Sutherlands History 293-594 ER

293 Merchant ships from Evendarr discover inhabited islands in the far south and establish trade with the natives. The natives, whom the Evendarrian merchants term Barbarians, have a wealth of fish, pearls and other sea treasures, which they trade for finely crafted armor, weapons, furniture, and other home goods. Evendarrian maps initially refer to these islands as The Barbarian Isles although the natives call the islands Eit. Explorers chart twenty-two major islands and countless small islands, sand bars and coral reefs. The islands themselves prove difficult to navigate.

347 King Willem Endarr I, seeking to expand the Kingdom of Evendarr, grants adventurers charters to explore and later settle the uninhabited eastern coast. The area is surprisingly free of native populations or violent creatures normally found in wilderness settings. The land proves to be amazingly fertile and hospitable, and overpopulated areas of Evendarr send many immigrants.

357 Settlers from Evendarr found Trestar as the first major center of commerce, local government and military. King Willem Endarr I names these new territories the "Protectorate of the Southern Lands of Evendarr", and assigns his Knight, Byron, to administer the local government and organize protection for the people. Sir Byron creates a small standing local militia composed of retired King’s Army soldiers for the settler’s protection. The Barbarians of the Barbarian Isles end trade with Evendarrian merchants and also refuse to trade with the growing Evendarrian population on the mainland cost.

365 Barbarians from the Barbarian Isles raid Evendarrian coastal settlements. Although initially forbidden by Sir Byron, Evendarrian settlers respond with raids on Barbarian settlements in the Isles. Sir Byron has the city of Trestar walled.

369 Mounting tensions culminate when the Barbarians declare war and lay siege to Trestar just prior to the fall harvest.

370 Sir Byron, as well as many of the Evendarrian settlers, are trapped in the siege of Trestar. However, their defenses hold, and the Barbarians do not penetrate the walls. By late spring, supplies run low and starvation becomes a real threat for the people in Trestar. Hoenig, a noted celestial mage, organizes the settlers outside the siege into a militia and manages to force the Barbarians back to their islands. Though vastly outnumbered, Hoenig demonstrates great strategic ability in lifting the siege. Sir Byron declares him the Hero of Trestar. The Barbarians refuse attempts for peaceful negotiations.

372 After several years of continued skirmishes and raids, King Mykel Endarr II sends troops to end the bloodshed. On recommendation of Sir Byron, His Majesty knights Hoenig and names him General of the Royal Armies for the Protectorate of Sutherland. Immediately, Sir Hoenig leads a counter-attack on the Barbarian Isles. After a great sea battle, Hoenig’s forces capture several of the northern islands.

375 Barbarians lay siege to the southernmost settlement, the recently established Southerland Keep, while Sir Hoenig and the majority of the King’s forces are occupied with fighting in the northern islands. Sir Byron raises a force primarily of farmers, townspeople, and merchants to push back the Barbarian forces. In reward for his many years of service, King Mykel Endarr II allows the elderly Sir Byron to retire, granting him estates in Northern Evendarr. His Majesty names Sir Hoenig Magistrate of the Protectorate of the Southern Lands of Evendarr.

378 Sir Hoenig’s forces capture the largest and most important of the islands, the Island of Eit, thus finally subduing the Barbarians and ending years of bloodshed. The King grants Hoenig the Barbarian Isles and names him Baron of the (renamed) Isles d’Hoenig. The large Barbarian city and trading port of Eit on the island of Eit is named the capital. With the blessing of the King, Baron Hoenig opens up the Isles to settlement by citizens of Evendarr. The Barbarian populations are given three choices: leave the islands forever, swear fealty to King Mykel Endarr II, or be resettled to Wolf's Eye Island. Some choose relocation, many swear fealty and become citizens of Evendarr, and a few manage to flee to an unknown location. Rumors persist that the Barbarians who went into exile later make up the bulk of the pirates that hazard the waters surrounding the Isles.

385 A series of deaths and disappearances on the island of Eit are attributed to an ancient vampire; as told in various legends of the native Barbarians. Baron Hoenig appoints Sedohr to solve the mystery and put an end to the mysterious deaths. Arrack, an elderly shaman from the native Barbarian tribes, helps Sedohr lead a group of adventures including Seranden and Robert the Horseman, to the vampire's lair. A long and difficult struggle ensues, but they manage to subdue the vampire and destroy its vampiric form. Afterwards, Arrack convinces Sedohr that he should form an order of knights to uphold the Code of Chivalry and the virtues of good. Seranden and the other adventurers that aided Sedohr agree, and ask him to be the head of the order. In a grand ceremony, Arrack officiates the creation of the new order and names it the Knights of the Ancient and Honorable Order d’Eit. Arrack then names Sedohr head of the order. Sedohr swears fealty to the order and the Code of Chivalry, and he declares that the Knights d’Eit will be Ever Vigilant in their war against evil. At the feast celebrating the establishment of the Knights, a mysterious stranger appears. He introduces himself as Colmillo and vows to Arrack that he "Will forever haunt your Knights d'Eit. No action they take will be without my influence and I will forever corrupt your Order."

386 Baron Hoenig Knights Sedohr to his Court and recognizes the Knights d'Eit as the Knightly Order of "the Isles d’Hoenig and all new territories settled by the Isles."

390 Settlers found the city of Borg and explorers find the edge of La Oscura Forest.

407 Baron Hoenig grants a charter to an organization of Hoblings from elsewhere in Evendarr to found settlements along the eastern edge of La Oscura Forest.

414 Several Wild Elven tribes are discovered to be living in the La Oscura Forest by the Hobling settlers.

416 Sir Sedohr dies and is well received into the Heroes' Graveyard. From the Heroes' Graveyard, Sir Sedohr names Sir Seranden head of the Knights d’Eit.

420 Baron Hoenig sends Sir Seranden to negotiate with the Wild Elven tribes in La Oscura Forest. Most of the tribes swear fealty to the Kingdom of Evendarr. De Bracy is founded as a trading post with the Elves.

422 The dragon Azufre destroys the town of Mihn, just east of the Granite Mountains. Over the next three years, the dragon destroys many towns and kills hundreds of helpless people. The Knights d'Eit fights the dragon to no avail. This ends the first period of western expansion.

425 Baron Hoenig decides to depart from Sutherland. He names Seranden Armond Magistrate of the Protectorate of Sutherland as well as Baron of the Isles d’Hoenig.

426 Cartographers and explorers for the Knights d'Eit discover the Verfell Mountains.

430 King Berthold Endarr VI promotes Baron Seranden to Count of Sutherland, and allows him to create a new barony named Rossanoe. Count Seranden marries Lauren Somerset, an Earth scholar of great repute, and names her his Countess.

436 Christina Bernal is the first woman to be accepted into the Knights d'Eit. She names her brother Christopherson her Squire and embarks on a quest to discover how to defeat the dragon Azufre.

438 Christina discovers Verfell Pass, the only easily traveled pass through the Verfell Mountains. On the other side she finds a vast desert, which she names Indomado, later this area is referred to as the "Dragon Lands."

442 Christina is killed on her quest. Christopherson takes her place and vows to not only complete his sister's quest, but to also kill the dragon in her stead.

445 Christopherson, aided by Hoenig, Seranden, Robert the Horseman, and Rollo d’Verfell,  slays the dragon Azufre The Black. King Berthold Endarr VI declares Christopherson "Dragonslayer", despite the fact that some historians claim the dragon was only banished, not slain. Although the Dragon was believed to be destroyed, many of its draconian minions escape death and continue to trouble Sutherland and surrounding areas for centuries.

446 King Berthold Endarr VI names Sutherland a Duchy, which is composed of the baronies of Sadhe, Rossanoe and the Isles d’Hoenig. His Majesty names Seranden Armond Duke of the Sutherlands and Duke Seranden Armond appoints Christopherson Bernal Baron of Sadhe.

447 While traveling on a state visit to Sutherland, Prince Wilfred, the son-in-law of King Berthold Endarr VI, and all of his children are lost at sea. Rumors abound in the Isles d’Hoenig that one or more of his children were rescued by pirates.

450 Duchess Lauren Armond gives birth to Michaelis.

452 The Knights d’Eit aid Gypsies fleeing persecution in other parts of Evendarr by resettling them in western Shade. Duke Seranden Armond resigns as head of the Knights d’Eit and names Baron Christopherson head of the order.

460 The first Goblin War begins with goblinoids attacking from the unexplored south.

462 Led by Christopherson, the Knights d'Eit settle a dispute between local peoples and the newly settled Gypsies. New Gypsy immigrants are settled further to the west.

465 The Order d'Eit builds a fortress in Verfell Pass to protect the resettled Gypsies. This sparks a three-way-war between Orc tribes living in the area, the Gypsies aided by the Knights, and a Kingdom of Dwarves discovered to be living under the Verfell Mountains.

467 The Knights and Gypsies sign a treaty with the Dwarves. Their combined forces easily defeat the Orc tribes. The Dwarves living under the Verfell Mountains join the Duchy and become citizens of the Kingdom of Evendarr. All of the Knights d'Eit are made members of the Gypsies' tribes. Christopherson is even given a position in the Gypsies Kris. Goblinoids raids from the south intensify. The ageing Duke Seranden names his son Michaelis Armond to the position of Marquis in order to take control of the Sutherland military and fight off these raids. Michaelis, who joined the Knights d'Eit years earlier, is given a contingent of Knights d'Eit by Christopherson to aid the Sutherland military forces.

468 After several successful battles brilliantly led by Marquis Michaelis, the Goblin forces are defeated. The area vacated by the retreating goblin armies is named LaRochelle after the Noble family of Marquis Michaelis's fiancé Sarie d’LaRochelle and floods with immigrants.

469 Several tragedies mark 469 as a dark year in Sutherland history. First, Baron Christopherson is convinced that Sutherland will be threatened sometime in the distant future, and that he and his companions will play a critical role in ensuring the Duchy's survival. Christopherson's soul is placed in an amulet, and his companions seal themselves away in ancient ruins in the desert beyond the Verfell Mountains. Later that year, Duke Seranden Armond dies. In accordance with Duke Seranden's will, Queen Brenna Buttons I recognizes Marquis Michaelis as the new Duke. Duke Michaelis names Lazarus Tron Baron of Sadhe to replace the departed Baron Christopherson.

471 The Duke Michaelis Armond marries Sarie d’LaRochelle and names her Duchess of Sutherland.

475 With Baron Christopherson gone and Duke Seranden Armond dead, the Knights d'Eit split into two informal branches, the Knights of the Field and the Knights of the City. Both come into accord when each recognizes Duke Michaelis as head of the Order. Duke Michaelis Armond declares the territory known as La Rochelle a Barony, with the city of Clanthia as its capital. Duchess Sarie d’LaRochelle-Armond gives birth to Kenneth Armond.

488 The Sudbyr brothers (relatives of the infamous Sudbyries of Ravenholt), lead a migration to an area south of the Verfell Mountains and west of LaRochelle. Duchess Sarie d’LaRochelle-Armond gives birth to Rebecca Armond.

490 A great black drake, Ceniza the Black, organizes Azufre's former minions and begins terrorizing settlers near the Verfell Mountains. Lord Kenneth Armond and his close childhood companion Thompson take on a Knighting quest for the Knights d'Eit to destroy this drake. Thompson was raised by a Gypsy tribe but is actually of Elven linage.

493 Lord Kenneth Armond and Thomson slay the drake Ceniza in its lair, in the northern part of Verfell Mountains near the town of Botan. Duke Michaelis Armond Knights Thomson for his heroic deeds. Thomson asks for and is granted the right to use the “Armond” name for his surname  as he did not have one.

493 Southwestern expansion ends with the discovery of a vast swamp to the southwest.

498 Duke Michaelis dies a year after the death of his wife. Kenneth Armond is named Duke by King Roderick Endarr I. Sir Thomson is named head of the order of the Knights d'Eit by Sir Michaelis from the Hero's Graveyard.

504 All of the inhabitants of the Island of Kraai, the southernmost island in the Isles d’Hoenig, mysteriously disappear and are never seen again. Rebecca Armond leads an expedition to investigate the disappearance as her Knighting quest for the Knights d'Eit. Sir Thomson accompanies her. Evendarrian people settled Kraai in 390, and Barbarian tribes had resided there for at least centuries prior to the settlers' arrival.

509 Rebecca Armond marries Sir Thomson.

514 Despite great effort by Rebecca and her expedition, no plausible explanation is ever found for the mysterious disappearances on Kraai Island. Duke Kenneth Armond reluctantly allows new settlers to make their homes on the island. A permanent outpost of the Knights d'Eit is established there to continue the investigation and protect the new community. Duke Kenneth Armond names his sister Rebecca a Lady on his Court.

532 Duke Kenneth Armond is assassinated by an unknown cabal. The cabal used strange magic’s that allowed them to appear as members of the Duke's own court. Although the murderers are captured just after the assassination, they mysteriously disintegrate during interrogation. Their full conspiracy is never known, nor is the magic’s they used ever completely understood.

533 Since Kenneth Armond has neither wife nor heir of his own, King Hendrick Endarr II makes Rebecca Armond Duchess of Sutherland. Sir Thomson, her husband, refuses her offer to share the title with her, preferring instead to simply continue as head of the Knights d'Eit.

547 Piracy, which has been steadily growing worse since 378, becomes a major problem that greatly disrupts sea trade. With the financial backing of the Duchy, the Isles d’Hoenig embarks on a great ship-building project, developing a strong navy to combat the problem.

550 Slavers from the Dar-Khabad are found to be kidnapping people from northern Sadhe and Rossanoe. The Evendarrian Duchy of Niman politically blocks Sutherland's attempts at securing the support of King Hendrick Endarr II in declaring war on the Dar Khabad.

551 Duchess Rebecca Armond gives birth to Lennon Armond.

553 Duchess Rebecca Armond gives birth to Patrick Armond.

558 Unable to outmaneuver Niman politically with King Roderick Endarr II, Duchess Rebecca and the Knights d'Eit begin a secret war against the Dar Khabad by raiding their slavers and slave-holders.

566 Naval skirmishes with pirates prove unsuccessful in controlling rampant piracy. Duchess Rebecca sends Sir Thomson to negotiate with the pirates and solve the problem. The pirates agree not to attack any ship flying the colors of the Sutherlands, and in exchange they are given Writs of Privateering against ships of the Dar Khabad. Some scholars believe these writs included Niman as well. Other Evendarrian ships were fair game as well, but there was a strict "let no man die" policy placed upon the pirates. They were allowed to raid Evendarrian ships, but had to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Pirates that violated this pact were usually handled by other Pirates before the Isles d’Hoenig Navy was forced to respond.

570 Duchess Rebecca Armond names the lands first settled by the Sudbyr brothers the Barony of Sudbyr. The Goblin armies to the south launch a new attack, thus starting the Second Goblin War. Lennon Armond leads an expedition to explore southern Sudbyr. Laura Tron is among his compatriots.

573 The Second Goblin War ends with an attack from Lennon Armond's expedition who discovers the core of the goblinoids forces in swamps on the southern border of Sudbyr. For this act, Duchess Rebecca names Lennon Marquis of the Sutherland Army. Although Armond’s losses were great, he granted a blow to the goblinoids forces they would not recover from for more than ten years. Scholars later believe that Lennon Armond won this battle due to help from nefarious sources.

576 It is another dark year in Southerland history. Duchess Rebecca Armond dies an untimely death under nearly identical circumstances as the death of her brother. Her first born son Lennon Armond declares himself Duke, and is later recognized by King Roderick Endarr II despite protest from members of Rebecca's court. Many important Sutherland Nobles believe that Duchess Rebecca planned to name Patrick her heir instead of Lennon.

577 Stricken with grief over the death of his wife, Sir Thomson resigns as head of the Knights d’Eit and names his son Patrick head of the order. Sir Thomson then departs Sutherland for parts unknown. Rumors persist that Sir Thomson believed his wife had been murdered and he actually left to embark on a great quest to avenge her death.

584 The Goblin armies to the south launch their third assault, starting the Third Goblin War. Sir Patrick Armond petitions his brother Duke Lennon Armond for the position of Marquis to lead the Army of Sutherland against the Goblinoids invasion. Duke Lennon refuses, and leads the Army himself.

585 Duke Lennon blames his losses on interference from the Knights d'Eit. Sir Patrick, head of the Order, maintains that the Knights are the only force keeping the Goblinoids armies from overrunning the Duchy. This argument culminates with Duke Lennon ordering the entire Knight's d'Eit away from the fighting.

586 The Sutherland Army is completely overrun by the invading goblinoids forces. The invasion happens so quickly that the Duchy is unable to secure additional help from the King in time. Goblins quickly take Tiksylvan, the southernmost city of LaRochelle, and then Clanthia, the capital. By the eleventh month, the goblin armies take all of LaRochelle, Sudbyr, and parts of Rossanoe, advancing all the way to the gates of Sutherland City. Sir Patrick blames his brother Duke Armond personally for this series of devastating defeats.

The infamous "Night of 1,000 Knives" is executed during the siege of Sutherland City. Agents believed to be working for Duke Lennon Armond assassinate and obliterate most of the Knights of the Field as well as many of the Knights of the City. On the same night, Patrick, the head of the Order, is also obliterated by the assassins. In an attempt to "restore order", Duke Lennon Armond declares himself head of the Knights, although he had never been a member previously. Duke Lennon blames the deaths on the goblinoids army.

By the twelfth month, Sutherland City is almost lost to the goblins. On New Years Eve, Duke Lennon Armond sends a desperate plea, asking for any aid or assistance. He vows that he will grant, "Anything to anyone that can lift the siege." That night, hordes of undead massacre the goblin armies. The Sutherland Necromancers' Guild claims responsibility for raising the siege. They also say they can defeat the goblins if the Duke will legalize necromancy.

587 Claimed by most as the darkest day in Sutherland history, on the first day of 587 Duke Lennon Armond decrees Necromancy legal in a desperate attempt to defeat the goblin armies. Almost immediately, a litch named Akeem, living in the swamps in southern Sudbyr, makes his presence known by sending countless hordes of undead that crush the goblin armies. The goblins are utterly defeated by this onslaught. Undead armies patrol the borders of Sutherland to protect against goblin attacks.

588 From the Hero's Graveyard, Arrack warns the Nobles of Sutherland and Knights d'Eit through dreams that if they do not make necromancy illegal again, and reaffirm their commitment to forever fight evil, they will all die. Very few heed this warning and seven days later the Great Plague strikes. Virtually all the powerful die and do not resurrect. Duke Armond manages to escape death, but becomes terminally ill. Most of those who escaped death fight to make necromancy illegal again. They rebel against Duke Lennon Armond, but are defeated with help from Akeem. Most of those who fight against necromancy are obliterated for treason.

590 Black J, the adopted son of Duke Lennon Armond, returns from his schooling in Ravenholt. The Duke had 21 other illegitimate children, but they were all believed killed in the plague.

593 Evendarr is divided into four Principalities. His Majesty names Miles Tegg Prince of the newly formed Principality of Southwatch. Southwatch is composed of the Duchy of Sutherland, Therendry and Tyrangel. Duke Lennon Armond refuses to acknowledge Prince Tegg's authority.

594 Duke Lennon Armond petitions King Mykel Endarr II to have Sutherland withdrawn from the Principality of Southwatch. His Majesty delays making a decision until he "better understands the problem."