“A great many things keep happening, some good, some
bad.”
― The History of
the Franks
 |
| Upon a Yellow Sea |
But for the most part, life carried on for most as it
always had. Farmers tilled the soil, fishers cast their nets, and trade flowed.
Or did until war is declared, or evil spills out from the hills or drops anchor offshore.
576
CY
 |
| The Slavelords |
Klim and his compatriots scoured the coasts of the Azure and Gearnat Seas, landing, abducting, and carrying away those unfortunates he and his came across.
Slavelords
begin operations [from the] Pomarj [up and down the] Wild Coast [.] [Slavers – 121]
[O]rganized bands of pirates and slavers have made a
living by raiding the coastal towns on the Sea of Gearnat. Ranging from Onnwal
to the Wild Coast, they have descended quickly and ruthlessly on the small
towns and villages, and carried off innocent citizens into the night. Although
these marauders were not approved of by the lords and rulers of the lands they
raided, they were allowed to continue their depredations. Feuding amongst the
lords and lack of funds prevented all but an occasional naval battle with the villains
and the slow fortification of towns. Bribery was often a more effective method
of protecting one’s lands from the incursions of these avaricious sea-wolves.
[A1 – 2]
One wonders: Although these marauders were not
approved of by the lords and rulers of the lands they raided? How civilised
were these nations that waxed as the empires of old declined that they may approve the actions of marauders? Did they commission privateers? Commandeer cargos? Attack foreign fleets routinely?
And indeed,
how civilised were even the most stable of baronies when those lofty lords might
not have been able the safeguard their own walls?
(1 Planting) Events of Module L2, The Assassin’s Knot
Baron Grellus of Resternford is dead. All clues point
to the small town of Garrotten, a day’s journey to the south. The [sorcerer]
Pelltar of Restenford has asked you to undertake a secret investigation of the
crime. Can you succeed before the murderer strikes again? [L2 – 1]
576-580
CY
 |
| Mercenaries were Commissioned |
Original
Slavelords terrorize the coast. [Slavers – 120]
For several years, organized bands of pirates and
slavers have made a living by raiding the coastal towns on the Sea of Gearnat.
Ranging from Onnwal to the Wild Coast, they have descended quickly and
ruthlessly on the small towns and villages, and carried off innocent citizens
into the night. [A1 – 2]
Before
long, his Yellow Sails were the terror of the seas.
The lords have finally become determined to take
action, forgetting their petty squabbles to unite against the marauders of the
yellow sails. [A1- 2]
Mercenaries were commissioned, and the machinations of
Klim and his associates were put to an end. Or were they? Klim and many of his
allies escaped, whence, none could say.
What
could be said is that the lords and ladies of the Wooley Bay were ever nervous
that yellow sails would once again sail their seas with as much brazen impunity
as they had until then.
c. 577-578
CY
 |
| The Scarlet Brotherhood Sets Sail |
After pursuing his own aims for most of 577, the Holy
Censor [of the See of Medegia] decided obedience to the Malachite Throne would
be a better course to follow. Severe losses in manpower due to the successes of
his enemies, coupled with threats of a punitive invasion by the Overking’s
forces, brought about this change of attitude.
During the remainder of the year, and well into CY
578, the See has been a hive of frenzied activity. Spidensa, His Equitable
Nemesis of Medegia, is now heavily into the councils of Ivid. Past
transgressions evidently forgiven, the arch-cleric has been named Imperial
Constable, with instructions to gather an army and send it deep into the heart
of Sunndi. [Dragon #63 – 16]
577 CY
The Scarlet Brotherhood had not failed in their seduction
of the Schnai. You were once the greatest nation upon the Solnor, they said.
The Schnai agreed. Go forth and be so again, they said. These whispers were very much to
the Schnai’s liking.
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.
During the season
of 577, much minor activity took place along the coast of North Province and
off the northern end of the Island of Asperdi. 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.
This event notwithstanding, many of the vessels from
the cold north did manage to avoid patrolling warships and successfully raid
North Province and the Baronial Isles. [Dragon #63 – 16]
The Schnai had
been humbled. They recalled how they and the Fruztii had once been 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]
Chelor III, of
the South Province, was every bit as ambitious as any of House Naelax. He, like
Ivid, too had dreams of conquest and empire, and strove to gather in what lands
he might in the ensuing chaos.
 |
| Gathering His Forces |
In 577 CY, however, Herzog Chelor's forces crossed the
Thelly, seizing Sunndi's northeast frontiers in a series of bitter charges. [LGG
– 111]
Chelor’s forces
crossed the Greyflood and pressed into the Downs, and then further, into the
Rieuwood. The elves and dwarves stood with Sunndi at Rieuwood against the might
of the South Province and held against his greater force.
Rieuwood: This forest lies entirely
within northern Sunndi. Its mighty ipp trees stretch between the Hollow
Highlands and the foothills of the Glorioles. It is heavily patrolled and
defended by gray elves and many rangers, in case Ahlissa ever invades across
the Grayflood. This was the site of [a major battle] in 577 (failed invasion by
South Province) [.] [LGG – 141]
It was a small
miracle that Sunndi held against the Herzog. They were stretched thin, oh so
very thin, to the point of breaking, for they were defending north and south.
If not for the elves and gnomes and dwarves, they would surely have fallen.
Suundi
was reeling. It was barely able to muster defence against Chelor’s invasion, as
most of its forces were arrayed in defence of its south.
The Vast Swamp has long been home to many nonhumans,
particularly bullywugs, and has also housed desperate outlaws of every race who
raid frequently into southern Sunndi for their needs. The swamp is also home to
the cult of the demigod Wastri, the Hopping Prophet. [LGG – 154]
 |
| Wastri |
Humans are superior to all other races [, he believes].
Orcs, goblins, bullywugs, and such are sufficient to serve humans, but
creatures such as elves, dwarves, gnomes, and Halflings deserve only death.
Those who disagree with you are wrong and must be convinced of their error,
with a weapon if need be. Those who live in the water and on land deserve
respect, for having a refuge when one of your realms becomes too dangerous is
clever and resourceful. [LGG – 187]
 |
| Bullywug |
It was a wonder
that Suundi was able to hold its own against Chelor and Wastri both. But they
were determined that they should. They were determined that they should remain
free.
Chelor was confident of a quick and inevitable victory
against Sunndi, so he sent his fleet against Onnwal, too.
Several naval actions were fought in 577 between
Onnwalish ships and Provincial ones. These battles took place in both Relmor
Bay, where the Herzog wishes to close off trade between Nyrond-Almor and the
Iron League, and in the Sea of Gearnat. No decisive engagement occurred,
however. [Dragon #57 – 16]
 |
| The Great Kingdom Takes to the Sea |
The first major naval skirmishes between the Great
Kingdom and the powerful Nyrondese navy took place in Relmor Bay in CY 578.
Some say the Nyrondese engineered these skirmishes, preparing for what they
considered to be an inevitable war.
Certainly, Ivid V was making noises at court about reclaiming
Aerdy's great imperial heritage, and Nyrond was the first major power heading
west. He did have designs on Nyrond, but it may well be that the Nyrondese
forced his hand. [Ivid – 4]
One
would think that the blight of slavery had come to an end. But it was alive and
well, despite the defeat of the Slavelords, and despite the well-wishes of many
a good folk; for slaves were much sought in the Amedio, and in the Tilvenot;
indeed slaves were still abundant in the Thillonrian, and the Great Kingdom, to
say nothing of the Empire of Iuz and the Bandit Kingdoms. It comes as no
surprise that the Sea Princes should be reticent to end a practice that had been
as profitable to them for as long as it had beem, no matter that there were a
few, even within their fold, that found the practice abhorrent.
Prince
Jeon II of the Sea Princes put forth a plan to end slave trade to assembled
grand council, but the Prince of Toli, the Plar of Hool, the Grandee of
Westkeep, the commodores of the Isles, and others shouted down his plan.
In 577, Jeon assembled a grand council of his peers
and demanded an end to slave-taking. The prince of Toli, the plar of Hool, the
grandee of Westkeep, and the commodores of the Isles shouted down his plan.
Only the ineffectual governor of Sybarate Isle and the duke of Berghof
supported him. In disgust, he withdrew his proposal. [LGG – 101]
578 CY
Ivid V declared that the Great Kingdom and the nations of
the Iron League were hereby in a state of war. Nyrond had little choice but to
reciprocate.
During CY 578 (late Needfest) a proclamation of war
was issued against the Great Kingdom and her satellites by the Kingdom of
Nyrond, the Prelacy of Almor, and their allies. This, in conjunction with the
various military activities already in motion, makes the southern and eastern
portions of the Flanaess as busy as the marketplace at Rauxes, and the
masterless men gather round as a pack of famished wolves clusters near weakened
prey. [Dragon #65 – 77]
Wastri continued to raid into Suundi as though he knew that it was hard pressed to its north.
Raids from the Vast Swamp peaked in 578 CY; such
assaults now could be a prelude to a true invasion. [TAB – 29]
 |
| King Hazendel |
King Hazendel has ordered a series of castles built
along the kingdom’s southeastern border, where mast of the attacks have fallen.
[TAB – 29]
Regardless, Wastri’s raids, Hazendel
held firm against Chelor’s invasion of his northern border.
Chelor became ever more displeased with his armies
inability to defeat the lesser strength of Sunndi, dismissing the excuses of
terrain and the guerrilla tactics used by the enemy; so much so that he decided
to take matters into his own hands.
Chelor himself took the field, gaining the territory
between the Grayflood and Rieuwood. The amassed army, under the command of
General Reynard, crossed the northern Hollow Highlands, hoping to cut off all
of Sunndi from her allies in Irongate, Onnwal, Almor, and Nyrond. The invasion
achieved only modest gains, however, thanks to an allied force of nearly twenty
thousand men, dwarves, and gnomes. Though fighting continued in the region,
with guerilla raids staged from the Rieuwood and the hills, Ahlissa held on to
its gains. [LGG – 111]
The Iron League was now forced to guess which army
would strike where. Would each move southward? Would one move across the
northern Hollow Highlands to join the other? Could they aim at taking the Iron
Hills and Hollow Highlands preparatory to a campaign against ldee next year?
Men of Sunndi harassed the flank of General Reynard’s
force from the safety of Rieuwood, but this was a mere annoyance, and late in
the summer, the general led his force across the arm of the Hollow Highlands.
The plan was to march the combined force south into Idee, not stopping until
reaching the Azure Sea. This move would effectively sever half of ldee and all
of Sunndi from Irongate, Onnwal, and aid from Nyrond and Almor. [Dragon #57
– 15]
So went the
first engagements. It was a vicious, brutal war. It could be said that there
was little glory to be had. Few fought with honour. Sunndi learned that soon
enough; quarter was not received; so, none was given. Such is the way when orcs
and hobgoblins and demons are put to the field.
Luckily for
Sunndi, their foe was hardly unified.
The Overking
intends that, one way or another, the Iron League will be fatally crippled
through thrusts against Sunndi and Idee. Spidensa is a willing tool, for he
apparently can’t lose either way. If the war goes in favor of the Great
Kingdom, Medegia will have contributed substantially to the victory. If it
fails, the Holy Censor can’t be blamed, as he will (ostensibly) have committed
his every available unit to the plan.
In actuality, it is believed that the cream of
Medegia’s troops are remaining with the Holy Censor. There are no fewer than
6,000 “guards” of various sorts at the capital city [of Mentrey], and about
1,000 more at Pontylver. These troops can follow up a victorious foray into
Sunndi, cover a retreat, or see to the arch-cleric’s personal safety.
The Holy Censor
would likely have given the Overking more wholehearted cooperation had lvid
allowed his new Imperial Constable to conscript troops from Rel Astra, command
a contingent of the Overking’s own soldiers, and assault Sunndi without
interference from Herzog Chelor’s forces. The Holy Censor disdains the Herzogal
troops and wishes to conquer the south himself, to bring that area the “light”
of his rule.
Chelor is
reportedly not unaware of this double-dealing. He has, it is said, asked lvid
to send a Marshal (one of the strongest of the Demonic Knights of Doom) to
inspect the See and report on its readiness to furnish more troops for the
campaign, should the effort be protracted. Discovery in this manner would, of
course, humiliate and possibly disgrace the Holy Censor. Already some of his
eastern nobles have deserted, abandoning the arch-cleric for service with
Reynard. Such an inspection would force Spidensa to yield up his reserves, and
in all likelihood they would fall to the command of Herzog Chelor. Therefore,
the Holy Censor is using all of his influence and wiles to avoid the Herzog’s
attempts to maneuver him into this highly vulnerable position.
 |
| Overking Ivid V |
The Holy Censor is
himself troubled by news that the dwarves, gnomes, and hillmen of the Glorioles
and Hestmarks are responding to his invasion in a most warlike manner and
massing to smash any attempted movement through their territory.
And worse still is
the news from the north. In Grandwood Forest, a raid by wood elves and
foresters has dealt a severe blow to Medegian troops holding the west bank of
the Mikar River. An estimated force of more than 3,000 sylvan elves and men
lured a host of nearly 5,000 humanoids and somewhat fewer men (mostly levies
but also some 300+ picked cavalry) away from their encampment and deep into the
forest. Captain General Gahru, commander of the Censorial army, blundered into
a carefully hidden trap laid about 4 leagues west of his camp. Thinking that he
was pursuing marauding raiders who had come upon him unawares, the Captain
General pushed ahead, engaging in light skirmishing against an enemy who was
always just out of reach . . . until the trap was sprung.
The trap consisted
of two elements: an area of nearly impassable terrain, and well-placed units of
elves and men. When missiles from bow, sling, and crossbow began to rain upon
Gahru’s now closely bunched troops, it was too late. A panic ensued, and the
army virtually disintegrated when it was attacked by a reserve of some 2,000
forester infantry. No humanoid prisoners were taken. Captain General Gahru is
missing and presumed slain. Early reports said that less than 20% of the army
survived, but later that month (Wealsun 578) stragglers brought the total of
survivors to slightly over 30%. Most casualties were humanoid, since these
troops were most ardent in pursuit of the “fleeing” wood elves.
With the continued
hostile activity in the Grandwood as a menace to the Censor’s southern campaign
plans, he has had to strike a pact with a fellow Constable, Drax, the Mayor of
Rel Astra. In return for sworn support for Rel Astra’s continued independence
of direct control by the Malachite Throne, Drax has agreed to furnish support
for the Censor’s tattered forces guarding the forest’s borders. The Rel Astran
contingent is said to number some 2,000 men and 1,000 humanoids — although orcs
and like troops are not currently eager to enter The Grandwood. [Dragon #63 – 16,17]
 |
| Piracy was again on the rise... |
Onnwal would
have none of that, though. Troops needed safe passage, as did the materials of
war. Food. Pay. Gold. Piracy could not be tolerated, and their convoys secured,
even if that meant that ships need be diverted from the defence of their
coasts.
Doing so was
difficult. It was taxing. And Onnwal still needed to support they allies, lest
their allies cease to support them.
Coupled with the usual freebooting and piratical
activities common to the waters around and the waters frequented by the
shipping of Onnwal, Count Elverd (of the House of Destran) had no easy time. CY
578 was better, with victories over the Pirate Blidg Fanger fought near Blue
(Pomarj) with a huge amount of loot captured, and then a squadron action off
Norland Point when raiding ships from Ahlissa were caught in Dunhead Bay
(between Onnwal and South Province) by four warships. The latter brought
considerable irritation to Herzog Chelor, for Onnwalish vessels then began
raiding in Relmor Bay and along the coast of Ahlissa from Prymp to Galdol below
the Tusk [….] This caused the Provincials to withhold several thousand troops
from the army being mustered at Zelradton. [Dragon #57 – 15]
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 does 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]
579-580 CY
 |
| Bitter Naval Battles |
Dunhead Bay: A shallow arm of Relmor Bay
separating Onnwal from Ahlissa, Dunhead Bay was for years the scene of bitter
naval battles between the Iron League and the Great Kingdom's South Province, particularly
between 579-580 CY, during the War of the Golden League, and 583-584 CY [.]
[LGG – 148]
579-584 CY
The Golden League was having none of his dreams of
empire. They had not shrugged off the yoke of one tyrant, just to submit to
another.
Relmor Bay: The eastward branch of the
Sea of Gearnat is Relmor Bay, long the battleground for the fleets of Almor,
Nyrond, and Onnwal, against the naval squadrons of old South Province. Warfare
was almost constant here in 579-584 CY, during the War of the Golden League and
Greyhawk Wars. [LGG – 149]
If only Chelor understood the Iron League’s
determination, and their desire for self-determination.
The war ground on, a gruesome affair with not end in
sight. Villages burned, the smoke rising across the horizon. Bodies lay strewn
across the fields, clogging ditches; the dead often risen to blunt the
defenders’ resolve.
War has been a steady diet of the Overking’s realm for
several years. Allies are few, but include the Herzog of South Province, the
See of Medegia, certain tribes of humanoids to the north […] and certain
factions of the Sea Barons, although the latter—as a whole—are not trustworthy.
Ivid has become obsessed with extending his lands in order to form a “Greater
Aerdi Empire” ever since his declaration of war against Almor and Nyrond The
Herzog’s subsequent blunting the armies of the Golden League […] has added
fresh fuel to his megalomania. [WG8 – 69]
[The war spanned two years], ending in a minor
strategic victory for Ivid's field army under the leadership of the Herzog, and
seeing the withdrawal of Almorian and Nyrondese armies to the west of the Harp
River. [WG8 – 69]
“But you, Roman, must remember that you have to guide
the nations by your authority, for this is to be your skill, to graft tradition
onto peace, to shew mercy to the conquered, and to wage war until the haughty
are brought low.”
― The Aeneid
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:
Bullywug, by Timothy Truman, from EX1 Dungeonland, 1983
Overking Ivid V (presumably), from Players Guide to Greyhawk, 1998
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
9039
A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity, 1980
9057
The Assassin’s Knot, 1983
9253 WG8 Fate of Istus, 1989
9577
The Adventure Begins, 1998
9578
Player’s Guide to Greyhawk, 1998
11374
The Scarlet Brotherhood, 1999
11621
Slavers, 2000
11742
Gazetteer, 2000
11743
Living Greyhawk Gazeteer, 2000
Ivid
the Undying, 1998
Dragon
Magazine, 57,63,65
OJ
Oerth Journal, appearing on Greyhawk Online
Greychrondex,
Wilson, Steven B.
Greyhawkania, Jason Zavoda
The map of Anna B. Meyer
Another epic installment! I'm always surprised to see history that i haven't read before. Your research showed me there is naval combat info out there. I hope someday to reference this post for a battle article or two.
ReplyDeleteWow, awesome read. There is so much information here, I am taking notes on the sea battles for reference for the Underwater Guide to Greyhawk. Thanks David, I have truly enjoyed the journey of this story.
ReplyDelete