>>Echo (over in Plat) just came to Kermoria a few months ago, her father being executed and she, her mother and her little sister having been banished from the Alaudian Empire for worship of the 13. Seems like who is, or isn't Emperor (and responsible for her banishment) would be something she would know. :D

If I am remiss on any of this Raesh can of course correct me, but I believe this backstory creates complications with in-game lore. The influx of Kaldar/Gnome/Rakash/Prydaen refugees through the Dark Hand was a one-time event set back when the new races were first released; there is no road connecting Kermoria readily to Albaria, nor are there a steady stream of refugees that have been banished as political exiles from an oppressive Gorbesh government.

I suppose it is feasible that Echo's family arrived upon a lonely and decrepit Albarian trading vessel, but it has been stated previously that Albaria and Kermoria have almost no contact currently, so there would be some hand-waving involved :).

>>The influx of Kaldar/Gnome/Rakash/Prydaen refugees through the Dark Hand was a one-time event set back when the new races were first released; there is no road connecting Kermoria readily to Albaria, nor are there a steady stream of refugees that have been banished as political exiles from an oppressive Gorbesh government.

So far as I know there isn't any specific canonical lore set down on this (As I've mentioned most of the material I'm working with is fairly scattered and ill documented. It's... unfortunate). The general idea is that the migration was a specific event not an ongoing thing, and that travel between the two continents isn't impossible but it's very impractical and uncommon.

I don't see nothing wrong with the backstory, though such a journey would have been long, difficult and quite unusual -- but then, most PCs have backgrounds that when you get down to it are unusual.

-Raesh

"Ever notice that B.A.'s flavor text swells in direct proportion to how much one of our characters is getting screwed?" - Brian Van Hoose

>>I don't see nothing wrong with the backstory, though such a journey would have been long, difficult and quite unusual -- but then, most PCs have backgrounds that when you get down to it are unusual.<<

That is definitely the case with Echo's family. It was a long ordeal over months and months to arrive safely in Kermoria for the three survivors. Ultimately Echo became the 'protector' figure of the family (who exist offscreen, living in a small tent in the wilds outside of Crossings). This definitely informs the fact that she's exceptionally combat heavy for a Trader, training all armors, 8 weapons, etc. She does, however, identify herself as Kaldar and not Gorbesh now, despite being born/raised in Eimetek, with a father who was a captain in the Imperial army . She is slowly learning to speak Kermorian Common thanks to the patience of her fellow adventurers. :)

She's a lot of fun to play, I only wish I actually HAD time to play lately! :/

-Echelonia

I've always thought as Raesh seems to, that the path from Albaria to Kermoria through the Dark Hand is still quite possible, and potentially infrequently in use. Travel through the Dark Hand is ICly incredibly rough and dangerous, but there is nothing physically, lore wise, impairing movement between Albaria and Kermoria other than the "perils of the road." No earthquakes, no sunken land bridges, etc etc. Just a lot of dangerous territory to get through.