1381 DR - The Year of Reclamations
(RL: Roughly 2020)
- A splendorous and joy-filled Grand Revel was hosted by the faithful of the Brightwater Halls goddesses, in cooperation with the Rosewood Theater. This event was open to the public for merriment, and it is said that not in many years had Arabel experienced just happiness.
- Two necromancers, a brother and sister, tricked a large portion of Arabel’s adventurers into falling for a trap, in which they were forced to fight the risen dead of one of the final battles of the Goblin War. The necromancers escaped, but left with an eerie warning that “this is not the last time the dead shall rise in precious Cormyr.”
- All around the world, a massive pillar of crimson light could be witnessed shooting into the sky from the Anauroch desert. Though it is unknown what caused this phenomena, after-the-fact investigation has theorized that the light may have been caused by a burst of magical energy from a previously unlocated fallen enclave of the Netherese Empire. The enclave, and its inhabitants, were never found, however; instead, all that was discovered was a massive, freshly-made crater in the desert sands.
- In the middle of Winter, Lord Ulath of Deepingdale, at the behest of the Council of Velethuil, put forth a summons of any and all willing adventurers to aid in the reclamation of Ssrenshen, an elven settlement that had been destroyed destroyed by the Shadovar, and then claimed by the drow led by the Matron of House Zaurvs. Though Matron Zaurvs had been slain years prior, the House and its forces were now led by her three Granddaughters, and at their disposal were an army of fiendish minions of unknown origin.
- Early efforts saw adventurers supporting the offensive of Deepingdale and her forces by avoiding drow ambushes, attempting to slay drow officers and magical items of importance, and then capturing two of the major outposts that had been established by the drow in between Velethuil and Ssrenshen. After nearly a month and a half, the two outposts fell simultaneously.
- The allied forces merged, and began to advance on Ssrenshen proper, hoping to bring about a final assault that would see Ssrenshen returned to the elves of Deepingdale. However, unbeknownst to Deepingdale, a series of underground tunnels had been created, originating from Ssrenshen, and ending just to the north of Highmoon. The three Grandaughters decided to split their forces in twain; one half would remain to defend Ssrenshen, while the other half left to assault Highmoon.
- Unfortunately for Deepingdale, there was no warning of the drow’s gambit until the army appeared to the north of Highmoon. In a frantic effort to defend the capital of Deepingdale, Captain Walten called upon a host of adventurers to supplement what militia and guards remained in Highmoon to defend from the assault of the drow, fiends, and their allied shadow dragon. The resulting battle has been titled “The Battle of the Crimson Prarie,” for the ground ran red with blood. After a gruelling melee, the enemy army was defeated before they could even reach Highmoon’s walls.
- Meanwhile, the allies assaulted the terraformed gates of Ssrenshen, fighting tooth-and-nail against the entrenched defenders. With sabotage and subterfuge, the defenses were breached, and after a ferocious battle, the allies, for the first time in 7 years, set foot within Ssrenshen once again.
- However, the battle was not yet over, for it had been discovered that the one supplying so many fiends to House Zaurvs was none other than Aldinach, a minor demon lord known as The Lady of Change, in exchange for receiving the stolen relic Greenshaft from Moonrise Hallow. Braving almost certain death, a group of adventurers travelled through the permanent gate at Ssrenshen’s center, and assaulted one of her many eggs in the hopes of reclaiming this precious relic of The People. Together, they defeated her Aspect, and were able to return Greenshaft back to the temple in Velethuil, until it could safely be given back to its proper home.
- In the aftermath of the effort, Lord Uleth invited all who aided in the reclamation to his estate in Highmoon for a celebratory feast, where rewards and honors were given to those who had done so much on behalf of Deepingdale.
- In the ruined town of Tilverton, a great disturbance was felt. At the behest of the War Wizards and Purple Dragons, adventurers were sent to investigate. Somehow, they returned with a group of terrified civilians, who claimed to have been held hostage against their will in the Plane of Shadow. What truly happened there is known only to few, but rumors and speculation are abound.
- There were rumors from Suzail that a top-secret project had been infiltrated by a foreign power, hoping to steal the secrets to the creation of the Warforged. How successful these efforts were is unknown at this time.
- After years of being corrupted from the influence of the Far Realm, adventurers freed the Summer Queen, Winter Queen, and Lord of the Wild Hunt from the corruption. Most of the courts were saved, however a lingering corruption on the lands remained.
- At the behest of Mage Royal Inthre, adventurers were summoned to locate items of interest for the good of Cormyr. Such items of power were said to have been hidden far and wide, within temples and ruins and other such places of power and danger. How or what these artifacts were, much less why they were so heavily desired, is a mystery.
- In the town of Halfhap, a Purple Dragon was murdered. At first, it was rumored to have been carried out by a group of adventurers who had just arrived in town, armed and glimmering with magic. After a rather tense trial, it was determined that these adventurers were innocent, and the blame was instead put upon the deceased Dragon’s wife, and a group of bandits. It is said that at least some of the adventurers were still forced to pay reparations for the chaos that was caused by their sudden arrival.
- On the southern bank of the Dragonmere, an abbey to Tyr, The Evenhanded, was burned in a reign of fire that came suddenly in the night. Who caused this or why can only be guessed at, though given the rumored stories about its connections to the events that unfolded in the Vast Swamp, some speculate that it may have been a staging ground for greater things.
- After a multi-year effort, Clan Oghrann, led by Lord Khondar Stoneshield, has reclaimed the holy city of Thunderholme for the dwarven people. Aided by adventurers from far and wide, the surrounding area was cleansed of monsters, both big and small.
- Within Thunderholme’s ruins, the undead that had been enthralled by the Sibilant Shade, Aurgloroasa - discovered to have become a demilich, rather than just the dracolich she had been previously sighted as - were defeated as well. Finally, the rulership of Thunderholme has been returned to the dwarven people as well. Rumors say that there are already ongoing negotiations with both Cormyr and Deepingdale, among others, to establish trade and goodwill for the longevity and restoration of the reclaimed city.
- A group of VIPs were spotted in Velethuil’s temple. There is speculation that some had come from Evermeet, though such claims were unsubstantiated on anything other than “feelings.” Regardless, a meeting was held within this temple, and in its aftermath, a group of adventurers, accompanied by a foreign Bladesinger of The People, left Velethuil and traveled northward into the Forest of Cormanthor.
- What transpired there is unknown; but in its wake, many strange rumors sprouted. Some claimed that a horrid, powerful monster had emerged, and had been defeated… At least, for now. Others claimed that a long-lost settlement of The People, still populated, was also found. And there were even rumors that a bizarre alliance of werecreatures, drow, and other such nasty creatures had been vanquished.
- Yet perhaps the most bizarre rumor of them all is that there exists in Velethuil a “prophet”; one who is said to have the power to see the future.