Mythic Vistas: SpirosBlaak - Property Is Theft!

In an entirely unexpected turn, Morkis the Mad, an
uncharacteristically raving mentor prophet, appeared in the Roaming
Plains in 135 AF and preached the rise of a kav empire, a great nation
that would be the world’s only hope of salvation. Thousands of kav
flocked to Morkis. They warred with their neighbors in an effort to
bring his vision to fruition. A cadre of mentor mentalists subdued
Morkis to silence the mayhem, and indeed, without his leadership,
the prophet’s followers dispersed.
Arizekones’ Second Prophecy stated “a great lion, its claws of
steel reared high, shall crash against the stone wall to gain the
gates,” occurred when the empire of Verthage, a powerful elven
nation to the northwest, invaded through Pharran Vode. Kannis
stymied their progress south long enough for the Archduchy’s
legions to arrive and force the enemy’s retreat in a bloody bale near
the infamous Demon Bole.
Peace reigned for several decades, despite the continued omens
and prophecies dogging the Archduchy. Then, Arizekones’ Third
Prophecy stated, “the Tribute’s keeper shall give leave of its head and
loose its own blood into the streets.” Struck by a mysterious malady of
paranoia, Archduke Nadyass ordered his chosen legion, the Tuskadeen
Protectors, to march from his palace to the Coliseum of Devotion,
killing anyone in sight. Nadyass, who le no heir, lost his head for the
atrocity. Lord Baedabin succeeded him.
As more prophesies came true, fear mounted, intensifying when
a ship of elven diplomats and warriors arrived in Askalan to meet
secretly with Karditious, the chairman of the Enlightened Council
of Scholars. Suddenly, the elves returned with a fleet that sailed into
Drome Lok to assail the goblins of Witch Hill. The elves slew only as
many goblins as was required to overtake a mine in the town’s center,
destroying it before pulling out their warriors and ships. The goblins
Unlike her predecessors, Ailea shows herself to be a surprisingly
strong leader, a fact proven many times upon the balefield and
within the Archduchy’s council chambers. Since her coronation,
Archduchess Ailea’s efforts to bring about innovative political and
social reforms met with too much resistance from the Archduchy’s
nobility and wealthy, including a condescending See of Spiros, to be
effective. Yet, Ailea continues to try, earning the love of her people
ever more for her dedication.
The Archduchy currently is not engaged in any open wars,
although several sites of unrest may end its peace. Rumors of
plots against the kingdom abound: Shivanos outfits the orcs of the
Roaming Plains to march on the nearby cities, a brotherhood of mages
conspires to overthrow the See of Vas, and yet another kav rebellion
readies itself from border to border with the aid of several aspects
of the Horde. Perhaps all are just conjecture, but if any are true, the
Archduchy faces dire days ahead.
Tales have come down from the north of the Rilgoth fighting an
ancient enemy, while Midwyn sailors speak of unending storms
Chapter Two: The Archduchy’s History 13
Present Day
(461AF)
have never revealed what the elves
destroyed in the mine.
For nearly two more centuries,
omens and visions bombarded
the Archduchy. Strife, despair,
fear, and yes, even hope, baled
to fill men’s hearts. In this time,
the Baedabin blood seemed to
thin and weaken. With this weak
leadership, many citizens gave up
on the possibility for things ever
to improve.
When the moon’s encircling
by a fiery, violet ring, the Halo
of Lunis, seemed to signal the
fulfillment of Arizekones’ Fourth
Prophecy, “when heaven’s orb
burns, it shall scorch away the
last blood of Tribute’s sword,” the
nation held its breath in horror.
The next year, when Archduke
Randolph Baedabin died in
a riding accident, the people
sighed in collective relief, for he
had le an heir: his only child, a
daughter named Ailea. It seemed
Arizekones’ visions had finally
failed, offering hope for the future
aer all.
stalking the waters like sharks
seeking prey. Fireside yarns
relate seemingly purposeless kav
intrusions and raids into Faedian
lands, of lycanthropes drawn,
quartered, and crucified along
the road between Nonum and
Miltaenos with the symbol of
Spiros carved into their splayed
hides. Some even believe the gods
● 16-32: Faedian hunting parties continuously
stir up the Roaming Plains by raiding kav
territories.
● 18: The coin mint of Dreij becomes
operational.
● 35: The Fristian Grasslands are flooded.
● 122: Arizekones makes his “Fih Prophecy”
and completes his famed book of
predictions.
● 123: Arizekones dies.
● 135: Morkis the Mad preaches his visions.
● 146-150: The elven empire of Verthage
invades the Archduchy.
● 188: Archduke Nadyass’ massacre. Lord
Baedabin becomes duke of SpirosBlaak..
● 289: Karditious the Philologist appears in
Askalan.
● 300: Elves visit Karditious, the chairman of
the Council of Enlightenment, in Askalan.
● 307-311: Elves invade Witch Hill.
● 323-326: The Motith Farr and Gavrinn Farr
suffer visions of the end of the world.
● 362-363: The entire kavbroed Clan
Moonheart is struck by madness. The clan
hunts and feeds upon each other until not a
single member remains.
● 400: Elves visit Karditious in Askalan again.
● 404: Lord Baedabin, the Archduke’s son, is
slain while adventuring on Laervas Isle.
● 409: Elven ships are spoed at Laervas Isle.
● 430: A plot by Jestale’s priests to release a
plague in Dreij is foiled.
● 451: The Halo of Lunis appears.
● 452: Lady Ailea Baedabin becomes
Archduchess.
● 454: The Archduchess’ intervention prevents
a labor war in Dreij.
● 455: The Archduchess prevents a sahuagin
invasion of Meleatan.
● 456: Savior of the Twisted Fang assassins
aempt to slay the Archduchesses. The
Archduchess claims victory at the Bale of
Snake’s Copse.
● 457: A flight of armageddon dragons arrives
in Askalan to speak to Karditious before
retreating over the sea. Armageddon giants
are spoed in great numbers in the Crypt
Hills.
● 461: Present day.
have come back, Spiros returned or reborn, or the gods have returned
to their long-lost heaven. No one speaks with any certainty.
As prophesied events unfold, the people look increasingly towards
their beloved ruler for guidance. With the full support of her legions
and citizens, perhaps Archduchess Ailea can see her nation through
the troubles to come. Perhaps she has averted the culmination of
Arizekones’ fih prediction, bringing the Age of Prophecy to an end.
Then again… perhaps not.