King Madren the Boneless, former Duke of Tigelion, died childless in 2933.  This left seventeen year old Alvig, son of queen Astrid, as the undeclared heir to the throne. Jarls Sorst Sorisen and Ensel both declared themselves king instead. Jarl Ossa declared his support for King Alvig.  Greenwood and Saltholme both declared themselves independent of the kingdom.

Sorisen marched north through Chrondemar and the Crown Lands, gaining support for his kingship.  Meanwhile, Ossa outmaneuvered Ensel in Vanaheim and had him killed.  When Sorisen arrived in Vanaheim, there was chaos in the streets as bands of partisans struggled for control of neighborhoods within the city.  In the end, Ossa succeeded in gaining the support the troops and Sorisen attempted to flee in the guise of a slave, but was captured and killed on the new road out of the city.

Alvig was crowned king at the start of 2934.

Kraank further ordered that the old Iron Hills road no longer receive maintenance and that instead a postal road leading between Zaramaka and Mount Hoarwind was begun.

While he ruled from Zaramaka, Kraank also saw to the education of his young son and future heir, Ogluk.

Meanwhile, the lords of the Orcish clans, Drangeel the Diplomat, Azgand the Blind and Prince Gree gathered at the city of Aicherai (former capital of Daerond) to demand its full participation in the Empire.  They then traveled to the great city of Vanuma to do the same thing, although there they sweetened the pot by marrying one of the city's leading women to King Kraank.

Orcish missionaries in Nivaan finally swayed the populace (more through threats and violence than through persuasion) to return to their ancient worship of the Dark Court.

Athansios then marshalled his eighteen thousand mixed cavalry and with his court in tow, rode a circuit of the forests around his nation, convincing the woodsmen to acknowledge his authority.  He then rode into the elven region of Vaanes, which had fallen under the sway of evil doctrines, and declared martial law, forcing the residents at sword point to convert to the authority of the Church of the Grail.

Ironically, Athansios's efforts to increase the power of the Great Church in his own realm fell on deaf ears, for the folk of Harkoria were loyal to the Grail in but name only.

Tribes of landless taurids huddled in encampments around the capital, waiting to be given land to settle.

King Tallos Tiltstep attempted to establish control over the lands of his ally Fretinus Splittooth of Gistares, but Fretinus was adamant that he retain his independence.

Hera Tworivers of Riandos died in her sleep in 2931.  Riandos reaffirmed its alliance with the Confederation.

A second tribe of halflings settled in Eastfarthing, founding the city of Summerlea and immediately beginning the cultivation of that rich eastern province.

Tancred named his younger brother Brandegore as a Prince of the Realm. The King then traveled north to Lilloger and entered into a marriage with a local noblewoman. As a wedding gift to her people, he granted the folk of that woodland province full citizenship in the kingdom.

His sister Prince Beryl traveled to Port de Brises in Tullieres and negotiated the free city's allegiance to the king.

Súrionlath Tiriya commanded the main Neldorean army of six thousand archers at Belfirth.

Neldorea sent missionaries to the Llyran Republic.  These cooperated with Llyran and Conorrian priests to inspire at least a tiny amount of faith in the magic-obsessed Republic.

Meanwhile, a large shipment of grain arrived from the west, sent by King Tancred of Corland.

Lord Annstor sailed the long route to Narbyndahl, in Meledrian, returning to Denavine with his ships laden with foodstuffs.  To these he added an equal weight of grain and pickled pork and carried half to the Edgemoor Orcs in the west and half to the Worldspine Orcs in the south.

Ascar missionaries in Saranthus and Archameos had little success turning the hearts of Harkorian men to the worship of the Grail.

Poor land, devastated villages, uppity slaves.  It all made for a downward spiral in the Worldspine economies.  There were only two solutions: hard work or raiding.  Correction: There was only one solution...

Orkgoth assembled most of his remaining troops at Gargath, but War Chiefs Zodork and Uggul to go and bring him dwarven gold and slaves. The chiefs hoped to march with five thousand goblins, but were only able to muster three thousand, as the king kept most of the best troops for himself.

Zodork and Uggul marched east, meeting up with the army of Ascarlon under Count Bezhral in Rhundar in late 2931.  From there, they marched into the dwarven lands. [See The Mountain War, below.] Only Uggul returned and he died in a knife fight over a gambling debt in 2935. Ugsnik Of The Cendarinnes also died in 2935 (same knife fight).

King Orkgoth died in 2932, leaving his son Warznog as his heir.

As usual, a representative of Ascarlon arrived with a shipment of food from Ascarlon and Meledrian. This time he offloaded the goods at the new port of Urtygrod in Ilkmaor.

The Imperial Flag

General Gottrok and Captain Hahd-K'Rahk led the Carhallas infantry and cavalry (respectively) and marched south to war  [See The Mountain War, below.]

In 2933, some unknown agency cursed the region of Sauthor, bringing blight to its plants and disease to its animals.

In 2934, Emperor Kh'Moth gave the hand in marriage of Maugroth's younger daughter G'Kash to the lord of Mendhaur, elevating him to a prince of the realm.

King Eldareth decreed the creation of an adventurer's guild in the city of Minnuin, and fierce elves arrived from across the northern forests to seek glory as adventurers.

As it had for nearly a century, Meledrian provided packaged food at Narbyndahl to the fleet of Ascarlon to be delivered to the orcs of the distant west. The shipment was smaller than usual.

Rumors continued to abound of a dangerous dragon resident in Bornil, and a shadowy shape was seen in the moonlit sky over Celethon. Lord Aeliniel urged the elves of Celethon to come away to safer homes and after much urging, they agreed to go with him.

Prince Aldenmar used the Vaegor Summoning Stone to summon creatures from the netherworld that plowed ground, uprooted stumps and bored wells into dry ground in Bethelas.

Princess Lilly died in Tiringol in 2935. Aging king Keriadoc appointed his young son Eldrest to her position.

The Emperor reigned from the throne of Callistus while commanding eight thousand troops. His young general Gaius recruited five thousand more and marched them to Boenia.

The aging but brilliant Vicar-General Henrikos (former Grail patriarch) and his war-priest Pietedras commanded a further eight thousand troops and with these they marched north to support their dwarven allies in 2931. [See The Mountain War, below.]

Adorian merchants brought foodstuffs north with the army to deliver to their dwarven allies.  Meanwhile, a large shipment of gold arrived from the Llyran Republic at the wharves of Callistus.

Emperor Thandoros named his son Artorius as his heir and successor.  He also sent a caravan of gold to his co-emperor in Adamos. That caravan was struck in Kylades by bandits who slaughtered the guards and took much of the gold.

Conorrian inquisitores descended on the island of Scythnus to stamp out the evil worship of the Dark Court and to crucify those priests who would spread such vile and seditious beliefs. More gentle missionaries sailed to the Llyran Republic, where they were instrumental in strengthening the Llyran church.

Many notables of the Conorrian Senate spread throughout the empire and its former possessions on missions of diplomacy.  Senator Pikon established an alliance with the province of Eatris, while Senators Marcus and Bexillius each concluded feudal treaties with Mynos and Danum, respectively.

Count Proeliator recruited eight hundred light cavalry and a unit of conorrian eagle riders and set out north to inflict mayhem upon the enemy [See The Mountain War, below.]

Empress Prudentia oversaw the rebuilding of a royal road connecting her capital to that of the Western Empire. She then named her son Fortitudo as her heir and his twin Ferocitas as a prince of the realm. The Empress then conducted a census of her realm.  Finally, she and Fortitudo traveled to the woodland province of Neander and received the fealty of the woodsmen.

As usual, a shipment of gold made its way east along the via adamos, exchanged at the border for a shipment of grain heading west. But in a very unusual move, bandits hit the caravan, slaughtering the guards and stealing part of the gold shipment.

By agreement with Thariyya, the empire took over administration of the desert of Kildaruensis.

Princess Valandra convinced the dwarves of Crisias to pay tribute to the king at Khelem Vala. 

The Adorians brought a shipment of food for the hungry dwarves when they arrived with their army to help defend Dhûnazhar.

The Banner of Pelendur

The Shield of Pelendur

Lord Gunther rode to the mountains of Vornilos and tried without success to negotiate passage rights. Lord Lance managed to assuage the anger of the men of Edhel Gorthas.

Princess Rebekah attempted to improve relations with Keldior, but she died in Keldior in 2932, her task incomplete.

The wealthy Republic sent a shipload of gold through the Bardol Sea, Gulf of Thariyya and the Sea of Serpents, then up the Phaedon river to The Secular Alliance of Adoria and the Grail.

The anemic Llyran church was strengthened by a visit from Conorrian and Neldorean missionaries, but its own attempts to increase the nation's fervor backfired as the Llyran wizards maneuvered to increase their power in the Senate at the expense of the clergy.

A fleet of ten Llyran warships patrolled the Sea of Serpents from the Conorrian port of Benemartius.  Meanwhile, twenty Llyran ships patrolled the waters around the home islands more or less at random.

In 2931, both Queen Brigitte and Maga Siobhan Mckenzie died during an epidemic of the Grey Death.  The surviving court members struggled for power, and the election fell on forty-eight year old Jacqueline Thrush in a bloodless coup.  However, when Jacqueline died in 2932, the Holy Matriarchy was wracked by power struggles among the lesser noble houses, each of whom saw their chance for ascendancy. 

As the only surviving major noblewoman, Gwynn Dwyer declared herself queen of the Matriarchy. But the regions of Ahristhon, Haalthor, Lann and Veij all refused to follow her. 

In 2935, Landress Samantha of Sandrettos died.  Sandrettos continued to supply tribute, but not troops, to the central government.

The sultan and his entire court sought to quell the worship of the Dark Court in Har Mekelle and Har Jadme.  Har Mekelle's nobility agreed to worship the Lords of the Grail, but the gods of Woe remained popular with the peasants in dark hollows and secret shrines.

Meanwhile, Maddari missionaries from Ahuran operated in Awas Fahan and Dua'lim, the latter without the sultan's permission.

Emperor Dioges and his son Victus assembled an army of eight thousand elite valesian hoplites and four thousand mercenary cavalry.  He then marched to the hills of Socos and declared that the land now belonged to the Empire.  He gave his veterans the right to settle where they wished in Socos and to take what had formerly belonged to the Grail-worshiping Hadoor tribesmen.

This, naturally, did not sit well with the Hadoor greater tribe, which rose up in Socos, Dikhil and Khars, but not in Shavas.  The furious Hadoor tribesmen assembled an army of seven thousand irregulars under a Socosian named Brankhas.

The superb Valesian troops were simply far too disciplined (not to mention numerous) for the wild Hadoors.  As the Hadoors stormed down from the hills and into the Valesian line, the gleaming

General Dissyk attempted to reform the practice of Autumna within the boundaries of Luxur, but the great strength of the Luxurite church and its immense weight of history made this nearly impossible task too difficult. With the aid of Shulaskur, however, the regions of Hawat and Nedoor were secured for the true faith.

Prince Borovux hired the Redfang adventurers to search the catacombs beneath Merwal.  The adventurers encountered a violent tribe of goblins, whom they slew and plundered.

Captain Ehassen commanded the main body of the army, nine thousand sathran archers encamped around the capital at Thedelos. Captain Selnex

A very large shipment of gold arrived in Aldryss from Luxur; a significantly smaller one was sent south by the Dominion to the men of Weshtayo.

Dominex Enthelass died of old age in 2933, leaving the Dominion to his son, Khalak Redclaw. Aging General Vayliss died in the same year.

The Sauressh declared recently-conquered Kumrat and Socphares to be free, ordering Lord Merecessh  to remove the four thousand troops that occupied the two island provinces.  Zee and his lieutenants then negotiated merchant rights with both newly freed provinces. 

Merecessh returned to the mainland where he collected all the armies of the Serpentine into a single huge garrison of more than twenty thousand at Oroyon.  Sauressh Zee would later take personal command of this force.

Merecessh then sailed west with fleet of warships guarding a fleet of cogs that delivered colonists and material to the island region of Kakurimi, where they set out opening the rich silver mines of the region.

Lord Sennes took a small detachment of light infantry and claimed the oasis at Saroun, allowing Thariyyan trade to stretch across the Shattered Lands to Saa'vend and Farmuz.

The Empire began and nearly completed the cultivation of the riparian region of Ishi, then handed over control of that region to its new neighbor, Kherouf.  The Ishians agreed to allow Kherouf to transit their territory with troops and merchants. Accolon involvement in Kherouf went further as schools of missionaries spread out from Dammarask across the Kheroufian steppe to spread the worship of the Dark Court.

Other Accolon missionaries began to spread the worship of the Dark Court in the eastern desert region of Habel.

Lord Kragar Darkfist took up the admiralty of the Northern Fleet at Agharra.

The Warlocks of Accolon turned over to Kherouf the region of Ishi, including the vast cultivation project they had already started there. Meanwhile, Kherouf continued to the cultivation of Chadouf.

Emperor Nepherkheres died in 2932, leaving his son Sesokhris in command.

Lord Kaires rode on Adjumar's Carpet to the newly acquired region of Ishi and there concluded a treaty of alliance with the region.

Emperor Nepherkheres began a weak and ill-fated attempt to increase the religious strength of the nation, which resulted in a backlash against the temples.  However, Accolon's many missionaries helped buoy the strength of the Kheroufian church.

One result of this religious infighting was that the western region of Enkkiad abandoned the orthodox

Queen Madariel

The church of the Shadowguard elves went to work, preaching and converting its population back to the

Meanwhile, the royal court did much the same.  Princes Alitcean Searider and Mithriel Silvermorn converted the Kalrondo nobility to Grail worship. Alvar Brookseeker and Thingold of Gaja sought converts among the nobility of Indoglaurë.

Vaeril Fallingwater and Evarear Darkblow traveled to Dimbe and through diplomacy, brought that important region closer to the crown.

Lord Sluarth crossed the Ulailai river with refugees in tow, and settled them in Likasal, on the shores of the Vine Sea. He then hired mercenary ships to aid him in charting the Upper Vine Sea so that Drormtish merchants could trade with Sendahl and Mekebele.

Lord Slaarn also crossed the Ulailai, and concluded a treaty in Munampt to more closely bind that region to the kingdom.

Hariki claimed the kingship of Sendahl as his own and was opposed in this by Siro*ko The Dervish and Giro*ko, Lynx Of The Steppes.  Ara*ko The Desert Lion would have supported Hariki, but he died in that same year of a heart attack. The regions of Dhetnik and Aret rebelled and declared themselves independent.

With Irela's help, Hariki was able to win over the population against Siro*ko, and convinced the young general to retire (Siro*ko died in 2935 at country estate.) Meanwhile, Giro*ko returned from Perur and marched on Nyange, determined to throw out the foreigner.  But Hariki outmaneuvered him by granting special favors to the landed nobility and Giro*ko found

In the north, conscripted labor smoothed out the dusty postal roads of Ola to form broad, well-graded roads over which armies might march with speed.

In Awayal, Emperor Fuluko retrained four hundred infantry in cavalry tactics as a method of training his young daughter Daya in the ways of leading men and inspiring loyalty.

Lady Imea departed with three small nars (open trading vessels) into the Vacani Sea and was never heard from again.

When Sendahl's king Topo*ko died, a crisis was triggered in the succession which led (See Sendahl, above) to Prince Hariki assuming the crown of Sendahl.

Banner of Khor-Naland

Dwarven merchants founded the small cities of Azad and Tronze in Vipuren and Ordla, respectively.

Lord Blorin died in 2934 while instructing the Shtekkten nobility in the ways of the Grail. Missionaries preached the gospel of the Grail in Shtekkten and Lrandirla. Still other dwarven missionaries traveled east, preaching to the elves of Sengkar.

The immense distances ruled by King Dorin meant that the most distant regions were barely in communications with the capital.  The nation is more than thirteen hundred miles from Yekrunale to Zhevis.

In 2932, a violent earthquake rocked Aurdrukar, especially in around Ulhiya. The Brass Tower was mostly destroyed as buildings toppled and burned.  Thousands were killed or injured and even the road to Mikoru was shattered and made useless.

The two warring factions of Sengkar came to an agreement. "Empress" Elvariadne was recognized as a princess of Sengkar and the Emperor publicly accepted responsibility for the low state of morals in the Empire.  The Empire immediately finished completion of The Temple of Leaves, a grailite religious monument in the Sengkarian homeland. Moveover, the Emperor swore not only to uphold the Great Church in Sengkar but to promote religious piety with the full force of law in the Empire.

Princess Shariel was "asked" to retire from her position "for the good of the Empire", which she did with ill grace.  When she refused to leave willingly, it became an order from the Emperor.

Valoril upheld his bargain, placing a great deal of the empire's treasure into an attempt to increase public piety and morals.  The public reverence for The Temple of Leaves helped somewhat, as did the fortuitous arrival of dwarven missionaries from Aurdrukar.

The regions held by the rebels agreed in principle to return to the Imperial fold, but none did so with energy or enthusiasm.  Similarly, the rebel army was largely disappointed by the reunification, so sure were many in the army of their inevitable victory over the loyalist forces.  Only about half of the rebel army agreed to follow the Emperor.  The rest returned to their homes or became bandits and mercenaries.

In 2933, the small garrison of Valoralondë rebelled, seizing the city and declaring its disgust with the weak emperor who so easily bowed before a traitor and religious fanatic.  They declared the city to be a free port and invited the Kingdoms of Kerendis, Accolon and The Valraj to help assure their status as a free port.

No longer interested in oppressing the upstart halflings of Tsu'u, the Weshts freed the region to its own devices. At the same time, Weshtayo colonists marched north through the forests of Bedraku and the fields of Treslaet to reach the riparian wilderness of Jenlet.  This region, from which the sauruses of Drormt had enslaved the human population just a generation ago, was to be the new home for humans loyal to the scaled god.

Weshtayo missionaries tried to convert the Maroundi tribes of Gaim, but the Weshtayo church was simply too weak to arouse much interest in their foreign god.

Lord Aut Belgutai traveled to Tresalet to continue

The rest of the court busied itself with diplomatic missions.  Lord Lomoqui signed an economic agreement with the demon-worshiping men of Mara.  But Lady Nawheeta and Lord Moqsis were ill-suited as diplomats and proved it in Dorel and Barnako.

There was a revival of interest in the Dark Court during these years as the power of the church expanded and many of the nobility converted to the religion. Lord Jalalud and Prince Miir successfully converted a large minority of the nobility of Tithand and Vora to the worship of the Dark Court.

King Nassessh, having decided that his nation would worship the god at hand rather than the gods they once feared, worked to reduce the power of the Dark Court in the Confederation. It is his intention to one day convert his brutish nation to the worship of the god-emperor of Shanatar.

Missionaries for the god-emperor flooded into the Saa'vend Confederation.  Although they converted many in the Serond hinterland, they had little success immediately across the river in Eumela.

God-emperor Tsephares dispatched the legendary adventurers known as The Will of the God-Emperor to the Anvil of the Gods, but those luminaries never returned.

Lord Phalan, a disagreeable man and an abominable diplomat was visited upon the people of Ghamzen like a noxious plague.  After years of his abuses and gross delights, the ambassador was murdered in the streets and the folk of Ghamzen ceased paying tribute to the empire.

Sultan Kazad traveled to Azmani and procured a promise to pay tribute from the local emire. Lord Najib did likewise in Razir.

Vizier Al'Han commanded the large Farmuzi navy that patrolled the Blood Sea.

The land around Halagarde was not so peaceful, however.  King Mardeis died in 2938, leaving his nine year old son Hevril as his heir apparent.  Lord Rourke refused to follow the boy king, and declared himself rightful ruler of Hecadia. Councillor Seth of Chothor joined Rourke in his rebellion. Lords Beauregard and H'rak remained loyal to the crown and moved to Belgramma to oppose Rourke.

Rourke managed to inflame the populace of Belgramma, who attacked Beauregard when he tried to enter the city, and Rourke nailed Beauregard's head on a pike outside the gate.  But when H'rak arrived at the city with seven thousand troops, Rourke tried to rally those troops to himself and failed.  Rourke's head soon replaced Beauregarde's on the gate. By this time, Chothor, Ateside, Atarami and Sharpreef had all rebelled from Hecadian control.

At the king's orders, colonists were led to the wilds of Tamaina, where they established the kingdom's presence.  Meanwhile, the city of Daemonshore continued to grow in Chemada.

In 2931, King Alstan thoroughly reordered the nation's trading priorities, pulling most of his merchant fleet back into the home waters. 

In 2932, the king died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of thirty-six. His brother in law Prince Kinnel of Iganchi died the same year. This left sixteen year old Laoghaire as the legitimate heir, but many of Kerendis's unruly subjects refused to accept the boy king.  All the major nobles remained loyal, but the regions of Anshuyo, Iganchi and Pramada declared their independence despite the best efforts of Laoghaire's agents to stem the rebellion.

Colonists reclaimed Emanaba in the wake of the recent invasion, and built farms and markets throughout the region.

Most of the court traveled to Maskand to formally ask the restless city to rejoin the kingdom, which it did with full citizenship.

Prince Cromotium promoted the Dark Court among the nobility of Sukan, with great success.

In 2931, Jazrien Kalbaen of Ruanach attempted landings at Kapa, Sukan and Emanaba.  His force of three Ruanach Blacksails and eight warships was intercepted by Prince Maraskor and his fleet of six warships.  The Ruans handily won the sea battle, but Jazrien was wounded and it affected his ability to lead the subsequent raids.  Although the Ruans stole some little amount at Kapa, they were driven back by the field forts Emanaba and by the army at Sukan.

The Hegemon and Lord Tarunk both died in 2933 during an epidemic of rotworms  Rogukh acceded to the throne without incident.

Slaves built a road leading from Nistha towards Ketarid, but it would be some years yet before it was finished.

In 2931, Jazrien Kalbaen of Ruanach attempted landings at Kapa, Sukan and Emanaba.  His force of three Ruanach Blacksails and eight warships was intercepted by Threnish Prince Maraskor and his fleet of six warships.  The Ruans handily won the sea battle, but Jazrien was wounded and it affected his ability to lead the subsequent raids.  Although the Ruans stole some little amount at Kapa, they were driven back by the field forts Emanaba and by the Threnish army at Sukan.

With the aid of the Badge of Barbaric Confabulation, Lady Kirra arranged the marriage of King Gestentes eldest daughter Princess Gajra to the lord of Nayarva in exchange for his feudal vows.

Gestentes himself ruled the Captain's Council from Fashanru and fathered his fourth and fifth daughters.  Queen Niashrin died in childbirth in 2934.

Ruan engineers completed the road between Fashanru and Kaasra in 2934.

King Tedo gave over command of both the nation and the army to Trent Stoneberry and personally sailed to the the Meneen province of Indrata to convince the nobility of the truths of Nuree.  Meanwhile, Ahum's missionaries were similarly busy in the Meneen provinces of Ongkiji Suzu and Niorin.

Queen Tolax named her younger brother Borog the Bloody to be her successor.  The queen desires a smooth transition whenever death does come for her and so passed over her infant daughter in favor of her brother.

Emperor Zlatec commanded twenty-six thousand mixed troops at Jalahl while Lord Zzohichii commanded fifteen thousand in the homeland outside the city.  Zzohichii died in 2935at the age of sixty-three.

Most of the rest of the court, led by princes Kaitoc and Goquax, formally apologized to the Grand Duke of Meneen for interference in his province of Indrata, and then traveled to the human province of Asurjan where they made a close alliance with the people while Autumna missionaries spread the faith to a very large minority of the human population.

Meanwhile, elf warriors led a raid on the city of Khorlaine to try to free the captives.  This secret mission failed when sathla guards discovered elves sneaking into the city sewers and chased them back into the jungles.

Lord Vallirion Sharpeye led a diplomatic mission to the hills of Tungu, where he negotiated rights for the Emerald Realm to cross Tungu at will.

In 2934, the Korodan tribes returned the two Bloodspear princes by escorting them to the river.