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History of Duchy of Clearwater areas
Archaic & Ancient Periods
-35,500: Prehistory
A
large meteorite falls and lands in the middle of the Devil’s bog creating a
small crater of what becomes a lake. On the outside of the swamp in the
hills, are scattered spots of meteoric iron, and a larger deposit can be
found underneath the mud and muck of the lake.
-15,430 to –12,500: Ice Age
First
Human, Gnomish and Elvish migrations into region, areas area wild as humans
(Cro-Magnon) is on the verge of becoming „modern man“, but still is
considered „cave-man“. Clans of 20 to 30 are very nomadic hunter-gatherers
and extremely xenophobic. ”Prehistoric“ Ice-Age beats still roam the plains
and forests, stone tools are latest technology, and the Elves are speaking
a very primitive version of Qenya. Migrant peoples run into indigenous
Kobold clans and Lizard folk clans in the swamps and forests. Sporadic
raids for food and territory starts.
Nearly all the gnomes inhabit caves systems in the
hills, a few venture out into the woods to live secretly amognst the Elves
and Fey.
*Note: characters from this time all include the ’Brute’ template
*Note: characters can be Shamans and Barbarians, normally only 1
shaman per clan of 2d20 people
*note:
Prestige classes allowed are Primalist, Berserker and Beast Master. All are
Barbarian PrC’
-14800
Cave dweling were common, even amongst the elves, cave
painting takes shape and has deep spiritual meaning. Most motifs deal with
’The Hunt’, or Fertility. Shamans worshipping primitive animal totems, no
real religion, but racial gods and goddesses are starting to be seen
amongst the elves & gnomes. Orisons and Cantrips are mainly the spells
or spell-effects seen. Most healing is of herbal and non-magical means.Most
age twice as fast due to the hard nature of life, Humans generally die at
35, while Gnomes and Elves life to only a few hundred years.
-13,500
Clovis points for stone tools are the latest fashion in
stone age tools and weaponry. Stone weapons from this time are considered
to be high quality and formidable, Bone and chiton are also used for tools,
Leather and rarely hide is used as an armor, mostly, it is used for huts or
to cover floors. Division of labor is set as women take care of the
cooking, cleaning, and children, while the men hunt, and make sure nobdy in
the clan starves or goes hungry. Leadership is thru the elderly, as they
are seen as wise and knowledgeable on how to lead the clan. Most groups
follow the herds north during the late fall into the forests, and south
during the Spring into the plains as the grasses grow tall and lush. Elves
generally stay with in thier woods and hunt small forest game, and are more
vegetarians than the humans. Gnomes stay to thier cave systems, and use
fungi and mosses as food as well, also as herbal remedies. Gnomes are also
more vegetarian than humans.
-12500
”End of the Ice Age“ as the weather got warmer, and the
ice fields high in the mountains dissapeared, leaving a rocky generally
barren landscape perfectly suitable for gnomes and Kobolds looking for
cavern homes. Gnomes and Kobolds become miners as ”pretty rocks“ are found
and hoarded. Shamans use the gems as spell storage items, or as part of
magic items live rods, or staves. Elves start to make ”honey leather“.
Armor such as Leather or hide is very rarely seen, The hide armo is
generally taken from Giant Sloth, Mammoth, or Wooly Rhino. Major creatuires
to cause problems are Sabre-Tooth cats, Cave Bears, and Dire Wolves
-7,500 to –4,500: Post Ice Age
”Modern man“ shows up as most of the Ice age wildlife is
gone, only game in the deep forests, and in the Great Grey Plains where
Mammoths still show up. The humans stay away from the Lake and Swamp due to
the ”Beasts“ and so the humans live along the coast and use small scale
fishing. Elves are speaking Qenya, and shamanistic sorcerers and primitive
religious rites begin. The Elves find the Fey who happen to be both good
and evil in the forests, the Elves are, and stay very primitive and are
considered Wild Elves due to the ties to the forests and are very
territorial. The wars with the Kobolds begin, as the Lizardfolk stay in the
swamps and are left alone by the Elves and Fey. Technology is late stone
age.
*note: Most races are now considered (normal), although the barbarians in the
Great Grey Plains are to still have the ’Brute Template’
*note: Classes allowable are the Druid, Bard &
Sorcerer (for elves only), including those earlier mentioned.
*note: Prestige classes allowed are the Elven Shaman,
Elven Minstrel, Fey Speaker, Fey Harpist and the Lindorn, an elvish druidic
PrC, and those earlier mentioned
-6,500
First signs of structured rituals by the humans, while
small shamanistic clans still nomadic hunter-gatherers still exist. Elvish
magic is beginning path to more solid forms, Rune magic and power words
begin, as a true study of magic begins, Most items are wood based rods and
staves, using animal totems... the bear and owl being popular totems. The Elf-Kobold
wars subside a bit, as the Elves solidify thier northern holdings, and the
Kobolds are forced to the south, where the Kobolds find the Gnomes, More
territorial wars happen between those two races almost immediately.
-5,600
Magic helps the Elves in thier fight against the
Kobolds. Larger clans of mabey 30 or more elves have a ”witch-doctor“,
which has the abilities of a primitive sorcerer, these spell casters are
feared due to thier abillity to go beyond the spirit realm, and the cave
paintings. Those clans with sorcerers are powerful and feared, as the
larger clans are able to have a ”Healer“ and a ”witch-doctor“. Gnomes are
starting to learn how to cut and shape gems, still very crudely due to the
lack of proper tools.
-5,000
Elvish magic starts to get noticed by others, namely
humans and gnomes. The other races start to copy elvish magic, but are
unsuccessful. Gnomes strive to understand magic for defense, while the
humans try for understanding the world around them. Magic gets more refined
as wording, phrases and movement become more exacting and precise. The term
”Elvish High Magic“ is used to describe the power of the elves over the
art. The start of stable settlements as people become more set along thier
trade routes to other clans, and alonf river/creeks for fishing and other
resources..
-4,500 to –3,250 Copper Age
Small scale agriculture starts, and tiny bits of copper
are found and purified. The Copper Age begins. Magic is studied and forms
turn to elemental magic as theories of the 4 prime elements start. Water
and Earth are popular in the area. Tiny earthen ”fortifications“ for
leaders guts or to protect the local Shaman/witchdoctor/Healer. Metal is
extremely rare, and so stone & bone is still widely used, only the very
rich like clan leaders could afford a metal tool or metal ”jewelry“.
Clearwater is rumored to have started at this time, although no digs have
been done to prove anything. The Ice-Age animals are all but extinct as
they are all hunted out. Small scale records as far as tracking the stars
and seasons begins.
Druids are rumored to start the ”circle of time“, a
stone monolith north of Clearwater to record the seasons for planting, and
astronomical calculations. Agriculture becomes more organized as druids
form a relgious based magic, and the shamanistic based magic fades out. The
clan ”witchdoctor“ is more like a sorcerer, as the druids take over the
healing aspects. At this time the Goddesses Melikki, and Breeka are
worshipped in very informal ways, and relgious thought has not started to
be developed yet. Rumors of the origins of the religion are clouded, since
a few Elves also worship Melikki and are found to ride on Unicorns. The
Elvish, Kobold, and Gnome religions are all primitive, as their racial Gods
are seen in tiny forest or underground shrines. Tiny fortifications are
seen as small wood walls around settlements. Fey are known to find grapes
suitable for beverages, a very crude form of Fey wine exists.
*note: Brute template is no longer an option
*note: Classes allowed: Commoner, Mariner, Warrior,
Professional, Expert for NPC’s. Archer, Wizard & Ranger (Elves only),
Geomancer (Gnomes only) including those mentioned before
*note: Prestige classes allowed: Pathfinder(Ranger
PrC), Firemage & Solonor’s Bowhunter(Elf only). Archdruid, Master
Sorcerer including those allowed before.
*note: The other races begin to use Druids and sorcerers
as well
04458
BC Assassination of Tribal chief
Khleemorg by rival chief Ghmeg.
04381
BC Death of Ghmeg’s son in
Battle.
04348
BC Regional Unrest – pack of
hungry wolves coming from the north from the Bramble Woods.
04310
BC Sabotage of the copper mine
north of Clearwater.
04260
BC Fighting between priests of
Breeka and Obad Hai, over farms and forest use.
04230 BC
Epidemic/Disease - Infection Rate = 51% - 60% Mortality Rate = 40% -
49%.
04148
BC Death of the hero Ghili by
Assassination.
04147
BC Natural Disaster - Mine
Cave-in at a local copper mine, stops production for a few months.
04070
BC Death of a son from the
Chief’s family by Assassination.
04042
BC Attacked by a group of
Peasant Raiders, known as the shadow feet.
04023
BC Invasion of the smaller Mengl
tribe, Clearwater gains land north and east into the hills.
03927
BC Fighting between Breeka and
Obad Hai priests again over land use.
03891
BC Attacked by Raiders sponsored
by Obad Hai to counter the growing power of Breekan priests.
03818
BC Disgrace of the Obad Hai
priesthood for corruption and treason.
03775
BC Death of the Chief Nhelic by
Magic, Priests of Obad Hai is suspected.
03770
BC Regional Unrest - Peasant
Uprising.
03743
BC Military Campaign Launched –
Clearwater take territory north along the coast.
03718
BC Attacked by Raiders who are
sponsored by those who want peace with the tribe at Minaia.
03622
BC Overthrow of Government.
Clearwater is burned to the ground in the chaos.
03522
BC Toppling of the Major Noble
House of Ghynart, allies to the Chief 100 years earlier.
03425
BC Death of the last Major Noble
from Ghynart clan, which then becomes a minor house.
03413
BC Assassination attempt of
Rheeli, the ”Captain of the Guard“ by the miner’s guild.
03365
BC Fighting between priests of
Melikki and Tharzidun.
03283 BC
Assassination attempt of the High Prist of Melikki by her enemy,
Priest Jylher.
-3250 to –1500 Bronze Age
Era of the First King. Bronze Age begins. This time
period, Patriarchal systems based on a God-King or a ”Divine right to rule“
is established in the Duchy as Ian the Hurried sets out to secure his place
in history, As local leader of the village of Clearwater, he sets out to
conquer and hold several villages around his lands. He controls the Western
Highlands, but the Lake and South Coast areas are still under the old
matriarchal ways and are independant. The Elves and Gnomes begin a long set
of alliances to solidify thier fight against the Kobolds, who are seen by
them as just ”bandits out for revenge“. Ian has some difficulties with the
druids due to the worship of goddesses. Due to that friction, the
institutuion of priests and a set of matriarchal gods begins to form. A
bronze like metal is beginning to be used for tools, and in fact amongst
some circles, the wealthy in particular, as money.
*note: Classes alllowed: Priest, Fighter, Noble (All),
Illutionist (Gnome & Fey only), Enchantress (Fey & Elf only)
including those mentioned above.
*note: Prestige Classes allowed: Elven Bow Master, Elven
warrior Poet (Elf only), Master of Staves, Forest Keeper, Shadow,
Inquisitor, Elder Bard, Charmer (All), Gnome PrC’s (Gnome only), Kobold
PrC’s (Kobold only) including those mentioned above
*note: All base classes mentioned above (Pre-Bronze age)
can be used by any race.
-3240
Death of Ian. Time of Chaos. The death was seen as a
recenge strike by the druids who saw thier power waning in favor of a
controlled, structural religion. Ians ”Empire“ fell as squabbling lords and
leaders vie for power. Elves are banned from the Western Highlands as are Gnomes
due to the ”strange“ gods, as the priests of the new gods try to keep what
power they can and slowly grow. Political manipulation and scheming slowly
become normal in Clearwater as the village is growing and becoming a center
for trade with the ”Eastern Kingdoms“ on the far side of the Grey
Mountains. Due to the political climate, Enchantment and Illution magic and
charms become popular. The old Shaman based magic is now nearly extinct as
a structured wizardly magic becomes seen.
03236
BC Death of the Priest of Breeka
by falling down a flight of stairs.
03228
BC Toppling of the Major House
of Teekha, allies to the priests of Obad Hai.
03211
BC Death of the Head of Teekha
clan by Assassination. Clan has disappeared.
03190
BC Military Campaign Launched –
Clearwater attacks Olgeesh Tribe and conquers them.
03153
BC Invasion – Allies of the
Olgeesh tribe, several clans of wild elves invade and pillage the area.
03131
BC Death of the elvish clan
leader who led the invasion 20 years before by Assassination.
03101
BC Epidemic/Disease - Infection
Rate = 21% - 30% Mortality Rate = 90% - 99%.
03078
BC Peace Treaty Broken.
Clearwater attacks northward to Minaia.
03030
BC Death of the hero known as
the Fisher Lord by magic. Elves are suspected.
03011
BC Military Campaign Launched –
Minaia allied with remnants of Olgeesh attack Clearwater.
02989
BC Military Campaign Launched –
attacks continue as Minaia take land back, secures borders.
02987
BC Peace Treaty Signed.
Clearwater sues for peace.
02940
BC Assassination attempt of the
head of merchant’s guild by a member of the guild.
02937
BC Food Production Tech. Better
storage techniques to keep food stored thru the winter.
02899
BC Assassination attempt of the
Priest of Tharzidun by a Lesser Noble.
02874
BC Settlement Treaty Signed.
Minaia, and Clearwater border solidify. Olgeesh is ignored.
02826
BC Death of the hero known as
Quick bow from old age.
02809
BC Epidemic/Disease - Infection
Rate = 61% - 70% Mortality Rate = 10% - 19%.
02808
BC Defensive Military Tech.
Better fortifications and better thinking on proper layout.
02783
BC Fighting between Breeka and
Tharzidun priests, as Tharzidun priests are beaten.
02771
BC Disgrace of Tharzidun priests
due to corruption, and sacrifices. Priests are banished.
02758
BC Military Campaign Launched –
The remnants of Olgeesh are destroyed. Clearwater grows.
02723
BC Epidemic/Disease - Infection
Rate = 51% - 60% Mortality Rate = 100%.
02710
BC Regional Unrest - Peasant
Uprising. Olgeesh people are upset at ”foreign occupation“
02693
BC Offensive Military Tech.
Better quality bows and fletching. Ranges and damage increase
02666
BC Death of a Priest of Geshtai
from old age.
02639
BC Natural Disaster - Mine
Cave-in. The royal mine is shut down. Sabotage suspected.
02611
BC Regional Unrest - Noble
houses allied with Minaia rebel. A short ”treaty“ is signed
02602
BC Settlement Treaty Broken. As
Clearwater attacks the traitorous nobles, and takes lands
02593
BC Attacked by the Blood tooth
tribe of Poorly Organized Kobold raiders.
02554 BC
Death of the evil hero known as ”The Shadownight“ by Assassination.
02550
BC Natural Disaster -
Earthquake. Village of Clearwater leveled. Started to rebuild again.
02529
BC Military Campaign Launched –
Clearwater attacks Minaia once again and grows again.
02508
BC Attacked by a group of
Peasant Raiders. Thought to be Minaia paid mercenaries.
02483
BC Natural Disaster - Mine
Cave-in. Gold mine shut down due to poor maintaince.
02480
BC Toppling of the major noble
house of Manitur after a series of bad trade expeditions.
02448
BC Invasion – Clearwater take
Minaia as Clearwater conquers the village and kills their leaders.
02408
BC Assassination attempt of the
Head of the merchant’s guild by the ”Chief of the Guard“.
02391 BC Act
of God. Tharzidun send an avatar to raise moral of the remnats of the
”faithful“.
02369
BC Spying. Arlorn spies on
Clearwater military, poses as a traveling circus
02366
BC Attacked by Raiders.
Sponsored by the merchants guild due to new taxes being imposed.
02343
BC Epidemic/Disease - Infection
Rate = 51% - 60% Mortality Rate = 0% - 5%.
02317
BC Regional Unrest - Noble
Rebellion due to taxes imposed. Quickly crushed.
02314
BC Assassination attempts the
head of the Ileegh noble family by assassin’s guild.
02269
BC Assassination attempt of
Clearwater’s diplomat by Arlorn spies.
02234
BC Epidemic/Disease - Infection
Rate = 41% - 50% Mortality Rate = 90% - 99%.
02213
BC Invasion – Clearwater invades
east and conquers areas along Troll Lake
02203
BC Toppling of the major noble
house of Akhool due to their evil and dealings with Arlorn.
02186
BC Act of God: Breeka as Goddess
sends avatar to teach new techniques about farming.
02145
BC Epidemic/Disease - Infection
Rate = 61% - 70% Mortality Rate = 100%.
02110
BC Military Campaign Launched –
Clearwater conquers areas to the northeast along the lake.
02079
BC Regional Unrest - Religious
unrest. Major purging and feuds between priests
02058
BC Attacked by a group of
Raiders. Sponsored by barbarian tribes in Great Grey Plains
02042
BC Death of the High Priest of
Kord in Battle. With his death, barbarian raids stop.
01997
BC Violation of ”Temple Law“ by
the aristocracy by failure to pay their taxes to the priests.
01949
BC Death of the High Priest of
Zilchus in Battle. Due to his support for the ”Temple Law“
01911
BC Assassination attempt of the
Lord of Minaia by the Blood thorn Kobold tribe.
01877
BC Epidemic/Disease - Infection
Rate = 11% - 20% Mortality Rate = 6% - 9%.
01870
BC Natural Disaster - Tidal
Wave. The outer islands take the brunt as villages are destroyed.
01825
BC Fighting between priests of
Ulass and Zilchus over church rites, and tax money.
01814
BC Assassination attempt of the
high priest of Zilchus by the military. Corruption is suspected
01811
BC Military Campaign Launched –
Clearwater conquers rest of territory on west side of lake.
01784
BC Trade Treaty Signed. Between
the Barony of the South coast & the Duchy of Clearwater.
01782
BC Peace Treaty broken between
Clearwater and the ”Farmer King“ of Dunston.
01772
BC Natural Disaster - Tidal
Wave. Southern Coast magic is suspected. Clearwater damaged.
01741
BC Epidemic/Disease - Infection
Rate = 71% - 80% Mortality Rate = 60% - 69%.
01707
BC Natural Disaster - Mine
Cave-in. Minaia Gold mine collapses, mine reopens in 1 season.
01684
BC Assassination attempt of High
Priest of Zilchus by Tyhee, knight of House Ghynart.
01655
BC Food Production Tech.
Advancement. Irrigation canals for more farmland use.
01650
BC Offensive Military Tech.
Crossbows become popular due to the ease of use and power.
01627
BC Food Production Tech.
Advancement. Better Plows make for tilling soil easier.
01607
BC Trade Treaty broken between
Duchy of Clearwater and Barony of South Coast
01598
BC Fighting between priests of
Ulaa and Tharzidun.
01581 BC
Epidemic/Disease - Infection Rate = 51% - 60% Mortality Rate = 60% -
69%.
01533 BC
Assassination attempt of Ducal High Mage by Tormegh, lord of House
Reegh.
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