“Since when," he asked,
"Are the first line and last line of any poem
Where the poem begins and ends?”
―
 |
| An Untold Past |
In the middle, I suppose.
Why the middle? Because, the beginning, if there ever was
such a thing, is lost in the depths of time.
No record was left of Time’s creation. Nor Oerth’s, for
that matter. None we’ve found, anyway. What we have is a puzzle, and not a
particularly flattering one.
What came first, we wonder? The gods? Whose? No; I
suspect the gods are relative latecomers, and that in the beginning there was a
conflagration of being, a sundering of what was, and what could be. And only
then did Time begin. And within its confines, gods formed, but not our gods.
Our gods were made in our image, and they exhibit our
failings. They love. They hate. They war. Endlessly.
 |
| Grummsh |
Thus, elves and orcs predate the Oerth. They must, unless
our myths are wrong; and they may very well be. Those myths may be our desire
to place our gods at the centre of our universe, a place they may have no right
to presume.
 |
| The Age of Reptiles |
Magic, for instance. Magic most certainly stemmed from
them, despite what we might think. What else? The elder yuan-ti. The bullywugs.
The troglodytes, and the lizardfolk. And dragons.
[Dragons] were
exceedingly skilled at magic; baneful extraplanar powers supplied them with
secret knowledge of spellcasting in return for great sacrifices of wealth.
Worse yet, certain of those red dragons had undergone sorcerous rituals that
infused their living bodies with shadowstuff from the Demiplane of Shadow,
granting them new and devastating powers. These were the first of the accursed
shadow dragons, and they and their servants built a vast network of caverns,
halls, and tunnels beneath the Crystalmists that exists even to this day. Even
the great Vault of the Drow is said by some sources once to have been the
cavern-hall of an elder shadow dragon of this bygone age, some treasures of
which may still lie hidden thereabouts. (The gods grant us that these treasures
yet remain undiscovered by the drow! [Dragon #230
– 12]
-6826 CY
 |
| Cherbon and the Dragon |
Did the elves
learn their Art at the foot of another? No. They were clever, as clever as any
who came before them.
Cherbon, chief of the Seven Elven Fathers, claims that
he was visited by an ancient man who advises him to quit the New Magic because
it forebodes great evil and conflict. He dismisses this is the insane ramblings
of a strange old man. As he watches the man leave, he reported that the man
transformed into a huge platinum colored beast that took wing and flew into the
heavens. As he watched openmouthed the beast simply vanished. He names the
beast Draggonus, the Suloise word for ‘flying monster.’ (-1310 SD) [OJ11]
-6810 CY
Were we as old as the elves? Surely not.
A band of
grey elves send to secretly spy on primitive man discovers that some of them
are worshipping Demonic and Diabolic Beings. (-1294 SD) [OJ11]
-6416 CY
 |
| A Primitive People |
The elves observed these primitives for centuries before revealing themselves.
The first of a group of travelling grey elves,
exploring the south central portion of Oerth meet with tribal leaders of the
Suel. They strike up a friendship and find that these men are not the
primitives they found almost four centuries before. The elves begin tutoring selected
humans in mathematics, language, art and non-clerical magic. [OJ11]
-6233 CY
Were the Suloise the first humans? Certainly not.
A group of
beautiful dark skinned humans called Kersi from over the southern sea from a
large island continent they called AnaKeri arrived on the southern portion of
the Flanaess in large wooden platformed outriggers. (-717 SD) [OJ1]
-6067 CY
The Kersi surely inspired the Suloise to explore. Doing
so, they discovered other tribes.
The Se-Ul
began systematized trading with the tribes to the north and east. The Baklun in
the northern plains, and the Flan who dwelt just west of the mountains were
among these. Sea trade routes to AnaKeri are developed. The Thirteen Cities of the Suel develop into
separate city-states, but all are ruled by a single council of lords under the
watchful eye of the grey elves, watchfulness that men begin to dislike intensely.
(-551 SD) [OJ1]
-5775 CY
Long did the elves teach the Suloise. But where the elves
were haughty and wise, they discovered the Suloise to be haughty and cruel. And
covetous. Ever more did they demand. One day they believed themselves the equal of their tutors, and more.
 |
| Kendaris |
The grey
elves depart from the Suel. The reason
for leaving is the hatred of the Suel due to the death of so many elves and
humans at the hands of the Nine Mages.
Also there is news of a fierce war between the grey elves and their dark
kindred in the East. (-259 SD) [OJ11]
-5774 CY
 |
| Dark Kindred |
Fire mysteriously begins to belch from the mountains
in the east. The mountains, once the
place of the grey elven cities, are renamed the Mountains of Fire, and the
Mountains of Hell, although the Barrier Peaks and Crystalmists remain
calm. The fire, gasses and earthquakes
that continue to this very day kill Suel seeking to plunder the grey elven
cities. (-258 SD) [OJ11]
-5531 CY
The Suloise waxed more rapidly than those cultures around
them, thanks to their tutelage from the elves.
After a
series of strong "First Protectors" and the development of the
interior lands, First Protector Alianor-b-Hurn turns his eyes outward, and
desires more control of the trade goods. He first attacks the settlements of
the Kersi to the south, and proclaims their lands forfeit to the Seul peoples.
He then begins planning "The great invasion" of AnaKeri. (-15 SD) [OJ11]
-5528 CY
Hubris reigned in the lands of the Suloise, as they
sought to conquer all the peoples of the world.
Alianor sends
a large naval force to invade AnaKeri.
The outriggers of the AnaKeri are no matches for the mighty warships of
the Suel. As the massive armada
approaches the clerics of the AnaKeri call upon the elemental princes for
protection. The princes encircle the
island continent with a maelstrom of wind and wild seas and much of the
invading fleet is destroyed. Those that
do land are met with upheavals in the land itself and, at last, by beings of
elemental fire. A few of the invaders
return to tell the tale. The wall of
wind and water remains behind circling the continent of AnaKeri to this very
day. (-12 SD) [OJ11]
-4666 CY
In their anger at having been abandoned, they sided with
the Grey Elves’ dark brethren.
The last of the Grey Elven cities in the mountains now
known as the Crystalmist is discovered and destroyed by a concerted effort on
the part of the Drow/Seuloise and Giantkind. The defense of the city is so
great, however, that drowkind and giantkind are also nigh exterminated. The
Seuloise army which aided in the destruction of the elven city is destroyed to
a man, and no word of them can be obtained. The remnant of the grey elves flee
eastward to the interior of the eastern portion of the continent. (850 SD)
[OJ1]
-4462 CY
One should mention that the Grey Elves were not the only
olven people. Nor their dark kindred.
But on this date the Four Elven Realms of the East are
founded. (1053 SD/1 OC) [OJ1]
-4416 CY
What secrets did the Suel learn from the dark elves, one
wonders?
[Otto] and I, working with colleagues in Leukish, have
strong evidence that skulks were deliberately created during the second
millennium of the Suel Imperium, probably to serve their masters as House or
Imperial assassins. You recall my investigation of the little-known Eight-House
War of around 1100 SD, which could have sparked the inception of the skulks’
use within the empire. It is wholly reasonable that they could have gotten out
of the control of their creators and spread throughout the empire thereafter,
despite the best efforts of all to command or exterminate them.
—from a letter to Mordenkainen from the priestess
Johanna, formerly of Almor, City of Greyhawk, Wealsun 20, 585 CY
(1100 SD) [Dragon #241 –
47]
-4403 CY
Although the dark elves were defeated, they persevered,
warring on the whole of the surface, a war they could not possibly win.
The Wind Dukes of Aaqa, meet a gathered force of evil
humanoids and drow on the Plains of Pesh (in what is now Keoland). This is the
last recorded great battle between Elves and their drow cousins. The Dukes
shatter the dark elven armies. (1103 SD /60 OC)
Between these times the realms flourish, the battles
with humanoids are frequent, but the might of each of the realms is
unchallenged. This is known as "The Time of Flowering" and much of
the best of Elvendom came to pass in these days. The 12 Gray Elven cities were
built, including Erieadan, the High Seat of Elvendom and The City of Summer
Stars. Many mighty magics, and songs and items of beauty were crafted. The
history of this time is largely hidden from humans, however, because there were
few (if any) humans in the East at this time. Elves rarely speak of it today.
Among the few known personages to have lived during this time were Queen
Ehlissa and the Elven Minstrel Ye'Cind. [OJ1]
The vaati, or wind dukes, are an immortal race
dedicated to law. They live in a remote valley called Aaqa, in the northwestern
depths of the Adribandha mountains. Vaati appear as statuesque humans, tall,
muscular, and androgynous. They have smooth, ebony skin, brilliantly white eyes
that sparkle with inner light, and velvety black hair (which they usually keep
closely shaved). They generally wear no clothing, but they do wear belts or
harnesses to carry weapons and equipment. Vaati speak their own language, and
also speak Auran and Common. [The Mahasarpa Campaign 1999]
c. -2400 CY
 |
| A Troglodyte Kingdom |
The Olman and the Amedian are not the first
intelligent races to rule the Amedio jungle. Fragmentary records from the Olman
city of Tamoachan and other sites indicate that the earliest civilization of
this region belonged to a race of reptiles almost identical to modern-day
troglodytes. These beings lived more than three thousand years ago and were
evil and quarrelsome. Worshipping various demon princes, they claimed trophies
such as skulls and skins from their enemies—normally rival tribes that
worshipped demon princes—and developed advanced means of mummification;
preserved bodies of animals and the ancient troglodytes appear in certain
sites, and writings imply that their sorcerer-kings had themselves mummified in
hopes of continuing beyond death. [SB – 62]
c. –2400’s
The Suloise had always known they were a superior
species. It was high time that those others who did not share this
understanding should be instructed otherwise.
 |
| Inzhilem II |
Imperial armies, even supported by military wizardry,
found themselves hard pressed by their opposition. The great families of red
dragons throughout the southern Crystalmists had enslaved Iimitless numbers of
brutish humanoids for use as sword-fodder, originally to attack one another’s
territories or bring in additional treasures. These armies of orcs and goblinkind
were now turned upon the empire’s soldiers, hurling themselves into battle with
great ferocity and in numbers that well made up for their lack of skill or
foresight.
In addition, these dragons were exceedingly skilled at
magic; baneful extraplanar powers supplied them with secret knowledge of
spellcasting in return for great sacrifices of wealth. Worse yet, certain of
those red dragons had undergone sorcerous rituals that infused their living
bodies with shadowstuff from the Demiplane of Shadow, granting them new and
devastating powers. These were the first of the accursed shadow dragons, and
they and their servants built a vast network of caverns, halls, and tunnels
beneath the Crystalmists that exists even to this day. Even the great Vault of
the Drow is said by some sources once to have been the cavern-hall of an elder
shadow dragon of this bygone age, some treasures of which may still lie hidden
thereabouts. (The gods grant us that these treasures yet remain undiscovered by
the drow!)
Facing such evil strength, the army commanders sent
word to lnzhilem that the issue was in doubt, and they asked for his personal
intervention. Angered at first that his armies could do no more than hold their
own against mere dragons and orcs, lnzhilem quickly became intrigued by the
difficult problem posed by the Fiery Kings, as the troublesome dragons were
known in the eastern lands. He returned to the capital to remedy the situation. [Dragon 230 – 9,10]
Gods need worshippers. It is a simple fact. They diminish
and die without them. So, it comes as no surprise that those who’ve misplaced
theirs must find others. And it comes as no surprise that these gods should
look exactly like these new worshippers. Or so they would have us believe. According
to Olman legend, this is about the time that the Olman gods discovered Oerth
and the Olman peoples. So, one wonders: where did these Olman gods come from? Without?
Or within?
The Olman gods are not native to Oerth, having been
worshipped first by beings on another prime material plane. At some point
around 3000 years ago, these gods discovered Oerth and the Olman people, and
revealed themselves as supernatural beings to the primitive Olman. [SB – 42]
 |
| The Olman |
Most agree on
this: The gods created Oerik. The gods created Man. The gods created etc. Maybe.
Then again, maybe not.
The Olman might
have shared a common ancestor with the Flan, but they are not Flan.
The Olman originated on Hepmonaland, raising a number
of city-states from the jungles of that land. Through centuries of warfare,
they built an empire that spanned northern Hepmonaland and reached across the
Densac Gulf to include the Amedio Jungle. [LGG – 6]
They do look somewhat like the Flan.
Pure Flan have bronze skin, varying from a light
copper hue to a dark, deep brown. Flan eyes are usually dark brown, black,
brown, or amber. Hair is wavy or curly and typically black or brown (or any
shade between). The Flan have broad, strong faces and sturdy builds. [LGG –
5]
A little. But not entirely.
The Olman have skin of a rich red-brown or dark brown
color. Their hair is always straight and black, and their eyes are dark, from
medium brown to nearly black. Olman have high cheekbones and high-bridged
noses, a trait less strong in those of common birth. Some nobles still flatten
the foreheads of their young, for a high, sloping shape is considered
beautiful. [LGG – 6]
-2360 CY
The Suloise understood that dragons might not adhere to Suloise
superiority. Dragons can be that way, egotistic, officious, arrogant. They had
to be negotiated with. Paid vast tithes to not attack, or to side with
them against their enemies. Inzhilem would not have it. They were only wyrms. Reptiles.
Lizards. So what if they could fly? So what if they could cast magic. So could
the Suloise, having applied the right magics…. He directed his Imperial
Congress to aid his wizards in enchanting Orbs of Dragonkind, to put an end to
the dragon problem, once and for all. He referred to it as his Final Solution.
It was calculated that eight orbs [of dragon control] would
be enough to deal with matters in the east. According to one record [Otto]
examined, lnzhilem secretly directed the Imperial Congress about the year -2360
CY to produce such wizards as would be necessary to assist him in the mighty
enchantments that would have to be cast. [Dragon #230 – 11]
-2354 CY
Inzhilem II never saw the application of his Final
Solution. He was killed in internal feud of the NeheliArtzin, in which the Junior
Branch Artzin was destroyed. Such is they way of family feuds in the Imperium,
though. (3162 SD)
A smoldering feud within the House of Neheli-Arztin
flared into violence in -2354 CY, and lnzhilem II was slain and destroyed
beyond recovery before the struggle had ended. The partial house of Arztin
ceased to exist as a result of retaliation, and the victorious partial house of
Neheli kept the throne. Ubrond Thrideen (“Third-Eye”) became emperor. [Dragon #230 – 11]
-2350 CY
 |
| Ubrond |
A devoted but unremarkable ruler, Ubrond apparently
continued the project to produce the orbs and saw it through to its finish, but
considerable interference took place and the original plan for the project went
inexplicably awry. Eight orbs were still made (the date of their completion has
been lost, but it was after -2350 CY), but the orbs were now of differing sizes
and powers, each oriented toward the control of dragons of differing ages. The
reason for this alteration has never been made clear, as it certainly reduced
the effectiveness of these orbs when used in battle against dragons of ages
older than allowed for by any one orb. [Dragon #230 – 11]
Once finished, the eight orbs were given names
corresponding to the age level of the dragons they were meant to fight. In
order from the smallest orb up, they were the Orb of the Hatchling, the Orb of
the Wyrmkin, the Orb of the Dragonette, the Orb of the Dragon, the Orb of the
Great Serpent, the Orb of the Firedrake, the Orb of the Elder Wyrm, and the Orb
of the Eternal Grand Dragon. [Dragon #230 – 11,12]
-2269 CY
 |
| The Years of Conquest and Prosperity |
The years of Conquest and Prosperity begin. No major
foe opposes the might of the empire of the Seuloise, although they do not push
Eastward, because of some fear of the Elven hosts. Magic is rigorously pursued.
Old Grey Elven texts are discovered and studied. The might and haughtiness of
the Elves is copied in manner in the courts; their wisdom is not. Slavery
becomes common and widespread in the Seuloise lands; this continues for many
centuries. The Flanae in the southeast (just west of the Hellfurnaces), the
Oerid to the east, the Kersi (the long distant descendants of those who first
sailed from AnaKeri) to the south, and the Baklun to the north, and several
unnamed small tribes to the west all fall under the grip of the Seuloise fist.
The entire of the western half of Oerik, is controlled by the Seul. But the drow
and darker forces, and a fear of other elves, halt the eastern expansion. (3247
SD) [OJ1]
-2266 CY
The Flan escaped Suloise dominion. Not all. But most.
They poured over the Hellfurnaces, where they met the elves, and the dwarves, who took pity on their suffrage.
The Flanae,
under the protection of Beory, Pelor and Rao flee their lands in mass, making a
perilous crossing of the Hellfurnaces. They move North into the lands of
Eastern Oerik, later called the Flanaess, as the first human inhabitants of the
area. Initially, they are well received by the demi-humans. (3250 SD) [OJ1]
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:
Sources:
1015 World of Greyhawk Boxed Set, 1983
2011A Dungeon Masters Guide, 1st Ed., 1979
9025 World of Greyhawk Folio, 1980
9577 The Adventure Begins, 1998
11374 The Scarlet Brotherhood, 1999
The Mahasarpa Campaign, 1999
11743 Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, 2000
Dragon Magazine, 230
OJ Oerth Journal 1,2,11, appearing on Greyhawk Online
LGJ et. al.
Greychrondex, Wilson, Steven B.
Greyhawkania,
Jason Zavoda
The
map of Anna B. Meyer
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