hobgoblin

Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 27

Mister Ed Dungeons and Dragons, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previous: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 26

With the Hykman League now under the power of Navillus they’ve gotta start doing some evil stuff, like taking over other cities with bloody massacres for example! Rotandean is reintegrated into the League and Elves become second class citizens. The Hobgoblins are locked out as well. Amidst all this turmoil in the Eastern Maw, the Rana initiate a artistic revival. While playing Dawn of Worlds we imagined this to be kind of like the Renaissance. That should give us an excuse for pretty much any sort of art style existing in Gurutama if the DM wants to describe something in a particular way. It also gives the DM the excuse to have crazy Renaissance tech like pedal-powered hang gliders.

This post also features the return of the Avians. Prior to this point we’d imagined the Avians as something similar to a slave race. They’ve been a subject population to the Merfolk for centuries and the Merfolk had been exporting sentient beings from Rontu-Aru. Slavery is bad and all, but this is the way the world worked in the past and still somewhat today. I wanted the Avians to have a little bit of power in the last stages of Gurutama, so I initiated the uprising with my Dawn of Worlds points.

Najar also cleanses the Grez ice, proving that such a thing is possible. Maybe that’s a campaign plot there! And we’re closing in on the final Gurutama Time Revising post. Next one should be the last!

743 NA: With battle hardened soldiers at Hykma and the Hearth, the new Hykman League exploded outward. Troops from the Hearth were sent northward to conquer Farpoint and integrate it into the empire.

And with word of the Elven betrayal ruminating in Hykma, the city struck south at Rotandean. Despite being unaffiliated with the True Arrows, the Elven soldiers of Rotandean were mercilessly slaughtered by the followers of Navillus.

Finally, rather than brave the Freedom Road and the fighting between the Hobgoblins and the Elves, the Hykman Empire sealed the Homestone Bridge. The Bastion was fortified to defend the bridge and more soldiers quartered there in preparation for future conflicts.

744 NA: The strife of the wars tested the mettle of the Rana. They overcame and learned from the challenge; their ways of peace and kindness grew. Strife, chaos, and unchecked emotion ravaged the lands of the Hykman League, and yet the Rana were able to channel the horrors. An artistic renaissance permeated from Pulchrito and Domicilius: painting, poetry, literature, sculpture, and theater. For the first time, creativity and expression began to overcome the blunt wealth and splendor that previously dominated the minds and hearts of the Hykman people.

745 NA: With the world at war, mercenaries were in high demand. On Balkus, Captain Lucrais DeBaal of the Zephyr formed a fleet of sails for hire. He was quickly contracted by the Bastion to defend their channel. A fleet was formed to defend the Canal from Elven small boats and to prevent passage across the Canal by any means other than the Homestone Bridge.

746 NA: Farpoint falls to the Hykman siege and becomes a subject province the the League.

748 NA: Shrieking noises could be heard day and night in the southern jungles. Old fears awoke in the hearts of the Merfolk. The Avian menace had returned at the same time that passage through the Great Canal was disrupted. Izquitl sent forth her feathered warriors. The city of Tortuga was taken and renamed. The place became Hobru-Peche to the Avians, or New Roost in the Human tongue.

The Merfolk, not wanting to start a war with Hykma, begin fervent negotiations to move an army through the Great Canal. The Hykmans delay and block negotiations.

749 NA: A Merfolk fleet is sent to Rontu-Aru via the Groshan Sea. The fleet sustains heavy losses to Avian aerial raids on the way and is unable to retake Tortuga.

750 NA: The Avians, now firmly in control of Hubru-Peche, started flying across the ocean to harass the Elves of the southern forest as well as any ships that sailed in The Neck or the Groshan Sea.

The volcano at the heart of the Red Peaks continued to pulsate and radiate heat. The ice, both in the mountains and in the city of Najar, melted. The heat remained. The sun always seemed to shine bright and strong on the city and the place was always warm. The days could be sweltering, but the nights were simply heavenly. Cool breezes gently flowed throughout the city and from his throne, the Mercenary King Jizero smiled. The ruins themselves seemed to melt away and be reshaped. Soon enough, one could hardly see signs of the terrible plight so many years ago. Najar, the Holy City, the City of Endless Summer, was reborn.

-GoCorral

Next: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 28

Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 26

Mister Ed Dungeons and Dragons, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previous: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 25

There’s a Chinese proverb that I love, “The Empire, long divided, must unite: long united, must divide.” Unity comes and goes. Same thing happens to the Hykman League in this post. Previously they united four races, Human, Elf, Hobgoblin, and Rana. Now everything falls apart. The Hobgoblins go independent, the Elves factionalize, the Humans war upon each other. And… evil wins! Why does evil win? So that good adventurers have something to strive to defeat of course! It’s all about making interesting campaigns later on. Navillus spreads his influence out of the Upper Maw into the Eastern Maw.

737 NA: The Hobgoblins, enthusiastic at the new found technology of the Humans, built cities to gather their people in the forest. Cities were built at the head of each of the rivers in Halusho: Drukana, Nazarak, and Tentomrozan in order from west to east.

A faction of Elves was outraged that the Hobgoblins were allowed by the Hykman League to settle in the Halusho and the Mandibles. The faction split from the League and went into the forest “back to its roots.” The faction named itself the True Arrows. The True Arrows formed an elite soldier corps to hunt Hobgoblins and any who associated with them.

738 NA: The return of Navillus and the actions of the True Arrows put too much stress upon the Hykman League. The Brotherhood of the Living Immolation revived and clashed with the Revered Administration in the streets of Hykma and the Hearth. The frustrated poor enacted their revenge fantasies on the rich. The streets were stained with blood and both cities descended into chaos. A bloody civil war wracked the Hykman League.

The Hobgoblins broke off regular relations with the Hykman League having learned enough to maintain a civilization of their own. The Hobgoblins created schools with a sort of Hobgoblin agoge (Spartan training). The Hobgoblin militocracy conscripted armies in the three new cities.

Tension mounted in the Elven forests. The armies at New Prestounasi redeployed and martial law was declared. The armies struggled to maintain peace, defend against Hobgoblin raids, and contend with the True Arrows. The armies were called to return to Hykma – by both sides. The generals refused to return, staying in the forest, fearful of aiding the wrong side.

739 NA: The Grez researched improved ice magic and architecture. They used their improved skill with cold magic to create ice golem creatures. The Grez formed armies out of these ice golems in Reesrevoton.

The son of King Hrotomak, Tenzomak, conscripted a new army to defend his beautiful city of Syluk.

740 NA: The True Arrows kicked the Hobgoblins out of Shianosoth and reestablished the ancient Elven city. Many of the old buildings were left as ruins, reminders of what happens if Hobgoblins are allowed free reign.

741 NA: The Elves of Rotandean and Crodolan feared that the civil war might spill over into their territories. Rotandean created an army. Crodolan’s mages used their enchantment magic to charm the commanders of the Hykman army to stay in the forested city. True Arrow leaders convinced the people of Crodolan to mercilessly execute the Humans within the army. A new Elven army was formed at Crodolan to defend from reprisals.

In Hearthland, the Metal Dwarves realized that their military was ill-suited for fighting the undead abominations of the Grez. A new military organization was created, vastly superior to that of any other nation. Promotions were now based on intellectual merits instead of connections or prowess in battle.

742 NA: The Hykman Civil War ended, leaving a wake of carnage and a strong military presence in both Hykma and the Hearth. The Brotherhood of Living Immolation took control of both cities, though the proxy of the Revered Administration still remained, now many of the Administrators were themselves members of the Brotherhood. The Revered Administration had too many things working against them, the infiltration of their order, the burning fanaticism of the Brotherhood of Living Immolation, and the greed of Revered Administrators.

In honor of their victory, the Brotherhood of Living Immolation built a massive and wonderful temple to Navillus in the Elven Gardens of Hykma. While the true nature of the Brotherhood of Living Immolation was still concealed under infinite veils of secrecy, the temple was a rallying point for common men.

-GoCorral

Next: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 27

Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 25

Mister Ed Dungeons and Dragons, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previous: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 24

Boom! Navillus is back! There’s also some more recent history with the Night of a Thousand Kings where Hrotomak is unseated, replaced by the mercenary, Jizero, and other stuff in the Upper Maw. Someone finally stands up to the Grez at Bronze Port. Not much for me to add on this one beyond that. In the future I’m hoping that Jizero and his descendants will do something cool in a campaign. Or really anything from the Night of a Thousand Kings. Pretty much anybody can claim the Najar throne now and I’d love to have an adventure centered around people scrabbling for little bits of power related to that. Oh, and of course the Blockade finally ends in this post.

730 NA: In the ruins of Prestounasi the Leaguers rebuilt. From the ruins of the old the city was reborn, New Prestounasi. As Prestounasi was rebuilt more Hykman workers completed construction on the Hobgoblin city of Vassal at the site of Nanatok as well. Meanwhile, more forces were conscripted in Hykma, fueling the growing militocracy. The Rana continued to expand the Shanties, having reached Domicilius, they continued to grow between there and The Hearth.

731 NA: In Balkus, the Bastards of the Tattered Book eyed Proaxium hungrily. They raised a fleet and sailed to the island, raiding the city. Knowing the cost of slaying the Humans on the island to be immense, the Bastards left them mostly alone (aside from plundering their belongings). But the Metal Dwarves… some were certainly killed, but the majority were sold into slavery and scattered about the world. The raid a success, the Bastards sailed away.

The Merfolk horrified at what the Blockade caused, apologized profusely to the Dwarves. The Merfolk lifted the Blockade. They took over management and protection of Proaxium with Dwarven blessings and the great institution was restored to its former state. With the new knowledge available at their fingertips the Merfolk researched military submarines. Submarine fleets were constructed in Drolfo’s Cove and Cyflenwi with a regular fleet to match in New Tortuga.

The Grez ice expanded onto the Hearthland continent.

732 NA: The Grez froze the northern area of Hearthland including Bronze Port and Tylraniria. Then they sent all their armies at Bronze Port. The Hero and the skeletons joined the attack. The city fell to the onslaught of undead. The Grez sent a short message to the Metal Dwarves, “Your decadence is your undoing.”

733 NA: The Metal Dwarves called for help from their brothers on the Upper Maw, but the call went unanswered. King Hrotomak had other concerns on his mind. Najar was undefended and ripe for the taking. Seeking the Imperial throne King Hrotomak took his armies from Cynelle and Syluk and marched on Najar. As the core of defenders were at Bronze Port, Hrotomak captured the city easily. The men went through the city finding vast treasures that the Grez left untouched. They city was devoid of any living being. All the Humans, frozen so long ago, had either decayed or animated to join the invasion of Bronze Port.

King Hrotomak came upon the old throne room. He sat upon the chair and found it to his liking. Behind the royal chair was a curtain that covered a thin volcanic shaft. The shaft went down, down, down, to the heart of the dead mountain. When Hrotomak thought he was alone in the room he heard soft whispers coming from behind him, welcoming him.

734 NA: Hrotomak’s victory was short lived. Reinforcements arrived from the cities of Cynelle, Alixria, and Alrdia, singing the praises of the King of the Red Peaks. These praises became damnations as the reinforcements turned upon the celebrating Dwarven armies. The ensuing battle was ruthless; the Najarns stormed the throne room and cut down King Hrotomak the Conqueror. His “unified” nation separated and devoured itself. The Night of a Thousand Kings descended on Najar, as lords and laymen, both Human and Dwarf, laid claim to the seat at Navillus’ feet and were in turn cut down by friend and foe alike. A terrible laughter seemed to echo through the city, up out of the deep crypts.

The heart of the fiery mountain in Najar began to beat once more. Throughout the world the children of Old Najar, whose blood ran thick with ancient oaths sworn by their ancestors at the feet of the Black Prince, felt that ominous beating beneath their skin and in their very souls. The Dark Lord had returned.

The Night of a Thousand Kings ended with Mercenary Captain Jierzo sitting upon the Red Throne. King Hrotomak’s son, Tenzomak, escaped to Syluk. The old city-states of Najar devolved to fighting amongst themselves as they did when Najar fell to the Hero and the Grez.

Although the Metal Dwarves’ call for aid to the Empire Dwarves went unanswered, there was a different power that cared very much about the trade route that the Grez interrupted. The Frugal Profiteers sent out messengers and their mercenary armies assembled at Tylaniria.

The isolationist Dwarves, when threatened, reacted quickly. A massive force was assembled in the depths of the Tiers and then poured out across the icy desert, to Bronze Port. The Profiteers, communicating with magic, moved at the same time across the ice between the cities. The Dwarves slammed their hammers upon their shields outside the cold gates of Bronze Port, proclaiming the land as still theirs. The Dwarves and mercenaries sustained many losses, but the Grez were defeated and forced to flee from the city, back to Reesrevoton.

-GoCorral

Next: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 26

Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 24

Mister Ed Dungeons and Dragons, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previous: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 23

More maneuvering in this post by the merchants attempting to circumvent the Great Blockade set up by the Merfolk. And King Hrotomak expands his Empire. Hrotomak and the aftermath of his kingdom were never fully resolved in our Dawn of Worlds game. That resolution will come in future campaigns we play in Gurutama!

Another important part of this update is the civilization of the Hobgoblins. Up until now they were essentially bogeyman in the forest. By the end of this post they have a city and are members of the expanding Hykman League.

724 NA: Construction on Prestounasi was completed. At the end of the Freedom Road the Hykmans raised the resplendent city of Prestounasi and built a fleet to protect her. Along the new trade route they also built The Bastion at the eastern side of the Homestone Bridge.

725 NA: The redirection of Dwarven trade into the heart of the Hykman league brought even more fabulous wealth to Hykma and the Revered Administration. The city continued to grow in size, splendor, and wealth.

The Rana of Pulchrito fell in love with the thriving shanty communities that continued to grow along the western river, between Pulchrito and Hykma. Wealth from Hykma enriched the Shanties, but the poor could only see the widening gap between themselves and the rich. All the new advances meant nothing if those at the top continued to discriminate against the poor.

726 NA: Enamored with the heroic image of his ruby adamantine plate, King Hrotomak planned another invasion within the ruins of the Najar Empire. He formed up a new army and set off for Alixria. The city and her twin yielded quickly. King Hrotomak toured his Empire on a victory parade and the gems on his armor shimmered like rolling lava.

727 NA: The Hobgoblins in the north allied with Giants and Trolls. Another army formed. Communicating across the Freedom Road through the mystic power of their shamans, the Northern and Southern Hobgoblins planned an invasion of the only place unprotected by the Elves’ magical defenses in the Lower Maw, the city of Prestounasi. The armies formed up and attacked. The Elves hurriedly placed a few defenses around the city before the hordes arrived. Traps flared up destroying some of the Hobgoblin forces, but the rest got through and raided the city. The people fled and the Hobgoblins set up camp on the ruins of the city.

728 NA:The Frugal Profiteers, gleeful that the Hykman League’s route was interrupted, finished construction on their own land route around the Blockade. Roads were built to connect the cities of the west, Tylaniria, Syluk, and Cynelle. With a bit of prodding from other secret Profiteer members, the Dwarves built a port to receive the ships coming out of Tylaniria. The port was named Bronze Port.

The Elves offered their assistance to a Hykman expedition to reclaim Prestounasi. The response of the Hykman League was swift. The League raised a great host among her cities: soldiers were sent from Crolodan, The Bastion, and Hykma to deal with the troublesome Hobgoblins. The force was impressive – an army gilded in gold with a magnificent caravan behind it. When they arrived in the ruins of Prestounasi and confronted the Hobgoblin tribes, the Princes of Hykma named themselves gods. They were convincing, their show of wealth and power was well beyond anything the Hobgoblins, Trolls, and Giants had ever imagined.

After a little skirmishing, the Hobgoblins were subdued by what appeared to them to be divine beings. Not only was Hkyman technology superior, but the temptations of Hykma were overwhelming – succulent meats that seemed to melt in the mouth, fine wines and beer from around the world, honey, spices, and of course gold. Proper swords, shields, and spears. And greatest of all… A home. Coaxed from the city, the Hobgoblin tribes and their allies were taken to the mountainside below the ruins of Nanatok. On that site the skilled masons of the Hykman League built a new city and gifted it to the Hobgoblins for oaths of fealty, loyalty, and fervent fanaticism to the revered gods of the Administration and the Hykman League.

-GoCorral

Next: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 25

Gurutama Language Map

Mister Ed Dungeons and Dragons , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Language Map

Last night I made a map representing the relationships between different languages in Gurutama.

Since I am playing on using the Hackmaster rule system for Gurutama I modeled the relations between the languages on how languages work in Hackmaster.

Languages are treated as skills in Hackmaster with proficiencies ranging from 0-100%.

0-25% is when you know a few words in the other language. Most Californians have at least this much understanding of Spanish.

26-50% is when someone knows how to construct sentence frames, but can’t really carry a conversation. Someone who’s still learning the language.

51-75% is when someone knows enough to go on vacation to another country and speak that country’s language, but not enough to have a conversation about philosophy or something. My wife and I probably have this level of proficiency with Spanish.

76-87% is a normal mastery of a language. Hackmaster treats this level as the amount most people have in their native language.

88-100% is when someone knows lots of fancy words in their language. My dad has a PhD in linguistics, so he probably falls into this range.

That should give you a better idea of what the penalties listed in the image above mean.

Lets say that English is Merese on that map up there. My dad with his PhD in English linguistics would have around 20% mastery of a language that English borrows words from, like Swedish. He’d recognize a few cognates between the languages and he might know how to construct sentences, but he can’t really speak Swedish.

I’d guess that I have around 60% proficiency in Spanish. French is a very similar language. Everyone else in my family spoke French occasionally when I was growing up and the little bit of Spanish I know allowed me to understand the gist of the conversation even if I couldn’t participate. French and Spanish would be considered divergent languages in the Hackmaster system (along with Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, etc.).

A few of the languages up there might not be recognizably from Gurutama. Some of those are for monster races like trolls, giants, and orcs. The others, like Krangi, Lathlani, and Sqwuani, are for a few of the main races. Krangi is Hobgoblin, Lathlani is Elven, and Sqwuani is Avian.

The other members of my D&D group are getting a little more interested in Gurutama lately and there was talk of setting up a wiki for the campaign setting so everyone could edit and add stuff on.

If the wiki is set up I’ll start moving content there. The stuff I create will still be posted here but my friends can’t make the same promise.

That’s it for today!

-GoCorral

Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 21

Mister Ed Dungeons and Dragons, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previous: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 20

Another transitionary period post where no major events really happen, but there’s plenty of minor events! The Bwarloran Dwarves are kicked out of Halusho Forest, but they haven’t been a major player since they created the Hobgoblins. We do have the creation of Proaxium which will come to play a large role in future events (The Profiteers play a role in those events as well). I was the one who had the idea for Proaxium because previously there was no single location identified as a center of knowledge. Najar and its associated cities have a good school system, but Proaxium is the place to go for advanced education. And of course the Hykman League is growing.

Another thing to notice in this post is the drastic reduction in time scale. I’m only able to cover a 5 year period in the post because events get closer together in the third age of Dawn of Worlds and because we started to have more interesting events to fill those years.

699 NA: Trade relations expanded over the new human world. Allies and enemies were quickly made and lost as every city and organization vied for control of the old Empire. A new organization splintered off from the shadowy Brotherhood of the Living Immolation. This new organization, the Frugal Profiteers, sought to control all wealth within the Maw. They no longer cared about the resurrection of Navillus or the Najar Empire. All that mattered to the Profiteers was power. The Profiteers secretly bought up many of the mercenary companies used in the wars between the human cities. They installed Profiteer members as the leaders of the mercenaries and awaited the right time to strike.

The Merfolk and Bwarlor dominated the sea trade network that established itself across the Maw while the Hykmans controlled the Eastern Maw’s land trade and slowly worked their way into the sea trade.

700 NA: The Metal Dwarves sensed that the Shadow Lord had been shut away in his tomb. They read through the Books once more, searching for what they must do. Perhaps now the world was ripe for civilization. The Dwarves edited portions of the Book to recognize threats from outside the normal cycle. They would have to do things differently this time and they hoped for better luck in the next cycle.

The Metal Dwarves set up an outpost to teach the world the Dwarven way. Using their vast ingenuity, they built a stone island paradise in the mouth of the Maw, south of Cyflenwi. The Kenracktopar resurfaced from their ancient isolation and built schools, roads, and aqueducts aplenty upon the new land. The island and the city of great learning built upon it were known as Proaxium.

The Merfolk, upset by this brazen annexation of their land in the Maw, sent delegates to the Dwarves to resolve the matter peacefully. The Dwarves stalled the delegates with regulation, fanciful tours of Proaxium, and, if all else failed, bribes.

In the Upper Maw, the wars between the cities continued with Syluk often gaining the upper hand.

701 NA: The Hobgoblin population constantly grew. There was no real organization, only constant pressure outwards. Ancient magic protected Crodolan, The Homestone Bridge was warded, and the sea and the mountains surrounded the Hobgoblin tribes. The only open place to destroy was Shianosoth. More and more Hobgoblins began congregating around the city and eventually they came smashing down upon it. The Bwarloran Dwarves attempted to control the Hobgoblins with pleas of fraternity and alliance against the Metal Dwarves, but their cries went unheeded. The city was burned and looted. Few Bwarloran Dwarves escaped the destruction.

703 NA: After seeing the mercantile benefits of the Hykman League firsthand, the Elves of Rotandean joined the League. They built a beautiful forest garden paradise within Hykma to celebrate their new friends. The Elven Gardens became the center of commerce and politics within Hykma and by extension for all the Eastern Maw. However, this was only for the upper class. The lower class cultural center remained in Domicilius. Class tensions heightened after the building of the Gardens. The poor saw the picturesque trees and waterfalls as a symbol of wealthy oppression.

Despite repeated requests from Hykma to join the League, Farpoint continued to remain independent of the Hykman League, maintaining their own laws, culture, and army.

-Mister Ed

Next: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 22

Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 19

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Previous: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 18

Most people in Gurutama fear the Grez, but one group doesn’t, the Empire Dwarves who still believe in their original mission to destroy Navillus, no matter how corrupted that mission became.

We also see the splitting of the Elves into two groups, those who stay behind in Halusho and those who build a new home in the Eastern Maw. This move also coincides with the start of Hykma’s rise to power as the commercial center of the world. Hykma will remain on top by the end despite facing many challenges. Hykma hasn’t been mentioned in the Timeline since 245 NA when the city was founded (Part 9), but it’ll be showing up a lot more from now on.

620 NA:While the rest of the world feared the Grez, the Syluki Dwarves reveled in the destruction of the Demon’s city after so many crusades. The Great Alliance, created so long ago, finally paid off. Not caring that the Hero died in the carnage, the Syluki Dwarf nobility sent a congratulatory embassy to the Grez. The Grez thanked the Dwarves and said they were happy to do their part to remove the Navillus threat.

622 NA: The Syluki Dwarves began to gather their forces once again. They planned to retake the Najaran cities, crush the Bwarlor, and punish the Merfolk for their betrayal. Secretly the Brotherhood was in control and a new crusade would begin.

625 NA: The Farpoint Dwarves officially split off from the Syluki Dwarves. They no longer wished war with their Human neighbors. The Dwarves of Syluk vow to subjugate the Farpoint Dwarves as well.

630 NA: The mighty Najaran Empire faded into ashes and the cities gave up their last false pretenses of supposed unity. Cynelle, the youngest daughter of Old Najar, was the first to proclaim herself a free city. Emissaries were sent to the nations of the world, suing for peace and offering prosperous trade agreements

637 NA: The Elves enacted their long thought out plan. The Homestone Bridge was built at great expense over the Great Canal. All but the most stubborn Elves waved their corrupted forest home goodbye. They traveled into the east and set up a new city in the Lower Maw called Rotandean. The elves struck up a positive relationship with their new neighbors, the Hykmans and the Rana. The Bridge of the sylvan folk was covered by a great ward. Only non-Hobgoblins may pass across the Homestone Bridge.

638 NA: The Hobgoblins continued their barbarity after the majority of the Elves left Halusho.

-Mister Ed

Next: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 20

Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 16

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Previous: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 15

The wars between the Dwarves and Humans experience a lull in this update. The split between the Empire and Metal Dwarves is solidified when the Metal Dwarves disown their Empire Dwarf relatives in treaties with Humans and Merfolk.

This post serves as a transition period from the second age of our Dawn of Worlds game to the third age. We’re not quite there yet, but its coming. The events in the Upper Maw set the tone for things to come. The Dwarves and Najarns fight with each other and occasionally a great figure emerges to tip the scale in one direction, but that figure’s lifespan is not infinite. The status quo takes over once more.

The slow expansion of the Grez continues and people start to get worried, but who has the resources to do anything about it? You can fight the Grez or engage in the wars of dominance for the Upper Maw. Fighting the Grez is optional, but it weakens you city for the conflicts among mortals that happen anyways, so you might as well not fight the Grez. What does it get you now?

There will be new events coming in the other parts of the world. This post is in many ways the calm before the storm.

479 NA: The Metal Dwarves only heard of the later events on the Maw through rumors told by traders and merchants. The crusade failed. The Books made it clear. The Dwarves must excise the Black Prince from this world, but they were not strong enough to overcome the Beast from outside the cycle. The cycle of worlds could forever be altered, but what could they do? The Metal Dwarves sued for peace with the Najar and the Merfolk. The terms were accepted.

494 NA: After nearly two centuries of occupation the Humans in Syluk and Farpoint began to accept their new masters. The only real rebels were religious fanatics or those who snuck into the cities from the outside. The commoners, most of whom did not follow Navillus, built a new society within the Dwarven-Human cities.

512 NA:The Grez expanded their army’s size even further. The rest of the world noticed and ominous feelings were felt in the hearts of every mortal during the winter’s storms.

523 NA: An uneasy peace fell over the Maw. The Merfolk commemorated their victories on the Northern Continent and the Metal Dwarves returned to their Tiers. Small conflicts still plagued the competitive Najaran cities and Syluk still sent token attacks against Najar itself, but nothing on the scale of the rebellions or the original conquest of the Dwarves. The Bwarlor set out to know the world in an age of great exploration. Soon, the first complete world maps were published by Bwarloran captains, with patronage for these explorative voyages provided by Merfolk aristocrats.

525 NA:The Hobgoblins descended into reckless barbarism. A few escaped from their horrid Dwarven fathers and reproduced amongst themselves in the Halusho Forest. They soon learned to stay away from the woods surrounding Crodolan due to the traps and Elven arrows that seemed to shoot from the trees themselves.

-Mister Ed

Next: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 17

Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 15

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Previous: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 14

Remember that Dawrven invasion that took many of the cities from the Najar Empire? And do you remember them ever taking Najar, the capital of the Najar Empire? Because they never took that capital. The invasion stalled after all the other cities were claimed.

Najar became a point of light for the rebellious Humans in the new Dwarven Empire. After a century and a half of minor revolts, the Najarns finally got enough coordination to take back a few of their cities. Cynelle already came back under Human control with help from the Merfolk. Alixria and Alrdia now revolt in unison. Najar and Cynelle help them and the Dwarves are forced to hide in Syluk.

The Elves have similar problems and must also retreat to their capital city. They fortunately do not have an ancient demon god tormenting them. The Elves fare a lot better than the Dwarves.

The end effect of this revolt is to solidify the differences between the Empire Dwarves on the Maw and the Metal Dwarves on Hearthland. The Empire Dwarves continue to make ethical lapses as they are now unwitting pawns of Navillus. The Metal Dwarves… They just want to get away from all this, but there will be more on that later.

453 NA: The Black Prince watched Najar and the lands beneath the Red Peaks. The Holy City began to stir, its people cried out to be saved from the Dwarven tyranny and to know once again the pleasures of Old Najar. And so they took up arms against their oppressors! Full-fledged rebellion broke out in the twin cities of Alixria and Alrdia, enough to clear the way for advancing troops from Najar to reclaim their cities.

454 NA: The Najaran forces marched towards the mighty fortress of Syluk but stopped in the foothills. No mortal man ordered the halt. Only one whisper from Navillus and one sly smile stopped the army. He would deal with Syluk himself. With no unifying purpose, the armies dispersed. A few Najarn commanders demanded obedience, but a higher power controlled affairs in the Upper Maw.

Morale sank in occupied Syluk. News of the retaking of the twin cities of Alixria and Alrdia had reached the Dwarven commanders from their post in the mountains and with the fall of Cynelle and the Elves on the coast they were surrounded. They were safe at least, they told themselves. No foe could storm the mountain under the fire of Dwarven siege machines and the old city was rich and well supplied for a siege. They had the military might to keep the native population under control and while sabotage continued, it was petty in its nature. And then, soon after the other cities fell, the nights began to grow longer. Restlessness settled in amongst the Dwarves as nightmares plagued their dreams. Animals were born hideously deformed. Crops seemed to whither and turn to ash. And the Najaran sabotage seemed to grow at supernatural speeds.

They were Dwarves of hard metal but as nights grew longer and the pressure grew… they began to break. Madness, paranoia, and strange illnesses plagued the Syluki Dwarves. New military tribunals were formed with harsher punishments. Loyal Dwarf soldiers began to be executed by their own officers for trifling offenses. Suspicions ran rampant. To those in charge it seemed that all of their men were traitors. The few remaining pure souls wept for the fate of Syluk, the city of terror…

467 NA: The Bastards’ invasion horrified the Elves. They had never seen such brutality. The Hobgoblin race terrified the sylvan people as well. The Elves begin setting traps within the forest, both mundane and magical. The Elves set a great ward around Crodolan to prevent any outsiders from entering the city.

475 NA: The darkness in Syluk began to lift. After twenty years of endless sabotage, military tribunals, and sickness, a semblance of order returned to the mountain city. The Empire Dwarves took stock of themselves cut off as they were from the Dwarves on Hearthland. The whispers of Navillus had turned them away from the Holy Books that they used to know. The priesthood corrupted. Human sacrifice began to take place to ward off the evil. Little did the Dwarves know that the souls they sacrifice went to feed the Dark God. Farpoint, the other Dwarven controlled city in the Upper Maw, was too far away to lend aid or even effectively communicate with the Syluki Dwarves.. The Empire Dwarves knew that the crusade must be completed or their failure would be remember in history for eternity. They recruited among the Humans in the city who finally accepted their new masters. Soon, they planned to march to Najar and face the evil master of the Maw as they should’ve done in the first place.

-Mister Ed

Next: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 16

Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 14

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Previous: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 13

The Bwarlorn Dwarves finally get their vengeance in this post. Their act parallels the original Dwarf curse in many ways. They target a group that did not suspect such an attack. The group suffers heavy causalities and then forced pregnancies. The pregnancies result in horrible unwanted mutant babies.

The Bastards of the Book don’t target the Dwarves though. They attack the Dwarven allies, the Elves.

But in the grand scheme of history, rape is just another tragedy of war. What makes this special enough to include?

The creation of a new race because the hybrid genetics is why. The Hobgoblins will come to play a big role in the Lower Maw.

And we’ve also got the Rana slowly developing into their humanitarian selves by founding Gurutama’s equivalent of the real world charity organization, The Red Cross.

429 NA: The group of Najaran men sought to rebel against their Dwarven overlords. They sent scouts into the Eastern Maw to recruit primitive Humans outside of the boundaries of the Empire to assist in fighting the Dwarves. While the small rebellion of these men was one among many to be squashed by the Dwarven jackboots one good thing came of the Najarn scouts’ journey. They made contact with the Rana.

The words of the Najarns troubled the Rana and left a lasting impact. They had never heard of people who openly sought violence upon other intelligent beings. The Rana set about to bring light to all those who wanted to see once again…

The Rana gathered many of their beloved children, great sages, silver-tongued peace-makers, and humble friends, and sent them forth into the world. And they named them, the Monks of the Gossamer Waves, an order of peace, pacifism, and kindness.

441 NA: With each year the ranks of the Bastards of the Tattered Book grew and their fury seemed endless. Many spoke of purging the Metal Tiers and of making the women and children of Hearthland suffer as their men made the Bwarlor suffer. Still more wanted to storm the Najaran coast and join forces with the Najarns against the Empire Dwarves.

But a cruel streak coming from their primitive ancestors inspired another course of action. The Bastards unfurled their black sails and set out, not west to the Hearthland nor north to join the numerous rebellions against the Empire Dwarves. No, the Bastards went south to the ripe forests hidden behind the indomitable Mandibles.

442 NA: It is said that history is doomed to repeat itself, and just as the Dwarves of Hearthland imposed their sons on the Bwarlor, so did these new Dwarves rape the city of Shianosoth and sow their children amongst the innocent Elven people. A new breed coalesced in the shadow of that damned city, mockery of the goodness and order, a savage combination of its three father races: the swiftness and stature of the good Elves, the greed and steadfast determination of Dwarvenkind, and the madness of their grandfather, Humanity. The first Hobgoblins were born into the world…

-Mister Ed

Next: Gurutama Timeline Revising Part 15