~53 Before Fifth Era (Fourth Era — Age of Darkness)

Just west of the Landing of the Gods, on a small island off the coast of what is now Xaveri, stood the fortress known as Qinthar’s Keep. Lord Qinthar, once a noble elf, had grown bitter and withdrawn after his wife was slain by Night Dwellers. For years he shut himself away in his keep, and strange rumours began to spread.

The Rise of the Monster

One day, the nearby town fell silent, turning into a ghost settlement overnight. Contact with the keep was lost. Soon after, a dying scout delivered a horrifying report: a monstrous figure had emerged from the keep, slaughtering a nearby village and raising the dead. An army of corpses was gathering, and the island itself was being consumed by terror.

The Proofing Grounds and the First Templar Paladins

In response, the New Faiths called their followers to arms. They gathered their paladins and warriors, but recognized the need for greater discipline and training. Thus was created the Proofing Grounds, a great training facility on the Landing of the Gods. It was here that the first Templar Paladins were trained — champions of the New Faiths, sworn to fight against the forces of Ghor.

Alongside them came warriors and knights not sworn to any of the New Gods, but determined nonetheless to protect the islands from the spreading corruption. For the first time in the Age of Darkness, mortals of different faiths and none stood side by side in battle.

Legacy

The Battle of Qinthar’s Keep was one of the first great victories of the New Faiths in open war. Here, their strength was proven not only in temples but on the battlefield. From this day forward, their paladins grew in number, their armies in strength, and their influence spread ever further across the islands.