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Ancient History — Before even the Migrations
Before the time of the Great Migrations, the moors north of the Cold Marshes were inhabited by Flan tribes who dwelt in stockade-like hillforts near the numerous hot springs throughout the region. These remote tribesmen were little troubled by the events in the southern lands, though their own tales say that the Black Ice had already filled the northern valleys. It is not known what, if any, civilization existed in the far northern land before the Ice claimed it, but the rumor of evil in the north was old even when the Oeridians and Suel were new to the Flanaess.
The Suel were in fact the first outsiders to have a significant effect on the lives of the native Flan. Cousins of the Ice Barbarians calling themselves Zeai, or Sea Barbarians, colonized the Tusking Strand and Brink Islands north of Blackmoor. They raided the native villages, though this was little enough to the Flan, who raided each other constantly. The Zeai learned also of the City of the Gods and the Egg of Coot, and stood in awe at the looming menace of the Black Ice. Soon other peoples learned of these wonders as well.
-20 CY to 254CY — Annexed by Aerdy
Oeridians and some Suloise from the southern lands appeared in Blackmoor, usually in small bands, seeking treasure and magic. On their trail came more substantial groups, outcasts of other lands who wished to create their own domains. These minor barons built the first castles and brought a new kind of warfare to the moorlands. The natives were driven from the most habitable regions and were forced to take shelter in the bogs. Here they encountered the Hopping Prophet, and many joined his growing band of followers. Elsewhere in Blackmoor, the lich-lord Ranial the Gaunt organized resistance to the Aerdi, creating the Crown of Blackmoor in an attempt to wield the Oerthmagic against the invading armies. He ultimately failed, and the Great Kingdom made even this distant land a subject state, which they titled an archbarony.
Viceroys of Ferrond administered the archbarony, but they took little interest in Blackmoor apart from occasional punitive actions. They did build the Stornawain Road through the Cold Marshes, linking the Northern Reaches with the archbarony, but the route was never maintained by the local lords and barons. Eventually, Blackmoor was released from the grasp of Furyondy and the Great Kingdom, unwanted and forgotten.
The Archbarony of Blackmoor Today — A Land Forgotten
Rumors of another lich-lord rising to power in Blackmoor were lost amid the general upheaval of the early 300s CY, as the Relentless Horde swept across the northlands and completely cut off the archbarony from the southern realms.
Adventurers still traveled to Blackmoor, searching for the legendary City of the Gods or testing their mettle in the dungeons of Castle Blackmoor. This was fortunate for the archbaron, for the Dungeoneers’ Tax was one of his few sources of income. Even this trade came to an end when the Egg of Coot conquered the capital, Blackmoor Town, and destroyed both town and castle. His orc army made the castle and upper dungeon levels their stronghold, but his elite nonhuman shock troops continued to do battle even after their enemies were gone. This race, called Qullan in the Nomad dialect (after their mottled appearance), remains a hazard from Blackmoor to the Barrens to this day.
Despite the growing tensions, Archbaron Bestmo has taken no direct action against any possible threat to his authority. Iuz, meanwhile, does no more than send the occasional nonhuman contingent into Blackmoor, and a number of these have already deserted. The Egg of Coot has taken no action yet, either; its goals, as always, are inscrutable.