Giants on the Borderlands: Background

The Background:

In the spring of 584 CY the Greyhawk Wars raged across the continent. The evil cambion Iuz had launched all out attacks in the northern realms, and in the east the Great Kingdom was wracked by demons, devils, and undead in an eldritch civil war. In the south, the Scarlet Brotherhood had conquered the Lordship of the Isles and the Hold of the Sea Princes. Only in the West was there relative quiet. It did not last, as great forces of giants and humanoids swept down from the Crystalmist Mountains, into the independent Keoland borderlands of the Grand Duchy of Geoff, the then Duchy of Sterich, and the Yeomanry. In the latter, they were repulsed by yeoman levies as worthy in battle as many seasoned veterans. But Geoff and Sterich fell, as the Keolandish armies were too distant to provide aid against the invaders.  Within a score of weeks, uncounted legions of nonhumans, seemingly led by powerful giants, surged from mountain strongholds, were occupying Sterich and Geoff's petty baronies as refugees flooded western Keoland and the Gran March. 

The giant troubles, as they are called, have been ascribed to all manner of evil schemers. Some sages say that the demonic power Zuggtmoy, freed from her prison in the Temple of Elemental Evil bv the meddling Lord Robilar, allied with Iuz and drew forth the giants via agents in the Underdark. Others say the spider goddess Lolth had her own schemes and her drow organized the giants. Still others blame the Scarlet Brotherhood, since these attacks occurred as it was infiltrating and overcoming the Hold of the Sea Princes in the south. 

The giants stopped after taking Geoff and Sterich, but they sent no representatives to sign the Pact of Greyhawk at the end of 584 CY. The refugees from those land, and Keoland, never accepted their fall and continued to launch counter-attacks to retake those lands. Sterich was liberated in 588 CY, but war continues in Geoff. 

In late 589 CY, orcs, hobgoblins, and other humanoids, sometimes led by giants, began raiding the counties of Cryllor and Flen, where the border of Keoland reaches the Jotens. Some of the raids have come from large bands, with giants of different sorts in these marauding groups. Death and destruction have been laid heavily upon every place these monsters have visited. The worst of these raids resulted in the destruction of the the halfling village of Kilm, in the County of Flen.

In early 590 CY, following the defeat of a pirate and sahuagin attack on the town of Saltmarsh in late 589 CY, forces from Keoland invaded the Hold of the Sea Princes and captured the stinking, swampy fortress city of Westkeep. Many consider it a foolhardy act, given the giant and humanoid raids against the western bordelrands of the kingdom.

These raids are not being ignored by King Skotti of Keoland, nor by his vassals. The raids have caused great anger at the life and property lost. Parties of the bravest and most killed adventurers are being assembled and given the charge to scout the Jotens, in order to discover where the lairs of the raiders, the identities of their leaders, and if they have greater plans then mere savage brigandage.

So, proclamations similar to this one have gone throughout Keoland:

“To all who hear this proclamation who are good and strong fighters, mighty and knowledgeable wizards, proverbially wise sages and clerics, masterly thieves who use their abilities in the service of goodness and justice, heed the words of the His peerless Majesty, Kimbertos Skotti, King of Keoland, Lord of the Gran March, Plar of Sterich, and Protector of the South, through this humble spokesman."

“Our lands have been placed in dire danger that exceeds the abilities of ordinary levies and mercenary troops to contain. Foul witcheries and great malign magicks have conspired to destroy our noble kingdom. It is therefore my wish and thus my will that all such goodly men and women and those of demi-human standing hie with all due haste to aid in the repelling of this great danger."

“Those who choose to come to the aid of this land in its time of need shall be rewarded with the treasure of the creatures they defeat, without tax or surcharge by the crown. Those who choose to abandon this land in its time of need, or to flee or aid the forces of darkness, will be cursed in the eyes of the kingdom, and held as traitors."

“By my hand, my wish and will, and with the stamp of the signet ring that is the seal of my power...

Kimbertos Skotti, King of Keoland, Lord of the Gran March, Plar of Sterich, and Protector of the South.”

Many adventuring bands and mercenaries are heading to the Counties of Cryllor & Flen, as well as Sterich, to heed King Skotti's call - though it might be considered a devil's choice fighting giants in the mountains versus creatures in the swamps. Lord Garson Elgarin, son of the Countess of Flen, is one of those organizing raiding parties. 

One of the more promising staging areas is Borderlands Keep, in the County of Cryllor. This royal fortress is said to be within marching distance of the Caves of Chaos, as legendary lair of various humanoids long known to be a center of evil, rumors abound that secrets to the raids may be found in these humanoid-infested caverns...

There are two Borderland Keeps because, in my version of Keoland,
many royal strongholds in Keoland's border regions are built to the
 same plan (from B2 The Keep on the Borderlands) and not given
 unique names.the two on the map are simply the two Borderland
 Keeps that have impacted my campaigns to date.

Disclaimer: This blog recounts the fictional events of a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Views expressed by characters within the blog are those of the characters, not the players, dungeon master, nor the blog's author. All other views in this blog are my own and represent the views of no other person, organization, or institution.