassinated. In an effort to stall for more time, many assassins were hired to both find and kill enemy assassins and well as hit high ranking targets. For 5 years, many hired assassins were put into service by the 6 nations, sparking what was known as the assassin wars. When the wife of Marcus Kathon, Jaclyn Kathon, was killed, the assassin was captured and taken alive. Enduring a week of torture, the assassin broke and explained how he was hired by the Crimson Blades to take the life of both the ruler and his wife. Marcus Kathon, ruler of Kathon's Order, gathered his troops and marched against the Crimson Blades. Soon, the other nations followed suit and another war began. As the war raged on, only 3 survived but no one truly won. It's been 20 years since the last battle. Many people think the war may be over but others believe the nations are just licking their wounds, building up for more battles. A ceasefire was never signed to end the conflict... and still there will always be more fighting until only one remains.
