Pre-Diaspora (1 SD to 5070 SD)

Note: SD stands for Suloise Dating

The Duchy of Urnst is a proud land, filled with a proud people with a lineage that stretches back over six millennia to the very beginnings of the Suel Imperium. The Empire was a wondrous place filled with unparalleled magic and culture. However by the fifth millennia the mighty Suel Imperium clashed in the north with the Baklunish Imperium. For over a year our forbearers and the black-haired northerners raided and skirmished across Sulhaut Mountain range destroying each other's homes and crops.

In the fateful spring of 5031 SD (-485 CY) Emperor Ad-Zol sent nine thousand troops across the mountains to end the threat from the north. An equal force sent by the wicked Bakluni Padishah Ramif met them on the Fields of Padyr. Imediately both sides fell upon one another and on the third brutal day of battle both armies had been annihilated. A handful of the Emperor's warriors wisely retreated to warn our people of the imminent invasion by the foul Bakluni. Thus, began the Baklunish-Suloise War.

After nearly two score years of fighting the population of our cities were declining faster than could be accounted by war with the Bakluni. The wickedness our ancestors fought in our enemies infected our own people. The Suloise Imperium began employing Roka, Chebi, and Hochebi(1) mercenaries to bolster our armies. Worse, wizards of undreamed power began experimenting upon beasts and humanoids (including humans). These were mad attempts to gain some sort of edge in the war with the hated Bakluni. The result was mongrel slave races and abominations. Many common citizens of the Imperium (and not a few minor noble houses) feared that corrupt and powerful noble houses of the Imperium would try to enslave or eliminate them during the confusion of the Baklunish-Suloise War.

(1) These are Suloise words that translate as follows:
Roka = Orc
Chebi = Goblin
Hochebi = Hobgoblin

Suel and Baklunish Imperiums
c. 5031 SD

By the year 5069 SD (-447 CY) the Emperor's own son, Zellif Ad-Zol, escaped east into the Flaness with a thousand citizens loyal to him. In response his father sent the great houses of Schnai, Cruskii, and Fruztii to track Zellif down and return him and his followers to face Imperial Justice. Zellif, his people and the three houses sent after him never returned.

Suloise Diaspora (5070 SD to 5092 SD)

Following Zellif's example many commoners and a few minor houses fled east across the Harsh Pass beginning in the year 5070 SD (-446 CY). Our forbearers were among those brave souls who began the Suloise Diaspora.

Suloise Diaspora
5070 SD to 5092 SD
Blue = Oeridians / Green = Suloise

For twenty-three years our people wandered east seeking a safe haven. Each time the Suel refugees would settle the Oeridians, olive skinned Barbarians also displaced by the Baklunish-Suloise War, would force us out of our new homes with their ferocious battle skills and sheer weight of numbers.

The founding of Urnst (5093 SD)

Finally, in the year 5093 SD (-423 CY) the main body of Suloise migrants passed through the Abbor-Alz Mountains into largely uninhabited plains. It was here three minor noble houses, tired from their travels, split from their brethren and settled the land. These three houses combined their strength into a single new Suloise House: the Maure. Their new homeland was named Urnst after a founding house of the Old Suloise Imperium.

Site of Maure Settlement 5093 SD

Shortly after settling the Maure settlers discovered the Delagos Caverns by deciphering clues left behind in ancient abandoned Dwarven settlements in the hills. This natural cave system promised a limitless supply of valuable gems and the Maure started work upon a grand castle to help defend their new found wealth...