Axfell Information

From Anphillia

Anphillia II - Fort Axfell

Our story begins shortly after the infamous 'time of troubles' with a man named Hestus Anphil in the city of Waterdeep. Hestus, a wealthy merchant noble held in high regard by the Lords of the City, was charged to revive the city's fortunes through the means of leading an expedition in search of a rumored continent far to the west of the city over treacherous seas.

Hestus departed Waterdeep in the spring of the year 1359 with a trio of ships led by the city flagship 'Lady Hawkwinter'. After many moons on the ocean they came to an island; the three ships weighed anchor in deep water upon the southern edge of the island and proceeded to explore. The trip was difficult, with thick brush covering many parts and untamed monsters roaming free. However, even in their short trip they found many interesting artifacts and mineral deposits.

Although he soon realized it was no continent, Hestus decided that this resource rich isle was just what he was looking for, Hestus ordered the construction of a small port at the spot where the expedition had initially landed island upon the southern coast and proceeded to explore the rest of the isle finding many interesting herbs, minerals and ores scattered around the isle. The newly found colony is named Ranzington in honor of his son, Ranzing.

At the end of the year, Hestus sailed two ships to return to Waterdeep with a collection of rare furs, hides, spices and treasures that have been found on the island, leaving his son, Ranzing, in charge in Ranzington, so they could report their findings.

A detachment of the city guard was sent, along with many prisoners to be used as miners. The captain of this regiment was Gord MacCleaven, a noble warrior whose father had also served Lord Piergeiron, and in whom the Lord had great trust. MacCleaven was a good man in their eyes: wise, strong, and dutiful. They believed that no one was more capable of this task than he was. MacCleaven appointed one of the more respected of the prisoners, a dwarf by the name of Gredius Thundarmane, to oversee the mining and construction operations when they arrived.

The flotilla of Waterdahavian navy and merchant vessels sailed the long voyage back to Anphillia. Their orders were to complete the setup of a port there, and begin harvesting the treasures of the land; meanwhile, the Lords would send boats periodically to bring the gathered treasure back to the mainland.

Shortly after arrival in Anphillia, Hestus and his son, uncomfortable with the presence of convicts being used as slaves within the city, came to an agreement with MacCleaven. MacCleaven accepted the provision of substantial supplies in exchange for the regiment and prisoners to set-up camp some distance northwest from the port, which was eventually named Fort Cleaven.

Shipments of ore, gold and valuable minerals were regularly sent back to the mainland, much to the glee of the Waterdahavian Lords. The rumors, of course, were also shipped back. The Lords of Waterdeep believed they had succeeded in keeping the discovery of Anphillia a secret, so that nearby merchant cities, such as Amn and Baldur’s Gate, will not try to compete for what riches Anphillia might contain. However one of the Lord's servants unknowingly called upon the help of a Drow, who would disguise himself in order to trade in the city. This Drow learned of the rumors and the general location of the island, promptly returning with the news to his House.

The Drow had their own ancient knowledge of such a place, but this piqued their interest. Eventually two Drow houses, Tarik and Kazar, left for the island to find and take the island for their own in an attempt to gain Lloth’s favor. The voyage would take several years, traveling through the Underdark in an attempt to locate it.

During the year of 1362, MacCleaven noticed a gradual change in behavior of Gredius. For two long years, Gredius oversaw the works and reported to MacCleaven, albeit against his desire to do so. The slaves were treated harshly by MacCleaven's men, under the pretence that they had all been found guilty and deserved little better. After the attacks by the Rauts and the Red Tribe, Gredius and his fellow convicts saw an opportunity to break free. News of this plot leaked to MacCleaven, and concerned that Gredius could no longer be trusted, he quickly placed his trusted Lieutenant, Avris Galeint, to take over from Gredius in looking after the mining operation.

Gredius was livid with the appointment of a new mining operations commander and growing increasingly frustrated with the great riches of the island sent back to the mainland while he and his men received nothing. With the promises of great riches and freedom for all, he convinced the prisoners to rise against MacCleaven’s army and earn the freedom they rightfully deserve.

While mining, some within the mine would instead craft, creating weapons and armor for the battle ahead. They would hide them in the deepest recesses of the caves at night for fear MacCleaven’s militia might find them.

In the final months of 1363, the Drow arrived at Anphillia and set-up their lair deep under the roots of the Anphillian mountains. The Kazar set about locating ancient treasures on the island. They found several locations, which seemed to have strong magic, and created golems to excavate these sites. Meanwhile, the Tarik sent out covert scouting parties at night to determine the surfacer’s strength and locations. The surfacers remained un-aware of the Drow presence on the isle for almost a decade until the summer of 1373.

Gredius continued to plot with the convicts and received word of a fellow clan from his home of Mithral Hall setting up a camp named 'Fellkeep' that he could escape to. To his surprise, Avris Galeint spoke with Gredius in support of releasing the convicts in 1365, and a line of communication was established between Rhun Fellhammer and Gredius. Finally, one frigid spring morning of 1366, Gredius staged an early morning revolt against MacCleaven with the assistance of the dwarf clan, Fellkeep, who staged a diversionary raid against Fort Cleaven. Avris insisted that they stay and fight, slaughtering the people that had kept them prisoners for so long, but Gredius had no interest in slaying them. The slaves were freed, and they marched with Fellkeep to the northeast of Anphillia as Avris had suggested previously. Dismayed by their course of action, Avris fled into the mountains, bearing his obsidian armor where he was last seen.

After removing an outsourced Raut Tribe from its locale, Gredius was appointed the head of the new fort. This they dubbed 'Axfell' as a symbol of their ongoing fight for freedom. Axfell and the Fellkeep clan then proclaimed themselves bastions of independence from Waterdeep on Anphillia with Gredius Thundarmane as their general. They were determined never to become prisoners again and, instead, to live like kings in their new home.

Two years then passed without incident, as MacCleaven mistakenly believed the liberated slaves had left Anphillia for good. In 1368, this belief was turned on its head when Cleaven scouts discovered an established Fort (Axfell) at the far side of the isle.

Skirmishes between opposing Cleaven and Axfell forces ensued, the Axfell were outmatched in numbers but fought valiantly nonetheless. Eventually in 1369, Gredius decided to stop the guerilla tactics and deploy the main Axfell force for open battle upon the Greenfields plains.

As the armies squared up at either end of the battlefield, it became obvious that the outlook looked bleak for a considerably outnumbered Axfell. MacCleaven personally led the first charge against the Axfell lines. In less than a minute after the first sword found its mark, a black shadow had descended upon the battlefield.