-118 FT The years of Conquest and Prosperity of the Seuloise begin. The Flan in the southeast (just west of the Hellfurnaces), the Oerid to the east, the Kersi (the long distant descendants of those who first sailed from AnaKeri) to the south, and the Baklun to the north, and several unnamed small tribes to the west all fall under the grip of the Seuloise fist. The entire of the western half of Oerik, is controlled by the Seul. (3247 SD/-2269 CY)

-115 FT The Flanae, under the protection of Beory, Pelor and Rao flee their lands in mass, making a perilous crossing of the Hellfurnaces. They move North into the lands of Eastern Oerik, later called the Flanaess, as the first human inhabitants of the area. Initially, they are well received by the demi-humans. (3250 SD/-2266 CY)

1 FT The founding of the first Flanae City in the Lortmil mountains, Haradaragh, in eastern Oerik, this is counted as year 1 of the Flan calendar. (3365 SD/2312 OC/-2150 CY)

161 FT The Flan wizard, Galap-Dreidel builds Inverness to protect his “Soul Gem.” (3526 SD/-1990 CY)

219 FT The first reports of strange cities to the south worshipping strange gods is reported by the Flanae. These people (according to Flan sources) call themselves Almeks (Olmec in the Common tongue). (3584 SD/-1932 CY)

404 FT One of the small tribes of Flan, the Ur-Flanae, located just west of Aliador send servants as hostage to the Gray elven kingdom, in return for land rights. The 7th High King, Galitholian Glitterhelm, is especially taken by the sharp mind of a young man of promise, named Vecna. Vecna, inspired by the glories of elven splendors, began to study magic. He discovered in the libraries a book from the Seul entitled “The Fate of Tilorop.” He secretly begins to worship Tharizdun. (3769 SD/2716 OC/-1745 CY)

435 FT Vecna asks Galitholian’s permission to visit his homeland. This permission is granted. (3800 SD/2747 OC/-1716 CY)

440 FT Vecna erects a black tower in the middle of the Nyr Dyv. He claims chieftanship of his tribe, the Ur-Flanae and slays the former chieftain in combat by use of magic. (3805
SD/2752 OC/-1711 CY)

441-468 FT Vecna shields his presence from the Elves by use of magic. He studies “The Fate of Tilrop” and was driven by an insatiable lust to live as long as the elves. His established towns on the model of the Gray Elves, and began to experiment with his Ur-Flanae for the “Ultimate Solution to Death.” Several undead are created. (3806 to 3833 SD/2753 to 2780 OC/-1710 CY to -1683 CY)

480 FT Vecna perfects the technique required for Lichdom. He transforms himself. He goes north to the plains and brings forth many humanoids to his banner. He corrupts and twists his people, and, through his breeding program, now has a host that far outnumbers the elves to the East. (3845 SD/2792 OC/-1671 CY)

496 FT Vecna forges the sword which he later passes to Kas. (3861 SD/3308 OC/-1655 CY)

482-506 FT Vecna marches against Galitholian, bringing back his slaughtered soldiers as an undead hoard. Slowly his alliance of humanoids, undead, and Flanae drive the Gray
Elves back to their mountain fastness. (3847 to 3873 SD/2794 to 2820 OC/-1669 CY to -1645 CY)

507-576 FT Gilthonial’s forces are driven in a lightning strike from the plains west of the Griff’s. Vecna’s forces sweep the central plains east of Nyr Dyv and North, they hold the plains to the feet of the Griff’s. (3874 to 3943 SD/2821 to 2900 OC/-1644 CY to -1575 CY)

585 FT Celene fields an army to assist Galitholian. Although they meet with initial success, Vecna calls on the powers of Tharizdun and unleashes a magical burning force which causes the Bright desert. Many perish and the elven host is thrown into a panic. They retreat to Celene, but Vecna does not advance. His eyes are fixed on the east. (3949 SD/2906 OC/-1566 CY)

604 FT The first of the Grey Elven mountain cities falls to Vecna’s armies. This is the beginning of the 400 Year War. (3968 SD/2925 OC/-1547 CY)

921 FT Gilthonial’s armies slowly give way before Vecna, no aid reaches Gilthonial. Vecna’s armies destroy all but 5 Grey Elven cities in the Griff Mts. (4295 SD/3242 OC/-1230 CY)

988-994 FT Gilthonial leaves his capitol with the host of that city. He marches against Vecna and drives him from the mountains. But once in the plains, Vecna reveals a new weapon, a black sword forged of material from the stars. Vecna meets Gilthonial in single combat and slays him. The army of Vecna then destroys the elven host, and marches into the mountains. They inhabit and deface the elven cities, remaking them in the image of Vecna. Four cities, however, including the City of Summer Stars, are not found. The capital, Erieadan, the height of Gray elven architecture and power, is destroyed to a stone. So ends the Elven Kingdom of Aliador, and the seat of the High King. (4362 to 4368 SD/3309 to 3315 OC/-1163 to -1169 CY)

995 FT Kas becomes Vecna’s chief lieutenant. Vecna gives Kas his fabled sword. (4369 SD/3316 OC/-1156 CY)

997 FT The City of Summer Stars, after being revealed, defends itself from Vecna’s incursions by Prince Darnakurian use of his dark blade. Vecna’s armies are broken by this defense. Queen Sharafere and the remnant of her people head to the islands in the south. (4371 SD/3318 OC/-1154 CY)

1000 FT Because of the energies he expended in the attack upon the City of Summer Stars, Vecna is weakened. Kas, aspiring to Vecna’s position, is able to vanquish Vecna. Vecna’s body is destroyed, except for his hand and eye. Kas dies in this battle as well. Some of Vecna’s followers found a “Cult of Vecna”. Vecna’s empire collapses. (4374 SD/3321
OC/-1151 CY)

After this several small Flanae kingdoms arise, but none match the might of the Ur-Flanae under Vecna, several northern Flan fearing the both the wrath of the elves and the brutality of another lich-king flee their cities and turn back to a tribal systems of government. One exception to this general dissolution is the area under an able Theign named Tenh. He manages to keep his people from scattering, although incursions by roaming monsters and undead into this area are frequent.

1117 FT Founding of the Flanae Kingdom of Sulm in the Bright Desert Region. (4482 SD/-1034 CY)

1583 FT Shattados, mage-king of Sulm and his entire people are translated into Scorpion Men. (4948 SD/-558 CY)

1693 FT Heeding their prophets, many Oeridians began moving eastward, coming into contact and conflict with the Flanae. (5058 SD/-458 CY)

1704 FT Zellifar-ad-Zol, son of the emperor, mage/high priest of Beltar, breaks with his father and takes over 8,000 Seuloise loyal to himself, and flees the kingdom, eastward. The ferocity and magical might of the movement scatters the Oeridians in it’s path, causing the remainder of the Oeridian to migrate, who in turn attack the beleaguered Flanae. The Zolites continue eastward. (5069 SD/-447 CY)

1706-28 FT The Zolite scatter the Flanae before them, and move south to the Tilvanot Peninsula. The three pursuing houses, unable to find the magical tunnel, turn north, where they are met by regrouped Oeridians and fearful Flanae who hurry and drive these Seul Houses south. (5071 to 5093 SD/-445 to -423 CY)

Nature: The Flanae are a people who strongly resemble some of the Germanic and Celtic peoples of Northern and Western Europe. Before the migration to the East, they were a tribal people, and they retained many tribal characteristics even at the height of their culture. After the development of their first cities, many Flanae became estranged from the demi-humans who first befriended them. The Grey Elves of the Aliador take hostages in return for allowing the Flanae to dwell on elven lands. Under Vecna, the Flan become a unified people. However, the repercussions of Vecna’s reign alter the Ur-Flan (in the Northeast) forever. They revert, with the exception of the Tenha, to a nomadic and wandering people, much like the Native Americans. The Western Flan are slowly absorbed into the invading cultures, much like the Roman and later Anglo-Saxon absorption of the Celtic peoples of Europe.

(This Flanae history is by Steven B. Wilson and based on the work of Gary Gygax and World of Greyhawk (TSR) with additional material from Vecna Lives (WGA4), Rary the Traitor (WGR3), The Dungeon Master’s Guide, 1 ed. (TSR), and Greyhawk Adventures (TSR)).

History of Oerth