History

The history of Elsemorn is a complicated and contentious subject. There is no common dating system used across the world. Instead, years are counted from significant regional events, such as a city's founding, a ruler's coronation, or a natural disaster. Events older than (human) living memory, particularly if they took place before the current count, are usually dated to a broad era: "that happened during the reign of King Utric" or "it was when the watchtower in the old stories was still standing". Even the longer-lived peoples tend toward vagueness in casual speech: "it was in my fourth century that the dragons arrived". Historians have recorded some of the more popular founding myths. They have also compiled a rough chronology of events, though it is fragmentary and the order is still debated.

This mishmash of reckoning methods has been the norm for centuries or perhaps millennia. Of course, it was different in earlier times. There have always been historical sources: records of events both important and trivial, official documents, and also personal letters and diaries. Ruined cities, graveyards and tombs, and looted artifacts provide tangible proof of a rich history. Libraries, museums, and storytellers kept the past alive even before "historian" was a recognized profession.

This factual history of Elsemorn is not widely known, however. There are socio-economic factors at play in many lands, including feudalism, illiteracy, and a lack of universal education. The zealous followers of Corus are also to blame. The fundamentalist lands of Casseval and Feore routinely imprison or execute historians and destroy documents—even entire libraries.

Founding Myths

These are some of the founding myths or origin stories of the sapient peoples of Elsemorn.

From Of The Dwarves, Elves, Stonelings, and Others, by Tenney Blackhand

"In the east, in what is now called Hestellend, the dwarves and elves and trolls arose. Halflings and gnomes were considered part of the dwarven species, as they are now, though it is believed that they were more alike in form at that time. As the lands were settled, war became more common, which drove expansion to the West.

"In the central regions, what we call Medoruul, the goblins and orcs and related species arose. At that time, they were not yet united under the banner of Stonelings, and they engaged in warfare like other species. They were also pushed westward as other cultures arrived from the East.

"In time, these people came to explore and settle in parts of what is called Allesley and Suthaal. It was not long before they encountered humans, and our common history began."

From Of Humans, and The Rise and Fall of Cordiana, by Tenney Blackhand

"At the extreme west of the content, on a broad shelf of land between the Kadesber Mountains and the Galdor Sea, humans arose. They formed an empire, called Cordiana, and it is said that they reached the peak of science and technology. They also began to dabble in early magics. The humans of Cordiana were curious, and so they built three ships to sail west and see what was there. The ships never returned. Instead, those who watched for the ships saw giant waves. These waves were unlike any ever seen, for they dissolved flesh and trees, and caused stone to burn. Some people gathered what they could and fled into the mountains, where the waves could not reach them. Through dangerous paths over and through the mountains, in time, they arrived east of the Kadesber, into the land now called Allesley. It is said that perhaps a tenth of humanity had escaped the waves, and a tenth of those survived their journey. Therefore, a hundredth of the people of Cordiana found themselves in a strange land, recently settled by the other species."

From The Advance of Corus, by Hudde of Talstan

"While in Cordiana, followers of the sun god Corus were yet few in number, and still considered a cult. According to their surviving documents, they were troubled by the unchecked ambition of the empire, particularly its research into dark magics. Their apparent protests were ignored, however, and the three ships that sealed Cordiana's fate sailed into the sunset.

"When the deadly waves arrived, the cultists were prepared, and they led what people they could across the mountains. While most of Cordiana's people perished, a greater number of worshippers of Corus survived. Their religion flourished in the new world, as did a cultural distrust of magic and irresponsible education and exploration.

"In time, humans founded other religions, and there were many wars with the priests of Corus, both spiritually in churches and physical battles as well. The temples of Corus also fractured into different sects, some allies and some rivals. Eventually, a great number of worshippers left to form Casseval and Feore, two lands based on the worship of Corus.

"However, they left behind a culture that still harbored a deep-seated fear of magic, of learning, of the unknown."

Chronology

• Sapient peoples arise and settle Elsemorn. Dragons, dwarves, elves, and trolls inhabit Hestellend. Goblin, hobgoblin, and orcs inhabit Medoruul. Humans inhabit Cordiana in Allesley.

• The early folklore of these peoples tell of The Howling, when a fiery being attempted to engulf the world. This being was put to sleep and became Morn, the Dreaming Sun. The protagonists of these stories vary, from animals to giants to a predecessor-species. A related story says that many stars were blotted out in the Year of the Halfsky.

• Morn's magical rays bathe the world, which is soon given the poetic name Elsemorn. Spellcraft is discovered but most casters are unable to control this wild magic. A catastrophe causes widespread ruin while survivors seek shelter for a generation or more. This time is called the Scymrelde or Scymralth.

• Most of the early religions—Aldheor, Hallasar, and Sedeyr—are practiced in some form. Corus soon follows but remains obscure for centuries.

• Dwarves, elves, and trolls explore and settle in Medoruul. Goblins, hobgoblins, and orcs explore and settle in Allesley.

• The elven language is sundered.

• Dwarves, elves, and trolls explore and settle in Allesley. Goblins, hobgoblins, and orcs explore and settle in Suthal and Hestellend.

• Burning tides destroy Cordiana and kill most of its people during the Galeflood (or Galdorflod). The survivors flee across the Kadesber into Allesley and meet dwarves and elves for the first time.

• With much aid from dwarves and elves, the humans begin to settle northwest Allesley.

• The dwarves, elves, and humans form an alliance. The dwarves give Fellsdare to the humans.

• Stoneling culture begins to develop from goblin, hobgoblin, and orc peoples living in close proximity.

• Loril is founded as a land of the dwarves, elves, and humans. They share power initially but in time Fellsdare becomes the primary capital. Nearby city-states, kingdoms, and empires sign treaties with Loril; eventually they fall under its protection and are absorbed into Loril as the Reeves.

• Hryrfast emerges and expands along with Loril, but fades after several generations.

• The arts and sciences flourish. Exploration and trade expand. Civilization reaches its peak, according to many later scholars. Diseases like the pox and plague, previously minor concerns, now become epidemics.

• Burhi and Westbare are settled.

• The Theresklys humans settle Theresk.

• The Haffulka humans settle Kaldenhave and found Maeros.

• A dispute over succession in Fellsdare becomes a civil war. The Vala humans settle Casseval and found Rocheline.

• A rebellion breaks out in the Reeves. Fellsdare prevails but is bankrupt and collapses economically. The Fynnas humans settle Feore and found Fyncham, which later becomes Fyndallia.

• Loril establishes the colonies of Stroudesmoure and Ryn and regains its economic power.

• The Kverlige elves settle Kestemyr and found Keste.

• The Tiethan Stonelings settle Artieth.

• The Hamiri humans settle Kisra and Miraalys and found Athyl and Miraal, and later Ironmast. Though separate lands, Kisra and Miraalys are strong allies.

• Kisra, Loril, and Miraalys become trade partners and all lands flourish. This also occurs between Casseval, Feore, and Kaldenhave, where a triangle trade develops.

• Piracy increases, affecting trade across Elsemorn. Many cities are plundered or burned, notably Stroudesmoure.

• Artieth begins raiding western Loril.

• Loril grants the Northern Wolds to Falxmed.

• The Fenneth humans begin to settle central Medoruul. They found Reddesdal, then Haliodderun, and soon the borders of Reddes and Terinnia stabilize. Other cities in the region are founded as city-states, and many fail.

• The Stroudlia rebuild Stroudesmoure for the final time and declare Stroud an independent land. The Berdweor dwarves of Gloughm form an alliance with Stroud. Ryn declares itself an empire.

• The alliance of Fennleas is formed.

• Many Ghailthoc trolls leave Trolwud.

• Humans begin to settle in northern Hestellend. Disputes about their colonies lead to the creation of Cullodh and Senthe.

• The Hhurtik conquer the Rynean Empire. Its survivors settle in Garathiin and the city falls under the protection of Kestemyr.

• Doctrinal disputes drive the Coruscene theocracies of Casseval and Feore apart. Diplomacy eventually fails and the two lands declare war. Conflict is sporadic but continues to the present.

• The Ilyar Stonelings settle Cosworn.

• Feore annexes Surrna.

• The Kozlir Stonelings settle Kozlodus.

• Everwell begins to organize as a religion.

• Cosworn and Senthe form an alliance.

• The Yearsal list is discovered.

• The Burrowkin Stonelings settle Therborous.

• The Codex is discovered.

• The war between Casseval and Feore cools.

• The Blight is discovered in Burhi.

• Artieth and Loril sign a truce.

• Stonelings found Kirtha.

Recent and Current Events

These are some of the more important events that have occurred recently or are happening now. They are common topics among the people, from debates in royal halls all the way down to local small talk.

• Cold war between Casseval and Feore, including questions regarding if or how long it will last and whether it will cause more raids into nearby lands.

• The Stoneling lands of Artieth, Cosworn, Kozlodus, and Therborous gaining independence and recognition. Related to this, the increasing presence of Stonelings.

• The Hhurtik in Suthal. Initially, most talk focused on the refugees in Garathiin. More recently, this has turned to questions about the Urtik themselves: what they want, who or what they are, and if they will spread beyond the desert.

• Emergence of new religions, including Everwell, Yearsal, the Codex.

• Destabilizing relations between Cullodh and Senthe.

• Increasing piracy in the Hallas Sea and the Rime Sea.

• Plague in Surrna.

• Attempted assassinations throughout Fennleas and Reddes.

• The siege of the wizard Castienne in Casseval.

• Crop failure in Miraalys.

• Economic boom in Kaldenhave.

• Abundant harvests in Fennleas, Reddes, and Terinnia.

• Rumors of sectarian conflict in Artieth.

• Rumors that Cosworn will invade Kisra.

• Rumors of bandit armies in the Southern Wolds.

• Rumors of increased cult activity throughout Allesley.

• Rumors of a great monster in the Woldmere of southern Loril and the Southern Wolds.

• Rumors of a draconic invasion in northern Allesley and Medoruul.

• Rumors of a ghostly presence in the Whistling Woods of Feore.

• Rumors of zombies around the Galdorsund of southern Loril and northern Stroud.

• Rumors about the Blight in Burhi.

• Rumors of angry nature spirits in the Wolcenwood of Cullodh.

Historical and Lost Places

The chronology above mentions several places which no longer exist, usually because of natural disasters or military destruction. There are others that have simply been lost to time. These are some of the places that local or specialist historians may be aware of:

Antidas was a human city-state in northern Allesley.

Cadessa was a human empire in western Allesley.

Clefas was a human kingdom in the Southern Wolds of Allesley and Suthal. This land was also called the Clovenhills.

Cordiana was a human empire on the western coast of Allesley. After the fall of that empire, its human survivors fled east to help found Loril.

Eighthands was an island and pirate city off the Southern Coasts of Medoruul. It collapsed into the sea following an earthquake.

Eiren was a human city-state in western Allesley.

Esre was an elven empire in the Rustwood.

The Forric was a (possibly apocryphal) elven and trollish empire in Hestellend.

Ghedden was a draconic settlement in the northern seas of Medoruul, particularly in eastern Theresk and the islands of Isseya and Selrey.

Glæstra was a human kingdom around Galdorsund in western Allesley and Suthal. This land was also called Gallaster and Gallastrand.

Hasteyal was a human kingdom in northern Allesley.

Havryllond was an elven land extending from the Southern Wolds, through the Grass Sea of Allesley and Suthal, to the Sea of Aschemir.

Heahgyrd was a dwarven land in the Callam Palles of Medoruul.

Kiisa was a human land in the Southern Coasts of Medoruul.

Knul was an elven and dwarven land in the Megdrillas of Allesley.

Lymeras was a human kingdom around Idrare and the Dunric Woods of Allesley.

Lyrr was a dwarven city-state in northern Allesley.

Marhast was a human kingdom in the southern Reeves of Allesley.

Midea was a human kingdom in western Allesley.

Morsdare was a human kingdom in the western Grass Sea of Suthal.

Myrun was a human empire in northern Allesley, centered on Myrinul.

The Nyckelay was a human colony in northern Allesley.

Pallistae was an elven city on the Tinsley River in the Reeves of western Allesley. It was abandoned and lost some centuries ago and is presumed to have been reclaimed by nature.

Pellaeth was a trollish empire near Golad in southern Senthe.

Ryn was a human city-state and center of the Rynean Empire in Suthal. The city fell and the empire collapsed when the Urtik invaded and formed Hhurtik.

Sokyl was a dwarven colony in northern Medoruul.

Tallas was a goblin empire in northwestern Allesley.

Thyrswhim was a human kingdom in southwestern Suthal.

Tsuan was an elven land in far northern Hestellend.

Vasseley was an elven colony in northern Medoruul.

Vessadre was a dwarven land in the Callam Barres of Medoruul. This land was also called the Westedders.

The Westlay was a human colony in southwestern Suthal.

The Wolfshaws was a human kingdom around Uxal in northern Allesley.

Creation Myths

Many of the cultures and peoples of Elsemorn have their own creation myths. Here are several of them:

Dragons

"The elements coalesced and in the void, Ertheskel was formed. A watchtower for the first spirits was set among the seas, for they were eager to look upon the new lands. It was named Quarturnsil. Like a serpent this tower was in form, each scale a balcony, and inside were many halls for feasting and revelry. Spirits were forbidden from land and sea, and the Yrmig-mother devoured anyone who violated this ban. Such was her reward.

"Quarturnsil was a gift but the spirits considered it a prison. They forged arms and armor and made war upon each other and the Yrmig-mother. The watchtower cracked and crumbled beneath their mighty tumults, and fell into a great heap. The Yrmig-mother and many spirits were buried beneath it. And where her blood mixed with that of the spirits, new beings spawned in the rubble.

"The first were dragons, the hermits. Next came the wyrms and dragonborn, the lords. And soon all manner of scaled-thing was found on land and in the sea, the snakes and turtles and fish. The draconic beings worshiped their matron, or at least her supposed purity, and their empires waxed and waned in a series of purges. And while the true believers express no desire to see Ertheskel, many of their blood-cousins the dragonborn call it their home."

Humans

Civilization began in the West, in a land named Cordiana. The people tamed the earth, developed agriculture and built windmills and watermills. They made ships that could sail beyond the horizon. They learned magic. But it would not last, for great tides struck Cordiana. These were no ordinary tides: the water burned and poisoned, destroying anything that it touched. The people took what they could and fled over and under the mountains, where they found themselves in a new land.

Here, humans met dwarves and elves, who helped them rebuild. New cities and kingdoms and empires were made, which went through cycles of growth and decline. The humans spread across Elsemorn, settling everywhere the earth was rich, or where resources could be found.

Trolls

The first trolls were vessels, a binding of nature spirits within bark and vine and leaf. Unlike the creatures today, trolls were made with a purpose: to tend a pleasant grove or lake, remaining there until fire or rot devoured them. And so the spirit would be free. In this way, the trolls spread across Elsemorn. But trolls can be hardy and stubborn, and many refused to die. This life-desire corrupted the nature spirits, and the trolls grew feral and malicious, and sundered into many disparate trollkin. Some say that trolls who honored their bound spirits in time became the elves, though the elves dispute this claim.