A Collection of Tales and Rumors compiled by Bathell Wordsmith of Faragon Daxor

The time between the Sphere Wars and present Hadran Civilization is poorly recorded due to the lack of any consistent rule. From time to time, some enterprising warrior or mage would carve a kingdom out of the Hadran River Basin, but these rarely lasted more than a generation since their rise to greatness only made them more tempting prizes to the roving bands of barbarians, bandits and beasts that ruled these lands through fear.

Among the mightier of these brief attempts at civilization were those of Tanelon and of Xaraxand. Tanelon was made famous by the Healer King, Darian, and his sword Mercy. Darian inspired almost fanatical loyalty in both his troops and his enemies, often winning over opposing forces without a fight. Unfortunately, his son's greed led to the destruction of the magical sword and the dissolution of the kingdom.

Xaraxand, or the holdings of Xarax the Necromancer, were on the opposite side of Tanelon's coin. Xarax was a talented and slightly insane sorcerer who had been exiled from his home for the practice of necromancy. With the aid of his undead minions, he built a stronghold in the Drachenfange Hills to the west. He then proceeded to conquer much of the surrounding countryside, even as far as the base of the Dragonspine Mountains. Those small forces that attempted to stand against him found their own dead turned against them. Xarax was only defeated by a terrible sacrifice of warriors and simple townsfolk at the Allyar River. While they took the brunt of Xarax's army, another force secretly attacked Xarax's stronghold. They managed to fight their way in and obliterate the necromancer, but too late to help those dying on the battlefield. Since then, the woods near the scene of that battle have been called the Allyarbane, and it is said the old undead that Xarax created haunt that forest still.

In time, settlers from Evendarr and those few folk hardy enough to survive began to band together enough to protect their own. A few farmsteads came together to form villages, and those villages grew into towns. At this writing, Hadran is seeing a resurgence of civilization in small pockets all along the Hadran and Shordan Rivers. Among these are the revitalized Tanelon, a trading town called Trabasso, the portage town of Janus Falls, and, nestled between the two arms of the Trask Hills, the new city of Barnacus.

As the city located most closely to the ruins of Hadran City, Barnacus has, until recently, enjoyed a fairly sheltered existence. Under the guidance of House Acoma, the local orcs, goblins, and other monsters have been held at bay by the Golden Lions, the Archon's private army, allowing the town to prosper. The town boasts a Healers' Guild and a Mages' Guild, and a Merchant's Guild and rumors lay claim to an Alchemists' Guild and a Mercenaries' Guild.