History of the Buntesveldt

The lands of the Buntesveldt were originally the home of various tribal folk related to the Erskaelosi of Akados. These tribes roamed throughout the Irkainian Peninsula for thousands of years, likely only disturbed on those occasions when Hyperborean armies used the peninsula on their campaigns east and west through their empire. Some Hyperboreans undoubtedly decided to settle in this region, and many of the current cities and towns appear to have foundations that go back to those ancient days.   Over time, the folk of the Buntesveldt settled increasingly in towns and then cities, though many stayed on the plains, preferring a nomadic life like their ancestors. Eventually, four cities came to dominate the grasslands: Bliski, Morborg, Stavropol, and Ustran Pazeel, while Revelmoore arose along the tip of legions bay.   Outside of the cities, most of the settled folk of the Buntesveldt live in small fortified settlements, towns, or ranches that are generally called klaches.   Though nomadic tribes continue to roam the plains, over the years they have been driven back by repeated campaigns by the city-states. Caught between the two deserts and their settled cousins, many of the nomads have taken to trading more the raiding, and have even adopted foreigners into their ranks. Ironically, the comparative peace and the arrival of foreigners have seen the nomadic population grow, putting some pressure on the resources of the veldt. A critical mass is growing and there are those who fear that it may only be a matter of time before someone decides that becoming a warlord of howling plains nomads would be a good career move.   Fifty years ago, Prince Mahdi of Pelshtaria decided to increase the prestige of his nation and launched an attack on the Buntesveldt. The armies began marching during a particularly warm winter when the Irkainian Desert proved more hospitable than normal, the armies bypassed most of the other towns, believing that by taking Revelmoore they would secure the entire region. Before High Dragon Galder could deploy the Walking Statues, an alliance of pirates in the region come to the city’s aid to seek pardons for their maritime crimes. By attacking the supply trains, Barrick Thunderkeg, leader of the piratical alliance, broke the resources of the invading army and it was forced to retreat. Prince Mahdi died on the return trip, and his younger brother Kemal ascended the throne, a teen with radical ideas. A younger son, he was not expected to become prince and had traveled to the caliphate as well as Revelmoore to study at the foreign schools, where he learned much about law and governance.   Upon the death of his elder, warlike brother, he returned to Irith Kel. As one of his first actions, he swept out the complex system of tax farmers, bureaucrats, and other leeches that held hereditary positions of little work and great pay. He then replaced these officials with people he knew, even some he had met while at school in the caliphate.  

Timeline

2783 - Traveling traders and entertainers fleeing from oppressive Foere rule and the Red Plague settle in the shade of what would become known as Mount Ilvastarr. The ramshackle free port becomes known as Reveler’s Mooring for its abundance of traveling acts and musicians.
2799 - First documented excursion into the Undermountain. The Ramrider Duergar Clan, native to the mountain’s depths, begins trading with local settlers and warns them of Halaster Blackcloak, the enigmatic Mad Mage of the Undermountain.
2879 - Trolls native to the region surrounding Reveler’s Mooring begin swarming the settlement following expansion, leading to the two-year-long Troll War.
2881 - The native trolls are largely eradicated by the people of Reveler’s Mooring. Three families come together to sign the Troll Skull Accord, announcing the official founding of the city of Revelmoore. Houses Ilvastarr, Ambermantle, and Cassalanter become the three original noble houses of the city, with Troll War veteran Reverie Ilvastarr taking the mantle of first Open Lord. The Knights of the Rose are founded as Ilvastarr’s personal circle of bodyguards.
2897 - The eight Walking Statues erupt from the slopes of Mount Ilvastarr and wreak havoc on Revelmoore. A traveling archmage from Tser named Agneyastra bands together with her companion, the ancient gold dragon Aurinax, and brings the statues under control. Aurinax gives his life in the city’s defense and bequeaths his fang to Agneyastra, who becomes Revelmoore’s first High Dragon.
3201 - The criminal syndicate known as The Black Network is founded in the fledgling underground settlement Skullport by Veszaltyrr Oussndar, a renegade drow wizard.
3203 - The first beholder to bear the name Xanathar makes itself known in Skullport and gathers followers, quickly forming the Xanathar Guild in opposition to the Black Network.
3210 - The secret society of masked vigilantes known as The Masquerade is formed to fight the unchecked expansion of the Black Network and the Xanathar Guild.
3219 - Veszaltyrr Oussndar, the founder of the Black Network, mysteriously disappears from Skullport in the Undermountain. The Black Network scrambles to the surface to recover while the Ramrider Clan moves into the area and takes over, renaming the settlement to Ramrider’s Retreat.
3220 - The Ramrider Clan officially becomes known as the Ramrider Family and shifts their focus from mining Undermountain Iron to criminal enterprises.
3321 - The Balladeer’s Eclipse, built by the Starsong Dwarf Clan, opens for business after being built over the famous well leading into the Undermountain. The tavern quickly becomes the locus of adventurer activity in Revelmoore.
3343 - The Walking Statues are deployed to repel an invasion of Sahuagin from Laakos’ Reef. Fleeing merfolk take refuge in the underwater settlement of Tharqualnaar and aid in the city’s defense. Following the victory over the Sahuagin, the walking statue known as The Bald Man is transformed into one of a kneeling Sahuagin and is renamed The Sahuagin Humbled. The Merfolk of the Deepwater Harbor are recognized as citizens of Revelmoore.
3408 - High Dragon Xalys Marblewander, a gnomish woman, is murdered by agents of the Brandath family, who were jealous that their heir was not chosen to be High Dragon. The Fang of Aurinax, key to controlling the Walking Statues, disappears. Galder Dezlentyr is made High Dragon, and projects publicly that the Fang of Aurinax is still within his possession; this is in fact false, and the fang he wears is an elaborate fake with only minor enchantments bestowed upon it.
3416 - Don Grimkon Ramrider capitulates to the Xanathar Guild and relinquishes control of Ramrider’s Retreat. The Ramrider Family becomes a branch of the Xanathar Guild.
3428 - The sea elf settlement of T’Quession is founded in the Deepwater Harbor.
3465 - Raeziel Ramrider, third daughter of Don Grimkon Ramrider, is born in Ramrider’s Retreat.
3466 - The armies of Prince Mahdi of Pelshtaria become the first army to besiege Revelmoore in centuries. Before High Dragon Galder can deploy the Walking Statues, an alliance of pirates in the region come to the city’s aid to seek pardons for their maritime crimes. Barrick Thunderkeg, leader of the piratical alliance, becomes Warden of Revelmoore.
3496 - Dagult Ambermantle, a nobleman of the founding house Ambermantle with strong ties to his ancestral home of Oceanus, is chosen as Revelmoore’s Open Lord.
3508 The first edition of The Revelmoore Enchiridion is published by 21 year old tabaxi author Piece of the Puzzle, launching him into fame. Subsequent editions are published as Puzzle’s Revelmoore Enchiridion.
3517 - Open Lord Dagult Ambermantle is found guilty on charges of grand embezzlement and is stripped of his title. Ambermantle makes his escape from the city before he can be imprisoned, leaving behind both his son Renaer and the artifact known as the Stone of Golorr. During the great eclipse, the House of Wonder is attacked by a rampaging summoned balor, resulting in the death of High Dragon Galder Dezlentyr. Galder’s apprentice Solauvaire Oussndar inherits the title, becoming the youngest High Dragon in the city’s history.
3519 - Veszaltyrr Oussndar secretly returns to Revelmoore after spending centuries traveling the planes. The Black Network erupts into civil war between the moderate reformed Doom Raiders and the radical traditionalist Scions of Black Hearts.
3521 - The grand game known as Ambermantle’s Enigma comes to an end. The adventuring party called The Red Spirits reopen the abandoned Troll Skull Manor and locate the abolethic artifact, the Stone of Golorr. The lost embezzled gold of Dagult Ambermantle is found through the use of the Stone of Golorr, bringing years of speculation to a close.
3521 - The beholder known as the Xanathar is overthrown and expelled from the Undermountain. Its successor is Raeziel Ramrider, who restores her family's former power in the Underworld and claims the title of Xanathar as her own, renaming the criminal organization as The Xanathar Syndicate.
3521 - The charity organization Asclepius is founded by Yilani Deniz, one of the Heroes of the Dragon Heist.
3522 - Without the embezzled gold, Dagult Ambermantle is unable to buy back the loyalty of the nobility of Revelmoore. He proceeds with his plan to instigate a civil war in Oceanus and claims the throne in the ploy known as the Usurper's Gambit.
3523 - Open Lord Reverie Ilvastarr II is assasinated by cultists of Lolth seeking to plunge the city into chaos. She is succeeded by Renaer Ambermantle, estranged son of former Open Lord and King of Oceanus, Dagult Ambermantle. Matron Mother Argedia DeVir, leader of the assassination plot, is slain by an adventuring party known as the Fairhaven Four and their associates.