Søren Overgaard at Lycia

Meanwhile, Bjarnalf's dashing cousin, Søren Overgaard took to sea with a newly-commissioned fleet of longships.  These thirty ships he sailed down the Tirgonian and Daeron coasts to the Narglaurith river, which he entered in the summer of 2821.  From the security of the river islands, Søren launched deadly raids into Lycia, the Hills of Terror and Landegol, keeping his raiders scrupulously away from the southern shore.  Lycia, it turned out, was still burning from a confrontation and series of raids by the Black Banner Rebels, but Landegol proved rich and bountiful for the greedy raiders.

Not finished, Søren put to sea in his longships in the Spring of 2822 and terrorized the coasts of Hastaalm and Nivaan.  At Nivaan, he was again met with empty and unprofitable lands in the wake of the Black Banner occupation, but Hastaalm proved both rich and undefended.  So swift and thorough were Søren's raids that nearly everything of value was taken wherever he set foot.  He returned in great triumph to Vanaheim at the end of 2822.  The resulting drunken bouts of boasting and casual violence by all concerned were fondly remembered in the capital for many years.

(See The Daeron Wars, below)

Duke Farionh of the Greenwood and the Archmage Graalman traveled to Bekanor and convinced the newly-landed class that their loyalties belonged to King Quinn.  They readily agreed and swore oaths of fealty to their king.

Meanwhile, Duke Hanri of Sothwall took command of three thousand Tirgonian infantry and two thousand Tirgonian cavalry.  Over the course of 2821 and the early months of 2822, he re-equipped these with heavier armor and weapons and trained them in their use.  In the Summer of 2822, he returned these troops to King Quinn, took command of four thousand lightly-armed infantry and cavalry and moved south into his homeland of Sothwall.  In the Spring of 2823, he began to raid Daerond.  (See The Daeron Wars, below)

Lady Melisandre von Landegol

The terrifying entity known as Null.

He then marched his army (accompanied by the sorcerer Ranos III of Odomenoros and Bishop Tritus of Morthales)  to Himerium and across the Narglaurith river into Daerond.    (See The Daeron Wars, below).

Councillor Eloros traveled to Maxis and convinced the lord of that region to become the vassal of Azazel.

In 2823 and 2824, heavy rains pounded coastal Harkoria, and a huge storm system over the Golden Sea caused widespread flooding in Trolium, inundating many of the low-lying villages and farms.

Harkoria hired the Brave Companions adventuring group, though as usual the group did not reveal the purpose of their commission. Unfortunately, they never returned from their mysterious mission.

Inundation of Trolium

Prince Graun ordered his slaves to hew new living spaces from the caves and caverns of Zaramaka and thereafter oversaw their labors for all of 2824 and 2825.  He proved quite adept at motivating extra efforts out of the slave force.

Malik's new favorite, Corash the Brave, assembled an army of six thousand warriors and marched off to seize the wealth of Ghedrosia   (See The Daeron Wars, below).

Taurid scouts sent secretly to spy on the Worldspine Orcs gave King Esriadan advance warning of the coming of an orcish army, and so Esriadan marched into Itherias with thirteen thousand cavalry to support the halfling forces of Aelissia, the Knights of the Crusader States and the Great Church.  The actual orcish incursion turned out to a small raiding party of only a thousand orcs and the combined Aelissian/Brythnian/Crusader army outnumbered the orcs more than thirty to one.  The orcs were slain with great ease.

Artence

General Pip Oxback took his eight thousand halfling soldiers further from home by marching them across the Lyodan river and into Itherias.  In late 2821, the combined forces of Aelissia, Brythnia, The Crusader States and the Great Church intercepted and destroyed a tiny orcish raiding force.

The Moot nominated the most successful merchant in the Great Delve, Marvin Fatfish, to head up the Aelissian colonization of Artence, Aelissia's spoils from the H'rethek War.  Many observers wondered whether this was an honor given to Fatfish to recognize his accomplishments or simply a means to remove him from competition amongst the Great Delve merchants.  In any case, Fatfish led a contingent of halfling colonists on a brief sea voyage on the Corish Strait, then landed at Artence, claiming the region in the name of the Moot.

Corland continued its stretch of peaceful prosperity and expansion. King Armand ruled from Khairais while Lord Bohemond led thousands of colonists across the Saronne River into Couronnais. There they tilled the land and built up small hamlets and thorps on land their fathers had coveted for generations.

Armand's sister Vivian died of pneumonia in 2822 and her twin sister Valerie died in 2824.  This would have upset the delicate negotiations of Lord Folgar in Mauredoc had not Folgar himself also died of a bloody cough in 2824. 

This did not protect them.  A large marauding band of giants moved out of the Central Stormcrowns, through Valdori and Unstern and into the heavily-populated Sunglades.  They have taken over and terrorized the land, demanding tribute and the sacrifice of elvish maidens.

A pact to sell vast sums of grain and fruit to the Airnim barbarians fell through when the elves failed to preserve the food in any way.  It fell to rot and corruption before it could be delivered to the human horde.

Far to the east, Lord Taralom traveled in the troubled lands of Celendor, while Lady Senelra set out on the Valesian sea in a small ship which was later seen passing the city of Pontezium on the Lyodan river.

Queen Nereil

Queen Ceria

Then, in the latter part of that year, the city of Jarlhaven was looted and sacked by Airnim soldiers.  Foreign merchants made for the open water as soon as possible and watched the city burn from a distance. 

Queen Ava

Prince Gauter, Prince Candos and Lord Sheldon sailed up the Lyodan with their flotilla and unloaded an army of thirty-five hundred crusaders at Itherias to join with the Aelissian halflings and the Great Church.  Later joined by the taurids of Brythnia, the entire force amounted to nearly thirty-three thousand soldiers and easily overcame the luckless orcish raiding force that blundered into the province in 2822.

Princess Tertia, daughter of the Conorrian Emperor Constantikos III arrived in Pontezium to wed Prince Candos, but Candos was not present, having remained in Itherias.  Queen Ava prevailed on the impatient and insulted princess to await her brother's return, and a lavish wedding was held in Pontezium in the summer of 2825 when the Prince did at last come home. The Emperor had sent a substantial dowry and the couple's wedding was the social event of the decade in Pontezium.

Sir Yaral spent a few years negotiating the marriage of the queen's sister Rose to Sir Charles, Lord of the Salt Shore.  He also made a brief stop at the Black Fields, but his overtures angered the hill-lords, and he was barely able to escape their wrath, riding pell-mell  for the Akasian Hills.

Lord Raulph of the Pomarche died on the journey to Itherias.  His troops returned to Pomarche and swore fealty to their new lord.

Claudius, meanwhile, journeyed through Brythnia, wary of another attack, and took up station in the Dacian Hills with five thousand Order soldiers.  He was shortly joined by Sir Aneias with another five thousand, including twenty-five hundred Knights of the Golden Dawn.  Aneias took up command of the whole ten thousand and watched for any orcish or Ascar incursions.

Lord Uliagas of Ios led a contingent of Ascar allies and vassals south into the Worldspines with five thousand troops and there awaited any attacks by the hated Grail worshipers. (See The Battle of the Blue Peaks, below.)

"Good Stuff though I prefer Conorrian" Vaurog grunted. "I have a favor to ask my son". Vragg remained silent only nodding.

"This throne will soon be yours", continued Vaurog, "my bones tell me such. I have defended and built an Empire for you to inherit. Yet Connorrian Soldiers abide just over the Mountains and it vexes me. I wish us to jointly lead one last grand and glorious fight against them. I wish to hear one more the screams of warriors, to feel the clash of steel, and smell fresh blood. I know I have given you command of our troops. Give me the honor on leading one last battle. When we begin that battle I will gift you this Spear called Harrowheart Harrowheart. Allow me to lead this first charge while you wait for that crucial moment and exploit it with the Second Wave. If my death occurs with you and I leading an Army together than I can go to the Dark court a warrior still hale and strong. If I live then I know that I have fought my last great fight and it will become yours, but if I have any years left I would prefer knowing I have reclaimed in the end with you together our Land. I will not feel unfulfilled and with my dreams unseen. I with you have rebuilt all that was and can rest my remaining years to see them with you leading brandishing the Spear I once carried."

The Imperial Flag

Lord Scarkug traveled across the Manndaran on yet another slavery expedition.  He crushed the once-rebellious region of Borokoth, looted its goods and enslaved its hobgoblins, leaving the region a howling wilderness.

Prince Khazal had been tasked to cast a mighty spell, but the strain burst his heart and he died in 2822. A year later, Reor, son of Reor and brother of the Emperor, died during a training exercise in Carcaroth.

In 2823 a wide number of people in Asep and Varthane were killed by an epidemic. No one knew precisely what it was, nor desired to call it a plague, but among the hundreds who succumbed were First Councillor Marvaith and Councillor Tellenor, governor of the city. 

With the leading members of the Council dead, many in Annvar prepared for possible violence. And indeed there was some, though not of the sort to rise to a civil war.  While the Council argued over who would replace Marvaith, the region of Dumnava revolted, declaring itself independent.  Too, a great many public servants saw the opportunity to line their own pockets in the absence of any control, and corruption became widespread throughout the government.

In the end, there really was only a single choice for First Councillor, the much admired Councillor Denerthaw took the Speaker's seat.

Throngs of people continued to arrive at the major cities. Adamos and Eleucria both outgrew their old walls and these were duly expanded by the empire.  Thousands of colonists were sent north with the armies to inhabit the dangerous hills of Lenicum.  Adoria was once again the center of vast expenditures of men and treasure as its fertile fields attracted more farmers and the empire was obliged to build nearly a dozen new towns, each with a castle or fort to fend off bandits.

Princess Anna Comnena traveled from Echoriath to Kylades and Lidhinos to cajole the lords of those provinces into closer relations with her father.  Zerius, comes per Kylades, was unimpressed with the princess's whirlwind diplomacy and paid her no more courtesy than was her absolute due.  On the other hand, Anna did manage to convince the brilliant general Domus, comes per Lidhinos to ally with the Emperor.  Helos Verinus, the priest of Erdhon who had been rumored to be romantically linked with the princess, chose the moment of her absence from the capital to drown in his bath, a bottle of wine by his side.

Prince Varantius and General Palos Eatredes marched reinforcements north from the emperor's army in praesentalis to join the large garrison at Hell's Gate in Lenicum.  Varantius then attempted to train the light infantry in advanced tactics, but proved unequal to the task.  He did, however, design a fabulous battle standard for them.

Thandor, god of the air

As usual, more troops were raised at Conorr, this time to be marched north to reinforce the imperial army at Lenicum without about six thousand holy crusaders. Another eight thousand moved to take up defensive positions at Itherias and participated in the extremely one-sided extermination of the small Worldspine Orc raiding party that entered that region.

Elsewhere, Bishop Jaymes moved urgently to Celendor to try to discover the nature of the crisis in the Golden Wood, and why Meledrian had suddenly turned to the worship of the Dark Court.

Bishop Tantalus tried but failed to establish churches among the men of Hypylus and the halflings of Ninos., both on the Valesian coast.

Bishop Alecius died in 2824 while canonizing a monastery in Mons Llyrae, but the local prelate and his priests were impressed enough with the good bishop's words and works to complete the edifice themselves after his death.

The dwarven mercenary Khedem-Var was retained as the Church's general in the south.  No longer commanding mercenary forces, he transported the holy army from Hypylus to Conorr and then set about cruising the Llyran Sea on the lookout for enemies.

Lord Roin made a whirlwind tour of Dianoxis, Oeres and the Ring of Kharduk.  Dwarves have never cared for overhaste in matters of statecraft and the leaders of Dianoxis turned a deaf ear to Roin's tales of glory.  The leaders of Oeres were downright insulted, but managed to avoid open hostilities...barely. Roin had far better luck with the more cosmopolitan dwarves of the Ring of Kharduk, who yearned for a strong Kingdom Under the Mountain and agreed to ally with Khelem Vala.

There was much going to and from Vastium in the hopes of moving about forces that, unfortunately, were at Nasilia in Lorraine, not at Vastium. 

Bishop Gylfie traveled to Vorogrod and returned to Tarrentica with the bulk of the Llyran sea-fleet.

Lord Cazio D'Chilvattio, admiral in Geshtai, died of a mist-borne chill in the autumn of 2824.  His sons felt that their forces should remain in Geshtai, close as it was to the spider-haunted shores of Accolon, and dissolved the alliance, though they did continue to fly the Llyran flag over their island.

There was quite a stir in 2822 when Deitr Laroved, a mage and Llyran senator went missing from his estate in Tarrentica. Authorities have made no statements but the Senate is pressing the Constans to discover the fate of their missing brother senator.

Queen Luriaal called up the warrior women of Ahuran, demanding their service, creating several armies across the land.  She also put the men to work building fortifications and castles in Rarram, Veij and Laan. The queen married a prince-consort named Variis in 2821, but when the couple produced no children by 2825, tongues were wagging across the nation.

The nation did not have long to wait for an attack.  The dragon Sirrush erupted out of Sendorin, raiding first Ilmultorn and then Rarram.  The forces in those two provinces seemed to deter the beast only a little, for it was not seeking a confrontation, but instead wealth and food.

A severe drought gripped the land for five years. Crops withered in the fields and animals starved.  Prayers to Roldein were ordered throughout every temple.

Emir Nuldor traveled to Khars, where with serious words and many small cups of thick coffee, he convinced the lord of that region to enter into a mutually beneficial economic pact with Har'akir and to assume the title of Emir.

Emir Bajid collected the navy of Har'akir and operated out of the northern city of Muzir.  His ships all flew the red battle ensign of the Red Pact of Vales, just below their national ensign. In 2825, he received word of pirates in the Ahur Straits. On behalf of Har'akir and the Red Pact of Vales, Bajid took his fleet to those waters and, in a series of battles, chased the pirates from those waters.  Four pirate ships were sunk.

Prince Laith, Emir of Har Jadme, traveled to Dikhil and through a shared love of hawking and whoring, convinced the Emir of Dikhil to become a close ally to Har'akir.

Prince Munsif traveled to Socphares and reclaimed the region for his nation.  The locals were unenthusiastic about the claim, even though their chieftain's daughter was the sultana. Munsif then journeyed to the elven forests of Gon Bahar, but the elves, though they paid tribute to the sultan, felt no desire for any closer bonds with the humans that surrounded them.  Indeed, the elves felt more trapped than allied.

Centorius's younger brother Tempus is already the Valesian heir.  Now Centorius names his two other brothers (triplets with Tempus) Seleucus and Achmaenus as princes of the realm.  Unfortunately, Seleucus died in 2825 of a blood fever.

Centorius fathered two sons, Cassius and Benevento, thus muddying the imperial succession.  Tempus, Centorius's proclaimed heir, also fathered a son, Diomedes.

Tempus's brief stay in Euristi failed to produce any real change in that province's relations with the Empire.  Malishas, however, managed to convince the halflings of Thuces to enter into a strong alliance with the Valesians.

Admiral Dracon put to sea in the Gulf of Thariyya with fifty ships.  Each ship flew the ensign of the Red Pact of Vales.

In 2821, Captain Drissdal put out to sea on the Luxur Coast to establish Luxurite sovereignty over the waters.  Unfortunately, at this same time pirate fleets began operating in the Ahur Straits and Luxur Coast.  Drissdal and his fleet of a dozen warships engaged the smaller but faster and more experienced pirate fleet off the coast of Cassar in Northhale of that year.  The sea battle lasted all day, but resulted in all of Drissdal's ships being sunk or captured.  Drissdal himself was forced to swim to shore.

In 2823, Eshamok established the Traders of the Golden Scales guild to regulate and promote trade within the realm.  These powerful merchants and farmers became a powerful but small middle class, lending money to the nobility and profiting from both war and peace.

A terrible plague of scale rot spread through the ranks of the nobility.  In 2822, Captain Vystil died of the dreaded disease while trying to convince the lord of Aysira to join the Luxurite council.  In 2823, Speaker Kyuss died of the same affliction while working to cajole the settlers of Keferis into a closer alliance.  Finally, in 2824, General Eshamok died of a prolonged and pitiful case of the insidious disease.  However, the combination of religious fervor and few living candidates ensured that there would be no struggle for leadership of the Council.  Captain Lyanys was recalled from his secretive adventures in Merwal and promoted to General.

Despite these acts, the populace of Luxur cried out in loud demands for the Arch-priest to cease work on anything but establishing his new seat in the Holy City of Merwal, for many street prophets had promised that the great age of sathla rebirth would not begin until the Holy City had been re-consecrated.  At present, the Primacy only controls the priory of a monastic order in Merwal, having neither cathedrals nor the seat for a religion in the city.

Arch-Priest Slaasthess died in 2823 (some say of frustration) and was replaced by Arch-Priest Zhous.  Udjo apparently found Zhous lacking, for the young priest was found slumped over his private altar one morning, dead.  The election at last alighted upon the primacy's most ardent and hard-line high priest, Pysus.

Since the future king Sistreth II was still an infant, there was great consternation among the nobility when, in 2821, Regent Kouresh died of sudden heart failure in the great audience hall.  A brief behind-the-scenes power struggle soon revealed Lord Vlaasthess as the choice of the armies and so he became regent pending Sistreth's majority.  Vlaasthess was widely believed to be loyal to the old dictator and his infant son. Vlaasthess gave up the governorship of Oroyon to instead rule all of Mykele.

The pirates cut off Mykelean trade with Har'akir and Luxur, causing a general demand for the development of a navy.

Lord Tailheresh, master of Vaaltoth, led his small army into Kuzsu and from there raided the primitive sathla of Galzus and Ibkuru.  He and his troops descended on the simple hunter-gatherer villages and took everything of value, then marched back to Vaaltoth with their booty.

He then traveled to Hassar, along with lords Sezir and Relequa and continued to work on integrating the conquered peoples of Hassar into the kingdom with words, gold and magic.

Kaedir Vahdin took his twenty ships to sea and patrolled the Gulf of Thariyya on behalf of the Red Pact of Vales.  He had not yet taken to the western custom of flying the Pact's flag below his national ensign, however.

Alaha Bezyron, last scion of the Al-Bezyron royal house, died in her bed at the age of thirty-five in 2821, a look of excruciating terror imprinted on her face. Al-Fezhir Bari (the lord of Bari) died in 2823 when he drank too much ale and fell into a drainage ditch. Sharuza Vahdin, Mogrihan's sister and the wife of an Hassar chieftain, died at the shockingly early age of twenty eight in 2824. There were many that opined she merely died of homesickness.

Kurotsuki was governor in Nuradeem.  The resistance of the local chieftains made her job difficult, however, and only a few warehouses for foreign goods were built.  Scylla Darkheart died while governing Dammarask in 2823.  She was slain in a sorcerous duel over an insult by another warlock, who then took her place in the twisted hierarchy. Bishop Caine governed the city of Agharra.  Far from the southern strife, he proved quite effective at the task, clearing a whole hillside in the city to make way for an impressive forum dominated by the likeness of Evaless, Mother of Monsters.

Queen Madariel

Memorial Ceremony for Prince Balan

Princess Vaeril traveled to Balan, accompanying the body of their fallen lord and speaking movingly at his funeral of the great lord's sacrifice in the defense of the Shadowguard.  Many there were moved by the power of her words and swore to remain loyal to the Shadowguard.

Lord Ebabarear traveled to shattered Nastaldo, where as in Dimbe the great lords were all dead and there was no one in whom he could trust the government of the province.  Thus, for a time, Nastaldo would be a part of the Shadowguard in name only, unable to contribute more than a token recognition of Shadowfoot's right to rule.

Meanwhile a thousand elite elven warriors were training in Lantar to serve the queen.

The humans never came.

Emperor Mufun led his army to Ola to watch for any possible attack by the sauruses of Drormt.  He added a thousand trained warriors to his army and another fifteen hundred to his forces in Menrat.

Generals received orders to subdue and enslave wilderness regions devoid of populations.  Rather than tell the Emperor he had made a mistake, they simply trained in Menrat and kept the error to themselves.

The region of Menrat was at last cleared of jungle vegetation and given over to farming and useful pursuits.

Banner of Khor-Naland

Lord Dhokir was appointed to govern the Brass Tower for the years 2821-2825, but proved far more efficient at boasting, bragging and consuming ale than at anything resembling efficient government.

The various vast Aurdrukar armies sat about, eyeing the frontiers with a flinty suspicion.

White Feathered Lord Rikorious spent four years studying Weshtayo statecraft, then was appointed governor of Khulank for 2825.  He made no noticeable difference during that brief time.

Black Feathered Lord Ahkeena governed Rendulha for five years and accomplished much, improving both drainage and water storage by installing a series of cisterns.

Lord Chinua, governor of Khulank from 2821-2823, proved an effective if unpopular administrator.  He hung several dozen traitors and criminals, improving the city's harmonious obedience to the rule of Piccarome.

War threatened to erupt all along the Mogolla River.  Lord Amur Dai was vocal in his opposition to the change, and moved his troops to seize control of the palace.  The Empress appealed to her loyal troops to protect her, and a tense standoff loomed.  Before troops from either side could arrive, however, a throng of lawless citizens stormed the palace.  In their fury at Neela for violating the will of the gods, they threw the Empress from the window of a tall tower.  Thus died one whose only concern was the well-being of her people.

Amur Dai seized control of the government and declared that the Empress's changes were anathema to the gods - he alone had been chosen to rule by their will.  In the wake of unrest, the regions of Hriteke and Chru seceded from the realm.

Amur Dai proved to be an energetic ruler.  He had the old city of Mhynar razed and then built anew at a spot fifty miles up the coast.  He also built a completely new city on the banks of the Mogalla called Mogallyu. Vast amounts of treasure were spent to improve the fields and villages of Qash.

The new Emperor did not stop there - he rode at the head of five thousand light cavalry as they crossed the Mogolla into Urrides, and then conquered Ulen, Mara and Hytu in quick succession, stopping long enough to raid into Aztar and Gashantu.  He looted and abandoned his conquests and returned to Qash.

Agaleon, 2821 - General Umar Ghaas and Fayed, Emir of Tanoxus, leading ten thousand troops, begin to bridge the Rhasdine River at Jadjas.

Strynod, 2821 - The Valraji forces complete their crossing and march into Hajaxtas.  The invasion of Tas Dar has begun.

Maravis, 2821 - Valraji forces begin to destroy or captured the several forts holding the countryside.

Cleon, 2821 - Tas Dar lord Deneil returns to Tas Dar and joins his forces to those of regent Markil and the Darious garrison.  They begin to prepare a defense of the capital. Yusri returns to Vagis.

Daarlem, 2821 - The Valraji complete the conquest of Hajaxtas and garrison the region.  Yusri's Vagis forces arrive at Tas Dar. 

Northhale, 2821 - As if waiting for something, the Valraji pause in their invasion. In Muddakir, young sultan Farouz dies of a sudden stroke at the age of only twenty nine. The provinces of Abtak, Durjas and Phanat immediately revolt from Valraji control. 

Agaleon, 2822 - Loyal to the house of Farouz, Umar Ghaas immediately garrisons Hajaxtas and moves his army back towards Muddakir.

Daarlem, 2822 - Prince Udin captured by the Tas Dari (see Tas Dar, below)

Agaleon, 2823 - With all Valraji armies under loyalist control, and a sizeable force guarding Muddakir, newly-crowned sixteen-year-old Sultan Khalood orders Umar Ghaas to march against Tas Dar again, ignoring for now the rebellious Valraji provinces. Khalood swore that his father's dream of a conquered Tas Dar would be fulfilled.

(See The Second Valraj War, below)

In the Spring of 2822, the regent had combined the troops on hand and the Tas Dar garrison to create an army of four thousand, and then marched against the one thousand enemy soldiers holding Hajaxtas.  In the month of Cleon, he decisively beat and scattered the ill-led Valraj garrison. Joining his army to the forces that had been bottled up in Lhoren Dar, he then commanded an army of five thousand. Markil knew the Valraji army was larger, however, and he prepared defenses.

He did not have too long to wait.  In the Spring of 2823, the armies of The Valraj returned and swarmed across the Rhasdine river

Lord Juelans, after long and fruitful discussion, convinced Lord Rikkers of Akufiki to swear fealty to the king and to retire to his country estates. 

Lady Tanathasia was appointed governess of Suwelho, but proved to have little interest in the art of governing.  Instead, her lavish parties and elaborate feasts consumed much of her time.  Similarly, Kelen Farstrider, governor of Gyanlay, proved to have neither the interest nor aptitude for administration.  He did, however, very much enjoy wearing the gorget of office, and never took it off, so far as anyone could see.