The Great Kingdom of Avonleigh: Difference between revisions

From Mistipedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
The matriarchal '''Great Kingdom''' from which the [[Shadowborn Family | Shadowborn family]] was drawn is not the [[The Great Kingdom | Great Kingdom]] of [[Oerth]]. The matter is treated here: http://fraternityofshadows.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5389


[[Category:Kingdom]][[Category:Outlander Land]]
{{Canon}}
'''The Great Kingdom''' (or more fully, [[the Great Kingdom of Avonleigh]]) is a fictional [[monarchy]] important to the background of the [[Shadowlands]] domain [[cluster]] in the Ravenloft Campaign Setting. Though the Great Kingdom itself is an [[outlander land]] and therefore not in the [[Demplane of Dread]] (the locale of the Ravenloft campaign setting proper), the Great Kingdom is the homeland of [[Lady Kateri Shadowborn]] and [[Shadowborn Family|her family]]. As such, events in the Great Kingdom's history have left a strong impact on the Shadowlands and its constituent [[domain]]s ([[Avonleigh]], [[Nidala]], and [[Shadowborn Manor]].)
 
This Great Kingdom of the Shadowborn Family should not be confused with the [[The Great Kingdom | Great Kingdom]] of [[Oerth]]. The matter is treated here: http://fraternityofshadows.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5389
 
==Publication History==
Details on the Shadowborn mythos primarily originate from [[2nd Edition]] sources. Kateri Shadowborn and her story in relation to [[Ebonbane]] is first mentioned in the accessory [[Darklords (Sourcebook)]] (realease date: 1991), and her former companion [[Elenia Faith-Hold]] is described in the accessory [[Islands of Terror (Sourcebook)]] (release date: 1992). Both of these mention rough details to events (such as [[the War On Evil]]) that might be relevant to the Great Kingdom's history, though the Kingdom is not named in these sources nor really detailed. In the Audio CD included [[A Light in the Belfry]], the homeland of the Shadowborns is referred to as the "land of Avonleigh" (Not to be confused with the [[domain]] of [[Avonleigh]], named after the land it was taken from.) ''A Light in the Belfry'' is also the first source to mention [[The Circle (Society)]], a group of [[knight]]s formed to defend the Great Kingdom.
 
The Great Kingdom is first mentioned by name in the Ravenloft novel [[Shadowborn]] (release date: 1998), a novelization of an earlier module [[Bane of the Shadowborn]] (Release date: 1991). In this novel, the Great Kingdom is named and fleshed out for the first (and only) time. To date, no [[3rd Edition]] or later edition products have revisited the backgrounds of the Shadowlands domains in relation to their homeworld.
 
It should also be noted that details on the "current day" Great Kingdom are unknown, as most of the information on the Great Kingdom are in relation to what it was like at the time of the early 600s in the [[Barovian Calendar]]. (This is even provided that time on the Great Kingdom's world even matches to a 1 to 1 year basis to the Demiplane of Dread)
 
==Overview==
As of [[626 BC]], the Great Kingdom of Avonleigh was a [[kingdom]] with thirteen provinces including the [[Province of Avoleigh]], the home province of the Shadowborn Family. As of that year, the Great Kingdom had a history of ten decades. The Great Kingdom was formed under the good auspices of the [[Church of Belenus]], the Kingdom's matron church. (Although [[Belenus]]' church held strong power in the Great Kingdom, followers of the allied moon goddess [[Brigit]] were not necessarily vilified, with the possible exception of Elena Faith-Hold's [[War on Evil]]. The Kingdom's size was enough to encompass a variety of [[climate]]s, such as its southern provinces were considerably warmer and dryer than its northern ones.
 
Although the Kingdom is mentioned to have a [[king]] and most of the Circle are men, {{Spec|there are elements of that might indicate a matriarchal power structure within the Great Kingdom. For example, the Kingdom may follow or have followed matrilineal descent}} The sister of Kateri Shadowborn, [[Lady Victoria Shadowborn]] nonetheless kept her maiden name, and her husband, [[Lord Vincent Shadowborn, shared her surname. In addition, the title of [[religious leader]] of the church has been referred to as [[High Priestess]] or [[High Mother]].
 
The Great Kingdom was protected by an order of thirteen [[paladin]]s, one from each of the Great Kingdom's provinces. Despite this protectorate, the Great Kingdom has not been a stranger to violence. The [[Borderwoods]] gathered a reputation for housing dangerous [[brigand]]s and swordsmen. During the [[Heretical Wars]], the southern cities of [[Letour]] and [[Sanschay]] were sacked and pillaged. In [[646 BC]], the entire Circle were massacred by [[Morgoroth]] shortly before he was taken by [[the Dark Powers]].
 
==Foreign Relations==
[[The Southern Empire]] was another land to the south. The two kingdoms held some amount of animosity against each other due to the conflicts of [[the Heretical Wars]] {{Spec|and maybe the War on Evil}}. In addition, the Southern Empire followed "[[heretical]]" (by the Church's standards) gods.
 
The Great Kingdom has had hostile relations with both the Southern Empire in the aforementioned Heretical Wars and with the [[Sea Raiders]] of the north. Lady Kateri Shadowborn is thought to have had victories against both powers. In the Shadowborn novel, [[Lysander Greylocks]] states that Kateri Shadowborn received her magical sword, [[Corona]], from "lands to the east", though it is uncertain if he is referencing eastern provinces of the Great Kingdom or some land farther east. {{Spec|If it is the latter, this would indicate the Great Kingdom has allies in said eastern lands.))
 
==Chronology==
*[[526 BC]]: Under the graces of the Church of Belenus, the Great Kingdom is established. Along with it, [[the Circle (Society)|the Circle]], in its original incarnation, is established for the Great Kingdom's protection.<ref>[[Shadowborn]] (Novel} p. 41; by the year [[626 BC]] specified on p. 8, the Great Kingdom has a 100 [[year]] history.<ref>
 
*[[608 BC]]: [[Kateri Shadowborn]] gives birth to [[Alexi Shadowborn]].<ref>[[Shadowborn]] (Novel) p. 10-11; Ferran is 18 by the year [[626 BC]]</ref>
 
*608 BC: In [[the Southern Empire]], [[the Dark Triad]] summon back to the [[Prime Material Plane]] and attempt to bind the fiend [[Lussimar]] (also known as [[Ebonbane]]) within a magical [[sword]]. Although he is [[imprisoned]] within the sword, he kills the triad and reanimates them as [[ghoul]]s. Thereafter, he begins hatching plans to enact his revenge upon [[Kateri Shadowborn]] for his original defeat.<ref>[[Shadowborn]] (Novel) p. 1-7</ref>
 
*[[626 BC]]: [[Sir Kendall]] dies, leaving room for [[Alexi Shadowborn]] to fill his slot in [[the Circle|the Paladins of the Circle]]. (August or Setember)<ref>[[Shadowborn]] (Novel) p. 35, he died "just over a month ago" before Alexi's [[Rite of Ascension]], p. 8-9 dates that year and month to October of 726 BC.</ref>
 
* 626 BC: Vandals begin defiling the [[tomb]]s and [[grave]]s in the city of [[Brimstadt]]. (September)<ref>[[Shadowborn]] (Novel) p. 10</ref>
 
* 626 BC: '''October''' The desecration of graves in Brimstadt warrant the intervention of Alexi Shadowborn. He investigates and ambushes the [[desecrater]]s. He discovers the desecraters are to be [[ghoul]]s [[marked]] with a death's head emblem, (unknown to Alexi at the time) the symbol of [[Ebonbane]]. Alexi narrowly survives the encounter. (October)<ref>[[Shadowborn]] (Novel) p. 8-16</ref>
 
* 626 BC: [[The Darkening]] shows [[Belenus]]'s disfavor of Alexi Shadowborn joining the Circle, causing him to fail his [[Rite of Ascension]]. On the way home, he meets [[Lysander Greylocks]] for the first time.<ref>[[Shadowborn]] (Novel) p. 42-57</ref>
 
* 626 BC: In the company of [[Ferran Shadowborn]] (then Alexi's [[squire]]), [[Dasmaria Eveningstar]], and Lysander, Alexi Shadowborn leaves the Great Kingdom for [[the Southern Empire]], hoping to root out the killer of his mother, [[Kateri Shadowborn]]. Instead, Alexi and his friends are brought into [[the Phantasmal Forest]]. They encounter and destroy two of [[the Dark Triad]], though at the cost of Dasmaria's life, before entering [[Shadowborn Manor]]. Lysander's existence is ended. Kateri's spirit can no longer contain Ebonbane, and the [[sword]] that held him is shattered in combat with Alexi. Although Ebonbane is briefly freed, Alexi absorbs the [[fiend]] into his body, serving as Ebonband's new [[prison]].<ref>[[Shadowborn]] (Novel), throughout</ref>
 
* 626 BC: Now bound to Shadowborn Manor, Alexi sends Ferran, along with their mounts, back to [[Shadowfast]].<ref>[[Shadowborn]] (novel) p. 308-312</ref> Ferran arrives back home safely. In the years to follow, Ferran will join the Circle and become an influential [[hero]] in his own right.<ref>[[A Light in the Belfry]] Audio DC Track 1</ref> Meanwhile, Alexi remains within [[the Demiplane of Dread]] with the intention of starting a new incarnation of the Circle<ref>Shadowborn (Novel) p. 312</ref>, which will eventually become [[the Knights of the Shadows]].<ref name="DoD p. 133">[[Domains of Dread]] p. 133</ref>
 
*[[640 BC]]: Leaving his home world to start a new life and atone for hisi misdeeds, [[Morgoroth]] comes to [[the Great Kingdom]], where he consults with the now-adult [[Lord Ferran Shadowborn]]. Morgoroth bears witness of his deeds but also his will to atone to Ferran. Ferran listens and grants him asylum and a chance for repentance in exchange for an [[oath]] of [[loyal]]ty.<ref name>[[A Light in the Belfry]] Track 1. [[Domains of Dread]] p. 17, [[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17, [[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19 all place the formation of [[Avonleigh]] as a domain in [[646 BC]]. A Light in the Belfry audio CD track 7 says 6 years pass between the domain's formation and Morgoroth's arrival in the Great Kingdom.</ref>
 
* 640 BC: After swearing his oath to Ferran and receiving a parcel of [[land]], Morgoroth uses arcane magic to construct [[Tergeron Manor]] in a single [[night]]. In the years to follow, the literal [[ghost]]s of Morgoroth's past come to haunt him and the [[forest]] surrounding his manor, causing it to be referred to as [[the Phantasmal Forest]],<ref>[[A Light in the Belfry]] Audic CD Track 2</ref> {{Spec|named after and confused with the Phantasmal Forest of Ferran's stories of [[Ebonbane]]'s domain.}}<ref>[[John W. Mangrum's Ravenloft Timeline]] p. 15</ref>
 
*[[646 BC]]: [[Sir Lambert]], a [[knight]] from [[Morgoroth]]'s homeworld, comes through a [[portal]] into [[the Great Kingdom]], seeking to punish the [[necromancer]] for his past crimes. Lambert states his intentions to [[Lord Ferran Shadowborn]] and [[the Circle (Society)]]. Without waiting to hear judgement from the Circle, Lambert confronts Morgoroth at [[Tergeron Manor]]. In slaying Lambert, Morogorth realizes he will never atone. Lord Ferran knocks upon Morgoroth's door, hoping to find a peace. However, Ferran does not return. Morgoroth kidnaps [[Aurora Shadowborn]], causing the Circle to attack Tergeron. Morgoroth or his forcs cause all of them to lose their lives or disappear without a trace. A storm rocks [[the Province of Avonleigh]], causing the populace to cling together in their homes. The next morning, a mob forms to burn down Tergeron but find only a clearing where it one stood. [[The Dark Powers]] make Morgoth a [[darklord]].<ref>[[A Light in the Belfry]] Audio CD Tracks 7-12. [[Domains of Dread]] p. 17, [[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17, [[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19 all place the formation of [[Avonleigh]] as a domain in [[646 BC]].</ref>
 
* 646 BC: The domain of [[Avonleigh]] forms<ref name="DoD p.17">[[Domains of Dread]] p. 17</ref> (different from the [[Province of Avonleigh]] which remains behind), arising in the [[the Phantasmal Forest]].<ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref>
 
{{ref}}
[[Category:Kingdom]]
[[Category:Outlander Land]]
[[category:Locations in the Prime Material Plane]]
[[category:Monarchy]]

Revision as of 22:28, 14 May 2017

The Great Kingdom (or more fully, the Great Kingdom of Avonleigh) is a fictional monarchy important to the background of the Shadowlands domain cluster in the Ravenloft Campaign Setting. Though the Great Kingdom itself is an outlander land and therefore not in the Demplane of Dread (the locale of the Ravenloft campaign setting proper), the Great Kingdom is the homeland of Lady Kateri Shadowborn and her family. As such, events in the Great Kingdom's history have left a strong impact on the Shadowlands and its constituent domains (Avonleigh, Nidala, and Shadowborn Manor.)

This Great Kingdom of the Shadowborn Family should not be confused with the Great Kingdom of Oerth. The matter is treated here: http://fraternityofshadows.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5389

Publication History

Details on the Shadowborn mythos primarily originate from 2nd Edition sources. Kateri Shadowborn and her story in relation to Ebonbane is first mentioned in the accessory Darklords (Sourcebook) (realease date: 1991), and her former companion Elenia Faith-Hold is described in the accessory Islands of Terror (Sourcebook) (release date: 1992). Both of these mention rough details to events (such as the War On Evil) that might be relevant to the Great Kingdom's history, though the Kingdom is not named in these sources nor really detailed. In the Audio CD included A Light in the Belfry, the homeland of the Shadowborns is referred to as the "land of Avonleigh" (Not to be confused with the domain of Avonleigh, named after the land it was taken from.) A Light in the Belfry is also the first source to mention The Circle (Society), a group of knights formed to defend the Great Kingdom.

The Great Kingdom is first mentioned by name in the Ravenloft novel Shadowborn (release date: 1998), a novelization of an earlier module Bane of the Shadowborn (Release date: 1991). In this novel, the Great Kingdom is named and fleshed out for the first (and only) time. To date, no 3rd Edition or later edition products have revisited the backgrounds of the Shadowlands domains in relation to their homeworld.

It should also be noted that details on the "current day" Great Kingdom are unknown, as most of the information on the Great Kingdom are in relation to what it was like at the time of the early 600s in the Barovian Calendar. (This is even provided that time on the Great Kingdom's world even matches to a 1 to 1 year basis to the Demiplane of Dread)

Overview

As of 626 BC, the Great Kingdom of Avonleigh was a kingdom with thirteen provinces including the Province of Avoleigh, the home province of the Shadowborn Family. As of that year, the Great Kingdom had a history of ten decades. The Great Kingdom was formed under the good auspices of the Church of Belenus, the Kingdom's matron church. (Although Belenus' church held strong power in the Great Kingdom, followers of the allied moon goddess Brigit were not necessarily vilified, with the possible exception of Elena Faith-Hold's War on Evil. The Kingdom's size was enough to encompass a variety of climates, such as its southern provinces were considerably warmer and dryer than its northern ones.

Although the Kingdom is mentioned to have a king and most of the Circle are men, there are elements of that might indicate a matriarchal power structure within the Great Kingdom. For example, the Kingdom may follow or have followed matrilineal descent The sister of Kateri Shadowborn, Lady Victoria Shadowborn nonetheless kept her maiden name, and her husband, [[Lord Vincent Shadowborn, shared her surname. In addition, the title of religious leader of the church has been referred to as High Priestess or High Mother.

The Great Kingdom was protected by an order of thirteen paladins, one from each of the Great Kingdom's provinces. Despite this protectorate, the Great Kingdom has not been a stranger to violence. The Borderwoods gathered a reputation for housing dangerous brigands and swordsmen. During the Heretical Wars, the southern cities of Letour and Sanschay were sacked and pillaged. In 646 BC, the entire Circle were massacred by Morgoroth shortly before he was taken by the Dark Powers.

Foreign Relations

The Southern Empire was another land to the south. The two kingdoms held some amount of animosity against each other due to the conflicts of the Heretical Wars and maybe the War on Evil. In addition, the Southern Empire followed "heretical" (by the Church's standards) gods.

The Great Kingdom has had hostile relations with both the Southern Empire in the aforementioned Heretical Wars and with the Sea Raiders of the north. Lady Kateri Shadowborn is thought to have had victories against both powers. In the Shadowborn novel, Lysander Greylocks states that Kateri Shadowborn received her magical sword, Corona, from "lands to the east", though it is uncertain if he is referencing eastern provinces of the Great Kingdom or some land farther east. {{Spec|If it is the latter, this would indicate the Great Kingdom has allies in said eastern lands.))

Chronology

  • 526 BC: Under the graces of the Church of Belenus, the Great Kingdom is established. Along with it, the Circle, in its original incarnation, is established for the Great Kingdom's protection.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
  • 626 BC: October The desecration of graves in Brimstadt warrant the intervention of Alexi Shadowborn. He investigates and ambushes the desecraters. He discovers the desecraters are to be ghouls marked with a death's head emblem, (unknown to Alexi at the time) the symbol of Ebonbane. Alexi narrowly survives the encounter. (October)[4]
  • 626 BC: Now bound to Shadowborn Manor, Alexi sends Ferran, along with their mounts, back to Shadowfast.[7] Ferran arrives back home safely. In the years to follow, Ferran will join the Circle and become an influential hero in his own right.[8] Meanwhile, Alexi remains within the Demiplane of Dread with the intention of starting a new incarnation of the Circle[9], which will eventually become the Knights of the Shadows.[10]
  • 640 BC: Leaving his home world to start a new life and atone for hisi misdeeds, Morgoroth comes to the Great Kingdom, where he consults with the now-adult Lord Ferran Shadowborn. Morgoroth bears witness of his deeds but also his will to atone to Ferran. Ferran listens and grants him asylum and a chance for repentance in exchange for an oath of loyalty.[11]
  • 640 BC: After swearing his oath to Ferran and receiving a parcel of land, Morgoroth uses arcane magic to construct Tergeron Manor in a single night. In the years to follow, the literal ghosts of Morgoroth's past come to haunt him and the forest surrounding his manor, causing it to be referred to as the Phantasmal Forest,[12] named after and confused with the Phantasmal Forest of Ferran's stories of Ebonbane's domain.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Shadowborn (Novel) p. 1-7
  2. ↑ Shadowborn (Novel) p. 35, he died "just over a month ago" before Alexi's Rite of Ascension, p. 8-9 dates that year and month to October of 726 BC.
  3. ↑ Shadowborn (Novel) p. 10
  4. ↑ Shadowborn (Novel) p. 8-16
  5. ↑ Shadowborn (Novel) p. 42-57
  6. ↑ Shadowborn (Novel), throughout
  7. ↑ Shadowborn (novel) p. 308-312
  8. ↑ A Light in the Belfry Audio DC Track 1
  9. ↑ Shadowborn (Novel) p. 312
  10. ↑ Domains of Dread p. 133
  11. ↑ A Light in the Belfry Track 1. Domains of Dread p. 17, Ravenloft Third Edition p.17, Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.19 all place the formation of Avonleigh as a domain in 646 BC. A Light in the Belfry audio CD track 7 says 6 years pass between the domain's formation and Morgoroth's arrival in the Great Kingdom.
  12. ↑ A Light in the Belfry Audic CD Track 2
  13. ↑ John W. Mangrum's Ravenloft Timeline p. 15
  14. ↑ A Light in the Belfry Audio CD Tracks 7-12. Domains of Dread p. 17, Ravenloft Third Edition p.17, Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.19 all place the formation of Avonleigh as a domain in 646 BC.
  15. ↑ Domains of Dread p. 17
  16. ↑ Ravenloft Third Edition p.17
  17. ↑ Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.19
Retrieved from "http://fraternityofshadows.com/w/index.php?title=The_Great_Kingdom_of_Avonleigh&oldid=135056"