Past Adventures

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Raven's Keep is presently ruled by Lady Sarah, a sweet-natured young woman who has been forced to lead a land into peace. Her father, King Tibierus, was a great leader and a great warrior. He ruled Messina and the Keep with an iron fist, yet was fair and honest. Before he ascended the throne, the land had seen many battles, yet during his thiry years of reigning, Tibierus managed to keep the peace. There are some who say King Tibierus came from one of the many portals located throughout the lands. He was murdered several years ago, or so the Lady Sarah believes.

The last force to attempt to over-take the land was that of a dark and sinister Overlord. No one has ever seen the Dark One, but many have felt his presence. He dwells deep beneath the earth, in a place that some call Hell, and some call Hades. The dreaded day will come when the Dark One will once again try to take over the sunlit upper lands of Raven's Keep.

Here follow some of the main storylines of the game, along with the actual gameplay dates

THE SILVER WRAITH (November 1999 to March 2000)

A grand ball held at Raven's Keep set everything in motion. As adventurers and nobles from near and far gathered in the castle, darkness spread across the land, snuffing out every light and every hearth. At the heart of this unnatural night was the Silver Wraith, a ghost rising from the mists of time, coming to sow death and ruin upon the land. Its ultimate goal was to merge the land of Messina with the dream-world of Athgar, and to accomplish this it kidnapped the Lady Talinda; but she escaped, stealing from it a talisman that would help the Keep's defenders. The dragons of Mya, the Red Sorceress, held back the forces of the Wraith as they thundered down on Raven's Keep, and the sorceress herself destroyed the evil spectre.

Here is the story of the Silver Wraith, as told by Jess:

The story begins with our heroine, Lady Sarah Thornwyck hosting a big Ball, inviting everyone in Messina to attend. Present at the party is Coberly the Grey, Damien McVaugn, Savant Shadow Walker and his sister Sonia Warrior Wolf. Sparks fly as Coberly and Sarah dance.

Unfortunately Lady Sarah learns of the Silver Wraith, a ghost that rose from the mists of time to destroy Messina. Lady Sarah sets out to travel to the town of Bellshire to seek out the help of the local Druids. Her Druid cousin, Talinda D'Ambreeville, arrives in Ravesnkeep. The Druids discover that Sarah needs a special talisman to defeat the Silver Wraith, and Lady Sarah rallies her friends to join her on a quest to find the talisman.

Meanwhile two strangers arrive in Ravenskeep by portals. Sophia Van Helsing intentionally travels to Ravenskeep to escape from her past, and Aeolis Kaenei, a vampire that is unwittingly sent to Ravenskeep by a wizard he was trying to kill. Sophie meets Coberly and he invites her to join their quest. Talinda meets Aeolis and they quickly fall in love.

The Silver Wraith attacks again at night, as the group camps out en route to Bellshire. Lady Sarah and Aeolis fight the Wraith and the group retreats into a cave to hide. Lady Sarah discovers that the talismans she needs are the elemental stones, which command the powers of earth, fire, wind, water, lightning and stars. By bringing the stones together, she could gain enough power to destroy the Wraith.

Mya the Red Sorceress arrives from over the sea from a land called Abyssinia. She makes an alliance to help defeat the Silver Wraith that had also tried to attack Abyssinia. Sophie discovers that Aeolis is a vampire and she sets out to kill him. Sonja intervenes, and she convinces Sophie to leave Aeolis alone.

Though tension is still high from the Wraith's attack, the fellow journeyers are able to relax talk over dinner. Sonja and Sophie quickly become friends and they vow to help Lady Sarah and Coberly to admit their love for each other. Meanwhile Mya introduces herself to Savant and Damien. Sophie and Sonja join in a snowball fight with Coberly and Sarah, and then they lure the couple into a small chalet and perform a spell to keep them locked in there until the next morning. Sonja reverts to wolf form and watches as Mya and Savant fall in love, and Damien befriends Sophie.. During this time the Silver Wraith kidnaps Talinda and takes her back to his home, the spirit world of Athgar.

Lady Sarah leads the group through a portal to Mount Ziran, where the battle will take place. There she meets Ganthro Fortuna who explains the Silver Wraith's plot to merge the lands of Messina and the spirit world of Athgar. He also explains that he is kin to Talinda and they are both Naatorains, a race of ageless demons who have been persecuted by the Silver Wraith for many years. Lady Sarah reveals that she is actually Talinda's half sister, and that she is also half human and half Naatorian as well.

Ganthro and Sarah realize that if she can reach the Cave of Purity on Mt Ziran, Sarah can perform the ritual to align the stones, defeat the Silver Wraith and save Talinda. She orders Damien, Sophie and Sonja to protect the base of the mountain from the Wraith's warriors, Savant and Coberly to protect the entrance to the cave, and Mya to watch over her as she performs the ritual.

Lady Sarah successfully performs the ritual. She saves Talinda from the Wraith's grasp, and Mya kills it. Meanwhile the Wraith's soldiers outnumber Sonja, Damien and Sophie and surround them. Desperate to save his friends' lives Damien sacrifices his life to destroy the soldiers.

Everyone is deeply upset over Damien's death, but they vow to give him a proper funeral and a memorial feast in his honor. They return to Bellshire immediately to begin the arrangements.

Unfortuantly Lady Sarah does not even get a moment's rest. Not long after she arrives in Bellshire, emissaries from her betrothed, King Leigon of Kraus kidnaps her.

LEGION OF KRAUS (March 2000 to May 2000)

Lord Legion, ruler of the neighboring land of Kraus, had his sights set on the beautiful Lady Sarah, and through her the wealth and power of Messina. He kidnapped the Lady and held her prisoner in his desolate keep, and her stalwart friends set out to rescue her as Legion reached ever closer to the conquest of Raven's Keep. But the first attempt failed, and the army of Messina went on the offensive. Lady Sarah's companions infiltrated Legion's dungeons, and the evil Lord was destroyed by the combined magic of Lady Sarah and Talinda d'Ambreeville.

THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE (May 2000 to June 2000)

A greedy lord from a neighboring land hatched a devious scheme: to conquer the Keep by reducing all its inhabitants to mere powerless children. But even as youngsters their spirit were not easily overcome, and the defenders of the Keep managed to rebuff the attackers long enough for them to regain their full powers.

THE GUARDIANS (August 2000-November 2000)

Lady Sarah and Talinda are trapped in the otherworldly home of Caleb, a mysterious villain who plans to steal the power of the two women and thus the power of the land of Messina itself. But with the help of the enigmatic Guardians, Lady Sarah defeats him and destroys the source of his life and power. She then leaves the world of Messina for a time to train with the Guardians, learning how to navigate the paths between the portals and becoming ready to assume her destiny to defend her home and the paths between the worlds.

BARBARIANS AT THE GATE (September 2000-December 2000)

A barbarian army, led by the warlord Kring, moves to capture Messina and Raven's Keep. The enemy is strong and ruthless, but no match for the defenders of the Keep; during the final assault, the forces of Messina fight valiantly along with Mya's dragons, but it is the Gods of the land who truly carry the day as they rise up against Verve, Kring's demonic lord.

DOWNFALL INTO DARKNESS

The army of the Horde Queen washed over the surrounding kingdoms. Like a dark plaque they moved, wave after wave devouring every living thing in its path. It was to consume every precious morsel of life setting itself up to rule the entire world and the universes and worlds beyond.

The goal of the Horde Queen was to free the ancient dark Gods from their catacombs of prisons in the abyss and use their powers to take over. The gates to the abyss rested beneath the castle better known to everyone as Raven's Keep. And so, the Horde Queens army moved again and again destroying all those that dare stand against them. Her army was corrupt, cannibals that lived on the very flesh of humans and most living creatures. The stench of their paths rose like mighty obsidian warriors in the wake of the travels.

However, before this army is known to anyone a plan of ill will, treachery and deceit have been playing out within the walls of the great castle. The Lady Sarah and her sister being poisoned beneath everyone's noses. And finally at the annual mask, the plan is laid opened for all to see. They both collapsed and the Druids of Bellshire saw beneath the pale skins of the two sisters and knew what evil lay there.

And so, honorable friends and warriors set out on a quest to find the cure to save the two lovely sisters. Their quest took them into the bows of darkness, to fight things which they could never imagine and obtains the ingredients for the cure. Again the patrons of Raven's Keep fought valiantly and overcame every obstacle placed before them.

Meanwhile, the Horde Queen and her army where approaching the lands of Raven's Keep. Though weakened and weary, Sarah's visions and words from the Druids led her people to flee the lands of the City of Messina, the Overburton Port, the forest and their villages. They fled to the protective walls of Bellshire, the home of the Druids. A great tent city rose within the walls and the Druids set forth protective boundaries about the city. Nothing would enter nor leave without permission and so the people of Raven's Keep were kept safe.

The army ascended upon the land taking prisoners of some and slaying others. The land became ash and blood. The ports, the city, the forest and the castle itself leveled in ruins. Blood ran slick with those that chose to stay behind and the cattle and the very fowl of the earth were not even left untouched.

There were those that had been chosen to right the wrong of the Horde Queen and those that would use their very last will and strength to fight. One sat out to the North to warn the great Lords of the Highland country. One sat out to face the Queen alone, but knew behind her would be her siblings and the help of one that would use the last of his powers to send her to face the doom that ridden into her lands.

In the end, they were triumphant and the Queen destroyed, the dark Gods plans foiled and their shackles within the abyss grew even stronger. However, one God was released. The loving and kind Raven God that held much love and compassion for those of Raven's Keep. His promises fulfilled as the castle was renewed. It sets where the ruins of the old castle once rose. The white walls of the towers loom high into the clouds. Bigger, better and the fortitude great against that which may come next.

The questers return to Bellshire in the nick of time with the ingredients and rejuvenate the sisters back to health. And soon another pilgrimage is made. Back to the old land reborn. The castle rising high giving new hopes as the city, the ports and forest revived and rebuilt.

SERVANT OF DEATH

Related by Harry

Peace was short lived. Shortly after returning to the castle, Lady Sarah vanished, transported to The Knight of Sword's home world, encountering many strange things and getting drawn into a battle to save both worlds from evil.

Succeeding in that conflict she returns to Messina and Raven's Keep only to learn that her sister The Lady Talinda was kidnapped. She was to be used in the nefarious plans of a minion of death, a liche bent on converting all life to his own unnatural state of undeath.

Sarah had little time to dwell upon this turn of events. However, a neighboring Kingdom, Danor ruled by an evil tyrant set upon annexing Messina. The army of Danor seized the opportunity presented by the departure of most of the keeps key protectors on the mission to rescue Lady Talinda. The mad man struck at the heart of Messina with a full-scale invasion, both by land and sea. The Forces of Raven's Keep led by Lady Sarah and Lord Darion, along with remaining allies, The Dragons of Mya, and the warriors of the Queen Family, managed to turn back the invasion but not without cost.

During the confusion of war, the sorceress Lady Alanah, Sarah’s trusted advisor, and mother figure was abducted during a sea battle. And to make matters worse, dragon eggs were taken from there nests while the there parents were off defending Messina so as to rob Sarah of her most powerful allies.

Plans have been lain, resources are being gathered, and revenge is on many minds. But the future is ever in motion and surprises lay around the corner. Can the adventurers, and the forces of the Raven god save the Sorceress, and retrieve the missing dragon eggs? Will vengeance be delivered to the Forces of Danor or will Messina face even great danger?

Today, there is peace at Raven's Keep. Tonight and tomorrow, who knows? One never knows what may creep from the shadows. The adventure awaits us all. Our imagination will decide the fate of the future...

BLACK VEIL OF SHADOWS

Related by Monica , Harry and Gin

...And so... A search for Lady Alanah and the dragon's eggs becomes couched behind royal intrigue as heroes of Raven's Keep set out to gain back what was taken and quash a country's looming threat with a Messinan army secretly setting forth upon a fleet of ships to the shores of Danor where is met - rebels plotting to overthrow their king.

As spies comb the streets and court for word of an elusive isle and assassins creep through stony ramparts in search of royal blood, Queen Sarah and escort make secret alliance with the leaders of the rebellion.

Battle is joined between armies to soak Danor's land with blood where Messina preservers in vengeance made even greater by the rage of the controversial family of Queen; who seeks violent retribution for the tortured loss of their innocent kin. Though uninvited their intrests lay parallel in hunting a loved member lost; they become welcome yet uncomfortable allies.

A new king with kindness and a penchant for peace far above his dethroned cousin is offered Danor's throne. With the aid of Messinian advisors and trainers left to guide his successful ascension, all eyes turn to the true objective... The Island of Illusion; a place of gross perversion that curses any who tread it's lands with temptations of precious riches and promises of the hidden treasure of the Black Veil where the beloved sorceress and dragons' eggs are kept captive.

Covered by the Raven God's wing and under the protective guidance of the dragon queen, Keth, and her kind, the adventurers fair better and worse against the malignant minions of Cindarte, a soul stealing wizard. Thought twisting Furax demons confound and confuse their minds while trolls, mummies, dopplegangers and even the ancient ruins twisted by blackest magic seek to destroy all hope and life. Of Sarah's closest companions one great knight is slain and resurrected while another, Gavin Knightsbridge is lost forever.

While the sorceress Alanah, seductive beauty Olivia, and the dragons' eggs are recovered, Cindarte is defeated at the queen's own hand. Yet another evil lurks unsuspected; a witch is captured attempting to murder Sarah and found to be known to those who ventured forth from Messina. Edyth Lyndire, a druidic healer of Messina corrupted by dark magics, is bound and travels now in the bowels of a ship to Raven's Keep where she will await the Queen's justice.

The weary travelers return triumphant with new allies, loves, treasures and the hope of continuing their lives in the free lands of Messina under the protective shadow of Raven's Keep.

Join in on their celebrations and see what evil next rises to threaten their expectations of tranquil times.