A 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.

Notes and Sources Part II

55] WoG mentions an unnamed "military-religious order" [53] as the pacifiers of the land, but in FtA this order is named as The Knights of the March [54]. However, there is no mention in WoG of Knights of the March, and it clearly states that there are only three "true orders of Knighthood" in the Flanaess, the Knights of the Shield; Hart; and Watch (p.79). My supposition is that the Knights of the March (nation of Keoland only) evolved into the Knights of the Watch (an international order). This process is described in the text. Perhaps the March still exists as an honorific or order bestowed on knights from Keoland and the Gran March, many of whom would also belong to the Watch.
56] A good model for such intolerant, arrogant, and well-intentioned efforts can be found in the teachings of William Pratt, who was for a time in charge of "civilising" Native American children forcibly held at US federal boarding schools. His proclaimed credo was "Kill the Indian to Save the Man".
57] My speculation as to date, but must be prior to CY 400 (see [72]).
58] The extent of permanent Baklunish settlement and rule, as opposed to just raids, can be determined by the racial legacy of various regions. Note that Bissel (OSB) has a significant Baklunish strain while the Gran March (SOf) and Veluna (Osf) do not (WoG p.14, FtA Ref Card #2). Note also that the Valley of the Mage has a strong Baklunish influence (OBf - Ibid.). Whether this is a result of historical settlement, or selected immigration subsequent to the arrival of Jaran Krimeeah, I will not speculate.
59] "CY 356 Kingdom of Nyrond established, Kingdom of Keoland at peak" WoG p.9
60] "CY 356 Nyrond established; Kingdom of Keoland at peak, entering imperialist phase;..." FtA Ref Card #1
61] "To the west, the oldest of all the major Kingdoms established in the Flanaess, Keoland, grew more powerful and predatory in the mid-fourth century. Expanding its influence to the north, it ultimately became involved in the so-called "Small War" (or Short War) with Furyondy and Veluna. Military reverses and the objections of the small but powerful demi-human enclaves in Ulek and Celene soon put an end to that expansionism." FtA p.4
62]
62a) After several centuries of benign leadership, a line of monarchs upon the Keoish Throne became ambitious and
embarked on a policy of conquest. At the peak of this imperialism, Keoland held sway from the Pomarj to the
62b) Crystalmist Mountains, while her armies pushed into Ket and threatened Verbobonc and Veluna City (c. 350 - 360 CY). The Ketite expedition came to grief in successive battles (Molvar, Lopolla), while an alliance between Veluna and Furyondy ended the Keoish threat in that quarter (Short War).
62c) Coincidentally, the Olvenfolk within the boundaries of Keoland objected to the warlike policies of the King and began expelling royal garrisons in the Ulek Provinces and Celene. In the
62d) ensuing struggle, the freemen of the western portion sided with the demi-humans.
62e) Raiders in the far south took advantage of the conditions to harry the Keoish coast from Gradsul to Gryrax.
62f) King Tavish III was slain in battle against the Sea Princes (Siege of Westkeep, 453 CY), and his son,
62g) Tavish IV, immediately changed the policies of the Kingdom upon ascending to the throne. After protracted
negotiations, the independent state of the Yeomanry was recognised, the Ulek States were granted autonomy, and
Keoland returned to its former state of tolerance and prosperity thereafter." WoG pp.27, 28
63] Note that the "recognition" of Ulek independence came a century after the "fact" of the expulsion of Keoish garrisons [64]. Thus, while the "nations" of Celene and Ulek were brought into being (effected) in CY 461 [65], the actual revolt of the elves began as a response to the Keoish invasion of Ket in the CY 350's (62b,c).
64] "When Keoish adventures abroad provoked Jurnre to expel the King's garrisons, this was accomplished without violence, and ever since the Keoish Crown's recognition of Ulek independence (a century after the fact) relations have been cordial." FoI p.25
65] "CY 461 Demi-human realms of Ulek and Celene are affected [sic]" WoG p.9
66] "A Kingdom of great antiquity, Keoland has harboured territorial ambitions regarding its neighbours for centuries. Both Ket and Veluna have had reason to fear Keoland's armies in the past." FtA p.29
67] "...Ket has always feared the might of Keoland in particular, and with good cause." FtA p.30
68] "The isolated position of Geoff, surrounded on all sides by mountains, hills, and forests, has made it virtually immune to the normal warfare of the Flanaess - although at one time a brief conflict with Keoland was fought (c. 450 CY)." WoG p.22
69] Celene was both "within the boundaries of Keoland" and had "royal garrisons" of Keoland stationed within it (WoG p.27). This idea of Celene as a subject, even occupied, nation guarded by Keoish soldiers may strike the reader as odd, for many campaigns treat Celene as a realm apart, seldom visited by humans. Indeed, elsewhere we are told that "this small land has always been under the rule of elves" (FtA p.24). Yet the texts clearly indicate that Celene was under Keoish protection and within the boundaries of that larger nation. The northernmost portion of Celene was on the main Suel migration route and likely saw the passing of thousands (WoG p.10), and the resident humans of Celene actually outnumber the elves at the present time (WoG p.20 and FtA Ref Card #2)! Yet "little certain knowledge of Celene or its court exist" (WoG pp.20,21) and "The elves of Celene harbour many secrets (FtA p.67). How can this large and persistent human presence be reconciled with a Celene that is a place of sylvan mystery? How could the Keoish dominate a land always ruled by elves?
I believe that much of the land of Celene, particularly in the south, is and has always been unknown to humans. The elves allowed humans in their midst but carefully kept them away from many secret places. Thus while the realm was administered, not just claimed, by Keoland, humans were for the most part confined to Enstad, the main trails, and a few select garrisons. Most of the realm of Celene exists apart from humanity and contains many places never seen by humans and unknown by them to even exist. Consider as a more mundane model the Japanese treatment of Westerners in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Foreign merchants were permitted in certain designated coastal cities for purposes of trade, but their potentially disruptive influence on cultural stability was greatly feared. Such merchants had to reside in specific "Foreign Quarters" of those cities. When they ventured out, it was only with prior permission and under heavy escort, and it was almost never to locations in the interior of the country. A Celene like this would allow Keoland to feel in control while the elves continued to rule themselves, and would allow considerable humans to visit the land while still preserving the spirit of mystery of the elven realm.
70] If the King's wishes were implemented by a "military-religious order" [53,54] we are left to wonder which religion they were. Certainly a militant one, and strongly Lawful considering their duties and allegiances. However, the fact that the Knights of the March [55] are not prominent today as a religious order leads me to believe that they were not fully under the control of one of the primary Greyhawk faiths. Perhaps they were a sect; not a dissenting splinter group of some faith so much as a special order whose loyalty was ultimately more beholden to the King of Keoland than to a priestly authority. Thus, they would be Lawful Neutral, with tendencies towards the ethical bent of their parent church. Strong candidates are, in my opinion, neutral factions of the churches of Heironeous, Pholtus, and Hextor. Perhaps the March included individuals of all of these faiths, appointed by the King for their loyalty to him rather than church hierarchy, and whose religious teachings included worship of the royal house of Keoland. Such an order would certainly display political manoeuvring, as each faith vied to place its priests in positions of influence.
71] While the faiths of Heironeous, Hextor, and Pholtus are all martial, it should also be noted that they are all Oeridian in origin. That this western campaign was against Baklunish should not be discounted when assigning motivation to their encouragement of the war.
72] "The Lirtlemark, or March of Bissel, was the northernmost frontier of the Kingdom of Keoland, c. 400 CY. It was wrested from the latter in the Small War (Furyondy vs. Keoland) which ended Keoish influence in Veluna (438 CY). Bissel became a tributary state of Furyondy for a few decades..." WoG p.19
73] The occupation of the region of Ket by Keoland, as well as trade afterward, has resulted in much Suel blood among the Baklunish tribes. Oeridian is present also - but that has come east from the Original Oeridian Homelands (WoG p.10, FtA Ref Card #2) as well as west with occupation and trade. Ket is listed as Bso on FtA Ref Card #2.
"Ket is so mixed with Suel and Oeridian blood as to be the least typical of the Baklunish race..." WoG p.13
"This mixture of cultures includes the people themselves, for the Ketites are of mixed racial stock, albeit of Baklunish culture for the most part." WoG p.28
"In Ket, mixing with both Oeridian and Sueloise folk..." FtA p.11
"Its people are predominantly Baklunish, but there is a racial mix..." FtA p.30
My conception of Ket has it mixed not only with non-Baklunish, though - it is mixed with Baklunish tribes as well. The Baklunish tribes are divided into a number of often fighting sub-races. Many of these (Ulli, Ekbiri, Tusmans) have their own countries. Others (Paynims) do not, and are minorities or majorities in several countries. In contrast, there is not (yet) a true Ketite sub-race. Ket is home to many tribes of differing origins, a consequence of its reconquest by different tribes and its position as a trade state. In Ket, otherwise warring tribes seem to live in relative peace and even intermixture.
74] The fact that the Yeoman are said to have served in the Keoish military for decades before the nation's revolt [75,76] implies that its annexation occurred less than a century before the Short War (CY 438) [72].
75] "Many thousands of Yeoman served in the Keoish military for decades, but when the Kingdom began its wars of conquest, the freemen of the territory revolted and closed their frontier to Keoish rule forever. The move was successful primarily because the Kingdom was beset with rebellion everywhere..." WoG p.42
76] "Yeomanry warriors served in the Keolandish armies for decades, but at the height of Keoland's expansionism, the freemen of the Yeomanry revolted and closed their doors to Keolandish rule forever. This daring move was successful primarily because Keoland was overextended dealing with other neighbouring lands and a major internal revolt at the time." FtA p.44
77] "This democratic tradition persisted when the area came under Keoish rule...Although they exploited them, the Keoish also brought many benefits to the inhabitants of the land..." WoG p.42
78] "This democratic tradition persisted under a moderately lengthy period of Keoish rule, since the Keolanders had the wisdom to listen to those they had conquered." FtA p.44
79] Some would argue that it was democratic process, not isolation, which produced the strong, unified nation of the Yeomanry. I believe that the isolation of the Yeoman, their relatively freedom from constant skirmishing, resulted in the stability and trust required for a democracy to develop:
"These peoples developed the habit of holding annual meetings of all the tribes in the region, where disputes were settled and arrangements of all sorts made." WoG p.42
"The warriors of all the tribes in the land elected spokesmen who themselves elected a single spokesman who would convene tribal meetings and negotiations." FtA p.44
80] "The western shores of the Sea of Gearnat have long been called the Wild Coast...Portions of the area have been under the control of Celene, the Prince of Ulek, the Gynarch of Hardby, and the Free City of Greyhawk at various times. The inhabitants, being of a mind otherwise, have always managed to regain their freedom." WoG p.41
If the Wild Coast was under the rule of Celene and Ulek, I believe it more likely that Keoland was controlling those states than that the demi-humans had imperialist ambitions of their own.
81] Keoish attempts to conquer Perrenland were stymied by the unifying actions of Perren, c. CY 400. More about this will be said in the next history article.
82] "The buccaneers of the Azure Sea and Jeklea Bay grew strong and wealthy when Keoland was at the height of its power, for the eyes of its leaders were turned northward toward empire, and the sea raiders were ignored." WoG p.34
83] These observations prompted the formation of the Knights of the Hart, to be detailed in another history.
84] "Military defeats by Ket, the disapproval of the eastern elves, and the Veluna/Furyondy alliance which drove back the Keoish troops in the Short War led to the formation of the Gran March and Bissel as northern tributary states which gradually assumed greater independence. Sterich, to the west, also gained more and more freedom." FtA p. 29
85] "Sailing unchecked from their island and mainland strongholds, these raiders were the scourge of the coasts from Gradsul to Scant, on the Pomarj, and even beyond into the Sea of Gearnat and the Tilva Straight." WoG p.34
86] "They preyed on Keoland's southern borders and extended their pillage as far as the Pomarj and beyond at the height of their power." FtA p.36
87] "...some unsuccessful attacks by the Sea Princes sailing up the Kewl at the nadir of Keoish sea power have had littler lasting effect [on Jurnre]..." FoI p.25
88] "When Keoland turned back from imperial expansion, her navy began to rebuild in order to check the threat of the Sea Princes, as they were now commonly known." WoG p.34
89] "Their numbers and strength had become so great, however, that the Keoish fleet, even with the aid of a squadron of Ulek warships, could at best deliver a sharp check to them (Battle of Jetsom Island)." WoG p.34
90] "Keolandish naval strength subdued them at the Battle of Jetsom Island..." FtA p.36
91] "Knights of the Watch: Certain stout soldiers from the lands of Bissel, Gran March, Geoff, and Keoland are invited to join this order, which is pledged to protect the east from incursions of the Paynims and the other Westerlings...Their current Grand Commander is Hugo of Geoff." WoG p.79
92] Given elven and dwarven life-spans, it is likely that Duke Grenowin, Prince Olinstaad Corond, and Queen Yolande were the originally chosen rulers. There have probably been a succession of human Counts and Countesses, as even humans knowledgeable of the druidic mysteries age to some extent.
93] The period of Pomarjan self-rule was "several decades" [94], meaning several decades before the Hateful Wars [95a] and thus soon after Ulek's establishment in CY 461 [65].
94] "This rich peninsula was originally a collection of petty states under the protection of the Prince of Ulek. Not content with this status, the nobles of the area forswore their oaths and drove out the garrisons of the sovereign's castles, taking them for their own. For several decades, the Pomarj prospered under this new freedom, the mines of the Drachensgrab and sea trade making noble and commoner alike rich." WoG p.31
95]
95a) "However, in the Hateful Wars (498 - 510 CY), the
95b) combined Ulek states, with co-operation from Veluna and the demi-humans of the Kron Hills, broke the power of the Euroz [orc] and Jebli [goblin] hordes which had nested in the Lortmils and were attempting to spread to the lands around. These humanoids were finally driven out and scattered - some fleeing northward
95c) toward the Yatils, but most (having wiser leadership) taking to the Suss forest and thence to the rugged mountains of the Pomarj. Finding the humans there weak and indolent, the invaders attacked quickly, captured the strongholds, and then set themselves up as masters of the whole peninsula." WoG p.31
96] "At one time, the territory of the Prince reached to the tip of the Pomarj, but the nobles there despised a dwarven overlord, and they ejected the mixed garrisons which protected their holdings in the Prince's name. Ulek took no reprisal against them..." WoG p.39
97] "This rich peninsula was originally a collection of small states governed by the Prince of Ulek, but the local nobles drove out the Uleks and governed themselves until the early sixth century." FtA p.34
98] "Ulek took no reprisal against [the rebellious humans of the Pomarj], and an attempt was made to relieve the distressed territory when swarms of vicious humanoids fell upon it after being driven from the Lortmils." WoG p.39
99] "Once a minor jewel of the barons of the Pomarj, Highport was the centre of a bustling shipping and trade industry...before the dark tide of death and destruction swelled out of the hills - the murderous bands of humanoids...Highport burned and its few remaining people were slaughtered." SoS p.24
100] "Bissel became a tributary state of Furyondy for a few decades, but when humanoid invasions swept over the latter realm, the Margrave Rollo established the independence of the territory by bravery in service of the King of Furyondy (the Bisselites slaughtered a horde of Jebli (goblins) which lay in ambush for King Hugh III, who was guarded by but a small train). The King granted the brave Rollo palatinate status for the deeds performed, and Bissel has enjoyed self-rule since." WoG p.19
101] "A brief siege of the city by refugee goblins and orcs in 506 CY, at the height of the Hateful Wars..." FoI p.25
102] "The realm is friendly with the Ulek states, and an alliance between Celene and these countries was responsible for the campaigns which drove all of the humanoids from the Lortmil Mountains - although the defeated forces of humanoids subsequently invaded and took over the Pomarj." WoG p.21
103] "In happier days, Celene allied well with the Ulek states, especially the elf-dominated Duchy. Historically, the states acted together against the humanoids of the Lortmil mountains, and elf and dwarf worked together to this end." FtA p.24
104] "Since the humanoid tribes have been driven out of the Lortmils, the land [of the County of Ulek] has enjoyed considerable prosperity." WoG p.38
105] "As forces from Ulek, Veluna, and the demi-humans of the Kron Hills combined to drive vast tribes of orcs and goblins out of the Lortmil Mountains, the humanoids fled south and east, easily overrunning the lazy and disorganised human inhabitants and securing their strongholds." FtA p.34
106] "Since the Lortmils were culled of humanoids in the so-called Hateful Wars at the start of the century, the County [of Ulek] has been peaceful." FtA p.40
107] The Principality of "Ulek's dwarven infantry has seen much combat during the century, being involved in the Hateful War [sic]..." FtA p.41
108] "The gnomes of the region [of the Kron Hills] were instrumental in the organisation of the army which drove the humanoid hordes from the Lortmils (and the Kron Hills)." WoG p.49
109] "The gnomes [of the Kron Hills] have a history of being a free, independent, and very brave folk, playing a full role in the Hateful Wars..." FtA p.58
110] The Lortmil mountains are now "the homeland of many sorts of demi-humans...Those folk have acted in concert in the past to expel most of the humanoids and many of the vicious monsters from the Lortmils..." WoG p.53
111] "Historically, the demi-humans of [the Lortmil] mountains have fought long and hard to drive out the humanoids and monsters, culminating in the Hateful Wars which led to the creation of the Pomarj..." FtA p.56
112] I believe that such refugees played a role in the creation of the Horned Society. This will be explored in a subsequent history.
113] "The [Drachensgrab] mountains are now the major stronghold of humanoid invaders holding the whole Pomarj area. These include orcs, hobgoblins, bugbears, and numbers of ogres and ogre magi." WoG p.53
114] "According to Oric, Suderham was once only a small fortress, built as a place of last defence by Olarek, self-styled King of the Drachensgrab...when the humanoids conquered the Pomarj, Olarek was one of the petty and proud rulers who refused to see the threat...the humanoids swept through his "kingdom" and his skull became a banner which led their armies." SoS p.97