History of Espen

The blessed are risen up as tribes in the image of the old Gods. The Tabaxi and Genasi move apart as seperate tribes when they once found accord the presence of a new power forces them apart.

[UE 3] The Capitol of Nin was founded by Usor Copperbeard. The Great Forge of Alder The Wise was the first thing that he built and from that he forged weapons that led the dwarven king to many victories. In fact his legend grew so large that every other race in Espen flocked to Nin and Dwarven cities to gain access to his weapons. To chronicle the greatness of the dwarven people he commissioned the first book.

[UE 88] The sky rebelled, winds threatened to uproot Spritzlewekrs from the ground.  Lightning struck at the foundations of Spritzlewerks as a hurricane battered the coasts.  In desperation Hizzenboots implores Mazzu to save their city from destruction, sacrificing his hand on the DarkTide altar inside the Temple by the Sea he proved his dedication to Mazzu. Valkur and Mazzu waged battle for a week the sea itself rising to shield the city from Valkur's wrath.  Ultimately, the sky was calmed and a maddened wizard found wandering on the beach was said to be possessed by Mazzu himself to deliver a message known today as The Warning of Mazzu: Should Spritzlewekrs ever fall to man, the God of the Sky shall come to reclaim what is his.   Hizzenboots took this warning and from it, he birthed the Shimmering Hand a devout order intent on protecting the Gnomish Council at all costs.  Those who find themselves in the graces of Mazzu are blessed how Ser Hizzenboots was blessed, and can themselves harness his power, and a given the shimmering hand.

[UE 143] Kalan Tanalier, a Drow Elf druid of some renown has fashioned a city to rival all others. It exists as a part of the Dragla Forest.  Kalan broke with the teaching of the Elven king in Ossirion. Despite the splintering from the Elven capital Kalan still wished to keep lines of communication with the High Elf royalty. His Pagoda was built to serve as both a trading post as well as a location for further diplomatic debate.   The pagoda, surrounded by waterfalls and rivers giving life to vibrant and lush flora also acts as we welcoming gateway to some who were birthed of this land and a poignant warning to those whose loyalty is based in the sky or of fire.   The humans have been exceedingly supportive of the Drow, providing resources for the expansion of Tanalier.   This created further divisions within the Elvish people who have thus far remained secluded and unified. The king, quoted as lamenting   "Humans; they call themselves diplomats, but are nothing more than spies, swindlers, and thieves. The Gnomes of the east and the Dwarves of the north have warned the Elven people of the humans treachery but this lesson, first hand, shall never be forgotten."

[UE 199] Today Valkur was said to have been present, and in his presence, Alttanes was birthed into this world.

[UE 222] Twiddlewyren, a fortress of a city, established on the Salt Cliffs of Po drew a clear line of delineation between dwarvish and gnomish territories. In response to the Gnomes expanding their empire further north, the dwarves, set up a series of smaller villages to the north to act as an early warning system against any other possible gnomish aggression or further expansion.   Gnomes in this city tended to be a bit more wary of dwarven presences as they sat on the very frontier to the north.  However, the location of their stronghold, the presence of the Alibaster sea to northwest and gnomish nautical might made Twiddlewyren a relatively unreachable location.   The fortress itself sat at the edge of a cliff raised high above the surrounding land, having been forced to look up at other species for their entire existence, many suspect the Brocc Garnetfoot aimed to make an explicit expression of Gnomish superiority as the seat of power within Twiddlewyren, sat at the highest point in the city forcing all who came to bargain onto literal low ground.

[UE 239] At dawn 200 trebuchets brought the message of Ignis to the homeland of the Genasi. Launching a constant barrage of molten rock and fire onto the unsuspecting city, many of its inhabitants fled for Vitalinas. Those that remained took up arms however few were skilled with weapons of combat.   The dwarves sacked the city, nearly reducing it to ash in the process. Flux was ripped from the Genasi, the heart of their cultural power vanished nearly overnight as the Dwarves claimed it for themselves. The First Genasi Rebellions rage on for years. Insurrectionist warfare by Fire Genasi who were brought from the City of Beryl to assist in recapturing Flux for their people. The fire Genasi tormented the city for years until from the very fire they brought, the Immolates were born. A group of warriors and bards whose very words could ignite and destroy any who challenged them. After nearly 88 years of rebellion, the First Genasi Rebellions were finally crushed, splintering their people between Beryl and Vitalinas.   _{See Also: Word of the Enkendled} 

[UE 264] The presence of Twiddlewyren to the south spurred the dwarves to begin setting up encampments on the northern coast of Alibaster Bay. The north coast, which was once a quaint collection of Tabaxi fishing villages was transformed into a series of fortified Dwarven encampments meant as a clear signal to the gnomish people that further advancement into the north would no longer be acceptable.   In response, the gnomish fleet setup a blockade around the entire northern coast of the bay. The blockade prevented dwarven travelers from trade in the south effectively cutting off the Dwarves access to textiles, parchment and most importantly Everore.   Tensions remained high for years until the Steamturn Armistice was signed [in UE 293] halting dwarven expansion into the south and gnomish expansion further north. However the group most highly impacted by the Steamturn Armistice were the Tabaxi, the armistice required the dwarves abandoned each encampment across the bay leaving behind heavily fortified positions with sustainable infrastructure.  Combined with an already robust fishing community the area became known as Clawful Lagoon, a region rife for expansion and capable of doing so by taxing gnomish Everore from the south and dwarven leatherworks from the north.

[UE 303] The elvish people pushed further north from Ossirion. Bringing their teachings of the God of the Land as well as their high elf traditions of oppulence and naturalism. King Vizax, becoming more obsessed with a unified cultural front within all Elven lands declared Kalan and all residents of Tanalier under the rule of the High Elves. The news was delivered to Kalan via the king's personal guard of Ashen Savages.   Having struck a deal with the Goblins of Hatchetwink offering them both gold and Everore in exchange for weapons and an army of hobgoblins to the north, King Vizax imposed martial law on Tanalier, forcing its namesake and his followers from their homeland. Seeing opportunity, the humans sent the entire 12 batallion of Golden Vipers to stand as a blockade between Kalan's retreating forces and those of King Vizax.   The goblins, whose true loyalty lie with the gold and the status that came with human trade abandoned the rear flank leaving the Elven army exposed. Seeing no victory in an all out war with humans King Vizax ordered his army in Ossirion to march north while the Ashen Savages held their position. The result was a standoff, human and Drow sandwiched between two hostile forces, with neither side willing to risk open war.   The humans, being the diplomats that they were, created the drow elf compact. An agreed upon stretch of land and resources that would comprise the Drow Elf territory. Kalan's forces were required to pay tribute to pass through, which rarely occured as the tribute was 1000 GP per soldier and 250 GP per civilian. Effectively the humans had succeeded in cutting the Elvish kingdom in two, weakening the Elven position across all of Espen.   The most unforutnate outcome of this compact was the small Genasi town of Tempest. The town was comprised mostly of earth Genasi who, themselves found a kinship with the high elves and the leadership of King Vizax. As a part of the Compact, the drow forced the genasi to relocate to Ossirion, where they were welcomed by the King, but had lost their village in the process.   King Vizax after signing the Drow Elf Compact: "To elven lands, the humans have brought dissension and from elven lands they have taken land of their own with the assistance of the Drow. Now it is the human seal required for passage through lands elves once freely called our own. The elven people must suffer this insult today, but one day we shall reclaim them both, the land and the drow."

[UE 337] Vallia Siora Valzeiros, a daughter of Ashenvale has gone missing. The Daughters of Ashenvale is said to be the direct descendants of Ashenvale, the Goddess of the Land. Known to possess a keen connection to both the Elvish land and Elvish people, the daughters of Ashenvale are revered and often fulfill their calling as high priestesses at some time throughout their nearly 1000 year lifespan.   The forests are barren and the field yields no fruit. Our people search for her but there has been a growing division the Drow Elves rumble with dissent for our failings to protect Vallia. They curse the land refusing what little bounty it provides. Opting to seclude themselves from Ashenvale in the forest of adumbration. Vowing to hunt down Vallia's captors and not resting until they have."

[UE 416] A splinter group of Forest Gnomes has headed west, led by Tawny Fizzlebreach. Once thought to be next in line for the Gnome Council, Tawny had no intentions of serving in a Gnomish administration her father served in. As an outspoken critic of the Steamturn Armistice, Tawny had long held that gnomish people should move north. While many younger Gnomes echoed this sentiment, her candid objections were seen as disruptive to the goals of the Gnome Council   An explorer by nature, Tawny was given a scientific team and tasked with discovering what lies beyond the Oruo Mountains to the west. The journey lasted two months as her team mapped out a route through Tabaxi and dwarvish lands. While very few explorers cross the Oruo Mountains, the Gnomes' size and nimbleness was perfect for navigating the narrow cliffs and passages.   The west side of the Oruo Mountains was breathtaking. Lush swamps and wetlands produced more diverse flora than the gnomish people had ever seen. Tawny set to work drafting plans for a sprawling metropolis. A devout Irradeascent, Tawny spoke of a voice guiding her along the journey. Her stamina was buoyed by the guidance the voice provided. The few who witnessed the entire journey recounted the experience as she appeared to be shrouded in mist through most of it. The mist guiding her steps through treacherous lands. As her feet touch the western coast the mist dispelled into the ocean and became the very site of the Mistbound Temple.

[UE 457] The city of Thog was founded on an island chain to the northeast of Espen proper.  Meant to provide an absolute stronghold that would specialize in naval crafts, and act as a naval college for the Dwarven people.  The goal was naval superiority in the north a forward position on the eastern isles that would dissuade settlement by any other races.   However, the founding of the city ended in tragedy as the City of Thog and all its inhabitants were slaughtered by the then-unknown but massively overpowering Yeti presence on the Isles. Since the massacre, few have ventured back to what is now called Yeti Pointe.

[UE562] A joint exploration force (JEF)of elves and humans move to the unexplored southeast region of Espen. Such joint exploration was rare as both the humans and elves were still looking to expand their territories and spheres of influence.   Lahad (Gnome) and Arlson (Human) were the leaders JEF and ventured deep into the Barren Lands in search of a fabled oasis. The arid desert greeted them for miles as they trek through dunes and hills of dust. On the 89th day of their journey they were ambushed. Their camp set upon at night. Their enemy was unknown, what was known for sure was that only one survivor of the original JEF made it out alive.   In response, the Gnome and Humans sent the 3rd legion to investigate and handle whatever aggressive force was in the area. This aggressive position set off a series of skirmishes on the edge of human territory that not hidden city but their ferocity in battle. 500 Bugbears turned back a force of over 3000 in the 3rd legion.   In response to this aggression, the Bugbears responded with an expansion of their own. Developing land throughout the entire peninsula and establishing fortifications to protect their lands. Known as the Bugbear Push, few other species venture within 10 miles of what is now known as the Bugbear Reach.

[UE 684] The most wanted man in Espen is Ablis Nattan.  A goblin of some renown, and a notorious bad luck streak flees from Hatchetwink after defaulting on a debt. When asked about the amount owed Ablis described the total as: "Insubstantial."   Though his lenders did not classify his 23,585 GP debt he'd racked up on a monumentally run of Crown and Anchor at Haven. At the time, the rule enforced in Goblin territories gave any individual 24 hours to settle their debts. Ablis, upon arriving home spent that 24 hours packing his things and gathering his 34 children and 9 wives.  With what little gold he had remaining he hired a caravan to escort them from Hatchetwinks.   They traveled for weeks, constantly being set upon by those tasked with returning him to Hatchetwinks to work off his debt. Their travel landed them in the marsh swamp known at the time as Boggsville, a rather undesirable land that was a balmy swamp in the winter and a frigid tundra in the winter.  It was just barely hospitable but it did provide one thing.  Flat, unobstructed views for miles just the kind of place a goblin could hide and always have advanced warning if someone was coming.  Here Ablis and his family established the Free Goblin Territories of Nattan Mal.    ^{*Ablis and his family remain persona non grata in Hatchetwinks to this day. **The Nattan's still owe 10602 GP to the Haven Casino in Hatchetwinks.}

History can be altered by the simplest of things.   An unknown scribes apprentice, absentmindedly leaving the doors of the Tahoe Archive in Pra'Shad unlocked could very well be the inciting incident. Though no one knows, many suspect the Gnomes' unexpected access to information found in those scrolls revealed the humans' role in the Bugbear Push and all but revealed their covert operations that cost the Gnomes their plans for increased expansion in the south.   A decade-long war of information evolved into increasingly less covert operations and a proxy war that brought in both the Bugbear Legion (Human Supported) and Orc Tribes (Gnome Supported). The proxy war came to a head in the village of Drywater in the flatlands between of Everhold City and Spritzlewerks. An ambush of Human sentries guarding the village ordered by First Lieutenant Tantix Dappletwist began what would become the Dappletwist Offensive; a 5 year long siege on the City of Holdrick.   Starting the war as a Lieutenant, Tantix Dappletwist rose to the rank of General and led his ultimately failed assault on Pitchfork Ridge as a last ditch effort to break the Human stronghold. His final words are quoted as "No Gnome comes to such a barren and desolate land to live, Foreward Forever!"   Tantix died, and with him, his offensive.  From his sacrifice was birthed a renewed call for stronger military tradition within in the Gnomish culture and a new name for the city of the victory.  The City of Holdrick, nearly destroyed by the 5 year onslaught was rebuilt and rechristened Everhold, the unreachable City.

[UE 731] Seeing the damage that the Drow Elf Compat did to the Elvish people a group of Elders were determined not to let that happen again. Gathering representatives from the High Elves, Wood Elves, Deep Elves and Moon Elves a tribunal was formed, and from that tribunal 5 High Priests were selected to tend to any disparate needs of the Elvish people and to prevent any one group of elves from splintering ever again.   To enforce the will of the High Priests and Priestesses, the tribunal, using a ritualistic form of magic, a special strain of Kamala Root, and a dangerous form of alchemy; endowed a select few into the Ashen Savages.  The savages possessed the best traits of the elven people and were granted increased endurance, strength, and awareness.  However, most exist on the cusp of a feral state.  Savages are also given broad license in Elvish territory to handle criminals and heretics with a strong hand.  Many find it best to avoid them at all costs as altercations with Ashen Savages frequently prove fatal.

[UE 838] A Tabaxi of unknown name or origin carves a swath of destruction through gnomish, human and dwarvish settlements east of Nin. He felled 6 cities, 2 fortresses and the broke the Gnomish 5th Phalanx in only 2 days.  His fighting prowess unified the Tabaxi people, his sword leveled entire villages; banished governors and peasants alike to another plane existance, none of which were seen or heard from again.   The sword, known to the Tabaxi as the Rohan Blade, known to the Dwarves as the Sword of Oblivion and known to the humans as Kingsbane was said to be capable of razing civilizations to nothing, or building civilizations from a single speck of sand.   The declares himself son of the ascended, herald of Rohan and renames what had then been the Ika Isles as the Tabaxi Commonwealth of Evergreen Deep. His display of power is enough to spur a conclave between the humans, gnomes and dwarves. The Freepeoples Conclave [UE 838-UE 855] was a temporary ceasefire until the tabaxi threat could be assessed. In the end it was deemed most prudent to leave Evergreen Deep in their control, and seeking no further quarrel, the tabaxi's retreated to their new homeland and were rarely seen outside of it for 200 years.   The sword itself hasnt been seen since the Tabaxi retreated into Evergreen Deep.  Their lands deemed sovergin in the Freepeople's Accords resulting from the Conclave.  The only humans, dwarves or Elves that have set foot on Evergreen Deep since that day were escorted by a Tabaxi or invited by a tribal chief.

[UE 891] The violent exchange has lasted for years. As dwarves, elves and gnomes engage in skirmishes in the grasslands outside the town of Pra'Shad. The battle of Dornsloe has been costly for nearly all sides...except the humans. Though it was unknown at the time, three human diplomats; Paxtil Loki, Anansi Aphid, and ~REDACTED~ had set a series of unfortunate events in motion that led to the Battle of Dornsloe   The three diplomats, seeing the power and influence of humans for what it could be as opposed to what it was, formed a fraternal order. The order itself was originally intended to ensure human power throughout all of Espen at all costs.   Its membership expanded so rapidly that the diplomacy role was quickly abandoned in favor of a more profitable model. The result was a clandestine organization of highly skilled thieves and assassins whose services could be purchased by anyone, for anything from humanitarian efforts to royal family assassinations.   This original band of diplomats were known to be part of the Human Intelligence Quarter (HIQ) in Twinnam but their success took them far beyond the bureaucratic machinations of the HIQ and the organization relocated to the far less discerning Alltannes and assumed the name Rogue State.

[UE 913] Tishlynn Stoutboot, a sage who had studied at The Great Northern Library discovered The Frozen Scrolls of Usor. Due to the conditions of the scrolls they need to be kept at -10° to remain ledigible. They are kept at the Ice House in Yitreal, a small inn built into the side of a glacier that remains permafrost year around.   The scrolls have been passed down to 3 different scholar/caretakers. Each studies them as frequently as possible as the average 22 days of natural sunlight allow. The delicate nature of the scrolls means brining a torch into the Ice House would cause irreparable damage, leaving natural light the only functional option to deciphering the scrolls. Following Tishlynn Stoutboot's study, the scrolls were passed onto Reyndielle Flinthandle, and then Murrus Boldfinger and currently reside in the care of Redgrin Wildheart.   After all of the studying done over the last 600 years a few things have been deciphered from the old text in the scrolls:  

• The First Hearth
• The Bard
• Lock, Dagger, Poison, & Telescope
• The Tip of the World
• The Standing Forest,
• The Genasi Bay
• An Elvish/Dwarven War
• World Wells

[UE 1073] Hanvaul Brühousen, a legendary Dwarvish general is set to retire to his estate just outside of Pra'Shad.  In his honor, the Dwarvish military officials have declared this day for the Brühousen Tournament of Champions.    In an arena originally converted from a prisoner's camp, the games are set to begin at dawn.  By dusk nearly 300 combatants had been widdled down to the remaining 4.  A true clash of titan as a Human Paladin Forden, a Dwarven Barbarian Ibsu, a Tabaxi Monk Dacheck and what one observer describes as the world's craftiest Kobold Askew battled well into the night.  In the end, the Kobold struck the winning blow, beheading the human with a precise strike.   Hanvaul Brühousen was so impressed that instead of retiring to his estate, he chose to remain in Mithrigal, purchasing a large plot of land in the center of the city and building a small village within the city for the champion of the games.  Askew and Hanvaul remained close friends and attended the games which were made innagural every year until Hanvaul's death in UE 1388.   Since the inaugural games each winner has been given a permanent residence in the Champions Village and a replica Brühousen Warhammer crafted using the same mold as Hanvaul Brühousen's original legendary Warhammer.

[UE 1173] The wind blew strong across the fields of the battle of Harrenhowl in the Westwind forest just north of Ossirion. The Elves had planned for such an attack for 12 years. However, the Drow, in their desperation utilizing the last of the gold in their reserve paid the Rogue State to infiltrate the Elvish Union during those same 12 year. Amassing a rather sizeable force inside the Elvish Army sympathetic to the cause of the Drow.   Of the 8,000 troops the Elvish Union brought to the battle, nearly 1,000 were mercenaries paid by the Drow. Thus, when the Elvish Union attacked a battalion of 4,000 Drow Elves at the Compact line, their flank broke as soon as the Drow gave the signal. Chaos reigned and of the original 7,000 Elvish Union troops, only 112 made it back to Ossirion alive.   The dismal failure cost the Elvish Union far more than they bargain as the Drow were now free to expand even further south moving the compact line nearly 200 miles south. Of the 112 that returned tales of being forced to abandon the fallen in the forest spread across Elven lands. The wailing heard by those who retreated is said to be of an eerie and horrifying sort. Supposedly on quiet nights, one can still hear the cries echoing in the Wailing Forest.