War of Astor Dominion

2,137 years ago, when the dragon brothers Braxxos and Ignus were still young, the dwarves, human, and elven races of The Astor Dominion had not yet formed a coalition. Relations between the three kingdoms were tense, and while war had not broken out between them, hostilities mounted along their respective borders.

Vokulsh, God of Nightmares and Torment, had attempted to tap into the core of Valynduur to draw its raw energy in order to become ever more powerful. However, his plan failed and resulted in the creation of the Udra Dominion, a vast network of caverns, tunnels, and hollows deep beneath The Astor Dominion. He found there to be many evil creatures formed out of the lingering dark magic of his core-tapping rituals. Vokulsh shaped and fostered them, until he was able to fill the Udra Dominion with an army to capture The Astor Dominion as a foothold to conquer all of Valynduur.

The three kingdoms of The Astor Dominion were overwhelmed when Vokulsh's forces poured out of the very cracks of the land. Suspicions grew as one kingdom accused another in attempt to explain such a sudden invasion. Meanwhile, their soldiers and citizens were slaughtered in battle after battle. Most of The Astor Dominion was held by Vokulsh, with only a few citadels and strongholds left to dam the wave of darkness spreading over the land.

Braxxos and Ignus were awakened from their slumber by the sounds of war. They were to realize that their beloved continent would be crushed by the army of Vokulsh without their aid. Breaking their vow to meddle in the affairs of mortals, they approached each remaining king and lord to meet and make peace. For without unity, there would be no stopping the invasion. A coalition was hesitantly formed and the dragon brothers led the remaining forces against the heart of invaders. Inspired by the sight of gold and brass dragons flying overhead, their forces rallied and gradually forced back the evil forces to the tunnels and crevices from which they came.

Vokulsh, having expended much of energy driving his army forward, out of the Udra Dominion, could not stop the retreat. However, he was able to route his most powerful units through two portals that he created in Valynduur. To the east, beneath the Sea of Infinite Depth, he tunneled deep into the bedrock, to create yet another ##underdark, resulting in the Maelstromk. To the south, beneath the Frozen Sea, he created a magical portal to his own planes, resulting in The Cimmerian Depths.

Having defeated Vokulsh, the people of The Astor Dominion rejoiced and pledged allegiance to Braxxos and Ignus. The most terrible and evil of Vokulsh's forces had fled, but many of his foot soldiers remained in the Udra Dominion: foul orcs, goblins, and kobolds.