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A Time of Turmoil — 587-588 CY

On September 16th, 2000, a group of players came together in an event known as the Pale Historical Interactive. In this daylong event, players took on the role of major NPCs within the Theocracy of the Pale, during a turbulent time from 587-588 CY. As powerful NPCs, we went on adventures, directed large-scale battles, and made decisions that affected the entire nation. These events play into the Living Greyhawk campaign, which began three years later in 591 CY.

NPCs of Note

Abel Aardahl — Spiritual advisor to the Theocrat.

Aino Joukahainen — Assistant librarian in the Library of Antigua in Wintershiven.

Andon Kavelle — Prelate of Stradsett, conservative faction.

Anonsis — Former Prelate of Rakervale, conservative faction, demoted to Bishop of Wintershiven in 588 CY.

Avern — Supreme Commander of the Pholtan Knights Valorous.

Dorjan Oldrich — Dwarf warrior who hunts in the Troll fens, independent scout for the Prelatal Army and Church Militant.

Eagle Eye — Personal bodyguard of the Theocrat.

Elias Etrason — Prelate of Hawkburgh, conservative faction.

Filias Farsonal — Prelate of Hatherleigh, conservative faction.

Grishkin — Nyrond citizen, co-founder of Valorous League of Blindness in Nyrond.

Jaramai Twist — The Rose of the Phostwood, the wealthiest individual in the Pale.

Jarrett Beak — High Seer of the Pale.

Kiana Gunnhild — Former candidate for the provisional governor of the Tenh.

Lazarus — Former Champion of the Theocrat who turned traitor.

Louis Phillip Gastón II —Captain Pholtan Knights Valorous, most powerful Justicar in the Pale, elected provisional governor of the Tenh in 588 CY.

Malvern Fenn —Former bishop of Wintershiven, elevated to Prelate of Rakervale in 588 CY.

Maximillian Thace — Prelate of Ogburg, head of the Popular Progressive Party.

Milamber— Advisor to the Theocrat.

Ogon Tillit — His Worshipful Mercy, Supreme Prelate of the Pale, the Theocrat.

Phillipe — Personal assistant to Andon Kavelle; some feel there is more to this man than meets the eye.

Rakim Thundershard — Prelate of Holdworthy, Popular Progressive Party.

Reifus — Cardinal-Commander of the Church Militant.

Sarynn Reddick — Prelate of Wintershiven, Popular Progressive Party.

Sloan Burgos — Celestial General of the Prelatal Army.

Theoman Baslett — Prelate of Landrigard, head of the conservative political faction, DragonSlayer.

Tristan Spencer — Paladin Champion of Pholtus, bearer of the Holy Sword "Seneton" on a crusade in the Troll Fens.

Raven — Personal bodyguard of the Theocrat.

Zacktinerim — Prelate of Eltison, conservative faction.

Major Events — Fall, 587 CY

Word spread like wildfire that an unknown contingent of soldiers was marching through the Rakers into the Theocracy with unknown purpose. A reconnaissance team of elite heroes was sent to investigate. The heroes learned that there were in fact multiple hosts heading into the Theocracy bearing the banners of the Tenh, Stonefist, Iuz, and various evil mercenary bands.

The family of Rakim Thundershard, Prelate of Holdworthy, had long-owned mines in the northern Rakers. Some heard rumors that Thundershard was not honestly reporting his profits, but the Prelate put these rumors to rest when he revealed to the Theocrat and Council of Nine that he had been building a war chest to help fund the expansion of the Theocracy. Thundershard's war chest and additional funds donated by Jaramai Twist were used to fund the Prelatal Army's defense against the incursion.

The Prelatal Army engaged one of the hosts near a set of silver mines owned by Jaramai Twist, which was the enemy's apparent objective. The fighting was fierce and the holy warriors of the Theocracy prevented them from claiming one of the mines. The other two mines were captured, as the Palish troops were unprepared for the demons that suddenly appeared to aid the enemy.

Worried about the recent events, and his lack of foresight in this matter, the High Seer of the Pale disclosed a vision he had of a mystical gem called the Lin Ying Ruby that would allow the Theocracy great foresight of forth coming events. The Theocrat dispatched a group of heroes under the command of Prelate Theoman Baslett and Prelate Maximillian Thace to locate this artifact. Unfortunately, the object was part of the horde of an ancient evil green wyrm known as Xianshe, whose lair was several days march into the Raker Mountains. The Palish force attempted to negotiate with the beast, but when its greed and insolence proved too much, Baslett attacked the dragon. He dealt it a mortal wound, but was in turn slain by Xianshe. The rest of the party recovered the Lin Ying Ruby and returned Baslett's body to Wintershiven. While holding the artifact Tyreal's Chalice, which had been obtained by the Lazurus many years ago, the Theocrat cast a true resurrection to restore Prelate Baslett to life.

Major Events — Winter, 588 CY

Licking his wounds from the defeat at the silver mines, the Theocrat mobilized the Prelatal Army under Sloan Burgos and the Pholtan Knights Valorous under Avern. A large host was assembled to meet the backbone of Iuz's forces near the only bridge over the Yol River. Defeat would allow the enemy to pour into the Theocracy and capture the capital of Wintershiven.

Celestial General Burgos was convinced that to defeat Iuz, his forces needed to execute a flanking maneuver, approaching the field of battle from the Phostwood. A diplomatic envoy was sent to the elven Queen Siannodel to ask for right of passage. The envoy also beseeched the Queen to reveal any knowledge her people might have to explain how the forces of Iuz have managed to circumvent the Crook of Rao and bring demons to Oerth. The envoy was able to secure the right of passage for the Prelatal Army forces this one time, and further learned that the forces of Iuz were employing an artifact known as the Eye of Dench to bolster their ranks.

Unfortunately, Prelate Anonsis entered into an argument with the emissary of the Tenh in the Elven Court. The emissary got the better of Anonsis, and in a fit of rage, Anonsis struck the emissary. The Queen was aghast, as acts of violence were forbidden within the Court. That directive that had been intact for many centuries, and the breaking of it boded poorly for the fate of the Queen's people. This incident has severely impacted the relations of the elves with the Pale.

Meanwhile, in order to counter Iuz's demonic threat, the Theocrat in his wisdom sent some of his closest advisors to the Upper Planes to attempt to recruit angels to the cause. The wise beings of the Upper Planes refused to enter Oerth and fight the demons, fearing that the Bloodwar would shift to the Flanaess destroying much more than the Pale. The angles, however, did have a way to help. They bestowed upon the Theocracy the holy artifact Apocrapha, a book of Law that had many powers and was especially potent against fiends. In exchange for this gift, the angels required that the Palish heroes bring knowledge of the fabled City of Angels, Aes-Annan, to the mortals. Aes-Annan was burned from the time stream forever, and the angels desired that mortals preserve the memory of this divine city.

Also joining the battle at the Yol River was a silver dragon named "Brennan," a foe of the now-slain Xianshe. Rakim Thundershard befriended Brennan by giving the dragon the right to control one of the Jaramai Twist's silver mines captured in the fall of 587 CY, provided that Brennan helped to defeat the forces of Iuz and aid in liberating the mines.

Luckily, in the engagement that would eventually be called the "Battle of Balor Bridge," the Theocracy was able to prevent the evil army from crossing the Yol River. But even after executing a flanking maneuver through the Phostwood, obtaining the Apocrapha, and gaining the assistance of Brennan, losses were heavy.

Council of War — Winter, 588 CY

With the size and scope of the War escalating out of hand, the Theocrat called a Council of War to be held near the recent battle at Jaramai Twist's mansion on the Yol River. The full Council of Nine was in attendance, as well as all key military and political advisors in the Pale. The Council handled several matters, including general military strategy.

The Council of Nine chose to elect a provisional governor of the Tenh. This provisional governor would oversee whatever lands of the Tenha were liberated from Iuz's forces, assuming the forces of the Pale were able to defeat the evil army. The candidates were: Louis Gastón, supported by the conservative faction; Tristan Spencer, supported by the Popular Progressive Party; Jaramai Twist, who used her position as the head of the largest merchant conglomerate in the Theocracy to make a bid for the provisional governorship; and, Kiana Gunnhild, the ambassador emeritus to the Phostwood. Voting was straight down party lines, with the conservative candidate Louis Gastón receiving the bulk of the votes and the Popular Progressive candidate Tristan Spencer receiving the remaining three.

The matter of Anonsis' behavior at the Elven Court was the final matter dealt with by the Council. With unanimous support of the Council of Nine, the Theocrat demoted him to Bishop of Wintershiven. The current bishop, Malvern Fenn, was elevated to the Prelate of Rakervale. Furthermore, Anonsis was required to perform a penance to help win back the good graces of the elves he alienated. For three months out of every twelve, Bishop Anonsis was to travel into the Phostwood to serve the Elven Queen as she saw fit. Anonsis's relocation to Wintershiven would bring him closer to the elven lands, and the Theocrat hoped that not only would Anonsis's service placate the elves, but also over time the Bishop would be able to strengthen the ties between the elves and the Theocracy. Anonsis's penance would be complete after five years.

At the conclusion of the Council, a master assassin attempted to take the life of the Theocrat. Luckily, this event had been foreseen by the High Seer, Jarret Beak. A quick intervention by Ogon's champion Lazarus put the would-be assailant down.

Major Events — Spring CY 588

The main hosts of the Theocracy and Iuz clashed outside the city gates of Atherstone in the Tenh, the local Flan supporting the Theocracy against Iuz. At first, the battle favored the forces of darkness. They seemed to have unlimited reinforcements of progressively more powerful tanar'ri at their disposal. Had it not been for the skill of Sloan Burgos in managing the troops, and two groups of heroes who succeeded at special missions, all would have been lost.

The first group of heroes learned where the enemy kept the Eye of Dench. With this artifact, the forces of evil could sacrifice a living person and bring forth a demon in exchange. The strike team infiltrated the temple where the artifact was being held and managed to close the Eye, sealing the portal to the abyss. The ability of Iuz's forces to add more demons to their army was extinguished.

The second group of heroes went behind enemy lines in a daring move to rescue a cut-off lord of the Tenh. The heroes were able to get to him largely undetected. Using powerful magic, they whisked him and his knight back to the front lines with magic. Upon seeing their lord safe, the Flan troops rallied and begin routing the less disciplined forces of the enemy. As the Pholtan Knights Valorous regrouped under Avern, they began a charge that would crush the enemy lines and win the "Battle of Atherstone."

Facing inevitable defeat, Iuz enacted a terrible treachery. At the height of victory, Lazurus, the trusted Champion of the Theocrat spoke two unholy words. A molydeus and a glabrezu appeared next to him as the power of the words smote the Theocrats bodyguards to the ground. Lazarus then underwent a startling metamorphosis. He was apparently some type of demon in disguise! Grafted to his hands were strange, abyssal-forged claws — an evil sentient artifact which he employed against Ogon in combat. Ogon was no match for Lazarus' sneak attack, and was slain within seconds by the abyssal claws. Gloating, the creature that was Lazarus stole Tyrael's Chalice from the body of the Theocrat. In a foul blast of smoke, the Lazarus-demon vanished along with the molydeus and glabrezu.

Ogon was later raised, but since no prelate could cast true resurrection, Ogon was reduced to 16th level — and thus no one in the Pale has access to 9th level spells anymore. In addition, no magics seem to completely heal the wounds inflicted by the abyssal claws. Graver still, his condition is worsening. Ogon is becoming slowly weaker every day.