Updated the OP with a little more information regarding the world of Lassara.

ALso thanks to everyone signing up so far and thanks for the chars so far, looks great!

Also, here's my take at an abbreviated version of the history:

When men came to Lassara they settled on the island of Cantun where they prospered. A little later they attempted to settle on the mainlands and after initial success they encountered a citadel, ruled by a man named Darganta who was not really a man though. He killed the king's son and destroyed the human foothold on the mainland and then set out to destroy their dwellings on Cantun. The king sunk his fleet though and brought the whole army to the mainland where he marched for Darganta's citadel and defeated the "dark Lord" in battle, killing him with the help of his sword Neril, which was enchanted by the human's goddes of light, Lassa.
The rest of the dark host was to be sent back to a dimension, called the void, from where they had originally come. Their new leader, Vayne, formerly right hand of Darganta, tried to trick the men and bring a great host back through the gate. In the ensuing short battle the king Cantus died, his daughter magically wrested Dargantas sword from Vayne (the sword was the "key" to the gate) and sealed the gate, dying in the process. As there were no heirs an old friend of the king was crowned the first king of the new kingdom of Lassara.
We are currently about 800 years later, that's where the game will start. More details in the full history ;)