Setting Introduction:

The kingdom of Aloria was a relatively peaceful place. There hadn't been any news of real war or outside invaders in about 100 years. In this time, the King of Aloria sponsored nobles and merchants to set out from the known lands in the region and establish their own towns and cities, expanding the reach and influence of the king. With the push for expansion, droves of people flocked to the fledgling frontier settlements in search of new prospects, riches, and for some - adventure. The threats of these new lands are many. Strange magics, beasts and terrifying monsters that stalk the wilderness stood as a considerable barrier against the expansion efforts, but bit by bit, decade by decade, it was done. Now, long away from the Alorian castle-town stand eight powerful cities, led by eight lords, all loyal to the throne.

In the seaside region of Danimoor, established by Lord Danim, a terrible foe emerged. They first came from the sea, with a flashing light brighter than the sun heralding their arrival. A flying steel fortress rose from a rift that was torn into the horizon, dropping soldiers made of metal into the sea. Dozens of these metal-men marched up to the city walls, inciting attack from the guard and local adventurers who happened to be passing through. With bodies of steel and strange weapons that cast scorching rays of colored light, nearly half of the guard fell to these invaders. The last metal was finally slain by one of the few adventurers left alive. Wasting no time, the court wizard and his apprentices began to study the remains of these foes, and cast a field of protection over the city.

After this, the flying fortress rose away from the sea, over the city, and into the wilderness. More attacks came across the region, and metal men are now found in every corner of the wilderness. They patrol dungeons and ruins, inspecting the stone images and architecture. They dig pits, tunnels, and mines, searching for ores and exterminate whatever creatures they encounter. It was the mages who first developed and curated sets of spells sufficient to slay the soldiers of steel. It was then found through devoted research that the materials salvaged from the metal men and their weapons could be re-forged into weapons that could wound and slay them. Now, there was a light of hope to eradicate the scourge of the metal men