Well met, Greyhawkers! If you've just stumbled on this post, you're wondering what madness is this? Well, I've been doing a series of posts that is recounting the many wars I ran during my
2E Greyhawk campaign back in the 90's. If you want to catch up,
check out this post and work your way back here.
The narrative below is keyed to two maps I've designed so you follow along with the war's events. As always be sure to check my comments at the end. Enjoy!
Pomarj-Celene War (610-613 CY)
Spring 610 CY
Unbeknownst to most of the Flanaess which had been
warring for the last five years, a half-orc warlord-pirate named Turrosh Mak,
had been quietly uniting the various Pomarj tribes (orcs, goblins, hobgoblins,
etc.) through a combination of harnessing their hatred and a show of personal
power and cunning not seen in the region since the rise of the Temple of the
Elemental Evil. Turrosh proclaimed himself despot over the entire peninsula
and with his nascent empire incited to a fever pitch, he began to mass his
forces and move through the dense Suss Forest to the eastern banks of
the Jewel River in sight of their greatest enemy, the elven Kingdom of
Celene.
At the Celenian royal court in Enstad, Queen
Yolande was soon informed by her border scouts of the growing Pomarj threat.
Yolande was first met by a friend and wizardly colleague who also had received
advance notice, the Archmage Mortellan of Highfolk. Assembling the
nobility of Celene. the two mages discussed how to best deal with the military
build-up on their border. It was decided without dissent, that Queen Yolande would
personally visit each of the three Ulek states and entreat them for a new
alliance; a coalition of elves, dwarves, gnomes and halflings not called since
the Hateful Wars one hundred years ago. What was history to the Pomarj was
still fresh in the memories of the long-lived elves. It was cruel fate then, that
the Pomarj which was created by refugees of this war, would now return seeking
ancestral revenge. Mortellan for his part, convinced the Queen to appoint him
as marshal and chief strategist of Celene’s army, for he was a scholar and adventurer
of considerable magical might. Greater than Yolande herself.
Summer 610 CY
A): There would be no formal declaration of war, or
diplomatic exchange between the despot and queen. The first skirmishes broke
out inside Celene as restless orcs and goblins crossed the river to attack.
Turrosh however was buying time, for he had also rallied human bandit and mercenary
aid from the southern Wild Coast. These vile men were eager for the wealth of
the ancient elven kingdom. However, the mercenaries were not yet resolved to contend
with the might of Celene on their home turf, so they were easily repulsed back
to the coast.
Meanwhile, Queen Yolande traveled first to Tringlee where she
gained an alliance with the Duchy of Ulek through talks with the vaunted Duke
of High Elves, Grenowin.
Fall 610 CY
Queen Yolande proceeded next to Jurnre and immediately
found the support of Lewenn, the Count of Ulek. Her subsequent and last
diplomatic trip to the city of Gryrax to meet dwarven Prince Olinstaad was not
successful however. The fiery prince had been the main bulwark against the
Pomarj without any help from Celene for many decades, so incredulously, Prince
Olinstaad sent her Fey Majesty home without his pledge.
B): The Pomarj was pushed back across the Jewel River by the
fully mobilized Celenian army led by Mortellan. This counter sufficiently routed
the humanoid horde and it dissolved back into the Suss. Despot Mak ignored this
major loss though, as he conquered and added mercenary help from the lawless
cities of Highport and Blue.
Winter 610 CY
C): To the south, Mak’s best soldiery were in fact the
hobgoblin and orc tribes who had experience fighting Ulek. This massive coordinated
army converged for a surprise attack on the keep of Thunderstrike, easily
overwhelming it for the first time. Following the Fall of Thunderstrike,
the despot force-marched this army across the principality to eventually take
over the capital of Gryrax. Prince Olinstaad was subdued in single combat with
Turrosh Mak and held in his own dungeon.
D): Mortellan commanded a devastating victory at Elredd, seizing
enemy warships and in the process securing control of the southern Wild Coast.
E): With Celene on the offense, the Duke and Count of Ulek
had finally consolidated their army and turned it southeast to face the tough
resistance of Pomarj forces occupying Gryrax. Turrosh knew since his Celene
campaign had failed, he could not hold Gryrax forever, so while his armies held
out, the despot looted the city of all its resources, weapons, and ships. Then
with the help of pirates from Blue, Mak escaped with his army back to the
Pomarj coast.
F): News reached Celene that the Pomarj horde had
reformed in the Suss and was being directed to cross the Jewel River to surprise
Ulek as it was trying to retake Gryrax. At Yolande’s order, Celene’s best
mailed cavalry entered the proud principality, cutting off and effectively destroyed
the horde.
Spring 611 CY
The power of Mortellan was never more evident during the
war, as when a young gold dragon named Tamarand, came forward to offer aid to the
wizard in Elredd. Tamarand entered the conflict because it was discovered a
green dragon named Brushtail had been assisting Turrosh Mak by flying him
across leagues faster than any horse and lending its presence to intimidate the
factions into joining his crusade.
G): Prince Olinstaad was freed and Gryrax finally
liberated from Pomarj control by the united strength of all three Ulek states. Finally
allied with Queen Yolande, the contrite prince took his rightful place at the
fore of the Ulekian army with Duke Grenowin. Since Turrosh’s main force had
already absconded from the capital by sea, this left the Ulek alliance to turn
east and reverse all the gains the Pomarj had made all the way to the ruins of
Thunderstrike and beyond the Jewel River.
H): Mortellan gathered his forces again and using ships
provided by the Wild Coast assailed Highport and Blue. Highport held out
against this attack, but with the assistance of Mortellan riding Tamarand, the
port of Blue surrendered. Mortellan seized and added many warships that had
been stolen from Gryrax.
I): Enraged, the despot counterattacked. Turrosh Mak’s
elite humanoid forces were based at Ostrand Keep when Blue fell. Riding on
Brushtail, Mak and his army recovered Blue, driving Mortellan and his Celenian
force back to their ships. Tamarand covered the retreating ships, and after an
aerial battle, Brushtail was brought down with the help of Mortellan and elven
archers.
Summer 611 CY
J): Mak’s newest alliance brought easily duped giant-kin
down from the Drachensgrab Hills to harass Celene forces moving east.
K): Celene’s generals routed the giant diversion and continued
pressured attacks deeper into the Pomarj highlands to get into a position to
assist Marshall Mortellan who wished to meet with them and the Ulek leaders
to devise a strategy for winning the war.
L): While Highport continued to hold out during a naval
blockade, Celene’s sea captains seized an opportunity that Blue had let down
their guard, despite orders from Mortellan to join the blockade. Feinting retreat,
Celene’s forces disembarked north of Blue in a surprise overland assault. This
plan was successful in taking over Blue once more, but again Turrosh Mak eluded
capture with his elite soldiers, eventually making it to Highport to regroup.
Fall 611 CY
M): Rested and rearmed, Turrosh Mak’s infantry returned to
yet again defeat the Celenian force occupying Blue. This time Mak executed all elves
captured that day.
N): After a war-council with Mortellan and the regents of
Ulek, the alliance prepared a multi-pronged counterattack at Highport, Ostrand
Keep and the embattled Blue, this time with naval assistance from new warships
out of Gryrax. Olinstaad led the attack on Ostrand Keep. Grenowin commanded the
assault on Blue and Mortellan with Tamarand in the vanguard, engaged Highport. All
three battles were disastrous for the Celene-Ulek alliance. Turrosh had been
underestimated. The crafty warlord had gained martial and magical assistance
from the hidden Slave Lords and a secret cult of the Earth Dragon. Unable to
weather excessive casualties so far from home, the alliance retreated to safe
lines of defense. Mortellan teleported safely to Elredd after Tamarand became
severely injured by spells. The gold dragon left the Pomarj, ending its part in
the war.
Winter 611 CY
Queen Yolande was growing skeptical that the Pomarj could
be pacified and wished to return Celene to their guarded borders. Despite this,
she relented as Mortellan implored her to levy more troops to reinforce his
army. The Ulek states also regrouped during a harsh winter where even Mak’s
forces could not go on the offensive. Turrosh would not sit idle however, as he
traveled secretly to seek more allies to his cause.
Spring 612 CY
O): A newly reformed Ulekian army sliced through the
Pomarj, this time overtaking Ostrand Keep, Stoneheim and even managed to root
out the Earth Dragon cult from the mountains.
P): Mortellan commanded his reinforced army in another
two-pronged offensive against Highport and Blue. Near-ruined, Blue still held
out from the assault, but this time Highport surrendered, in large part to the
fiery bombardment of the very determined Mortellan.
Summer 612 CY
Q): When Turrosh Mak began to lose confidence that the
Pomarj tribes would hold together, one place he traveled to was the Hold of the
Sea Princes. In desperation, he made a loose alliance with the seafaring nation,
promising wealth and control of ports beyond reason. That summer the Sea
Princes sent a fleet to the port of Blue, delivering needed supplies and a naval
check against the Celene-Ulek alliance.
Fall 612 CY
R): Yet another secret alliance of Turrosh Mak emerged,
this time from the Gnarley Forest, as humanoids from Blackthorn attempted to disrupt
Celene’s supply line. This ploy was discovered by Gnarley Rangers and with the
assistance of several Wild Coast militias, Queen Yolande herself led a
contingent of elves that intercepted, encircled and annihilated the horde
before it could give succor to the Pomarj.
S): With Highport a smoking ruin, Mortellan marched his
army toward Blue, this time uniting with the Ulek army. This overpowering show
of force led the small port, which had suffered through so many battles, to
surrender without a fight. Turrosh Mak yet again slipped away, this time on a
Sea Princes vessel.
T): The nobles of the Sea Princes wishing to recoup something
for their investment, launched raids at Blue and Highport, but with nothing
left to fight over, both were doomed to failure. Threatening to return someday,
the Sea Princes turned their fleets for home. The Pomarj was lost.
Winter 612 CY
United no more, remnants of the humanoid tribes scattered
back into the highlands, the forests or the scrubby plains of the Pomarj in
hopes that the hated elves and dwarves would not hunt them down.
Spring 613 CY
In a surprising development, Turrosh Mak was delivered in
chains to Mortellan by the Sea Princes for a chest of gold and gems. Turrosh’s
fate is lost to history, though rumors on the Wild Coast suggest the mage
executed the despot by fireball.
After the Pomarj was secure, Queen Yolande summoned
Mortellan and the rulers of the Ulek States to court in Enstad. There, she granted
the daring archmage dominion over the Pomarj and tasked him with rebuilding the
land to its former glory. Yolande’s only condition was that as a fief of
Celene, Mortellan had to prove to be a just and good ruler, or else the land
rights would be forfeit to the Ulek States. Upon hearing the news, Greyhawk
City immediately opened itself back to trade with their southern neighbors in what they anticipated would be a prosperous new age for the Pomarj.
Commentary:
Second, what I gather from my notes, is while the Pomarj-Celene War was likely also ran using Greyhawk Wars (groan) rules, I recorded even less details this time. Yup, I phoned it in. Not even footnotes this time! This is why the narrative you just read is totally new, but still based on the outcomes of each event. My guess is I probably played this war on the side with my friend Brian, the player of archmage Mortellan, the only principle PC in this story. It also bears pointing out, Mortellan is my NPC creation in 1E, but Brian took over playing him in 2E.
Third point, I probably made a big mistake by giving Brian control over Pomarj. As Yolande's conditions set at the end of the war imply, Brian played Mortellan as a loose cannon and so even the
Queen didn’t trust him fully. Brian didn’t like his elven wizard being upstaged and he wanted to prove he was as good at strategy as our friend Jayson whose fighter
Valkaun was busy tearing up the Great Kingdom during same game timeframe. I think in my mind, giving Mort a domain was to balance out
that Valkaun's adopted son was an heir to the freaking Malachite Throne. You can see how a player might get jealous. Brian and Jayson's in-game rivalry would
continue.
The rest is that Celene itself didn't really get affected much, so yes, they should've just stayed put at the river like the status quo. Having the Principality of Ulek be taken over so easily seemed a stretch to me, but it did up the stakes. I still do not own Patriots of Ulek, but if I had I wonder if my narrative would've changed? The addition of the Sea Princes late in the game was definitely a product of how the Greyhawk Wars board game is played. Making random alliances and surprise event cards throw these curves. For example, it's also the only reason why two dragons were introduced into the mix. I'm surprised I managed to name them during the campaign. The two dragons never again factor in my game lore after this war. Speaking of not used again, Turrosh Mak was a great antagonist in this war. I learned of him from Carl Sargent's Wars narrative, but beyond that I had no clue about his origins and real identity. Since 2E, I've seen other people write about Mak, play in games with Turrosh and so forth. Again, would I do things differently now?
Lastly, poor Blue. Poor, poor Blue. It's nothing special, but because of the game system used it got fought over at least eight times by my count. Hopefully things go better under Mortellan's rule...
Until next war!
Update 06/27/2021: Added links to the entire War series for ease of reading.
