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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6351 Posts |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 14:53:58
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Awhile back, someone did a huge (and very detailed) update of the old Empires for 3e on the WotC forums. It was so excellent I saved the whole thing in a pdf form. Unfortunately I lost the pdf, and now I can't find the thread.
Anyone remember that? Anyone happen to have a copy of that?  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3286 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 15:17:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Awhile back, someone did a huge (and very detailed) update of the old Empires for 3e on the WotC forums. It was so excellent I saved the whole thing in a pdf form. Unfortunately I lost the pdf, and now I can't find the thread.
Anyone remember that? Anyone happen to have a copy of that?
IIRC I think it was Quale. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 15:32:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Awhile back, someone did a huge (and very detailed) update of the old Empires for 3e on the WotC forums. It was so excellent I saved the whole thing in a pdf form. Unfortunately I lost the pdf, and now I can't find the thread.
Anyone remember that? Anyone happen to have a copy of that?
IIRC I think it was Quale.
Okay, I must've missed this one.
I'd appreciate a link or compiled file if any scribe is willing to share it.
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Edited by - The Sage on 10 Jul 2012 15:33:14 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 15:32:52
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I don't think so, but I could be wrong. Quale and I "worked on" a few things together (as in, 'brainstormed'), so I think I would recall if he were the author. IIRC, it was some poster I was unfamiliar with (but like I said, I could easily be wrong). Quale also likes to change stuff up (as do I), and I think the material I am thinking of did not violate any canon, only embellished the heck out of it.
Very rarely do I bother to save posts to a pdf - it was just THAT GOOD. I remember trying to hunt it down once before, but it was lost in all the WotC website-shuffling (along with so many other excellent threads/projects). |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2066 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6351 Posts |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2066 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 17:00:27
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quote:
Originally posted by dazzlerdal
I tried to work in the pieces from Dragons of Faerun, ie Tiglath is still around but there was no mention of her dragon companion so i am toying with the idea of having the dragon steed killed in a revenge attack on Ssrintar, i also mentioned the secret temple under Unthalass which is key to the Cult of Tiamat's continued resurgence in Unthalass.
I also included the odd little bit from powers of Faerun (like the legion of Nanna Sin). It just seems odd that there is almost nothing on this place since the Old Empires book.
It didnt even get a mention when the Ship of the Gods exploded (despite the fact that was right next to most of the major cities of Unther), instead it mentions the Alaor of Thay.
Oh and i loved Dragons of Faerun, great work.
Glad you enjoyed it.
I agree, this area really needed an update in 3.5e, but it never happened, other than what we snuck into Dragons of Faerun.
I know I wrote a timeline up for it once, but I'm not sure I ever really got it published in full. (I'd have to review Grand History to see what we fit in there.) I'd have to dig to find it.
--Eric |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6351 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 19:50:03
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Grand History contains very little more than what i have already included.
1358 Gilgeam is killed
1369 Ship of the Gods explodes
1371 Mulhorand invades Unther
137? (i cant remember when exactly) Mulhorand conquers Unther
Personally im leaning toward changing the last part of the timeline.
It seems that an army in foreign territory that is beset on all sides by enemies is bound to lose.
The army of Mulhorand has Messemprar and its Chessentan mercenaries, plus the Northern Wizards and an army of Banites several thousand strong at its front, plus an army of elite aasimar fighters several thousand strong appearing at its back suddenly.
Its supply lines would be cut because of the Legion of Nanna Sin, and it is surrounded. Any real world army would most likely lose or disperse as a result of this, and this fictional army is facing quite a lot of high level wizards and priests. Doesnt stand a chance in my book.
Once the main army is destroyed it would take time for Mulhorand to organise, train, equip, and send another army to invade. In that time the forces of Unther (as varied as they are) could have conquered much of the rest of Unther and begun fortifying its position. Never mind that Thay would be watching Mulhorand to see if it is affected by the loss of an entire army.
I think the people of Unther would quite happily unite against an army supported by one of its own gods returned (Nanna Sin, even if she may be another deity in disguise), so the chances are any support Mulhorand had in its occupation would quickly vanish.
A newly reformed Unther might look quite different under the rule of Nanna Sin and her Aasimar servants, or as a Banite kingdom, or as a magocracy ruled by the Northern Wizards, or even as a kingdom ruled by the Cult of Tiamat. Its certainly a lot different from what happens for 4th edition but i dont think many subscribe to that version of the timeline anymore |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2066 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 21:26:56
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OK, I found the following that I wrote a long time ago. (I don't remember how long ago, but it was long before some game products and novels, like Dragons of Faerun.) It's unfinished, half-baked, and probably inconsistent with later products.
However, it might help.
===
Old Empires Anew
by Eric L. Boyd
The Old Empires of the Forgotten Realms—Mulhorand, Unther, and Chessenta—are a unique mini-setting in their own right. These ancient lands combine aspects of ancient Egyptian, Sumerian, Babylonian, and Greek societies with fantasy elements of the Forgotten Realms. First detailed in FR10 – Old Empires and later expanded upon in the recently released Powers & Pantheons, many recent upheavals have shaken these once-stagnant empires out of their lethargy, ushering in a time of tumult in the region not seen since the destruction of Narfell and Raumathar in the Year of Recompense (–150 DR). In particular, as a result of the Time of Troubles, the ruling theocracies of the Old Empires are badly shaken or shattered, and the balance of power among the dragons resident in the region has undergone a drastic realignment. As the Year of the Tankard draws to a close, a dracolich reigns over Threskel, the squabbling city-states of Chessenta are loosely united under the rule of the Sceptanar of Chessenta, Unther is fractured into overlapping fiefdoms, and the god-kings of Mulhorand are slowly awakening to their peril.
The following timeline is a brief chronology of events that occur in the region in the intervening period between the Year of the Prince (1357 DR) and the Year of the Tankard (1370 DR). This accounting covers the period beginning with the current year assumed in the Old Empires supplement through the new current year in recent Realms products and includes background for many of the events discussed in the write-ups of the Mulhorandi and Untheric pantheons in the Powers & Pantheons sourcebook. Italicized sections detail what is truly going on when the rumors of the day are inaccurate and/or incomplete.
In addition to the sources mentioned above, this chronology draws on the following source material for inspiration: Forgotten Realms campaign setting, revised Forgotten Realms campaign setting, Cloak of Shadows, FOR4 – Code of the Harpers, FR6 – Dream of the Red Wizards, FOR1 – Draconomicon, Monstrous Compendium Annual #3, Monstrous Manual, Netheril, Pages from the Mages, Spellbound, FRE2 – Tantras, Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical, Dragon #206, and Dragon #210, and Dragon #236.
One final note: For those unfamiliar with the Calendar of Harptos, the months of Toril’s calendar, interspersed with festival days not in any month (in italics), are as follows: Hammer (January), Midwinter, Alturiak (February), Ches (March), Tarsakh (April), Greengrass, Mirtul (May), Kythorn (June), Flamerule (July), Midsummer, Shieldmeet (once every four years), Eleasias (August), Eleint (September), Higharvestide, Marpenoth (October), Uktar (November), The Feast of the Moon, and Nightal (December).
The Year of the Prince (1357 DR)
Hammer
Theris, king of Mourktar, is dying and he has no heir. On the instructions of his god, Assuran of the Three Thunders, he is leaving his throne to the most worthy successor. To find this successor, he is holding a tournament of athletic skills at the base of Mount Thulbane four months hence. This tournament is open to any who choose to participate. The winner of the tournament will be the new king.
(Modified excerpt from Old Empires, pp. 59-60, 67)
Ches
The Statues That Walk have finally come to a halt, one year to the day after they began to move, for reasons as inexplicable as why they began to move in the first place. The Statues wreaked destruction throughout Mulhorand, but rebuilding efforts are already well underway.
Tholaunt, Divine Precept of Thoth, has determined that Derlaunt, Precept of Gheldaneth, was foolishly responsible for reanimating the Statues. Derlaunt intended to animate and control only a single Statue, which would have been a definite coup in the ongoing power games of the various priesthoods, but he quickly determined that he had awakened all of the Statues, and could not control any of them. Tholaunt has not revealed Derlaunt’s foolishness to anyone else, but he has required several significant acts of atonement on the part of the Precept of Gheldaneth. Even Tholaunt is unsure as to why the Statues have stopped moving.
(DM’s Sourcebook of the Realms, p. 36, Dreams of the Read Wizards, pp. 62-63, and Old Empires, pp. 21)
A wave of assassinations in Mulhorand climaxes in the murder of Pharaoh Akonhorus of Mulhorand at the hand of one of his most trusted advisors. Horustep III (age 11) takes the throne of Mulhorand, ushering in an age of unusual ferment in Mulhorand.
The Fangs of Set are responsible for the spate of assassinations, including the previous pharaoh’s murder, and they have plans in the works to kill the boy-king as well. The Fangs employ magic to charm the designated victim’s friends or bodyguards into becoming their murderers.
Many priests in the clergy of Horus-Re are not happy about their new ruler’s energy, fearing (rightly so) that it will eventually lead to a reduction in their authority.
(Running the Realms, p. 18, and Old Empires, pp. 4, 6)
The Red Wizards of Thay have sent legions of elementals against the Coastal Cities. Four of the cities are reported destroyed (Lasdur, Taskaunt, Murbant, and Thasselen) and taken under Thay’s banner. Tilbrand surrendered without a fight, and Escalant is still holding out. It is thought that such vast numbers of elementals could not be summoned by spell, but rather a gate or portal was opened directly to the elemental plane of fire. Many refugees are said to be fleeing across the Wizard’s Reach to Chessenta and the Vilhon Reach.
(Modified excerpt from DM’s Sourcebook of the Realms, p. 36, and derived from Dream of the Red Wizards, pp. 4, 9, 60-61, Spellbound, pp. 5-6, 12-13, and Old Empires, p. 8)
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: This event occurred in Ches, 1356, according to the DM’s Sourcebook of the Realms, but every other source, including Dream of the Red Wizards, Old Empires, and Spellbound, has placed this event in 1357. Note also that the city of Tilbrand is also called Hilbrand in many sources, and the city of Thasselen is also called Tahasselen in at least one source.
Cimbar’s armies drive back the encamped allied forces of Airspur and Soorenar to the south and the west in a series of engagements across the Plains of the Red Wyrm.
(Derived from Old Empires, pp. 5, 53)
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: The Plains of the Red Wyrm are the unamed lands west of Cimbar and south of Airspur.
Tarsakh
The Wraith of the Inner Sea, a fleet of Chessenta privateers, have attacked and sunk three ships from Delthuntle sent to break the siege of Escalant and deliver much needed supplies to that city. The Sceptanar has condemned the attack, despite Cimbar’s historic rivalry with the Cities of the North Coast, declared the half-orc “Sea Queen” Kreodo outlaw, and barred the Sea Queen, the Sea Horse, the Sea Jewel, and the Sea Quest from Cimbar’s harbor. In contrast, the military council of Airspur, including its leader, the half-orc Khrulis, has expressed its support for the Sea Queen and noted Escalant’s indirect support for the prior government of Airspur: a theocracy dedicated to Bhaelros.
Airspur’s declaration of support for the naval action has far more to do with its ongoing war with Cimbar and the common heritage its ruler shares with Kreodo than the trade agreement signed between Escalant and Airspur years ago when the cult of Bhaelros happened to be in power.
(Extended from Ches, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, pp. 58, 62-63)
In pursuit of their goal of destroying all magic and inflicting painful deaths on all its practitioners, the lords of Luthcheq kidnap powerful mages throughout eastern Faer#158;n. One such abduction results in the capture of King Hercubes’ eldest daughter, an aspiring sorceress, and, in response, Mordulkin mobilizes for war.
Therescales, an agent of Jaerios Karanok, exposed the opposition Magus Society’s plan to contact a powerful foreign wizard to his Karanok spymasters. When the Society moved to contact the ruler of Mordulkin through his daughter and to plea for that city’s assistance, the Karanoks had the princess abducted by agents already in place in Mordulkin and proceeded to round up every mage or mage sympathizer in Luthcheq they could find. Mordulkin’s inevitable declaration of war was of no consequence to the mad Karanoks.
(Modified excerpt from Old Empires, pp. 54-55, 59, 62, 67)
Greengrass
Gilgeam demonstrates his athletic prowess during the Festival of Assumption, the most holy day of the Untheric calendar which marks the Supreme Ruler’s coronation over two millennia ago. While cheering crowds (secretly rooting for Gilgeam’s opponent) watch from shore, the Father of Victory dispatches a dragon turtle in the harbor of the City of Gems.
Only the strenuous efforts of the incarnations of Isis and Ramman prevent the complete destruction of Unthalass’s port district during the battle.
(Derived from Powers & Pantheons, p. <GILGEAM: HOLY DAYS/IMPORTANT CEREMONIES>)
A fleet of three score naval vessels sails from Sultim’s harbor following the Sharpening of the Sword festival. Constructed in secret by the clergy of Anhur in sea caves south of the city, the ships and their heavily armed crews leave despite diviners’ predictions of fierce storms. Several suspected agents of the Red Wizards in the city disappear in the hours before the fleet departs.
The Anhurites intend to assault and, if possible seize, the Thayan base on the Aldor (an island due west of Sultim and due south of Bezantur). Warnings of a brewing tempest in the region are discounted due to suspicions that Thayan spies have already alerted the Red Wizards to the impending attack and unwillingness on the part of Anhur’s priesthood to disobey the direct command of the Divine Precept of Anhur.
(Derived from Old Empires, pp. 7, 16, and Powers & Pantheons, p. <ANHUR: DAY-TO-DAY PRACTICES>)
Mirtul
The fleet of vessels dispatched from Sultim by the priests of the Blood Fortress is decimated by fierce storms which wrack the Alamber Sea and never reaches the Aldor. Nevertheless, the crews of the surviving ships are perfectly positioned to attack a sahuaghin army that coincidentally emerges from the depths to raid the coastline from Skuld to Sultim. The Battle of Summer Storms rages up and down the coast of Mulhorand for a fortnight before the armies of Aleaxtis are driven off. Less than a dozen vessels from the original fleet return to Sultim’s harbor. Despite the great loss of life, Anhur’s priesthood garners considerable respect from the populace for defending Mulhorand from foreign invaders, its ancient responsibility. The priesthood of Horus-Re, which was caught totally off guard by the attack, suffers a comparable loss of status.
(Extended from Greengrass, 1357)
Mourktar has a new monarch of Mulhorandi ancestry, King Theriheb I, a paladin of Osiris. There were many disruptions during the tournament due, in large part, to the rampant cheating and the settling of numerous long-standing feuds among the participants. Notably, Helyos of Akanax, one of the favored contestants and leader of the lawless band of mercenaries based in Akanax known as the Renegades, was implicated in the death of Thareus, a lieutenant in a rival mercenary group known as the Society of the Sword (currently based in Cimbar), during the charioteering competition and forced by King Theris to withdraw from the tournament. Gilgeam’s chosen champion, Nebuseddar, an early favorite in the competition, died from magically poisoned wine he drank on the third day of the tournament and could not be revived. In the planned duel to the death between the two final candidates, Sorn, a trader from Bezantur, vanished a split second before Theriheb could inflict a death blow. Evidence discovered later implicated Sorn in Nebuseddar’s murder. Within days of King Theriheb’s ascension to the throne, the former monarch dies peacefully in his sleep.
Sorn is really a servant of Lauzoril, Zulkir of Enchantment and Charm, who was ordered to win the crown or assassinate the winner. Despite Sorn’s failure to accomplish his mission, the Red Wizard rescued his agent seconds before his death, for the false-merchant was successful in framing Helyos for Thareus’s death and for the murder of Nebuseddar, thus eliminating two of the most likely victors.
(Extended from Hammer, 1357)
Mordulkin’s armies meet the armies of Luthcheq in a series of inconclusive engagements near the Ford of Nanna-Sin that gradually bog down into a stalemate along the Tuuru River.
(Extended from Tarsakh, 1357)
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: The Tuuru River runs northwest from the Riders to the Sky mountain range to the Bay of Chessenta, exiting between Luthcheq and Mordulkin. As far as I can tell from consulting the likely TSR printed source material, this river has not been previously named. I chose the name based on the giant bird-like lizards (pteranodons) which reside in the southern peaks of the range from which the river flows. The Ford of Nanna-Sin is named for a long-dead member of the Untheric pantheon and is located where the road from Luthcheq to Mordulkin crosses the Tuuru River. See Old Empires, p. 52.
Cimbar’s armies push Airspur’s forces nearly halfway down the coast to the west before Airspur’s armies manage to regroup. Cimbar’s fight against Soorenar’s armies grounds to a halt less than ten miles from Cimbar’s outlying farms. In response, Soorenar’s lords hire powerful wizards to bombard Cimbar, devastating unwarded New Cimbar and severely weakening the city’s economy.
Soorenar’s bombardment of Cimbar alienates wavering Akanax, which had been considering attacking Cimbar, as Soorenar employed similar tactics against Akanax in the most recent war between the two cities.
(Extended from Ches, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, p. 60)
Kythorn
A secret expedition to Raven’s Bluff has returned to Luthcheq in triumph. Led by one of the younger Karanoks, the band succeeded in capturing and bringing back alive a mated pair of disenchanters. An extensive breeding program is expected to ensue.
(Derived from Pages from the Mages, pp. 117-118, and MC Annual #3, p. 24)
Escalant has fallen to elemental armies of Thay.
(Extended from Ches, 1357)
The youngest son of King Hippartes is attacked and badly injured, and agents of Soorenar are blamed. In revenge, the monarch of Akanax forms the Triangle Alliance with Cimbar and Mordulkin, and the three cities declare war on the Northern Alliance of Luthcheq, Soorenar, and Airspur.
Mordulkin is behind the attack on the young prince. Agents of Hercubes deliberately implicated Soorenar’s rulers so as to draw Akanax into the war, increase the forces arrayed against the Northern Alliance, and weaken Luthcheq’s security to the west, thus improving Mordulkin’s overall position.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, pp. 54, 59)
Flamerule
War has broken out between Thay and the armies it used to conquer much of the North Coast. Legions of humans, gnolls, goblins, and zombies are battling salamanders for control of the Priador. Occupying forces have been withdrawn from Tilbrand, Lasdur, and Taskaunt.
(Extended from Kythorn, 1357)
A tax revolt in Messemprar is gathering steam, and food shortages are growing. Gilgeam, the Supreme Ruler of Unther, takes no immediate action.
(Derived from Old Empires, pp. 38-39, 43, 67)
Riots break out in Airspur between the majority human populace and the half-orc minority, composed largely of recent immigrants. The half-orc Khrulis and the rest of the military council are forced to sue for peace with Cimbar in order to crush the incipient revolution.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, p. 58)
Eleasias
The Sceptanar of Cimbar, self-proclaimed ruler of Chessenta, has sent an envoy to Sembia, Cormyr, and the Dalelands seeking word of those who unleashed the magic-eater in Scornubel two winters ago. The Sceptanar has a similar creature imprisoned in an ancient globe in the Crypt Royal, and offers gold, magical training, griffins, or noble maidens of his realm to anyone who can safely unleash the magic-eater without harming the people and treasures of Chessenta. He wants it returned to its home plane or controlled to do his bidding in a certain task.
(Corrected excerpt from the DM’s Sourcebook of the Realms, p. 43, and Old Empires, p. 65)
The armies of Cimbar and Akanax besiege Soorenar, but the siege unexpectedly settles into a stalemate as the putative allies jockey for position after the expected foe of their mutual foe.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357)
Luthcheq’s armies slowly fall back in the face of Mordulkin’s superior forces. The cost to both cities is high however, and Mordulkin’s wizard corps is devastated by the witchweed fields the Karanoks have secretly sown west of the Tuuru River.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357)
Higharvestide
Riots erupt in Messemprar due to severe food shortages.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1357)
Marpenoth
The riots quickly in Messemprar lead to open revolution, and many city guardsmen and citizens are killed in the strife. Control of the city is divided among several factions: Lord Annunaki and his guard control the palace district, the Northern Wizards control the southern section and the city gates, and the “non-slaves” (ex-slaves who have renounced their freedom) control the dock district.
(Extended from Higharvestide, 1357)
Akanax mobilizes for an assault on Soorenar, and in response the Lords of that city sue for peace with Cimbar, hoping to spare their city and save their own lives. The Sceptanar of Cimbar accepts Soorenar’s surrender, and defers further conflict by promising Akanax free passage for its trade goods and forcing vanquished Soorenar to pay heavy reparations to rebuild Akanax.
Luthcheq and Mordulkin reach an uneasy armistice brokered by the Sceptanar as neither Cimbar nor Akanax can spare troops to enter the war (as both are too busy guarding against treachery by the other), and Mordulkin’s unexpectedly heavy losses prevent Luthcheq from being overwhelmed but are not severe enough that Luthcheq has any hope of prevailing.
(Extended from Eleasias, 1357)
Uktar
Larsa and Tammuz, high-ranking members of the Northern Wizards are murdered, and the assassin is said to be Shuruppak, the Reaper. Within two days, the palace district is overrun and Lord Annunaki is killed by an angry mob. Dama, leader of the slave revolt, and Shurlash, leader of the Northern Wizards, jointly declare the independence of the Free City of Messemprar. Gilgeam sends six ships of Unther’s navy to blockade the port and his poorly trained army to besiege the city walls.
(Extended from Marpenoth, 1357)
Nightal
The Siege of Messemprar persists, but without any sign of resolution. Ships from Bezantur and Mourktar easily evade the naval blockade and supply the city’s hungry populace with sufficient food to resist Gilgeam’s ire.
While King Theriheb of Mourktar is assisting the rebels primarily for moral reasons, the shipments from Thay are simply another ploy by Lauzoril, Zulkir of Enchantment/Charm, to destabilize Unther and possibly to acquire a permanent base on the southern coast. Ruduk, Lauzoril’s agent, has ensnared Dama in a web of enchantments that leave the charismatic demagogue susceptible to his every word.
(Extended from Uktar, 1357)
The Year of Shadows (1358 DR)
Kythorn
The biennial competition to determine Chessenta’s finest athletes begins on the first day of Kythorn on the fields of Pryollus under the shadow of Mount Thulbane. The most notable participant is King Hippartes, who has not competed in the games since assuming the throne of Akanax.
King Hippartes has received a vision from the god Assuran commanding him to participate in the games, and the monarch, a faithful follower of the Lord of Three Thunders, attends without question.
(Derived from Old Empires, pp. 53, 54, 58-59)
The Fellowship of the Firebrand has arrived in Cimbar from lands to the north and west and accepted the Sceptanar’s challenge. When the group attempts to unleash the imprisoned hakeashar on the 15th day of Kythorn, however, both the adventuring company and the eater-of-magic simply disappear without a trace. Suspecting treachery leading back to the Karanoks, the Sceptanar quickly offers a sizable bounty on the head of every member of the company. For the time being, Cimbar’s Great King chooses not to open the treasure vault of the Crypt Royal as he fears further trickery.
In truth, the Fellowship of the Firebrand and the Sceptanar fell victim to the magical chaos caused by the Fall of the Gods. A simple divination spell employed by Maelos Karanok to spy on the proceedings misfired, creating a magical vortex between the temple of Entropy in Luthcheq and the Crypt Royal. Both the hakeashar and the adventuring company were swept through the temporary gate to Maelos’s private chapel. The high priest of Entropy and all but one member of the Fellowship were slain in the ensuing implosion of the hakeashar when it came into contact with the burning witchweed in the room, and a large, permanent dead magic zone centered on the temple and encompassing most of Luthcheq was created in the aftermath of the event.
(Extension of Eleasias, 1357 DR)
On the 15th day of Kythorn, gods arrive in the Realms in weakened avatar form throughout Faer#158;n. In the Old Empires region, this arrival is far less dramatic than elsewhere given the number of god-kings of the Untheric and Mulhorandi pantheons already in residence.
The most notable manifestation occurs when the Lord of Three Thunders appears on the slopes of Mount Thulbane in the body of King Hippartes and descends to greet the awe-struck assembled participants and spectators. Assuran/Hippartes commands all those present to return to their cities and gird for the war of revenge which will soon sweep all of Chessenta. The Lord of Three Thunders then vanishes in a massive plume of smoke as three booming thunderclaps roll across the plains of Threskel.
Appearances of omnipotent power notwithstanding, Assuran/Hippartes departs for the Thaymounts where he has hidden an cache of weapons for use in the coming conflicts. Although successful, the Lord of Three Thunders narrowly evades the plots of a Red Wizard known as the Masked One on the 19th of Kythorn. He then returns to Akanax and prepares for war.
(Extended from Kythorn, 1358, and derived from Running the Realms, p. 18, Powers & Pantheons, p. <HOAR: INTRODUCTION> and Cloak of Shadows, pp. 189-191)
The six-month old siege of Messemprar is finally ended. In the chaos that follows the Fall of the Gods, Gilgeam finds it prudent to withdraw his army (those who did not desert) from Unther’s northern border and declare victory. In Messemprar, Dama dies a martyr’s death when he falls to the Reaper’s blade, as a parting gift from Gilgeam. Shurlash and the Northern Wizards reconstitute the government as an oligarchical magocracy. In gratitude for the assistance of Mourktar and Bezantur, the council of Messemprar drafts laws granting merchants from both cities special trading privileges.
While the Red Wizards lose much of their sway over Messemprar with the death of Dama, Ruduk had managed to infiltrate the Northern Wizards during the course of the siege, and he joins the ruling council upon Dama’s death. Gilgeam never acknowledges the secession of Messemprar, but neither does the god-king attempt to exercise his sovereignty in the region again.
(Extended from Nightal, 1357)
Flamerule
Citing Akanax’s unsated appetite for revenge against Soorenar, Assuran/Hippartes and the armies of Akanax march north along the River Akax. Soorenar quickly falls to the attackers, despite the assistance of the occupying Cimbaran garrison, and is destroyed in the resultant carnage.
(Extended from Marpenoth, 1357, and Kythorn, 1358)
Maladraedior, the great blue wyrm, has been seen once again over the skies of Dalath in hale health. Some 2,650 years ago, Maladraedior, then the reigning suzerain of the blue dragons of Unther and Mulhorand, abdicated or disappeared, and the great wyrm has not been seen since. Several merchants visiting Dalath at the time have recounted his aerial battle with a lesser wyrm of uncertain heritage who quickly fled from the 4,000 year-old behemoth. The last sighting of Maladraedior occurred in the Great Vale of Mulhorand and he was spotted heading south and east towards the great dust desert of Raurin.
As the last remaining worshiper of Kalzareinad, a (N(E)) demipower of draconic magic, Maladraedior was the only candidate to serve as that draconic deity’s avatar host during the Time of Troubles. The great blue wyrm has long laired beneath the streets of Dalath in a hidden temple where he is served by members of the Ramahiresh and Kalmarak families. As Kalzareinad/Maladraedior, the great blue wyrm emerged from his centuries of seclusion and set out to recruit new worshipers among the younger blue, brown, and yellow dragons of the Raurin region, achieving only limited success. At some point, Kalzareinad/Maladraedior encountered the avatar of Kereska and Kalzareinad voluntarily mearged his aspect with that of the Wonderbringer. The revitalized Kereska accepted Maladraedior as one of the highest ranking priests of her faith, and bid him to redouble his evangelistic efforts.
Following the conclusion of the Time of Troubles, Maladraedior returned to his subterranean lair in secret, along with a clutch of twelve chromatic dragon eggs of varying hues that he plans on raising as disciples of Kereska/Kalzareinad. As a gift from his reinvigorated deity, Maladraedior has maintained the youthful state of health Kalzareinad’s avatar exhibited. As a result of his renewed vigor, Maladraedior may become significantly more active in the coming decades.
(Derived from Draconomicon, “The Millennium Dragon,” pp. 90-98, and Cult of the Dragon, p. APPENDIX 1: DRAGON DEITIES)
Several hundred followers of Geb are observed by passing merchant traffic entering sea caves west of Skuld. None of the missing Gebites are ever heard from again, and the caves they entered mysteriously collapse within hours of their disappearance.
Geb leads his followers west through tunnels beneath the Alamber Sea to the subterranean heart of the island known as the Ship of Gods. There his followers begin construction of a temple they call the Golden Forge in the depths of the simmering volcano that dominates the isle. The Gebites complete their temple over the course of the next decade, all the while working to contain the long-threatened eruption.
(Derived from Powers & Pantheons, p. <GEB: MAJOR CENTERS OF WORSHIP>)
Eleasias
Savage werecrocodiles of the Adder Swamp win an important victory in their long-running war with a community of wererats resident in the region. Sebek’s faithful are said to have been lead by an avatar of the Smiling Death who manifested after the Fall of the Gods.
(Derived from Old Empires, p. 52, and Powers & Pantheons, p. <SEBEK: INTRODUCTION>)
The armies of Akanax, augmented by conscripts from fallen Soorenar, unexpectedly appear outside the walls of Luthcheq. Within days, Luthcheq is reduced to a smoking ruin, and Assuran/Hippartes declares that Cimbar’s historic arrogance towards the other cities of Chessenta will soon be avenged. The Sceptanar of Cimbar wisely surrenders to the vengeful god-king without even a token of protest. As for the mad Karanoks, most are slain, but a few survive amidst the catacombs of the ruined city.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1358)
Reports of a great battle in the harbor of Sultim spread throughout Mulhorand. The avatar of Anhur, God of War, has defeated a great white shark larger in size than the greatest leviathan. The shark, believed to be the avatar of Sekholah, god of the sahuaghin, is said to have been gravely injured and fled the Alamber Sea. (Powers & Pantheons, p. <ANHUR: INTRODUCTION>)
__ FOLLOW-UP WITH INCREASED SAHUAGHIN ATTACKS ON THE COASTS OF UNTHER AND MULHORAND __
Gilgeam, god-king of Unther, destroys the Dark Lady, a three-headed (red, blue, and green) incarnation of Tiamat that has been active in the Firetrees region since the Year of the Bloodbird (1346 DR). A several mile wide swath along the southern bank of the River Alambar is incinerated in the conflagration touched off by the battle. The Supreme Ruler of Unther declares the Nemesis of the Gods forever vanquished. Tiglath, high priestess of the cult of Tiamat, disappears during the battle.
The Battle of Burnt Fields does indeed destroy Tiamat’s avatar, but the Dragon Queen is well prepared for that outcome. The Chromatic Dragon’s essence splinters and disperses into the three most powerful chromatic dragons in the region of the corresponding colors: Tchazzar (red), Gestaniius (blue), and Skuthosiin (green). Tiglath’s fate is unknown, and she is never seen in Unther again. Rumors hint that Tiglath was ambushed by Shudu-Ab, the ambitious high priestess of the Altar of Scales located beneath the streets Unthalass.
(Derived from Powers & Pantheons, pp. <MULHORANDI & UNTHERIC PANTHEON INTRODUCTION>, <GILGEAM: INTRODUCTION>, <TIAMAT: INTRODUCTION>)
Eleint
The Salamander War has finally come to an end and the Red Wizards are victorious thanks to the aid of the elemental legions of Kossuth, Tyrant Among Fire. The western Coastal Cities have maintained their independence, while the eastern cities of Escalant, Murbant, and Thasselen have fallen under Thayvian domination. Claims that Kossuth himself appeared on behalf of the Thayvian are widely dismissed as rumor, despite the presence of many other deities in the Realms.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1357)
King Theriheb I vanishes after just over a year on the throne of Mourktar. Shuruppak, Gilgeam’s chief assassin more commonly known as the Reaper, is widely blamed Theriheb’s assassination, but no trace of the paladin of Osiris is every found. A regency council chaired by Surran Thunderbolt, high priest of Assuran, and including prominent merchants, military leaders, and Dread Imperceptor Kabarrath Telthaug, high priest of the Black Lord’s Cloak, assumes control of the city.
Mourktar’s late monarch was in fact deposed by Banite agents of Telthaug as part of the Dread Imperceptor’s plot to seize power in the city. Telthaug continues secretive efforts underway to co-opt the members of the new ruling council.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357, and derived from Faiths & Avatars, p. 39, and Powers & Pantheons, p.<HOAR: MAJOR CENTERS OF WORSHIP>)
The armies of Assuran/Hippartes march around the northern extent of the Riders to the Sky Mountains, seeking vengeance for Unther’s purported involvement in the disappearance of Mourktar’s recently anointed king. Reinforced by armies from Mourktar, the Chessentan armies shatter Unther’s poorly equipped and poorly trained forces in the Battle of Bloody Metal. During the conflict, Assuran slays Ramman, the Untheric god of war.
(Extended from Eleasias, 1358, and derived from Powers & Pantheons, p. <MULHORANDI & UNTHERIC PANTHEON INTRODUCTION>, <ANHUR: INTRODUCTION>, <HOAR INTRODUCTION>)
A gigantic red wyrm is observed in flight above the Great Vale heading towards the Sword Mountains.
Tchazzar, imbued with Tiamat’s divine energy, feels compelled to seek out Gestaniius, another receptacle of the Dragon Queen’s essence. The great red wyrm eventually triumphs over his crippled opponent after twelve days of battle, and he immediately devours her corpse before sinking into a month-long slumber.
(Extended from Eleasias, 1358)
Marpenoth
The shattered armies of Unther are reforged under the leadership of the avatar of Ramatep, god of war. In the Battle of Thunder, on the 10th of Marpenoth, the armies of Unther and Chessenta clash on the plains of Threskel, while the avatars of Assuran and Ramatep battle for supremacy. The tightly executed strategy of Unther’s general divides the army of Chessenta, despite its numerical superiority, and the allied forces of the city-states quickly dissolve into squabbling legions. Ramatep drives the Lord of Three Thunders from Unther, and Assuran’s host, King Hippartes, is never seen again.
Ramatep is the Untheric name for Anhur, Mulhorandi god of war, and, in the aftermath of the battle, Anhur claims fallen Ramman’s disputed portfolio.
(Extended from Eleint, 1357)
The Alliance of Chessenta quickly dissolves once again into fractious city-states with the defeat and disappearance of Assuran/Hippartes. Former inhabitants of Soorenar and Luthcheq begin the slow rebuilding of the western city, but the City of Madness, as Luthcheq is commonly known, is left in ruins. Gormantor, Hippartes eldest nephew, succeeds his uncle as king of Akanax.
In addition to the small populace who remain amidst the ruins, Luthcheq’s catacombs are adopted by many of the wererats fleeing the Adder Swamp. The lycanthropes come under the sway of Saestra Karanok, a vampiress known as the Lady of the Night.
(Derived from Old Empires, p. 59, and Dragon #236, pp. 82-86, and extended from Eleasias, 1358, and Marpenoth, 1358)
__ AT SOME POINT WERECROCODILES SUFFER SETBACK AND THE WAR MUST RESUME __
The 15th of Marpenoth is the Time of Departure and the end of the Time of Troubles.
From this day forward, the long-static pantheons of Unther and Mulhorand as well as the Faer#158;nian pantheon are forever changed. Some gods, such as Ramman, Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul, have been destroyed, others, including Tiamat and Assuran, are noticeably absent, and others, such as Gilgeam, are significantly reduced in power. Both the Untheric and Mulhorandi pantheons are reconnected with their Outer Planar essences, and thus less involved with the day-to-day affairs of Unther and Mulhorand, respectively. Their power is hereafter dependent on the strength and fervor of their followers.
(Derived from Running the Realms, p. 18, and Powers & Pantheons, p. <MULHORANDI & UNTHERIC PANTHEON INTRODUCTION>)
Numerous wild and dead magic regions appeared in Chessenta, Unther, and Mulhorand during the Time of Troubles, and some of them appear to be persisting. In addition to the large dead magic zone that appeared throughout Luthcheq during the Time of Arrival, smaller such regions have been found scattered throughout the eastern reaches of the Akanapeaks (with several such regions located near strongholds occupied by the Flaming Spike orc tribe) and in the northern reaches of Azulduth, “The Lake of Salt.” Many wild magic regions have appeared as well in these three ancient lands. The largest seems to be located in the Hills of Maerth, centered on the holdings of the archmage Azurax Silverhawk, who purchased large tracts of land in area several years ago. Whether this development will impede or facilitate his quest for a philosopher’s stone is unknown. Smaller wild magic “bubbles” have been found throughout the Methwood and along the banks of the River of Spears as well.
The wild magic zone in the Hills of Maerth is due in part to the magical researches of Azurax Silverhawk. The archmage had been secretly searching for the catacombs that lie beneath the ruins of the long-lost tower of Ultham, son of Urrekanam. The latter wizard is the near-legendary creator of the Magical Chessmen of Ultham-Urre and is believed to have once dwelt in the hills near the village of Oslin. Azurax found some magically hewn caverns that appeared to have been created by Ultham, but before Silverhawk could fully investigate them, a fluctuation in the Weave cataclysmically interacted with his divination spell. The subsequent explosion created a massive wild magic zone in the region and collapsed the newly discovered complex. Azurax barely escaped with his life.
(Derived from Running the Realms, p. 18, Old Empires, p. 52, and Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical, pp. 97-99)
A three-headed dragon sporting red, blue, and green heads is seen overhead in Maerch. This follows three days after the only survivor of a hunting party stumbles out of the Methwood claiming to have witnessed a terrible battle between a two-headed dragon who breathed fire and lightning and the venerable green dragon of the Methwood, Skuthosiin.
After slaying Gestaniius and devouring her corpse, Tchazzar absorbs the divine energy she too had received from Tiamat. The Father of Chessenta then sprouts a second head, blue in hue, and begins to hunt Skuthosiin in the belief that a victory over the green dragon will allow him to replace Tiamat in the pantheon. When Tchazzar foolishly destroys Skuthosiin and devours his corpse in turn, Tiamat manifests once again in the Realms and the Chromatic Dragon begins to plot the death of Gilgeam, once and for all.
(Extended from Eleint, 1358)
The Feast of the Moon
A five-headed avatar of Tiamat lands atop the Ziggurat of Eternal Victory in the Palace District of Unthalass and bellows out a challenge to Gilgeam in the tongue of the gods. Unable to ignore this challenge, Gilgeam emerges from his throne room for the first time since the Time of Departure. At first, the Supreme Ruler of Unther and the Dragon Queen at first seem evenly matched, but the diminished stature of the son of Enlil is soon apparent to even his followers. The Chromatic Dragon destroys the last true member of the Untheric pantheon after twelve hours of continuous battle that destroyed much of the Unthalass as it unfolded. The avatar of Tiamat consumes her ancient enemy’s corpse and perishes immediately thereafter, despite the lack of an obviously mortal wound.
Unbeknownst to most inhabitants of Unthalass, the battle which destroyed their city continues to rage in Acheron and Baator. Gilgeam’s Outer Planar essence destroys Tiamat’s avatar after the Chromatic Dragon destroys his manifestation in the Realms. Tiamat in turn attacks Gilgeam, albeit at great personal cost to herself. The Feast of the Moon of the Year of Shadows is forever known in the Old Empires as the Feast of Tiamat.
Extended from Marpenoth, 1358)
Nightal
Fires and beasts loosed by the destruction of Unthalass’s zoo and gladiator arena rage throughout the City of Gems unchecked for ten days after the death of Gilgeam. Rampaging mobs who gather as night falls destroy idols of Gilgeam throughout the city and kill every Gilgeamite they can find. The rioting does not stop until the Ziggurat of Eternal Victory is sacked on the tenth day after Gilgeam’s destruction. For the rest of the month, Unthalass slowly disintegrates as no one rules the city. Thousands of refugees flee the chaos of the “Night Fires” with the aid of the clergies of Ishtar (Isis) and Ramatep (Anhur).
(Extended from the Feast of the Moon, 1358)
The Year of the Serpent (1359 DR)
Hammer
As the great diaspora from shattered Unthalass continues, anarchy spreads to the rest of Unther. Within a fortnight, Gilgeam’s clergy is annihilated thanks to the mobs that fan out across the country, looting and killing as they go.
In Unthalass, a still calm gradually settles over the city. The City of Gems is reduced to less than a tenth of its pre-Time-of-Troubles population. Shudu-Ab, Wyrm Princess of the Dark Scaled Ones and high priestess of the Altar of Scales, emerges from the city’s catacombs to proclaim the rule of Tiamat over Unther, but few heed her proclamation, at least initially.
A few of Gilgeam’s priests and an army of slaves escape the tumult and make their way to a secret stronghold long hidden in the eastern branch of the Smoking Mountains. The new residents of the Citadel of Black Ash are all that remain of Gilgeam’s once all-powerful clergy.
Shudu-Ab’s Serpent Guards begin a reign of terror throughout Unthalass and the surrounding region after the Dark Scaly Ones claim rulership of shattered Unther in their queen’s name. Many opponents of the Dark Scaly Ones are hunted and killed in the months to come as Shudu-Ab gradually establishes her control over the City of Gems and her influence throughout much of central Unther. However, the Wyrm Princess’s authority is undermined by the widespread belief that the Dragon Queen died alongside Gilgeam, and, despite the prayers of Shudu-Ab, Tiamat does not manifest in Unther over the course of the next decade or give any sign that might convince the populace otherwise.
(Extended from Nightal, 1358, and derived from Powers & Pantheons, p. <TIAMAT: MAJOR CENTERS OF WORSHIP>, <CITADEL OF BLACK ASH>)
Ches
Zhenghyi, the Witch-King of Vaasa, is destroyed by the Heroes of Bloodstone, and Damara is reunited by Gareth Dragonsbane and his stalwart companions.
To break the stalemate at the Ford of Goliad between the armies of Damara and the Witch-King’s forces, the Heroes of Bloodstone journey to the Abyss and steal the Wand of Orcus. During the course of their adventures, Gareth and his companions battle and slay an avatar of Tiamat. This setback disrupts Tiamat’s plan to reappear in Unther and claim all of Gilgeam’s former territory as her sovereign domain before the avaricious Faer#158;nian and Mulhorandi pantheons began divvying up the unclaimed territory.
(Extended from Hammer, 1359, and Running the Realms, p. 18)
Flamerule
A greater quelzarn has been seen off the coast of Unthalass at least three times in the past tenday. Six ships are already missing, including the Bey of Chessenta, the Maid of Gems, the Pride of Enki, and the Watcher’s Cape, and their disappearances have been blamed on the legendary sea serpent. Hunted nearly to extinction centuries ago by Untheric nobles, it has been seventeen years since the last known sighting of a quelzarn, let alone a greater quelzarn. The situation in Unther is too chaotic for a hunt to be organized, and the beast disappears within a month of its first noted appearance after wreaking havoc with shipping in the Alamber Sea.
(Derived from Tantras, p. 47, and Old Empires, p. 86)
Uktar
After attacking distant Shou Lung, the Tuigan horde turns westward and invade Faer#158;n. The Tuigan horde battles the armies of Thay in the Battle of the Griffon Legion.
(Derived from Hord Campaign, pp. 30-32)
The Year of the Turret (1360 DR)
Alturiak
The Tuigan horde battles the armies of Rashemen in the Battle of the Lake of Tears.
(Extended from Uktar, 1359, and derived from Hord Campaign, pp. 50-52)
Flamerule
The Tuigan horde battles the Army of the Alliance, led by King Azoun IV of Cormyr, in a series of conflicts known collectively as the Battles of the Golden Way.
(Extended from Alturiak, 1360, and derived from Hord Campaign, pp. 55-59)
__ ADD MULHORANDI PARTICIPATION __
Uktar
Word reaches Mourktar of the Banedeath unleashed in far-off Zhentil Keep by the followers of Cyric. Dread Imperceptor Telthaug unleashes his own inquisition in the name of Bane Reborn, and many citizens of Mourktar disappear forever after being taken to the dungeons of the Black Lord’s Altar.
In the course of the inquistion, Telthaug’s followers abduct and murder the few true Cyricists in Mourktar as well as many mid-ranking followers of Assuran. By the end of the year, when the inquisition finally draws to a close, three-quarters of the regency council reports directly to Telthaug, and the followers of Assuran are greatly reduced in influence.
(Extended from Eleint, 1358, and derived from Ruins of Zhentil Keep Campaign Book, pp. 21-23, and Powers & Pantheons, p. ASSURAN: MAJOR CENTERS OF WORSHIP)
The Year of Maidens (1361 DR)
Mirtul
The corpse of a large vodyanoi washes ashore on the beaches of Oslin. The aquatic umber hulk has apparently been dead for quite some time, and it appears to have been bitten nearly in half. The Lords of the Inner Reach, a mercenary company employed by the small trading village, begin accompanying local fishermen and merchants sailing on the Akanamere.
A young dragon turtle has been driven from its lair in the depths of the Wizard’s Reach and sought out the relatively peaceful waters of the Akanamere. It reached the lake by swimming up the River Akax, and the monstrous beast finds the bountiful waters and lack of competition to its liking. The dragon turtle quickly drives off the family of vodyanoi (aquatic umber hulks) who have long dwelt in the region and then begins to settle into its new demesne.
(Derived from Old Empires, p. 52)
Kythorn
A large dragon turtle surfaces in the harbor of Rodanar and destroys two trading vessels from partially rebuilt Soorenar. The monster brushes off the feeble attacks of the town’s few defenders and departs after ingesting both crews. Panic quickly spreads along the coast of Chessenta’s largest lake. Over the next few weeks, no fewer than seven ships of varying sizes disappear in the Akanamere.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1361)
Flamerule
The Lords of the Inner Reach fight a five-hour battle with the Akanamere’s newly resident dragon turtle from Oslin’s beaches and moored fishing vessels. Well over half the company and most of the anchored ships are destroyed by monster’s breath weapon, but the beast is believed to be severely injured and retreats. Rumored sightings of the dragon turtle decline precipitously over the next several weeks, and the beast is assumed to have fled or died. In the years to come, the occasional lost ship is blamed on the Akanaturtle, as the dragon turtle is commonly referred to, but no one really believes the monster remains with the lake.
In truth, the Akanaturtle remains within the Akanamere, but it is much more careful in choosing its targets and eliminating all potential witnesses. The dragon turtle restricts itself to destroying only a handful of vessels each year and only during inclement weather when they could have conceivably foundered on their own.
(Extended from Kythorn, 1361)
The Year of the Helm (1362 DR)
Ches
Explorers in the desolate southeastern reaches of Mulhorand discover the ruins of an ancient city on the northeastern shore of Azulduth. News of the discovery spreads quickly through the remote town of Buldamar and much more slowly throughout the rest of Mulhorand when the expedition leaders return for additional supplies and laborers to aid them in their endeavors. After three days of purchasing equipment and hiring porters and laborers, the group sets out once again.
Three weeks later, two men return to Buldamar suffering from some strange malady. Before their deaths, the former porters explain that the expedition had apparently found the long-lost capital city of Okoth, a sprawling realm that destroyed itself in civil war before the founding of Skuld. Initial excavations of Nagoth, as the city was named, unearthed gems, gold, jewelry, and several items that radiated powerful magic. Disaster struck when one team stumbled into an area of deeper catacombs. Lich-like nagas quickly wiped out the small team and then proceeded to exterminate every member of the expedition they found. The two survivors die of an unknown reddish-brown mold that rapidly fills their lungs and gradually suffocates them.
The explorers were actually Setites posing as scholars from Gheldaneth, a simple enough deception so far from Mulhorand’s major population centers. Set’s minions sought ancient magics to employ in the unending war between the Cult of Set and the clergies of Horus-Re, Anhur, Isis, Nephthys, Osiris, and Thoth. The Setites encountered a long-forgotten species of naga found only in and beneath the Lake of Salt. The desiccated appearance of the salt nagas accounts for the survivors’ belief that they were undead. Each salt naga can spit a cloud of spores at will that infect any aerobic creature with non-communicable symptoms, as described above.
(Derived from Dragon #202, “Elminster’s Notes,” p. 86)
Tarsakh
Riots erupt again in Airspur between the majority human populace and the half-orc minority after the self-proclaimed Apostle of Bhaelros begins preaching that the Raging One will annhilate the city to punish its inhabitants for allowing the Spawn of Gruumsh to taint their pure human blood. Many humans flee the city for the purported safety of refugee camps ten miles to the south.
The Apostle of Bhaelros is an opportunistic human mercenary named Horgkin with no affiliation to the followers of the Destroyer. Horgkin commands the Wardogs, a powerful mercenary company, and he has pretensions of founding his own kingdom. The mercenary lord’s loudly proclaimed hatred for half-orcs is simply a means to appeal to the disaffected fraction of Airspur’s human population and is, in fact, secretly supported by Khrullis, the half-orc leader of Airspur. Khrullis seeks to drive out those humans who seem incapable of accepting his rulership or the presence of him and his kin without destroying Airspur in the process.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1357)
Flamerule
The Apostle of Bhaelros prophesies the imminent destruction of Airspur, and most of the human refugees from the city who have heeded his warnings join him in a vast southwards migration. By the end of the month, the populace reaches the northern shore of the Akanamere, where they begin constructing a new city midway beteen Rodanar and Soorenar.
Despite Horgkin’s prophesies, Airspur is spared from Talos’ wrath, but this matters little to the mercenary’s followers. Over the course of the next two years, the city of Horgmere rises along the shores of the northernmost reaches of the Akanamere.
(Extended from Tarsakh, 1362)
The Year of the Wyvern (1363 DR)
Mirtul
The armies of Mourktar march west across the plains of Threskel and besiege Mordulkin. Still weakened by its recent battles with Luthcheq and Unther, the latter as part of the Alliance of Chessenta, Mordulkin is forced to pay heavy tribute to the coffers of the _Black Lord’s Cloak to dissuade them from beseiging the city.
(Extended from Marpenoth, 1358, and Uktar, 1360)
The Year of the Wave (1364 DR)
TIDAL WAVE DESTROYS MUCH OF BEZANTUR. IN ITS WAKE, AN ARMY OF SAHUAGHIN WREAKS TREMENDOUS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
(Powers & Pantheons, p. THE FLAMING BRAZIER)
The Year of the Sword (1365 DR)
Tarsakh
The Great Bone Wyrm of Dragonback Mountain, northernmost peak of the Riders to the Sky mountain range, is reportedly stirring. Several shepherds have reported rumblings from deep within the mountain’s heart similar to those their parents heard before the fearsome dracolich emerged in the Year of the Lurking Death (1322 DR) to terrorize the region for one long summer.
(Derived from Code of the Harpers, p. 37)
Mirtul
A hunting party of nobles from Mordulkin reports sighting the Great Bone Wyrm in the skies above the flat, sandy plains of Threskel.
(Extended from Tarsakh, 1365)
Eleasias
Tchazzarites in Cimbar have hired the Red Morning, an adventuring company based in that city with an extremely formidable reputation, to destroy the Great Bone Wyrm, a historical rival of the Father of Chessenta. The band expects to return in two months time. (Extended from Mirtul, 1365)
Marpenoth
Faromi, a priestess of Lathander, is the only surviving member of the Red Morning to return to Cimbar. She reports that the party was slaughtered by the dracolich they had hunted.
Sages in Mordulkin and Cimbar uncover records suggesting that the Great Bone Wyrm was once a great blue wyrm named Alasklerbanbastos (a-LASK-ler-ban-BAST-os) who contested with Tchazzar for control of western Unther (later known as Chessenta).
Faromi reports to the Sceptanar of Cimbar and his court as well as the priests of Tchazzar that the skeletal dracolich was attended by several younger chromatic dragons of varying hues who seemed to be serving the Great Bone Wyrm of their own free will. In addition, she mentions that numerous human followers in the garb of the Cult of the Dragon guarded the lair and attended to the dracolich’s draconic courtiers.
(Extended from Eleasias, 1365)
The Year of the Staff (1366 DR)
Hammer
The Drakelight, a nearly 800-foot-high lighthouse which stands at the northeastern end of the Bay of Chessenta at the tip of the Watcher’s Cape, has been destroyed and reduced to rubble. The sole survivor, a soldier from Soorenar, reports that “É a skeletal wyrm of fearsome visage bore down upon the tower breathing fire and lightning ere it ripped the place apart with its bony claws.” Many bodies from the joint garrison staffed by Mordulkin, Luthcheq, and Soorenar are missing as is every known item of magic the defenders possessed. The depredations are blamed on the Great Bone Wyrm.
The fearsome dracolich of Dragonback Mountain is indeed responsible for the destruction of the Drakelight. His motives, in part, stem from a desire to cloak the activities of his dragon followers who prefer to hunt on the plains of Threskel and in the Bay of Chessenta.
(Extended from Marpenoth, 1365)
Eleint
The Monograph of Nezras, a discourse on ancient elven and Netherese magics penned by the grand-nephew of Nezram “Worldwalker,” is recovered amidst the ruins of Myth Drannor by the Scions of Nezram, an Mulhorandi adventuring company. The Scions are last seen in Klondor, headed east.
The Scions of Nezram are a company composed primarily of wizards descended from Nezram and based in Nezras, on the eastern side of the Sword Mountains. Nezras resided in Myth Drannor for several decades prior to the fall of that fair city, and during his studies at the Six Tyryl Towers he learned something of the nature of the Quess`Ar`Teranthvar. The Monograph of Nezras is a treatise that discusses the results of Nezras’s research into ancient elven and Netherese incantations, including an extensive discussion of the history and fate of the Nether Scrolls.
(Derived from Pages from the Mages, p. 119, Old Empires, pp. 8, 66, 83, Cormanthyr, p. <UNKNOWN>, and Fall of Myth Drannor, p. <UNKNOWN>)
The Year of the Shield (1367 DR)
Ches
An emissary is received in the court of King Hercubes in Mordulkin. He proclaims the ascension of the Great Bone Wyrm to the title of Overking of Chessenta and demands a vow of fealty from the city-state and a tithe of 100,000 pieces of gold. The emissary’s demands are rejected, and King Hercubes orders him imprisoned. Before the king’s guards can capture the emissary, however, he transforms into a fairly young green dragon and flies off to the east.
(Extended from Hammer, 1366)
Flamerule
A flight of chromatic dragons attacks and destroys much of Mordulkin and its army. As much as a quarter of the citizenry is reported killed in the fighting. King Hercubes is slain in the battle, and the surviving members of the Jedea family flee into exile in Cimbar. An adult red dragon by the name of Pyratyrmanix (PEER-a-tear-MAN-icks) proclaims himself Lord of Mordulkin and vassal of the Overking of Chessenta. Thus begins “The Flamerule” in that city.
Over the next several months, the surviving citizens of Mordulkin rebuild their city and most of the occupying dragons leave. Trade resumes, but a heavy tax imposed by the city’s new draconic lord greatly hinders Mordulkin’s economic recovery. Agents of the Cult of the Dragon assume most of the positions of authority within the city’s bureaucracy.
(Extended from Ches, 1367)
Eleint
Guyanothaz, a venerable red dragon long crippled by blindness, has apparently regained his sight and emerged from his centuries-long, self-imposed withdrawal from the outside world. Guyanothaz has been seen bathing and drinking in the Methmere, hunting in the Methwoods, and attacking caravans west of Thamon. After two weeks of stretching his wings, the dragon was last seen headed northwards along the coast of Unther in the direction of Thay.
The Cult of Tiamat is responsible for Guyanothaz’s cure and subsequent emergence, in part to counter the burgeoning influence of the Cult of the Dragon in Threskel. The Dark Scaly Ones have convinced the venerable wyrm to ally himself with their efforts to rule strife-torn Unther and to move its lair to the eminently more defensible island in the Alamber Sea known as the Ship of Gods. Guyanothaz now lairs with his quickly expanding hoard atop the ever-rumbling volcano that dominates the isle. In addition to the sizable treasury of wealth donated by the Cult of Tiamat, the red dragon has quickly acquired additional riches by preying on shipping throughout the Alamber Sea and the Wizard’s Reach. As of yet, no one suspects the Guyanothaz’s role in the recent increase in disappearances of ships in the region, nor is anyone aware of the location of the dragon’s new lair. The cult provides information on shipping routes and cargoes, focusing on vessels operated by their rivals for control of Unther.
Unbeknownst to Guyanothaz or the Dark Scaly Ones of Unther, during the Time of Troubles the avatar of Geb led a small army of his followers to the depths of the island volcano where they built a secret temple. Only through the unceasing efforts of the Gebites has the long-anticipated explosion of the volcano been averted. For now, the inhabitants of the Golden Forge continue their daily battle with the forces of the earth, but if Guyanothaz ever learns of Gebites presence so close to his new lair, the resulting strife may hinder their efforts sufficiently that the Ship of Gods erupts in a shower of lava, reigning ash on the coast of Unther or Mulhorand.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1358, and derived from Old Empires, pp. 16, 37-38, 41)
Uktar
Another emissary of the Great Bone Wyrm is received in Mourktar by Dread Imperceptor Kabarrath Telthaug. While it is not known what the two discussed, within a week a heavily armed caravan from Mourktar passes through Thamor, headed west, and shortly thereafter, Leppidon, Lord of Thamor, is recalled to Mourktar and replaced by a new council of lords cloaked in the now-familiar garb of the dracolich’s followers.
Having observed the fate of Mordulkin, the Dread Imperceptor pledged allegiance to the Great Bone Wyrm, recognized the dracolich as Overking of Chessenta, promised an annual tithe of 100,000 gold pieces, and ceded control of Thamon to the dracolich’s human agents. In exchange, Mourktar was spared the fate of Mordulkin and retained its autonomy. From this time onwards, the Great Bone Wyrm and its agents control all of the lands north of the River of Metals and the Jade River, including Threskel, Thamor, Mordulkin, Mount Thulbane, and Watcher’s Cape.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1367)
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: The Jade River flows westward from the Riders to the Sky mountains to the Bay of Chessenta, just south of Mordulkin. As far as I can tell from consulting the likely TSR printed source material, this river has not been previously named. I believe this name will appear in the upcoming Cult of the Dragon supplement.
The Year of the Banner (1368 DR)
Hammer
Heralds simultaneously appear in the courts of Airspur, Akanax, Cimbar, Mordulkin, Mourktar, and Soorenar proclaiming the rule of Overking Gildenbone the Eternal, otherwise known as the Great Bone Wyrm. Immediately after each proclamation, the herald vanishes in a puff of golden smoke and a gleaming skeletal dragon is briefly seen in the skies overhead, gilt in the tribute of Mordulkin and Mourktar.
Minions of the Great Bone Wyrm melted down the thousands of gold pieces seized from the cities of Threskel into a molten bath. The draconic Overking then immersed himself for a tenday before emerged plated in golden armor. In addition to appealing to the dracolich’s vanity, the coat of gold improves his ability to withstand certain types of attacks and acts as a material component for several unique spells the Great Bone Wyrm has researched. Unseen by the inhabitants of Chessenta’s cities, the dracolich has also embedded countless gems in his bony frame. Each jewel contains an embedded incantation that can be triggered at will by the Great Bone Wyrm or is automatically released if shattered by an attacker.
(Extended from Uktar, 1367)
Alturiak
The Sceptanar invites the leaders of Chessenta’s autonomous city-states to Cimbar to discuss the looming threat of the Great Bone Wyrm and his minions. The conference quickly breaks down into bickering along traditional fault lines between the cities over who should lead the nascent alliance, despite the Sceptanar’s offer to withdraw himself from consideration.
__ REFERENCE __
__ SOMETHING ABOUT BONE WYRM’S TROOPS ATTACKING SOORENAR, BUT BEING DRIVEN BACK BY ALLIED FORCES OF AIRSPUR, AKANAX, and CIMBAR, LED BY SCEPTANAR __
__ SOMETHING ABOUT OTHER CITIES OF CHESSENTA RECOGNIZING SCEPTANAR AS OVERKING __
Uktar
The harvest in Chessenta, particularly in the Akanul, has been so great this year that heavily laden ships are plying the Sea of Fallen Stars to sell root vegetables at bargain prices. A rare cross-Shar caravan led by the Sailors of the Crimson Sea (a land-based mercenary company) is attempting to bring the plenty to markets in the Lake of Steam ports. Brigands have attacked this caravan several times, but it is so large that its outriders mass into a small army, and their swords and spells have driven the attackers back with heavy losses. Farmers across Faer#158;n are warned that carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, potatoes, and the like will bring only a copper a basket or less in any land easily reached by ship or wagon.
(Modified excerpt from Running the Realms, p. 23, and derived in part from Old Empires, p. 52, 63)
The Year of the Gauntlet (1369 DR)
The Year of the Tankard (1370 DR)
Alturiak
A bright flash in the central peaks of the Sword Mountains is observed by thousands in the Great Vale on the seventh day of this month, but the origin is obscured by unusually dense and persistent cloud cover. A hastily organized expedition is dispatched by the clergy of Anhur to investigate.
When the expedition arrives at the site, they discover that the top of Mount Nezram has been sheared off cleanly and the peak now hovers, upside down, a thousand feet above its original location. Extensive and ongoing construction atop the floating island is visible through the obscuring clouds. On a hunch, the commander of the expedition dispatches a smaller team to investigate the status of the nearby community of Nezras. The team reports that the settlement of Nezramites (descendants of Nezram `Worldwalker’) has been completely abandoned, apparently within the past few weeks. Two days later, the unnatural cloud cover abruptly dissipates to reveal a city of gleaming spires atop the inverted pinnacle. Shortly thereafter, the floating citadel flies off towards the moon and is never seen again.
Nezram’s descendants, many of whom are skilled practitioners in the Art, have succeeded in recreating some of the long-lost spells of the Netherese. The crowning achievement of that work is the creation of a floating city reminiscent of ancient Netheril. As the floating city of Yeoman’s Loft is said to have done millennia ago, the newly raised city of High Nezras and its inhabitants have set off to the upper reaches of Toril’s atmosphere from which their spelljammers can explore Realmspace and the crystal spheres.
(Extended from Eleint, 1366, and derived from, Netheril: The Winds of Netheril, pp. 9, 93, and Netheril: Encyclopedia Arcana, pp. 4-12)
Tarsakh
A second expedition to the Sword Mountains is mounted by the clergies of Thoth and Isis to explore the abandoned village of Nezras. The company reaches the Lonely Lake Oasis without incident, but is then attacked and nearly wiped out by a great brown wyrm which erupts from the Plains of Purple Dust. The two survivors of the ill-fated expedition report that the great dragon has apparently claimed the site as its lair and the Sword Mountains and western Plains of Purple Dust as its domain. Scholars in Gheldaneth speculate that the great wyrm is female by the name of Wastumberkari (wa-STUM-ber-KAR-ee) and that she may have also laid claim to the hoard of her ancient foe Gestaniius, the great blue wyrm slain by Tchazzar during the Time of Troubles.
(Extended from Alturiak, 1370 and Eleint, 1358. Also derived from Old Empires, pp. 89-90 and Monstrous Manual, p. 80)
<<< CONTINUED BELOW >>> |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
Edited by - ericlboyd on 10 Jul 2012 22:13:47 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 21:41:56
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quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
Kythorn
The Golden Osprey has wrecked on the rocky coastal shore of Mount Thulbane while fleeing the Wraith of the Inner Sea. Several members of the Osprey’s crew survived the sinking and made their way to Mourktar. Reportedly the ship’s officers were Mulhorandi priests of Anhur who had successfully recovered a long-lost artifact known as the Beacon of Light from the Pirate Isles. The fate of the artifact and the rest of the ship’s cargo is unknown, but other ships report seeing unusual sahuaghin activity in the area shortly thereafter.
The Beacon of Light now rests in the treasury of Kromes, Tyrant of Vahaxtyl. Vahaxtyl is the largest city of the sahuaghin in the Kingdom of Aleaxtis, located on the floor of the Alamber Sea. The priesthood of Anhur will spare no effort to find and recover the artifact for which they have
I realize you said this was unfinished, but this abrupt ending makes me wonder if the post was truncated... |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2066 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 22:05:30
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Kythorn
The Golden Osprey has wrecked on the rocky coastal shore of Mount Thulbane while fleeing the Wraith of the Inner Sea. Several members of the Osprey’s crew survived the sinking and made their way to Mourktar. Reportedly the ship’s officers were Mulhorandi priests of Anhur who had successfully recovered a long-lost artifact known as the Beacon of Light from the Pirate Isles. The fate of the artifact and the rest of the ship’s cargo is unknown, but other ships report seeing unusual sahuaghin activity in the area shortly thereafter.
The Beacon of Light now rests in the treasury of Kromes, Tyrant of Vahaxtyl. Vahaxtyl is the largest city of the sahuaghin in the Kingdom of Aleaxtis, located on the floor of the Alamber Sea. The priesthood of Anhur will spare no effort to find and recover the artifact for which they have long searched. However, Kromes has no intention of allowing the Anhurites to recover the Beacon as the sahuaghin tyrant is still smarting from the defeat of his forces in the Battle of Summer Storms.
(Extended from Tarsakh, 1357, and Mirtul, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, pp. 7, 16, 62-63, Pirates of the Fallen Stars, pp. 65-66, and Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical, pp. 95-96)
THOUGHTS
Shieldmeet occurs in 1360, 1364, and 1368.
Airspur and Soorenar are at war with Cimbar (FR10, pp. 5, 53)
Have another sea battle between Cimbar and the cities of the North Coast. Cimbar taking advantage of their weakness? Survivors coming to a rival city? (FR10, p. 53)
Akanax is considering joining Airspur and Soorenar in their war with Cimbar and considering invading Soorenar. It expects war with Luthcheq soon. (FR10, p. 54)
Mordulkin is the historic enemy of Luthcheq, from before the days of the Karanoks and is strongly tempted to attack. (FR10, pp. 54, 57)
Luthcheq is technically allied with Airspur and Soorenar, but it has yet to contribute any troops, claiming it is threatened by Mordulkin. (FR10, p. 54) (SET OFF BY MAGE RESCUE???)
Mourktar has traditional problems with pirates, sahuaghin. The trade route from Messemprar to Mourktar to Sultim is hampered by troubles in Unther. Many merchants and mercenaries have gathered in Mourktar to take advantage of the riots in Messemprar and the expected civil war in Unther. (FR10, p. 55)
The expected scenario is that if Mordulkin attacks Luthcheq and Akanax attacks Soorenar (INCITED BY AGENTS OF CIMBAR???), then the Northern Alliance (Airspur, Soorenar, & Luthcheq) will fall to the Triangle Alliance (Cimbar, Akanax, and Mordulkin), setting the stage for a battle between the two big heavies: Cimbar and Akanax.
Airspur is likely to sue for peace in the war with Cimbar, perhaps offering them military assistance against the Northern Alliance. Half-orc tension will continue to grow. A new city may be built on the northern shores of the Akanamere. The cult of Bhaelros may stage a resurgence as an acceptable opposition force. (FR10, p. 58)
Cimbar may be wracked by violence caused by priests of Tchazzar inciting the mob of peasants, mercenaries, and young people to riot as they herald Tchazzar’s imminent return. Tchazzar’s return is the only possible challenge to the Sceptanar’s authority. (FR10, p. 58)
Akanax will eventually join the war against Soorenar. The outcome will be either Cimbar controls Soorenar and Akanax goods get free passage while Soorenar pays to rebuild Akanax or Akanax and Cimbar then go to war. (FR10, p.59)
Mordulkin is likely to declare war on Luthcheq and suffer heavy losses. Luthcheq will be destroyed, but those Karanoks who escape will hire assassins to kill the Lords of Mordulkin. (FR10, p. 59)
Mourktar has been rocked by the recent “Tournament” to find a successor to the king. Depending on the outcome, the military might depose the new ruler. The people want the sahuaghin attacks stopped, but the king knows the military is inadequate to defend against such an attack. (FR10, p. 60)
Soorenar is likely to hire high-level mages to attack Cimbar. This will alienate Luthcheq and antagonize Akanax (bringing back memories of their own bombardment). Soorenar will be crushed and either destroyed or occupied while the lords flee. (FR10 p. 60)
The main temple of Azuth is in Cimbar. The secondary temple of Azuth is in Mordulkin. Tchazzar’s worship is concentrated in Cimbar and Soorenar. Entropy is worshipped only in Luthcheq. Waukeen, Lathander, and Anhur also have followings.
The Renegades are a ruthless band of lawless mercenaries. Their leader is participating in the Mourktar tournament, and might use them if he loses. The Sailors of the Crimson Sea are a mercenary company active in the Vilhon Reach area. They might come back to Chessenta and fight, but only for the “right side” of any conflict. The Society of the Sword is based in Cimbar and hates the leader of the Renegades. Perhaps a battle? (FR10, p. 63)
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
Kythorn
The Golden Osprey has wrecked on the rocky coastal shore of Mount Thulbane while fleeing the Wraith of the Inner Sea. Several members of the Osprey’s crew survived the sinking and made their way to Mourktar. Reportedly the ship’s officers were Mulhorandi priests of Anhur who had successfully recovered a long-lost artifact known as the Beacon of Light from the Pirate Isles. The fate of the artifact and the rest of the ship’s cargo is unknown, but other ships report seeing unusual sahuaghin activity in the area shortly thereafter.
The Beacon of Light now rests in the treasury of Kromes, Tyrant of Vahaxtyl. Vahaxtyl is the largest city of the sahuaghin in the Kingdom of Aleaxtis, located on the floor of the Alamber Sea. The priesthood of Anhur will spare no effort to find and recover the artifact for which they have
I realize you said this was unfinished, but this abrupt ending makes me wonder if the post was truncated...
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6351 Posts |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2066 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 22:39:15
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quote:
Originally posted by dazzlerdal
That helps very much thankyou, if only you could share the secret of how you create these things out of tiny bits of lore and information.
I realize you were asking a rhetorical question, but I can share the basic approach:
List the assembled facts. Assume all are sacrosanct and cannot be ignored, although some might be a twisted version of the truth, if necessary.
Assume the inconsistencies is where the "story turns interesting".
Figure out explanations that account for the apparent inconsistencies.
Weave it together into a larger story.
The most boring stories are where things go according to plan. So assume that the grasping, conniving inhabitants of the Realms regularly grasp for power and reshape things constantly.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
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Asharak
Learned Scribe
France
268 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jul 2012 : 17:29:21
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There is also "Old Empires Prestige Classes, Spells, and Sundry"
by Scott Bennie, a 125 pages pdf. |
"Soyez réalistes : demandez l'impossible"
Sorry for my English... it's not my native tongue. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jul 2012 : 18:40:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Asharak
There is also "Old Empires Prestige Classes, Spells, and Sundry"
by Scott Bennie, a 125 pages pdf.
Which can be found on this page.  |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3286 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 00:35:27
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I stand corrected.
Thanks Wooly! |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11691 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 03:24:12
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OMG, I love the below Eric.
>>The Fellowship of the Firebrand has arrived in Cimbar from lands to the north and west and accepted the Sceptanar’s >>challenge. When the group attempts to unleash the imprisoned hakeashar on the 15th day of Kythorn, however, both the >>adventuring company and the eater-of-magic simply disappear without a trace. Suspecting treachery leading back to >>the Karanoks, the Sceptanar quickly offers a sizable bounty on the head of every member of the company. For the time >>being, Cimbar’s Great King chooses not to open the treasure vault of the Crypt Royal as he fears further trickery.
>>In truth, the Fellowship of the Firebrand and the Sceptanar fell victim to the magical chaos caused by the Fall of >>the Gods. A simple divination spell employed by Maelos Karanok to spy on the proceedings misfired, creating a >>magical vortex between the temple of Entropy in Luthcheq and the Crypt Royal. Both the hakeashar and the adventuring >>company were swept through the temporary gate to Maelos’s private chapel. The high priest of Entropy and all but one >>member of the Fellowship were slain in the ensuing implosion of the hakeashar when it came into contact with the >>burning witchweed in the room, and a large, permanent dead magic zone centered on the temple and encompassing most >>of Luthcheq was created in the aftermath of the event.
>>(Extension of Eleasias, 1357 DR) |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11691 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 03:39:10
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Its good to see this put to an actual date too, along with the other stuff surrounding the fight between Gilgeam and Tiamat. This may have been done already in the GHotR, but I didn't pay close attention to those years in that due to the glut of already released info previously.
>>Ches
>>Zhenghyi, the Witch-King of Vaasa, is destroyed by the Heroes of Bloodstone, and Damara is reunited by Gareth >>Dragonsbane and his stalwart companions.
>>To break the stalemate at the Ford of Goliad between the armies of Damara and the Witch-King’s forces, the Heroes of >>Bloodstone journey to the Abyss and steal the Wand of Orcus. During the course of their adventures, Gareth and his >>companions battle and slay an avatar of Tiamat. This setback disrupts Tiamat’s plan to reappear in Unther and claim >>all of Gilgeam’s former territory as her sovereign domain before the avaricious Faer#158;nian and Mulhorandi >>pantheons began divvying up the unclaimed territory.
>>(Extended from Hammer, 1359, and Running the Realms, p. 18)
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11691 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 03:51:21
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This is cool too. Too bad they didn't reference it in later material
>>The Year of the Banner (1368 DR)
>>Hammer
>>Heralds simultaneously appear in the courts of Airspur, Akanax, Cimbar, Mordulkin, Mourktar, and Soorenar >>proclaiming the rule of Overking Gildenbone the Eternal, otherwise known as the Great Bone Wyrm. Immediately after >>each proclamation, the herald vanishes in a puff of golden smoke and a gleaming skeletal dragon is briefly seen in >>the skies overhead, gilt in the tribute of Mordulkin and Mourktar.
>>Minions of the Great Bone Wyrm melted down the thousands of gold pieces seized from the cities of Threskel into a >>molten bath. The draconic Overking then immersed himself for a tenday before emerged plated in golden armor. In >>addition to appealing to the dracolich’s vanity, the coat of gold improves his ability to withstand certain types of >>attacks and acts as a material component for several unique spells the Great Bone Wyrm has researched. Unseen by the >>inhabitants of Chessenta’s cities, the dracolich has also embedded countless gems in his bony frame. Each jewel >>contains an embedded incantation that can be triggered at will by the Great Bone Wyrm or is automatically released >>if shattered by an attacker.
>>(Extended from Uktar, 1367)
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 03:58:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
I stand corrected.
Thanks Wooly!
Not sure how I corrected you, but no problem! |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11691 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 03:59:01
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| Wow, and the stuff on Nezram at the end finally piqued my interest on Nezram. I'd seen little blurbs here and there, but to have them actually essentially create a new enclave following the ToT, now that's interesting. Would have made for a good interaction to see how the Nezramites and Shade react. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6351 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 10:47:44
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Looking at it i think almost all of Eric's stuff before 1365 is useable in the current 3.5 ed timeline without modification (obviously with events in 1374 and more details of what Alaskerbantos has done the events involving him might have to change). Also Luthcheq cant be permanently ruined as Eric suggests because it still exists so it should probably be rebuilt after its destruction.
Since Shurlash is not leader of the Northern Wizards in the current time i would suggest that the Magus Society is not eradicated by Luthcheq in 1358, but instead survives (and so does its mole) so as to allow the Karanok's to catch more foreign powerful wizards later, then as the timeline progresses (i like 1371 when Mulhorand arrives) the Northern Wizards seek other allies to help defend Unther and so turn to the Magus Society in Luthcheq and the Enclave of Green Fields. The mole in the Magus Society betrays them and Shurlash and the magus society is killed (along with the mole; after all you can use the same ruse only so many times). The Enclave relocates to Messemprar and joins the Northern Wizards and Isimud assumes control of both organisations. This keeps things consistent with current lore.
Im musing over whether to have Nanna Sin return as defender of Unther (in the sourcebooks it hints it might be Selune in disguise but why not a power of Unther seemingly returned from the dead). Just because he is listed as dead doesnt mean he is completely dead, one idea is that in the orcgate wars both Nanna Sin and Gilgeam were infected by Yurtrus with a disease that was supposed to turn them evil. Nanna Sin enters a coma while his body fights the disease (he was the god of protection from evil i think) and Gilgeam is slowly corrupted over time. No one can awaken Nanna Sin (because Gilgeam is keeping him unconscious) and so he is interred in the God Tombs (i put these in or maybe under the Riders to the Sky mountains because of the name and because it is aware from Unther settlements).
When Gilgeam is dead all it takes is for a large shock to awaken Nanna Sin and the Ship of the Gods explosion causes a shockwave across Unther, Mulhorand and Thay which does just that.
Now Nanna Sin would be barely a demipower at this time having no worshippers and only his being alive is keeping him that way so he reaches out for the nearest worthy being he can find.
Im still wanting Lord Gudea to be leading the legion of Nanna Sin so i think Nanna contacts Gudea in Ssintar to come and find him, then they lead the army Gudea has been amassing to Shussel and in 1372 they and most of the population are transported to Zigguraxis.
Another idea is that they use the power of the Beacon of Light to guide/transport them to Zigguraxis. This artifact was in Vahaxtyl at the time the Ship of the Gods exploded (i believe Sahuagin stole it from the Mulhorandi ship that retrieved it from pirates). The eruption caused great fissures to open in the sea bed so why not have the artifact fall into a fissure only to be blown upwards with the explosion and dispersed on the tide. Everyone thinks the artifact is buried in lava but really it washes up on the shores of Shussel several years later.
Just a few ideas, what do you think?
Hopefully i will be able to finalise something (using Eric's ideas if he doesnt mind) and post it here.
The bits im finding trouble with is what is the rest of the world doing during this time. We know Mulhorand invades in 1371. Furifax is involved in Unther somewhere with his bandits, so is the Cult of Tiamat (i place them both in Unthalass mostly enslaving the population they control and putting them to work in the Green Fields to produce food).
What is Chessenta doing at this time, personally i would have thought one or all of the cities would be desperate to invade Unther in its weakness. Now there is no mention of it in the timeline which means it probably wasnt that much of a success.
Akanax's army was beaten in 1358 during the time of troubles, according to Eric's info Soorenar and Luthcheq are beaten, that leaves Cimbar and Airspur to do what they want.
Cimbar being the most powerful i would think is the one to take action.
How about if Cimbar over the course of several years (1360-1364) forces all the other cities of Chessenta to bow to its will.
In 1365/1366 Cimbar marches on Mourktar and Mordulkin, but at that time Alaskerbantos awakens and his dragon servants begin open rule of Mourktar and annihilate Cimbar's armies. The other free cities of Chessenta break from Cimbar's rule.
This would prevent Cimbar from dominating Chessenta and Unther which at the moment it is otherwise free to do, and then when Tchazzar appears everything is otherwise free to happen according to the current timeline.
Now in Unther Mulhorand invades in 1371. They reach Messemprar in 1374. Why does it take 3 years for the army to conquer a chaotic and divided country as far as Messemprar.
The cult of Tiamat controls the Greenfields area so could put up some of a fight, probably not much though, unless when Alaskerbantos divided up the nearby realms in 1365 amongst his dragon servants one or more of them invaded Unther and took control (with the backing of the Cult of the Dragon and the Cult of Tiamat). Several angry dracoliches might slow the army of Mulhorand.
Since i have Lord Gudea and his army in and around Shussel they could delay the army as well for a time before deciding they cannot win and retreating to Zigguraxis with Nanna Sin.
I still dont see it taking 3 years to conquer Unther. |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2066 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 14:30:42
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quote:
Originally posted by dazzlerdal
Hopefully i will be able to finalise something (using Eric's ideas if he doesnt mind) and post it here.
Have at it!
Looking at what I wrote more closely, I'm pretty sure I started writing it after I finished Powers & Pantheons, but before it was published. So, anything after that might conflict.
I do think there are a few novels that may cause significant problems. There was Shadow Stone by Rich Baker. I also thought one of the novels played with Luthcheq, but I'm blanking now.
I would probably start by looking at the status quo in 1372 DR in the 3e FRCS and makes sure it leads up to that in a logical way. Also, look at the the Tchazzar, Great Bone Wyrm, Threksel, and Unther write-ups in Dragons of Faerun and make sure it makes sense leading up to them. In some sense you are weaving the in between story here, so it has to make sense in both directions.
--Eric |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6351 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 14:44:03
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Okay here is the latest version of my old empires timeline as it stands now (i apologise for the length, and many thanks to Eric Boyd for his wonderful lore that i built upon in hopefully a good way). Its not finished, so any suggestions are welcome
The Year of the Prince (1357 DR)
Hammer
- Theris, king of Mourktar, is dying and he has no heir. On the instructions of his god, Assuran of the Three Thunders, he is leaving his throne to the most worthy successor. To find this successor, he is holding a tournament of athletic skills at the base of Mount Thulbane cafour months hence. This tournament is open to any who choose to participate. The winner of the tournament will be the new king.
(Modified excerpt from Old Empires, pp. 59-60, 67)
Ches
- The Statues That Walk have finally come to a halt, one year to the day after they began to move, for reasons as inexplicable as why they began to move in the first place. The Statues wreaked destruction throughout Mulhorand, but rebuilding efforts are already well underway.
Tholaunt, Divine Precept of Thoth, has determined that Derlaunt, Precept of Gheldaneth, was foolishly responsible for reanimating the Statues. Derlaunt intended to animate and control only a single Statue, which would have been a definite coup in the ongoing power games of the various priesthoods, but he quickly determined that he had awakened all of the Statues, and could not control any of them. Tholaunt has not revealed Derlaunt’s foolishness to anyone else, but he has required several significant acts of atonement on the part of the Precept of Gheldaneth. Even Tholaunt is unsure as to why the Statues have stopped moving.
(DM’s Sourcebook of the Realms, p. 36, Dreams of the Read Wizards, pp. 62-63, and Old Empires, pp. 21)
- A wave of assassinations in Mulhorand climaxes in the murder of Pharaoh Akonhorus of Mulhorand at the hand of one of his most trusted advisors. Horustep III (age 11) takes the throne of Mulhorand, ushering in an age of unusual ferment in Mulhorand.
The Fangs of Set are responsible for the spate of assassinations, including the previous pharaoh’s murder, and they have plans in the works to kill the boy-king as well. The Fangs employ magic to charm the designated victim’s friends or bodyguards into becoming their murderers.
Many priests in the clergy of Horus-Re are not happy about their new ruler’s energy, fearing (rightly so) that it will eventually lead to a reduction in their authority.
(Running the Realms, p. 18, and Old Empires, pp. 4, 6)
- The Red Wizards of Thay have sent legions of elementals against the Coastal Cities. Four of the cities are reported destroyed (Lasdur, Taskaunt, Murbant, and Thasselen) and taken under Thay’s banner. Tilbrand surrendered without a fight, and Escalant is still holding out. It is thought that such vast numbers of elementals could not be summoned by spell, but rather a gate or portal was opened directly to the elemental plane of fire. Many refugees are said to be fleeing across the Wizard’s Reach to Chessenta and the Vilhon Reach.
(Modified excerpt from DM’s Sourcebook of the Realms, p. 36, and derived from Dream of the Red Wizards, pp. 4, 9, 60-61, Spellbound, pp. 5-6, 12-13, and Old Empires, p. 8)
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: This event occurred in Ches, 1356, according to the DM’s Sourcebook of the Realms, but every other source, including Dream of the Red Wizards, Old Empires, and Spellbound, has placed this event in 1357. Note also that the city of Tilbrand is also called Hilbrand in many sources, and the city of Thasselen is also called Tahasselen in at least one source.
- Cimbar’s armies drive back the encamped allied forces of Airspur and Soorenar to the south and the west in a series of engagements across the Plains of the Red Wyrm.
(Derived from Old Empires, pp. 5, 53)
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: The Plains of the Red Wyrm are the unamed lands west of Cimbar and south of Airspur.
Tarsakh
- The Wraith of the Inner Sea, a fleet of Chessenta privateers, have attacked and sunk three ships from Delthuntle sent to break the siege of Escalant and deliver much needed supplies to that city. The Sceptanar has condemned the attack, despite Cimbar’s historic rivalry with the Cities of the North Coast, declared the half-orc “Sea Queen” Kreodo outlaw, and barred the Sea Queen, the Sea Horse, the Sea Jewel, and the Sea Quest from Cimbar’s harbour. In contrast, the military council of Airspur, including its leader, the half-orc Khrulis, has expressed its support for the Sea Queen and noted Escalant’s indirect support for the prior government of Airspur: a theocracy dedicated to Bhaelros.
Airspur’s declaration of support for the naval action has far more to do with its ongoing war with Cimbar and the common heritage its ruler shares with Kreodo than the trade agreement signed between Escalant and Airspur years ago when the cult of Bhaelros happened to be in power.
(Extended from Ches, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, pp. 58, 62-63)
NOTE Wraith of the Inner Sea are a mercenary company previously based out of Cimbar.
In this year the Salamander War begins when summoned fire elemental forces invade the Wizards Reach taking Escalaunt an Laothkund.
- In pursuit of their goal of destroying all magic and inflicting painful deaths on all its practitioners, the lords of Luthcheq kidnap powerful mages throughout eastern Faerun. One such abduction results in the capture of King Hercubes’ eldest daughter, an aspiring sorceress, and, in response, Mordulkin mobilizes for war.
Therescales, an agent of Jaerios Karanok, exposed the opposition Magus Society’s plan to contact a powerful foreign wizard to his Karanok spymasters. When the Society moved to contact the ruler of Mordulkin through his daughter and to plea for that city’s assistance, the Karanoks had the princess abducted by agents already in place in Mordulkin and proceeded to round up every mage or mage sympathizer in Luthcheq they could find, they leave the Magus Society intact and their spy in place; hoping to enjoy again the thrill of capturing and torturing powerful foreign magelords. Mordulkin’s inevitable declaration of war was of no consequence to the mad Karanoks.
(Modified excerpt from Old Empires, pp. 54-55, 59, 62, 67)
Greengrass
- Gilgeam demonstrates his athletic prowess during the Festival of Assumption, the most holy day of the Untheric calendar which marks the Supreme Ruler’s coronation over two millennia ago. While cheering crowds (secretly rooting for Gilgeam’s opponent) watch from shore, the Father of Victory dispatches a dragon turtle in the harbour of the City of Gems.
Only the strenuous efforts of the incarnations of Isis and Ramman prevent the complete destruction of Unthalass’s port district during the battle.
(Derived from Powers & Pantheons, p. <GILGEAM: HOLY DAYS/IMPORTANT CEREMONIES>)
- A fleet of three score naval vessels sails from Sultim’s harbour following the Sharpening of the Sword festival. Constructed in secret by the clergy of Anhur in sea caves south of the city, the ships and their heavily armed crews leave despite diviners’ predictions of fierce storms. Several suspected agents of the Red Wizards in the city disappear in the hours before the fleet departs.
The Anhurites intend to assault and, if possible seize, the Thayan base on the Aldor (an island due west of Sultim and due south of Bezantur). Warnings of a brewing tempest in the region are discounted due to suspicions that Thayan spies have already alerted the Red Wizards to the impending attack and unwillingness on the part of Anhur’s priesthood to disobey the direct command of the Divine Precept of Anhur.
(Derived from Old Empires, pp. 7, 16, and Powers & Pantheons, p. <ANHUR: DAY-TO-DAY PRACTICES>)
Mirtul
- The fleet of vessels dispatched from Sultim by the priests of the Blood Fortress is decimated by fierce storms which wrack the Alamber Sea and never reaches the Aldor. Nevertheless, the crews of the surviving ships are perfectly positioned to attack a sahuaghin army that coincidentally emerges from the depths to raid the coastline from Skuld to Sultim. The Battle of Summer Storms rages up and down the coast of Mulhorand for a fortnight before the armies of Aleaxtis are driven off. Less than a dozen vessels from the original fleet return to Sultim’s harbour. Despite the great loss of life, Anhur’s priesthood garners considerable respect from the populace for defending Mulhorand from foreign invaders, its ancient responsibility. The priesthood of Horus-Re, which was caught totally off guard by the attack, suffers a comparable loss of status.
(Extended from Greengrass, 1357)
- Mourktar has a new monarch of Mulhorandi ancestry, King Theriheb I, a paladin of Osiris. There were many disruptions during the tournament due, in large part, to the rampant cheating and the settling of numerous long-standing feuds among the participants. Notably, Helyos of Akanax, one of the favoured contestants and leader of the lawless band of mercenaries based in Akanax known as the Renegades, was implicated in the death of Thareus, a lieutenant in a rival mercenary group known as the Society of the Sword (currently based in Cimbar), during the charioteering competition and forced by King Theris to withdraw from the tournament. Gilgeam’s chosen champion, Nebuseddar, an early favourite in the competition, died from magically poisoned wine he drank on the third day of the tournament and could not be revived. In the planned duel to the death between the two final candidates, Sorn, a trader from Bezantur, vanished a split second before Theriheb could inflict a death blow. Evidence discovered later implicated Sorn in Nebuseddar’s murder. Within days of King Theriheb’s ascension to the throne, the former monarch dies peacefully in his sleep.
Sorn is really a servant of Lauzoril, Zulkir of Enchantment and Charm, who was ordered to win the crown or assassinate the winner. Despite Sorn’s failure to accomplish his mission, the Red Wizard rescued his agent seconds before his death, for the false-merchant was successful in framing Helyos for Thareus’s death and for the murder of Nebuseddar, thus eliminating two of the most likely victors.
(Extended from Hammer, 1357)
- Mordulkin’s armies meet the armies of Luthcheq in a series of inconclusive engagements near the Ford of Nanna-Sin that gradually bog down into a stalemate along the Jade River.
(Extended from Tarsakh, 1357)
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: The Jade River runs northwest from the Riders to the Sky mountain range to the Bay of Chessenta, exiting between Luthcheq and Mordulkin. The Ford of Nanna-Sin is named for a long-dead member of the Untheric pantheon and is located where the road from Luthcheq to Mordulkin crosses the Jade River. See Old Empires, p. 52.
- Cimbar’s armies push Airspur’s forces nearly halfway down the coast to the west before Airspur’s armies manage to regroup. Cimbar’s fight against Soorenar’s armies grinds to a halt less than ten miles from Cimbar’s outlying farms. In response, Soorenar’s lords hire powerful wizards to bombard Cimbar, devastating unwarded New Cimbar and severely weakening the city’s economy.
Soorenar’s bombardment of Cimbar alienates wavering Akanax, which had been considering attacking Cimbar, as Soorenar employed similar tactics against Akanax in the most recent war between the two cities.
(Extended from Ches, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, p. 60)
Kythorn
- A secret expedition to Raven’s Bluff has returned to Luthcheq in triumph. Led by one of the younger Karanoks, the band succeeded in capturing and bringing back alive a mated pair of disenchanters. An extensive breeding program is expected to ensue.
(Derived from Pages from the Mages, pp. 117-118, and MC Annual #3, p. 24)
- Escalant has fallen to elemental armies of Thay.
(Extended from Ches, 1357)
- The youngest son of King Hippartes is attacked and badly injured, and agents of Soorenar are blamed. In revenge, the monarch of Akanax forms the Triangle Alliance with Cimbar and Mordulkin, and the three cities declare war on the Northern Alliance of Luthcheq, Soorenar, and Airspur.
Mordulkin is behind the attack on the young prince. Agents of Hercubes deliberately implicated Soorenar’s rulers so as to draw Akanax into the war, increase the forces arrayed against the Northern Alliance, and weaken Luthcheq’s security to the west, thus improving Mordulkin’s overall position.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, pp. 54, 59)
Flamerule
- War has broken out between Thay and the armies it used to conquer much of the North Coast. Legions of humans, gnolls, goblins, and zombies are battling salamanders for control of the Priador. Occupying forces have been withdrawn from Tilbrand, Lasdur, and Taskaunt.
(Extended from Kythorn, 1357)
- A tax revolt in Messemprar is gathering steam, and food shortages are growing. Gilgeam, the Supreme Ruler of Unther, takes no immediate action.
(Derived from Old Empires, pp. 38-39, 43, 67)
- Riots break out in Airspur between the majority human populace and the half-orc minority, composed largely of recent immigrants. The half-orc Khrulis and the rest of the military council are forced to sue for peace with Cimbar in order to crush the incipient revolution.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, p. 58)
Eleasias
- The Sceptanar of Cimbar, self-proclaimed ruler of Chessenta, has sent an envoy to Sembia, Cormyr, and the Dalelands seeking word of those who unleashed the magic-eater in Scornubel two winters ago. The Sceptanar has a similar creature imprisoned in an ancient globe in the Crypt Royal, and offers gold, magical training, griffins, or noble maidens of his realm to anyone who can safely unleash the magic-eater without harming the people and treasures of Chessenta. He wants it returned to its home plane or controlled to do his bidding in a certain task.
(Corrected excerpt from the DM’s Sourcebook of the Realms, p. 43, and Old Empires, p. 65)
- The armies of Cimbar and Akanax besiege Soorenar, but the siege unexpectedly settles into a stalemate as the putative allies jockey for position after the expected fate of their mutual foe.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357)
- Luthcheq’s armies slowly fall back in the face of Mordulkin’s superior forces. The cost to both cities is high however, and Mordulkin’s wizard corps is devastated by the witchweed fields the Karanoks have secretly sown west of the Jade River.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357)
Higharvestide
- Riots erupt in Messemprar due to severe food shortages.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1357)
Marpenoth
- The riots quickly in Messemprar lead to open revolution, and many city guardsmen and citizens are killed in the strife. Control of the city is divided among several factions: Lord Annunaki and his guard control the palace district, the Northern Wizards control the southern section and the city gates, and the “non-slaves” (ex-slaves who have renounced their freedom) control the dock district.
(Extended from Higharvestide, 1357)
- Akanax mobilizes for an assault on Soorenar, and in response the Lords of that city sue for peace with Cimbar, hoping to spare their city and save their own lives. The Sceptanar of Cimbar accepts Soorenar’s surrender, and defers further conflict by promising Akanax free passage for its trade goods and forcing vanquished Soorenar to pay heavy reparations to rebuild Akanax.
Luthcheq and Mordulkin reach an uneasy armistice brokered by the Sceptanar as neither Cimbar nor Akanax can spare troops to enter the war (as both are too busy guarding against treachery by the other), and Mordulkin’s unexpectedly heavy losses prevent Luthcheq from being overwhelmed but are not severe enough that Luthcheq has any hope of prevailing.
(Extended from Eleasias, 1357)
Uktar
- Larsa and Tammuz, high-ranking members of the Northern Wizards are murdered, and the assassin is said to be Shuruppak, the Reaper. Within two days, the palace district is overrun and Lord Annunaki is killed by an angry mob. Dama, leader of the slave revolt, and Shurlash, leader of the Northern Wizards, jointly declare the independence of the Free City of Messemprar. Gilgeam sends six ships of Unther’s navy to blockade the port and his poorly trained army to besiege the city walls.
(Extended from Marpenoth, 1357)
Nightal
- The Siege of Messemprar persists, but without any sign of resolution. Ships from Bezantur and Mourktar easily evade the naval blockade and supply the city’s hungry populace with sufficient food to resist Gilgeam’s ire.
While King Theriheb of Mourktar is assisting the rebels primarily for moral reasons, the shipments from Thay are simply another ploy by Lauzoril, Zulkir of Enchantment/Charm, to destabilize Unther and possibly to acquire a permanent base on the southern coast. Ruduk, Lauzoril’s agent, has ensnared Dama in a web of enchantments that leave the charismatic demagogue susceptible to his every word.
(Extended from Uktar, 1357)
- Sahuagin from the Aleaxtis repeatedly raid the coastline of Unther in revenge for the attack on their forces in the Battle of Summer Storms, the town of Red Haven is particularly hard hit.
The Year of Shadows (1358 DR)
Kythorn
- The biennial competition to determine Chessenta’s finest athletes begins on the first day of Kythorn on the fields of Pryollus under the shadow of Mount Thulbane. The most notable participant is King Hippartes, who has not competed in the games since assuming the throne of Akanax.
King Hippartes has received a vision from the god Assuran commanding him to participate in the games, and the monarch, a faithful follower of the Lord of Three Thunders, attends without question.
(Derived from Old Empires, pp. 53, 54, 58-59)
- The Fellowship of the Firebrand has arrived in Cimbar from lands to the north and west and accepted the Sceptanar’s challenge. When the group attempts to unleash the imprisoned hakeashar on the 15th day of Kythorn, however, both the adventuring company and the eater-of-magic simply disappear without a trace. Suspecting treachery leading back to the Karanoks, the Sceptanar quickly offers a sizable bounty on the head of every member of the company. For the time being, Cimbar’s Great King chooses not to open the treasure vault of the Crypt Royal as he fears further trickery.
In truth, the Fellowship of the Firebrand and the Sceptanar fell victim to the magical chaos caused by the Fall of the Gods. A simple divination spell employed by Maelos Karanok to spy on the proceedings misfired, creating a magical vortex between the temple of Entropy in Luthcheq and the Crypt Royal. Both the hakeashar and the adventuring company were swept through the temporary gate to Maelos’s private chapel. The high priest of Entropy and all but one member of the Fellowship were slain in the ensuing implosion of the hakeashar when it came into contact with the burning witchweed in the room, and a large, permanent dead magic zone centered on the temple and encompassing most of Luthcheq was created in the aftermath of the event.
(Extension of Eleasias, 1357 DR)
- On the 15th day of Kythorn, gods arrive in the Realms in weakened avatar form throughout Faerun. In the Old Empires region, this arrival is far less dramatic than elsewhere given the number of god-kings of the Untheric and Mulhorandi pantheons already in residence.
The most notable manifestation occurs when the Lord of Three Thunders appears on the slopes of Mount Thulbane in the body of King Hippartes and descends to greet the awe-struck assembled participants and spectators. Assuran/Hippartes commands all those present to return to their cities and gird for the war of revenge which will soon sweep all of Chessenta. The Lord of Three Thunders then vanishes in a massive plume of smoke as three booming thunderclaps roll across the plains of Threskel.
Appearances of omnipotent power notwithstanding, Assuran/Hippartes departs for the Thaymounts where he has hidden a cache of weapons for use in the coming conflicts. Although successful, the Lord of Three Thunders narrowly evades the plots of a Red Wizard known as the Masked One on the 19th of Kythorn. He then returns to Akanax and prepares for war.
(Extended from Kythorn, 1358, and derived from Running the Realms, p. 18, Powers & Pantheons, p. <HOAR: INTRODUCTION> and Cloak of Shadows, pp. 189-191)
- The six-month old siege of Messemprar is finally ended. In the chaos that follows the Fall of the Gods, Gilgeam finds it prudent to withdraw his army (those who did not desert) from Unther’s northern border and declare victory. In Messemprar, Dama dies a martyr’s death when he falls to the Reaper’s blade, as a parting gift from Gilgeam. Shurlash and the Northern Wizards reconstitute the government as an oligarchical magocracy. In gratitude for the assistance of Mourktar and Bezantur, the council of Messemprar drafts laws granting merchants from both cities special trading privileges.
While the Red Wizards lose much of their sway over Messemprar with the death of Dama, Ruduk had managed to infiltrate the Northern Wizards during the course of the siege, and he joins the ruling council upon Dama’s death. Gilgeam never acknowledges the secession of Messemprar, but neither does the god-king attempt to exercise his sovereignty in the region again.
(Extended from Nightal, 1357)
Flamerule
- Citing Akanax’s unsated appetite for revenge against Soorenar, Assuran/Hippartes and the armies of Akanax march north along the River Akax. Soorenar quickly falls to the attackers, despite the assistance of the occupying Cimbaran garrison, and is occupied in the resultant carnage by Akanax.
(Extended from Marpenoth, 1357, and Kythorn, 1358)
- Maladraedior, the great blue wyrm, has been seen once again over the skies of Dalath in hale health. Some 2,650 years ago, Maladraedior, then the reigning suzerain of the blue dragons of Unther and Mulhorand, abdicated or disappeared, and the great wyrm has not been seen since. Several merchants visiting Dalath at the time have recounted his aerial battle with a lesser wyrm of uncertain heritage who quickly fled from the 4,000 year-old behemoth. The last sighting of Maladraedior occurred in the Great Vale of Mulhorand and he was spotted heading south and east towards the great dust desert of Raurin.
As the last remaining worshiper of Kalzareinad, a (N(E)) demipower of draconic magic, Maladraedior was the only candidate to serve as that draconic deity’s avatar host during the Time of Troubles. The great blue wyrm has long laired beneath the streets of Dalath in a hidden temple where he is served by members of the Ramahiresh and Kalmarak families. As Kalzareinad/Maladraedior, the great blue wyrm emerged from his centuries of seclusion and set out to recruit new worshipers among the younger blue, brown, and yellow dragons of the Raurin region, achieving only limited success. At some point, Kalzareinad/Maladraedior encountered the avatar of Kereska and Kalzareinad voluntarily merged his aspect with that of the Wonderbringer. The revitalized Kereska accepted Maladraedior as one of the highest ranking priests of her faith, and bid him to redouble his evangelistic efforts.
Following the conclusion of the Time of Troubles, Maladraedior returned to his subterranean lair in secret, along with a clutch of twelve chromatic dragon eggs of varying hues that he plans on raising as disciples of Kereska/Kalzareinad. As a gift from his reinvigorated deity, Maladraedior has maintained the youthful state of health Kalzareinad’s avatar exhibited. As a result of his renewed vigour, Maladraedior may become significantly more active in the coming decades.
(Derived from Draconomicon, “The Millennium Dragon,” pp. 90-98, and Cult of the Dragon, p. APPENDIX 1: DRAGON DEITIES)
- Several hundred followers of Geb are observed by passing merchant traffic entering sea caves west of Skuld. None of the missing Gebites are ever heard from again, and the caves they entered mysteriously collapse within hours of their disappearance.
Geb leads his followers west through tunnels beneath the Alamber Sea to the subterranean heart of the island known as the Ship of Gods. There his followers begin construction of a temple they call the Golden Forge in the depths of the simmering volcano that dominates the isle. The Gebites complete their temple over the course of the next decade, all the while working to contain the long-threatened eruption.
(Derived from Powers & Pantheons, p. <GEB: MAJOR CENTERS OF WORSHIP>)
Eleasias
- Savage werecrocodiles of the Adder Swamp win an important victory in their long-running war with a community of wererats resident in the region. Sebek’s faithful are said to have been lead by an avatar of the Smiling Death who manifested after the Fall of the Gods.
(Derived from Old Empires, p. 52, and Powers & Pantheons, p. <SEBEK: INTRODUCTION>)
- The armies of Akanax, augmented by conscripts from fallen Soorenar, unexpectedly appear outside the walls of Luthcheq. Within days, Luthcheq is reduced to a smoking ruin, and Assuran/Hippartes declares that Cimbar’s historic arrogance towards the other cities of Chessenta will soon be avenged. The Sceptanar of Cimbar wisely surrenders to the vengeful god-king without even a token of protest. As for the mad Karanoks, most are slain, but a few survive amidst the catacombs of the ruined city.
Saestra Luthcheq the vampire is drived from the city and wanders the realms for many years before settling in Erlkazar.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1358)
NOTE Luthcheq must be rebuilt as it still exists in 1374 DR
- Reports of a great battle in the harbour of Sultim spread throughout Mulhorand. The avatar of Anhur, God of War, has defeated a great white shark larger in size than the greatest leviathan. The shark, believed to be the avatar of Sekholah, god of the sahuaghin, is said to have been gravely injured and fled the Alamber Sea. (Powers & Pantheons, p. <ANHUR: INTRODUCTION>)
__ FOLLOW-UP WITH INCREASED SAHUAGHIN ATTACKS ON THE COASTS OF UNTHER AND MULHORAND __
- Gilgeam, god-king of Unther, destroys the Dark Lady, a three-headed (red, blue, and green) incarnation of Tiamat that has been active in the Firetrees region since the Year of the Bloodbird (1346 DR). A several mile wide swath along the southern bank of the River Alambar is incinerated in the conflagration touched off by the battle. The Supreme Ruler of Unther declares the Nemesis of the Gods forever vanquished. Tiglath, high priestess of the cult of Tiamat, disappears during the battle.
The Battle of Burnt Fields does indeed destroy Tiamat’s avatar, but the Dragon Queen is well prepared for that outcome. The Chromatic Dragon’s essence splinters and disperses into the three most powerful chromatic dragons in the region of the corresponding colors: Tchazzar (red), Gestaniius (blue), and Skuthosiin (green). Shudu-Ab assumes control of the Cult of Tiamat in Unthalass. Tiglath is thought dead but secretly retreats to Cult holdings in Firetrees on the edge of The Green Fields where the church is strong.
(Derived from Powers & Pantheons, pp. <MULHORANDI & UNTHERIC PANTHEON INTRODUCTION>, <GILGEAM: INTRODUCTION>, <TIAMAT: INTRODUCTION>)
Eleint
- The Salamander War has finally come to an end and the Red Wizards are victorious thanks to the aid of the elemental legions of Kossuth, Tyrant Among Fire. The western Coastal Cities have maintained their independence, while the eastern cities of Escalant, Murbant, and Thasselen have fallen under Thayvian domination. Claims that Kossuth himself appeared on behalf of the Thayvian are widely dismissed as rumor, despite the presence of many other deities in the Realms.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1357)
- King Theriheb I vanishes after just over a year on the throne of Mourktar. Shuruppak, Gilgeam’s chief assassin more commonly known as the Reaper, is widely blamed Theriheb’s assassination, but no trace of the paladin of Osiris is every found. A regency council chaired by Surran Thunderbolt, high priest of Assuran, and including prominent merchants, military leaders, and Dread Imperceptor Kabarrath Telthaug, high priest of the Black Lord’s Cloak, assumes control of the city.
Mourktar’s late monarch was in fact deposed by Banite agents of Telthaug as part of the Dread Imperceptor’s plot to seize power in the city. Telthaug continues secretive efforts underway to co-opt the members of the new ruling council.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1357, and derived from Faiths & Avatars, p. 39, and Powers & Pantheons, p.<HOAR: MAJOR CENTERS OF WORSHIP>)
- The armies of Assuran/Hippartes march around the northern extent of the Riders to the Sky Mountains, seeking vengeance for Unther’s purported involvement in the disappearance of Mourktar’s recently anointed king. Reinforced by armies from Mourktar, the Chessentan armies shatter Unther’s poorly equipped and poorly trained forces in the Battle of Bloody Metal. During the conflict, Assuran slays Ramman, the Untheric god of war.
(Extended from Eleasias, 1358, and derived from Powers & Pantheons, p. <MULHORANDI & UNTHERIC PANTHEON INTRODUCTION>, <ANHUR: INTRODUCTION>, <HOAR INTRODUCTION>)
- A gigantic red wyrm is observed in flight above the Great Vale heading towards the Sword Mountains.
Tchazzar, imbued with Tiamat’s divine energy, feels compelled to seek out Gestaniius, another receptacle of the Dragon Queen’s essence. The great red wyrm eventually triumphs over his crippled opponent after twelve days of battle, and he immediately devours her corpse before sinking into a month-long slumber.
(Extended from Eleasias, 1358)
Marpenoth
- Hearing of Assuran/Hippartes victory over the armies of Unther (they have not yet heard of his subsequent defeat at Anhur’s hands) the council of Mourktar elect Telthaug the Regent of Mourktar.
- Gilgeam sensing the death of Ramman orders his clergy in the city of Unthalass executed immediately. Very few of Ramman’s priesthood in Unthalass survive, those that do quickly leave the city and head to the Green Fields where their worship is strongest.
- The shattered armies of Unther are reforged under the leadership of the avatar of Ramatep, god of war. In the Battle of Thunder, on the 10th of Marpenoth, the armies of Unther and Chessenta clash on the plains of Threskel, while the avatars of Assuran and Ramatep battle for supremacy. The tightly executed strategy of Unther’s general divides the army of Chessenta, despite its numerical superiority, and the allied forces of the city-states quickly dissolve into squabbling legions. Ramatep drives the Lord of Three Thunders from Unther, Ramatep is the Untheric name for Anhur, Mulhorandi god of war, and, in the aftermath of the battle, Anhur claims fallen Ramman’s disputed portfolio.
(Extended from Eleint, 1357)
- The Alliance of Chessenta quickly dissolves once again into fractious city-states with the defeat and disappearance of Assuran/Hippartes. Former inhabitants of Soorenar and Luthcheq begin the slow rebuilding of the western cities. In addition to the populace who begin rebuilding Luthcheq, Luthcheq’s catacombs are adopted by many of the wererats fleeing the Adder Swamp. The Magus Society relocates to holdings just outside the city of Luthcheq away from the dead magic zone.
(Derived from Old Empires, p. 59, and Dragon #236, pp. 82-86, and extended from Eleasias, 1358, and Marpenoth, 1358)
__ AT SOME POINT WERECROCODILES SUFFER SETBACK AND THE WAR MUST RESUME __
- The 15th of Marpenoth is the Time of Departure and the end of the Time of Troubles.
From this day forward, the long-static pantheons of Unther and Mulhorand as well as the Faerunian pantheon are forever changed. Some gods, such as Ramman, Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul, have been destroyed, others, including Tiamat and Assuran, are noticeably absent, and others, such as Gilgeam, are significantly reduced in power. Both the Untheric and Mulhorandi pantheons are reconnected with their Outer Planar essences, and thus less involved with the day-to-day affairs of Unther and Mulhorand, respectively. Their power is hereafter dependent on the strength and fervour of their followers.
(Derived from Running the Realms, p. 18, and Powers & Pantheons, p. <MULHORANDI & UNTHERIC PANTHEON INTRODUCTION>)
- Numerous wild and dead magic regions appeared in Chessenta, Unther, and Mulhorand during the Time of Troubles, and some of them appear to be persisting. In addition to the large dead magic zone that appeared throughout Luthcheq during the Time of Arrival, smaller such regions have been found scattered throughout the eastern reaches of the Akanapeaks (with several such regions located near strongholds occupied by the Flaming Spike orc tribe) and in the northern reaches of Azulduth, “The Lake of Salt.” Many wild magic regions have appeared as well in these three ancient lands. The largest seems to be located in the Hills of Maerth, centered on the holdings of the archmage Azurax Silverhawk, who purchased large tracts of land in area several years ago. Whether this development will impede or facilitate his quest for a philosopher’s stone is unknown. Smaller wild magic “bubbles” have been found throughout the Methwood and along the banks of the River of Spears as well.
The wild magic zone in the Hills of Maerth is due in part to the magical researches of Azurax Silverhawk. The archmage had been secretly searching for the catacombs that lie beneath the ruins of the long-lost tower of Ultham, son of Urrekanam. The latter wizard is the near-legendary creator of the Magical Chessmen of Ultham-Urre and is believed to have once dwelt in the hills near the village of Oslin. Azurax found some magically hewn caverns that appeared to have been created by Ultham, but before Silverhawk could fully investigate them, a fluctuation in the Weave cataclysmically interacted with his divination spell. The subsequent explosion created a massive wild magic zone in the region and collapsed the newly discovered complex. Azurax barely escaped with his life.
(Derived from Running the Realms, p. 18, Old Empires, p. 52, and Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical, pp. 97-99)
- A three-headed dragon sporting red, blue, and green heads is seen overhead in Maerch. This follows three days after the only survivor of a hunting party stumbles out of the Methwood claiming to have witnessed a terrible battle between a two-headed dragon who breathed fire and lightning and the venerable green dragon of the Methwood, Skuthosiin.
After slaying Gestaniius and devouring her corpse, Tchazzar absorbs the divine energy she too had received from Tiamat. The Father of Chessenta then sprouts a second head, blue in hue, and begins to hunt Skuthosiin in the belief that a victory over the green dragon will allow him to replace Tiamat in the pantheon. When Tchazzar foolishly destroys Skuthosiin and devours his corpse in turn, Tiamat manifests once again in the Realms and the Chromatic Dragon begins to plot the death of Gilgeam, once and for all.
(Extended from Eleint, 1358)
The Feast of the Moon
- A five-headed avatar of Tiamat lands atop the Ziggurat of Eternal Victory in the Palace District of Unthalass and bellows out a challenge to Gilgeam in the tongue of the gods. Unable to ignore this challenge, Gilgeam emerges from his throne room for the first time since the Time of Departure. At first, the Supreme Ruler of Unther and the Dragon Queen at first seem evenly matched, but the diminished stature of the son of Enlil is soon apparent to even his followers. The Chromatic Dragon destroys the last true member of the Untheric pantheon after twelve hours of continuous battle that destroyed much of the Unthalass as it unfolded. The avatar of Tiamat consumes her ancient enemy’s corpse and perishes immediately thereafter, despite the lack of an obviously mortal wound.
Unbeknownst to most inhabitants of Unthalass, the battle which destroyed their city continues to rage in Acheron and Baator. Gilgeam’s Outer Planar essence destroys Tiamat’s avatar after the Chromatic Dragon destroys his manifestation in the Realms. Tiamat in turn attacks Gilgeam, albeit at great personal cost to herself. The Feast of the Moon of the Year of Shadows is forever known in the Old Empires as the Feast of Tiamat.
Extended from Marpenoth, 1358)
Nightal
- Fires and beasts loosed by the destruction of Unthalass’s zoo and gladiator arena rage throughout the City of Gems unchecked for ten days after the death of Gilgeam. Rampaging mobs who gather as night falls destroy idols of Gilgeam throughout the city and kill every Gilgeamite they can find. The rioting does not stop until the Ziggurat of Eternal Victory is sacked on the tenth day after Gilgeam’s destruction. For the rest of the month, Unthalass slowly disintegrates as no one rules the city. Thousands of refugees flee the chaos of the “Night Fires” with the aid of the clergies of Ishtar (Isis) and Ramatep (Anhur).
(Extended from the Feast of the Moon, 1358).
- Sahuagin from Aleaxtis launch raids along the coasts of Unther in revenge for the Battle of Summer Storms and the defeat of Sekolah by Anhur who was last seen in Unther during the Time of Troubles.
- Lord Karigulzu, attempting to flee Red Haven by ship is carried away by Sahuagin beneath the waves of the Inner Sea, the first victim of their raids on Unther.
- The Cult of Tiamat in Firetrees executes Lord Tulkuti upon hearing of Gilgeams death
- Lord Ekur allies with the church of Ishtar in Shussel using the high priest Ibalpiel to calm the local citizenry and ensure the local merchants turn to Lord Ekur and his Chessentan mercenaries for protection from the anarchy that is sweeping the country and the Sahuagin raids that plague the coastline
- Lord Gudea being the only honest lord in Unther is secreted out of Unthalass by his loyal servants with the aid of the priesthood of Ishtar and Anhur. He makes his way to Ssintar and sends out word that those loyal to Unther can find safety in Ssintar.
The Year of the Serpent (1359 DR)
Hammer
- As the great diaspora from shattered Unthalass continues, anarchy spreads to the rest of Unther. Within a fortnight, Gilgeam’s clergy is annihilated thanks to the mobs that fan out across the country, looting and killing as they go.
In Unthalass, a still calm gradually settles over the city. The City of Gems is reduced to less than a tenth of its pre-Time-of-Troubles population.
A few of Gilgeam’s priests and an army of slaves escape the tumult and make their way to a secret stronghold long hidden in the eastern branch of the Smoking Mountains. The new residents of the Citadel of Black Ash are all that remain of Gilgeam’s once all-powerful clergy.
Shudu-Ab’s Serpent Guards begin a reign of terror throughout Unthalass and the surrounding region after the Dark Scaly Ones claim rulership of shattered Unther in their queen’s name. Many opponents of the Dark Scaly Ones are hunted and killed in the months to come as Shudu-Ab gradually establishes her control over the City of Gems and her influence throughout much of central Unther. However, the Wyrm Princess’s authority is undermined by the widespread belief that the Dragon Queen died alongside Gilgeam, and, despite the prayers of Shudu-Ab, Tiamat does not manifest in Unther over the course of the next decade or give any sign that might convince the populace otherwise.
(Extended from Nightal, 1358, and derived from Powers & Pantheons, p. <TIAMAT: MAJOR CENTERS OF WORSHIP>, <CITADEL OF BLACK ASH>)
- Hearing of Gilgeam’s death Furifax and his bandits march to Unthalass across the Green Fields. The 1,000 militia immediately disperse upon seeing Furifax and his bandit cavalry advancing upon their position. The militia of the Green Fields migrates toward Ssintar and Lord Gudea. In the hopes of finding a safe haven from the bandits and the Cult of Tiamat.
- Zimrilim, high priest of Gilgeam; who survived his gods death and the chaos that followed, has embraced Cyric and has converted many of the priests of Bane within Unthalass who have also lost their god (the others who would not convert he killed). With the Chessentan mercenaries he had been funding for years that were stationed around outskirts of the city he seizes control of the entire Port District of Unthalass in a bloody battle with Cultists from the church of Tiamat and begins turning the district into his own fortress.
Alturiak
- Furifax arrives at Unthalass to find the city in complete chaos and anarchy, wishing to destroy whatever is left of Gilgeam's priesthood he blocks entry and exit from the city by land and orders his men to take the Port district.
- With Zimrilin in control of the Port District, food supplies to Unthalass' population begin to shrink. Zimrilin buys all the food that comes in and charges extortionate fees to distribute the food; those allying with him get preferential rates. The Cult of Tiamat in Unthalass already seriously damaged by Zimrilin's arrival is unable to contest his rule and retreats to the catacombs beneath the city. Ultuhegel the leading priestess of Ishtar in the city negotiates with Furifax over securing food for the city and in return the priesthood of Ishtar will assist him in securing the city.
Ches
- Zhenghyi, the Witch-King of Vaasa, is destroyed by the Heroes of Bloodstone, and Damara is reunited by Gareth Dragonsbane and his stalwart companions.
To break the stalemate at the Ford of Goliad between the armies of Damara and the Witch-King’s forces, the Heroes of Bloodstone journey to the Abyss and steal the Wand of Orcus. During the course of their adventures, Gareth and his companions battle and slay an avatar of Tiamat. This setback disrupts Tiamat’s plan to reappear in Unther and claim all of Gilgeam’s former territory as her sovereign domain before the avaricious Faerunian and Mulhorandi pantheons began divvying up the unclaimed territory.
(Extended from Hammer, 1359, and Running the Realms, p. 18)
- Furifax turns to his secret Cult of Tiamat allies to help him supply food to Unthalass. Shudu-Ab has cultists begin kidnapping and enslaving citizens across Unther to work in the Green Fields. The entire town of Firetrees is enslaved and forced to work in the fields. Tiglath; unable to reconcile these latest acts with her conscience takes cultists loyal to her and leaves for Messemprar to establish her own sect
Tarsakh
- With regular food shipments arriving Furifax and the priests of Ishtar begin making plans to assault the Port District of Unthalass
- Ultuhegel hears of kidnappings in Unthalass by the Cult of Tiamat.
Kythorn
- The forces of Furifax (secretly aided by Shudu-Ab and his cultists) and Ultuhegel are ready to assault Zimrilin and drive him out of Unthalass. Jehokim sells information crucial to Ultuhegel’s and Furifax’s whereabouts in the city. Zimrilin attacks the opposition leaders before the assault begins in their separate safe houses within Unthalass and succeeds in capturing the priestess of Ishtar. Zimrilin’s men disrupt a meeting between Furifax and Tiamatian cultists. When the kidnapping attempt is discovered the priests of Ishtar also discover Furifax’s involvement with the Cult of Tiamat and the kidnappings in Unther. The priests of Ishtar now lead by Ningal dissolve their alliance with Furifax and leave the city.
Flamerule
- A greater quelzarn has been seen off the coast of Unthalass at least three times in the past tenday. Six ships are already missing, including the Bey of Chessenta, the Maid of Gems, the Pride of Enki, and the Watcher’s Cape, and their disappearances have been blamed on the legendary sea serpent. Hunted nearly to extinction centuries ago by Untheric nobles, it has been seventeen years since the last known sighting of a quelzarn, let alone a greater quelzarn. The situation in Unther is too chaotic for a hunt to be organized, and the beast disappears within a month of its first noted appearance after wreaking havoc with shipping in the Alamber Sea.
(Derived from Tantras, p. 47, and Old Empires, p. 86)
- Furifax and Zimrilin come to a tentative truce with one another dividing the city of Unthalass between them so that they both might benefit from the situation.
Uktar
- After attacking distant Shou Lung, the Tuigan horde turns westward and invade Faerun. The Tuigan horde battles the armies of Thay in the Battle of the Griffon Legion.
(Derived from Horde Campaign, pp. 30-32)
The Year of the Turret (1360 DR)
Hammer
- Lord Ekur arranges Ibalpiel’s disappearance and makes it appear that she was kidnapped by Cultists of Tiamat (really her body lies at the bottom of the sea).
- Cimbar provides food and manpower aid to Soorenar and Luthcheq and absolves any trading embargoes and fees the two cities may have had to pay Cimbar in order to alleviate their suffering caused by the recent troubles.
Alturiak
- The Tuigan horde battles the armies of Rashemen in the Battle of the Lake of Tears.
(Extended from Uktar, 1359, and derived from Hord Campaign, pp. 50-52)
Flamerule
- The Tuigan horde battles the Army of the Alliance, led by King Azoun IV of Cormyr, in a series of conflicts known collectively as the Battles of the Golden Way.
(Extended from Alturiak, 1360, and derived from Horde Campaign, pp. 55-59)
__ ADD MULHORANDI PARTICIPATION __
Uktar
- Word reaches Mourktar of the Banedeath unleashed in far-off Zhentil Keep by the followers of Cyric. Dread Imperceptor Telthaug unleashes his own inquisition in the name of Bane Reborn, and many citizens of Mourktar disappear forever after being taken to the dungeons of the Black Lord’s Altar.
In the course of the inquistion, Telthaug’s followers abduct and murder the few true Cyricists in Mourktar as well as many mid-ranking followers of Assuran. By the end of the year, when the inquisition finally draws to a close, three-quarters of the regency council reports directly to Telthaug, and the followers of Assuran are greatly reduced in influence.
(Extended from Eleint, 1358, and derived from Ruins of Zhentil Keep Campaign Book, pp. 21-23, and Powers & Pantheons, p. ASSURAN: MAJOR CENTERS OF WORSHIP)
The Year of Maidens (1361 DR)
Mirtul
- The corpse of a large vodyanoi washes ashore on the beaches of Oslin. The aquatic umber hulk has apparently been dead for quite some time, and it appears to have been bitten nearly in half. The Lords of the Inner Reach, a mercenary company employed by the small trading village, begin accompanying local fishermen and merchants sailing on the Akanamere.
A young dragon turtle has been driven from its lair in the depths of the Wizard’s Reach and sought out the relatively peaceful waters of the Akanamere. It reached the lake by swimming up the River Akax, and the monstrous beast finds the bountiful waters and lack of competition to its liking. The dragon turtle quickly drives off the family of vodyanoi (aquatic umber hulks) who have long dwelt in the region and then begins to settle into its new demesne.
(Derived from Old Empires, p. 52)
Kythorn
- A large dragon turtle surfaces in the harbor of Rodanar and destroys two trading vessels from partially rebuilt Soorenar. The monster brushes off the feeble attacks of the town’s few defenders and departs after ingesting both crews. Panic quickly spreads along the coast of Chessenta’s largest lake. Over the next few weeks, no fewer than seven ships of varying sizes disappear in the Akanamere.
(Extended from Mirtul, 1361).
- The army of Cimbar marches toward Soorenar (still damaged by the invasion of Akanax). Instead of besieging the city the army offers the hand of friendship and asks for their aid in taking Akanax and uniting Chessenta once again so that they may take Unther and bring true enlightenment to its people. Without any other choice Soorenar allies with Cimbar and contributes to its armies.
Eleasias
- The armies of Cimbar and Soorenar march on Akanax. King Hippartes cannot resist the combined might of both armies and joins forces with Cimbar. The army makes camp at Akanax to prepare for winter. Diplomats are sent to Luthcheq requesting it join the Chessentan alliance.
- Khrullis begins reinforcing his army in preparation to attack Cimbar once their army reaches Luthcheq and is therefore too far away to respond in time. Unbeknownst to Khrullis, Cimbar has bought the allegiance of Horgkin; leader of the mercenary company the Wardogs based in Airspur.
Flamerule
- The Lords of the Inner Reach fight a five-hour battle with the Akanamere’s newly resident dragon turtle from Oslin’s beaches and moored fishing vessels. Well over half the company and most of the anchored ships are destroyed by monster’s breath weapon, but the beast is believed to be severely injured and retreats. Rumored sightings of the dragon turtle decline precipitously over the next several weeks, and the beast is assumed to have fled or died. In the years to come, the occasional lost ship is blamed on the Akanaturtle, as the dragon turtle is commonly referred to, but no one really believes the monster remains with the lake.
In truth, the Akanaturtle remains within the Akanamere, but it is much more careful in choosing its targets and eliminating all potential witnesses. The dragon turtle restricts itself to destroying only a handful of vessels each year and only during inclement weather when they could have conceivably foundered on their own.
(Extended from Kythorn, 1361)
The Year of the Helm (1362 DR)
Ches
- Explorers in the desolate southeastern reaches of Mulhorand discover the ruins of an ancient city on the northeastern shore of Azulduth. News of the discovery spreads quickly through the remote town of Buldamar and much more slowly throughout the rest of Mulhorand when the expedition leaders return for additional supplies and laborers to aid them in their endeavors. After three days of purchasing equipment and hiring porters and laborers, the group sets out once again.
Three weeks later, two men return to Buldamar suffering from some strange malady. Before their deaths, the former porters explain that the expedition had apparently found the long-lost capital city of Okoth, a sprawling realm that destroyed itself in civil war before the founding of Skuld. Initial excavations of Nagoth, as the city was named, unearthed gems, gold, jewelry, and several items that radiated powerful magic. Disaster struck when one team stumbled into an area of deeper catacombs. Lich-like nagas quickly wiped out the small team and then proceeded to exterminate every member of the expedition they found. The two survivors die of an unknown reddish-brown mold that rapidly fills their lungs and gradually suffocates them.
The explorers were actually Setites posing as scholars from Gheldaneth, a simple enough deception so far from Mulhorand’s major population centers. Set’s minions sought ancient magics to employ in the unending war between the Cult of Set and the clergies of Horus-Re, Anhur, Isis, Nephthys, Osiris, and Thoth. The Setites encountered a long-forgotten species of naga found only in and beneath the Lake of Salt. The desiccated appearance of the salt nagas accounts for the survivors’ belief that they were undead. Each salt naga can spit a cloud of spores at will that infect any aerobic creature with non-communicable symptoms, as described above.
(Derived from Dragon #202, “Elminster’s Notes,” p. 86)
- The army of Chessenta approaches Luthcheq, the citizens fly a white flag from the tallest non ruined building signifying their capitulation to the armies of Chessenta.
Tarsakh
- Riots erupt again in Airspur between the majority human populace and the half-orc minority after the self-proclaimed Apostle of Bhaelros begins preaching that the Raging One will annhilate the city to punish its inhabitants for allowing the Spawn of Gruumsh to taint their pure human blood. Many humans flee the city for the purported safety of refugee camps ten miles to the south.
The Apostle of Bhaelros is an opportunistic human mercenary named Horgkin with no affiliation to the followers of the Destroyer. Horgkin commands the Wardogs, a powerful mercenary company, and he has pretensions of founding his own kingdom. The mercenary lord’s loudly proclaimed hatred for half-orcs is simply a means to appeal to the disaffected fraction of Airspur’s human population and is, in fact, secretly supported by Khrullis, the half-orc leader of Airspur. Khrullis seeks to drive out those humans who seem incapable of accepting his rulership or the presence of him and his kin without destroying Airspur in the process. However unknown to Khrullis in a double blind the human Horgkin is secretly being payrolled by Cimbar also to stir up trouble in the city.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1357)
Flamerule
- The Apostle of Bhaelros prophesies the imminent destruction of Airspur, and most of the human refugees from the city who have heeded his warnings join him, most of Airspur’s hastily recruited army leave Airspur and head to Cimbar thus destroying Khrullis’ ambition to conquer Cimbar
(Extended from Tarsakh, 1362)
Eleint
- With the rest of Chessenta allied behind Cimbar, Airspur capitulates and joins with Cimbar also. The Chessentan alliance begins a program of rebuilding the ruined cities and reinforcing its position and armies with plans to march on Mourktar and Mordulkin as soon as they are able.
The Year of the Wyvern (1363 DR)
Mirtul
- The armies of Mourktar march west across the plains of Threskel and besiege Mordulkin. Still weakened by its recent battles with Luthcheq and Unther, the latter as part of the Alliance of Chessenta, Mordulkin is forced to pay heavy tribute to the coffers of the _Black Lord’s Cloak to dissuade them from beseiging the city.
(Extended from Marpenoth, 1358, and Uktar, 1360)
-
The Year of the Sword (1365 DR)
Tarsakh
- The Great Bone Wyrm of Dragonback Mountain, northernmost peak of the Riders to the Sky mountain range, is reportedly stirring. Several shepherds have reported rumblings from deep within the mountain’s heart similar to those their parents heard before the fearsome dracolich emerged in the Year of the Lurking Death (1322 DR) to terrorize the region for one long summer.
(Derived from Code of the Harpers, p. 37)
Mirtul
- A hunting party of nobles from Mordulkin reports sighting dragons of all shapes and hues flying around Dragonback Mountains
(Extended from Tarsakh, 1365)
Kythorn
- Tchazzarites in Cimbar have hired the Red Morning, an adventuring company based in that city with an extremely formidable reputation, to destroy the Great Bone Wyrm, a historical rival of the Father of Chessenta. The band expects to return in two months time. (Extended from Mirtul, 1365)
Eleasias
- Expecting the Great Bone Wyrm Alaskerbantos dead, the armies of Chessenta march on Threskel from Luthcheq whilst navies leave from Cimbar and Soorenar.
Eleint
- Jaxanaedegor flies over the cities of Mourktar and Mordulkin proclaiming himself the Viceroy of Threskel. He then demanded that the human kings of both cities pay regular tribute to his liege, the Great Bone Wyrm, or be replaced with leaders more to the liking of the self-proclaimed Dragon King of Old Unther.
- The leaders of Mourktar and Mordulking ignore the commands at first, until Jaxanaedegor and several young red dragons attack the Drakelight, a nearly 800-foot-high lighthouse which stands at the northeastern end of the Bay of Chessenta at the tip of the Watcher’s Cape. The sole survivor, a soldier from Soorenar, reports that the dragons tore open the structure and devoured everyone inside. The red dragons remain at the lighthouse to operate the structure. Jaxanaedegor then proceeds to burn every ship in the bay of Chessenta including the navies sent from Cimbar and Soorenar.
(Extended from Marpenoth, 1365)
- Several red dragons heading towards Chessenta encounter the allied forces of Chessenta. The two forces engage and the dragons are destroyed but two thirds of the army is killed or injured and all the siege equipment is burned, the rest retreat home unable to complete the invasion.
- An adult blue dragon descends on Luthcheq and proclaims the land now property of the Great Bone Wyrm. He makes his dwelling in the Karanok palace.
Marpenoth
- Faromi, a priestess of Lathander, is the only surviving member of the Red Morning to return to Cimbar. She reports that the party was slaughtered by the dracolich they had hunted.
Sages in Mordulkin and Cimbar uncover records suggesting that the Great Bone Wyrm was once a great blue wyrm named Alasklerbanbastos (a-LASK-ler-ban-BAST-os) who contested with Tchazzar for control of western Unther (later known as Chessenta).
Faromi reports to the Sceptanar of Cimbar and his court as well as the priests of Tchazzar that the skeletal dracolich was attended by several younger chromatic dragons of varying hues who seemed to be serving the Great Bone Wyrm of their own free will. In addition, she mentions that numerous human followers in the garb of the Cult of the Dragon guarded the lair and attended to the dracolich’s draconic courtiers.
(Extended from Eleasias, 1365)
Uktar
- The remaining Karanoks dwelling under the city of Luthcheq destroy the blue dragon Duke of Luthcheq. They secretly have the servants feed him large quantities of witchweed which burns in his stomach and kills him slowly and painfully.
The Karanoks then emerge as saviours of the city and begin open rule once more.
Nightal
- An old red dragon attacks the walls of Messemprar demanding that they submit to the rule of the Great Bone Wyrm, king of Unther, Threskel, and Chessenta. The Northern Wizards blast the dragon with their combined magical might, forcing him to retreat
The Year of the Staff (1366 DR)
Hammer
- Alaskerbantos begins negotiations with Messmeprar; the Northern Wizards and also with Tiglath and the Cult of Tiamat. In exchange for military access to Unther he agrees to leave Messemprar alone. He comes to an agreement of sorts with the Cult of Tiamat and his dragons will rule Unther with the backing of the cult.
Eleint
- The Monograph of Nezras, a discourse on ancient elven and Netherese magics penned by the grand-nephew of Nezram “Worldwalker,” is recovered amidst the ruins of Myth Drannor by the Scions of Nezram, an Mulhorandi adventuring company. The Scions are last seen in Klondor, headed east.
The Scions of Nezram are a company composed primarily of wizards descended from Nezram and based in Nezras, on the eastern side of the Sword Mountains. Nezras resided in Myth Drannor for several decades prior to the fall of that fair city, and during his studies at the Six Tyryl Towers he learned something of the nature of the Quess`Ar`Teranthvar. The Monograph of Nezras is a treatise that discusses the results of Nezras’s research into ancient elven and Netherese incantations, including an extensive discussion of the history and fate of the Nether Scrolls.
(Derived from Pages from the Mages, p. 119, Old Empires, pp. 8, 66, 83, Cormanthyr, p. <UNKNOWN>, and Fall of Myth Drannor, p. <UNKNOWN>)
The Year of the Shield (1367 DR)
Ches
- An emissary is received in the court of King Hercubes in Mordulkin. He proclaims the ascension of the Great Bone Wyrm to the title of Overking of Chessenta and demands a vow of fealty from the city-state and a tithe of 100,000 pieces of gold. The emissary’s demands are rejected, and King Hercubes orders him imprisoned. Before the king’s guards can capture the emissary, however, he transforms into a fairly young green dragon and flies off to the east.
(Extended from Hammer, 1366)
Flamerule
- A flight of chromatic dragons attacks and destroys much of Mordulkin and its army. As much as a quarter of the citizenry is reported killed in the fighting. King Hercubes is slain in the battle, and the surviving members of the Jedea family flee into exile in Cimbar. An adult red dragon by the name of Pyratyrmanix (PEER-a-tear-MAN-icks) proclaims himself Lord of Mordulkin and vassal of the Overking of Chessenta. Thus begins “The Flamerule” in that city.
Over the next several months, the surviving citizens of Mordulkin rebuild their city and most of the occupying dragons leave. Trade resumes, but a heavy tax imposed by the city’s new draconic lord greatly hinders Mordulkin’s economic recovery. Agents of the Cult of the Dragon assume most of the positions of authority within the city’s bureaucracy.
(Extended from Ches, 1367)
Eleint
- Guyanothaz, a venerable red dragon long crippled by blindness, has apparently regained his sight and emerged from his centuries-long, self-imposed withdrawal from the outside world. Guyanothaz has been seen bathing and drinking in the Methmere, hunting in the Methwoods, and attacking caravans west of Thamon. After two weeks of stretching his wings, the dragon was last seen headed northwards along the coast of Unther in the direction of Thay.
The Cult of Tiamat is responsible for Guyanothaz’s cure and subsequent emergence. The Dark Scaly Ones have convinced the venerable wyrm to ally himself with their efforts to rule strife-torn Unther and to move its lair to the eminently more defensible island in the Alamber Sea known as the Ship of Gods. Guyanothaz now lairs with his quickly expanding hoard atop the ever-rumbling volcano that dominates the isle. In addition to the sizable treasury of wealth donated by the Cult of Tiamat, the red dragon has quickly acquired additional riches by preying on shipping throughout the Alamber Sea and the Wizard’s Reach. As of yet, no one suspects the Guyanothaz’s role in the recent increase in disappearances of ships in the region, nor is anyone aware of the location of the dragon’s new lair. The cult provides information on shipping routes and cargoes, focusing on vessels operated by their rivals for control of Unther.
Unbeknownst to Guyanothaz or the Dark Scaly Ones of Unther, during the Time of Troubles the avatar of Geb led a small army of his followers to the depths of the island volcano where they built a secret temple. Only through the unceasing efforts of the Gebites has the long-anticipated explosion of the volcano been averted. For now, the inhabitants of the Golden Forge continue their daily battle with the forces of the earth, but if Guyanothaz ever learns of Gebites presence so close to his new lair, the resulting strife may hinder their efforts sufficiently that the Ship of Gods erupts in a shower of lava, reigning ash on the coast of Unther or Mulhorand.
(Extended from Flamerule, 1358, and derived from Old Empires, pp. 16, 37-38, 41)
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Edited by - Gary Dallison on 28 Aug 2012 10:56:54 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11691 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2012 : 22:25:18
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quote:
Originally posted by dazzlerdal
Looking at it i think almost all of Eric's stuff before 1365 is useable in the current 3.5 ed timeline without modification (obviously with events in 1374 and more details of what Alaskerbantos has done the events involving him might have to change). Also Luthcheq cant be permanently ruined as Eric suggests because it still exists so it should probably be rebuilt after its destruction.
Since Shurlash is not leader of the Northern Wizards in the current time i would suggest that the Magus Society is not eradicated by Luthcheq in 1358, but instead survives (and so does its mole) so as to allow the Karanok's to catch more foreign powerful wizards later, then as the timeline progresses (i like 1371 when Mulhorand arrives) the Northern Wizards seek other allies to help defend Unther and so turn to the Magus Society in Luthcheq and the Enclave of Green Fields. The mole in the Magus Society betrays them and Shurlash and the magus society is killed (along with the mole; after all you can use the same ruse only so many times). The Enclave relocates to Messemprar and joins the Northern Wizards and Isimud assumes control of both organisations. This keeps things consistent with current lore.
Im musing over whether to have Nanna Sin return as defender of Unther (in the sourcebooks it hints it might be Selune in disguise but why not a power of Unther seemingly returned from the dead). Just because he is listed as dead doesnt mean he is completely dead, one idea is that in the orcgate wars both Nanna Sin and Gilgeam were infected by Yurtrus with a disease that was supposed to turn them evil. Nanna Sin enters a coma while his body fights the disease (he was the god of protection from evil i think) and Gilgeam is slowly corrupted over time. No one can awaken Nanna Sin (because Gilgeam is keeping him unconscious) and so he is interred in the God Tombs (i put these in or maybe under the Riders to the Sky mountains because of the name and because it is aware from Unther settlements).
When Gilgeam is dead all it takes is for a large shock to awaken Nanna Sin and the Ship of the Gods explosion causes a shockwave across Unther, Mulhorand and Thay which does just that.
Now Nanna Sin would be barely a demipower at this time having no worshippers and only his being alive is keeping him that way so he reaches out for the nearest worthy being he can find.
Im still wanting Lord Gudea to be leading the legion of Nanna Sin so i think Nanna contacts Gudea in Ssintar to come and find him, then they lead the army Gudea has been amassing to Shussel and in 1372 they and most of the population are transported to Zigguraxis.
Another idea is that they use the power of the Beacon of Light to guide/transport them to Zigguraxis. This artifact was in Vahaxtyl at the time the Ship of the Gods exploded (i believe Sahuagin stole it from the Mulhorandi ship that retrieved it from pirates). The eruption caused great fissures to open in the sea bed so why not have the artifact fall into a fissure only to be blown upwards with the explosion and dispersed on the tide. Everyone thinks the artifact is buried in lava but really it washes up on the shores of Shussel several years later.
Just a few ideas, what do you think?
Hopefully i will be able to finalise something (using Eric's ideas if he doesnt mind) and post it here.
The bits im finding trouble with is what is the rest of the world doing during this time. We know Mulhorand invades in 1371. Furifax is involved in Unther somewhere with his bandits, so is the Cult of Tiamat (i place them both in Unthalass mostly enslaving the population they control and putting them to work in the Green Fields to produce food).
What is Chessenta doing at this time, personally i would have thought one or all of the cities would be desperate to invade Unther in its weakness. Now there is no mention of it in the timeline which means it probably wasnt that much of a success.
Akanax's army was beaten in 1358 during the time of troubles, according to Eric's info Soorenar and Luthcheq are beaten, that leaves Cimbar and Airspur to do what they want.
Cimbar being the most powerful i would think is the one to take action.
How about if Cimbar over the course of several years (1360-1364) forces all the other cities of Chessenta to bow to its will.
In 1365/1366 Cimbar marches on Mourktar and Mordulkin, but at that time Alaskerbantos awakens and his dragon servants begin open rule of Mourktar and annihilate Cimbar's armies. The other free cities of Chessenta break from Cimbar's rule.
This would prevent Cimbar from dominating Chessenta and Unther which at the moment it is otherwise free to do, and then when Tchazzar appears everything is otherwise free to happen according to the current timeline.
Now in Unther Mulhorand invades in 1371. They reach Messemprar in 1374. Why does it take 3 years for the army to conquer a chaotic and divided country as far as Messemprar.
The cult of Tiamat controls the Greenfields area so could put up some of a fight, probably not much though, unless when Alaskerbantos divided up the nearby realms in 1365 amongst his dragon servants one or more of them invaded Unther and took control (with the backing of the Cult of the Dragon and the Cult of Tiamat). Several angry dracoliches might slow the army of Mulhorand.
Since i have Lord Gudea and his army in and around Shussel they could delay the army as well for a time before deciding they cannot win and retreating to Zigguraxis with Nanna Sin.
I still dont see it taking 3 years to conquer Unther.
Just speaking on the 3 years thing, I've got a possible explanation. Maybe the 3 years basically revolves around Thayan support for the Untheric resistance. Let's face it, Mulhorand is surrounded by enemies, so they have to be careful how many troops they commit to anything. Maybe the red wizards take advantage of their preoccupation to test the borders, or maybe start raiding tombs. Maybe the red wizards also use this as an opportunity to flit on in and just cause chaos amongst the Mulhorandi, playing it off as the efforts of the Northern Wizards. Maybe the red wizards provide supplies (in the form of wands of fireballs, etc...) to the Untheric army. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6351 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2012 : 12:06:29
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Just realised i didnt post the remainder of the timeline, so here is 1368 onwards.
The Year of the Banner (1368 DR)
Hammer
-Heralds simultaneously appear in the courts of Airspur, Akanax, Cimbar, Mordulkin, Mourktar, and Soorenar proclaiming the rule of Overking Gildenbone the Eternal, otherwise known as the Great Bone Wyrm. Immediately after each proclamation, the herald vanishes in a puff of golden smoke and a gleaming skeletal dragon is briefly seen in the skies overhead, gilt in the tribute of Mordulkin and Mourktar.
Minions of the Great Bone Wyrm melted down the thousands of gold pieces seized from the cities of Threskel into a molten bath. The draconic Overking then immersed himself for a tenday before emerged plated in golden armor. In addition to appealing to the dracolich’s vanity, the coat of gold improves his ability to withstand certain types of attacks and acts as a material component for several unique spells the Great Bone Wyrm has researched. Unseen by the inhabitants of Chessenta’s cities, the dracolich has also embedded countless gems in his bony frame. Each jewel contains an embedded incantation that can be triggered at will by the Great Bone Wyrm or is automatically released if shattered by an attacker.
(Extended from Uktar, 1367)
-A great blue dragon with scales as black as night flies over Unthalass landing in the ruins of Gilgeam’s palace. He proclaims himself Lord of the city and all must submit to the rule of the Overking of Unther the Great Bone Wyrm. The dragon proceeds to devour the followers of Zimrilin in the Port District. Shudu-Ab allies her cult to the dragon and Alaskerbantos. Furifax reluctantly also allies his men with the dragon but is concerned by the recent turn of events.
The dragon rules Unthalass uncontested. The city returns to a semblance of normality with a government of sorts established (with the cult of tiamat holding all the positions), and Furifax and Shudu-Ab advising the dragon on various matters. People begin to return to the city even though it is run by a dragon king, it is still safer than the anarchy of the countryside.
-The priesthood of Anhur dispatch a ship to recover the Beacon of Light from the Pirate Isles. The co vizier Mardulkin uses his agents to alert privateers The Wraith of the Inner Sea to intercept the ship, recover its cargo and kill all onboard.
Alturiak
-The Sceptanar invites the leaders of Chessenta’s autonomous city-states to Cimbar to discuss the looming threat of the Great Bone Wyrm and his minions. The conference quickly breaks down into bickering along traditional fault lines between the cities over who should lead the nascent alliance, despite the Sceptanar’s offer to withdraw himself from consideration.
Kythorn
-The Golden Osprey has wrecked on the rocky coastal shore of Mount Thulbane while fleeing the Wraith of the Inner Sea. Several members of the Osprey’s crew survived the sinking and made their way to Mourktar. Reportedly the ship’s officers were Mulhorandi priests of Anhur who had successfully recovered a long-lost artifact known as the Beacon of Light from the Pirate Isles. The fate of the artifact and the rest of the ship’s cargo is unknown, but other ships report seeing unusual sahuaghin activity in the area shortly thereafter.
The Beacon of Light now rests in the treasury of Kromes, Tyrant of Vahaxtyl. Vahaxtyl is the largest city of the sahuaghin in the Kingdom of Aleaxtis, located on the floor of the Alamber Sea. The priesthood of Anhur will spare no effort to find and recover the artifact for which they have long searched. However, Kromes has no intention of allowing the Anhurites to recover the Beacon as the sahuaghin tyrant is still smarting from the defeat of his forces in the Battle of Summer Storms.
(Extended from Tarsakh, 1357, and Mirtul, 1357, and derived from Old Empires, pp. 7, 16, 62-63, Pirates of the Fallen Stars, pp. 65-66, and Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical, pp. 95-96)
Uktar
-The harvest in Chessenta, particularly in the Akanul, has been so great this year that heavily laden ships are plying the Sea of Fallen Stars to sell root vegetables at bargain prices. A rare cross-Shaar caravan led by the Sailors of the Crimson Sea (a land-based mercenary company) is attempting to bring the plenty to markets in the Lake of Steam ports. Brigands have attacked this caravan several times, but it is so large that its outriders mass into a small army, and their swords and spells have driven the attackers back with heavy losses. Farmers across Faerun are warned that carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, potatoes, and the like will bring only a copper a basket or less in any land easily reached by ship or wagon.
(Modified excerpt from Running the Realms, p. 23, and derived in part from Old Empires, p. 52, 63)
The Year of the Gauntlet 1369 DR
Mirtul
-Guyanothaz during remodelling of his new lair discovers a tunnel leading deeper into the volcano; home to some rather tasty humans.
Flamerule
-The island known as the Ship of the Gods explodes. Tidal waves swamp Alaor [1358, 1370] and Bezantur [–135, 1370], causing much destruction. Mulhorand briefly seizes Alaor.
The volcano south of Aleaxtis rumbles and erupts, though aquatic earthquakes open fissures along the floor of the Alamber and allow the volcano to expend much of its force and lava along the sea floor. The magma flow both destroys the capital of Vahaxtyl and more than half of the upper hierarchy of the sahuagin kingdom Aleaxtis, including the king.
The fissures collapse much of the city into the newly opened trenches before the explosion of steam and magma escaping from these fissures destroy the buildings, and then expel the contents out into the inner sea. The more durable items such as the Beacon of Light kept in Vahaxtyl survive and are carried away on the tide not buried in magma as most assume.
Guyanothaz is partially blinded by the poisonous searing volcanic gas that shoots through his lair and he quickly flies away to the only place he feels safe (his old lair), the damage to his eyes is irreparable and over time his eyesight fails once again.
-The tsunami that spreads from the volcanic explosion damages Thay and Mulhorand and Unther. Shussel is spared from the destructive force of the waves because of its proximity to the island, instead the superheated steam and poisonous gases released from the volcano kill a third of the population but leave the city intact. Unthalass is likewise spared from the worst effects of the wave thanks to the geography of the coastline, the Port district in Unthalass is still heavily damaged however.
-The fishing village of Red Haven is wiped from the face of Faerun with no survivors or buildings left.
-Geldaneth and Neldorild are damaged by the tsunami.
-Earthquakes rock the more inland areas as the fissures and explosion from the ship of the gods island disrupts the land around the Alamber sea. These quakes awaken the avatar of Nanna Sin from her tomb in the Riders to the Sky mountains.
The avatar of Nanna Sin barely a demipower now with no worshippers stretches out her mind looking for someone deserving and in need to reach out to, she finds the Lord Gudea praying for help to unite and save his country and its people. Nanna Sin speaks to him in visions asking him to come find her.
NOTE Nanna Sin is dead in official lore. Possible explanations are during the orcgate wars both Nanna Sin and Gilgeam battled Yurtrus god of disease who infected them both with the seed of evil. Nanna Sin being the god of protection from evil fell into a catatonic state as his divinity battles the disease. Gilgeam is infected and gradually over time evil grows within him to consume his soul. None of the remaining gods could awaken Nanna Sin unaware that Gilgeam was keeping him catatonic with his own power to prevent the other gods from finding out about the evil growing inside him.
Nanna Sin was eventually interred with the other dead gods in the Riders to the Sky mountains; in underground ziggurats built into the mountains on the borders of the Methmere. (Seems a fitting place given its distance from other settlements and the difficulties of travelling across water and through mountains to reach it, plus its name might refer to the arrival of the Untheric pantheon from the skies in the Barge of the Gods).
Nanna Sin’s body purges the disease after 1,000 years but was kept unconscious by Gilgeam’s power and because history has him declared dead he is forgotten by all but the most knowledgeable of sages.
Upon Gilgeam’s death, Nanna Sin just needed a sufficient shock to awaken him from his torpor. The earthquakes from the Ship of the Gods explosion provides that shock.
- The earthquakes also collapses parts of the Citadel of Black Ash weakening the forces of Gilgeam arrayed within.
-Lord Gudea sets off on a pilgrimage to the Riders of the Sky Mountains, leaving his army to guard Ssintar for his return.
Marpenoth
-Lord Gudea returns from the mountains with a man at his side. The man is dressed in ancient tattered robes and never speaks. Lord Gudea declares to his men that they must unite Unther and safeguard its people from evils within and without. The army of Lord Gudea prepares to march on Shussel.
- Whilst digging out the collapsed caverns in the Citadel of Black Ash, the worshippers of Gilgeam discover previously secret passages leading to a a huge metallic magically reinforced doorway that they cannot immediately open.
Nightal
- After months of magical probing, divinations, and other methods, the previously secret chamber in the Citadel of Black Ash opens. Inside is Gilgeam himself in all his splendour, although completely naked and wild eyed. He proceeds to slaughter his rescuers and anyone he can find in an hours long rampage through the fortress before finally exhausting himself and collapsing. The remaining Gilgeamites secure the unconscious Gilgeam and wait for him to awaken so they can reason with him. Eventually the followers of Gilgeam convince the aspect not to slaughter them and they will serve him and help him reconquer Unther from its enemies.
NOTE This is an aspect of Gilgeam, not Gilgeam the god, he was imprisoned here millenia ago as the god Gilgeam in one of his more lucid moments realised he may need to preserve something of himself and his power should his enemies unite against him. Being a tyrannical, paranoid, lunatic and unable to trust even himself he decided to create an aspect of himself and then imprison him in a an impregnable vault inside a massive fortress defended by his faithful. This vault would only open upon his death. And so Gilgeam began building the Citadel of Black Ash inside the volcano and sealed his aspect inside where it quite quickly went insane.
The Year of the Tankard 1370 DR
Alturiak
-A bright flash in the central peaks of the Sword Mountains is observed by thousands in the Great Vale on the seventh day of this month, but the origin is obscured by unusually dense and persistent cloud cover. A hastily organized expedition is dispatched by the clergy of Anhur to investigate.
When the expedition arrives at the site, they discover that the top of Mount Nezram has been sheared off cleanly and the peak now hovers, upside down, a thousand feet above its original location. Extensive and ongoing construction atop the floating island is visible through the obscuring clouds. On a hunch, the commander of the expedition dispatches a smaller team to investigate the status of the nearby community of Nezras. The team reports that the settlement of Nezramites (descendants of Nezram `Worldwalker’) has been completely abandoned, apparently within the past few weeks. Two days later, the unnatural cloud cover abruptly dissipates to reveal a city of gleaming spires atop the inverted pinnacle. Shortly thereafter, the floating citadel flies off towards the moon and is never seen again.
Nezram’s descendants, many of whom are skilled practitioners in the Art, have succeeded in recreating some of the long-lost spells of the Netherese. The crowning achievement of that work is the creation of a floating city reminiscent of ancient Netheril. As the floating city of Yeoman’s Loft is said to have done millennia ago, the newly raised city of High Nezras and its inhabitants have set off to the upper reaches of Toril’s atmosphere from which their spelljammers can explore Realmspace and the crystal spheres.
(Extended from Eleint, 1366, and derived from, Netheril: The Winds of Netheril, pp. 9, 93, and Netheril: Encyclopedia Arcana, pp. 4-12)
Ches
-Lord Gudea’s army marches on Shussel and Lord Ekur mobilises his army to meet it, the two armies meet in the Battle of Lost Lords. Lord Ekur’s men; mostly Chessentan mercenaries, outnumber Lord Gudea’s and are better trained and equipped. With the silent man at his side, Lord Gudea’s armies seem untouchable in battle, arrows bounce of shields and armour, blades blunt and weapons snap upon contact. The Chessentan mercenaries quickly route upon seeing this magic and Lord Ekur flees back to Shussel.
Tarsakh
-Lord Gudea and his army march into Shussel unopposed, hailed as liberators by the population; Lord Ekur hangs from the town walls as the army approaches.
-A second expedition to the Sword Mountains is mounted by the clergies of Thoth and Isis to explore the abandoned village of Nezras. The company reaches the Lonely Lake Oasis without incident, but is then attacked and nearly wiped out by a great brown wyrm which erupts from the Plains of Purple Dust. The two survivors of the ill-fated expedition report that the great dragon has apparently claimed the site as its lair and the Sword Mountains and western Plains of Purple Dust as its domain. Scholars in Gheldaneth speculate that the great wyrm is female by the name of Wastumberkari (wa-STUM-ber-KAR-ee) and that she may have also laid claim to the hoard of her ancient foe Gestaniius, the great blue wyrm slain by Tchazzar during the Time of Troubles.
(Extended from Alturiak, 1370 and Eleint, 1358. Also derived from Old Empires, pp. 89-90 and Monstrous Manual, p. 80)
The Year of the Unstrung Harp 1371 DR
Tarsakh
-The armies of Mulhorand invade Unther; marching through the Green Fields they turn the bread basket of Unther to mud.
-The Enclave of Green Fields contacts the Northern Wizards about the latest developments with Mulhorand and suggest joining forces.
-The Northern Wizards seeking further allies make contact with The Magus Society in Luthcheq. Therescales of the Magus Society informs the Karanoks of the meeting between the two wizards.
The Magus Society and Shurlash; leader of the Northern Wizards are executed. Therescales is also executed along with the Magus Society.
-The armies of Mulhorand are met by the dragon lord of Unthalass and his Cult of Tiamat armies (the bandit lord Furifax takes this opportunity to retreat with his men into the interior of Unther.
The dragon torches many of the fields in The Green Fields, forcing the Mulhorandi army to bottleneck into a narrow corridor across the terrain. The cultist forces and Mulhorandi join battle, but the cultists quickly route when faced with the trained army of Mulhorand.
The dragon then drops out of the sky to engage directly and devours several battalions of Mulhorandi troops.
During the battle between the two armies, the aspect of Gilgeam and his Gilgeamites also arrives on the battlefield and begins attacking both sides. The Mulhorandi quickly retreat and leave the aspect of Gilgeam and the Dragonlord of Unthalass to fight each other in a titanic battle of magical and physical power. The Greenfields are scorched, stomped, exploded, rended, and unearthed, they will take years to recover from the battle. Finally the Aspect of Gilgeam forces the dragon to retreat and he calmly walks away from the field of battle to return to his throne in the Citadel of Black Ash happy that his great foe has been beaten and his prowess in battle has been proven.
The army of Mulhorand continues its march. They quickly occupy Firetrees and force the Cult of Tiamat troops to retreat further to Unthalass.
Mulhorand troops besiege Unthalass for the rest of the year but are unable to gain entry to the city thanks to the dragon defending it and the Cult of Tiamat’s forces.
Mirtul
-Isimud relocates the Enclave to Messemprar and assumes control of the Northern Wizards and begins recruiting as Chessentan mercenaries as possible to assemble an army to combat Mulhorand .
Nightal
-The Beacon of Light washes up on the shores of Shussel and is picked up by Lord Gudea walking with the silent man. Lord Gudea and the silent man quickly return to Shussel to begin a ritual with the ancient artefact.
The Year of Wild Magic 1372
Ches
-Maladraedior leaves the town of Dalath for some demonstrations to his dragon ascendant disciples. Upon hearing of the latest news from the townsfolk of Dalath (upon whom he was performing the demonstrations on the finer points of magical theory), he flies to Unthalass immediately to confront the ancient foe he defeated over 2,600 years ago above Dalath. With a flourish of magical power he pins the great blue wyrm in place and tears the head from it’s neck in one bite as it flies past.
-The army of Mulhorand easily overwhelms the defenders of Unthalass and Shudu-Ab is missing presumed dead. The surviving cultists of Tiamat retreat once again to the catacombs below Unthalass.
Eleasias
-The army of Mulhorand splits into three marching on Dalath, Ssintar with the main force sent to Shussel to meet Lord Gudea and his army. Lord Gudea's army fight a slow retreat back to the walls of Shussel where the siege begins.
Eleint
-A mist descends upon the town of Shussel and transports the army of Unther and Lord Guldea and 90 percent of the population of Shussel to the Ziggurax Plane where they are transformed into Aasimar and trained in the arts of war by the god Nanna Sin himself.
-The Citadel of Black Ash erupts killing the last remnants of Gilgeam’s followers. The eruption is caused by the release of magical and divine power erupting from the death of the aspect of Gilgeam.
Shruppak secretly entered the Citadel of Black Ash and assassinated the aspect of Gilgeam as he sat on his throne. Using a life draining weapon Shruppak sought to steal Gilgeam's divinity and elevate himself to godhood. The weapon could not contain all the power of the aspect and a massive magical and divine energy burst caused the volcano to explode.
Whether Shruppak succeeded in becoming a god remains to be seen. (Personally i would quite like to see the Untheric Pantheon remain of a sorts but at the moment it would contain only Nanna Sin and Shruppak, the good and evil god of Unther).
-The army of Mulhorand easily enters the undefended and almost totally deserted Shussel. The main army begins reinforcing the town and awaits the return of other forces of Mulhorand sent to conquer the other towns before it marches on Messemprar.
The Year of the Rogue Dragons 1373
Tarsakh
-The army of Mulhorand occupies Ssintar.
Flamerule
-The army of Mulhorand occupies Dalath.
Eleasias
- The armies of Mulhorand sent to conquer Dalath and Ssintar begin to make their way back to Shussel.
Marpenoth
- The armies of Mulhorand unite at Shussel and settle in for the Winter, they will set out again in the Spring.
Nightal
-In honour of his majesty the Great Bone Wyrm, the cities of Chessenta hold a mock naval battle at dusk in the Bay of Chessenta (most of the ships are from Cimbar and Soorenar, the others lacking a credible navy of any kind). Suddenly in the sky over the Bay of Chessenta appears a great red wyrm of immense size (Tchazzar). He quickly destroys all ships in the bay in a fit of rage before composing himself to survey his surroundings.
-Upon sensing the return of his old foe Tchazzar, Alaskerbantos sends his vassal dragon lords to attack him immediately in a show of force.
-Pyratyrmanix and Jaxanaedegor lead their flights of dragons and attack Tchazzar in a massive aerial battle above the Bay of Chessenta.
Tchazzar easily destroys the dragons and dracoliches arrayed against him (the dracoliches and Jaxanaedegor survive because of their phylacteries or gaseous form abilities) and then flies to Cimbar and installs himself as Sceptanar of Cimbar and King of Chessenta
The Year of Lightning Storms 1374
Tarsakh
-Backed by a massive influx of magical weaponry sold to them at cut-rate prices by the Red Wizards of Thay and aerial support from the Great Bone Wyrm’s draconic vassals, Banite templars from Mourktar marched into Messemprar to bolster that city’s defenses against the inexorable advance of Mulhorand’s armies and the complete subjugation of Unther.
Mirtul
The army of Mulhorand reaches the borders of Messemprar.
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Edited by - Gary Dallison on 28 Aug 2012 11:35:59 |
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xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2012 : 16:20:37
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| Ooh, I just found this thread. So much reading. Looks like good stuff Dazzler, and thank you Eric! |
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Galuf the Dwarf
Senior Scribe
USA
491 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jul 2012 : 00:43:22
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| Nice job so far, guys. BTW, Eric/Mr Boyd, if you can see this, I left a PM for you on another topic that I had previously brought up you might want to read. |
Galuf's Baldur's Gate NPC stats: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8823
Galuf's 3.5 Ed. Cleric Domains: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14036
Galuf's Homebrew 4th Edition Races: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13787
Galuf's Homebrew Specialty Priest PrCs: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14353
Galuf's Forgotten Realms Heralds and Allies thread: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8766 |
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Unther (3.5 Edition)
