The Bishopric of Nitrava, Kingdom of Ras-Prythax
To His Lordship, the Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc,
As mentioned in my previous letter, I am willing to provide you as accurate a history of the Krugrafs of Ras-Prythax, in relation to the lineage of the Emperors of the 1st and 2nd Fereasen Empires, as I have researched. As some of my research and conclusions could be considered heretical or treasonous, at worst, I beg my lord to keep this information within a small and trustworthy circle.
The Ancien Empire. The First and Second Empires of Feraso. Ras-Prythax. These are all terms referring to the same things, yet might bring up different connotations.
The First Ferasean Empire was carved out of the wilderness by ancient sorcerer-kings and warlords who appeared to be blessed by the gods for wading into battle shirtless. They defended the pristine landscape from the corrupting influences of the Argivians Artificers, the Pharaohs of Khemmet, and the Ancient Parthian tribes.
The names of these larger-than-life heroes has somehow disappeared from the written record, or even oral tradition. We are blessed with some scholarly work many years later, which listed many of their patron gods and spirits who allowed them to conquer everything
In no particular order:
Farmesk - The God of War
Surku - The God of Death, Lord of the Worms
Yotia - The God of Magic and Wizards
Kanar - The God of Chaos, The Dark One
.... and a host of others
After generation after generation of conquest and war, the historians account for 230 years from which there were no rulers on the continent. This is yet another falsehood.
We were not a lawless wasteland without any governmental structure. Wherever the empire was ruled from faced some usurpation of power and the latter rulers are but symbols and footnotes in the surviving documents. The structure of the empire from their vassal states obviously disintegrated so bad, that local lords and nobles were the greatest source of power.
The legends never state the 1st Empire covered the entire continent of Talaishia, but it was documented that the emperor's fort on the eastern edge of the landmass was first to watch the sunrise, and their far western fort on the coast were that last people to see the sun set. Knowing the geography of our lands, I find it more believable that a a few areas lay just outside the command of the Emperor of Feraso, whether by force or by design.
The term Ancien Empire regards to the unbroken bloodline between the First and Second Empires, leading up to the Krugrafs of today. This is a huge pile of ogre excrement.
Despite what the bard of the Krugraf want all of us to know, the bloodlines were never fully determined after the fall of the empire, so Leif I could be related the original Ancien Emperors as much as you or I.
in my own personal research, I find no evidence scholarly, metaphysically, or even through the Akana's own divination the Leif I sharing a bloodline, even distant or coincidental.
Feraso City was also not the original capital of Feraso. It was originally a trade town, whose original name has been struck from all records. When Leif formed the Kingdom of Feraso in 487, he set his first keep outside the walls of this town. Through sheer force of will, and economic negotiation, the town grew to the city, and that original keep has been expanded into the Imperial Palace we know today.
Leif I was an adventurer and smart. He had enough money to pay people to run his land. He was greedy enough, that he actively watched these people to avoid wasting his gold.
For over 400 years, the rule of the Bloodblade line expanded the Kingdom of Feraso, back to a proper Empire, recognized by the older powers around the globe. Leif IV (The Mighty) ruled over the Senzar colonies, most of southern Wyrmnal, outposts in Galmar, Parthia, even influencing the nations of Kufrik and the Five Kingdoms.
Leif V immediately recalled most of the military adventures. Subsequent emperors (and an empress) oversaw a general decline. Outposts were recalled, treaties signed, (the few I saw were advantageous for Feraso, but quite respectful to the other nations. Many of the countries I found listed on the treaties either no longer exist/appear on map, or the other countries absorbed them and their history erased from the record.
However, empires in Talaishia do not last long, and when betrayed by the races of demi-kind to the Galmar barbarians, there was little anyone could do but watch it burn. Leif VII was the last recognized Emperor and the direct bloodline apparently died out.
After years of chaos, in 846, a Galmar Warlord named Liufried, used a number of wars, treaties, and marriages to name himself Krugraf of a region known as Ras-Prythax. Except that Ras-Prythax is never used in old Ferasean documents.
While I haven't had access to the full archives, the core lands form a very old, low valley of the Argivian name for the River Wultha. ... Prythax. Liufried's initial claim of Ras-Prythax stretches through that river valley. The nobility and rulers of Ras-Prythax are somehow unaware that the country's name is Argivian in nature. "Ras" meaning across, and Prythax for the river wandering north
For 160 years these "Barbarian Pretenders" to the true throne of Feraso claimed various skewed claims, but consolidated their power with the vestige of this eternal Ras-Prythax with the eclectic assortment of dominions.
Less than fifty years ago, Krugraf Theuderic I married Princess Jolana Timbertrees of Nitrava, a 5th cousin of the Emperor's extended family, forming possibly a faint claim to the throne, Thus begins the line of "True Pretenders" who appear to enjoy the lineage, but can not garner the power to make a true claim.
After the marriage, Theuderic arrested the entire Timbertrees family, threw them in a dungeon to rot, and bequeathed Nitrava to the Church of Akana as a religious Bishopric.
With only the most minor claims to the Imperial Crown, the rulers of Ras-Prythax continue to use "Krugraf" to denote the ruler of the Kingdom of Ras-Prythax and nothing more.
While a better lineage to the throne might still be assembled, the greatest act that would bring the nobles in line would be staking a claim will possessing Taragarth "The Blood Brand." It was Leif I's sword, a dark blade with blood red glowing runes. Leif IV did use it on his adventures, and all later rulers had it in their possession up to Leif VII. Finding the burial site of Leif VII might answer many questions.
Yours in Perpetual Service,
Sir Elsderth, Lord of Greyhawk
SageSword of the The Order of Merit
Wielder of the Legendary Betrayer.
Defiler of the Temple of Tiamat.
Freigraff Vagabundieren of the Totenlinden Amberstoll
DM Notes: Elsderth has been cooped up in his domain a few books and is now spouting off conspiracy theories about the foundation of the very kingdom providing him his wealth of opportunities.
He's mostly right about everything, but Ras-Prythax wants to keep as much glory as possible to maintain their economy, citizenry and God knows what else.
We might revisit why Ras-Prythax is an Argivian name, and where Argivia actually is located.
Check out the Ballad of the Pigeon God for references to and effects of Taragarth.
For a vague reference the lineage of the Emperors, Kings, and Krugrafs of Feraso, Ras-Prythax, and Crosedes, check out my list here. Warning! Spoilers! The entire timeline of all my campaigns is included.
Next: #40 The Heartland of Vriania
To His Lordship, the Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc,
As mentioned in my previous letter, I am willing to provide you as accurate a history of the Krugrafs of Ras-Prythax, in relation to the lineage of the Emperors of the 1st and 2nd Fereasen Empires, as I have researched. As some of my research and conclusions could be considered heretical or treasonous, at worst, I beg my lord to keep this information within a small and trustworthy circle.
The Ancien Empire. The First and Second Empires of Feraso. Ras-Prythax. These are all terms referring to the same things, yet might bring up different connotations.
The First Ferasean Empire was carved out of the wilderness by ancient sorcerer-kings and warlords who appeared to be blessed by the gods for wading into battle shirtless. They defended the pristine landscape from the corrupting influences of the Argivians Artificers, the Pharaohs of Khemmet, and the Ancient Parthian tribes.
The names of these larger-than-life heroes has somehow disappeared from the written record, or even oral tradition. We are blessed with some scholarly work many years later, which listed many of their patron gods and spirits who allowed them to conquer everything
In no particular order:
Farmesk - The God of War
Surku - The God of Death, Lord of the Worms
Yotia - The God of Magic and Wizards
Kanar - The God of Chaos, The Dark One
.... and a host of others
 |
| Yeah, the early days of the Ferasean Empire were probably like this.... |
We were not a lawless wasteland without any governmental structure. Wherever the empire was ruled from faced some usurpation of power and the latter rulers are but symbols and footnotes in the surviving documents. The structure of the empire from their vassal states obviously disintegrated so bad, that local lords and nobles were the greatest source of power.
The legends never state the 1st Empire covered the entire continent of Talaishia, but it was documented that the emperor's fort on the eastern edge of the landmass was first to watch the sunrise, and their far western fort on the coast were that last people to see the sun set. Knowing the geography of our lands, I find it more believable that a a few areas lay just outside the command of the Emperor of Feraso, whether by force or by design.
The term Ancien Empire regards to the unbroken bloodline between the First and Second Empires, leading up to the Krugrafs of today. This is a huge pile of ogre excrement.
Despite what the bard of the Krugraf want all of us to know, the bloodlines were never fully determined after the fall of the empire, so Leif I could be related the original Ancien Emperors as much as you or I.
in my own personal research, I find no evidence scholarly, metaphysically, or even through the Akana's own divination the Leif I sharing a bloodline, even distant or coincidental.
Feraso City was also not the original capital of Feraso. It was originally a trade town, whose original name has been struck from all records. When Leif formed the Kingdom of Feraso in 487, he set his first keep outside the walls of this town. Through sheer force of will, and economic negotiation, the town grew to the city, and that original keep has been expanded into the Imperial Palace we know today.
Leif I was an adventurer and smart. He had enough money to pay people to run his land. He was greedy enough, that he actively watched these people to avoid wasting his gold.
For over 400 years, the rule of the Bloodblade line expanded the Kingdom of Feraso, back to a proper Empire, recognized by the older powers around the globe. Leif IV (The Mighty) ruled over the Senzar colonies, most of southern Wyrmnal, outposts in Galmar, Parthia, even influencing the nations of Kufrik and the Five Kingdoms.
Leif V immediately recalled most of the military adventures. Subsequent emperors (and an empress) oversaw a general decline. Outposts were recalled, treaties signed, (the few I saw were advantageous for Feraso, but quite respectful to the other nations. Many of the countries I found listed on the treaties either no longer exist/appear on map, or the other countries absorbed them and their history erased from the record.
However, empires in Talaishia do not last long, and when betrayed by the races of demi-kind to the Galmar barbarians, there was little anyone could do but watch it burn. Leif VII was the last recognized Emperor and the direct bloodline apparently died out.
After years of chaos, in 846, a Galmar Warlord named Liufried, used a number of wars, treaties, and marriages to name himself Krugraf of a region known as Ras-Prythax. Except that Ras-Prythax is never used in old Ferasean documents.
While I haven't had access to the full archives, the core lands form a very old, low valley of the Argivian name for the River Wultha. ... Prythax. Liufried's initial claim of Ras-Prythax stretches through that river valley. The nobility and rulers of Ras-Prythax are somehow unaware that the country's name is Argivian in nature. "Ras" meaning across, and Prythax for the river wandering north
For 160 years these "Barbarian Pretenders" to the true throne of Feraso claimed various skewed claims, but consolidated their power with the vestige of this eternal Ras-Prythax with the eclectic assortment of dominions.
Less than fifty years ago, Krugraf Theuderic I married Princess Jolana Timbertrees of Nitrava, a 5th cousin of the Emperor's extended family, forming possibly a faint claim to the throne, Thus begins the line of "True Pretenders" who appear to enjoy the lineage, but can not garner the power to make a true claim.
After the marriage, Theuderic arrested the entire Timbertrees family, threw them in a dungeon to rot, and bequeathed Nitrava to the Church of Akana as a religious Bishopric.
With only the most minor claims to the Imperial Crown, the rulers of Ras-Prythax continue to use "Krugraf" to denote the ruler of the Kingdom of Ras-Prythax and nothing more.
While a better lineage to the throne might still be assembled, the greatest act that would bring the nobles in line would be staking a claim will possessing Taragarth "The Blood Brand." It was Leif I's sword, a dark blade with blood red glowing runes. Leif IV did use it on his adventures, and all later rulers had it in their possession up to Leif VII. Finding the burial site of Leif VII might answer many questions.
Yours in Perpetual Service,
Sir Elsderth, Lord of Greyhawk
SageSword of the The Order of Merit
Wielder of the Legendary Betrayer.
Defiler of the Temple of Tiamat.
Freigraff Vagabundieren of the Totenlinden Amberstoll
DM Notes: Elsderth has been cooped up in his domain a few books and is now spouting off conspiracy theories about the foundation of the very kingdom providing him his wealth of opportunities.
He's mostly right about everything, but Ras-Prythax wants to keep as much glory as possible to maintain their economy, citizenry and God knows what else.
We might revisit why Ras-Prythax is an Argivian name, and where Argivia actually is located.
Check out the Ballad of the Pigeon God for references to and effects of Taragarth.
For a vague reference the lineage of the Emperors, Kings, and Krugrafs of Feraso, Ras-Prythax, and Crosedes, check out my list here. Warning! Spoilers! The entire timeline of all my campaigns is included.
Next: #40 The Heartland of Vriania
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