Three times in the past The Dark Lord threatened to dominate all of Arrdra

The first time was during The First Days, before the coming of Man. The Elvish nations banded together with the Dwarven Kingdoms.  Favored by the Gods of Light, the First Races cast The Dark Enemy back into the Abyss.

Thwarted but not defeated, The Lord of Shadow hid in the deepest areas of the land, regrew in power, and bid its time

Thousands of years ago, The Vile One , struck again.

Dark marauding forces streamed from the night fortress city of Kordun'Dur , achieving victory after victory over the hapless and confused peoples of the land

After years of individual defeat after defeat,  a great alliance was formed between the first races, Elves and Dwarves and the younger race of Man. For 10 years a desperate battle was fought. In  the end the Dark Enemy was defeated by the efforts of the alliance's Champion's. Many speculate how they managed to find a weakness in the Dark Lord's divine armor, but find it they must have, as they were able to drive the Dark Lord to abandon his efforts, and flee once more into the dark shadows of the land. Sadly , none survived the encounter, taking the secret of the victory to their graves. Although they were mourned, the goodly races of Arrdra  breathed a sigh of relief, and commenced with rebuilding their shattered lands.

The Shadow King would not fail a third time

100 years ago  It returned, with a force beyond comparison. Shadow and smoke once again spread from Kordun'Dur. Once again the old alliances between elf, man, and dwarf were struck. Armies that had been trained for such a day gathered arms, and moved quickly to meet the enemy on their own terms. Champions once again arose , and made their move to defeat the Dark Lords schemes. The Alliance, having learned the lessons of the past, had prepared well for this day. The  elite fighting forces, magi colleges, and well equipped armies marked into the heart of The Dark Lord's lands. All prepared to stop The Night Kings' evil designs.

All failed.

The armies sent to battle the Dark Lord were ground to ash and dust under the might of his dark armies, Unknown. The bodies of the champions, desecrated and dead, were staked in the capitols of the Alliance, a symbol of the futility of resistance.  The alliance faltered, and turned against itself. Battles waged against the great enemy and former allies alike, often at the same time.  Whether a flaw in their nature, or the subversive plan of the Dark Lord, who can say. All that is known is in this conflict the Dark Lord at last triumphed, and brought to heel all who opposed him

A 100 years ago the light of the world, was extinguished. 100 years ago shadow and suffering befell the land.

The Dark Lord continues to drive his forces across every corner of the land, constantly fueling a war machine that sees no stopping, growing stronger by the night

The Elves, if they still exist in Arrdra, have not been seen in generations

There are tales that the Dwarves have abandoned the surface world in favor of  fleeing further and further underground

Those who dare speak the names of the gods are hunted and killed. As are those who would wield arcane power.

The Dark Lord would horde all power to itself.

The young races of the surface live in misery and suffering. Some find some partial respite by swearing their allegiance to  Dark Lord, others offer up what tithe is required of them and pray that what they are allowed to keep is enough to make it through  to the next harvest. Those on the far fringes, count the days until Unknown comes for their lands, knowing it can't be long

This is your world.  A lightless struggle for survival, were every day the darkness threatens to not just consume all  in it's path, but also their very souls.

Generation after generation has grown, toiled, and died under The Dark Lord's yoke. In that time foolish notions such as defiance, escape, and even hope have been so thoroughly crushed that there are few who even know about what came before these times. 

This is your life, were victory is measured in terms of day to day survival.  Where no-one knows who to trust, for the eyes and ears of the Dark Lord spread far and wide. 

Perhaps death will show you mercy, and claim you before the next sun rise.....