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The Chronicles of Theodum the Wise - Chronicler of the River Kingdoms - Wealday and Oathday 14th and 15th of Abadius in the year 4715 AR
The short time around the 14th and 15th of Abadius will forever be of high significance when future historians will research the rise and downfall of the kingdoms formed around the Emerald Spire. I'm priviledged not only to be a Pathfinder Chronicler but also to have first hand accounts of what happened on this crucial day and the diplomatic aftermath that followed.
The morning of Wealday will likely be forgotten by many soon. It was the start of the so called War of towers - a 'war' that in 100 years time will most likely be forgotten by all but some scholars.
The war of towers was initiated by Rhyn the prophet - or Rhyn the mad as he is also known. This was a testing ground for the strong, the mighty, the powerful - the deserving of the River Kingdoms to make a claim to areas they would like to control.
Having formed the Emerald Lodge for the Pathfinder Society this brutal competition that favoured the settlements with the largest armies was of a lot concern for the Lodge. Wedged between the mighty Brighthaven and the evil Golgotha the signs didn't bode well for the lodge in the competition for power and land.
A meeting with the worshipped ruler of Golgotha - Phyllain - had resulted in a truce and in some towers and places of interest that the lodge could claim for themselves. One of the towers offered was a derelict ruin - far to the east of the Emerald Lodge - a ruin not contested by Golgotha.
But if there ever was a poisoned chalice - this would count as one. It was clear from even a quick glimpse of the map that the ruin was outside the military power to hold by the lodge - and also that the mighty and shining Brighthaven would contest the place - albeit likely assuming that this would be a powerplay between them and their evil counterpart - Golgotha.
Counting a claim of 1 quarter of the ruin for the lodge - judged on distance - and given 2 more quarters by Golgotha and Bernstein - there was a good incentive to accept the poisoned chalice and just to prepare. As what danger is there truly in poison if you have magic to counteract it.
So first of all volunteers where needed. Baron - Master of arms of the lodge volunteered first to lead the expedition. Thod - gatherer and monster hunter of the lodge was next. Then Zaar Frozen Blade - the smelter of the lodge, Frazzlerunning, Pinki and Alirya - the tailor. Two more volunteers never arrived - and they lost their entry into the history books forever.
Early in the morning the group set out. To take the tower it was important to be first. Any militaristic engagement was expected to fail.
So Baron was leading his small group into the ruin - to claim it for the lodge. They started erecting the flag for the lodge when they saw two wanderers passing by. Undisturbed they worked on - only to find out that the two wanderers actually had been scouts belonging to Brighthaven - and they had brought reinfocements.
What followed is the reason it found an entry into the history books - as the heroic actions of the small group assembled around Baron laid the foundation for an Emerald Lodge not squeezed into a tiny area of land.
Overrun and undertrained the heroes of the lodge soon lay all on the ground - dead in their own blood - cut down by axe, sword and arrow. But so miracolous is this area that such a defeat doesn't last for long. Our sould have mercy if Pharasma ever asks us for the price.
Throwing themselves against the invaders they didn't achieve much - apart of needing the blessing of Pharasma multiple times.
Any sane general would have withdrawn his half trained troupes. But this is why the place has now become to be known as Baron's Folly. Undeterred he grouped his sorry troupe into one and started a last assault.
Taken by suprise of the sudden organisation - or just weak and tired - the group around Baron achieved the impossible - they turned the luck on the battlefield and for the first time it was the soldiers of Brighthaven which had been removed from the ruin again - all of them. And they didn't return.
Now if you think this would have been the end, then you know little how the River Kingdom work.
You have what you hold is a mighty motto - but it means you have to ensure to keep what you aquire - or you might as well lose it soon again.
A frentic second battle started - but this time it was the pen and diplomacy that fought against each other - a battle yours truly is much better suited for. Refusing to cede the ruin the next morning as a large contigent of Brighthaven troops stood ready to take it - there was the pen - the only weapon left - that could ensure to keep the tower.
Golgotha offered to defend the tower for the lodge - but you have to be careful when dealing with the devil. Sooner or later it will corrupt you. All these Hellknights might think they are in control - but someone more sane like me likely doesn't want to tempt fate.
So instead a frentic number of letters where send out from the lodge to other citizens of the River Kingdom - appealing to their opinion of the true ownership of the tower. There was even a collection for the heroes of the battle for coal and iron to be forged into weapons and armour.
I'm proud to tell that this led to several very generous donations - albeit donors wisely wanted to stay private - not to be drawn into the conflict.
The only group undeterred was Brighthaven. They still seemed of the - justifiable but ill-advised - opinion that the stronger one should get all the spoils. So with trepidation I made the pilgrimage up into the mountain to meet directly with the High Lords of Brighthaven. Oh - I took care to have sweets for the kids on the streets, smiles for the crafters in their workshops as you don't go into the mouth of a lion unprepared.
Two pieces of parchment I carried with me - one a declartion of war by Brighthaven against the Emerald Lodge - one a document to cede the ruin to the Emerald Lodge. Both I laid before the High Lords of Brighthaven - unwilling to leave until one of them got signed.
So on that day I risked all of the Lodge for a small ruin in the woods.
On that day the pen proofed mightier as the sword as I emerged with the parchment I wanted to be signed.
But on that day I also learned how foolish is was to stare the powerful in the eye with nothing in your defense as your pen. A sword easily cuts of your hand - and then - what would I be as a chronicler.
So the ruin got a name that day - Baron's folly - as it was as much a folly of myself as a folly of Baron to lead his unprepared troops to victory.
Writing this on Starday the 24th of Abadius we are still in the pocession of the ruin. We are also in posession of 12 other buildings - among them the Moonshine Mill, the Frozen Forge,
Thod's Mignight Vigil and the Lonely Wanderer. Several of the other buildings still need names - but it will be Baron's Folly that will be remembered in the history books.
Suggested other reading for research:
The Lore and History of the New River Kingdoms according to Theodum
Edit: Bonnies post
