Campaign events in Sartar 1614

From: Jeff Richard <richaje_at_...>
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 01:42:33 -0000

For those of you running Sartar campaigns set before the Sartar Rising campaign, here's a few major trends and events from my campaign during the year 1614 (prior to the disastrous Bellower's Day ceremonies that killed most of Temertain's household). Hopefully, it gives a feel for the time after Starbrow's Rebellion.

RISE OF THE CINSINA
After Starbrow's Rebellion failed, the Lunars forced the Culbrea tribe to give up two clans (the Gorde and Blueberry clans) to the Cinsina (the Lunars also required that the Culbrea give up the Kortal clan to the Aranwyth). This has greatly weakened the Culbrea - and the Cinsina have filled the vacuum. Under their new king, the gruff Vingan warrior Ivartha the Skinner, the Cinsina are now the largest and most powerful tribe near Jonstown and dominate the Jonstown confederation. They pay a small tribute to the Lunars - only 1/10th of their wealth, instead of the 4/10ths paid by the Colymar, Culbrea, and Kheldon tribes.

The Cinsina are known to be strong allies of the Lunar commander Jomes Wulf in his campaigns against the Telmori and some think that Ivartha the Skinner is a client of Jomes.

DECLINE OF THE CULBREA
The Culbrea tribe have lost nearly half their land and members, but still remain proudly belligerent. The Lunars appointed their new king, Ranulf Turn-Tail (a Barntar initiate who fled the battlefield when Fazzur's Lunars forced the Sartarites into the hills).

BALKOTHI BECOME GOAT-SUCKERS
After Starbrow's Rebellion, the Balkothi elected Orlkarl as their king who protested the treatment of the tribe (which remained neutral during the Rebellion). In retaliation the Lunars took all the sheep they could and slaughtered all the rest wherever they found them and Orlkarl, and much of the Balkoth Tribal ring, disappeared. The Lunars "generously" provided thousands of goats to ensure that the Balkothi would not starve. They installed a Lunarworshipping  nobleman, Angtyr the Horn, as tribal king. The Balkothi now herd unclean goats and have a Luanrs as a king.

ALDA-CHURI IGNORE TEMERTAIN
Harvar Ironfist has refused to acknowledge Temertain as his prince. Instead he has received the title of Warlord (or Duke) of Alda-Chur from the Imperial Overseer in Mirin's Cross. Although he has promised the Tarshite king that he would swear fealty, it is well known that he has not yet done so. He has invited many devilish Lunar cults into his lands. The Dinacoli tribe have left the Jonstown confederation and have sworn fealty to Harvar Ironfist.

OUTLAWS AND BANDITS
Many merchants and travellers have been attacked by outlaws and bandits on the Royal Roads. Wealthy travellers take to hiring escorts or following Lunar patrols. Caravans with small escorts have been raided by small bands of outlaws. In Fire Season, a caravan of wealthy Lunar merchants returning from Wilmskirk escorted by a company of Tarshite foot soldiers was ambushed and massacred in the Sambarri Pass. The bodies of about a hundred soldiers, merchants and servants were found in the otherwise empty caravan wagons. Some say that this was the work of Kallyr Starbrow.

QUEEN LEIKA BETI
In a hastily assembled and irregular tribal moot (which some say is ill-omened since it did not occur on the traditional days for such meetings), the chieftains, thanes, holy men, wealthy carls, and their respective followers and supporters gathered in the clearing in front of the temple to Orlanth Rex in Clearwine Fort. Although there were other candidates, Leika Beti was acclaimed king of the Colmyar by the assembly without any preliminary legal proceedings but with the consent of the chieftains and the priests.

With the loss of the Lysang, Namolding and Zethnoring clans and the extreme hardship imposed on the clans by Starbrow's Tribute (as it is called by the Lunar tax collectors), the revenues available to the tribal king is perhaps half that given to King Kallai. As a result, Queen Leika has barely enough revenues to support her household
(which, admittedly, includes the impressive retinue of hall-thanes
that she has recruited from amongst the best warriors of the Colymar) and some chieftains and thanes have complained about her lack of generosity (at least compared to King Kallai).

THE ZETHNORING, THE LOCAEM AND THE STREAMVALE As a result of the Colymar's treaty with Lunar warlord Fazzur Wideread, the lands and people of the Zethnoring clan was given to the Locaem tribe. This means that the southern bank of the Streamvale is under the control of the Locaem tribe - and during Fire and Earth seasons the Locaem launched a series of raids by boat against the clans of the Streamvale - even taking cattle from the Sacred Fields of the Clearwine Earth Temple. A band of outlaws called Miki's Mudhens have attacked those travelling in the Streamvale - merchants, Lunars, even royal messengers.

The Streamvale clans have demanded that Queen Leika lead a tribal warparty against the Locaem tribe - some have even demanded that Queen Leika swear and oath to sacrifice to Great Bearded Bran at Famegrave(which would require the Colymar to seize the Locaem hill fort of that name). However, Queen Leika has so far refused, saying that the Locaem are clients of the Lunar Warleader Jorad Sideburn and that she does not wish to give the Lunars an excuse to intervene in Colymar affairs.

THE VARMANDI AND THE ORLEVING
Despite the failure of Starbrow's Rebellion and the death of their chief, somethings never change. Like the Varmandi feud with the Orleving. The Varmandi recently recharged their ancient feud with the Orleving by doing their best to have the Orleving reimburse the Varmandi share of Fazzur's Tribute. Varmandi raiders and bandits now infest the Oakland Back and have launched raids into the Ormsthane Vale attacking not only Orlevings, but also pilgrims at the Ernalda Temple of Greenstone (which is where Enstarios the Supporter resides).

King Edruf of the Malani has threatened to take reprisals against the Colymar unless he is compensated for the Varmandi banditry. Reducing tensions with the Malani over the Varmandi actions occupies much of Queen Leika's time and attention.

THE ORLMARTHING AND THE GREYDOGS
With the approval of Chief Gordangar, the Ridgeleapers led a cattle- raid against the Grey Dogs and returned with twenty-five cattle taken from the pastures of Grey Dog vale. The Orlmarthing claim that this cattle-raid was in response to the refusal of the Grey Dogs to return Estavelda Hodiri's bride price after she divorced Nisk Orlgardsson. The Grey Dogs have brought an action against the Orlmarthings with Queen Leika, but she has refused to hear the matter.

THE CLEARWINE EARTH TEMPLE
With Beneva Chan entering into self-imposed exile, the priestesses of the Clearwine Earth Temple must choose a new chief priestess. The temple recognizes chief priestess by consensus of the priestesses. Unfortunately, there is no such consensus since the priestesses are divided into several factions based on personality, clan affiliation
(Swan Vale or Nymie Vale) and their attitude towards the Lunars
(actively hostile or willing to compromise with them). The divisions
are such that a majority of priestesses now favor having an outsider resolve the divisions. But which outsider - some support seeking Entarios the Supporter to resolve the dispute and select a new chief priestess, others support going to Maranaba to have the Shakers resolve the issue. Still others suggest going to Heruvernalda in Tarsh or to Esrolia.

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