A History of the SheldomarA History of the Sheldomar
By Kirt Wackford (wackford@biology.utah.edu )
Edited by Scott Rennie (scott.rennie@virgin.net) for 'Black Hart' campaign consistency, and
subject to revision.
c. CY 20-200 [29]
Flan, Oerid, Suel petty states based on permanent agriculture
develop in what is to be Gran March, Bissel, Ket south of the
Bramblewood, Geoff, and the Yeomanry. Intermarriage of the ruling
families of Geoff and Sterich.
Although the whole region of the greater Sheldomar basin had
by this point become "settled", it was by no means
stable. Outside of Keoland the rulers whose ancestors had been
nomads pursued petty wars between their holds as vigorously as
their ancestors had raided. In geographically "open"
areas such as the Gran March and Bissel this resulted in constant
skirmishing. The sheer numbers and constant interactions meant
that no single tribe could develop regional control. No strong
rulers could emerge when all were opposed on all sides -
alliances quickly countered the strong, but fell apart when all
were equal. In the isolated, protected valley of the Yeomanry, on
the other hand, competitors were few and contact with
"outside" forces was much more rare [35]. In these
places unified states developed [79], as had happened in Sterich,
where one group was able to overcome all contenders and force
their allegiance.
As Sterich grew in population and influence it had more contact
and trade with its somewhat reclusive northern neighbour, Geoff.
Intermarriage between nobles of the realms commenced [43].