Common Knowledge - Please Read
BALAZAR
A rugged and thinly populated expanse of land, Balazar lies between the Elf Sea on the north and the Rockwood Mountains on the south. Its grassy plains and grassy hills support many herds of wild cattle and other such animals. Local barbarians and prides of smilodon hunt the herds.
The Elf Sea got its name from the First Age. The elves once grew wondrous shapes for trees and from them constructed magical ships and boats. From the Elf Sea they sailed northward upon the Argos River, and also portaged their boats from the Elf Sea overland to the Oslir River.
The forest which grew the boat parts was in the Balazar region but has since been destroyed, perhaps by Gbaji the Chaos God and his worshippers, or by Zorak Zoran, or even by some fire god.
During most of the Second Age trolls occupied the land. Some old ballads refer to this, and the Balazarings claim their Founder himself conquered the trolls. Non-Yelmalios delight in pointing out that the trolls had already been exhausted by the elf wars.
The barbarians of the area are the Balazaring tribe. They trace their descent from the legendary Balazar, famous as a leader of a Yelmalio legion during the days before the Dragonkill War. He met, and wed, a local hunting nymph and they had three sons. Balazar marched to war with the True Golden Army while his sons were still boys. Like most members of that army he died in the Dragonkill War of 1100. Everyone knows the sons quarrelled afterwards for the inheritance and became dire enemies. Since that time there have been three tribal fortresses, housing the three kings of the the tribes. The three forts are Dykene, Trilus and Elkoi.
Third age Balazar remained stable. Though area tribes might take over another’s citadel or steal a herd of swine, the balance remained despite the petty squabbles. The land knew no outside intervention, for it is worthless to people who prefer bread to meat.
Refugees sought help or hiding in Balazar. Once the Balazar army even showed its teeth to the Imperial Army. No Balazaring victories are recorded, though their army shared victories with other more civilised forces.
The few contacts with the Lunar forces whetted the appetites of the Balazaring kings for Lunar plunder. The royal dynasties competed to descend from their wild hill fastnesses and raid away Lunar gold, cattle and goods. They often lost, especially when local militia cavalry moved against them. The more skilled among them, the Rune Masters, sometimes succeeded.
In 1564 the Tarsh governor lost patience with the endless raiding and sent an army against the citadel of Elkoi. They seized it by a surprise assault and an impressive use of their overwhelming magic, then garrisoned it. Most of the Elkoini royal dynasty died, but the populace were well-treated and coaxed to remain. Since that time it has remained a Lunar outpost, and is surrounded by a small agricultural population.
ELDER WILDS
Dangerground is the border between Balazar and the Elder Wilds. The region has never been conquered by humans; to most people it is hostile territory. Its inhabitants have always been members of the Elder Races.
During the First Age this was an elf stronghold. The Aldryami forests grew to cover the Redlands, Garsting, Balazar and spilled into Dragon Pass. At first, after the Dawning, elves were friendly with the nearby trolls and dwarves, and gave free access. But the races began quarrelling about the time that the Second Council moved to Dorastor. Northern fire worshipper depredations dwindled the Redlands forests. Balazar was burned sometime in this era too, though no-one knows if by Gbaji the Chaos God, by Zorak Zoran, or by some Fire god.
The trolls harnessed the land during the Second Age. From Balazar they conducted their war with the nearby elves and dwarves and thinning the once dominant forests of the Elder Wilds.
When Balazar Lightson conquered and settled Balazar, the ousted trolls fled to the Elder Wilds, still pursuing their war against the elves. Some fled to the heights and fought the dwarves as well. Now those racial struggles seem petty grievances in light of their mutual annhilation; the non-human races lurking here are leftovers from another age.
Even so, humans avoid this region. For the majority of the Third Age it has been left to itself.
Now magical energies are building and heroes are in the making, and old forces stir in the region, and reasons bloom for men to go seeking things in the forgotten lands. Just drop by any tavern in any town and you can find rumours of greatness for the price of a drink…
ELF SEA
The Elf Sea is an extremely large fresh-water lake located adjacent to both the Elder Wilds and Balazar. In the distant past it was inhabited by sea elves who did wondrous magicks while trading with their landbound cousins. This was long ago, though. Recently the sea has become infested with a plentiful supply of exotic and dangerous creatures, and it has become all but impassible.
