From an era predating time and recorded history comes the tale of the Enclave -- a distinct phratry among the ordinary folk whose settlements stretched from sea to sea along the continental landmass known as The Vale. Typically those numbered among the Enclave society received their inherent membership by blood, passage rites from parent to child among the tribe's elders -- although it was not unknown for one born completely outside the congregation to find his or herself duly sworn into their ranks.

Consisting of powerful sorcerers, apothecaries, mages, fortune tellers & seers, alchemists, and necromancers, this once powerful council eventually broke apart into two distinct factions after centuries of bitter feuding and disagreements -- those of Warlocks, and those the Druids. They remain to this day inextricably woven together at the core, yet the bitterest of enemies over fundamental precepts regarding the distinction of sexes and the worship of deities. Neither side will give an inch toward truce. Neither will admit to any wrong-doing or treachery. And neither will accept the other as any part of the true Enclave.

Over the centuries, each group has both risen to power and been defeated time and again. The last war saw the entire city of Faltha obliterated under the curse of the Black Plague, and all the remained had been burnt to the ground in offering to the Druid goddess Shalindr'a. More than a thousand souls in this Warlock stronghold perished in less than a week. The result of which shifted the tide of rulership into the hands of Druids

For more than half a century now, the ordinary citizens of the Vale must comply with Druid precepts and law. They must participate in the bi-annual lottery at each equinox wherein a pilgrimage must be made to the southern regions of the Vale below the barren summits of Wyvern's Spine -- the legendary lair of dragons. It is there, under Druid law, that they must sacrifice a virgin girl from among them, to appease the dragons until the next equinox. Failure to comply results in swift and terrifying punishment.

Prophecy declared that a Warlock would rise, like the mythical pheonix from the burning ashes, bringing with him the defeat of Druid tyranny. In their desire to squash what may well be true, the Druids unleashed a horrifying disease upon the Warlock stronghold, in hope of solidifying their own strength and supremacy throughout the Vale. For decades they have awaited, both Druid and ordinary Citizen alike -- to see whether the prophecy had been true.

Warrick Erebus - Necromancer's Handbook

Bryony de Rose - Petals Falling

With a myraid of writing styles out there in the primordial sea of the Internet role-playing community; the Vale of the Enclave promotes free form storytelling. Story conflict is resolved by writing, not the roll of the dice. Choices on whether to accept a 'defeat' should always be based on furthering the plot and surmised character reaction and never on an urge to be victor supreme!

Feel free to unfurl your writing wings and explore the possibilities of a fantasy setting, but try to stay within the precept and setting of the Enclave without remaking the world. We realize it's a huge chunk of information to digest but a bedrock of information needs to be shared (and honored) by all the participating storytellers.

The Vale of the Enclave is not 'High fantasy' but a specialized story based around infernal magicks and political corruption. All characters played in the Enclave are human; one would not expect to see elves, trolls, orcs, gnomes, dwarves, goblins, mermaids, angels, vampires, etc in the Vale nor any half-breeds. For more information on the Vale's denizens, please see the Citizens page.