The Darktide Years

In December of 1999, two adventurers named Owyn and Arkat, from the world of Harvestgain in Asheron's Call, decided the time had come for them to take the step into Darktide, the PvP server for AC. They carefully researched the world they planned to enter, and chose the town of Tufa as their first home. Eventually, they planned to move north to a zone they had been informed was relatively safe by some friends.

Quickly these sword-brothers learned that the world they had entered was dark, filled with evil men who would kill randomly for pleasure. Always they swore to stand against this darkness. And then Owyn conceived a plan. It would not be enough for the two of them to move to the north and go to a defended place - no, they would have to bring others with them. Thus the Exodus was organized. Dozens of people wrote to Owyn, asking to be taken along on his trek

Then, shortly before the Exodus itself was to take place, disaster struck. The lands to the north were laid siege to, the battles many and fierce. Owyn knew his tiny and weak band was no match for the forces of darkness intent of conquest of the northern towns.

After long deliberation, Owyn and Arkat decided that the Exodus would simply settle elsewhere. And, since they had grown attached to their home, and kept it clear of raiders for the most part, they selected Tufa as the new homeland for the Exodus. Then the Exodus was no more, and the Defenders of Order were born - men and women sworn to uphold what was good and right in a land consumed by darkness.

The town became the stuff of Darktide legend, and many a tale has been told of the light that sprung from it in those days. Joined there by the Order of Aegis Crusaders, the Defenders held the town against raid after raid. High levels attacked, and still they held.

Tufa held a very log time, but all things end; in time the "Jewel of the Desert" was shattered. The Defenders were scattered, many recruited by the selfsame House of Chaos which had broken the back of the Tufan people. Owyn and Richard D'Acura remained in Tufa months afterward, making bitter war on the army which had occupied his home, seeking to make certain they reaped a sour harvest from their victory.

Then the House of Chaos too broke apart, and Owyn was left with an empty town - that was abruptly shattered by the Shadow Wars, the town completely destroyed. At this, he left.

The remaining Defenders, in the meantime, had met new folk of like mind, and had moved to the Castle of the Bandit King, an ill-named place which was a new home for the forces of good. There Owyn traveled, and was re-united with Arkat and the others at last. They were joined there by Grimwell's family, and the two small groups merged to form a stronger band. Owyn stepped down from leadership at this time, and the rank of Commander was passed to first Grimwell, then on to Arkat.

One day, one of the Defender mages found a way to open gates between worlds, and believed he had found a way to open the path back to their home in Ispar. Arkat volunteered to take the chance - he passed his worldly goods on to others, as he could not carry them into the portal. At the last moment, he took with him the sword Owyn had given him when they pledged as sword-brothers. It was this sword, most likely, that caused him to be lost.

Arkat never arrived at Ispar. Desperately, the Defenders tried to find him. He was still alive - Owyn knew it was so. Finally, they believed they had found him. Owyn and his friend Avira stepped through the portal... Into the unknown, to search for Arkat.