The ancient Kingdom of M'alketh was once a rich, thriving land of men that dominated the northern regions of the great continent of Khalduum. Farmlands yielded healthy crops, and tradesmen would often visit the larger cities and towns to hawk their latest goods and services. However, after a long line of wise kings, one became taken by a seed of corruption. During his rule, his Kingdom waged war with an army fighting beneath the banner of the black Dragonlord, Dra'keth. Being both the Royal Advisor and Captain of M'alketh's military might, the King's right hand departed in what turned into an absence that spanned half a decade. During this absence, a stranger, wise and knowledgeable beyond his apparent years, stepped in to the vital role of guiding the King's decisions. His name was Lycius.
Using half-truths and promises of power, Lycius quickly gained the King's favor, and ear. The prosperity and growth in power that M'alketh achieved as a result became addicting, the King desired more, and when Dra'keth's forces retreated from the field of battle and thusly allowed the former advisor to return, the King denied him the title, instead turning to Lycius as his new right hand. It was then that the first shadows began to fall over the lands. The crops started to wither and die, the trade routes became plagued by thieves and marauders. Many times the King's former advisor spoke up, trying to reveal the source of the corruption, but just as many times Lycius' whispered promises of power blinded the King to the truth, and to Lycius' loyalties to the growing powers of darkness.
Unable to stand for the corruption, the Captain of the King's military might started a coup. Those able to see the corruption for what it was stood by their Captain, fighting those blinded by ambition, greed, and power. Under the advice given to him by Lycius, the King reached out for new allies to help crush the traitorous armies, and soon the ranks of men were bolstered by the likes of orcs, goblins, and trolls, all flying the banner of the black Dragonlord, yet pledging their loyalty to M'alketh. Under the growing weight of the King's armies, the Captain was soon defeated, executed for his treachery in front of the public.
Two years passed after the war's end, and the King fell ill. While priests and those skilled in the arts of medicine came, neither treatment nor prayers could seem to break the disease taking hold. Lycius stepped in quickly to carry out his role, acting as the voice to the public since the King was no longer able to stand before his council. Fearing that others might sense his weakness and attempt to overthrow his rule, the King sent for his newfound ally, Dra'keth, and opened the borders of M'alketh fully to the Dragonlord's armies.
The Dragonlord's armies entrenched themselves within M'alketh, and when all was in place, they moved swiftly to overthrow and destroy the Kingdom once ruled by men. The King was slain by Lycius himself, who presented the dagger to Dra'keth. The Dragonlord welcomed his chief Warlock, and Second in Command back to his position personally.
Corruption continued to spread through the lands, and soon M'alketh fell to the powers of darkness.
Dra'keth was more than pleased when the opportunity arose to seize the once prosperous Kingdom. The true might of M'alketh never did rest with the strength of the former King's military, but rather with the fortress that lay at the heart of the Kingdom itself. At one time, M'alketh was simply a volcano, but age and time saw the shifting of the earth leave the massive peak inactive. The channels which once brought molten rock to the surface long since dry. The fortress that now dominated the lands was nigh impenetrable. Never in its history had an attacking army succeeded in toppling its defenses, and the natural fires that could be found made the armories contained within terribly effective.
Now, the fortress was his. Smoke began to bellow from the mountain's peak, causing it to look as though the volcano itself was active once more. The catacombs beneath M'alketh turned into a lair for his warlocks to practice the dark arts, using the vast chambers to create summoning circles to call forth familiars and other foul creatures. The army of darkness began to grow stronger, and the balancing powers of the world took notice.
Treaties were hastily drafted and a council of the five most prominent Kings of the land was called forth to discuss the growing threat to the north. While Dra'keth was invited, it was Lycius who had been sent on behalf of his ruler to represent M'alketh. Two of the five Kings motioned to wage war on the Dragonlord, and while suspicions weighed heavily against the warlock, the deaths of the two kings from unknown disease could never be traced back to the ambassador of M'alketh. The council, however, had been decisive in calling for an immediate cessation of bolstering military strength in the northlands, as well as a decreased military presence in the surrounding lands. Terms which Lycius assured were both unfounded, but would be complied with.
Hostilities seemed to ebb as the dark presence filling the skies to the north relaxed, though it was only on the surface. The catacombs were a hive of activity as the Dragonlord moved on with the next stage of advancement. Warlocks worked hard during the days, and long into the nights, as magic was manipulated to create dark creatures for Dra'keth's armies. Based upon a vision received in a dream, the Dragonlord had instructed they strive to create a beast that was human-like in build and size, yet boasted the power of the dragons of old. He called them his 'Drek'kan'.
To keep them from being too powerful in the rare case they turned on their masters, the Drek'kan were divided by classes. Some would be skilled assassins and thieves while others were granted superior intellect for magic casting. Others still were granted superior strength and skill as front-line warriors, and a select few were trained in the arts of healing. All of them, he instructed his warlocks, were to be created with their souls bound to the great dragon's will to ensure their blind obedience. Lycius, as chief warlock and a master summoner, was to oversee the project personally. He tasked six of his best with the army's creation, and sought to tame a dark creature of his own as a familiar.