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 350 - 360
Keoland at peak; enters imperialist phase [59,60,61,62a]. War
with the Baklunish [62a]. Demi-human realms disaffected [63].
Keoland now stretched from the Barrier Peaks to the Azure Sea,
and from the depths of Celene to the high Crystalmists [62a], but
the powerful of the nation desired more. As had happened in Gran
March, the Crown found it difficult to protect the few far-flung
and scattered tribes it had accepted as subjects in the region of
Bissel. Raids continually plagued the March and threatened
northern Keoland. The Knights of the March were eager for action.
Keoish nobles hungered for the plunder of conquests and the
addition of new lands to their rule. The Royal Military had
purposely been filled with people for whom battle was sacred
[71]. All of these forces pressed upon the King, urging war with
the Baklunish. Ultimately he assented, convinced that carrying
the battle beyond the Bramblewood would finally bring a lasting
peace to his realm.
A true peace would remove the King's need for the troops and
support of the nobles, and he could in the future resume his role
as the moral guardian of the Keoish people. This, he felt, was
needed now more than ever before, with so many self-serving,
power-seeking nobles. With such good intent the King summoned
massive forces of invasion. For the first time in recorded
history an army of the Flanaess advanced west of the Great Pass
at Thornward. After a few great clashes, the Baklunish withdrew,
and for years the Keoish forces explored, looted, and attempted
to subdue the lands north and west of the Bramblewood
[62a,66,67]. Control of conquered Bissel was quickly solidified.
The tenacity of the Baklunish people proved incomprehensible to
the Keoish. Normally the westerners were divided into tribes as
fractious as any in the Gran March had been. But with eastern
invaders occupying large portions of the west, and seeking more,
the Baklunish united - or at least set aside their feuds
temporarily. Baklunish warriors from the vast west continued to
come, constantly challenging the Keoish armies, which were spread
thinly in occupation of lands. Eventually more Paynims, Ulli, and
Tusmans had fought and died in what is now Ket than the land had
ever held at one time.
What surprised the Keoish more than the number or determination
of the warriors, though, were the attitudes of the conquered
Baklunish peoples. Though they were held for years as defeated
tribes in conquered lands, they clung tenaciously to their
Baklunish allegiances, frequently not co-operating or even
participating in futile rebellions. For the first time, the
Keoish had met an opponent who vehemently rejected Keoish claims
of cultural superiority. At every introduced reform or
improvement, the Baklunish called their masters "upstart
infidels" or "brash barbarians". The more the
Keoish tried to impress their superiority upon the western
peoples, the more they were resisted - and the harsher became
their rule. Nobles found little profit in the conquered lands,
with such unwilling subjects. Tales of indignities inflicted on
subject peoples spurred constant reprisals from hordes of
Baklunish, seeking to avenge their clansfolk.
Determined to force a peace, the King demanded rapid results in
the conquered lands. Military rule there grew yet more brutal.
The priests and paladins of Heironeous increasingly objected to
these policies. Some resigned their commissions. Others stayed,
but made principled stands and refused to carry out unjust
orders. The Heironeans quickly lost favour with the King, who had
no patience for such disobedience within his own Army, with peace
so close at hand. The other faiths of the land, particularly
Pholtus and Hextor, took advantage of the situation to promote
themselves and cast the Heironeans, and the nobles who protected
them, as "disloyal pretenders". The Heironeans
retreated to secluded portions of Keoland, away from influence in
national affairs [E]. The followers of Pholtus and Hextor, rid of
their rivals, eagerly followed the King's orders - the Hextorians
even enjoying the occasional slaughter. These faiths grew in
power and influence among the nobles, in the Royal Army, and with
the King. Men such as Galzan Karovicof obtained high positions
[F].
During the invasion and occupation relations with Veluna went
from bad to worse. With the bulk of its fighting power on the
other side of the mountains, Keoland was quite vulnerable. Given
Veluna's constant reproachments and, more recently, threats, the
Keoish felt the need to ward themselves against the Velunese.
Thus, while most of the Keoish might was fighting the Baklunish,
constant patrols and reserve companies moved about the Velunese
border. These groups in the Lorridges and Kron Hills were
intended to deter or delay the Velunese from taking action while
the main army was otherwise occupied. They also continued to
carry out actions against humanoids. In the Velunese view, these
contingents threatened Veluna City and Verbobonc, forced Veluna
to maintain a costly state of preparedness, and indicated that
the Keoish had plans to annex portions of Veluna after the
completion of their western campaign [62b]. Both nations became
more suspicious of the other's intent and curried the favour of
borderland demi-humans.
The elves of the Ulek states and Celene had been dubious of
Keoish intentions when the invasion first began. As the
occupation dragged on and they received word of the ill-treatment
of conquered Baklunish and the rapaciousness of the Keoish
nobles, they objected to the King. Unable to achieve satisfaction
in this manner, many elven communities both within Keoland proper
and the demi-human protectorates declared themselves independent
of Keoland. Many ceased dealings with humans, withdrawing into
themselves and refusing to co-operate with Keoish patrols. Others
went so far as to expel human garrisons from what they considered
elven lands, including the County of Ulek [62c,64]. These actions
were largely ignored by the great Keoish nation. The King was
still supported by gnomes, dwarves, and many halflings, all of
whom were more valuable to the immediate war effort than the
fickle elves.
The occupation dragged on. Still the westerners came,
increasingly numerous and better organised with every alliance
they made. Nearly a decade after the first victories, great
losses at the battles of Lopolla and Molvar [G] convinced the
Keoish monarch to abandon the occupation while his army was still
reasonably intact [62b]. The Keoish made an orderly retreat and
dug in at Thornward.