Grabentod Lore
Old Grabentod
Centuries ago, Grabentod was one of the noble realms of Brechtür. Like its southern cousins, it chafed under the Anuirean Empire's rule, but unlike other realms, it threw that off with little bloodshed. Winters closed the ports of "Old" Grabentod more frequently than they do today, and most Anuireans trapped in the northern reaches during the final uprising surrendered easily. Thus, Grabentod became independent, but not for long. Various blooded families fought for the crown.
Intrigues and conspiracy seem to breed in the mountains and the Graben family produced a woman who eventually became one of the most fearsome of the northern awnsheghlien, the Hag. The Hag proved to be the ruin of "Old Grabentod;" within a few generations, the realm was sundered. No heir to the throne could be found (some of them went into hiding), and the kingdom devolved into anarchy. Drachenward and Grabentod have blamed each other for their problems ever since.
"New" Grabentod
Some 85 years ago, a pirate sailed into the one of Grabentod's harbors. He declared he was the true heir to the Grabentod throne, giving his name as Ulrich Graben. His outlaw fleet had been driven from Zweilunds, and now he claimed his heritage.
He faced serious resistance. Several small settlements existed in Grabentod, but few relished idea of a pirate king. Ulrich was armed with small fleet of ships and a large group of desperate men. They burned the forests and villages in Darres' End and killed the leaders of the resistance. To this day, the ghosts of those battles haunt the Burning Forest, and on clear winter nights, phantom fire can still be seen among the treetops.
King Ulrich created the city of Alber in the sheltered northern harbor as his capitol. This proved fortuitous for a pirate king, since volcanic activity in the Drachenaur Mountains (some say it is the dragons shifting and roaring in their sleep) heats the Alber Inlet keeping it free of ice all year. Alber province stays comparatively warm as well; the settlers grow winter wheat on the plains outside the city.
Ultimately, it was up to Müden and its Royal Marines to defeat the pirates. In a ten-year campaign, Melisande Reaversbane earned her name by creating a disciplined fleet and army that overcame the pirates. In its final campaign in 1518 HC, the Royal Marines captured Ulrich's descendant, Albrecht Graben and brought him back to Müden in chains.
"New" Grabentod remains a realm in flux. At no time in its history have its rulers been free of opposition. Some say that if a true heir to the Old Graventod were to return and slay the Hag, the shadow over the realm would be lifted, the pirate-kings would be driven out, and the iron and silver would be restored in the mines of the north. Now, however, evil and strife rule the land, and no one truly hopes for much better.
