History of Hurssia, 1154-1166

1154

During the winter of 1154 Whiteflight and company returned to Hurssia after a short period trapped in Ravenloft.   Having survived their escapades there, they returned to a small group of islands to the far south of Hurssia.   These islands were being used as a secret breeding ground for the Green Lady’s off-spring.   During the ensuing scrap all the adventurers fell except Whiteflight, who was able to make a deal with the Green Lady, in return for their own lives.   On returning to Hurssia Whiteflight realised his problems and tried to alert his intended victim to the deal.
After failing in his quest to kill the Duke, Whiteflight became a wanted bard.   Shortly after the deadline the inquisition arrived, looking for Whiteflight.   At about the same time a knight of the Order of the Dragon was slain and the murder weapon placed in Corwin’s possession.   Corwin was later arrested for this crime but subsequently freed after the intervention of the rest of the group.   At the close of 1154 the inquisitor was mysteriously murdered on the road north of Barander.

1155

On the very first day of the new year Whiteflight, still wanted for his crimes against the Green Lady, was turned over to the forces of Count Svallrik by a half-elf named Kael.   After the monthly prayer time of Allaveer Kael was knighted for his heroic capture of the devious villain and Whiteflight was handed over to the inquisitors assistant, Rostfan.   Sir Kael was then instructed to escort the prisoner and Rostfan as far as the Tursen border.   Upon reaching the border village of Merrenbrook Sir Kael was invited to stay before returning.   During the evening celebrations Sir Kael was poisoned.   After a daring rescue Sir Kael and Whiteflight were both removed from the clutches of the Green Lady and returned to Kursaval where the latter was pardoned.
During the Early Summer celebrations Corwin was able to destroy the mysterious Bone Ring which they had recovered from the not-so ruined Castle Belltath the year before.   His deed led him to being knighted in the holy order of Allaveer.   Later that same month a border dispute, partly linked to the events surrounding Sir Kael nearly erupted into war.   Archbishop Grugran, head of the Green Lady’s religious order in Kursaval was tried and executed for treason.   Following a build up of forces a peace settlement was negotiated and both armies retreated, partially.   The Archbishop was raised.
It was not, however, long before trouble once again erupted at the border.   The young Duke Torman, ruler of Rew, was captured whilst out hunting with Sir Kael and Sir Corwin. After a very daring and near fatal rescue the group managed to rescue Duke Torman.   Later Brangwen displayed an amazing piece of riding skill in bringing down the treacherous Helren.   In the same encounter Sir Corwin defeated Sir Kerrin in single combat.
In early autumn the Battle of City Gate took place in Lanmere after a large barbarian force attacked the town in revenge for several attacks on their raiding parties by Counts Pherenath and Svallrik.   Although the human defenders were victorious Count Svallrik fell in the fight.   Sir Kael was named as his heir, but Rossenfur, Svallrik’s missing half brother, claimed the title.   After accepting defeat Sir Kael and company attempted to rid a recently disturbed ruined temple of several vampires and a ghost.   During the process the entire group were killed.

1156

Early in the year Archbishop Grugran, still living in Nyr’Danr, accused Count Rossenfur of Barander of worshipping Mallus, god of the Undead.   Rossenfur denied the claims, stating Grugarn was trying to get revenge for his execution in 1155.   Grugran threatened Rossenfur in public in Nyr’Danr, and the King intervened, providing Rossenfur with a Royal Guard and warning Grugran to be sure of his facts.   At the end of Freshyear Grugran’s chief inquisitor was killed by the kings body guard protecting Rossenfur.   Within two months the Green Lady was threatening military action unless the king handed over Rossenfur and the guards responsible for her inquisitors death.
On the 28th of Longday the Order of the Stormsword, comprising of two regiments of heavy foot lay siege to the border town of Rew.   King Aleksandr declared war within a week and started rallying for support.   Both the Ukrall and the elves of the Larrowmor forest declared themselves neutral in the conflict.   On the 15th of Early Summer the King’s army, aided by the Shire massed outside Nyr’Danr and prepared to move east.   On the 19th of the same month the two armies clashed in the First Battle of Rew.   After twelve hours of heavy fighting the Green Lady was victorious.   Among the dead were Countess Kira, the kings Field Marshal, and Duke Torman.
The Green Lady’s army pressed on towards Nyr’Danr, laying siege to the city on the 25th.   On the 6th of Midsummer the Order of the Seasword and the elite Order of the Dragon launched surprise attacks on the Ukrall.   Within a fortnight both Y’Goth and Wearmill had both fallen with little resistance.   Meanwhile at the opening of Reapers Harvest the Kallergan Highlanders sent reinforcements to Kursaval to try and aid Aleksandr.   At the same time the town of Morwith is also taken, without a fight and the attacking armies move on towards Traiger.   The siege of Traiger lasts less than a week and on the 18th day of Reapers Harvest the Ukrall surrenders to Turse.
Kursavalian reinforcements, including the Kallergan Highlanders reach Nyr’Danr, bring a short respite to the beleaguered city.   During Weathers Month the Shire surrenders to the Order of the Dragon, who then press north towards Nyr’Danr.   On their way to the capital the Order of the Dragon enter the Shirewood and massacre the inhabitants.   At the close of 1156 both armies have dug in for the winter.   Meanwhile the Green Lady starts killing those nobles and sheriffs still opposed to her in the Ukrall and the Shire.

1157

As Spring arrives food levels in the besieged city have run low and the Green Lady’s forces, also suffering from a lack of supplies launch a final offensive.   After nearly ten months of siege King Aleksandr surrenders control of the city to the Green Lady on the 19th of Oaksborn.   The Green Lady spares the lives of most of the citizens but beheads King Aleksandr XVI, calling him a traitor to his people.   On the first day of Longday Count Rossenfur declares Barander and its lands an independent state.   It takes the Tursen army nearly three weeks to bring the town to heel.   Rossenfur escaped before the Tursens took the town.
On the 10th day of Early Summer a fleet of forty war galleys arrived on the north eastern coast of Turse.   They despatched the White Legion, which immediately lays siege to the Royal Forest, home of the Green Lady.   Within two months the Order of the Dragon had returned to their home to defend it.   On the 25th of Midsummer the White Legion moved west, conquering the remaining lands of Turse.   The Green Lady confronted her new opponent at the Second Battle of Rew.   After several days of fighting the Green Lady fell at the hands of the new tyrant.   By the end of the year a growing undead army, known as the White Legion, had swept across Kursaval.   Among its victims was Archbishop Grugran who was put to death in a very public execution on the 3rd day of Deepwinter.

1158

The early months of 1158 saw Aragorn the White, commander of the White Legion conquer the territories of the Ukrall and declare himself Ruler of Hurssia.   In the Autumn of this year King Ortar, King of the Larrowmor elves, refuses Aragorn’s terms of surrender.   Aragorn declares war on the elven nations.   He also raises a new legion of undead soldiers, the 13th Legion.   On the 20th of Darkeven King Thekk of Clan Kallergan makes an alliance with King Ortar.   At the close of the year Aragorn’s forces launch a disastrous attack on the elven town of Selwynd.   The elves score a complete victory, inflicting major losses on the White Legion.

1159

In the spring of this year Aragorn created the 9th Legion, a unit of heavy infantry who have declared their loyalty to him.   The new legion is made up entirely of humans, although nationality is no longer a question.   Among the legions officers is Rossenfur, former count of Barander, who has become Legate (2nd in Command) of the new legion.   On the 11th day of Oaksborn the new legion launches an attack against the elven town of Selwynd.   Although the losses are not as great as the previous year the elves are once again victorious.
Aragorn next sets about reorganising his forces, placing two legions on the borders of the dwarven and elven kingdoms.   The 13th Legion is dispersed amongst the provinces (former countries) of Hurssia as a police force.   For the rest of the year the 13th sweeps through the countryside burning churches and their priests.   The great colleges of magic are raised to the ground and their occupants butchered.   Non-humans living in the human settlements are driven out or killed and anyone suspected of being linked to the former ruling families is killed.   Among the dead are those remaining knights and some loyalist soldiers.

1160

The spring of 1160 has been quiet.   Neither Aragorn nor the elves or dwarves want to make a move against each other, leading to stalemate.   In the provinces persecution of spellcasters, nobles and loyalists continues and many are driven away or killed.   The general populace are forced to submit to the rule of the tyrant Aragorn.   Life is fairly hard after several years of war but for many peasants not much has changed.   The country side, along with many places where battles were fought, become dangerous places to roam at night.
Deep in the Kavil forset, outlaws band together, raiding Aragorn's forces to survive. Duke Tormen gathers useful outlaws to him, and sends them to Blakmar to find a missing agent to help in the upcoming war. One of these outlaws was Aspen, once a fighter companion of Whiteflight. There they discover Sir Kael and Sir Corwen, Brangwen, Chryssiana (only surviving priest of Tarak) and Florimel the mage who had all been imprisoned five years before, whilst the rest of the world believed them dead.
Duke Tormen sends Brangwen and Sir Kael to the Dwarven Clanholds, to serve the Queen. Far from Kursavale, Queen Tulia I, only surviving child of Aleksandr, is hiding. There with her loyal remaining knights, she plans an all-out attack on Aragorn. King Ortar of the elves, King Galar and King Thekk of the dwarves, and Queen Tulia devise a plan to combat Aragorns forces on all sides, on the first day of 1161.

Headed by Sir Corwen, and aided by Duke Tormen, the outlaws accomplish many things in the months leading up to the war. They find Clintmar, a young black dragon who aids their fight, and are noteworthy in irritating Aragorn. The party also rescue Sir Ketterin and Sir Loark, formarly of Terse, who aid their fight. Also noteworthy is the pregnancy of Randell - whilst both polymorphed into goats, Randell the bard and Igelkordock Aischros copulate, and Randell becomes pregnant.
During their travels, the group are guided by an unknown person to the prison of Lucknar, Gold dragon and Emporer of Hurssia, imprisoned over two thousand years before, and Krentish, Silver dragon. Duke Quintith, Lord Mage of Kursavale, releases the dragons from their imprisonment, who then fly to the Dwarven clanholds to aid the fight against Aragorn.

Sir Corwen's party prepare for the war. On the eve of 1161, the party storm the Palace in Nyr'Danr, and successfully kill the generals of Aragorn's army, and prevent reinforcements being sent to the battlefield. The soldiers pour out of the palace in panic as Sgt. Kurngrim turns into a bear and rips apart their commander in a blind beserk. The townsfolk rise up in arms and Nyr'Danr is freed from the control of the 13th Legion.
In the Larrowmoor forest, a mass illusion is cast, and Aragorn's legion finds itself fighting within the forest. Heavy losses are sustained. At the borders of the Dwarven Kingdoms, the Legion is besieged, unsuspectingly. No reinforcements ever arrive, and Hurssia is freed.

1161

On the first day of the year, Emporer Lucknar enters Nyr'Danr triumphant. Queen Tulia is crowned queen of Kursavale, and Aragorn banned to Hervaxiath. The undead legions are laid to rest finally, and slowly and surely, Hurssia is rebuilt. The party are richly rewarded with titles and monies for their deeds - indeed, it is discovered that Randell's issue, the now fatherless 'Corwen' is heir to the throne of Terse. And so life settles down, and continues.....