Chronopia 1997

Dark Fantasy - The world is coming to some kind of a climax, and all of the major races (Firstborn, Blackbloods, Elves, Dwarves, Devout) are bent on destruction. This is one dark, nihilistic, somber bitch of a world. Not the kind of place you'd like to live, but maybe a good place to get some gaming done, eh? Nearly one half of the lavishly illustrated rulebook is devoted to background and history, of which the condensed version is this:

The world is "a wild and untamed place," until a human leader - the Firstborn, also known as the One King - founds a mighty human empire. Obsessed with preserving his empire, the One King experiments with sorcery... and may inadvertently cause what he seeks to avoid. A coalition of three peoples - the Blackbloods, Elves, and Dwarves - defeat and enslave humanity - the One King is slain.

Centuries pass - the Triad coalition disbands. The Four Prophets rise, enabling the One King's soul to be reincarnated as a newborn babe. After much fighting, the One King founds the Second Kingdom, known as Chronopia the Four Prophets rebel, following the Dark One and forming the Devout.