509


 

The Seneschal of Queen Lorelei of Evendarr travels to Asland, the Voltan capital, to extend an offer for the Voltans to join the Kingdom. The Voltan warchief refuses the offer, and the Seneschal leaves without incident. The Queen's armies are poised on the Voltan borders. These armies hail from Ashbury, Niman, Rotaria, and Evendarr.

Argent Bearslayer of Volta assembles the warchiefs and convinces them that it would be a futile fight. Unified under Argent, the warchiefs meet with the Queen of Evendarr and her generals. A warchief from Dinsdale storms out of the council meetings and takes his troops home over the Anymdin Mountains. In a show of good faith, the Queen orders the Rotarian forces to remove themselves from the border. The Rotarians leave, feeling personally disgraced by the Queen. The Duke of Rotaria is insulted and bitter.

The council concludes, and the Queen announces to the armies assembled that Argent will be the new Duke of Volta. The warchiefs of Cathym, Anym, and Zarkym are made barons of their respective lands. Formal ceremony bestowing title on Argent is held. The Duke of Rotaria is not in attendance and is later reprimanded by the Queen.

Queen Lorelei and Duke Argent order that Dinsdale be annexed into Volta as another Barony. Baron Tallon Gerling of Cathym asks to take a proposal to the Dinsdale warchief and council. He is permanently killed by the Dinsdale warchief during the attempt. Of the entire delegation to Dinsdale, only one person escapes with her life. Duke Argent declares war on Dinsdale for their atrocities. He asks Niman and Ashbury for support in the war. Ashbury forces arrive in time to save Argent's troops from total rout. The siege of Hadran, the largest fortification in Dinsdale, begins. Fighting falls to a stalemate. Again Argent sends a request to Niman for troop support, and a messenger is sent to Rotaria, and to the Queen. Ashbury sends additional troops in hope of ending the fighting by spring. Troops celebrate the New Year inside of Hadran Stronghold.

 

510


 

As the year begins, Niman sends support troops into Dinsdale over the River Hadran, in an effort to crush the resistance between the two forces. The army of Dinsdale collapses to these combined forces at the battle of Hawley. Duke Argent names Uma Rindall as Baroness of Dinsdale, and she takes the name of the land as her surname. Baroness Dinsdale orders her forces to rebuild Hadran Stronghold as the baronial capitol.

Duke Argent, having free manpower to act now, sets out to build a proper capital on the shores of Lake Ardynn. He names this capital Unity. He also names Tallon Gerling's oldest son, Ian, as the new Baron of Cathym. Ian renames the capital of Cathym, "Tallon'shold," in memory of his father.

 

512


 

The capital city, Unity, is complete. The ceremonies include Duke Argent's wedding to Bymar Nightbird. The newlyweds establish the ducal line with their adoption of the name Voltan as their surname. Duke Argent also names Cecil Swordhand as General of the Armies of Volta. Queen Lorelei and all the Dukes and Duchesses of Evendarr are present for the festivities.


 

514


 

Baroness Uma Dinsdale is assassinated in her bed at Hadran Stronghold. Duchess Bymar announces that Uma's assassins will be found and destroyed publicly for their crimes. Duke Argent names his good friend Gunnid Douglas as Baron of Dinsdale.

Baron Ian Gerling asks for the Duke's permission to extend the eastern borders of Cathym.

 

516


 

Goblin armies attack several border outposts in the lands of New Cathym. Baron Gerling requests that the Duke's armies march to the Silver River area to fight the goblins and protect Voltan interests. Duke Argent sends Cecil Swordhand and his armies to relieve the situation at Cathym.


 

517


 

General Swordhand, using his reserves and new recruits, catches the main goblin army with their backs to the Winterwyrm River. Cecil kills the goblin leader. With most of their army destroyed, the goblins flee into the Northern Downs.


 

518


 

General Swordhand triumphantly returns to Unity. The Duke grants him the lands north of Lake Ardynn and east of the Silver River as far as the Winterwyrm River as his barony. Cecil takes the surname of Eastwyck, and thus that barony is formed.

The Queen sends a message congratulating the Duke and his new baron. She announces her plans to visit the duchy early in the following spring.

Duchess Bymar gives birth to twins, a son and a daughter. She names them Argent and Tylin.

 

519


 

On the eve of the tenth anniversary of the founding of Volta, Duke Argent announces the first annual Voltan Tournament. The team of Baron Cecil Eastwyck wins the right to carry the Golden Sword and the Silver Shield for the next year, as well as the right to free run at any tavern in Volta for a year, for his team of four.

Duke Argent sends troops under the command of Baron Cecil Eastwyck to Ashbury to assist in their fight against the Northmen.

 

521


 

With the fighting almost over, Cecil Eastwyck returns home to Volta after leading the charge in several major battles. He is married to a lovely young woman by the name of Gheral Nordenn, who is the daughter of the Baron Bane Nordenn.


 

522


 

Queen Lorelei dies and her son ascends the throne of Evendarr as King Hendrick II.


 

525


 

Duke Argent is nearly killed in Anym. Blame is placed on Rotarian provocateurs, sent to avenge the insult received from the Queen in 509.


 

526


 

Duchess Bymar gives birth to another daughter, Starel.


 

527


 

Roads connecting the five baronial capital cities are finished on Completion Day. The celebration lasts long into the night, and through the morning of the next day.


 

528


 

People in Zarkym, along the coast of Lake Ardynn begin to disappear mysteriously. Voltans encounter the naugas. This strange breed of herd animals lives near the Mystic Wood in Eastwyck. The Duke enjoys the protection offered by their lightweight but sturdy hide, and orders a herd brought south to the capital.


 

531


 

The road to the capital of Ashbury is completed, linking Volta to Evendarr.


 

532


 

People living along Lake Ardynn in Cathym begin disappearing. Duke Argent orders a search into the cause of these disappearances. The scouting party he sends never returns.


 

533


 

The Duke allows baronial teams to add one new member at the annual tourney. Baron Eastwyck wins for the sixth time, more than any other team. No team has as yet won two consecutive years.


 

535


 

Baron Ian Gerling of Cathym expands his lands to the North of the Mystic Wood, beyond the Silver River. Her orders a Stronghold built to protect against the goblins, Northmen, and elements. It will be called Bearsden. The first use of nauga herds to outfit the Voltan armies with hide armor takes place. This armor is found to take well to many different colorations of dye, and is an excellent source of protection in battle.


 

536


 

Minuba Barnae replaces his father, Ganud Barnae, as Baron of Zarkym.


 

537


 

Minuba Barnae launches the ducal ship, "Ardynn" to expedite trade between Zarkym, Cathym, and Eastwyck. After five successful runs across the lake, the ship and her crew vanish without any trace of debris or survivors.


 

538


 

Anym and Eastwyck begin reporting disappearances. People are disappearing from all baronies connected to the coast of Lake Ardynn. Talos Gerling, the eldest son of Ian Gerling, vanishes while traveling with a company of men from Eastwyck while investigating the mysterious coastal disappearances. A crazed man stumbles into Griswold, Eastwyck, screaming about a monster in Lake Ardynn. The town guards lock him up, disregarding his rants. The road to Coventry, Niman is completed. Meligra Dalton, Baron of Anym celebrates the connection to his nauga herds and markets with a weekend festival.

539


 

Significantly more sedate, the man in Griswold claims to be Talos Gerling. He tells the guards his story about the beast in the lake, and shortly thereafter dies of an unknown disorder. The body and the tale are brought to Tallon'shold, and presented to Baron Ian Gerling. The 20th Annual Baronial Tourney is to take place at Unity. Tension runs high between Ian and Cecil, because of Talos' death. Ian blames Cecil for the death of his only son and heir while on Eastwyck lands. Duke Argent intervenes to settle the controversy, but Ian leaves the tourney in anger, taking his leading team with him. Eastwyck wins the tourney by two points. Cecil sends his family home across Lake Ardynn, and rides to Tallon'shold to reconcile differences with his friend Ian. While in Cathym, word returns that Cecil's wife and two eldest children were lost on the lake. Ian's loss pales by comparison, and he apologizes to Cecil for being a fool. They both swear to eradicate the monster from the land together. Cecil sends word to Calvert to construct the largest and strongest craft possible to find the monster. Gunnid Douglas dies peacefully in his sleep. His heir, Gilda Douglas becomes the new Baroness of Dinsdale.


 

541


 

Severe winter weather drives herds of naugas south from Dinsdale and Cathym. The stampede kills hundreds, and destroys farms and roads. The herds are stopped in Anym, before they can cause more damage in Ashbury.


 

542


 

Gilda Douglas dies in a bear-wrestling accident. Her brother, Eathan is named Baron of Dinsdale.

Duke Argent Voltan dies in an avalanche at Bearsden. Prince Roderick Endarr attends the funeral. Argent's oldest son, Argent Hendrick Voltan becomes the new Duke of Volta. He calls for the construction of a magnificent castle to be built in the center of Volta (35 miles outside of Unity) in his father's honor. The castle is to be named Three Spires.

 

543


 

Duke Argent Voltan II names his son Adrick Voltan heir to the Duchy of Volta at his birth.

The ducal ship, "Ironhide" is launched in Calvert. Baron Ian Gerling is aboard on her maiden voyage. Troops from Cathym, Zarkym, Eastwyck and the new Barony of Westmarch are also aboard. The ship is never seen again.

 

544


 

Duke Argent names his brother, Nabon Voltan as Baron of Cathym, as Ian had no heirs.


 

545


 

King Hendrick Endarr dies. The Duke of Volta, his barons and all their courts travel to the capitol to be present at the coronation of King Roderick II of Evendarr.


 

546


 

Thendrix Dalton attacks his father at the family keep in Vordinburg. He is stopped by the Baronial Guard and flees into the Anymdin Mountains.


 

547


 

Meligra Dalton names his son, Gregor, as the heir to the Barony of Anym.

Eathan Douglas' Dinsdale team sweeps the baronial tourney, winning all competitions.

 

548


 

People along the coast of Lake Ardynn report seeing a large monster near Zarkym. Duke argent sends to Janitria for assistance with the problem. A group of scholars and esoterics arrives from Hollym to study the phenomenon.


 

549


 

King Roderick Endarr II attends the 30th Baronial Tournament. Baron Cecil Eastwyck wins his eighth tournament. King Roderick knights Cecil's eldest son, Larne, as a knight of Eastwyck.

Baron Nabon Voltan names his firstborn son, Artos as heir to the Barony of Cathym.

 

552


 

The scholars sent from the Royal Academy of Arcane Arts and Sciences start to disappear. All of their research findings are returned to Lake Hollym for further study.


 

558


 

Goblin raids from the north begin at midsummer due to unusually cold weather. Larne Eastwyck forces the goblins back into the Frostpeak Mountains. He is successful largely due to the large numbers of outposts developed on the northern borders during more peaceful times.


 

559


 

King Roderick Endarr and members of his court attend the 50th anniversary of the Founding of Volta. With tourney teams at seven members, Anym wins for the 12th time, passing Baron Cecil's record of 11. Still no team has won two consecutive tourneys.

Cecil Eastwyck remarries, to Donna Greypool of Westmarch.

 

561


 

Donna Eastwyck gives birth to triplets, Uma, Ian, and Tallon.


 

565


 

Northern outposts send word of raids by goblins in Cathym and Northmen in Eastwyck.

Meligra Dalton dies in his sleep, and his heir, Gregor Dalton becomes the new Baron of Anym.

 

566


 

War begins with the Northmen in the Northern Marches. The northern and eastern borders of Eastwyck are hit hard. Cecil Eastwyck assembles his armies and sends them north under the command of his son, Sir Larne.


 

567


 

Sir Larne's forces are decimated by the Northmen armies. Sir Larne Eastwyck is killed in battle, and dies permanently. After Sir Larne's funeral, Duke Argent orders his barons to assemble all available troops to go to Cecil's aid during the coming spring.


 

568


 

Duke Argent cancels the baronial tournament. Cecil sends his troops north to fight the Northmen under the command of Darron Kelch. The troops fare poorly and Darron's head is returned to Cecil. Duke Argent appeals to King Roderick for help in the war.


 

569


 

Cecil Eastwyck and his entire family and household are slain by Northmen in the Night of Long Knives. King Roderick personally leads his forces north to defeat the Northmen.

At the Battle of Blood River, King Roderick is captured by the Northmen, and subsequently rescued by Captain Basil Ravenhurst of the White Raven Company. His rescue and that victory swings the tide of the war, and the Northmen are driven back to the Northern Marches. King Roderick names Basil Ravenhurst as the new Baron of Eastwyck.

 

570


 

Baron Basil Ravenhurst leads his team to victory at the Duke's Spring Tournament.

Without consulting his dukes, King Roderick names Basil Ravenhurst Duke over the lands of Eastwyck (Volta), Westmarch and Capulus (Rotaria). The Dukes of Volta and Rotaria are understandably rather upset.

Duke Argent splits Volta into two counties, Upper and Lower Volta. Upper Volta consists of Cathym and Dinsdale, under Count Nabon Voltan. Anym and Zarkym comprise Lower Volta, which is held by Count Gregor Dalton. Count Nabon names Artos as Baron of Cathym, and the new Baron of Anym is Thomas Fehdahl.

 

571


 

Duke Argent meets with Duke Basil after his wedding to Rowena Morganna to settle issues between them. Also present at the meeting is King Roderick, who emerges very pleased, although his dukes are not overly elated.


 

572


 

Count Nabon Voltan sends troops to Ravenholt to reinforce Captain Galen Cumberland in the continued fight against the Northmen.


 

575


 

After a bad rain season, Argent and Basil trade Voltan naugas for Ravenholt grain.


 

577


 

Baron Fendahl of Anym dies in a freak jousting accident. His son Darren ascends to the station of Baron.


 

579


 

Boddin Douglas of Dinsdale leads his team to victory in the spring tournament. After the tournament, he announces that he will take his father's place as Baron of Dinsdale due to his father's declining health and premature senility.


 

581


 

Baron Minuba Barnae dies at age 76. Freedan Barnae, his grandson, is named the new Baron of Zarkym.


 

583


 

More disappearances occur along the coast of Lake Ardynn in Zarkym. Count Gregor Dalton leads his armies to investigate, trying to avoid the destruction that claimed the Gerling family.


 

584


 

Duke Argent assembles his court and travels to Evendarr City to attend the funeral of King Roderick, and the Coronation of his son Richard. On his return trip to Volta, Argent is kidnapped and slain. Adrick Voltan ascends to the position of Duke of Volta, and orders the execution of the men assumed responsible for Argent's death.


 

587


 

After more disappearances on the shores of Lake Ardynn, exterminators arrive from Lake Hollym and summon a spirit of elemental water to kill the monster in the lake.


 

589


 

King Richard Endarr visits Unity for the 69th Baronial Tournament.

Meanwhile, Countess Xerina Montesque and her husband, Desmond Capulus treat with Guxx Unfadoo and raise an army of elemental spirits which raze Capulus and Westmarch in Ravenholt. Guxx Unfadoo is defeated by a young knight of King Richard named Sir Nork who earns the right to bear the Temporal Weapon in a tournament.

 

590


 

Count Nabon Voltan dies. Baron Artos Voltan is made the new count of Upper Volta.


 

591


 

Fluctuations in magical energies herald the beginning of the Change of the Cycle of Ages.

The Royal armies repel invading forces from the Sessuar Imperium

In April, Duke Martin Rotari dies. His wife, Lillian, remains Duchess and begins a campaign to drive necromancers from the duchy.

King Richard acknowledges the sovereignty of the Ravenholt barony of Elfheim, and it is recognized as the Kingdom of Draelonde. Later that year, King Richard Endarr dies of natural causes. Prince Joseph Saxony is named King of Evendarr.

 

592


 

On the southern frontier of the Kingdom, the young knight Sir Roderick Daleron slays the Sorcerer King Drax Darshiva in February and establishes the Protectorate of Tyrangel.

A Contact Earth formal magic spell leads adventurers from Ravenholt seeking the spirit bottle of kidnapped Duke Basil Ravenhurst to a hill just north of Unity. This hill is apparently the base of operations for infamous necromancer, Thorna Alinger. Adventurers discover that Duke Ravenhurst has been captured by the liche, Sakalid. He is rescued and the Order of the White Raven is formed to honor those heroes.

In the course of searching for Duke Ravenhurst, evidence is uncovered that Xerina Montesque and Desmond Capulus may have been involved... and that Xerina and Guxx's child may still live.

His Majesty King Joseph visits Ravenholt in September, along with the Duke of Niman and Duchess of Rotaria. Duke Ravenhurst declares Ravenholt an independent principality, and names himself Prince. The Duchess of Rotaria is killed by local rebels, but resurrects safely. The uneasiness between the two duchies begun in 570 with the removal of the barony of Capulus turns into a near war. The borders between Rotaria and the Principality of Ravenholt are guarded heavily on both sides. Only heavy winter snows in the Bone Mountains prevent open conflict.

593


 

Viscountess Andrea Huntington of Cwyll is kidnapped by a group of powerful undead, the Black Rose. Adventurers rescue her, and the Order of the White Lion is formed to honor those heroes.

In Autumn, the Succession Treaty is signed, and the principalities of Northmarch, Greenmarch, The Heart and Southwatch are established. After their wedding, Basil Ravenhurst and Andrea Huntington are named Princes and Princess of Northmarch over Elysia, Volta and Ravenholt. Duchess Lillian Rotari ascends to the station of Princess of Greenmarch over Niman, Ashbury and Rotaria. Admiral Kevin Blackfox of the Royal Navy is named Prince of The Heart over Kitheria, Evendarr and Blackstone County. Field Marshall Miles Tegg of the Royal Army becomes Prince of Southwatch, including the newly formed County of Tyrangel, and the duchies of Sutherland and Therendry.

In October, Ravenholt Warlord Cynric Sagramore leads the baronial courts of the baronies of Cumberland and Capulus in a revolution against Basil Ravenhurst. He is Obliterated and fails to resurrect. Princess Andrea flees the duchy.

 

594


 

A second revolution begins in Ravenholt against Princess Andrea Huntington. A Royal Magistrate travels to the duchy in September and settles the matter. Meanwhile, the Black Rose kills Princess Andrea, and she fails to resurrect.

King Joseph names Prince Kevynn Blackfox as Prince of Northmarch as well as The Heart.

 

595


 

In accordance with prophecy, adventurers in Ravenholt bring about the destruction of Guxx Unfadoo.

Prince Berthold Endarr named heir to King Joseph Saxony. King Joseph Saxony abdicates as Mykel II Endarr is recovered from the past. Queen Katherine and Prince Berthold return to their rightful place in the past.

 

596


 

Duke Adrick Voltan, and all Princes and Dukes of the Kingdom attend the re-coronation of King Mykel II Endarr

Civil war with Niman averted after trouble between that duchy and both the duchy of Ashbury and Volta.

Highlander/Voltan conflict resolved.

Sessuar launch another, larger invasion.

 

597


 

Plague attacks Sessuar in Northmarch and Greenmarch. The disease affects only the Sessuar. Local scholars are mystified. Scholars in the south suspect the influence of the Sorcerer King Drax Darshiva, known to employ magically-crafted diseases during martial conflict. The Sessuar are believed defeated.


 

598


 

Allies of Evendarr travel from all parts across Avalon to the Bloodhawk Valley in Volta, the place where the Sorcerer King Tarlov Ghosthand is imprisoned. With the aid of people from all lands, Tarlov is destroyed... but not before the wife of Prince Kevynn Blackfox is kidnapped and Obliterated. She fails to resurrect. Prince Kevynn declares that his mourning will begin in one year, on August 8, 599.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Greenmarch declares her mourning for her husband, Martin, at an end. She relinquishes use of the Rotari surname and adopts use of her maiden name, Annilureth.

Two months later, Duke Adrick makes an open invitation to come to Volta to celebrate Tarlov's defeat. The celebration is marked by other distractions, however, as the struggle for peace in the frontier lands continues....