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-	-	-	-	World of Greyhawk

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF EVENTS

There is no question but that most reckoning is dated
by Common Year (CY), which system commenced
when the Overking of Aerdy declared universal peace
through the whole of the Great Kingdom. The chronology
given below, however, includes five other
calendars which were once used and are sometimes
referred to in ancient writings. Some few nations still
employ these superannuated reckonings, as do the
more isolated elvenfolk.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF
EASTERN OERIK

MIGRATING BANDS BEGAN
settling the eastern portion of the Oerik Continent --
Flanaess -- over a millenium ago. The Flan tribesmen
were hardy and capable hunters but not particularly
warlike, and their small and scattered groups
made no appreciable civilizing efforts. The Suel Peoples,
mainly fleeing from the great wars in the Suloise
Empire, moved northward through the Kendeen
(Harsh) Pass of the southern Crystalmist Mountains
(now known as the Hellfurnaces) and spread out in
all directions. The fierce Oeridian tribes likewise
moved east, thrusting aside Flan and Suloise in their
path. The Oerid migrations were similar in cause to
those of the Suel, in that the Baklunish-Suloise Wars,
and the hordes of Euroz and associated humanoid
groups used by mercenaries by both sides, tended to
pillage northward and eastward, driving the Oerids
before them. When the Invoked Devastation came
upon the Baklunish, their own magi brought down
the Rain of Colorless Fire in a last terrible curse,
reducing the Suloise Empire to what is now the Sea of
Dust. Meanwhile, sufficient numbers of the Baklunish
remained to hold the northern plains and maintain
their small states against all comers--Euroz, High Jebline,
Jebli, Celbit, and such humanoids alike.

For two centuries the Oeried and Suel battled each
other and the fragmenting humanoid hordes for possession
of the central AREA of the Flanaess, incidentally
engaging the Flannish and demi-humans. In a
few places the two racial stocks intermixed -- notably
the Sheldomar Valley where, except the Hold of the Sea Princes,
the peoples of the Kingdom of Keoland, Gran March,
the Ulek States and nearby petty lands are mixed Oerid-Suel-stock.
To the far north, four of the strongest and fiercest clans managed to
retain large stretches of ground as Suloise. The majority of the Suelites
were pushed to the extreme south,
into the Amedio Jungle, the Tilvanot Peninsula, the Duxchan Islands,
and even as far as across the narrow
Tilva strait into Hepmonaland. The success of the
Oeridian domination of so much of the Flanaess was
in part due to their friendliness toward the original
demi-human peoples of the AREA -- dwur, noniz, hobnix, olve --
whose cooperation greatly strengthened
the Oeridians. The willingness of the Flanae to join
forces with the Oeridian armies also proved to be a
considerable factor. Perhaps the biggest asset the Oeridians
had, however, was the vileness of the Suloise --
the majority lied, stole, slew, and enslaved whenever
they had the inclination and opportunity. There were
exceptions, of course, such as the House of Rhole
and Neheli -- late migrants who settled and held the
Sheldomar as already maintained.

The strongest tribe of the Oeridians, the Aerdi,
settled the rich fields east of the Nyr Dyv and there
founded the Kingdom of Aerdy, eventually to be
renamed the Great Kingdom. After several decades of
increasing growth, power, and prestige, Aerdy
embarked upon a series of conquests, the greatest of
which was the defeat of the Nyrondal cavalry squadrons
at the Battle of a Fortnight's Length. Thereafter,
Aerdy was known as the Great Kingdom, whose
monarch held sway from the Sunndi swamplands in
the south, westward along the shores of the Telfie
Gulf and the Sea of Yar, to the Nyr Dyv and from
thence northward through the Shield Lands and
beyond the Tenh. The writ of the Overking and Imperial
Aerdi eventually extended to Furyondy and Voll
(now Veluna), across the northern prairies as far as
Perrenland. For three centuries the Aerdy held a vast
empire which fluctuated in extent but little, until
after the third Celestial House (dynasty) when the
horders began to close in upoin the original territory
of the Aerdi.
 

Common Year	(S.D) Suloise	(O.C.) Olven	(B.H.) Bakluni	(F.T.) Flannae	(O.R.) Oerid	-
-	5031	3978	2175	1666	160	Beginning of the Baklunish-Suloise Wars.
-	5050	3997	2194	1685	179	First employment of humanoid mercenaries.
-	5058	4005	2202	1693	187	Oerid migrations east of peak point.
-	5069	4016	2213	1704	198	Suloise migration begins.
-	5094	4041	2238	1729	223	Invoked Devastation of Rain of Colorless Fire strike.
-	5299	4246	2443	1934	428	Founding of the Kingdom of Aerdy.
-	5406	4353	2550	2041	535	Battle of a Fortnight's Length.
1	5516	4463	2660	2151	645	Overking crowned in Rauxes; frontiers of Great Kingdom reach Greyhawk City.
213	5728	4675	2872	2363	857	Age of Great Sorrow commences.
320	5835	4782	2979	2470	964	Nomads appear in North, outer dependencies of Aerdy gain sovereignty.
356	5871	4818	3015	2506	1000	Kingdom of Nyrond established; Kingdom of Keoland at peak.
437	5952	4899	3096	2587	1081	Turmoil Between Crowns.
446	5961	4908	3105	2596	1090	Founding of the Iron League; Bandit Kings sack Trigol; Rise of the Sea Princes.
461	5976	4923	3120	2611	1105	Demi-human realms of Ulek and Celene are affected.
479	5994	4941	3138	2629	1123	Might of Iuz grows, humanoid invasions become common.
498	6013	4960	3157	2648	1142	Country of Urnst becomes Palatinate under Duchy of Urnst; Greyhawk becomes a free city.
513	6028	4975	3172	2663	1157	Rise of the Horned Society; humanoids take Pomarj.
563	6078	5025	3222	2713	1207	Bone March falls to humanoids.
569	6084	5031	3228	2719	1213	Battle of Emridy Meadows -- Horde of Elemental Evil scattered.
573	6088	5035	3232	2723	1217	Scarlet Brotherhood first reported; Prince of Furyondy/Provost of Veluna kidnapped.
576	6091	5038	3235	2726	1220	Guide to the World of Greyhawk completed.

Mixed Oerid-Baklunish
nomad bands
gradually moved
into and laid
claim to the
steppe lands
beyond the Yatil range, pushing
eastward as far
as the Griff Mountains.
Border skirmishing
with the
southern nations
was inevitable as
these wild horsemen
pushed into the Flanaess.
Perhaps the civilized states
could have
stopped their
eastward progress
had they
not been busy
fighting with the
Aerdi for their
independence.
Perranders, Velunians, Furyondians, and Tenhas
achieved success, establishing independent status one
after the other in a series of minor but bloody wars.

The ruling Aerdi dynasty, the Hosue of Rax, was at
the time sundered by an internal fued and the junior
branch, then known as Nyrond, declared its lands
free of the rule of the reigning Overking and sovereign.
The senior branch of the House of Rax, weakened by
warfare in the rebellious provinces, was
powerless to prevent the MOVE. Determined nonetheless
to bring the juniors to their knees, a large force
was gathered to suppress the newly independent
kingdom, when a coalition of the Frutz, Schna and mercenary
barbarians mounted a major foray into the
Aerdian North Province. The Overking swung his
massed army northeast, and soon the invaders were
crushed, but the cost in men and material was high,
and the end of the campaigning season arrived before
any further action could be taken. Nyrond marshaled
its men and grew in strength, so that the following
year saw only skirmishes and feints. Nyrond was
effectively a seperate and distinct state, violently hostile
to its eastern neighbor, and ready to aid any of its foes.

It was at this
time that the evil
began to grow
within the rulers
of the Great Kingdom.
The House of Rax
became decadent, its policies
ineffectual and
aimed at
appeasement.
The powerful
noble houses
took this as their
cue to set up
palatinate-like
states, and rule
their fiefs as if
they were independent
kingdoms.

The last heir of
the House of Rax fell
to assassination during
the Turmoil Between
Crowns.
When the demon-seeing House of Naelex ascended
the Malachite Throne, the whole of the South Province
refused to swear loyalty, and joined the Iron
League. This pact with the Free City of Irongate, the
Szek of Onnwal, and the Lord of the Isles certainly
gave the League a stronger bargaining position. It
also assured the League's status by enabling member
states to negotiate a treaty of mutual protection with
the Kingdom of Nyrond. This treaty remains in force
to this day.

Consensus of opinion holds that all of the Overkings
who have ruled from the Malachite throne since circa
430 CY (the line of the House of Naelax) are insane
or demon-ridden or both. Evil is in the ascendancy
everywhere in the Flanaess, while the Great Kingdom
revels in debauchery. Tribes of vicious humanoids
have banded together and rule whole areas.
Bone March, Iuz (certainly under the leadership of humans),
the Pomarj, The Bandit Kingdoms wax
stronger, while thieves, assassins and orders of evil
clerics assume the rulership of city and state alike.

There is hope, of course, for Nyrond is not lost to evil.
Furyondy and Veluna in the central Flanaess are
strong in the cause of justice and good. Although the
demi-humans have avoided general involvement in
human wars, the formation of the demi-human principalities of
Celene and Ulek highlights the fact that
they will resist invasion from the humans inhabiting a
state. They react in one of two manners when the
realm becomes repressive and/or evil: either they
make their own territory seperate from the surrounding
land and unhealthy for intruders, or they remove
to an AREA more suitable for their ethos. The many
petty states of the Flanaess provide ample choices for
the latter option, as do the cooperative humans of
many such areas. Human and demi-human alliances
on a large scale are no longer unfeasible or
unimaginable.

The Battle of Emridy Meadows highlights this growing
realization of mutual interests. Contingents of
men-at-arms and cavalry from Furyondy and Veluna,
together with a forces of dwarves from the Lortmils,
gnomes from the Kron Hills, and an army of elven
archers and spearmen fought together against a vast
horde of evil men and humanoids (orcs, gnolls and
ogres predominantly). The opposing forces met on
the grassy fields south of the Velverdyva river several
leagues below the city of Verbobonc. The allied forces
were closing upon the stronghold of the evil creatures,
a huge, walled fortress known as the Temple of Elemental Evil,
not far from the unfortunate village of Hommlet,
when elven scouts reported that a huge
army was approaching from the south. The Marshall
of Furyondy, leader of the combined forces, ordered a
withdrawal northward to a position scouted earlier.
Light cavalry skirmishes were sent out to screen the
withdrawal, and no real fighting took place that day.

When the horde of evil creatures marched forth next
dawn they were confronted by the serried ranks of the
allied army. The pikes of Furyondy and Veluna were
arrayed so that their flank was secured by the Velverdya;
in the center were the banners of horse, and on
the allied left were deployed bands of dwarves and
gnomes, with a few units of elven archers placed in
the intervals between. The humanoids fell immediately
upon the left, while the men in the evil ranks
rode to engage the center and the right. The hordes of
orcs, gnolls, and ogres thrust aside their hated foes
and rushed to encircle the balance of the allied army.
Thus the fatal trap was sprung, for the whole allied
rear of the on-rushing horde of evil and squares of
elves emerged from the Gnarley Forest on the left.
Trapped in the pocket with the bend of the Velverdyva
at their backs and the human and demi-human
army forming the chord of the arc, the packed mass
of evil humans and humanoids fought hopelessly.

When the great slaughter was finished, the allied
army went on to besiege the Temple of Elemental Evil,
and it fell in a fortnight. The Demoness
Tsuggtmoy (was) imprisoned in the
ruins of the place, with special wards to prevent her
escape. Only a few of the wicked leaders of the Temple
managed to escape, and it is suspected that these
individuals were responsible for the subsequent kidnapping
and total disappearance of the Prince of Furyondy.

The Prince, betrothed to the daughter of the Plar of
Veluna, and serving as Provost of that state, as well as
Marshall of Furyondy, was of key importance to the
forces of good. Upon his marriage to Jolene of Veluna,
the two states would have become a joint entry,
the Archcleric ruling in matters spiritual, and the
Prince (ascending the throne to become King) ruling
in matters temporal. This state, with demi-human
alliances, certainly would have waged continual war
with the evil nations, and its previous success boded
ill for opponents.

The Prince's disappearance destroyed these plans,
however, and brought about the current state of
affairs in the Flanaess, which is confused indeed.
Humankind is fragmented into isolationist realms,
indifferent nations, evil lands, and states striving for
good. The Baklunish countries in the northwest have
grown in power. Nomads, bandits, and barbarians
raid southward every spring and summer. Humanoid
enclaves are strongly established and scattered
throughout the continent, and wicked insanity rules
in the Great Kingdom. The eventual result of all this
cannot be foretold.
 

-
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thulcondar
Dear Mr. Gygax,

Another couple of niggling Greyhawk questions, if you don't mind spending the time.
Thanks in advance if you are able to do so.

In the original folio edition of the WoG, in the timeline, there is a reference to the "Age of Great Sorrow" commencing in CY213.
Can you give any insights as to what that refers to? Ditto the "turmoil between crowns" in CY437.
Were these just tags to be elaborated upon at some later date, or did you have something already in mind?

IIRR, the Age of great Sorrow was meant to be the time of the migrating tribes into the Flanaess, asthe Oeridians destroyed the older culture and society.
U believe I meant the Turmoil Between Crowns to be the time when the Great Kingdom arose.
As you likely suspected, those were hooks left for further development...that never got developed.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shadeydm
HI Gary,

My apologies if you have already been asked this a thousand times.
I am curious if prior to things unravelling for TSR was it ever in your plans to advance the timeline of the World of Greyhawk Campaign Setting or was it meant to remain static in your mind?

*edited for my subpar typing skills.

First, as a "Columbus Method" typist, I comisserate in regards need for editing :\

In regards to the timeline for the WoG setting, I had no immediate plan for advancing it as the world was meant to be used by all DMs so desirous, each making it conform to his own campaign needs.

Any special changes added to the setting in "the future" would have been done in modular form so as to be optional.

Later TSR and WotC approach to and treatment of the setting was quite contrary to the purpose for which I intended it when it was created.

Cheers,
Gary