The History of Obsidian Bay

About This History

As kingdoms and cities in the Flanaess go, Obsidian Bay is a relative newcomer. Founded in CY 513, the city is just over 80 years old, which is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the centuries-old Free City of Greyhawk or the millennium-old Kingdom of Keoland. Yet that short time, the city has managed to have a significant impact on its corner of the content, bringing an increasingly large slice of civilization to the savage lands of the Pomarj.

This document provides an overview of the city and its history. It attempts to highlight the major events in the city’s life, serving as a primer for newcomers and a refresher for oldtimers.

All dates are given using the “Common Year”, which is the number of years since the crowning of the first Overking of the Great Kingdom in Rauxes. The history of the Flanaess dates centuries before this.

Geography

The Pomarj is a subtropical peninsula bounded to the north by the Wooly Bay and to the south by the great Azure Sea. It's western edge is marked by the XXX river, which forms a natural border with the Principality of Ulek. To the north, it is bordered by the chaotic land known as the Wild Coast and the primordial woodland known as the Suss Forest.

The central portion of the Pomarj is dominated by the Drachensgrabs, a series of hills and small mountains that include a handful of volcanic peaks. The rest of the peninsula is given over to rolling hills and plains; the largest of the plains is the "Great Southern Plain", which covers the southeastern region of the Pomarj.

The Pomarj is home to myriad monsters, the most common of which are dragonnes (half-dragon, half-lion creatures), trolls, and wyvrens. Giants, particularly ettins and hill giants, were also indigenous to the region, and are still occasionally encountered. Humanoid tribes, particularly those of orcs and goblins have always been found in large numbers within the Drachensgrabs, though in the modern day they and their kin hold sway over the entire country.

Prehistory

The Pomarj was settled 1,110 years ago by migrating tribes of Oerdian humans fleeing a series of wars in the west between Suel humans fleeing the Rain of Colorless Fire and the natives of the Sheldomar Valley. The Oerdians founded a number of villages after fighting back the humanoid menace, and in subsequent years were joined by peaceful Suel tribesmen. They joined the Oerdians and in several decades, the two races had largely intermingled.

The Twisted Forest

The peninsula suffered one major cataclysm during this time: the arrival of seven Suel archmages fleeing lost battles with their kinsmen in the great valley to the west. They slaughtered their way across the Pomarj, pursued by their enemies, until a final apocalyptic battle within the Drachensgrabs saw them all turned to stone. This battle gave rise to a formation known as the Twisted Forest, and it would play a pivotal role in the Fall of Obsidian Bay more than a thousand years later.

Krovis

Predating the Oerdians and Suel were small tribes of wandering Flan, who viewed the Drachensgrab Mountains as holy, but never settled the land. They did have one lasting effect on the peninsula however: their hero-god Krovis died and was buried in the Drachensgrabs. His body was placed in a great crypt, the location of which was lost to time. Flan prophesies declared Krovis would return again whenever the Flanaess was threatened with domination by a single individual or state. History saw this prophesy realized twice, once during the domination of the Isles of Woe, and again during the Empire of Lum the Mad, both of which rose to power over 1,000 years ago.