 |
| Fruztii Barbarian |
And those east of the Rakers found themselves ever more isolated.
574 CY
The Fruztii consulted with Ratik concerning what wonders may be
hidden within their mountains, eager to see whether the lore of their skalds
was to be found in the dusty tomes the southerners worshiped so. So, Ratik
consulted the Library in Marner, and those sages and wizards employed there,
and within those dusty tomes they exhumed references to lost cities of the
Flan, to ancient relics of the dwerfolk, and to sunken cities of the Solnor Sea.
And of course, they dug up references to dragons and the hordes they amassed. All
these they brought to the attention of the Fruztii, and the Fruztii listened
with great interest. And armed with this knowledge, the Fruztii and those of
Ratik brave enough to accompany them, they climbed into the Griffs and the
Corusks in search of such things.
The History of The Ice-Shard Tome
While searching for
the lair of a white dragon, the barbarians chanced upon an illusion-cloaked
dungeon entrance and ventured inside. There they fought evil, cold-dwelling
creatures and passed through strange areas of chilling, life-sapping vapor.
Finally, they reached a great ice-encrusted chamber. While the intruders were
busy digging out a chest from the ice, their activity awakened the dungeon’s
most dangerous guardian: a massive automaton fashioned—so swear the
barbarians—of steel-hard ice.
Although the golem
slew two of their number, the barbarians were ultimately triumphant and claimed
the icy dungeon’s treasures as their own. Among the hoard was the book that was
to become known as the Ice-Shard Tome. Of the book’s owner
there was no sign. [Dragon #243 - 89,
by Anthony Nixon and David Head.]
The Frost Barbarians were distrustful of
wizardly magic and eager to sell what came to be known as the “Ice-Shard
Tome” upon returning from their expedition into the Corusk Mountains to
Crylandren, a wizard of Marner.
He copied what he wished from the book before
selling it, and over the next few years, the Ice-Shard Tome was
sighted variously in Rel Astra, Rauxes, and Rel Mord, moving ever deeper into
central Flanaess. On its journey the tome acquired both its popular title and a
sinister reputation.
575
CY
 |
| The Kelten Pass |
The Battle of Kelten Pass, as the Fist called
it, only severed to divide the Atamans of Stonefist. Were it not for Vlek’s
iron rule, the Hold might have fallen into strife.
The Coltens, despite generations of
servitude to the invaders, have slowly emerged as a competing form of
leadership, offering their method of election of the most popular warrior as an
alternative to the Rite of Battle Fitness. So many aspiring leaders were slain
in the often useless raids of the latter method that its proponents have grown
scarce. When Ratik and the Fruztii made peace, the subsequent battles for the
Kelten Pass brought several telling defeats to “fists” led by the descendant
warband leaders. The Hold was then divided between those who followed the laws
laid down by Vlek Col Vlekzed, and those who claimed that Stonefist’s methods
are no longer appropriate and the Coltens Feodality should be restored. The
nomads and settlers west and around the Frozen River championed the ways of
Stonefist. The population around Kelten and the Hraak Forest wished to
establish new forms of leadership. [Dragon #57 - 13]
The successful alliance of the
Barony of Ratik and the Frost Barbarians has caused much consternation in Bone
March. A joint Ratik-Fruztii army wreaked havoc within the March after the
signing. Leaders of the humanoids have determined that the northern alliance
must be dissolved. [WoGG - 29]
576-582 CY
 |
| Knight of Ratik |
The humanoids so soundly defeated in
the campaign of 575 were again raiding over the border, and the gnomes of the
Lofthills (west of Loftwood) were being continually besieged. Losses from the
campaigns in Bone March and with the Frost Barbarians could be replaced by
mercenaries and volunteers from foreign lands only. [Dragon #57 - 14]
 |
| Zeai upon the Icy Sea |
The Schnai noticed their Fruztii
cousin’s absence from the seas. And they saw their cousin’s increased reliance
upon Luxnor of Ratik. But they were not worried. Let them break themselves upon
the Fists and the Bone March, the Schnai said. They will weaken beyond
recovery, and will be forever under our suzerainty when Ratik finally fell, for
fall it must, in the end.
And in the Fruztii’s absence,
the Schnai increased their raids on the Great Kingdom, knowing that they
needn’t share the spoils with them.
The Schnai weren’t the only ones
to note the Fruztii’s increased presence in the northeastern theatre. Tenh had
heard of the Frost Barbarian’s alliance with Ratik, and they’d heard of their
joint strike into the Bluefang-Kelten Pass, and they sent emissaries to treat
with them, for, as they explained to them, we have common cause against the
Fists of Stonehold, and the Fruztii listened.
576 CY
Bonded by blood,
and having shed blood to protect one another, the Fruztii and Ratik ratified
their bond in the eyes of both their gods, for they knew that their only hope
of their standing against their enemies, they would need to stand as one.
This symbolic parchment was endorsed and
blessed by the gods of both Ratik and Fruztii, and the superstitious Frost
Barbarians place great store in its safety. [WoGG - 29]
577 CY
Bellport
grew tired of the repeated raids by the Schnai, and demanded the protection due
them as a city of the North Province and the Great Kingdom. Lord Captain Aldusc was dispatched from Asperdi of the Sea Barons with a
squadron of warships and troops to do just that.
The warships are now reported to be
operating along the coast. Included are no fewer than six large galleys and
perhaps a score of other war ships. The troops were divided after landing into
main [joining Herzog Grenell] and reserve [defending Bellport's landward
approaches] groups. [Dragon #63 - 15]
Although the Schnai had not raided as far and
as often as the Fruztii had in their days of glory, they were no strangers to
such things; indeed, they were the most accomplished of seafarers, and they
were truly as fierce as their cousins, as were the Cruski. They increased their
raids, and their longships swept down the coast, striking the North Province
and the Baronial Isles both, luring those who chased them or sought to stop
them far out to sea where they could lose them with ease.
But not all were so lucky.
Some raiders were met and actions were fought;
some slipped through, some turned elsewhere. Reportedly a squadron of seven
Schnai longships were set upon whilst sinking the hulks of two provincial
merchants, the vessels Marntig and Solos. Guided by the smoke and flames, a
flotilla of Baronial warships surprised the barbarians. Three of the Schnai
were rammed and sunk. In hand-to-hand action, the flagship of the barbarians’
fleet was captured, but the three remaining longships escaped after jettisoning
all of their captured cargo.
In hand-to-hand action, the flagship of the
barbarians' fleet was captured. Jarl Froztilth, leader of the Schnai, many of
his men, and the captured ship were all taken to Asperdi. News of this success
was said to have greatly heartened the Herzog. [Dragon #63 - 16]
The Schnai recalled how once they and the
Fruztii were the terror of the seas, and they wished the southerners to fear
them so again. So, the Schnai treated with their cousins, the Cruski. And the
Cruski were glad to treat with them, for the Schnai held what was theirs. The Schnai
gave up the lands south of Glot along the east coast [and] the Cruski
regained their southern harbors. This made the raids into North Province and
the Isles of the Sea Barons all the easier next year, and most of the
able-bodied men were away on those journeys when the warbands of Stonefist (now
Stonehold) rode into the tundra which the King of Cruski claimed. The few
wandering tribes of Coltens there welcomed the invaders, while surviving
Cruskii headed east as quickly as possible. The returning warriors were enraged
at the boldness of the invasion. [Dragon #57 - 14]
The History of the Ice-Shard Tome
Crylandren’s corpse was found shortly after
selling the Ice-Shard Tome, his corpse frozen, his veins reputedly filled with
ice. The windows to his study were thrown open, despite that winter being the
bitterest in living memory. Rumors persist that the tome is under some kind of
curse, that a powerful, extraplanar mage has been tracking the book, slaying
those who have handled it, but always failing to possess it himself. A list of
similar deaths follow in its wake, always grisly, if never substantiated. [Dragon #243 - 89]
578 CY
Despite his
youth, King Ralff II of the Fruztii understood subjugation. His people had
turned to their cousins to the east in their hour of need and found the
duplicitous hand of the perfidious Schnai. The Schnai had lent their support. Yes,
they had. But that help came at a cost: suzerainty. The Fruztii had lost their governance.
Indeed, they’d lost their pride. Once, they were the terror of the Solnor Sea.
Now, they were a subjugated people. The Shnai commanded them, calling their
commands guidance. They had learned their lessons well from the diplomats of
Shar, long ago.
No
more, he thought. He extended his hand to Ratik and they’d taken it, and they’d
been true to their words. They’d stood side by side with his people when the tribes
of Schnai had not. And so, he turned to Ratik again: Train my people, he said,
and when he sent the pride of their youth to Marner, the Archbaron not only
trained them in the modern art of War, he equipped them for such. And so, when
Ralff looked again to the East, he understood that he had kin there, he had obligations
there, but he also understood that he had no friend there.
The Fruztii sent raiding bands to
sea with the Schnai, but due to careful urgings, numbers of mercenary troops
also moved southward into Ratik and joined the Baron’s troops there. These
Fruztii returned with knowledge of organized warfare and good-quality arms and
armor and formed the core of a new standing army organized by King Ralff II in
578. The four companies of foot and one troop of horse actively patrolled and
brought most of the realm under order. Chief men and nobles not raiding were
prevailed upon to contribute men to patrol their own territories, so that by
the end of the year, the frequency of banditry and humanoid raiding bands had
been reduced to an all-time low. Even the high country around the head of the
Jenelrad River was peaceful, and its Jarl swore an oath of fealty to Ralff.
Without actually declaring independence from Schnai overlordship, the King of
Fruzti showed that he was again capable of fielding an army capable of either
defending his territory or taking another’s. The Schnai conveniently ignored
the resurgence, probably hoping that the involvement in Ratik would again
reduce the Frost Barbarians to vassal status. [Dragon #57 - 14]
Battle of the
Loftwood
 |
| Battle of the Loftwood |
The manpower pool of the Archbarony was totally
dry in 577. Because of the relatively good relations between the Fruztii and
Ratik, the woodsmen and elven warders of the Timberway were moved south to the
Loftwood, and new recruits were formed into units of light troops called the
Volunteer Borderers. [...]
The usefulness of the new Volunteer Borderers
was proved in the summer of 578 when one of this formation’s patrols discovered
that the orc tribe of the Vile Rune was indeed moving northward. In addition to
5,000 tribe members, the force had 2,000 goblins, 1,000 norkers and xvarts, and
1,000 hobgoblins, orgrilIons, gnolls, and ogres. With this detestable
agglomeration were nearly 2,000 bandits and brigands serving as mercenaries.
Its forerunners were worgmounted goblins, a handful of whom were slain to
obtain the intelligence.
Thus alerted, the Marshal of the Archbarony laid a
trap which the unsuspecting invaders blundered into. The humanoid horde moved
north along the fringe of the Loftwood where it butts against the hills. At the
northern terminus of the trees there awaited the full army of Ratik, its
numbers made to appear three times greater by magical means. The gnomes held
the western (hillside) flank, while the light forester troops and elves formed
the other arm of the “U,” well concealed in the dense timber.
The Battle of the
Loftwood saw considerable magical competitions in addition to the standard
hand-to-hand combat between the strongest fighters on the opposing forces. The
real fighting was between the masses of troops, however, and this was fierce in
the extreme. At one point, a score of foreign volunteers saved the day because
their leader, Queg, a Fruztii, had prepared an extensive ambush with rocks,
tree trunks, pits, and trees to set fire to. This action turned back 250 or
more hobgoblins, killing or wounding half of them, so that the flank of the
Archbaron’s army couldn’t be turned. Simultaneously, the gnomes on the left
flank were nearly broken by a rush of gnolls, bandits, and goblins, and were
saved only by the superb slinging of a flanking group of the Hillrunners and
the innate tenacity of the gnomes themselves.
Finally, the scale was tipped by
an attack on the right (of the orc horde) by the elves and foresters. The
humanoid invading force broke and fled, and in the rout there was a great
slaughter. [Dragon #57 - 14,15]
Seuvord
Redbeard saw dissention among his Atamans, and knew he had to suppress it. He
knew that he could not afford to be embroiled in a civil war. His “nation” was
surrounded by enemies: The Rovers were once again increasing in strength to the
west, and raids into those Barrens were far more perilous than they had been
short years before. And except by all but the strongest of efforts, the passes
to Tenh and Fruztii were closed to him. Were civil war to divide his lands,
those enemies were sure to fall upon them and destroy them. He needed to unite
his people. He also wished his own line to retain the Mastership of the Hold as
a hereditary right, so he called a great council at Purmill, with promise safe
conduct for all who attended. The Atamans were dubious. And they had right to
be. Vlek had promised the very same, and look what happened to the Coltens? They
came, but they came with a show of strength. With spears extended, and hands
upon the pommels of their swords.
In CY 578, shortly after Tenh had
coronated its new Duke, the Master of the Hold became Rhelt Seuvord I of
Stonehold. Several of his cousins took ill from a mysterious flux shortly after
the coronation, and about a dozen others were reported fleeing into the Griff
Mountains with a small band of loyal followers. [Dragon #57 - 14]
Magic is
not the only force that can wreak havoc. Those of the Old Faith can tell you
that those who dismiss the forces the natural world do so at their peril.
Nature can and will do more damage than mere wizards, indeed, most wizards,
arcane or divine. Those who live in the shadow of smoking volcanoes can attest
to such, as can those who live on the banks of rivers, and the sea…. Hurricane
"Ivid" is one such reminder. It ravaged the Solnor Coast, crippling
the Sea Barons’ majesty over the sea lanes of the north. Trade ground to a
halt. So did piracy, for that matter. But that was the least of the coastal
settlement’s concerns, as they fled before “Ivid’s” landing.
[Most] people [of the Sea Barons] recall this
three-day storm, which some laughingly called "Hurricane Ivid."
[Ivid - 90]
579 CY
Baron
Lexnol’s heir, Alain IV, marries Lady Evaleigh, the daughter of the count of
Knurl.
In 579 CY, Lexnol's only son,
Alain IV, the heir to the throne of the archbarony, married Lady Evaleigh, the
daughter of the count of Knurl. The county was the only surviving province of
Bone March, and the union was arranged to improve the lot of both realms. [LGG - 91]
Alain acquired the dream of
uniting Ratik and Bone March, but failed to convince the king of the Frost
Barbarians of his plan to drive out the nonhuman tribes. Many whispered that
Alain was encouraged in these ambitions by his step-family, particularly the
count of Knurl, whose position between Bone March, North Province, and Nyrond
was grossly precarious. In certain agreement were the immigrants from Bone
March, who were driven from their lands by the invaders. [LGG - 91]
The Ratik-Fraztii alliance cleared
the Kelten Pass to the Hold of Stonefist, pressing the Fists back, but not
taking the town of Kelten. Rhelt
Seuvord rallied his forces, pushing the Fruztii back into the Griff Mountains.
580 CY
The Bone March was displeased. Had the Fruztii
not allied with Ratik, they’d have surely overwhelmed the little nation. Ratik
could only fortify and man so many passes and still secure the wide expanse of
the Loftwoods. If only the pact could be broken. To break the alliance between Ratik and the
Fruztii, the Bone March conspired with the North Province, for they could not enter Marner undetected. Thus, the Seal of
Alliance stolen from Ratik's Baronial Vault.
In 580 CY, intruders from
Bone March attempted an audacious act of treachery by stealing the Seal of
Marner, an object blessed by the gods of the Suel barbarians that was the
symbol of the new Northern Alliance. The plot was foiled when the raiding party
was captured in Kalmar Pass before making it back to Spinecastle with their
prize. [LGG - 36,37]
[But] not before news of the
theft drove a small wedge between the Fruztii and Ratikans. [LGG - 91]
One must always give credit where credit is due. This History is made possible primarily by the Imaginings of Gary Gygax and his Old Guard, Lenard Lakofka among them, and the new old guards, Carl Sargant, James Ward, Roger E. Moore. And Erik Mona, Gary Holian, Sean Reynolds, Frederick Weining. The list is interminable. Thanks to Steven Wilson for his GREYCHRONDEX and to Keith Horsfield for his “Chronological History of Eastern Oerik.”
Special thanks to Jason Zavoda for his compiled index, “Greyhawkania,” an invaluable research tool.
The Art:
Viking Repose by sebmckinnon
Snow by all-my-life-i-dream
Medieval-Knight by lijinbo78
Vikings by kristmiha
North-war by castaguer93
Sources:
1015 World of Greyhawk Boxed Set, 1983
1064 From the Ashes Boxed Set, 1992
1068 Greyhawk Wars Boxed Set, 1991
2011A Dungeon Masters Guide, 1st Ed., 1979
9025 World of Greyhawk Folio, 1980
11743 Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, 2000
Dragon 57, 63, 243
LGJ et. al.
Greychrondex, Wilson, Steven B.
Greyhawkania, Jason Zavoda
The map of Anna B. Meyer
Snow by all-my-life-i-dream
Medieval-Knight by lijinbo78
Vikings by kristmiha
North-war by castaguer93
Sources:
1015 World of Greyhawk Boxed Set, 1983
1064 From the Ashes Boxed Set, 1992
1068 Greyhawk Wars Boxed Set, 1991
2011A Dungeon Masters Guide, 1st Ed., 1979
9025 World of Greyhawk Folio, 1980
11743 Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, 2000
Dragon 57, 63, 243
LGJ et. al.
Greychrondex, Wilson, Steven B.
Greyhawkania, Jason Zavoda
The map of Anna B. Meyer
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