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Sotoras Lore

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SOTORAS

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Sotoras was once a rarely visited, uncharted island, strangely not even the nearby goblins or trolls dared to stake a claim on this archipelago. The island’s lush, green woods were left largely untouched and unexplored through the ages.

A century prior to the first opening of the Dark Portal, three Tirasian vessels flew beneath the banner of House Springfield, landing upon desolate shores. The leader, Admiral Sotor Springfield, recently elevated into the position of Lord of his House. The young lord, seemingly eager for conquest to extend the influence of his kingdom and more importantly his house. His lordship claimed the verdant land, thus dubbing it ‘Sotoras’ after his fervent legacy . Two of the vessels used on the initial voyage  were dismantled to provide materials for the colony’s foundation. The third ship, Jade of Kul’Tiras, was preserved to ferry supplies and keep the shores of Sotoras safe from imprending threats.

While the island was more or less detached from the heart of Azeroth, in the coming decades proved prosperous,  emerging as a notable shipping hub, granting easy access to lumber and provisions for the occasional Tirasian patrols and the more common goblin vessels. Due to the increased traffic, Razorbranch and Pirate raids became more common, preying on fortunes of Sotoras. One such skirmish (don’t want to repeat “raids and raiders) heralded a mortal wound unto  Lord Sotor, who fought  valiantly in effort to stave off marauding Troll raiders that defiled the waters of his beloved isle. Though he survived the battle, death tolled in his slumber.  His legacy, however, was honored by his son.

After Lord Sotor Springfield’s death his son Beauregard’s reign was imminent, donning the mantle to continue rule of Springfields over the colony, now a burgeoning island settlement. Although Lord Beauregard was not the same daring sailor as his father was, he tried his best nonetheless. Under the rule of the new leader the fortified keep ‘Standfast’ was constructed, which saw the settlement properly protected against any future raiders of any stripe. An expansion into the nearby forest soon followed small homes and the Chapel of the Light. However, construction and work on further expansion came to an abrupt end when when a hurricane struck the island, bringing tidal waves and seismic shock amidst the downpour. Countless lives were lost in the storm, some two years before the First War, but they did not know then that the storm would have far more dire consequences.

This catastrophic event saw the death of Lord Beauregard Springfield and much of his court, which threw the already panicking kingdom onto the brink of madness. Mist crept in and the ocean was suddenly unfamiliar, as the citizens of Sotoras managed to investigate their plight, they quickly discovered that they were no longer in familiar territory. Sotoras had been dragged into the Doldrums.

When Lord Beauregard Springfield II claimed Lordship after his father’s demise, it was his young daughter Abigaille who managed to calm the people of Sotoras with compassion and understanding, her training in the art of the light serving her well. It was in these tense times that Lord Springfield II decided to gain some better understanding of the Doldrums where they were trapped within. Despite the trepidation of his advisors, he left the leadership of the island to his daughter of 9 and his trusted advisor, Joras Vormath.

A single year passed before Lord Springfield II returned, seemingly fruitless in his efforts to find a way out of the Doldrums The expedition saw Beauregard telling tales of ancient elven cities, looming black towers, salt-blasted swamps, and worse- but he had returned with treasures and some curious new companipons, chief among them one  Ezthess Artzruni.It was assumed she had been taken on as a passenger or a guide of some sort, before the Lord named her as a new advisor on their return home, most of these questions remained unanswered however.. Although the Lord Springfield II had returned, the island did rush into another age of prosperity as it had under his father. The ruined buildings remained ruined, the chapel was left untouched, and the Lord seemed content to leave Springplatz in the hands of local authorities as he and his new advisor, the now-named court wizard Ezthess seemed to spend more and more time alone in the keep.

The next two decades saw the settlement’s slow decline, isolated in the Doldrums and and crippled by the consistently absent Lord Springfield II. The ruined church and watchtower were abandoned and the forest crept in around the shrinking island community, resentment and apathy set in among the populace, a general malaise that infected even the clergy and the Lady Abigaile. And still, the Lord tinkered away hidden in his keep.

It was some 21 years after the First War when a strange ship approached the island, not Tirasians, or even another kingdom, but goblins, humans, and a host of other races, those exploring the Doldrums from a place called Silver-Eye Island. The sudden discovery that they were not alone shook everyone on Sotoras but the Lord Springfield II, who gave their guests a weak greeting. Despite their Leader’s begrudged hospitality, the people of Sotoras greeted the thought of company with jubilation and awe. Although the two island settlements were nearly polar opposites, common need made them trading partners, and the Lady Abigaile purchase some small territory on the island in the following year. The long standing rut Sotoras had dwelled in began to fade from memory over the passing decade, despite the lack of leadership of Lord Springfield II, prosperity softened the uncertain times.

Nothing good ever lasts in the Doldrums, however, and on one sunny day, the world quaked and ripped asunder. Deathwing came, his impact on Azeroth felt far to the reaches of the Doldrums, dredging back memories of the hurricane as the sea swelled and the port town was rattled by tidal force. The Jade of Kul’Tiras was smashed on the rocks and as preparations were made by Lady Abigaile Springfield to retreat to the keep, they were met with something else entirely.

Lord Beauregard Springfield II was waiting at the keep’s entrance with a weapon that none had seen before, a twisted sabre that shown cold blue in his hands. The aged nobleman had never been a fighter and yet, with that blade raised, he called on the shipmaster to turn the keep’s defenses on the township of Springplatz. The Lord attacked the people of Sotoras with his court wizard Ezthess and the Captain Cidolfus, but worse than that- the slain rose from their bodies as wretched, undead monsters.

Panic and discord followed, with the Lady Abigaile and her closest followers fleeing to the only ship remaining afloat after the Shattering- which was rapidly taking on water and promptly fled Sotoras, leaving behind nearly three quarters of the population. The ship barely managed to arrive at silver-Eye Island before it took on too much water to stay afloat, and they now find themselves in the ruined holdings of the Lady Abigaile, attempting to understand what had happened.

Reports from Sotoras claim that the island is cold now, eerie, and filled with roaming undead.

Major Characters


Lord Beauregard Springfield II - The last ‘true’ lord to rule over Sotoras. After Sotoras was pulled into the Doldrums, he left to seek a solution to his people’s plights, only to return forever changed. Years of seclusion from his people, his family, and the outside world became the norm for the noble until the day Deathwing came. When the Shattering touched Sotoras, he did not rally his people, but instead turned on them with his closest advisors and a veiled, cursed sword- raising them undead. He remains now on Sotoras with a cast of wretched dead, plotting in secrecy.

Captain Garrett Cidolfus - An accomplished ship captain and a reputable duelist, after the death of the Beauregard I, he swore his loyalty to Beauregard II. He had joined the Lord in his first expedition into the Doldrums as a young man. Just like the Lord, he too returned changed,detached and cold.

Court Wizard Ezthess Artzruni - There’s not much known about her, other than she’s been in the Doldrums longer than anyone from Sotoras. Supposedly, once she was a Dalarani mage,  but later was hired as a guide by the Lord. Her true origins, and motives are unclear. Many of the survivors blame her for the undead uprising and their Lord’s madness.

Bishop Farnobius Hand - He arrived on the very last Tirasian ship to ever arrive to the port of Sotoras, he was sent to occupy the soon-to-be-built chapel and thus tend to the flock of Sotoras. Sadly the catastrophic events on Sotoras foiled this, but the wizened priest still did his diligent work. On the day of Sotoras’ fall, he stayed behind to help those who weren’t quick enough, leading them to his unfinished chapel to grant them a chance for survival.

Lady Abigaille Springfield - The daughter of Lord Beauregard Springfield II, a middle-aged woman and a disciple of Farnobius Hand, she is a benevolent and kind woman, known and loved. In her father’s long periods of absence, she would do her best guide and reassure the people of Sotoras and, since her father’s sudden change to a fanatical necromancer, has become the leader of those that remain.

Advisor Joras Vormath - A longtime friend of Lord Beauregard Springfield II, he was made advisor when the Lord came to power. He was kind enough to watchover Lady Abigaille when the Lord departed to explore the Doldrums and after the day he returned, he found himself cut off from his long time friend. Despite falling to the wayside after the Lord took to his Court Wizard, Joras instead focused on guiding the young Lady Abigaille. to this day, they are close friends and he continues to aid her in these trying times.

Captain James Thompson - A younger soldier, James was a fearless soldier who earned distinction in dealing with the creeps and critters on Sotoras as well as some of the more shady characters on Silver-Eye Island. He was made to be captain on Lady Abigaille’s request and has followed and protected the Lady ever since.

Notable Locations

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Standfast, the Keep of House Springfield - Found on the Northern side of the isle. In better times, the imposing keep offered safety and certainty for both the people and the Springfield family, but after the withering hurricane and the Shattering the keep is stands damaged, now only the mad lord and its undead retinue dwells there.

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Springplatz, Citizen Quarter of Sotoras - Once it was the landing for the first colonists, but over the years the row of tents grew into a street of finely built houses, occupying most of the south-western corner of the isle. When Lord Springfield II turned on the people of Sotoras canonfire and cursed weapons destroyed most of what once was.

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Firstlight, Ruins of the Light’s Chapel - A set of ruins in the Southeastern woods of Sotoras, the rubble stood once as a sad reminder of lost times, but now, it represents holy ground and safety from the dead. Originally, it’s construction began after Beauregard Springfield I took his seat on the island, progress was slow but the design was immaculate. When the hurricane struck, the project was abandoned. It has recently been taken advantage of by those still alive on Sotoras.

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Wreckage of the Jade of Kul’Tiras - The Shattering saw the destruction of the aged ship that had carried the first colonists to Sotoras. A proud, Tirasian ship now stands as a beachmarker, with salvage seeming impossible.

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First Watchtower - One of the first buildings made on the island, the First Watchtower was built to act as a garrison and a post for the protection of the citizens of Sotoras. While it provided some aid against the attacks by Razorbranch and pirates, its use was superseded by Standfast Keep and after the damage from the hurricane, it was abandoned.

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Faust Brewery - Built adjacent to the keep, the brewery crafted local favorites like Sotoras Firewater and Doldrums Grog. Perhaps one of the more cherished location for the people of Sotoras, its memories were plagued with stories of strange visitors to the Brewery in the dead of night. Even now, the local survivors claim to see the dead come and go from the simple warehouse.

 

Notes

A well balanced, temperate island- it was originally far west of the Eastern Kingdoms and claimed by Tirasian colonists, looking for a new home.

Touched by human architecture and design, the beauty of Sotoras at its height was in its simple layout and effective design.

In recent times, the touch of undeath and shadow has made the once colorful island bleak and cold- a stark warning to travelers.

The island is rich in resources of all types, but few deem the risk of battling undead worth it for simple treasures.

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