Joint Writing Project: Timeline of the Thelland Wars of consolidation and enlightenment.

Here is the basic idea, a world of Kingdoms and fantasy races that is slowly consolidated into a new Empire. Parallel to but not identical to Europe. The Dwarves are technologists, the Elves mysterious and the Wizards most mysterious. Threaded together by the large ruling family.

The idea is a Thieves World style collaborative project. We write short stories in the world but no set style and cover any aspect that seems interesting.



This timeline has been assembled from several sources, government record books, birth records, letters of King Holl, Felina the Wise and a few other scattered sources. The knowledge from the later years was far more detailed as you will see. We that assembled this list wish to give special thanks to Irene Maumod, chief scribe and archivist of Armada. She was an invaluable fount of knowledge and knew where to find all the ancient materials we used.

Timeline of the Thelland Wars of consolidation and enlightenment.

1545: Young King Holl (age27) of Fleet married Princess Yisafra (age 19), the eldest daughter of Emperor Yanis of Yillian. Yanis has no sons and this will lead to the eventually merging of the two nations. Yanis is only 50 but the Empress is dead and he will not remarry. He has one younger daughter Dolna age 10. The Empress died giving birth to her, she was advised she would probably not survive the child’s birth. Dolna is a sickly child.

1546: Queen Yisafra gives birth to Prince Hollis who will be both King of Fleet and Emperor of Yillian. The boy is healthy and both nations rejoice. The alliance is considered fully cemented with this joyous event and the Queen recovers quickly from the birth.

1548: Queen Yisafra gives birth to the twins, Prince Yan and Princess Hanna.
King Holl has been quietly building up his military forces and in late September launches a surprise attack on Killian, overwhelming and occupying the town swiftly with the support of a powerful fleet. At the same time the Yillian army with support of Fleet’s army takes and occupies Fyllian. Both victories are complete and with little casualties to either side. The area annexed is declared to be under the rule of Prince Hollis with King Holl appointing councils made up of men of both towns, officers of both armies and appointed Lord Mayors. Lord Gathone of Fleet is given Killian and Lord Brin of Kowry is tasked with ruling Fyllian.

1549: The two towns fall fairly peaceably under King Holl’s rule. Indeed most residents of Killian find conditions improved with increased trade and public works that improve sanitation. Also a small series of well built fortifications give better guard over the region and along the river leading back to Armada.
In further action a large fleet arrives in Julian to meet the army of Fleet and they burn most of the ships and go house by house to rout out the pirates and brigands of Julian. The raid is successful but Hilliard raises objection and King Holl does order his men back out but both Hilliard and Fleet leave strong garrisons of men to oversee the city until it can police itself again. Tensions ease between the neighboring kingdoms by the end of the year.
Princess Daphne of Hofra is born to King Olondor VI (age 29) and Queen Dalianna (age 22)

1550: Young Princess Dolna of Yillian (age 15) dies from scarlet fever. Her weak constitution gave her little chance and she went swiftly.
Emperor Yanis gives far more control of Yillian over to King Holl who begins a program of cleaning up the decaying town of Yillis and weakening the power of the Farmer’s Council. He has a few exercises for the armies of the two nations to work together.
King Holl quietly begins his plan for annexing Jarad. He has agents sowing problems between Jarad and Hofra and in the meantime works hard to improve relations with Hilliard.
Queen Yisafra gives birth to Prince Cargill. At age 24 the Queen has produced 4 healthy children and with apparent ease. She has also won the hearts of Fleet. Many young wives with problems giving birth or getting pregnant have appealed to the Queen for tokens to aid them and she has garnered a reputation for success. The Royal Family is well loved by both nations as prosperity and hope spreads. It appears the two nations are well on the way to a peaceful merger.

1551: The Kingdom of Jarad is blaming the loss of several merchant ships on government sanctioned piracy by Hofra.
Hilliard feeling secure in peace with Fleet after coexisting as the effective co-rulers Julian launches attacks on Baerlinger. The resistance and support from the country side is surprisingly fierce and while Hilliard take the town, they are constantly harassed and must maintain a large garrison of men in Baerlinger and conduct powerful sweeps of the countryside. The fighting continues throughout the year.
In November Jarad and Hofra go to war and Hofra surprisingly wins every naval battle and has Corinthia cutoff by sea.

1552: The Year of War. As Baerlinger continues to resist Hilliard a Captain and bowman makes a name for himself with his daring raids and great successes. He is known as Lord Forester and he has already defeated 2 large patrols of Hilliard as he turned ambushes on the ambushers. He always appears to be one step ahead of the army of Hilliard and rumors are he is an Elf-Friend and has a Druid that works with him. Some say he is half-elven or even that he is a Warrior-Druid himself.
To the south, Hofra is still winning at sea but the larger Jarad army is fighting its way to the City of Hofra itself. When in April two large, well trained and well equipped armies descend on Pithing and Pariphia. The Fleet arrives under command of King Holl himself at Pithing and Jarad is faced with a two front war they are ill-prepared for and the loss of the remainder of their Navy. King Holl’s fleet succeeded in capturing more ships than they loss in the battle for Pithing. Both towns fall and the better part of both armies are marching on Jarinth and Boffin. King Orange of Jarad orders his army back from Hofra to defend Jarinth. Hofra manages to harry their retreat and slow them down and the two armies quickly take Boffin and then begin a siege and reduction of Jarinth.
King Orange (age 52) asks for terms but King Holl demands surrender of Jarad to him in the name of Prince Hollis. He offers the King and his nobles to be part of a House of Lords to help rule Jarad peacefully under King Holl’s leadership. King Orange would become Duke Orange of Jarinth out of respect for his noble family. King Orange rejects this proposal and the fighting continues.
Attempts by the army of Jarad to break the siege are repulsed and Hofra is annexing lands along their border and negotiating with King Holl for an expanded border and Corinthia as allies against Jarad. In a well planned move, King Holl has brought in reserves to hold the cities to the North and brings up a fresh and well rested army to attack the Jarad army with Hofra’s army. Once the battle begins he pulls out all horsed units from the siege to aid in the assault. The battle rages for 3 days and includes a doomed sally from Jarinth itself that flounders in the secretly built pit traps and is trapped by troops secreted in trenches. The army of Jarad is wiped out completely with 3500 killed and 5000 surrendered.
The nobles of Jarinth sneak out an envoy looking for terms of surrender. A deal is worked out and the King and his family are delivered to King Holl by the Nobles. In a regrettable act the eldest Prince is killed resisting the nobles and his young wife violated, she commits suicide on the way to Fleet. The King and Queen of Jarad are taken as hostages back to Fleet and the remaining Prince and two of the three Princesses are separately held in Yillian. The last Princess Emma (age 21) is married to a powerful Noble of Jarinth, Marquis Roverton (age 30) and they are made the Duke and Duchess of Jarinth and charged with keeping the peace and facilitating the orders of the King Holl. It takes the rest of the year and into 1553 to complete the conquest and to settle the new borders. Hofra gains Corinthia and roughly half the land between the old border and the road from Corinthia to Jarinth.

1553: The new border is set; King Holl declares the newly joined kingdoms to be Empire of Western Thelland and raising his son’s title to Emperor Hollis. King Holl of course rules in his name. Emperor Yanis removes to the City of Armada to help train the young Emporer Hollis.
Hilliard has mostly subdued lands around Baerlinger but cannot bring Lord Forester down who has expanded his raids into Hilliard itself and successfully captured the Lord Mayor of Port Hilliard’s wife and children in the most daring raid of his career. They were removed from the Spring Equinox Fair and the ransom demand is nothing less than the complete withdrawal of Hilliard from Baerlinger.
While this is happening King Holl quietly increases the number of men and influence he had in Julian as Hilliard actually draws down their garrison.
The price on Lord Forester’s head is raised to 20000 Gold Pieces and a title of Nobility and promise of lands in Baerlinger. He has now become the greatest folk hero in the land but many seek him and chance for the gold. In July the Lord Mayor’s youngest is sent back dead with a warning that each month another child would follow. He then attacks and destroys several companies of the Hilliard Army trying to sweep the new lands of Baerlinger. The losses and lack of success have many muttering in Hilliard that no profit is being seen from Baerlinger and only horror and loss. In August a notice is left on the Mayor’s door behind the sealed walls of the town that his youngest daughter is now dead. The Lord Mayor’s appeals have failed and he chooses to step down instead and sends a proclamation praying for the safe return of his two remaining children and his wife. The raids increase in August and come September the Lord Mayor’s family including the youngest daughter is returned. It turns out his young son had actually died of a fever and was not murdered. A message is sent to Hilliard by various means to throw off the oppressor, King William the Foolish. With this the countryside around Baerlinger rises again to fight and the boats of Hilliard are burnt and scuttled in Baerlinger.
King Holl orders the taking of Julian as part of the Western Empire and escorts the remaining garrison of Hilliard back to Hilliard. King William protests but is strongly advised not to go to war over Julian. King Holl begins to consolidate rule over the vast farmland region from the southern point of Hilliard down to Jarad. This brings him into conflict with Byrota though, a powerful city that considered itself the main force in the area. Swords are rattled.
Queen Yisafra gives birth to Princess Safran in October.
The policy of improvements has gone a long way in Fleet and Yillian with the only negative note being that Lord Gathone needed to be set down for corruption and replaced by a less skilled noble Lord Trevan.

1554: Beginning of the Great Western War. King Holl has reached agreement with Lord Forester to make him the Duke of Baerlinger if he leads his people in war against Hilliard. He also has gauged the Halflings of western Hilliard are tired of their King and willing to be self-ruled communities under the flag of the Empire of Western Thelland.
King William (age 50) has forged an alliance with King Byron of Byrota, Lord Hansfel of Bale’s Ferry and Lord Ridder of Evenrude to fight Fleet. He is trying to cause uprisings in Jarad and Fyllian.
By May the armies take to field. Marshall Gunther of Yillian leads armies drawn from Fleet, Yillian and Jarad against Byrota with a river fleet to support. King Holl leads an army into Hilliard and the main fleet is sent in battle against Hilliard’s fleet. Lord Forester and other rebels harry the army of Hilliard as it heads back to defend Hilliard. A large number of men are sent to a watery grave when the small fleet of merchantmen is caught returning from Baerlinger. It is believe over 1000 soldiers were lost. By July things are going badly for Hilliard and Byrota.
The Jarad uprising were put down by Duke Roverton of Jarinth. He likes his new power, greater than he had under his father-in-law and the Duchess is worried for her family currently kept very well as hostages to Jarad’s peace. The pair worked hard to keep Jarad under the Empire. Fyllian goes a little better and forces King Holl to deploy 300 men to keep the area subdued.
Byrota pools money with Hilliard and secures the services of 7 large mercenary companies mostly from the Merchant’s League. These vets prove formidable in fighting the armies of the Western Empire but Baerlinger and Kofet both fall.
In September Hofra sends it army to Byrota. This is a very well equipped 2000 man army all on war horses. Hofra is both thankful for the aid King Holl sent when the Jarad army was nearing their capitol and hopeful of cementing an alliance. They also expect to add some land to their own kingdom.
The fighting becomes small armies in the field, a siege of Byrota and constant sallies in Hilliard. However, King Holl now wisely wishes a stalemate as he knows the mercenaries will soon leave the war and Hilliard is hurting already. Littleport is besieged. Lord Forester is raiding near Hilliard itself. Trade is cut off for Hilliard.

1555: The war continues slowly in the winter months. The army of Hofra had returned home with promises to be back in the spring. The mercenaries leave in January. Their supplies are not enough to keep them in the field; they actually join forces and raid Bale’s Ferry on their way home. The siege of Byrota continues as does Littleport and the Fleet kept Hilliard from any series marine activities.
Come Spring Hilliard and Byrota brace for renewed attack. They hold out little hope unless something breaks their way. King William has tried to get the services of Ilandria’s Wizards but those he sent never return. Entreaties to Caelie Confederation also fail. In early June 2000 knights of Hofra arrive supported by 1000 infantry and engineers and King Holl sends all of his reserves measuring 16,000 to supplement the 5000 already there to end the siege of Byrota. This leaves him thin in Hilliard but when the army under King William march to relieve Littleport they encounter a foe already orderly retreating and then surprise attacks from the local peasantry and Halflings. The 2500 men of Fleet come riding and marching back quick in a series of planned attacks and feints and King William dies from a mysterious back wound as does several of his top generals and captains. The battle is fierce and Fleet loses over 1000 men and another 800 injured but Hilliard loses 3300 as it retreats back to a safer area. Littleport is freed but only at great expense and the loss of the King himself.
Prince Jonas’s coronation is done swiftly and he tries for a desperate effort. He knows the main army of the Western Empire is marching on Byrota and sends his full force of 8000 men to attack Kofet and try to take it back. He is not expecting local support.
At Byrota, the 24,000 rule the field and begin the assault on the great walls of Byrota. Byrota is already tight on food and low on morale. It takes but 10 days for the walls to fall and 1 more for Byrota to fall. King Byron throws himself from his highest tower. Discipline fails with the breaking of the siege as the men were already fighting house to house. There is a great amount of atrocities, raping and pillaging of the once great city. Several major fires break out and further damage the city. It takes a week to bring all back to order and King Holl is swift to send 10,000 men heading north against Hilliard. Bale’s Ferry and Evenrude both sue for peace.
The Battle of Kofet was not the decisive victory that King Jonas needed and they broke off to meet the 10,000 marching north. Lord Forester raised an army of 800 to spread through the east of Hilliard and cause great disruptions, siphoning off the last of King Jonas’s reserves. The Fleet made a landing against Port Hilliard and the Empire uses about 3000 to harry and harass in the west of Hilliard. King Jonas is offered a dukedom of the City of Hilliard if he surrenders. Kofet and Littleport will be joined to Fleet and Port Hilliard will be another Dukedom. King Jonas weighed the situation well and agreed in the end with heavy heart. His brother and mother were taken as well cared for hostages to Armada. This brought about a more peaceful time for the Western Empire at least as they consolidated their many gains.

1556: Queen Yisafra gives birth to Prince Thisras in September. She is now 30 and her youth has faded but she is still pleasant looking. Consolidation continues. Hofra convinces Pologan to become part of Hofra as Hofra expands east along the shore and the land.
Lord Ham of Baerlinger is born to Duke Jon Forester and Duchess Arabella Forester (age 26).
The Empire of Western Thelland joins Hofra in its trading with the Empire of Hadon on the southern continent.

1558: Emperor Yanis passes away at age 63. He died of a wasting disease that took him quick. The entire Western Empire mourned for him for a week. Queen Yisafra was declared Empress of Yillian and King Holl her supreme commander and consort. The Empress gave birth to another pair of twins. Both boys but one dies the same day. Prince Yanis is doing well though and thriving. Bale’s Ferry, Pologan and Evenrude find themselves all but under the Empire’s control.

1559: Lady Jane Forester is born in Baerlinger to Duke Jon Forester and Duchess Arabella Forester (age 29).

1560: Queen Yisafra gives birth to her final child at age 34. Prince Garret. She has had 9 children and only one died.

1561: On Emperor Hollis’s 15th birthday Bale’s Ferry joins the Empire peacefully. The army is deployed to bring Evenrude and Thellin also into the Empire. It is a fairly peaceful process.
In 16 years King Holl has forged an Empire that includes most of the lands and people of Western Thelland. Prosperity and trade has great increased and improvement in sanitation and agriculture is causing a population boom. The Halflings of Kofet have especially grown in number and several small towns have risen up. King Holl has also lured many skilled Dwarves with promises of key locations in towns for their shops. He finds the Halfling have a great and previously untapped potential at farming and gives them far more land. There are no longer tariffs and far fewer tolls within the Empire of course. This has caused some job displacement but opened up far more opportunity. He introduced much more ranching to Yillian in particular and as employed the under employed in this industry. In Jarad the city of Jarinth is once again a center of trade and most displaced from other fields are now working in some support field for the merchants. Duke Roverton of Jarinth has grown to be very rich, richer than his father-in-law was as King.

1562: Old King Orange passed away. The Old Queen Embeth returns to Jarinth to live with her daughter the Duchess Emma (age 29). Prince Orrin (age 35) remains hostage but has married and is a gentleman farmer. Of the Princesses, Lilly (age 32) has been married off to the Duke of Kowry and Anna (age 23) to a handsome Captain Miggens (age 31) of the Fleet. There are many cousins among the four offspring.

1566: Emperor Hollis turns 20 and in great fanfare is engaged to Princess Daphne of Hofra. She is 17 and rumored to be a rare beauty. King Olondor VI of Hofra has hopes this will cement friendly relations with the Empire and he has been quietly negotiating for this day for the last 7 years and the last 4 in great earnest. The marriage is to be the following year and the Princess and a large escort will travel to Armada to formally meet the Emperor and his people. Her dowry will include 7 large ships of the line.
A plague of dragons descend on the Caelie Confederation. King Holl sends as much aid as possible under the command of Lord Admiral Hemmin and Duke Jon Forester. They help the people of Caelie drive the Dragons back out. Lord Hemmin lost his flag ship in the main encounter but they dropped 4 dragons to their death into the sea. Duke Forester killed the dragon Calcion with a small party. Calcion thought he was safe in secure hill fort but Duke Forester found a way to sneak in and slay him before he fully awoke. On Lord Hemmin’s return, he was made the supreme commander of the Fleet.

1567: The great marriage. The young Empress Daphne is a rare beauty. She is also intelligent and very well educated. Probably the mental superior to Emperor Hollis but she is smart enough not to let this be an issue. The young Emperor is well trained in government, court, nobility, tactics, diplomacy, naval skills and warfare. His father has ensured he is well capable of taking over the great Empire crafted for him. The young couple is a remarkable pair. He is handsome and brave; she is a glorious raven haired beauty of deep intelligence.

1568: Princess Hanna now 21 marries Maxwell Hemmin son of Lord Admiral Hemmin and already a famed Captain at the young age of 26. They are designated the Duchess and Duke of Fleet.

1569: The Emperor orders his top vassal and advisor, his father King Holl to Hrunfner and Tylander Village and all the open lands between. It is but short work for the large and well equipped armies to subdue this region. The Caelie Confederation is invited to join the Empire as three separate dukedoms. Negations continue and King Holl himself visits at the head of a fleet of 200 ships.

1570: The Confederation joins the Empire of Western Thelland. This is now the largest Empire since the dissolution of the Ancient Thellin Empire 900 years earlier. Emperor Hollis having studied history well decides on a plan to change the military of the Empire. He plans to maintain a large standing army and navy of regulars. These regulars will be heavy on officers and sergeants and mates. Then a large pool of reserve conscripts would serve for a certain period of time and return later for shorter periods yearly. In this way he planned to have a large professional force with a far larger trained reserve to preserve and enlarge the Empire. He worked to ensure the units would be largely mixed to better integrate the Empire into a single nation. He also continued his father’s policy of improving the Navy. His father approved all his ideas and ordered them to begin.
The young Emperor also sought to recruit and train spellcasters to support the Empire and army. He fostered and encouraged racial tolerance between the various races of the Empire. His desire was to count the Elves, Dwarves, Selkies and Otterkin as firm allies along with the Halflings that already love him and his father. He made fair progress with all of the above but especially the Dwarves and Otterkin. He shared a love of machinery with the Dwarves and had many prominent inventors and artificers in his councils and the Otterkin were unused to a human leader that took them as equals and responded well to it. This approached did not work as well with the Elves as the Elves never felt the humans were their equals.
In October Empress Daphne gives birth to a baby girl. The Princess Dollis or Dolly is healthy and thriving.
Princess Safran (age 17) marries Duke Jonas (age 38) of Hilliard, consolidating the ex-King’s position. His first wife died in 1568 without leaving a male heir but he does have two daughters that are 6 and 3.

1571: The Empress did suffer some problems with the birth and is slow to recover. No less a person than Duke Forester undertook a quest to find Ilandria the hidden city. He leaves in mid-May as the way is through the great northern forest and then through the snowy waste to the north. He brings 6 companions with him only and they each have a spare horse. All horses bred for heavy work, sure footed and of northern stock. The seven return in August with a special amulet to heal and assist the Empress. She recovers fully in a month and is said to have grown even more insightful. This is when it is believed she became impossible to lie to.

1572: The Empire expands again. Otterhome is added through peaceful negotiations as the rest of the great eastern bend of the Thellin River is added and the fertile fields on the eastern side. To the north a fearsome force of 20,000 march on Roundup with a solid supply line. It takes months but the locals are convinced of the merits of joining the Empire. The large garrison of 800 is maintained in the area for the next several years.
Prince Yan (age 24) is made the Duke of Yillian to serve his brother he marries a noble lady from a cadet line, a 2nd cousin. The Duchess Violet is but 16.
This is the first summer that the road to Ilandria is worked on to open the way for trade.
Queen Embeth passes away in Jarinth at age 65.

1573: Empress Daphne gives birth to Crown Prince Hollis the second.
Prince Cargill (age 23) marries the Duchess Rose of Jarinth (age 22). She is the middle daughter of Duke Roverton.
The Empire establishes forts east along the Thellin River and south along The Otter River. The road to Ilandria is clear with plans to expand and pave it in upcoming years. The great road building of the Empire of Western Thelland is begun this year. New and better roads are built. Aqueducts are planned and many bridges and ports for the River Thellin are planned. A series of state schools are started in the more urban areas. A steady and growing trade is started with Ilandria bring many marvelous items and weapons to the Empire and much gold and goods to Ilandria. They also express an interest in ancient works that have been kept or preserved and gems. Prince Garret (age 13) goes to Ilandria to Study.
The Merchant’s League grows very worried over their large and powerful neighbor. They are in contact with the Lord Mayor of Drallon who is also fearful. The Deep Council of Waterhome rebuffs their entreaties. The Dwarves of the Thellin Mountains also offer no direct aid.

1575: The Thellin army is nearing the professional level Emperor Hollis desired. The Fleet is top notch. Combined with the fleet of Hofra, they send 400 ships carrying great firepower and masses of men against Drallon as negotiation seal Waterhome joining the Empire with The Deep Council maintaining local authority.
Armies march on Drallonville and onto Drallon. Forces from Waterhome join both and 2000 knights of Hofra ride to Drallon. An astounding force of 34,000 begins the siege of Drallon. Great weapons of black powder cannons and magics breach the city walls on the first day. On the second day the troops pour through a dozen breaches and Drallon is quickly taken. The Lord Mayor is offered a chance to stay on under Duke Cargill. He accepts and retains his title though loses much of his powers. Hofra gains a large new region along the road and coast east.

1576: The Merchant’s League begins negotiations to join the Empire under good terms. This includes Prince Yanis being promised the Dukedom over the region upon marrying the Chief Minister’s daughter and heir. Prince Yanis is 18 and Lady Aura is only 15. The marriage and official “merger” of the League and Empire is scheduled for 1579. This will complete the consolidation of the West and Central Thelland.
Empress Daphne gives birth to Princess Felina. The child is sickly at first but the healer Gallen from Ilandria comes swiftly down the great Ilandrian Road to Baerlinger where 7 of the fastest and strongest ships of the Fleet under Brevet Commodore Hemmin await to rush Gallen to Armada. Gallen performs many rituals and spells and accepts an offer to become the court healer. He is given his own nearby palatial manse and authority as Minister of Health of the Empire. He receives the title Earl. He also advises the Empress to cease having children. The magics of the amulet help but each further birth will drain years off her life and possibly endanger her beyond the magic’s ability to aid her.
Lord Admiral Hemmin (age 60) dies at sea during an encounter with a large force of pirates in the stormy channel. The Fleet is victorious but he dies at the hand of the lead Pirate captain who boarded his ship. The EWT Crusader survives the encounter. Maxwell Hemmin is made a full Commodore and given command of the EWT Crusader when she is overhauled.

1577: Emperor Hollis and King Holl begin the building of swift cutters with brass cannons to support the large war galleys of the Fleet. The Empress begins negotiations with her brother the heir to the throne of Hofra for eventual inclusion in the Empire when he becomes King Olondor the VII.

1578: The Hofran Pact is approved by both sides. Hofra will be a semi-independent kingdom within the kingdom and the Kings and Princes shall be hereditary Sea Lords of the Empire. King Olondor the VI is not overjoyed but it is the prudent course and as long as he lives, Hofra shall maintain its full independence.
Heavy scouting of Far Home has been ongoing.
Trade with the Empire of Hadon has grown great as the demand for exotic goods has increased with the rising prosperity of the Empire. It is estimated that 400 ships made the trip across the channel. Trade from Drallon to Xylia is especially strong as despite the greater distance the sea is much calmer. Avandor on the west coast also sees increased trade from the North as the newer merchant ships of the Empire no longer fear deep water voyages and still fear the Stormy Channel.

1579: Prince Yanis (21) marries Lady Aura (18) and become the Duke and Duchess of Xallia which encompasses the Merchant’s League.

1580: In a stunning move the bulk of the Fleet working with special forces of Selkies and Otterkin combine with 5000 elite knights of the kingdom to seize vital ports and sea towers of Far Home and beat their magical Bronze Galleys in war by aggressive boarding through the swift cutters flying out behind the screen of vulnerable ships of the line and Selkies and Otterkin swarming over the sides in surprise attacks. The Fleet takes great losses of ships but captures 9 of 11 Bronze Galleys. One Galley escapes and another is crashed upon the rocks and appears to be beyond repair. As the year advances and army of 25,000 makes it to Far Home and secures the ancient city state and its outlying sea fort villages and farm lands. Commodore (Maxwell) Hemmin in particular distinguished himself. His promotion to Admiral follows the action.
Prince Thisras (age 24) is installed as Duke of Great Bay including Far Home. He is given a large garrison of 3,000 men and retains 2 Bronze Galleys and a good size fleet. Four Galleys are brought back to Armada and 1 each are stationed in Hofra, Kowry and Port Hemmin. Admiral Hemmin is given the EWT Bronze Sword as his flag ship. The one officially stationed at Port Hemmin.
Prince Thisras marries Lady Jane Forester (age 21) daughter of Duke Jon Forester of Baerlinger. They are charged with rebuilding the city state and surrounding bay and encouraging peaceful immigration from the rest of the Empire to increase the most eastern bastion of the Empire. Plans for annexation and expansion are largely done for now and the foreseeable future. Consolidation and infrastructure is now the main plan.

1581-1589: A decade of great prosperity as the Empire grows according to the careful plans of the Emperor, Empress, King Holl and Queen Yisafra and the Dukes of the Empire. Old King Holl passes away in 1589 at the age of 71. His final act was cementing a peace agreement and trade treaty with Ilandria to the benefit of both Empire and City of Magic. He has helped lay out a plan to slowly subdue the Jel Ahir and other nomads and to eventually annex Kophra and Bowen. Also strong treaties of Alliance are begun and ongoing with the Dwarf communities of Kantar and Goudon in the Central Thelland Mountains. He expects negotiation to take a careful hand and another 20 years or more.
The army of the Empire has grown into a vast and powerful force, well trained with a great core of skilled professionals and a large ready reserve to be called up as needed. The breeding of horses and training of long bowman and crossbowman give them a great advantage in any open battle and the variety of special units for fighting foes in less than perfect locations have proceeded well. Small battles and rebellions over this period are quickly put down with ease and efficiency. The nomadic tribes of the plains are stopped from raiding the borderlands with fair success.
The Fleet itself is the greatest by far since the long ago dissolution of the Ancient Thellin Empire. The inclusion of brass cannons and the newest iron cannons have made the ancient galleys even more powerful. Piracy has been stomped out nearly complete and trade has greatly expanded by land and sea.
Great efforts are made and rewarded to bring the lower classes fully into the Empire by improvements and fairness under the law. In 45 years King Holl built a mighty Empire and set his line to rule over it fairly but firmly. A great monument is built to him in Armada. Queen Yisafra continues to rule Yillian in the name of the Emperor. She spends part of the year in Yillis and part in Armada.

1590: Princess Dollis is betrothed to Duke Henric of Byrota. He is the son of the General that was given the title of Acting Duke of Byrota. Through his dedication to fair governance and improvements in the region his line was given the full rights of Duke. Prince Henric replaced his father 2 years prior at age 30 in a move by the old Duke to establish his son as a fair suitor for the Princess. Henric has already proven himself a smart and successful leader of men in the army. 10 years earlier he was one of the young marines to distinguish himself against Far Home. His 10 years split between home guard and border duty did much to develop a strong and sensible character and an iron frame and constitution. He is a renowned archer and swordsman. The Grand Wedding is expected to take place in 1592.
Princess Felina (age 14) heads to Ilandria for training as a healer and astrologer. The High Priestess Thallia promises her safety and virtue.
Piracy has increased in the south. The crews appear to be from various regions north and south but the booty seems to get traded mostly to Calen a major port city of the Empire of Hadon.

1591: Prince Cargill, Duke of Drallon dies at age 41. He died of a fast fever and was gone before help could be summoned. Duchess Rose takes control of the Duchy as her eldest son Duke Carnon is only 15.
Prince Garret (age 31) has completed his training in Ilandria and is installed as Grand Wizard to the Emperor. He marries Lady Ysebella (age 32) of Ilandria. She is a trained alchemist and astrologer. Prince Garret is the youngest of children of King Holl and Queen Yisafra and married by far the latest.
In this year a colony of the Empire is established on a protected bay between Kophra and Bowen. It is a trading and fishing colony. But the Colony is largely isolated. The small village is of 120 and all men with excellent military training. A secure palisade is built before the ships depart. It is called Holl in honor of the late King. Late that year the 9 Bronze Galleys deliver another 170 colonists and vast supplies. The colony had done well with only 3 losses of life and this load includes 70 wives and 30 single women seeking marriage. It also included 15 couples. Additionally a dozen of the initial group had taken wives among the locals. 20 of the colonists were 7 young Otterkin families that will be establishing huts in the nearby marshes and streams. Five dwarves also stay on to supervise the building and layout of the town to be. Two are masons and two are smiths and the last is an engineer. They are all here on a 5 year contract.

1592 to 1596: The Grand Wedding is a large success and the Duke and Duchess of Byrota take a grand tour of the Empire in a 6 month honeymoon. Holl Colony continues to grow and small homesteads added within miles of the colony.
A steady stream of merchant convoys deliver goods to the warehouses of Holl and trade begins in earnest with Kophra and Bowen and other locals. They do particularly well trading with the centaur populations. The human population grows to 827. The Dwarven population has actually expanded to 34 and the Otterkins to 180 in the area. Most of the town is now made of stone and brick. Fire is a serious concern as they are so far from help. Farming and Fishing make Holl a self-sustaining colony. The outlying farms and trading posts are usually wooden though. A good size stone wall is already begun to protect Holl from land attack. The colony now has a dozen strong towers with cannons to help protect it.
Piracy is bad for part of this period in the south but brought under control by heavy Navy patrols.

1597: Duke Carnon takes control over Drallon having reached the age of 21. Crown Prince Hollis the 2nd (age 24) becomes engaged to his first cousin Princess Katarina (age 15) daughter of Prince Olondor the VII. They are to marry in 3 years when she turns 18. She is said to be as beautiful as Empress Daphne was in her youth and the Crown Prince himself pushed the marriage upon seeing her in court. It is said he did not wish to wait but there was already worries with them being first cousin and all concerned wish to wait for her to come to age. Queen Yisafra journeyed to Hofra to assist in her education.
A small fast fleet does well in sinking many of the pirates in the Stormy Channel but also suffer losses nearing the value of the lost merchantmen. A better pirate catcher and patrol ship design is needed. Pirate activity does subside for a few years though.
Duke Roverton (age 75) gives over the Duchy of Jarad to his son duke Roverton II who is now 50.

1598: The rebellion of Evenrude. It apparently starts over a local Baron taking liberty with some local daughters but sets off an old and smoldering resentment to their loss of freedom. The rebels fail to capture the Baron but do storm his castle and take it. Troops are sent for from other regions and an army marches from Byrota. The rebellion is quelled but an investigation by Duke Henric of Byrota finds the Baron was guilty of many foul crimes against free citizens of the Empire and the Marquess of Evenrude is found to be corrupt and guilty of poor management. The Baron is publically executed and his family stripped of their lands. The Marquess loses his title and is left as the new Baron in the region of unrest. A local Earl Fenman is put in charge of Evenrude but reporting to Duke Henric. Many local sheriffs and their men were also replaced with 6 ending up in prison and 3 executed.
Princess Felina completes her initial training but continues to return to Ilandria for additional training and study. She has grown to great beauty.

1599: The Grand Survey of the Empire is begun. Trusted servants, army officers and family members of the ruling family make a slow survey of the Empire for census, to look for unrest and problems and to look for corruption. This is at the suggestion of Duke Henric of Byrota and Prince Garret the Grand Wizard. The first survey is expected to take 5 years in all.

1600: Crown Prince Hollis the 2nd marries Princess Katarina in a grand imperial wedding and the largest wedding recorded. Over 6000 guests attended the reception and 15 balls were held to celebrate. Princess Katarina is said to be the fairest lady in all the land. Princess Felina also dazzles all at age 24. She is as beautiful as her mother and nearly as beautiful as the bride. Her escort is a Lord Beron said to be a powerful young wizard. He is tall and handsome by all reports while she is small and delicate looking, elfin looking is the most common term used.

1601: Prince Garret (age 41) and Lady Ysebella(age 42) have their 7th son. All 7 sons survived, one pair was twins. This son is named Garell.

1602: Princess Felina (age 26) marries Lord Beron (age 35) He is a very powerful Wizard by all accounts and friend to Prince Garret. They spend time mostly in Ilandria but also touring the Empire.
Princess Henrietta is born to Crown Prince Hollis and Princess Katarina.

1603: The Duchess Arabella Forester (age 73) passes away and Duke Jon Forester of Baerlinger steps down as Duke and gives the title to his son, Duke Ham Forester (age 47). Lord Forester sails to Holl to assist in the development of the Colony.

1604: Prince Garret and Duke Yanis of Xallia conclude the long sought treaties of Alliance with the Dwarf communities of Kantar and Goudon in the Central Thelland Mountains. It includes the establishment of colony towns near the Kantar Woods to trade directly with Kantar and near the headwaters of the Thellin River for direct trade with Goudon. This one is named Headwater and will be a human and Otterkin town. The first will be mainly human and called simply Kantar Town. The Dwarves remain independent of course but will assist in the mutual defense of the Empire and Dwarven Lands. The Dwarves will also be building and shipping many well built iron cannons and weapons for the Empire. A fortune in gold, silver, textiles and food flow to the Mountains. The Dwarves and Men plan and begin building two large stone towns with strong walls. Improve the pass from Kantar to Xallia where a small village is established named Xallia’s Pass.
The Grand Survey is completed. It is found that overall the Empire is thriving and the people prospering. The worst problems were found in Pariphia in the Duchy of Jarad. A small but swiftly growing area, the local Count and his Barons were corrupt and ill-treating a large portion of the local peasantry. Duke Roverton II (age 57) is particularly harsh on all of them. The Nobles are put to work in the mines and their sons given a choice of military service or to join their fathers. Those too young and the daughters are taken in as court fosterlings. The eldest daughters are mostly married off to trusted men of the Duchy or Empire to take on the now vacant titles and to administer Pariphia. There is generally an improvement in honesty throughout the Empire by the nobles trusted to administer it.
The Colony of Holl is prospering and growing large. A good size port is now in place to handle a large amount of shipping. The population has grown to over 2000 including its satellite villages and hamlets. Trade is good with the local Centaurs and even some of the nomadic tribes. Trade also thrives with Bowen though Kophra refuses to trade. There have been a few confrontations between Kophra’s ships and the Empire’s ships and especially the merchantmen. The Empire has grouped shipping more tightly and returned to naval escorts of merchantmen fleets.
Princess Safran (age 51) and Duke Jonas (age 72) are lost at sea in a storm returning from a winter sojourn to Hofra. One of the survivors reports the Duke was lost diving into the water to try and save the Princess, his Duchess. Their son Jofran (age 29) is the new Duke.
Queen Yisafra, Empress of Yillis mourns the loss deeply and takes badly ill. Lady Ysebella and Earl Gallen use their magics to heal the Queen.

1605: 600 Halflings move to Headwater greatly increasing the size of this new town.
Princess Katarina’s first son is dead upon birth. She did not do well in the birthing and take ill and she suffers from the lost of her child. Lady Ysebella and Earl Gallen again work their magic to help her. Empress Daphne passes her Amulet along to her with Gallen’s help.
Piracy again grows to dangerous levels in the Stormy Channel. Three small fast fleets are sent to operate but one fleet suffers terrible losses in an unexpected squall. Again at too great a cost the pirates are subdued.

1606: A great Fleet of 250 ships assembles and heads east. All 9 Bronze Galleys go and are now equipped with Iron Cannons and explosive cannon balls. The Fleet picks up 14000 that were staged in Far Home. Over the last 6 months an army of 4000 has been quietly garrisoned around Holl Colony and working with the local Jel Ahir nomads and several Centaur tribes. Lord Garret the Grand Wizard and Lord Beron both ride on a Bronze Galley with their wives and 17 additional spellcasters and philosophers. Within the town of Kophra, a group of 120 Centaurs are ready to help throw open one gate. A series of messages arranges a feint by 3000 from the Holl army and allies. Another 3000 make for the town by land as the fleet comes in fast. The greatly superior fleet makes short work of Kophra’s navy. The huge landing takes place as the cannons of the Fleet unleash a deadly barrage on the port of Kophra. Kophra sent out fire signals to raise all militia and summon the army. The local army and militia amount to only 2500 to hold the town. After 6 hours of bombardment a small landing is attempted directly at the port. As this draws the reserves, the north gate is taken by the surprise of the 120 Centaurs and shortly hundreds and then thousands pour into the town. The fighting is fierce but only lasts into the next morning. After this it is simply a matter of time before all of Kophra falls. The Empire installs Harwell (age 31) the second son of Duke Maxwell and Duchess Hanna as the acting Duke of Kophra and leaves him an army of occupation of 3000 men and a small fleet. He is to coordinate in action with the Governor of Holl Colony and is charged with growing relations with the local Centaurs and to try and build peace with the nomadic tribes. He is of course supposed to bring Kophra into the Empire.

1607: Holl Colony continues to grow and now has extensive trade with Kophra. Kophra is fairly stable. Duke Harwell has his Imperial army of 3000 and local militia of 1500 men and a secondary militia of 300 Centaurs. He has had over 500 families brought in for among the soldiers and personnel with families. He has also brought in several hundred administrators and several hundred more merchants and tradesman. Many of these also bring families or are sending for them. Overall while Kophra is not at peace, it is largely subdued.
Lord Forester has journeyed south to help with the insurrections and administration of Kophra. He brings sure guidance to Duke Harwell and greater experience at guerilla fighting that the garrison commander.
Survey teams are looking into building a road with some forts along it to Holl Colony and from Holl Colony to Bowen. The distance to Bowen is shorter but the lands are marshy and there are many streams and rivers to cross. The Kophran Road will be more susceptible to raids and ambushes by nomadic tribes.
Lady Jenna of Corinthia dies with child at age 45. She had given Olondor VII 4 daughter and no sons that lived. Of course Princess Katarina (age 25) will be the next Empress. She is their second daughter. The eldest daughter Dalianna (age 27) is declared the future heir apparent. The other daughters are Marissa age 20 and the youngest is Lydia at only 12. Lady Jenna had at least 5 miscarriages in all.
Princess Felina (age 31) gives birth to her daughter Melody, her only child.
Duke Roverton dies at age 85. He was a good ruler and an excellent Duke supporting the Empire.

1608: Duke Harwell (age 33) marries Lady Anabell (age 23) the daughter of Duke Ham of Baerlinger and thus granddaughter of Lord Forester.
Kophra is doing well though there are still some insurrection and banditry and also problems with the Jel Ahir nomads. Twenty five sturdy border forts have been added to allow for rapid deployment of the militia. Each has a rotating garrison of 40 Imperial soldiers, 60 militia and 12 Centaurs. There are always 1000 Imperials within a short distance of the capitol. The other 1000 are in the field or stations in villages and forts. The militia has been raised to 3000 so another 1500 act as police and reserves internally. The Centaurs now number 450 but 100 are in the town of Kophra itself and the other 50 form a single large company near the south western border where the worst problems with the Jel Ahir occur.
Great Bay completes a series of forts that expand the Empire into the southern plains.
Xallia Pass is complete and Kantor Town’s wall is completed. Headwater is a thriving farming community but the town is still not complete. The population has shifted as 1800 Halflings now make up the bulk and they outnumber the humans, Dwarves and Otterkin.

1609: Duke Maxwell of Fleet dies at age 67. Duke Maxwell II (age 40) now serves his uncle Hollis as Duke of Fleet. He is promoted from Commodore to Admiral in the same month and continues to serve in the Fleet.
Princess Katarina (age 27) gives birth to Prince Hollis III. She does far better in this birth and the child is healthy.
Duke Roverton II dies at age 62. He was an excellent Duke supporting the Empire. Duchess Arillia (age 32) his only child to live past 4 rules with her husband Duke Vantor (age 34), second son of Duke Yan and Duchess Violet (Yillian).
In this year piracy in the south is bad again and a group of fast frigates are dispatched to patrol the region and another dozen are ordered built. Trade is impacted by the piracy. It is suspected that the pirates are sanctioned by the southern Empire of Hadon or at least one major port.

1610: Prince Olondor VII surprises many by remarrying at age 56. More shockingly he marries Lady Sandra of Hilliard (age 20) youngest daughter of Princess Safran and Duke Jonas. She is younger than 3 of Prince Olondor’s daughters. It is rumored that she seduced he however and it is said she greatly desired the title of Princess that would have once been hers as her father was briefly King of Hilliard. The second surprise is the healthy baby girl she births just 8 months after their wedding. They name the daughter Safran in honor of the Sandra’s mother.
Old King Olondor VI (age 90) is said to be distressed by the scandal of it all. Queen Dalianna (age 83) is more worried than scandalized. She thinks the young woman is dangerous. She sends word of her worries to her daughter the Empress Daphne and granddaughters Princess Katarina the fair, Princess Dalianna and Princess Felina the Wise. The five women bring Queen Yisafra Empress of Yillian, Duchesses Dollis and Hanna and Lady Ysebella into their confidence. The nine decide to watch for now but be ready to act, especially if Sandra has a son. They jokingly call themselves the Ladies High Council and decide to also work together to help the poor.
Headwater has completed the main town and wall. Kantor’s Town and Xallia pass are thriving.
Kophra’s economy is now booming and those still fighting the Empire are largely reduced to the status of outlaws and bandits. The Jel Ahir on the other hand seems to be getting worse. Duke Harwell and Lord Forester have scouts and spies out on the plains and send word back that they could quietly use some help. They raise the militia up to 4000 men in all and as the year goes on the Imperial army is raised to 4000 to match it. The Emperor sends gold and materials to assist the buildup.
Holl Colony looks to increase their defense and scouts, mostly Otterkin are scattered throughout the marshes. The road to Bowen is only slowly being built.
Kofet suffers from the plague but the Empire deploys a team for sanitation, treatment, isolation and prevention with a large number of trained healers and quickly brings the epidemic under control and prevents its spread.

1611: Inspections of sanitation and public health are increased after last year’s plague and a bad flu in the south early in the year. Princess Safran and Prince Olondor VII both die from the flu leaving Princess Sandra a very young widow. This leaves the Ladies High Council without its original worry but they continue to work together to help the poor and improve the Empire.
Felina the Wise actually heads the Ministry of Health. Queen Yisafra Empress of Yillian and Empress Daphne convinced Emperor Hollis she was the best choice for real change. On most of her tours, Lord Beron escorts her. The pair brings a company of engineers, healers and scribes with them.
The Jel Ahir launched a surprise assault on Holl Colony. The nomad army numbered over 25,000. The colony sent its swiftest ships for aid from Bowen and Kophra. The men of the town are outnumbered 25 to 1 but have excellent cannons, weapons and armor and some hope of another 500 or more helping them from outside as the Otterkin and men of the swamps will hopefully harry the Jel Ahir in their siege. Within days help arrives by sea from Kophra. In the end only 7000 nomads marched and hobbled back to their plains. No booty, no weapons and no horses left to them. 300 were kept as hostages. For Holl and the Empire over 2500 died and another 1000 were maimed. Governor Bakesly fell bravely as one of the last to hold the wall. They did take a great haul in horses and goods from the defeated nomads.
Lord Forester is asked to act as interim Governor and he accepts. He calls for immigrants from back west in the Empire proper and Kophra. Lord Tam (age 27), a younger son of Duke Ham leads 300 families to Holl Colony. The rebuilding of the town begins. It is decided to maintain a fishing village on the Island of refuge near Holl. The village acquires the name of Refuge Bay.
Reinforcements from the Empire arrive in Kophra and Holl Colony. Harwell Port is built as a military fort and town using Army and Navy families and influx of men and women from debtor prison. Also a large group of colonists are recruited from fishing villages with the promise of land and small boats.

1612: Princess Felina and Lord Beron spend 5 months in Kophra and Holl helping with planning and health issues. They work with the local engineers in Holl to strength the defense while they are at it. In Kophra and its villages and forts many improvements are planned for the next 5 years. Top the list is improved water supplies, garbage and refuse removal, burials and the cleaning out of mosquito infested areas near human habitation. Northern Kophra also has a rabies problem. Organized hunts begin to eliminate rabid critters in the region.
The Fleet arrives in Kophra in force to support an army of 10,000 to help fight in the south and to patrol the area for a year. The take and hold the Keptic peninsula and build defensive forts to protect it. The south is largely secured. The troops will be reduced to 5000 in 6 months and only 1500 in 12 months. This remaining 1500 will be the replacements for those lost or maimed defending Holl.
The Centaur companies are increase in numbers to 800 as several large tribes move into the North and expand the border of Kophra. The militia is increased. A group of 200 Halflings move Kophra and form a community in a fertile valley 35 miles north of the town of Kophra. It takes the simple name of Fair Valley.
King Olondor VI passes away at age 91 just shy of his 92 birthday. Queen Dalianna passes a week later. The last King and Queen of Hofra are both gone and Princess Dalianna (age 32) is the new ruler of the semi-independent Kingdom of Hofra. She is married to Lord Charles (age 36) of Port Hilliard. A Commodore in the Fleet and detached to Hofra last year when Prince Olondor VII died. He is now titled Duke of Hofra but Dalianna is Princess of Hofra. The Navies begin to integrate officially as agreed, Hofra maintains its own army. The Navies had been integrating for decades already with personnel transferring between the two. The Princess and Empress to me are extremely close. Relations could not be better.
While the Fleet was away the pirates returned to great activity between the continents. They preyed on ships nearing Xylia especially and in the channel of course. As the Fleet returns the pirates disappear. It seems too organized compared to the past.

1613: Princess Felina authorizes the building of the Grand Archives and pays for most of it from her own treasures.
The Ladies High Council brings Lady Jane Forester (age 54) into the council to return their number to 9. She is wise and as Duchess of Great Bay the In-Law/Aunt of most of the council. She is also remarkably pretty for a 54 year old. She looks to be in her early 30s or perhaps younger except for the silver in her hair. In only increases the rumors her parents were half-elven. The council continues its public works and builds power through investments and uses their influence quietly to affect policy.
Kophra has a mostly peaceful year. An expedition of 4000 operates on the western border for 4 months and then stands down a 1000 at a time. Consolidation goes well and most of the population appears to support the new government and the prosperity and security it is bringing. Another 50 Halflings arrive.
Holl Colony grows and increases the Island villages as places for supplies and refuge. Another 400 Otterkin have moved to the region. Lord Tam Forester (age 29) is made Governor of Holl. Lord Jon Forester assists in both Holl and Kophra and visits Lady Jane and family in Great Bay. Some farms are successful on the long island. The Otterkin have created some excellent fishing ponds it swampy areas all around the town.
Lord Garell, youngest son of Lord Garret begins his training in Ilandria at age 12. He shows great promise and is very bright and very powerful.
Duchess Rose of Drallon passes away at age 64.

1614: Earl Gallen, First Minister of Health of the Empire passes away. He is thought to be 85. Princess Felina had taken over the Ministry that Gallen had so ably built as the Third Minister of Health. She authorizes the building of a large hospital in Armada as Earl Gallen Hospital.
Princess Dolsafra is born to Crown Prince Hollis and Princess Katarina (age 32). This is her last child. Princess Henrietta is already said to be a fair child now at age 12. She takes a great interest in her baby sister.
Princess Lydia (age 19) marries Lord Gavin (age 22), eldest son of Lord Garret and Lady Ysebella. He is training to be a Wizard in Ilandria; she will continue her studies as a healer in Ilandria.
The EWT Eagle is launched. She is a huge vessel of nearly 500’ length. It has 4 huge masts and hangs enough sail for a few circuses. She mounts 120 cannons and 10 Empire Guns able to fire explosive shots nearly a mile. The Eagle is crewed by 300 and can carry another 500. Additionally a weather witch is a ship’s officer and there is a small surgical department in onboard. The vessel is partially built with magic as it exceeds the normal ability of wood construction. She can make 19 knots. She is the new Flag ship of the fleet and is faster and more powerful than even the ancient Bronze Galleys.
The Empire and Dwarves are experimenting with small portable cannon like weapon to replace the crossbow. So far experiments look hopeful.
A large fleet led by the Bronze Galleys deposits 2000 colonists at Holl Colony with a lot of goods. From there the fleet proceeds on a tour of Bowen and then Kophra.
Lord Garret and Lady Ysebella remain in Bowen as special ambassadors to negotiate their peaceful inclusion into the Empire of Thelland. The Kingdom would remain semi-independent similar to Hofra. The King’s son would take the throne as Prince Havlon. The Pyllix are guaranteed their rights and freedoms and the Lord Garret points to the Empire’s treatment of Halflings, Otterkin, Elves, Dwarves, Centaurs, Jags and Selkies as full citizens and the lack of discrimination. The expansion of Holl Colony into a County of the Empire will facilitate trade and defense along the coast and the eventual building of a good road to Kantar and thus the bulk of the Empire. The road will be built from Bowen.

1615: The Eagle and a small fleet of fast frigates are on patrol in the channels to deal with piracy. Emperor Hollis orders the Fleet to make ready for invasion of the Calen, the main port of the southern Empire of Hadon. Emperor Hollis has no plans of invading and holding the South in his lifetime as the Empire does not have the manpower to hold it and complete plans for Thelland. However a strike for punishment of piracy and to demand annual tribute seems like a fine idea. The best ships and forces are prepared. The invasion is planned for early October when the weather should be most favorable.
Negotiations proceed slowly in Bowen but the oracles are favorable and Lady Ysebella feels things are going well. The Road to Bowen is complete and the Kophran Highway is nearing completion.
Headwater has expanded greatly. A large number of young Halflings couples have moved the county for the free and fertile farm lands. Many humans have also moved nearby, especially younger sons from the larger merchant houses now call Headwater and Kantor Town home. Many more forts have been built along the eastern border and a road and three strong forts join Kantor to Far Home across the gap. The open region will eventually become a new county.
The Piracy of Calen is confirmed. The invasion is launched. 200 ships led by the EWT Eagle and the Bronze Galleys. A force of 20,000 men in all land as the port is quickly taken. All vessels are taken. Through impressments and soldiers another 50 ships are crewed. Calen surrenders are the Eagle bombards the central citadel from the entrance of the harbor. They negotiate a large tribute. Promise of an annual tribute and to end the Piracy.

1616: Duke Yan dies at age 68. His son Yanson (age 43) is the new Duke of Yillian. The Duchess Helena (age 43) is from Caelie and said to be part Selkie. They have a Castle on the sea in Yillis. Together they have 6 children.
The Eagle leads 50 warships and 30 merchants south for the first annual tribute from Calen. Another 200 warships are ready along the southern ports to sail in retribution if the need arises. Calen does not have the tribute ready and flag messages are sent back to the Empire to ready the fleet via the scrying of the Fleet’s seers. There are two on board the Eagle. The Lord Mayor of Calen complains of poverty, drought, bad crops and a failure to recover for last year’s losses. He protests the tribute is too high. Lord Admiral Maxwell the 2nd (age 47) commanding from the Eagle has sent scouts and merchants out and determines the cries of poverty are overstated and demands the tribute within 3 days or the town shall be seized and held in the name of the Emperor of Thelland. It gets very tense, 3 large fleets are scried approaching Calen and will arrive before the Fleet can reinforce. The Admiral announces he will be touring the nearby waters and pulls the Eagle’s fleet out to join the Fleet. The Hadon Fleets lie in wait ready to pounce. Instead the Eagle leads an assault on the weakest group to the east and the Fleet engages the largest group to the west. Both battles are won by the Empire of Thelland with ease and the ships of Hadon are largely destroyed with nearly a third captured. The third fleet of Hadon flees for Madonus to the west. The Eagle leads the fastest ships of the Fleet in pursuit to harry them and sink 18 stragglers and capture 1. The main Fleet moves on Calen which rushes to produce the tribute, amazingly now ready. In all 53 ships of war were captured. This was worth more than the tribute and is a loss Hadon can ill afford. Its Navy is now down to 81 ships of the 244 that sailed. Their reserve is only another 50 or so ships.
Quercus and Xylia choose this time to rebel from the Empire of Hadon. They control 43 of the remaining war ships. They request aid from the Empire of Thelland. Thelland lands supplies and recognizes Kingdom of Quercus. The Emperor Harnen of Hadon sends a strong protest over the rapacious and continued atrocities instigated by the Empire of Thelland. Lord Admiral Maxwell II responds that the Emperor must look to his own house first and bring his rogue cities under control and then friendly relations and proper trade can resume. In the meantime the Kingdom of Quercus appears to be an excellent trade partner and potential long term friend.
It is a good year in the Empire proper. The nomads are being less aggressive. The borders are strengthening as the roads improve. Trade is high and a great year for crops. The handheld cannons are proving to be possible but too slow to replace the trusty crossbow and the longbows are still far superior in rate of fire and accuracy. Tylander and Baerlinger both have thriving industry in yew preserves and fashioning long bows and training the low bow companies. The colonies continue to grow and strengthen. Headwater in particular is now exporting large amounts of produce to both the Dwarves of Thellin Mountains and out to Xallia and Drallon. Master Tom Burrows (age 55) a leading farmer of Headwater is raised to Marquis of Headwater County. Count Robagan of the Headwater Village of course owes fidelity to Marquis Burrows. The Marquis holds the highest title of any Halfling in the Empire.

1617: The Kingdom of Quercus is holding out against the Empire of Hadon and to aid them merchants of Thelland sell 40 outdated ships of war that were planned for conversion to merchantmen to Quercus on credit. These mostly are ones captured in the last two years from Hadon. A large mercenary company of 4000 also agree to hold a series of forts near Deep Bay. They are well equipped and all very recently separated from the Empires army or marines.
When a merchant ship out of Far Home is sunk in late July, the EWT Eagle comes down swiftly with the fast frigates and 50 additional ships of the line and secures the area for the safety of trade by sending 6 ships of Hadon to the bottom and seizing another 7. They then establish a small free port at the top of Deep Bay and take over the nearby fort and paying the mercenaries who are reactivated back into the military of the Empire. Quercus is happy to cede control of the port to the Empire on an 84½ year lease.
Emperor Harnen declares this an act of war and marches his army on the Deep Bay Port forts. The Fleet deploys in earnest. They land an additional 10000 men near the port and meet up with the 8500 from Xylia and Quercus. In the meantime the Eagle and fastest ships race to Sydron and pound the town and destroy its port and warehouses. The message is sent to accept the independence of Quercus or every port will be destroyed. Emperor Harnen orders his fleet and all auxiliaries to lay in wait to ambush the Eagle and her escort when the assault Carnus. The army of Hadon suffers an unexpected and devastating defeat as the Army of Thelland defends itself with cannons, long bows and crossbows in huge numbers. The army pulls back to regroup as the Eagle begins the work of destroy Carnus. The ambush fleet is surprised by a second fleet built around the Bronze Galleys and slower ships of the line. Caught between this fleet and the Eagle’s, the Hadon navy is ended. 43 ships are sunk and 88 captured and only 2 escape. There is virtual no navy left.
Emperor Harnen sues for peace, in exchange for dropping the tribute from Calen to a lower level and recognizing the Kingdom of Quercus, the Empire of Thelland agrees to return 50 ships and not to expand beyond the Deep Bay Port. Prince Jenris of Quercus signs a treaty of alliance with Thelland and pays for the ships, mercenaries and weapons by making the lease free and for 999 years and returning 20 of the ships. The empire ends up 20 ships ahead this year and owners of an excellent harbor with forts already built and some population and farms. Lord Gilbert (age 35) son of Duke Cargill and Duchess Rose of Hilliard is made Count of Deep Bay.
Duke Thisras dies in a hunting accident just shy of 61 years. His and Lady Jane’s son Thomas is now Duke Thomas of Great Bay (age 34)

1618: On the 100th anniversary of King Holl’s birth, the Empire builder’s legacy is celebrated by launching of the EWT King Holl. Considered an improved version of the EWT Eagle which was already considered the greatest ship ever built. In the test runs, the King Holl tops 22 knots. The hull is magically defouled and preserved and a pair of skilled weather witches provides perfect winds for the speed run. The armament is similar to the Eagle’s but with 30 Empire Guns and 90 heavy cannons. Plans are to add another 20 Empire guns at the expense of 30 cannons when the guns are built.
Bowen joins the Empire as a semi-independent Duchy to be ruled by their council of merchants and wizards. The will have a free hand in trade but be in military areas follow the Empire’s instructions. The Chief Minister of Bowen as elected by the council will also hold the title of Duke of Bowen but only while he holds the office of Chief Minister. The Empire is now officially the Empire of Thelland.
Princess Henrietta marries at the young age of 16 to a Captain Tyrone (age 27), son of the Duke of Port Hilliard. He is a dashing young nobleman. Said to be brave, a great sword fighter and a good leader of men. He was already expected to make Admiral at a young age. Their first child is born late the same year. They name him Tyrone II.

1619-1624: Things quiet down as the Empire grows in population and wealth and consolidates. The ET King Holl completes its conversion to a 50 Empire Gun and 60 heavy cannon ship. The ET Dragon is under construction to be a sister ship to the Holl. In 20 years the 3 new colonies are thriving. The Road to Bowen and its supporting Forts and trading posts are under construction. There is little trouble with the nomads and nearly no piracy. Emperor Hollis decides to retire at age 78. Emperor Hollis II (age 51) and Empress Katarina (age 46) now rules the Great Empire of Thelland. Empress Katarina is still a great beauty. Lady Melody begins her formal training in Ilandria. She is accepted to train as a Wizard.

1625: Empress Daphne passes away at age 76. Queen Yisafra, Empress of Yillis (age 99) gives the most moving Eulogy to the Brilliant and Beautiful First Empress of the New Empire. She did as much or more than anyone to build this Empire to prosperity and peace.
Lord Garell completes his training as a Wizard and is believed to be the most powerful Mage known.
Lady Jane Forester moves to Armada and takes on the job of assistant Minister of Health. The Duchess and Princess Felina continue their good works with the support of the Ladies High Council. She visits Caelie often to visit her daughter, the Duchess Anne and dote on her grandkids Finarin and Anafin. Young Lady Anafin (age 13) is said to look much like her Grandmother Lady Jane. Lord Finarin will be the next Duke of Caelie and is a bright young man of 15 with quick reflexes; he is already a highly skilled archer.
The nomads mass again to strike the Empire. This time they choose to go against Kantar and then Headwater. They especially wish to wipe out the settlers in the plains between the original Headwater Forts and the region now enclosed by the new forts along the road from Kantar to Far Home. Emperor Hollis II designates General Samuel Justice (age 53) as Field Marshall and commander. He is the second son of Count Justice of Kofet and recognized as a great strategist. Prince Hollis III (age 16) is assign as one of his aides. The Field Marshall and his staff put together an elaborate plan to try and cover most options the horde has. They command an army of 38,700 humans, Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, Centaurs, Otterkin, Skroggs, Jags, Pyllix, wizards, healers and druids to help in the fight off the horde 45,000 made up mostly of the feared Jel Ahir. In the end the nomads suffer a great defeat and few survive to return. Many are taken as slaves to work on roads, fortifications or even in the mines of the Dwarves; though the Dwarves offer them servitude of 7 years instead. The Empire and allies lost only 3000 and capture over 20,000 horses.

1626: Duchess Violet of Yillian passed away at age 70.
To fill the opening left by Empress Daphne passing, the Ladies High Council chooses Duchess Arillia of Jarad to bring their number back to 9. She is the daughter of Duke Roverton II and married Lord Vantor the second son of Duke Yan and Duchess Violet of Yillian. Together they lead Jarad and she is bright and assertive as the actual heir of Duke Roverton II.
The county on the plains where the Nomads struck the prior year between Great Bay and Headwater is given the official name of Justice Fields County. Field Marshall Samuel Justice is made a Count in his own right and given the County as his fiefdom.
Cape Colony is established on the south shore on the large cape in the south east of the continent.
The army greatly increases the number of horsemen in it. 17 new forts are built or begun on the eastern borders of Great Bay, Justice Fields and Kantor. Surveyors lay out plans for a line of forts from Kophra to Holl that will increase the size of Holl and Kophra and protect the main road.

1627-1635: The ET King Holl and ET Dragon are joined by the ET Griffin and ET Victory. Relations with the Empire of Hadon improve and piracy has largely disappeared. Deep Bay thrives. Cape Colony grows and begins trade with the primitive people of the cape. Largely isolated by the jungle all these years, their technology and knowledge is centuries out of date.
Lady Melody (age 24) completes her training as a Wizard in 1631. She is deemed to have great potential. In 1633 she marries Lord Dwalin. They are first cousins once removed.
Duke Yanis dies at age 70 in 1628 and Duchess Aura dies at age72 in 1633. Duke Yanis II reigns in Xallia. Duchess Ella of Jarad passes in 1631 at age 80. Duke Henric of Byrota dies at age 72 in 1631. Emperor Hollis (retired) dies in 1635 at age 89. Duchess Hanna and Lord Garret are the last of the royal siblings alive. In 1632 Lord Garell marries Lady Willow, she is said to be a Dryad enspelled to travel from her tree. She and Lord Garell are inseparable. When not away, they live near Ilandria somewhere in the woods.
Lady Anafin (age 21) married Prince Hollis III (age 24) in 1633. He looks much like his Grandfather Emperor Hollis and she look much like her grandmother, Lady Jane Forester, who at 74 still looks under 40 and only her silvery hair betrayed her age. There is much elven blood in both.
Coll Colony has grown large enough that it is declared County Holl and Lord Tam (age 49) is made the First Earl of Coll in 1633. A quick note, a Count and Earl are roughly the same level of nobility in the Empire back in this distant time but in most cases an Earl would report directly to the Emporer but a Count to a Marquis or Duke. It is expected that an Earl would grow with his county to become a Marquis or even Duke.
The roads and forts from Kophra to Bowen and Far Home to Kantor are complete. The roads and forts from Kantor to Bowen are nearly complete. A large migration flows to Headwater, Justice Fields, Holl, Kophra and Deep Bay; most still go east by boat.
The Ladies High Council continues its good works and in 25 years has now seen the building of hospitals in most of the large cities and at least one per Duchy. They have also improved the general welfare of the peasants and common soldier and sailor. Hygiene and sanitation has improved remarkably in a short time and plagues and epidemic are both rarer and smaller in impact. Good health means a fast growing Empire as much as the strong military and roads have.
The next Grand Survey is started in 1634.
A large number of Nomads earned their freedom and most made their way back east to their people but some settled instead in Headwater or Justice Fields and nearly hundred joined the army.

1636: Empress Yisafra dies at age 110. She outlived all but two of her children. At her request, Lady Anafin takes her place in the Ladies High Council. Duchess Hanna, Duchess Dollis, Empress Katarina, Princess Felina, Lady Ysebella, Princess Dalianna, Lady Jane Forester, Duchess Arillia and Lady Anafin are the current 9.
The Empire has succeeded in cementing alliances with a few of the smaller nomad groups and most of the Centaur tribes.
Princess Felina and her escort Lord Wizard Beron tour the Empire of Thelland, Kingdom of Quercus and Empire of Hadon in the ET Dragon at the head of 30 ships including the ET Eagle which just completed an overhaul and has been in service for 22 years. They then join with Lord Garret and Lady Ysebella and Duke Jon Forester on the ET King Holl and another 30 fast ships on a journey to Surimer, the southern Empire.
Their first port is Yõmdiz and then fleet heads Suriliz the massive capitol of Surimer. It is a huge and dynamic city, rumored to have nearly a million people in it. The Lords, Admirals and Captains are entertained by the Grand Vizier a very powerful Wizard type and the Eternal King. King Jaeru is said to be over 600 years old now. Both are polite and very formal and the armies of attendants and slaves that wait on them number in the hundreds.
The Grand Vizier relays the request for the hand in marriage of Princess Dolsafra to the Eternal King. She is offered the important position of number 2 wife. Princess Felina must make polite excuses for her niece. Among them is that she is already promised in marriage to the future Duke of Roundup. But mostly she effectively explained how great the differences are in their marriage customs without offending. It is agreed that ambassadors shall be exchanged in the upcoming years. Princess Felina does get to spend a week in the Library of Suriliz. It is as great as she heard in traveler’s tales. Her likeminded husband, Uncle and Aunt join her in exploring the library.
Duke Jon Forester and Admiral Tiraz inspect the Navy and Army of Surimer. The army is impressive in size especially but the Navy does not compare at all well to the Empire of Thelland. They believe this part of the Fleet that has come south could possible win against the entire Navy of Surimer. The only variable is the ability to bring arcane power to bear on the battle. The Fleet then heads south to Bayliz and swings east along the southern shore to head for home.
They find the shore largely bereft of population and provisioning along the way requires foraging. But they work their way north to Dalmanako and visit Lant on the large strange island of pygmy elephants and great flightless birds and high steep mountains that are the home of both Pegasi and Griffons. Lady Felina secures a pair of young Griffons to return home with. They meet the Great Bird of Many Colors, an ancient bird with a 40’ wingspan and great wisdom. They also hunted down and killed an ancient vampire lord that had been preying on the outlying villages of Lant for decades. Finally from Lant it was back to Great Bay and then travels home.

1637: Cape Colony is sorely beset in a large assault by a local chief. The colony is largely destroyed before help arrives. A large army led by Lord Forester tracks down those responsible and rescues a good portion of the people of the colony who were taken as slaves. Lord Forester stays on to supervise the building of a strong and more secure colony. No one knows his age but he has to be over 105 years old already.
Headwater has grown swiftly in population and prosperity. It is home to over 16,000 Halflings and 4800 humans and 2200 Otterkin. Emperor Hollis II declares it a Duchy and raises Marquis Burrows (age 76) to Duke. This begins an additional movement of young Halflings to Headwater. In just 33 years this new Duchy has become one of the prime farming regions of the Empire. It grows rich from the trade with the Dwarves of course but also the export of food.
Lord Regnar (age 42) dies fighting giants near the great desert. Lord Garell (age 36) leads a large war party that includes Lord Dwalin (age 38 ) and Lady Melody (age 30) to subdue the giants and gain the return of his brother's gear and staff.
The ET Duke Thisras is launched. He is the 6th Imperial Battleship.

1638: The Ladies High Council begins a new project. They wish to improve the lot of all women in the Empire. Give them more rights and respect. They know it will take a long time, decades surely but they make plans to see it happen.
The Great Tower of Armada has been completed. It was started 23 years earlier and stands 560’ tall. It sits on a low hill that places it a total of 710’ above the River Thellin and acts as a great light house and the new administration offices of the Empire. A series of magical lifts provide access to the top. One starts below the ground floor and goes up 150’. The next starts at 100’ and climbs to 300’. The next two run from 250’ to 450’ and finally 400’ to 550’. There is a new dock at the foot of the hill that can accommodate 4 of the Imperial Battleships at once.
The second Grand Survey is completed. It is found the Empire is thriving, the people prospering, the military is running at a top professional level and the reserves are drilled on a regular basis. No area is suffering though it is found that some areas are lagging. Hrunfner and Roundup are experiencing low growth and fairly stagnant economies. Many of their younger people have migrated to other regions or joined the military and not returned. Only 4 counts were corrected and 14 barons are recommended for replacement, only one was actually criminal. Dozens of administrators are replaced with 15 brought back for trial. Only 2 garrison commanders were recalled. Areas of great growth were Headwater, Fleet and Great Bay. It is estimated that the capital Armada is probably the richest and most powerful city in the history of the world. It has surpassed old Jarinth when it was the capitol of the Ancient Thellin Empire.

1639: The ET Crusader is launch. A slightly stronger and faster version of the Imperial Battleships, she mounts a full 100 Empire Guns mark IIs and 4 signal cannons. The mark IIs allow for faster loading, better recoil and greater accuracy. The Crusader is partially iron clad and made of the strongest oak. She is 502’ long. Her 4 masts and innovative design allow her to hit 24 knots under the guidance of the 3 weather witches. Standard crew is 300 and there is room to carry 500 more. Lord Admiral Tyrone (age 48) is given her command.
Lord Admiral Tyrone set out with his wife the Princess Henrietta (age 37) and their 11 children (ages 21 to 2) for a Grand Tour of the Empire. The swift Fleet of 7 ships started at New Port and visited all the major ports of the Great Bay and then worked south with a long stop at Corinthia where the fleet expanded to 29 swift ships. The trip through Stormy Channel was rough and the fleet got somewhat scattered. When the storm let up, a part of the fleet was attacked by a large pirate force. The Crusader sailed in fast and her speed and weapons made short work of the pirates. They sent 7 ships to the bottom in 12 minutes and then pursued and captured 3 more. It is discovered these pirates are based on a few small isles to the west of Madonus.
Lord Admiral Tyrone gathered up his fleet and escorted the prize ships and damaged ships to Hofra. The Crusader itself he raced to Hofra to make arrangements for a large force and a marine contingent to rout the Pirates from their homes. The Brass Galley ET Bronze Spear was available and Imperial Battleship ET Victory. A total fleet of 86 ships were assembled with over 5000 marines and soldiers. The pirates were easily overwhelmed. Their ships and villages were destroyed. Tyrone II (age 21) served as one of his father’s aides.
The Lord Admiral returned to Hofra and picked up the rest of his family. They continued on to Drallon, Far Home and then around to Kophra, Holl and the towns of Bowen. On the return they stopped at Quercus, Xylia and Deep Bay and then visited Sydron, Carnus, Calen and Madonus of the Empire of Hadon. They finished in Armada with a Grand Ball held in the Empire Tower.

1640-1644: Five years of basic peace. Cape Colony is growing now and making allies of some of the locals with extensive local scouting and mapping being done. Deep Bay grows and sports at least one Imperial Battleship at all times. The Bowen-Kantor Road is done. The first string of forts along the way is completed. The road allows for wagons to move at a good speed but still needs to be widened. County Holl is growing steadily and Northern and Southern Kophra is also growing. Bowen is laying out plans for a new town about 25 miles west on the Bowen-Kantor Road. Justice Fields continues to grow as does Kantor. The Duchy of Headwater grows far quicker though. It appears about 1 in 4 young Halflings from the rest of the Empire now head for Headwater and the Halfling almost all have large families.
The military keeps improving. The core of the standing army has grown into the elite force that King Holl and Emperor Hollis laid out all those year ago and the reserves are well trained and drilled. The cavalry numbers 24,000 and the dragoons (mounted infantry for rapid deployment) number another 20,000. There are a total of 2500 hand cannon teams and 2000 mounted archers. There are 1200 water specialists between the Otterkin and Selkies. There are also 2000 Centaurs mostly in the east. Reserves are estimated to be 60,000 dragoons and up to 280,000 of various types and races. It is believe allies could provide another 1000 Dwarves.
The navy now has a large number of elite powerful and fast ships. The ET Lord Maxwell is launched, the last of the King Holl class. 8 Imperial Battleships with an 9th nearing completion. 37 Fast Frigates and the 9 Bronze Galleys round out the fast and magical fleet. Then a conventional Navy of 124 ships of the line and 220 smaller warships and over 1000 merchantmen complete the forces. All merchant vessels of a certain size are considered reserves but the Empire helps to maintain this giant fleet.

1645: On the 100th anniversary of the wedding of King Holl and Princess Yisafra, Duchess Hanna (age 97) leads the largest number of balls since the Grand Imperial Wedding of 1600.
The ET Conqueror is launched a sister ship to the Crusader. As the ET Eagle is now 31 years old, a planned 3 year overhaul begins. Smaller maintenance periods keep 7 of the Imperials ready for duty at all times. The ET Victory at Deep Bay.

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1545
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The northern Continent is often referred to as Thelland. It has extensive Farmlands and great grazing lands.

· Caelie Confederation: 1, 2 & 3 form the small loose confederation of Fishing towns
· The Merchant’s League: 9, 10 & 11 is effectively a super corporation of trade and banking, it maintains a fair standing army and good diplomatic relations with its neighbors.
· Kingdom of Hilliard: 12-15 a small kingdom, primarily Farming renown for its Halfling Scout Archers. They are effectively a Gorilla force.
· The Fleet: 16-21 make up the Military ruled, Navy dominated Country known as the Fleet
· Yillian: 22-23 Barely a country, More together out of old habits.
· Jarad: 24-27 makes up a small, decaying Kingdom, Only Pithing & the Village of Boffin is striving.
· Hofra: 37-38 Small kingdom, broken off from Jarad; A Country growing on its Trade with the southern continent.
· Bowen: 43-45 This tight knit kingdom is thriving on trade with the Nomads, a remote trade route via the dwarves to the west. Renown for Silk & spices & Magical gems.
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1. Cartersport: Fishing & miner trade Elf, Human & Selkie
2. Caelie: Fishing & Trade; renown for exceptional woodwork Elf, Human & Selkie
3. Dolfanner: Fishing & minor trade; Renown for their Snow pearls Elf, Human & Selkie
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4. Tylander Village: At the edge of Tyland Woods, Woodsman & Farmers & Smiths Elf, Human, Dwarf & Halfling
5. Baerlinger: Fishing & Trade; Human
6. Hrunfner: Great Cattle town; Once powerful city now a meatpacker Human
7. Roundup: Cattle Town; Renown for Horses Human & Centaur
8. Ilandria: The hidden city; semi-legendary, Renown for special item & trinkets, Called the magic or Wizards city. Elf, Human & Selkie
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9. Trailsend: Major Trade center with Cattle, Produce, Seafood, Mt Ice various trade goods passing through. Human
10. Xallia: Named for the river; Trade center Human & Dwarf
11. Portage: The link for the Xallia & Thellin River Valleys Brisk trade center with extensive Humans & Otterkin biweekly Trade Train to Xallia
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12. Port Hilliard: Prime port for Xallia River Human
13. Hilliard: Capital of the Hilliard Kingdom: Mainly a Farming & Military Center Human
14. Kofet: Farming Center, Renown for pipeweed & Cooking Halfling & Human
15. LittlePort: A large port shipping farm produce mainly north Human & Halfling
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16. Kilpon: Small fishing port, maintains small navy force Human
17. Port Hemmin: Large Port with good size fleet Human
18. Jorgeson: Small fishing port, maintains small navy force Human
19. Poet’s Port: Famed for its College & oyster beds Human & Sea Elf
20. Marshburg: Minor town for the marsh hunters Human & Skroggs
21. Armada: The Great Naval port; has the top ShipYard, sell ships. Great trade port, Capital of the Fleet. Human & others in sm % Very Large Population creating a striving Textile & clothing industry also.
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22. Kowry: Minor port, entrance is very rocky channel. Famed for it Human Lighthouses. Strong ancient wall allows easy defense.
23. Yillis: A decaying town, with crumbling walls, technically capital of Yillian. Human Most power in the Farmers Council & Kowry stands on its own.
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24. Pithing: Small but busy port: Famed for its Food Human
25. Corinthia: Large Port town, in a long decline. Human
26. Jarinth: Capital for Jarad, Large but declining metropolis, much of the Farm trade has moved out to Boffin. Human
27. Pariphia: Small Town, Farming community Human & Halfling
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28. Fyllian: Small Town built on the Ruins of Glasling, The old city Human & Halfling was destroyed by a war between Yillian & Jarad.
29. Killian: A Successful RiverPort, Supplying the locals w/ a port Human & Halfling
30. Julian: Large Port, rife with Corruption; possibly pirates Human
31. Byrota: Powerful City state, strong economic force, believed to be building towards Kingdom Human
32. Bale’s Ferry: This Town started as the ferry port for Hilliard to Thellin River. Human & OtterKin
33. Thellin: River Town, Minor trade Human
34. Otterhome: Large Village of primarily OtterKin Otterkin
35. Evenrude: River Trade Town, Renown for preserves Humans
36. Pologan: Farmland Merchant and Skilled labor Town Humans & Dwarves
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37. Hofra: Capital and striving trade center, large navy Human & Sea Elf
38. New Jaran: Rapidly growing trading port Human & Sea Elf
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39. Drallon: Growing Deep water Port, Major trade with South. Human & Sea Elf
40. Waterhome: The largest dwelling of the OtterKin, Renown for it’s Fresh Water Pearls Otterkin & Elf
41. Far Home: This isolated City State was built at the Height of the Ancient Thellin Empire Human, Centaur, Jags, Dwarves which ruled most the continent 900 years ago. It is renown for its Jungle trade and its Ancient fleet of Bronze Galleys that are self powered!!!
42. Kophra: Small Kingdom, at war with the Jel Ahir Nomads. No trade!! Human & Centaur
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43. North Bowen: The renown home of the best Silks, dyes & spices Human & Pyllix
44. New Bowen: This small town is a Wizard enclave. Human
45. Bowen: Large City also called the City of Silk. Fanciful Towers & streets Human & Pyllix
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a) Kantar: This is the Largest city of the Dwarves, Renown for its Gold & Steel, its even more known for Smithing Dwarves
b) Goudun: Large Dwarf Community, works with small OtterKin & Human River rafters.
c) CrossRoads: This village is mainly a farm market and 3 inns. Human & Halfling
d) Plasan: A Crossroad village. Human
e) Treyfun: Fort and Market with large Inn Human
f) Boffin: Village is a thriving trade & Goods center. It even has a Dwarven Smith’s Shop. Halfling & Human
g) Drallonville: This village is Drallon’s satellite riverport. Human

Skroggs: A race of Marsh dwellers, Large prehuman Hominids, They are fiercely strong but have low intelligence.
Otterkin: A race of Large Otters with Manipulative Hands. Incredible River Craft Builders & Pilots
Selkies: A race of Seal people, Shapeshift to a seal form, as human form small ears and very light fur of Body.
Jags: A race of Jaguar People, Can Shapeshift to Jaguars, Humanoid form has fairly good manual Dexterity.
Pyllix: A race on Butterfly like Insectoids, Brilliant colored wings, 4’ span, sleek bodies

The first map is from around 1995 as is some of the outline and details of the countries. I cleaned up and expanded the timeline considerably in the last few weeks.

The idea is that if we get 6-20 writers willing to write short stories or longer in this world we have at least a fun writing project and maybe something that could be E-published to raise funds for Mellophant and bring in some additional readers.

Writers would choose any aspect of this world they like, adventure, humor, comedy, horror, etc. The only request is that writers coordinate to keep this consistant between stories, whether it is racial abilities, heroes or to the timeline.

You didn't list the Elves, Dwarves, or Centaurs in your bit there on the races, so I assume you're going with some standard concept of them. Which one?

Elves are a little mysterious, clearly long lived and akin to either the Elves of Tolkien or the Sidhe of Irish legends. The Sea Elves are more like the Sidhe in fact.

Dwarves are purely Tolkien/D&D in nature but then Dwarves have become fairly generic throughout fantasy based on Tolkien anyway.

Centaurs should be considered smart but nomadic and excellent with bows and long spears. They are basically good but not just humans with a horse body, they are more alien than Dwarves or Halflings.

Halflings are in all honesty just Hobbits with the serial numbers filed off. They are maybe a little more prone to rising up and fighting back but generally peaceful lovers of plenty and amazing farmers.

The Otterkin should be a clever but not very technical people outside of river boating and lodge building. They are as playful as otters and rarely very serious. They have no real equivalent in fantasy that I can think of. They should be anthropomorphic otters in the end. They speak and use tools but live simple lives. Emphasize joking, playing and hunting fish. Occasionally at times that would seem odd to humans and Dwarves. The larger communities keep a beaver workforce to help out.