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.
CY 320's [29]
Baklunish invasions south of Bramblewood begin. Tribes of the
region look to Keoland and Veluna for defence.
A century after Baklunish invasions had begun in the northern
Flanaess [49], western raiders and armies began to harry and
press the central states. Passing through the Bramblewood, these
onslaughts were primarily plundering expeditions. However, the
lands despoiled by this new wave were aware of how completely the
native Flan had been displaced from the northern plains by these
invaders [50], and how, even now, the nations north of the Nyr
Dyv were greatly troubled by marauding nomads of Baklunish
extraction [51].
The Velunese fought the invaders when and where they could, but
still tried to maintain their impartiality in the service of all
the tribes west of them. The Keoish continued to support their
official subjects, but found it difficult to defend such
scattered peoples in a foreign land. Keoish military officers
complained of the tactical nonsense of defending one community
without looking to the next one over, and of not being able to
hold and garrison strategic locations.
Although the Royal Military was becoming a formidable force, the
Keoish King needed more troops in response to this new threat.
Those nobles with the most troops to give had increasing latitude
to act as they chose. Some still supported the King, but many
were increasingly independent and self-serving, and a few began
to drift into repression within their own fiefs. For their
support the nobles wrung from the King more favours and
concessions. As a consequence of its enlightened missions abroad,
Keoland was promoting despotism within, for those nobles who took
most advantage of the situation gained the most power. The King
tried to rely more heavily upon those nobles who willingly
supported him, but in so doing encouraged other dangerous trends.
Many noble houses had begun to see the Keoish destiny as Empire.
They felt rule of all others to be the natural consequence of
their superior nature. These nobles supported the King and he
rewarded them, though with increasing concern.
Seeing the success of paladins and priest-knights as leaders
within the Royal Army, many nobles began employing priests and
paladins to train and lead their own forces. Some nobles chose
the followers of Hextor for this, as this faith had recently
begun to extensively court the nobles of the land. A few
followers of Erythnul similarly came to be supported.