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 340's [57]
Keoish influence spreads into Bissel, Lorridges and Kron Hills
By this time, Keoish royal ambassadors were courting the
demi-human communities of the Kron Hills and Lorridges. Keoland
much valued the products of the demi-humans within its domain,
and sought to extend its beneficent rule further into such
productive lands. Moreover, one standard of Keoish martial virtue
was unceasing war on humanoids, something most demi-humans
appreciated. Within Keoland proper, humanoids were now scarce or
non-existent, and adventures and knights had increasingly to
fight at the edges of Keoish influence to profit or prove their
prowess. It was more glorious to do so in these prosperous
northern lands than such places as the forlorn and valueless
Dreadwood. The demi-humans of Ulek and Celene vouched for the
benefits of such Keoish endeavours to their northern cousins.
Veluna had long assisted its demi-human neighbours in actions
against humanoids, but never with the genocidal fervour of the
Keoish. The Raoin priests held that the best course was to
swiftly punish aggressive humanoid bands while leaving less
troublesome ones alone. In so doing, they gave both threat and
reward as inducements for humanoids not to attack human and
demi-humans. Veluna intended in this manner to limit humanoid
wars to fights between humanoids, an end which was deemed good
enough for coexistence. Raoins reasoned that taking up arms
against humanoids indiscriminately would only give all humanoids
reason and incentive to band together and fight. The Keoish, on
the other hand, saw such an outcome as the necessary and fitting
precursor to driving all humanoids from proximity to civilised
lands.
Meanwhile, the Baklunish had established a number of tributary
states for themselves, from the Bramblewood to Hookhill, the
Realstream to the Lorridges. They ruled the tribes of the region
as warlords, much as the invading Suel and Oerid had ruled the
Flan centuries ago [21]. Baklunish troops continued to move east
from beyond the mountains, every summer raiding Geoff, the Gran
March, Veluna, or beyond [58]. The Knights of the March undertook
expeditions into the region to thwart Baklunish plans. They felt
themselves frustrated by the conservatism of their Commandant,
though. Appointed by the King to rule a pacified Gran March, and
personally holding many lands in the March, the Commandant was
more interested in the security and defence of his realm than the
expansion of the Kingdom. Many Knights, however, were young,
landless, and lacked the numerous humanoid or nomad enemies of
the previous generation. They had the fervour of the martial
faiths to spur them on [70]. They were eager for further
campaigns. They encouraged those tribesmen of the Bissel region
still free of Baklunish rule to seek the status of Keoish
subjects from the King.
Veluna liked neither the agitation in Bissel, the occupation of
the Gran March, nor the constant proselytising among demi-humans
with its concomitant stirring up of humanoids. But she was not
prepared to do naught but protest to the Keoish. She strengthened
her defences as best she could and hoped the brunt of Baklunish
aggression fell to the south.