Dunland's history 3023-3026

3023

Spring: a claimant for the High Kingship

A coalition of the clans led by Vardaen (the Boar leader and servant of Saruman, recently proclaimed Kiern's Champion by the High Priestess Kaile) confronted the High King Arphon, who was found to have been embezzling Temple gold. After Arphon's death Vardaen claimed the empty throne, an unpopular move.

After an attack on Vardaen, the High Priestess called for a council of Chieftains. Vardaen's claim to the throne was not supported by any of the clans, and in the end the position of High King was left vacant until a more acceptable claimant could be found.

Summer: bandit threat

Bandits raided the town of Forthunn, leaving destruction in their wake. The Stag Chieftain Racilion and the Bear Chieftain Diarmait marched north with their forces towards Tharbad, along with a contingent from Wulf. The bandits were eventually driven from Tharbad by a combined force from all three clans. Yet the victory was a bitter one, for only days later the Bear Chieftain Diarmait was assassinated by one of his own soldiers; the Stag Chieftain Racilion also suffered injury.

Even with the threat from Tharbad removed, the roads were not safe, for on several occasions those that some call goblin and others orc harried travellers on the road. Autumn: a new Bear Chieftain

The Wulf noble Searlas, whose father was from Bear and mother from Wulf, proclaimed himself Chieftain of Bear. The powerful Macmathain family opposed him, and for several months there was civil war in Caerdh. Eventually Searlas was victorious.

At this time also the Champion Vardaen's loyal men left Dunland, heading east to some unknown destination.

3024

Spring: Orc raids

The Stag Chieftain Racilion died early in the ye ar of a festering wound - an event all the more tragic for the fact that the wound was self-inflicted, an accident with his knife they say. The Stag noble Traek became Chieftain in his stead.

A series of Orcish raids in Caerdh forced the squabbling clans to rally. After a couple of months of skirmishing the Morians were driven back; the Stag returned to Forthunn, while the Bear and Wulf withdrew southwards as a single unit, through Caerdh. An incident between the Wulf Advisor Rhyessa and the Bear soldier Anatha, during which the man was injured in a rather sensitive place, led to rising tension between Bear and Wulf, but this tension stopped short of civil war, when it became apparent that Anatha was clearly deranged. The Bear soldier was later killed by the Wulf hunter Landrus in self-defence. Summer: rebuilding in the City

Summer saw much rebuilding in Kierkgard: the Bear noble Kedrik announced his intent to build a new tavern in the city, to replace the Leaping Stag which had burned down two years previous, and soon afterwards word went about that the Bear were building a new keep within Kierkgard - the priesthood having repealed their ban on clan keeps within the Holy City. Some months later, the other clans followed suit. Autumn: returns and power shifts

The High Priestess Kaile returned after a mysterious absence, but almost immediately seemed to go into seclusion in the Temple. Another newcomer to Dunland at this time was the mercenary Racollum, brother of the Bear noble Kedrik. The Stag Chief Traek began to move his troops to his borders between the Bear clan, pressuring the Bear Chief Searlas with threats of invasion.

Winter: a new High King

Near to year's end, the Bear Chieftain Searlas arranged a meeting of the Chieftains and called upon the clans to elect him as High King. He had the backing of the Wulf Advisor Rhyessa, acting head of her clan in her Chieftain's absence, and of the church. Stag alone dissented, with the Stag Chieftain Traek storming from the hall after Searlas threatened to attack the relatively unprotected Stag town of Forthunn if Traek did not withdraw his troops from the Caerdh border. When a contingent of the priesthood's warriors tried to stop him, Traek struck them down before fleeing Kierkgard. The Stag noble Corran declared himself 'Protector of Forthunn' and Traek a madman, placed Forthunn under temporary martial law and returned to Kierkgard to form an alliance with Searlas. Four days later, Searlas was married to the Wulf healer Korrina and crowned as High King in a single ceremony. As part of the process, Searlas chose to leave his old clan and passed the Bear Chieftainship to Kedrik.

3025

Spring: the false Dove

The leader of the Priesthood's warriors, Asher, proclaimed Traek a heretic, banished him from Kierkgard, and sent out a force to bring the fugitive to justice. Northward the trail led, to the ruined city of Tharbad. Yet when the combined forces of Asher and the Stag noble Corran arrived, they found not only Traek but the High Priestess Kaile. After heated discussion Kaile, revealed as bandit queen and proclaimed the 'False Dove', attacked Asher, who struck her down swiftly and coldly. Meanwhile the Stag contingent fought amongst themselves, and Traek and Corran met in single combat. Traek was defeated, yet allowed to live, stripped of his title. Later Traek and Asher met in Forthunn, and Traek agreed to come to Kierkgard to stand trial.

In Kierkgard, the Bear Chieftain Kedrik challenged Searlas and the two fought. Both were badly wounded, Kedrik's leg shattered and Searlas with a broken collarbone. Kedrik was the victor, but pledged his loyalty to Searlas. Yet only a fortnight later, Searlas was dead, apparently of his wounds. The 'star' killings

A series of murders took place that shocked Kierkgard. The victims were all tavern wenches or women known to trade their favours, the murderer marking his prey with a five-pointed star. The clans imposed curfews on their womanfolk, but to little avail. Only when the Wulf Advisor Rhyessa herself was attacked and badly beaten, yet managed to drive off her assailant, did the identity of the killer become known. When the murderer returned to finish off his victim he was revealed as a rogue Bear noble, Rourshach. The villain was captured and later executed - some say with Corran's own dagger, symbolic revenge, as Corran's own love Illyra was among the women killed.

Trial of a Heretic

At last Traek the Heretic was brought to trial. However, proceedings were interrupted by the Bear Chieftain Kedrik, who accused the priesthood of corruption and demanded that it be purified of Kaile's influences, calling on his brother Racollum and a contingent of soldiers as backup. After a heated discussion, mired by threats and counterthreats, the Master Judicator Bran gave into the demands, agreeing that the absent Asher would cleanse the temple of past sins and order a new trial. Until such time, Traek was to be held at the Hall of the Chieftains, guarded by members of each clan: Stag, Wulf, Bear and Kiern.

This period also saw two new Chieftains rise to power: Corran proclaimed himself Chieftain of Stag, while Kedrik relinquished the Bear Chieftainship to his brother Racollum, citing his injured leg as the reason. Racollum forced the Bear nobles to support him, executing two dissenters, and brought in mercenaries from the north to bolster Caerdh's warriors; he also ordered the building of several outposts along the edge of the Misty Mountains.

More sinister, though none yet realized it, was the beginning of the cult of the Hill Father, at its head the enigmatic Wulf hunter turned preacher Terren. He denounced Kierkgard for its wickedness, and called on the people to repent.

Summer news

The Hill Father cult continued to grow, spreading their message that all are equal in the Father's sight, and those who stand between the people and their Father should be punished. An initial flare-up between Path Brotherhood, as the cultists became known, and Priesthood left the Hall of the Chieftains in ashes and the ex-Stag Chieftain Traek, still held prisoner there after all these months, vanished.

In yet another surprise shift of power, Racollum handed the Bear Chieftainship back to Kedrik, though he himself remained as General. Only a few months later, Racollum was killed by the leader of the Path Brothers, Terren, after an argument.

The Wulf, meanwhile, spent the summer skirmishing against the Rohirrim. In one of these skirmishes several Dunlendings were taken prisoner by the Forgoil, though Dunland's valiant fighters seized some hostages in return. Eventually there was an exchange of prisoners, and the captive Dunlendings, who included the High King's widow Korrina, were released.

Autumn/winter: the City burns

The annual autumn festival highlighted the conflict between old and new. By week's end the clashes between Priesthood and Path Brothers turned to violence. A mob seethed forward to burn the Temple, and many of the priests perished within it; the conflagration raged out of control and destroyed the whole city of Kierkgard.

3026

Spring: Orcish raids

A sudden increase in Orcish raids along Dunland's borders led to a plea for help from the beleaguered Hawk clan. Forces from all the clans have mustered at Mathain Keep to attack the hated intruders, and eventually the Orcs were driven back, but at great cost. The Chieftain of Stag Corran, General of Crebain Seigmund and young leader of the Watch Raconal were among those slain.

The Grinning Death

Dunland's misfortune continued, for a fatal sickness began to spread amongst the wounded, the fever known as the Grinning Death. Whether it was some devilry of the Orcs, or a sign of Kiern's wrath none knew, but as the clans' warriors returned to their keeps, the sickness spread to all parts of Dunland save Redvyrne (the Chieftain of Wulf had closed his borders). Mathain Keep was one of the worst hit places. Eventually the plague burned itself out, while the healers found new ways to treat the symptoms and increase victims' chances of survival.

Summer: two new Chieftains

Both Bear and Stag chose new leaders. In Caerdh, noble Banedil Alden publicly proclaimed himself Chieftain of Bear - but the smith Stilicon later challenged the claim. A regent was appointed until the two men could vie for the Chieftainship in unarmed combat. In the end, the fight was won by Stilicon but he chose to declare Banedil the new Chieftain. In Laeg, events were rather less dramatic: Broc Ironcrow was selected by the Stag nobles as their new Chieftain, in a 35 to 32 victory over the other candidate, Corriana Greggor.

Twin births

The line of Crebain chief Raub Ceallach was assured when his lady, the Wulf healer Korrina, gave birth to twins.

Autumn: Iolair's folly

Trouble started brewing in central Dunland when the mason Barseg, acting on behalf of Iolair Keep, made a public speech in Kierkgard hinting that the Great Clans had abandoned the place and offering to rebuild elsewhere for those who gave their support to Iolair. Naturally this brought the wrath of Stag and Wulf (though oddly not Bear) down on his head. Iolair found itself beseiged, with Stag roadblocks to the north and a Wulf encampment to the south; after a couple of weeks an agreement with the Stag was reached. However the Wulf encampment remained and later, after Iolair's chief troublemaker had placed himself in their hands, the Wulf annexed the Keep for their own, setting the smith Sigmar Wallace up as 'Regent Lord of Iolair'.

Mystery attacker

Attacks on the Bear smith Stilicon and the Wulf advisor Rhyessa were rumoured to be linked, and the matter was investigated by their respective clans, though the attacker's identity never came to light. Other news

Another Orcish incursion in the north was repelled, this time by the Guardians, a religious sect.

The autumn festival provided a welcome respite from the growing tension, with the bardic circle being of especial note.

Winter: Iolair's troubles continue

At the end of November the annual Council of Clans was held, with the Iolair issue once again provoking dissent - the Stag Chieftain stormed out, while general mistrust between Bear and Wulf prevented any agreement being reached. At this point the Stag Chieftain, Broc Ironcrow, applied his own rather brutal solution to the Iolair problem, marching on the place with 500 men bearing torches and tar-barrels. By night's end Sigmar Wallace was dead and Iolair's east range in flames. After a couple of tense weeks, the Stag withdrew to Laeg and by month's end it seemed that they and Wulf had reached some agreement.

A wedding

A much happier occasion was the marriage of Bear Chieftain Banedil Alden-Guyger to Corona, formerly of the Wulf. The ceremony was a quiet one, performed by their friend the Stag bard Elrabin.