Saltwave History - LY 2159-2163

The Fourth Five Years

History of Saltwave LY 2159 - 2163

2159 - Wars and Rumors of Wars

Trespin Colony falls under the sway of illithids. Ishan missionaries visiting the island colony of Trespin discover that the entire Landish colony has fallen under the control of mind flayers. Through some luck and the wisdom of a quick retreat, the clerics are able to escape and report the subversion of the colony.
Queen Sally signs the Amazonian Doctrine. Queen Sally declares that Amazonia will protect the territory of Amazonia, Veldfarys, and Churach from foreign interference. This territory includes the Aveelo Sea and the other waters surrounding Veldfarys, Amazonia, and Churach. The Queen specifically mentions the monolithic influence of Zkydraksis' shipping interests as being unwelcome in the Far East.
Kal-then Khan drives kenku eastward. The Gurdish barbarian king, Kal-then Khan attacks kenku nests in north central Jaastenland as his hordes explore old ruins. Many kenku are slain, and others flee eastward. Some of the khan's troops are decimated by greyfeather kenku knights and masters who defeat the human barbarians and then fade away unseen.
Mrrex Colony expands across the Spierland Peninsula. The prrex colony in Jaastenland, Mrrexi, expands eastward and westward to cover more of the wilderness. Mrrexi officials present a claim to Lebensbrüke for the entire peninsula, subject to their ability to hold and settle it against the encroachment of the Southern Patriarchy. Queen Anissette welcomes friendship with the catlings.
A powerful wizard prevents entry into the Forbidden Lands. A wizard named Dark Valpex destroys kenku nests and drives out others seeking to explore and settle the Forbidden Lands. Dark Valpex claims the "inheritance of the triune Sorcerer Kings," and orders his minions to drive out all intruders, including the red-shouldered kenku who have lived in the Forbidden Lands for generations. Queen Anissette of Lebensbrüke orders the entry into the Forbidden Lands closed until the wizard can be found and defeated.

2160 - Let the Games Begin

Kal-then Khan demands tribute from Vargas. The barbarian khan demands payment of an annual tribute from the Vargas province of Lebensbrüke in exchange for peace. Queen Anissette considers destroying the Khan out of hand, but instead suggests an annual contest of champions, instead. Each side must present an offering of equal value, and then engage in combat trials to determine how much of the other side's offering is taken. Kal-then Khan is greatly amused by this plan and claims that the Queen has the spirit of a true horsewoman, and agrees to the contest. The first games result in an almost even draw, with the Gurdish coming out slightly ahead. Many citizens of Lebensbrüke suspect that the result was determined in advance by agents of the Queen to allow the Khan to save face the first year.
Five independent border holdings on the edge of Lebensbrüke form an alliance. Martin Schoppenhauer, the Grey Mage of Katraal, organizes a defense treaty among the isolated lands on the southwestern side of Lebensbrüke, on the coast. All five rulers have a distrust of the Lebensbrüke Queen and officials, claiming that they are only interested in gaining more territory. Queen Anissette wishes them luck in a public statement.
Dark Valpex unites the giants and goblinoids of the Forbidden Lands. The wizard, Dark Valpex, forces the goblinoid and giant tribes in the Forbidden Lands to bow to his will. While the initial domination of the humanoids results in the deaths of hundreds of "disloyal" followers, Dark Valpex and his minions begin to forge the tribes into some semblence of organization. During this time, they also defeat several Lebensbrüken adventuring and espionage bands.
Amazonia raises several legions of female knights. Queen Sally's cause of female superiority brings hundreds of aspiring knights to her training grounds from among the noble and gentry classes. The Queen's trainers temper the passions of the young women with martial skills, producing many elite units of knights. The knights are supported by highly trained mixed-sex foot troops.
Amazonia welcomes Dylever traders to its ports. Rejecting the dragon-controlled trading vessels, Queen Sally welcomes the elven House Dylever clippers into her ports. The Dylevers and the Amazonian leaders strike an alliance to foil the dominance of Zkydraksis' Saltwave-based shipping companies in the Far East. Dylever traders will trans-ship Zkydraksis' goods for reasonable prices, and will ensure that Amazonia retains control over imports and harbors.

2161 - Dangers Revealed and Defeated

The second Vargas Games are held. Kal-then Khan's warriors put in a very good showing against the champions of Lebensbrüke, but fail to take first place in any contest except the cross country horsemanship trials. Despite the failure to win the games, the Gurdish people enjoy themselves greatly. The Khan's foul mood is not great enough to inspire his tribes to abandon the games.
Honuran samurai try to invade Qoolm, but the great dragon Panitoko forbids it. As Qoolm begins to increase its share of the market for silk, linen, and cotton among the civilized nations, some Honurans feel that honor demands a return to the old days when New Japan more closely controlled production of luxury goods. As the plan to conquer Qoolm unfolds, the Honuran empress, Panitoko, calls the leaders to her palace and forbids them and their followers from leaving Honura.
Kzinti from the Southern Patriarchy are unable to dislodge Mrrexi settlers. Uvikfarnis organizes a very clever and sound military campaign to destroy the prrexi colony on the Spierland Peninsula, but her kzinti and dragons are unable to defeat the prrexi samurai and supporting battle wizards from Lebensbrüke. The dragoness had been counting on the prrexi aversion to magic, but the catlings not only employed the support of allied spellcasters, but also trained some sorcerers of their own. Despite several hard-fought battles, the kzinti are forced to retreat to their own lands.
Lysander Isle is attacked by a kraken. A giant sea monster and its dominated minions try to destroy the port towns on Lysander Isle and take plunder back to the deeps. The attack is defeated by the Lysanderians themselves and three gold dragons who are visiting. It takes more than a week to chop up the body of the kraken as it blocks passage into the Lysander harbor.
The mayor of Mainhafen is revealed to be a doppelganger. Curious adventurers in Mainhafen discover that the mayor of the port city and several members of the city council and nobility have been replaced by doppelgangers. The adventurers unmask the shapechangers and save the city. Queen Anissette awards the group with the Order of the Wyvern for their deeds. Some people suspect that the evil wizard, Dark Valpex, is behind the plot.

2162 - A Year of Relocations

The third Vargas Games are held. Queen Anissette offers exceptionally attractive prizes in exchange for territory in the Kantraal region. Kal-then Khan accepts, having spent much time over the past year training warrior athletes. The results of the contests favor Lebensbrüke, but not so much as the previous year. In the end, the Gurds gain much booty and Lebensbrüke gains territory from Kantraal north to the Tablelands.
The Aspen Glen locates its headquarters on Lysander Isle. The worldwide order of good witches, the Aspen Glen, builds a beautiful complex of buildings and parks and groves on Lysander. Citing the great ability of the Lysanderians to work in harmony to protect themselves and their guests, the spokeswoman for the order says that the Aspen Glen wishes to carry out its work in such pleasant and egalitarian surroundings.
Kal-then Khan's tribes defeat the remaining free barbarians of the Alaan Mountain foothills. The Gurdish barbarians now roam the plains of old Kyriabor from Kantraal south to Lyborg without opposition from other tribes.
The elven Trelesta colony evicts explorers. The elves of House Trelesta politely but firmly remove several bands of explorers from their territory. Sir Logan Dylever passes an informal message from the Trelesta leaders to the governments of the other nations within a month of the incident. The message politely explains that the elves of Trelesta are the stewards of the land, and regretfully will not permit others from exploiting the unspoiled reaches of the continent. Visitors are invited to tour the beautiful wilderness as guest of the elves, instead. Reactions from the major nations are mixed.

2163 - Danger All Around Us

The fourth Vargas games are held. Warriors from Amazonia compete in the games, representing their own nation. Prizes are less expansive than the previous year, but still very appealing to the Gurdish tribespeople. Lebensbrüke takes top honors, followed by the Gurds, and the Amazonians make a good initial effort.
Dark Valpex destroys Krelzheim. The evil wizard unleashes a deathly enchanted rain that poisons nearly everyone in the town of Krelzheim, on the border of the Forbidden Lands. Only a few stout individuals and adventurers survive. Most of these people die in the subsequent giant and hobgoblin attack on the town and castle. Dark Valpex's humanoid troops sweep eastward into Lebensbrüke. The invaders quickly conquer all of the villages north of the Saarvan River and west of Krystal Lake.
Humanoid bands conduct coordinated raids throughout Lebensbrüke. Shortly after Dark Valpex overruns Krelzheim, the other scattered bands of humanoids attack nearby villages and outposts. This draws considerable concern from the leaders of Lebensbrüke, who have to choose how and where to respond to many different threats. Sir Drake leads the army west to repel the main invasion of giants and hobgoblins. The Queen and other local rulers sponsor adventuring bounties on raiders in other areas, hoping to turn the tide against the goblin races.

Onward to the Voyreem Herald, 2164