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Post by Nature Boy on Nov 17, 2018 17:08:10 GMT -5
THE FIRST AGE
Not much is known about the first age, and much of its knowledge is speculation or legend. What is known is that most of the world of Trastia was ruled by the Aesith Empire, controlled by the Pont Royal Family. There are records that show that powerful magics once filled the world, and that the gods walked among the mortal races. The last records of The First Age detail a great war between the gods for superiority with the mortal races taking different sides, and it's sudden end.
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Post by Nature Boy on Nov 17, 2018 17:08:26 GMT -5
THE SHATTERING
The God Wars, the First Age and the Aesith Empire all came to a sudden end with the cataclysmic event now known as The Shattering. Legends say a large bolt of lightning came from the heavens, striking the center of Trastia. The power of the bolt shook the world, and split the earth. The world divided into five major continents: the cold ice covered Northold, the desert lands of Sah'hra in the west, Baden in the south-west, the wild lands of Allant in the south-east and Jian'ti in the east. The lands around where the bolt struck became a sea filled with thousands of different islands, known together as The Ten Thousand Isles. Along with these new land masses, magic seemed to vanish all together, as did the physical presence of the gods.
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Post by Nature Boy on Jan 10, 2019 19:33:43 GMT -5
REIGN OF QUEEN ANKA (601-666)
When the near 200 year reign of King Leon finally came to an end, the family tree had to be traced to find the next closest relative. This was found to be the seven year old Princess Anka Pont, a descendant of Davis Pont. She was the 20th ruler of Baden, so nationwide festival was held for her coronation. Still being just a child, she needed a regent. She was already being tutored by a minor official named Eric Zarn, so he was chosen as her regent. The official balanced the jobs of governing and teaching the young Queen rather well. Eric was regent until Queen Anka’s sixteenth birthday in 610. As a reward for his service, Zarn was gifted the position of Count of Jas, to which a member of the Zarn family held until 724. Years later, further showing her appreciation to the Zarn family, Anka betrothed her daughter Marie to Eric’s grandson Alistar, forever connection the families.
Overall the time in which Anka ruled was peaceful. She encountered few troubles during her reign, save for one of the island vassals stirring trouble. This was easily dealt with tough. She had the city of Panshaw constructed during this time to help further boost trade along the Great RIver. Upon its completion in 656, Anka made her son Marchaud its count as a way to train him before taking over the throne.
Anka’s reign continued to be peaceful and the citizens were content. These peaceful times continued until tragedy struck in 666.
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Post by Nature Boy on Jan 10, 2019 19:34:15 GMT -5
THE ZARN RULE (666-724)
In the waning years of Queen Anka’s reign, tragedy befell the royal family. The Royal Prince, Marchaud Pont, was assassinated by an angry nobleman, Vortigen Murphy. The Prince-Count of Panshaw had fell in love with Vortigen’s wife. Prince Marchaud took the woman as a concubine, which angered the nobleman greatly. Vortigen planned his revenge, and ambushed Marchaud one day with a group of followers at the gates of Panshaw. The Prince and his escort were overwhelmed and killed on the spot. Marchaud’s infant son, Marco, was already in the Golden City at the time of the plot. Vortigen briefly took control of the city. The nearby counts moved on Panshaw and reclaimed the city before the Imperial Army could even respond.
With Marchaud dead, Marco was named the heir. Marco was still just a newborn, and the Queen was advanced in age. Knowing this, Queen Anka appointed Leopold Zarn to be guardian and regent of Marco, such as his uncle Eric Zarn had been to Anka. Three years later in 669, Anka died peacefully in her sleep, leaving the toddler of three years as King. Leopold was a good man, but her too was advanced in his age. He did what he could to keep the peace and watch the young Marco. Two years into the regency, Leopold too passed away, appointing his son, Leofwine wa regent and guardian of Marco.
Leofwine up to the point had served as Count of Jas under his father’s command. He was an ambitious man though with grander designs for himself. Upon arriving at the capital, he began to govern and tutor the young Prince. Soon after, he began to develop a plot to dispose of the young King and seize the Kingdom for himself. With his army from Jas incoming, he made his move. His plans did not go as he wished though, One of the council members, Henrey Gray, had heard of Zarn’s plot and removed the young King to safety. Still, without the King in place, Leofwine took full power. He relieved many of the councilmen and instilled close friends into positions of power. This included Denard Saffory, a man of imposing strength. Soon after Leofwine declared himself King, the Duke of Riverhold, Severin Duval, passed away, and Saffory was placed as Duke. This move solidified Zarns power even more. For years, Zarn and his compatriots bathed in luxury and decadence, generally ignoring the issues of the land. Crime started to run rampant and the regional counts did what they could to prevent it. This proved to be quite difficult for them without Imperial aid though.
Half-way through the Zarn Rule, in 699, a number of counts looked to restore a Pont to power. Henrey Gray , who previously protected Marco Pont, was the originator of the plan. They would attempt to assassinate both Duke Saffory and Zarn himself. They bided their time for months, and on the day of the attempts disaster struck. The Duke survived the attempt on his life, fighting off the would be assassins. He quickly sent word to the capital and warned Leofwine. Leofwine prepared himself and the attempt on his life too failed. Gray was put to death for Treason, but Marco once again went into hiding.
After the failed assassination attempts, Zarn worked to stamp out the rampant banditry to appease the counts. This was achieved quickly with the use of the Imperial Army. This done, he returned to his life of luxury. His luxurious lifestyle was proving costly though, and his coffers began to run low. He began to demand tributes from the counts to replenish his wealth. This continued for many years, and though the land was not suffering, the counts grew more and more discontent. Even further into Leofwine’s reign, he began to construct a grand arena outside of the Golden City. It was a project that took many years and resources to complete.
While in hiding, Marco had two sons, Thadeus in 700 and Theadric in 703. Thadeus was as strong any man, said to rival even the Duke of Riverhold, while Theadric was as keen minded as the kings of old. Marco told his sons that they were descendants of kings, and how he had failed to reclaim his throne. He prayed that they would be able to reclaim what was lost. About this time, Leofwine’s arena was nearly complete and to celebrate he would host a grand fighting tournament. The brothers devised a plan to enter and win the tournament to try to win the hearts of the people. Marco then shared the plan with the few allies he had remaining.
In 722, the arena was finished and the tournament held. The tournament itself was rigged so that Duke Saffory would win, but Thadeus entered under the guise of a farmer’s son and fought his way to the finals. Sparing the lives of most he fought, he won over the crowds with his strength and honor. In the final fight, Thadeus fought and killed Duke Saffory much to everyone’s suprise. With the victory, Thadeus revealed himself as son of Marco and rightful King of Baden. Marco then revealed himself from among the crowd to confirm this. They urged the people to rise against Leofwine and restore the Pont rule. The father and son fled from the arena to Sarton, where they met with it’s count and gathered men for their rebellion.
A number of counts flocked to Marco’s aid, though there were still many loyal to Zarn. Fighting erupted across Baden, as the counts fought amongst each other to help their respective sides. Marco and Thadeus amassed an army in the west, while Theadric, with the help of the count of Panshaw’s help, attacked the east. Fighting lasted for two years until Leofwine assembled as many men as he could and marched on the rebel stronghold in Sarton. To counter this, Marco laid ambushes along the way to Sarton, harassing Leofwine as he marched. Thadeus then launched an attack on the worn down army as it approached Sarton. A bloody battle raged for days, the rebels gaining the upper hand.
The Imperial Army fled back to the Golden City, Marco and Thadeus in pursuit. Leofwine was shocked to see that Theadric and the count of Panshaw had captured the capital while he was away. Forced to fight, Zarn’s men dropped like flies. Thadeus himself cornered and slew Leofwine, ending the Zarn Rule. In the combat, Marco was injured and retired back to Sarton, leaving the older son to take the throne. Marco soon died at peace after.
Thadeus’s rule began with the deconstruction of Leofwine’s arena. He assigned new councilmen and counts, replacing Zarn’s compatriots. Thadues’s reign would not last long though, as he grew ill and passed without a child in 725. So Theadric took the helm of Baden, and began a string of ufit kings and started an era known as “The Cursed Times.”
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Post by Nature Boy on Jan 10, 2019 19:36:46 GMT -5
REIGN OF AZAR AND KYROK’S REBELLION (810-833)
The cursed time seemed to finally end after the coronation of King Azar. Azar’s reign though would be instantly tested, having lost faith in the Pont royal family, Duke Drem III of Moores rebelled against the new king. Much of the Imperial Army was in the east dealing with the orcish uprising when Drem’s forces marched. Azar allowed the rebels to march all the way to the rivers of the Golden City, much to the dismay of his advisors. Once they arrived, Azr led a surprise attack on the rebels, catching them off guard and tired from their march. The Moorish army suffered heavy losses and retreated to Nort. Azar followed his enemies, harassing them along the way. He also sent the royal navy under Warren Blackmoore to surround the city. The way to Nort blocked and Azar on his heels, Drem attempted to fight a desperate battle but lost. After his defeat, Drem was put to death, and the Ducky of Moores was sold to the young Mira Black, a descendant of Laventa Black.
Azar spent the next nine years attempting to put down the Second Orcish Uprising. Though he had won multiple skirmishes, the leader of the uprising alluded Azar’s grasp. This continued for years until finally capturing him. The orc chief was put to death and the uprising was over, though seeds for the next uprising had been planted. Azar spent a year to rebuild the eastern countryside before gathering his armies to retake the lost vassal islands. Many islands surrendered and those who didn’t were easily defeated.
While leading his men, Azar took a blow to his head. The strike split his helmet but left him alive. Once the island was pacified, azar returned to the Golden City to recover. Azar’s wounds recovered surprisingly quick, though his personality seemed to change. He became much more cruel and abusive of his power. It was believed that during this time, one of the head advisors to Azar, Damien Fay, had used the help of followers of Sen to assist in healing the King’s wounds and that Sen’s influence had caused the change. Leaving Fay to administer the Empire, Azar once again set out to finish reclaiming the islands around Baden. Azar’s armies ruthlessly destroyed its enemies, looting the islands as they went, something Azar had previously forbid his men to do. Eventually the islands were all reclaimed. Azar returned to the capital and took his place governing the empire.
During his regency, Damien started raising taxes to better fund Azar’s wars. Villages or towns that were unable to pay were raided by Damien’s personal army. The peasants became restless and poverty began to spread yet again. But though the villages suffered, most major cities were still fairly well off. Azar saw the cities were well and commended Damien for his work, appointing him Duke of Creston.
More years passed as the peasants continued to suffer. In the north-east, the island of Rasha split its kingdom in two, causing it to no longer supply Baden with manawood yet again. Angered by this, Azar declared war and once set his armies to the sea. Before leaving, he once again placed Damien as regent. The Imperial Army sailed towards Rasha, but then changed course towards Ritland, one of Rasha’s allies. Azar lead a devastating surprise attack on the island nation. As a show of force, Azar had the entire island slaughtered and it’s towns burned to the ground. No survivors were left. This would be known as the Ritland Massacre. The act caused good men to leave the Imperial Army, including Lead Admiral and Count of Doveport, Warren Blackmoore. Hearing of the destruction of it’s ally, Rasha made peace and renewed trade rights with Baden.
Again the army returned home and news of Azar’s destruction spread across the Empire, as did the growing fear of the king. Azar continued Damien’s taxing, as holding onto the vassal islands were proving to be costly. The Imperial Army would loot any villages that could not pay. In certain areas, this began to affect even the major cities incomes as well. This caused great discontent among the regional counts. Azar had Damien with him most regularly to advise him. More battle wounds seemed to be affecting Azar’s mental state. He claimed he saw the dead walk among the people. Around this time, rumors that cultists of Sen were becoming more active began to spread. Rumors also circulated that Azar was among the cultists, secretly worshipping the goddess of undeath. Any councilmen or nobles who questioned it were sent to the vassal islands to govern or disappeared.
In 830, the Third Orcish Uprising began, being lead by a the shaman Zandar Blackwolf. He was a half-orc born of an orcish prisoner during the last uprising and the former Countess of Jas. The half-orc had received a nobleman’s education while his existence was kept secret. Eventually the secret got out and he was enslaved for years before escaping. He then rallied various tribes to fight along with him to create an orcish paradise, devoid of the other races. With the intellect of a noble and the strength of an orc, Zandar led his followers, ravaging the countryside. He looted and wiped out many villages. Azar sent detachments of the Imperial Army to put down the Uprising. Zadar and his followers proved to be too much for the army, defeating them on multiple occasions. He became known as “The Man Slayer.” His army embarrassed, Azar proclaimed his forced need to regroup, leaving the uprising to the regional counts. This displeased many, as Zandar’s uprising would spread throughout most the Empire, and no village was safe.
Over the next two years, Zandar continued to pillage and Azar continued to tax. Late in 832, Azar’s men taxed the wrong village. In this village lived a lumberjack by the name of Kyrok. Kyrok was a poor man who lived with his family southwest of Doveport. The village unable to pay it’s taxes was raided by the Imperial Army. During the raid, Kyrok’s wife and daughter were killed. In a rage, Kyrok killed the remaining stationed soldiers single handedly. In response, the regional officer sent a detachment to raze the village to the ground. Leading the villagers in defense, Kyrok beat back the Imperial force. Now deemed a rebel, he sword to have Azar’s head for what had happened to his family. Gathering followers as he moved, Kyrok made his way to the capital. Seeing the success of the rebel, various landed nobles joined his cause. The rebellion grew and scored victories over the Imperial Army. Kyrok began to gain fame as a savior of the people, and it was said he fought with the ferocity of a bear.
As the rebels drew closer to the Golden City, their force was split into five divisions, each with it a “Rose General” commanding it. Kyrok the “Grey Rose”, The Count of Doveport and former Imperial admiral Warren Blackmoore; the “White Rose,” The Count of Ashenvale and “Green Rose” Gregor Locke, The Countess of Whitebridge Taya “The Red Rose”, and finally the “Blue Rose” James Euls Gray, the Duke of Dramongarde. Together their armies surrounded the Golden City and laid siege. With help from inside contacts, the walls finally broke in the spring of 833. Many Imperial officers and soldiers surrendered as the rebels poured into the city. Azar and Damien made an attempt to escape, but were betrayed by a Gabriel Stahl, another one of Azar’s advisors and the rebel’s inside man. Azar moved to slay Stahl while Damien fled. Azar and Stahl engaged in a duel, in which Stahl was crippled, but bought enough time for the Rose Generals to reach the castle and kill Azar.
With Azar dead, the issue of who would become next King of Baden became apparent. The next closest member of the Imperial Family was the young nephew of Azar, Griffin, who was just fifteen years old. Griffin along with his father had been exiled and then hunted by Azar. Griffin’s father was killed, but not before sending Griffin into hiding with his trusted friend Jauffrey Crane. Many people had soured on the Pont line though, and wished for a new king. Kyrok was pressured to take the throne, but he had no desire to hold it. He did agree though to act with a council until a new King was chosen. Supporters of Griffin petitioned this new council for him to be crowned, but were turned down. Meanwhile, Damien had fled back to Creston and sent out decrees saying that in his final days, King Azar had appointed Damien as his chosen heir should something happen to him. Damien began to muster forces to march upon the capital.
Also, the Duchess Mira Black, who had stayed out of the rebellion, expressed desire for he Dukes to take control and remain independent from each other. When this too was denied by the council, she gathered an army and attack the City of Huren, claiming ancestral lands. This caused Duke James to leave the council and prepare a defense.
Elsewhere in RIverhold, the Duke Edward Tirfield stepped down and gave his lands to Griffin, giving the young prince an army of his own to command. Meanwhile, Zandar’s uprising was too still causing chaos across the land, so Kyrok sent the remaining Rose Generals home to help fight off the uprising.
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Post by Nature Boy on Jan 10, 2019 19:56:25 GMT -5
CURRENT DAY (SUMMER 833)
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