Our Campaign: The History of Oerth
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THE BAKLUNI HIERARCHY (BH)
- -1096 BH Many nomad families of the northern plains first encounter the Suloise Empire. They began to rely on trade with the empire. Herd animals, horses, cloth, and pottery are exchanged for superior weapons and adornments of "civilization." (1760 SD/-3756 CY)
- -32 BH The holy man, El-Baklun-bar-Gash, a prophet of Istus, has a vision of a holy monument near the lake of Udrukankar. He travels the area and gathers a group of supporters. (2834 SD/-2692 CY)
- 1 BH The band of northern nomads, under the leadership of the Holy Man, El-Baklun-bar-Gash find or construct (it is not clear which) a strange circle of stone, and name it Tovrag Baragu, that is, "The Naval of the Earth." The Bakluni count the discovery of this place as the beginning of the Bakluni calendar (2856 SD/-2659 CY) Northern nomadic families which hold this as their most holy site, began to call themselves Bakluni or "The Men of Baklun." The family Yamir, which dwells closest to the site, forsakes wandering to become it's protector.
- 391 BH The first recorded "Slavery Raid" occurs. Suloise forces capture an entire family of Bakluni and take them into the Suel Empire in servitude. (3247 SD/-2269 CY)
- 596 BH "The Great Betrayal." After treating with seven nomadic merchant clans at a merchant gathering, the Suloise Odiafer, attacked the merchants, attempting to take their goods and enslave them. The families drew their trains together and fought to the last person instead of surrendering. (3452 SD/-2064 CY)
- 605 BH Suloise armies march into the northern planes and claim overlordship. The nomads are generally defeated when they resist. The first Suloise fortresses in the north are constructed. (3461 SD/-2055 CY) For the next 600 years the Bakluni are subjugated to the Suel.
- 1115 BH The Bakluni, under one of their wandering chieftains, Ali-ben-Onar, unite in an effort to throw off the Suloise yoke. During the war one of the items created by the Suel to bind the Geniekind is captured. The war ceases when the Bakluni threaten to use this item. The Suloise cede a large portion of "their" Northern territories to the Bakluni. (3971 SD/-1521 CY)
- 1121 BH "The First Victory" The Bakluni claim a large portion of the northern lands as their own by treaty with the Suel. The family Amirs and Sultans gather and elect Ali-ben-Onar, by proclamation, as "Caliph of All the Families of the Baklun". (3977 SD/-1540 CY)
- 1144 BH "The Fruztii War" The Bakluni defeat the Suloise noble army of the House Fruztii, and tighten their grip on the north. (4000 SD/-1516 CY)
- 1150 BH The construction of Istustan commences as the central city of the Bakluni people. Several other towns develop as nomadic families clans began to build permanent headquarters in their traditional homelands. Upon Ali's death, his nephew, Mohinid-ben-Saphir, is proclaimed "Caliph of the Baklun." (4006 SD/-1510 CY)
- 1224 BH Leery of the "mages" in the south, a group of worshippers of Xan Yae, began developing "mental disciplines" in conjunction with their clerical powers. (4080 SD/-1428 CY)
- 1381 BH Al Akbar, a mighty priest and prophet, creates his cup and star. (4237 SD/-1279 CY)
- 1494 BH The first monastery of Zuoken is erected. Mental and physical disciplines are studied rigorously. (4350 SD/-1166 CY)
- 1852 BH Claiming that an adherence to a mental regimen will help bring defeat to the Suloise, a Master of the Zuoken monastery of Ramala, leaves his monastery and travels eastward to find the lands of the gray elves to study their magic. He does not return. (4705 SD/-808 CY)
- 1932 BH Plague breaks out in the Bakluni Lands. This is the first year of those known as "The Plague Years" (4788 SD/-728 CY). The monastic practices of the followers of Zuoken spread and as a result the Plague losses are not nearly as great as what is found in the south. However, many Bakluni blame the Suel and began to speak of cleansing the South.
- 2033 BH Under Hali-ben-Usif, the first organized raid of the Baklun into Suel occurs. (4889 SD/-627 CY) During the next hundred years, the Baklun prosper as the Suloise fall into confusion and strife between Noble Families. The Baklun courts grow wealthy and prosperous, the northern Oeridian lands fall under Baklun sway.
- 2157 BH The Bakluni withdraw their ambassador from the Suloise Empire when Zunid-ad-Zol, the Prince of House Zolax is crowned Emperor of the Suel Peoples. (5012 SD/-503 CY)
- 2175 BH The beginning of "The Great War." Caliph Haran-ben-Ramif sends an army into the Salhaut pass where nine thousand Bakluni are slaughtered. The Holy Prophetess Devrah of Istus forsees that the lands of the Suel will be washed "pure as the desert." (5021 SD/-485 CY)
- 2194 BH Both Bakluni and Suloise began to go east of the mountains, recruiting Humanoids as mercenaries in their battles for the first time. (5050 SD/-466 CY)
- 2211 BH Arish-ben-Alif, a wandering prophet, warns of the destruction of the Baklun People. He is declared an outlaw by the High Priestess of Istus, Aphra. The Caliph Namesh-bin-Jamish orders the arrest of Arish, but he escapes. (5067 SD/-449 CY)
- 2212-2215 BH Arish wanders the western edges of the Baklun realms and convinces a full six families of the oncoming disaster. They move east into the Northern parts of the Flanaess. (5068 to 5071 SD/-448 CY to -445 CY)
- 2230 BH Arish returns to the court and attempts to convince Talna-bin-Namesh to move eastward with the Baklun peoples. Arish is put to death by drowning. (5086 SD/-430 CY)
- 2235 BH The Baklun army begins advancing into the Northern Provinces of the Suel Empire. The Suloise weakened by strife and the sending of the Houses of Pursuit, continually fall back before the Bakluni assault. (5091 SD/-425 CY)
- 2238 BH. The Suel mages gather their magical energies and cast the Invoked Devastation. No Bakluni cities survive this blast of magical energy. But Bakluni mages and clerics gathered at Tovag Baragu, using the arcane powers of the Binders, and drawing upon the energies of their holiest site, withstand these energies and counters with the Rain of Colorless Fire. The remains of this expenditure of energy are now called the Sea of Dust, and the Dry Steppes. (5094 SD/-422 CY) The destruction of Bakluni Caliphate occurs. However, the family Yamir, and six families who moved east with Arish, remain.
- 2254 BH Four of the six Baklun Families of the East elect to return to their homelands. The Ketti stop just east of the Tusman Hills, the other families, Tusmii, Zeifa, and Ekberri continue into back to traditional Bakluni lands. The two families which remain in the North of the Flanaess, become estranged from the families in the West. Because of the barren state of the Dry Steppes, Geshtai becomes almost as important a deity as Istus. Xan Yae and Zuoken also retain their worshippers. The seeds of the modern Bakluni states are sown. (5110 SD/-406 CY)
- 2970 BH A tribal group from the far west of Oerik sweep through the southlands of the old Bakluni areas, they call themselves the Paynim. One of these clans, the Uli move into the area between the Ulsprue Mountains and the Barrier Peaks and establish Ull. (310 CY)
Nature: The Bakluni people started as a nomadic herder people. And despite their later movement into the cities, they maintained that "wild" roving nature. Their religions were simple compared to the Suloise, they worshipped fate, and the Twilight of the wide plains, and physical and mental toughness. These peoples are very similar to the Arabic nomads of Earth, and their culture likewise similar. At the height of their culture they resembled the Persians...a state which the newer western Bakluni states are rivaling.
(This Bakluni history by Steve Wilson is an extension of the history of the Suel by Lenard Lakofka derived from the work of Gary Gygax and the World of Greyhawk (TSR), and the Dungeon Master's Guide, 1st ed. (TSR) and Greyhawk Adventures (TSR))
THE FLANNAE TALLY OF YEARS (FT)
- -118 FT The years of Conquest and Prosperity of the Suloise begin. The Flan in the southeast (just west of the Hellfurnaces), the Oerid to the east, the Kersi (the long distant descendants of those who first sailed from AnaKeri) to the south, and the Baklun to the north, and several unnamed small tribes to the west all fall under the grip of the Suloise fist. The entire of the western half of Oerik, is controlled by the Suel. (3247 SD/-2269 CY)
- -115 FT The Flannae, under the protection of Beory, Pelor and Rao flee their lands in mass, making a perilous crossing of the Hellfurnaces. They move North into the lands of Eastern Oerik, later called the Flanaess, as the first human inhabitants of the area. Initially, they are well received by the demi-humans. (3250 SD/-2266 CY)
- 1 FT The founding of the first Flannae City in the Lortmil mountains, Haradaragh, in eastern Oerik, this is counted as year 1 of the Flan calendar. (3365 SD/2312 OC/-2150 CY)
- 161 FT The Flan wizard, Galap-Dreidel builds Inverness to protect his "Soul Gem." (3526 SD/-1990 CY)
- 219 FT The first reports of strange cities to the south worshipping strange gods is reported by the Flannae. These people (according to Flan sources) call themselves Almeks (Olmec in the Common tongue). (3584 SD/-1932 CY)
- 404 FT One of the small tribes of Flan, the Ur-Flannae, located just west of Aliador send servants as hostage to the Gray elven kingdom, in return for land rights. The 7th High King, Galitholian Glitterhelm, is especially taken by the sharp mind of a young man of promise, named Vecna. Vecna, inspired by the glories of elven splendors, began to study magic. He discovered in the libraries a book from the Suel entitled "The Fate of Tilorop." He secretly begins to worship Tharizdun. (3769 SD/2716 OC/-1745 CY)
- 435 FT Vecna asks Galitholian's permission to visit his homeland. This permission is granted. (3800 SD/2747 OC/-1716 CY)
- 440 FT Vecna erects a black tower in the middle of the Nyr Dyv. He claims chieftanship of his tribe, the Ur-Flanae and slays the former chieftain in combat by use of magic. (3805 SD/2752 OC/-1711 CY)
- 441-468 FT Vecna shielded his presence from the Elves by use of magic. He studies "The Fate of Tilrop" and is driven by an insatiable lust to live as long as the elves. His established towns on the model of the Gray Elves, and began to experiment with his Ur- Flannae for the "Ultimate Solution to Death." Several undead are created. (3806 to 3833 SD/2753 to 2780 OC/-1710 CY to -1683 CY)
- 480 FT Vecna perfects the technique required for Lichdom. He transforms himself. He goes north to the plains and brings forth many humanoids to his banner. He corrupts and twists his people, and, through his breeding program, now has a host that far outnumbers the elves to the East. (3845 SD/2792 OC/-1671 CY)
- 496 FT Vecna forges the sword which he later passes to Kas. (3861 SD/3308 OC/-1655 CY)
- 482-506 FT Vecna marches against Galitholian, bringing back his slaughtered soldiers as an undead hoard. Slowly his alliance of humanoids, undead, and Flannae drive the Gray Elves back to their mountain fastness. (3847 to 3873 SD/2794 to 2820 OC/-1669 CYto -1645 CY)
- 507-576 FT Gilthonial's forces are driven in a lightning strike from the plains west of the Griff's. Vecna's forces sweep the central plains east of Nyr Dyv and North, they hold the plains to the feet of the Griff's. (3874 to 3943 SD/2821 to 2900 OC/-1644 CY to -1575 CY)
- 585 FT Celene fields an army to assist Galitholian. Although they meet with initial success, Vecna calls on the powers of Tharizdun and unleashes a magical burning force which causes the Bright desert. Many perish and the elven host is thrown into a panic. They retreat to Celene, but Vecna does not advance. His eyes are fixed on the east. (3949 SD/2906 OC/-1566 CY)
- 604 FT The first of the Grey Elven mountain cities falls to Vecna's armies. This is the beginning of the 400 Year War. (3968 SD/2925 OC/-1547 CY)
- 921 FT Gilthonial's armies slowly give way before Vecna, no aid reaches Gilthonial. Vecna's armies destroy all but 5 Grey Elven cities in the Griff Mts. (4295 SD/3242 OC/-1230 CY)
- 988-994 FT Gilthonial leaves his capitol with the host of that city. He marches against Vecna and drives him from the mountains. But once in the plains, Vecna reveals a new weapon, a black sword forged of material from the stars. Vecna meets Gilthonial in single combat and slays him. The army of Vecna then destroys the elven host, and marches into the mountains. They inhabit and deface the elven cities, remaking them in the image of Vecna. Four cities, however, including the City of Summer Stars, are not found. The capital, Erieadan, the height of Gray elven architecture and power, is destroyed to a stone. So ends the Elven Kingdom of Aliador, and the seat of the High King. (4362 to 4368 SD/3309 to 3315 OC/-1163 to -1169 CY)
- 995 FT Kas becomes Vecna's chief lieutenant. Vecna gives Kas his fabled sword. (4369 SD/3316 OC/ -1156 CY)
- 997 FT The City of Summer Stars, after being revealed, defends itself from Vecna's incursions by Prince Darnakurian use of his dark blade. Vecna's armies are broken by this defense. Queen Sharafere and the remnant of her people head to the islands in the south. (4371 SD/3318 OC/-1154 CY)
- 1000 FT Because of the energies he expended in the attack upon the City of Summer Stars, Vecna is weakened. Kas, aspiring to Vecna's position, is able to vanquish Vecna. Vecna's body is destroyed, except for his hand and eye. Kas dies in this battle as well. Some of Vecna's followers found a "Cult of Vecna". Vecna's empire collapses. (4374 SD/3321 OC/-1151 CY)
- After this several small Flannae kingdoms arise, but none match the might of the Ur-Flannae under Vecna, several northern Flan fearing the both the wrath of the elves and the brutality of another lich-king flee their cities and turn back to a tribal systems of government. One exception to this general dissolution is the area under an able Theign named Tenh. He manages to keep his people from scattering, although incursions by roaming monsters and undead into this area are frequent.
- 1117 FT Founding of the Flannae Kingdom of Sulm in the Bright Desert Region (4482 SD/-1034 CY)
- 1583 FT Shattados, mage-king of Sulm and his entire people are translated into Scorpion Men (4948 SD/ -558 CY)
- 1693 FT Heeding their prophets, many Oeridians began moving eastward, coming into contact and conflict with the Flannae. (5058 SD/-458 CY)
- 1704 FT Zellifar-ad-Zol, son of the emperor, mage/high priest of Beltar, breaks with his father and takes over 8,000 Suloise loyal to himself, and flees the kingdom, eastward. The ferocity and magical might of the movement scatters the Oeridians in it's path, causing the remainder of the Oeridian to migrate, who in turn attack the beleaguered Flannae. The Zolites continue eastward. (5069 SD/-447 CY)
- 1706-28 FT The Zolite scatter the Flannae before them, and move south to the Tilvanot Peninsula. The three pursuing houses, unable to find the magical tunnel, turn north, where they are met by regrouped Oeridians and fearful Flannae who harry and drive these Suel Houses south. (5071 to 5093 SD/-445 to -423 CY)
Nature: The Flannae are a people who strongly resemble some of the Germanic and Celtic peoples of Northern and Western Europe. Before the migration to the East, they were a tribal people, and they retained many tribal characteristics even at the height of their culture. After the development of their first cities, many Flannae became estranged from the demi-humans who first befriended them. The Grey Elves of the Aliador take hostages in return for allowing the Flanae to dwell on elven lands. Under Vecna, the Flan become a unified people. However, the repercussions of Vecna's reign alter the Ur-Flan (in the Northeast) forever. They revert, with the exception of the Tenha, to a nomadic and wandering people...much like the Native Americans. The Western Flan are slowly absorbed into the invading cultures, much like the Roman and later Anglo-Saxon absorption of the Celtic peoples of Europe.
(This Flannae history is by Steven B. Wilson and based on the work of Gary Gygax and World of Greyhawk (TSR) with additional material from Vecna Lives (WGA4), Rary the Traitor (WGR3), The Dungeon Master's Guide, 1 ed. (TSR), and Greyhawk Adventures (TSR))
THE OERID RECKONING (OR)
- -1624 OR The years of Conquest and Prosperity begin. No major foe opposes the might of the empire of the Suloise, although they do not push Eastward, because of some fear of the Elven hosts. Magic is rigorously pursued. And old Grey Elven texts are discovered and studied. The might and haughtiness of the Elves is copied in manner in the courts. But their wisdom is not... Slavery becomes common and widespread in the Suloise lands, this continues for many centuries. The Flan in the southeast (just west of the Hellfurnaces), the Oerid to the east, the Kersi (the long distant descendants of those who first sailed from AnaKeri) to the south, and the Baklun to the north, and several unnamed small tribes to the west all fall under the grip of the Suloise fist. The entire of the western half of Oerik, is controlled by the Suel. But the drow and darker forces halt the eastern expansion. The Oerid are the most oppressed of all Suel subjects. It is believed that Suel priests have foreseen greatness in these people which rivals that of the Suloise (3247 SD/-2269 CY)
- -437 OR The "god" Zinkman is not accepted by the Oeridian tribes to the north and west of the empire. Zinkman attacks the surprised Oeridian tribes destroying three of the thirteen that exist. The Oeridians are forced to bow to Zinkman. The Aerdy (the chief of the tribe of that name) refuses, and challenges Zinkman in a duel to the death. Zinkman accepts, but finds that he is battling none other than St. Cuthbert, himself. Cuthbert reduces Zinkman to a babbling, drooling idiot. (4434 SD/-1082 CY)
- -237 OR High Priest Arnd of Tdon forges the first chain link mail shirt to honor the anniversary of the victory of Cuthbert over Zinkman. The shirt is called The Invulnerable Coat of Arnd. (4634 SD/-882 CY)
- - 3 OR High Priestess Johydee tricks evil deities into making her Mask.(4868 SD/-648 CY)
- 1 OR After repeated attempts by both the Suel and Bakluni to regain control of the Oeridian tribes, Johydee breaks the Oeridians away from the control of the Suel. The tribes swear the Oath of Unity. This oath places allows for the common defense of Oeridian tribes under one War Leader, the First War Leader (styled Herzog) is Chenil of Aerdy. (4871 SD/-644 CY)
- 187 OR Heeding their prophets, many Oeridian families began moving eastward, coming into contact and conflict with the Flanae. (5058 SD/-459 CY)
- 198 OR Zellifar-ad-Zol, son of the emperor, mage/high priest of Beltar, breaks with his father and takes over 8,000 Suloise loyal to himself, and flees the kingdom, eastward. The ferocity and magical might of the movement scatters the Oeridians in it's path, causing the remainder of the Oeridian to migrate. One of the High Mages, Slerotin (called "the Last High Mage" by the rebellious Zolite Suel who settle in the south of the Flanaess, and the continent of Hepmon), causes a huge tunnel to be bored into the Crystalmists, through which the Zolite Suel flee. He then seals the tunnel closed at both ends, trapping one lesser branch of the family, the Lerara, inside. The Zolites continue eastward. (5069 SD/-447 CY)
- 200 OR - 212 OR The Zolite scatter the Flanae before them, and move south to the Tilvanot Peninsula. Zellifar carries with him two of the lesser Binders and the imprisoned Genie King. The three pursuing houses, unable to find the magical tunnel, turn north, where they are met by regrouped Oeridians and fearful Flanae who harry and drive these Suel Houses south. Many are lost and remain in the Amedio Jungle. They eventually move back east and march toward what is now the Rift Canyon. (5071 SD to 5093 SD/-445 CY to -433 CY)
- 250 OR Baron Lum establishes the first Oeridian kingdom in the Flanaess. He, aided by his very able general Leuk-O, uses two very powerful items to defeat all who oppose him. (5121 SD/-395 CY)
- 293 OR Tuerny the Merciless establishes his Oeridian realm in the Flanaess (5164 SD/-352 CY).
- 301 OR The first recorded appearance of Baba Yaga's Hut (5172 SD/-334 CY)
THE EPOCH OF MAGIC
This age is primarily marked by the ascendancy of humanity in the Flanaess and the (re)discovery of continents. It is a time of great magics and the foundation of mages not as state or family controlled beings, but as individuals free to experiment, learn and explore on their own. It is also a time when deities and demi-deities take a more active role in Oerth's mortal history. In one case, one greater deity even changes the fate of all living beings on the planet. It is a time of struggle, a time of shifting balances, and a time of hope.
THE OERID RECKONING (OR), CONTINUED
- 315 OR The Isles of Woe, a small Aerdian enclave ruled by Wizard Priests (led by Yagrax), sink into the Nyr Dyv (5186 SD/-330 CY)
- 330 OR The City of Jurnre is built (5201 SD/-315 CY)
- 428 OR Founding of the Kingdom of Aerdy. For the next 100 years Aerdy absorbs other Oeridian states to the west (5299 SD/-217 CY)
- 535 OR Battle of a Fortnight's Length (5406 SD/-110 CY)
- 578 OR Tzunk the Archmage disappears (-67 CY)
- 645 OR Crowning of Overking in Rauxes. The Oeridian Reckoning Calendar (OR) is replaced by the Common Year Calendar (CY) throughout the Flanaess. (5516 SD/1 CY)
Nature: The Oeridian peoples rose from an extended time of enslavement to the pre-eminent position on Oerik, and Aqauria. As a people, the Oeridians were more of a military state from their earliest times. Although initially nomadic and tribal...their movement to a cosmopolitan monarchical system was rapid (beginning with individuals like Lum and Tuerny). They resemble the Feudal Germanic systems found in France, Germany and England, and are strongly hierarchical by nature. However, there is great flexibility in how a particular hierarchy is established and carried out. At the height of its power, the Kingdom of Aerdy spanned most of the Flanaess (with the exception of the southwestern Oeridian Kingdom of Keoland).
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