|
|
|
|
(A map has been received, and will be posted shortly) Fengate: The Founding
of a Frontier
Early during the separation of the Dark Dwarves from their kin, an
ancient citadel (devoted to the powers of the earth) was established.
Over centuries, an expansive realm was carved from the bowels of the
known Western Wilderness. Fate
looked upon their chaos tainted practices, and saw fit to return the swamp unto
itself. A summoned meteor's
arrival, brought with it, a cataclysmic toll.
The impact destroyed portions of the western walls of the citadel
Darkholm. The silt and mud
swallowed what remained. An already
inhospitable land; became suitable only for amphibious, reptilian, and aquatic
creatures. Time passed, and not a
whisper graced Darkholm's forgotten halls. Eventually,
resourceful lizardmen found the citadel's submerged structure.
What was not beyond their ability to access, was infested.
Overpopulated, they raided to maintain their stores of food and supplies.
Fearing an infernal beast to the East, they made war with the Dwarves of
the Iron Crown Mountains. A kingdom
that had stood since 296, claimed an overdue inheritance.
The Iron Crown Dwarves, now privy to the location of a mine (old even by
their reckoning), sought to tap it's resources.
With a map of Monitor's Watch (unwillingly surrendered by a lizard man
scout), the nephew of the Dwarf-King was sent to establish a stronghold in the
Eastern Iron Crown Mountains. In
the year 326, a Thane of Clan Runehammer began construction on Thane's Drift
Holdt. Supervised, by a contingent
of Dwarven nobles, the Thane finished his outpost in Phoenix of 526.
His Grand Council convened, the Thane set about making plans for the
mine's engineering. Gyoning
Greybearde led the first trip into the swamps where the mine lay.
Resting one eve, Gyonin's companions awoke to the war cries of their
leader. By the time they could join the fight, Gyonin's life had been
claimed. Strewn about the area were
the unclothed bodies of humans. One
body, the last of Gyonin's conquests, was shifting from wolf form to that of
man. Gyonin's daughter went to
claim her father's weapon. Knowing
his demise was the only thing that would separate him from it, she found
consolation in that it lay near a concealed cave opening.
The access to the mine was found, its secrets known only to Dwarves, and
named Greybearde's Fall. The
mining party's return was muted further, by information gleaned while they were
away. A child astrologer had made
her way into Thane's Drift. Claiming to live in the unoccupied fens to the Northeast, she
spoke of having seen the completion of the holding, as well as the coming of
many hailing from the kingdom of Evendarr.
The FenWytch recommended the services of a human forester, as liaison,
once the expansionists came. He
would be known by the name Rognar Hollowman.
Once their visitor was dismissed, the Grand Council began the debate
about the formation of an alliance with newcomers. The
Thane's cousin Haldern, roguis by nature, debated that safety and profit would
be the boon of an alliance with the coming Easterners.
General Garric of Clan Runehammer, insisted that the encounters of his
youth, did not bode well for the security of their endeavor.
The counsel of the Clan Steward, Garric's brother-in-law, supported the
declarations about those from the East. Troubled
by her new position, and the loss of her father, Lady Greybearde remained
neutral throughout the Council's discourse.
Ultimately, the opinion of the Thane convinced all present, that a summit
was the next step toward resolving the problem of sharing these lands. By
580, two things of consequence had occurred.
First, the militaristic lizardmen had grown in power.
Their proximity to the old chaos magicks had twisted and augmented their
abilities. Warfare with them raged
year-round. The Iron Crown Dwarves,
desired alliance with the settlers from Evendarr.
The number of enemies they faced, was beyond even their formidable might.
Secondly, a town had already been founded to the East.
Laurel Ring, belonged to the wayward farmers and hunters of Evendarr.
Settlers had come out of the South, near Hawthorne's Bluff.
Thinking to push farther, the Fool's Marsh claimed many of those that
thought to forge ahead. Those who survived tried to turn back to Evendarr, stumbling
into the Spired Thickets along their way. Comforted
by the spirits there, those who remained established a small community that
would serve as Evendarr's waypoint to the West.
Deterred by the mysterious mists Northwest of their beloved wood, the
citizens of Laurel Ring traveled no farther.
With th In preparation for
the summit, a village was founded Southeast of Thane's Drift.
Rognar Hollowman oversaw its development.
It was completed one year ahead of schedule, in Gryphon of 601.
Nothing that Rognar, nor anyone else, could have done would prepare the
delegations for the slaughter that would occur upon their arrival. The
eve of the summit, the Evendarr contingent arrived under attack.
Rognar, along with a handful of warriors, came to their aid.
Two delegates and Rognar were the only ones to walk away from the attack.
Werewolves had staged somewhere near the Lake of the Moon, south of The
Road of the Sunken Way. All that
fell, were either dragged away or raised as undead.
Battle also raged from the North of town.
The Dwarves had pushed through an ambush (with the aid of a pair of
particularly hungry Gryphons), fighting their way to the safety of the walls of
the village. The Thane, his
General, and Steward staved off the magicks of their assailants.
The villagers came to help, but were sorely outmatched.
Similar to the attack to the East, the fallen were raised from the dead.
Combat raged until dawn, its end heralded by the Thane's slaying of the
lizardmen's Chaos wielding leader. Far
to the West, the defense of Thane's Drift was likewise drawing to a close.
The efforts of Haldern and Lady Arron had served t
The Alliance was formalized over countless tankards of Ale and Mead.
The village has ever after been known as The Drunken Commons.
Bearing news about the success of the summit, as well as an apparent
conclave of necromancers, the Delegation from Evendarr returned home.
The papers bearing the names of Thane's Drift's knighthood arrived
safely, alonside the signed documents that acknowledged FenGate as part of the
Kingdom of Evendarr. Just as
Thane's Drift would serve as her capita, so would the ideals of Dwarvenkind rule
accordingly within this Duchy of Evendarr. Titles: Dwarven and Evendarrian. Jord Iron-Crown Runehammer: Earl of Thane's Drift (former Thane of Iron Crown Mountains) / Duke of Fengate Garric Insinghar Runehammer: Clan Chieftan / Baron of The Drunken Commons Haldern Bruehonyr Runehammer: House Guard / Baron of Greybearde's Fall Arron Stonebearde Runehammer: House Guard (replacement to Clan Elder) / Baroness of Laurel Ring Callem Roseweaver: Skald / Count (Human liaison for Lady Arron) Rognar Hollowman: Thane / Count of The Drunken Commons
*Note: Evendarr has also recognized honourary titles as
follows, Lady FenWytch (Diviner of Monitor's Watch) The Fae Princess: Aeona (Healer of the Mysts) The Kingdom of Fengate is a newly opened land, and lies at the confluence of two of the greatest rivers of Avalon. It is roughly in the center of Avalon, west of Hawthorns Bluff, South of Elan and East of Lokjas. I have sent for more information, but rumor has it that Fengate was mostly established Evendarrians, and while independent from the Crown, has established itself as an ally to Evendarr. (Fengate is NERO PIEDMONT, aka North Carolina, and opened in 2003) |
|
Please contact the head of Research, Eric
Augustson, with any comments or corrections.
|