Temporal Worksheet #85
Daggerdale History and Language Reference
The Daggerdale region has been settled, lost, settled again, lost again
and resettled a number of times. This is a worksheet to help classify
artifacts and denote languages used throughout this region's long history.
All dates are here referenced to the Dale Reckoning standard. Netheril
Years would be counted as + 3859 NY (Netheril Years).
Coniferia
- Language: Netherese, Alphabet: Draconic also Dethek influence
from trade with Tethyamar and Espruar from Cormanthor.
Originally
started as a woodcutting camp in the -2900s DR, Coniferia rapidly grew
into a prosperous community that provided wood, furs, and other natural
creations that the sprawling Eastern Forest possessed in abundance. Its
population doubled every decade, reaching a height of 15,000 in -2589
DR.
The Silver Age of
Netheril (-2758 to -2208 DR): As Coniferia grew and prospered, its surge
in population also attracted predators to the area, namely orcs and goblins.
Lumberjacks became easy targets for roving bands of these monsters, and
the loggers soon organized themselves into groups to better defend themselves.
The Golden Age of Netheril
(-2207 to -1206 DR): Map cerca -2206 DR. These
were the boom days for Coniferia. as well as for Netheril. Trade with
the ever-increasing number of floating cities enabled the logging town
to thrive. Cities such as Karsus made periodic visits to Coniferia to
more efficiently gather the raw woods needed in the enclave.
In the early -2200s, however, Coniferia
became the target for an increasing number of troll attacks. These attacks
grew in intensity throughout the Golden Age, but the citizens of the logging
town, strengthened by the occasional enclave visit, repelled the attacks.
The Age of Discovery of Netheril
(-1205 to -697 DR): The Trollflame Wars began in -1105 DR and culminated
in a horrific battle between Coniferia and a force of more than 12,000
trolls in -812 DR. Scorched bodies littered the earth and the city suffered
severe damage when the trolls penetrated the outer walls.
The Shadowed Age
of Netheril (-696 to -340 DR): While Coniferia withstood the breaching
of its walls, it took until -649 DR until logging resumed its normal pace.
Battles with the surviving trolls were infrequent, but it was obvious to
everyone in the area that another confrontation with the trolls was eminent.
Adventuring companies were frequently commissioned to search out and destroy
troll lairs.
The Fall and Beyond of Netheril
(-339 DR+): Map cerca -339 DR.
Netherils fall crushed Coniferia's economy, but the mortal blow arrived
with a resurgence of the trolls in -335. Refugees from the overrun city
of Monikar provided a warning for the logging town's residents, but there
was no support this time from the enclaves, which had all fallen to the
ground.
A paladin named Gilomide led the
people of Coniferia into battle with the trolls that became known as the
Flametongue Excursion, named after the holy sword wielded by Gilomide.
The excursion lasted for eight months, during wich time Coniferia fell
to the trolls and the survivors fought a slow retreat northeast through
the Gods' Legion Mountains and then south to join up with Netheril's survivor
states.
The Lords of Dordrien
- Language: Thorass, Alphabet: Thorass Note: this was
the first Chondathan language influence. Notes from the scolar Beldin:
The hold of Dordrien was founded in the shadow
of the Desertsmouth Mountains by a Jhaamdathan noble who led his people
north from the coasts of what is now Sembia in year -251 DR. He and
his folk were survivors of the calamitous destruction of Jhaamdath in
-255 DR Year of Furious Waves.
On the western slopes of the Dagger Hills, the
Dordrien lords raised a sizeable keep, which guarded a large and prosperous
town nearby. The realm flourished for a century or so and then failed,
weakened by orc raids from the mountains and the decline of its ruling
family. Most of its folk drifted back to the more populous lands near
the Sea of Fallen Stars, and the town was abandoned by -75 DR Year of
Leather Shields.
Very little is left to indicate that any human
settlement existed in the region prior to the rise of the Dalesfolk,
hundreds of years later. The weathered foundations of Dordrien Keep
lie on a barren hilltop 2 miles south of the crypts. The remnants of
fieldstone walls and the skeletal shells of old farmhouses dot the nearby
valley. The ruins of the town lie near the foot of the hill on which
the keep stands. These remnants consist of little more than a handful
of crumbling walls overgrown with briars and brush. Adventurers have
explored the remains of both the keep and the town many times and found
little of note.
Merrydale and Hlontar - Language:
Chondathan, Alphabet: Thorass, also the introduction of Espruar through
trade with Myth Drannor plus occasional artifacts with writings in Hulgorkyn
- possible fallout from Anauria?.
Over the next few centuries the area is settled by people
coming from freed states of Sembia, migrants from Cormyr and Hlondath.
Merrydale is formed sometime around 650 DR.
- 33 DR Year of Slowing Sands
Asram falls victim to a plague, from which there are no survivors. Possibly
phaerim magic was involved.
10 DR Year of Dreams
Netheril renamed Anaroch
111 DR Year of Fallen Guards
Anauria is destroyed by an orc horde, though it also destroys the horde.
Orc numbers are reduced for centuries in this area.
112 DR Year of the Tusk
Cormyrian cartographers create the first map of Cormyr, Cormanthor, and
the Dalelands. Note the map shows the now dead nations of Asram and Anaruria.
Here is a fragment of that map. Note the map also
shows the Tesh Valley and the Daggerdale Valley being called Teshelar.
The Bard Eric Boyd Explains:
The exact date of Daggerdale's founding is lost in the mists of time,
but it is known that the land of Teshar covered the lands known today
as Daggerdale and Teshendale in the Year of the Tusk (112 DR). Little
is known of Teshar save that its inhabitants traded with the dwarves
of Tethyamar and the nations of Hlondath, Asram, and Anauria, but it
is believed its inhabitants created numerous crypts in the Dagger Hills
that remain largely unexplored. Many were wizard clans such as the Tanoma
family and other refugees from Netheril and Jhaamdath.
After Teshar vanished, the remaining inhabitants and new immigrants
from the west, south, and east eventually formed Merrydale and Hlontar
along the banks of the River Tesh. With the aid of Alokkair "the Wise",
a mage of great power, a minor lord, Hlonagh, conquered several local
lords and founded the realm of Hlontar at the terminus of the River
Tesh. Alokkair soon slew Hlonagh and seized the throne. The "Wizard-King"
took to wife Hlonagh's youngest daughter, Shaleaera, through the use
of enchantments and killed the rest of Hlonagh's family and supporters.
When Shaleara bore Alokkair only daughters, he transformed her into
a red dragon and by art drove her to attack nearby elves who slew her
with arrows. Alokkair's subjects rebelled frequently, and eventually
even his three daughters attacked the cruel wizard. Alokkair
turned two into juju zombies, but the youngest, Alaphlame, may have
escaped. Alokkair fled to his lair underneath far-off Fox Ridge (located
in modern day Shadowdale) where he still lurks as a lich. To this day
he lures adventures to his "Grinding Gulf" taking all of their
magic for his own. After Alokkair's departure, Hlonatar collapsed and
its inhabitants eventually founded Teshendale.
261 DR Year of Soaring Stars
The elven city at the heart of Cormanthor becomes the unified city of
Myth Drannor with the raising of a mythal.
329 DR Year of the Closed Scroll
Hlondath's grain fields are consumed by the expansion of Anauroch, and
the city-state is abandoned, its folk migrating east to the Moonsea or
south into the Dales and beyond.
451 DR Year of Grasping Shadows
The new realm established just north of the Dordrien Holdings is cursed
and the main keep of its Paladin Lord is lost to the Plane of Shadow by
a druid from Snowmantle in the Border forest.
714 DR Year of Doom
Myth Drannor falls under siege by the Army of Darkness. Only two hundred
elves and allies out of three thousand escaped to tell of its passing.
796 Year of Grey Mists
Merrydale becomes Daggerdale following vampiric infestation. The name
comes from a translation of the Dwarven name for the area. Notes from
the Bard Eric Boyd:
An open and tolerant dale known for its hostility and trust, Merrydale
was devastated by a vampiric infestation in the Year of Gray Mists (796
DR). A company of adventurers battled and destroyed the vampires at
great personal cost in lives, but not before many citizens were killed
or turned into vampiric servitors. The dalesfolk became very grim after
having to stake their own children. At least one vampire escaped with
several servitors (including a member of the adventuring company, Jander
Sunstar, an elf who had fallen prey to the vampires he had battled)
to later prey on Mistledale. Merrydale's inhabitants turned in on themselves,
their trust destroyed. Over time the dale became to be known as Daggerdale
and its inhabitants acquired a reputation for their hostility to outsiders
and untrusting natures.
Daggerdale - Language: Common
Tongue & Condatha, Alphabet: Both use Thorass, Other languages include
Elven, Damaran, Giant, Gnome, Orc and Sylvan. Notes from the Bard
Eric Boyd:
Daggerdale existed as a quiet backwater for centuries under the leadership
of a local family who assumed hereditary leadership of the dale. The
Morn family ruled from Castle Daggerdale, located in the Southern Dagger
Hills, and provided steady, just leadership during this time for the
most part, although there were a few exceptions. [See 1253 DR The Year
of Twisted Vines below.
906 DR Year of the Plough
Shadowdale Founded. Mines of Tethyamar fall to Demonic invasion.
996 DR Year of Brighter Blades
Shraevyn the weapons-mage created his last blade, The Sword of the Dales.
1030 - 1038? DR
Aencar the Mantled King Again, notes from the Bard Eric Boyd are helpful:
Like the other dales, Daggerdale fell briefly under the sway of Aencar,
the Mantled King in the Year of Warlords (1030 DR), but the dale regained
its traditional independence after Aencar died in the Year of Singing
Shards (1044 DR).
1253 Year of Twisted Vines
An interesting note on Colderan the Magelord and politcal events leading
up to today. Randal Morn must have really impressed the Dwarves of the
area. The Magelord's story as researched by Beldin:
You know the tale of Belesaria and the clan of the Brightblade dwarves.
At least 100 years ago, the Bladebright goldsmiths lived in delvings
in Daggerdale, in peace with the ruler of House Morn, the Mage-lord.
The Mage-lords's wife, Belesaria, was a proud and arrogant woman, who
believed that the people of the dale were her servants, not she their
protector.
One cold day in autumn she went to the Bladebright dwarves to buy a
fine jewels. The Bladebright dwarves had just finished crafting a masterpiece
for their king under the mountain, and as soon as Belesaria saw it she
demanded to buy it. The dwarves refused, Belesaria offered more for
it, and still they refused. Vowing vengeance for this slight, she stormed
off.
When Belesaria returned, she told her husband that the dwarves would
not sell her their fine work, only their trinkets, and that they said
she was not fit to wear anything more than that. The Mage-lord was angered
at his wife's words and swore to teach the dwarves a lesson.
Returning to the Bladebright delvings, the Mage-lord threatened the
dwarves with a sorcerous curse if they would not pay him a great tribute
of gold and worked steel as an apology for their insults. The dwarves
refused, but, knowing the power of a mage's wrath, the clan and all
their kin gathered what they had and left to dwell with cousins under
the mountains to the north. Their champions remained behind to fight
the Mage-lord and were destroyed, never to be avenged. To this day,
the Bladebright dwarves will render no aid to descendants of House Morn,
including their only male heir, Randal Morn.
1316 DR Year of the Gulagoar
Teshendale destroyed by the Zhentarim. More notes from the Bard Eric Boyd:
Two generations ago, in the Year of the Gulagoar (1316 DR), neighboring
Teshendale was overrun by the Zhentarim when the other dales failed
to come to its defense. Refugees from that dale sought shelter in Daggerdale,
including a number of Zhentarim agents hidden in their midst. Those
agents incited a rebellion against the Morns, and the ruling family
was driven into exile. A Zhentarim agent, Malyk, a distant relative
of the ruling Morn family, was installed as the dale's ruler, and he
immediately began to terrorize the population with the very orcish mercenaries
and human brigands he was installed to repel.
1336 DR Year of the Highmantle
Zhentarim sieze Daggerdale - by this time the Zhentarim control all of
Daggerdale.
1350 DR Year of the Morningstar
Elminster retires to Shadowdale
1353 DR Year of the Arch.
More notes from the Bard Eric Boyd:
So matters stood until the last male heir of the Morn family, Randal
Morn returned to lead a guerrilla insurrection against Malyk's forces
to free the dale of the Zhentish yoke. When she reached adulthood, Randal
arranged a marriage between his sister, Silver Morn (the only other
living member of the Morn family), and a noble of the Cormaeril family
of Cormyr to ensure the continued survival of the family line and to
prevent Zhentil Keep from claiming the lordship should he fall in battle.
In the Year of the Arch (1353 DR), Randal slew Malyk of Daggerdale,
and his forces, known as the Freedom Riders, reclaimed three quarters
of the dale. Only Dagger Falls and its immediate environs remained under
the complete control of the Zhentarim through the rule of a corrupt
Dalesman, Constable Tren Noemfor. Randal's rule remained shaky, for
Zhentish caravans continued to pass through Daggerdale unhindered and
humanoid and human brigands continued to pillage the vale.
1369 DR Year of the Gauntlet
Randal Morn reclaims the throne of Daggerdale. As told by the bard Eric
Boyd.
Constable Tren ruled Dagger Falls for a decade until Eragyn, a priestess
of Cyric, resurrected Colderan Morn the Mage-Lord, one of House Morn's
more despicable members who had been dead for over 100 years. Colderan
turned on Eragyn and unleashed the Dream Fever on the dalefolk. A band
of brave adventurers, Eight-and-a-half, recruited by Randal Morn unraveled
the sinister plot behind the mysterious disease and defeated Colderan
once and for all. In the aftermath of this incident, Constable Tren
was transferred to a remote watchpost for his failures to capitalize
on the opportunity and, in the Year of the Gauntlet (1369 DR), was replaced
by Constable Guthbert Golthammer.
Things continued in this vein until the Year of the Gauntlet (1369 DR)
when Randal Morn discovered the legendary Sword of the Dales in the
crypt of Shraevyn the Mage-Lord, long hidden in Giant's Craw Valley
on the western edge of the dale. Randal' men were defeated and he himself
was abducted by the forces of the Gothyl the Archshadow. The Eight-and-a-half
band of adventurers tracked Randal Morn to the undead sorceress's stronghold
in the Spiderhaunt Woods, but he was again abducted by a Zhentarim mage,
Ilthond, and taken to Dagger Falls. The adventurers teamed up with the
Freedom Riders to free Randal and drive out the Zhentarim occupation
forces from the town.
1370 DR Year of the Tankard
Last King of Tethyamar dies.
1371 DR Year of the Unstrung Harp
Present.
