History and settling of the land

The gnomes who now inhabit the land they call Gardonia are the descendants of a group of 1000 gnomes who originally set off out of the magical fay lands somewhere far to the north—as the tales passed down from generation to generation tell. Why they left is now unclear, but they wandered for over 100 years finding that all the lands where they travelled were already claimed by various races. During their wanderings they lost many of their company to bandit attacks, cold weather, the occasional wild beast and lack of food. They also lost many who grew weary of the seemingly endless trek and chose to settle in the various towns and cities they came across. Eventually through their years of wandering the gnomes learned about a small mountainous region that appeared on all maps they saw, not to be claimed by any kingdom. Rumours abounded, but the region was believed to be either only a harsh desolate mountain range or a dark, haunted place as the old superstitious wives tales told. And so the leader of the gnomish company, a hardy gnome named Grinzverg Vuzlebeeg, led the wandering gnomes to the mountain range to see if there was anywhere they could settle.

They spent nearly a month following along the edge of the range looking for a route into the mountains before they finally found a narrow and difficult pass that looked promising. Grimzverg led the gnomes up along the pass, which became more and more broken and difficult. Several wagons and a few unfortunate gnomes were lost to the steep cliffs and rugged terrain and many other wagons had to be abandoned. Eventually they came to a high pass and far below they saw what looked to be a green valley beyond another lower ridge of mountains, and so being forced to leave the rest of the wagons behind they began descending down the treacherous track towards what they hoped would be a place to settle.

The descent proved to be more difficult than it looked and when they finally found themselves at the bottom the gnomes realized there would be no going back. As Fortune would have it, once down below, the going became easier and eventually the gnomes emerged from the mountains to find themselves in a lush land of giant vegetation. Upon seeing the wondrous land, Grimzverg Vuzlebeeg claimed it as the gnomish peoples new home and on the first suitable spot they found on the edge of the mountain forest in a small grove of giant mushrooms they pitched their tents and began to build their first settlement. And thus the Village of New Town was founded and the end of long years of travelling.

Whatever caused the plants of the land to grow to unprecedented sizes, the gnomes discovered also caused the insects and to a lesser degree the rodents and birds to grow terrifyingly large as well. The gnomes and their gardens suffered many attacks and threats and soon the land did not seem as inviting as it did at first. Gnomes going off in search of lumber or foraging often disappeared leaving only a boot or a hat to be found. Gardens were attacked by two foot long slugs, big gross grubs, giant bugs, deer and bunnies. The gnomes themselves were preyed upon by coyotes and spiders, bears and other gross insects, even plants were rumoured to attack unexpectedly in the woods and tall grass forests. Life was hard and growth and expansion was slow, most groups looking to expand were never seen or heard from again. The gnomes suffered many population collapses and it took 500 years before their numbers finally reached 1,000 without some catastrophe causing them to fall back below. And so the gnomes began slowly and cautiously expanding east. Another 500 years saw the population reach 15,000. By the year 1300 of the gnomish calendar, gnomes had expanded eastwards as far as a very lush and jungle-like forest that was found to be much less deadly than what they had become accustomed to. This new forest was named The Good Garden and many gnomes settled there enjoying the relative peace and in only a couple hundred years the gnomes population reached 30,000. At the centre of the Good Garden was founded a village that would quickly become the hub of the entire country. This new settlement was named New Town and the original New Town was renamed Old Town.

From the Good Garden the gnomes expanded further east and north. In the year 1664 in the north, Northtown was founded, which would eventually become an important bastion against twisted and evil creatures, but that was many years away. In the east along the banks of a great river was founded the town of Cabbageford in 1674. On the east side of the river began a great height of mountains, which became the eastern boundary of the gnomish country. Expansion in the north continued until the Donglemore incident and in 2355 the lands north of Northtown were abandoned. Next the gnomes began exploring and moving south from the Good Garden. A vast and terrifying grass forest and a swamp were discovered and in 2659 South Village was founded, later to become South Fork Village and then Southforkington, and would become a hub for trading with the outside lands via the not yet discovered South Pass. West of South Fork Village a peaceful region known as the Tri-Villages was settled. The land south of South Fork Village was sparsely settled up to the southern range of great mountains which marked the southern boundary of the Kingdom. In 2866 the South Pass through the mountains was found and the outside world and the other races rediscovered nearly 3000 years after entering and claiming their unique valley homeland.


Time Line

Year 

0 – The gnomes discover a land of large growing plants and decide to settle after wandering homeless for two hundred years

2 – New Town, construction of the first permanent village is officially completed

2-500 – Gnomes struggle to survive in the wild, new land experiencing several population collapses

500’s – Gnome population reaches above 1000 for the sixth time and remains above 1000 for the first time

600’s – Population reaches 2000

700’s – Population reaches 4,000

– Gnomes begin to slowly expand eastward as population increases and new land is needed for farming

800’s – Population reaches 7,000

900’s – The Big Cold Snap

Three years of cold, winter-like weather reduce crop yields and bring a plague of hungry coyotes and bears upon the gnomes. Population growth is stunted.

1000’s – Population reaches 10,000

1300’s – A lush and relatively safe  jungle-like forest is discovered and named “The Good Garden”

– Gnomes begin migrating to the Good Garden

1500’s – Marking a long and difficult eastward expansion a new town is settled in the heart of the Good Garden and named “New Town”. The former “New Town” is renamed “Old Town”

– Population reaches 30,000

– Gnomes begin to expand northwards and eastwards from New Town

1600’s – Gnomes declare their land to be “The Gnomish Kingdom of Gardonia” and name Rozle Gabersbeeg their first King

1605 – Gnomes begin recording significant events in the Annals of the Gnomish People

1664 – Village of North Town Founded

1674 – Village of Cabbageford Founded

1713 – Population reaches 40,000 and plateaus

1795 – Local militias are formed to protect gnomes and crops

1799 – Population begins to increase again

1822 – The Great Carrot is discovered

1850 – An old road is discovered leading to a deserted fortress in disrepair upon a high hill

1851 – Gnomes begin rebuilding the fortress naming it “Lettuce Berg”

1863 – King Rozle moves the capital from Old Town to New Town and renames it Kingstown

1864 – Strange creatures are first encountered stealing cobs of corn from gardens and farms west of North Town and named Cobbies

1878 – Population reaches 50,000

1887 – An ancient building believed to be a brewery is discovered and repairs begin

1910 – The First Batch of beer is brewed at the newly restored Ancient Brewery

It is the best beer the gnomes have ever brewed. Soon “To 1887 and 1910” becomes a popular toast which continues to this day.

1919 – Greensmore Valley is discovered

1990 – Population reaches 60,000

1997 -The First Dire Bunny Frenzy

The first large-scale frenzy of Dire Bunnies eats its way through several farms in the Leafy Green Flats before hopping into a gnomish militia shield wall. A terrible battle ensues.

2117 – The Greensmore Valley relocation project begins

– An attempt to move nuisance animals like bunnies, deer, coyotes, bears, even several whole Cobbie colonies into the lush, steep walled valley

2120 – Population reaches 70,000

2128 – King Rozle dies and Trizbor the Thinly becomes King

2280 – Population reaches 80,000

2353 – Greensmore Valley becomes corrupted and renamed Donglemore

-The year of green lightening

2355 – The lands around Donglemore become very dangerous. Gnomes begin to abandon the villages north of Donglemore

2366 – The Great Vegetable Roast. A fire rages through the North East Plateau burning many beanyards and farms. Bean stores are all but completely destroyed

2379 – The lands north of Donglemore are completely forsaken and the old north road falls into ruin and is lost

– Know population reduced to 75,000

2383 –  Gnomes begin to expand south

2420 – The South Carrot Mires are discovered

2439 – King Trizbor takes a mortal wound at the battle of Happy Hills

– Wilcog the Unlucky becomes king

2442- The Blueish Lake is discovered

2443 – King Wilcog’s boat on the Bluish lake is swallowed by an enormous fish that comes to be known as the “Great Guppy”

– Gozbeak Fazmunger becomes king

2450 The Great Unification Battle – The Order of the Mushroom Knights formed

The local militias come together to negotiate becoming a unified army, driving off a troll and banishing it from the lands during the negotiations talks, after which they decide to call themselves The Order of the Mushroom Knights

2490 – Population reaches 90,000

2499 – The First Termite War

Termites set up colonies near Woodheart in the Good Garden and begin eating the town and nearby farms. Mushroom Knights fight a fierce war that sees the fall of many termite mounds. The war lasts for a year and a week before the last colony is vanquished.

2503 – Gnomescale armour invented

Innovative materials created from the local flora and fauna are incorporated into the Mushroom Knight arsenal. Knight life expectancy increases significantly.

2566 – The Great Thorn Uprising

Giant thorns invade Old Town. After a long and prickly campaign, the Mushroom Knights prove victorious, but the town is left uninhabitable.

2567 – The Village of New Old Town is built near the ruins of Old Town

2581 – The First Were Rabbit Rampage

A terrible ten foot tall monster, part bear, part rabbit, escapes from Donglemore and rampages southwards eating many carrot gardens along the way before being brought down by Mushroom Knights.

– The Great Mushroom Blight devastates the mushroom trade kingdom wide

2648 – Cobbies discover Turnips

2648 – The Pillaging of the Northwest

– A great horde of disgusting Cobbies runs amok in the northwest digging up every garden in sight, stealing countless turnips and putting their filthy hands on many, many innocent vegetables.

2650 – The Garden Defence School is founded in Kingstown to provide better training to Mushroom Knights

2655 – Bogwits discovered. A strange swamp people are found living in the South Carrot Mires. They are intelligent and peaceful yet reclusive and wary

2659 – South Village is founded

2660 – Population reaches 100,000

2706 – The Treacherous East Mountain Pass is discovered and a small human mining settlement is discovered and befriended

2708 – Human miners are invited into the Gnomish kingdom to prospect for ore. Large deposits of Copper as well as zinc, tin, and small deposits of silver are discovered in the central and east mountains

2710 – Gnomish Mining Trade begins under the guidance of the human miners

2711 – Most gnomes discover they don’t like mining underground and employ the human miners to help run the gnomish mining trade

2712 – Gnomes taught blacksmithing. Bronze weapons and armour incorporated into the Mushroom Knight’s arsenal

2723 – A research boat too large to be eaten is launched on the blue lake. The research team sets out for the island at the center of the lake but is never heard from again

2724 – A rescue boat full of Mushroom Knights is launched to investigate the island in search of the missing researchers. They are never heard from again. The island is named The Forbidden Island and no more attempts to land are made

2738 – The Tri-Villages are settled

2775 – The Great Carrot shows signs of activity

2776 – The Rampage of the Terrible Wyrm

An enormous inch-worm-like monster escapes from Donglemore, eating its way south towards the Great Carrot. Every Mushroom Knight is summoned to the slopes of Carrot Mountain where a fierce battle is fought. The carrot is saved.

– The Carrot Guard division of the Mushroom Knights is created devoted solely to guarding the Great Carrot

The Great Dire Bunny Rampage

The largest Dire Bunny swarm in recorded history. Starting south of the village of Greensly the bunnies storm northwest in the direction of Kingstown, decimating a 300 yard wide swath ten miles long through The Good Garden Woods. By the time Mushroom Knight forces arrive the swarm has pretty well taken care of itself.

2810 – Population reaches 125,000

2861 – The second known Were Rabbit to emerge from Donglemore terrorizes the land in a furious dash south towards Kingstown

2866 – The South Pass is discovered into the human lands as the outside world is re-discovered

2869 – Trade begins with nearby human villages. Gnomish beer becomes a highly popular and sought after commodity

2871 – Bandits begin venturing into the South of the gnomish lands, plaguing trading caravans. First armed encounter with bandits goes poorly for the Mushroom Knights. Much beer is lost

– New training is introduced into Garden Defence School

2873 – The Great Vegetable Revolt

Several gardens of veggies in Taterton revolt and have to be put down by Mushroom Knights before their time. Amongst the slain are more than a few carrots. It is the single most tragic event in Gardonian history and seldom talked about.

2881 – The Great Marauding

A small army of marauding bandits invade Gardonia from the south with the intention of moving in permanently. They overcome initial Mushroom Knight forces making it as far as Southforkington before they decide they want nothing to do with the giant bugs and terrifying plants and leave the way they had come with fresh Mushroom Knight reinforcements hot on their heels.

2905 – Trade and travel to the outside lands ramps up. Gnomish veggies and sausages become major exports next to beer

2909 – Bellow Toads escape from visiting traders into the South Carrot Mires

2912 – Giant Bellow Toads overrun the South Carrot Mires driving the Bogwits nearly to extinction

– The giant frog legs become a commodity for export highly sought after by certain peoples

2934 – The Great Cabbage Wars

A bumper crop of succulent cabbages draws hordes of brown bunnies followed by several Dire Bunny rampages followed by an invasion of deer. The fighting lasts three months. There are many mushroom Knight losses, but thankfully few cabbages.

2938 – Modern ranks system is instituted into the Mushroom Knight order with new levels of training to match

3008 – The Great Bandit Plague

A bandit rabble hundreds strong, made of men and elfs, led by Big Carl takes up residence in South Wood and plagues the southern lands for nearly a year before the camp was found and sacked. Big Carl is chased as far as the South Carrot Mires where he eluded the Mushroom Knights, disappearing into the bog, where he is assumed to have perished.

3039 – The Great Corn Rebellion

An exceptionally large stalk of corn in the North West, named the Yellow Clobbler, becomes sentient and leads many corn stalks in the field into rebellion. Harvest is long and brutal with many more gnomish casualties than a typical harvest, Mushroom Knights ultimately complete the harvest in brutal fashion.

3043 – The Third Know Were Rabbit escapes from Donglemore rampaging south

3070 – Population reaches 150,000

3082 – The Second Termite War

Termite mounds spring up in the south west of the Good Garden and all the wooden structures in the hamlet of Brown Bark are completely eaten. The war last for six months before the last mound is toppled and destroyed.

3102 – Furgols Discovered

A dormant race of furry creatures are discovered and awakened. They are hostile. The village of Collard Stones, the fortress of Lettuce Berg and many farmsteads are razed before Mushroom Knight forces are able to defeat the Furgol army.

– Furgol armour and weapons becomes a source of iron for the gnomes and Mushroom Knights.

3120 – The Banishing

Small groups of bandits slowly sneak into the southern kingdom plotting mischief but are discovered and apprehended before they could come together and carry out their plans. They are escorted to the border and asked not to come back.

3126 – The Great Furgol Raid

A host of 50 Furgols sweeps across the Pebbly Plain on a collision course with the unsuspecting town of Carrot Rock. A small but valiant defence of Mushroom Knights is hastily gathered from nearby Vegetable Holds and defeats the Furgol host, saving the town. It was the first, and one of the only times that an out numbered Mushroom Knight force has defeated a larger Furgol force even to this day.

3179 – The Great, Great Furgol Raid

An army of 300+ Furgols charge across the Pebbly Plain overwhelming Mushroom Knight defences, razing the rebuilt fortress of Lettuce Berg, the villages of Carrot Rock and Spinach Crags and many farmsteads. A decisive battle is fought at Green Gap where the Furgols are narrowly defeated.

3195 – King Gozbeak is laid to rest

– Beegor the Tallish becomes king

3213 – Population reaches 175,000

3231 – The Furgol Siege

A major offensive is launched against the Furgols mountain dwellings. It last two hours and ends disastrously. The newly rebuilt Lettuce Berg is razed to the ground. It is left a ruin.

3241 – The Green Gobbler

A large sentient plant-like creature emerges from deep within the Great Grass Forest stalking and devouring unsuspecting gnomes travelling between Grand Caps and Hazlemere. It plagues the area for over a year. A squad of Mushroom Knights is finally able to hunt it down, but are swallowed one by one during the fight. The plant chokes on all the metal armour and weapons and eventually dies and withers.

3327 – The Third Termite War

Termite mounds spring up near Mushroom Deeps in the Good Garden and the town is invaded. The war is fought for seven months and is ended early when the Queen termite is slain, throwing the army into disarray where they are defeated within a week and the town of Mushroom Deeps reclaimed.

3340 – The Frilled Land Fish

A giant, frilled fish-like creature with teeny legs escapes from Donglemore and slowly oozes its way south. It eventually dries up and dies in the barren, withered land around the evil pit.

3368 – The Great Furgol Fiasco

A host of 100 Furgols Rampage across the Pebbly Plain razing several outlying farms and homesteads until they are checked by Mushroom Knight forces. A long, evenly matched battle ensues with neither side gaining the upper hand. Unexpectedly a very angry colony of naked, gross Cobbies, not known to the region, charges into the Furgol flank. The entire colony is slaughtered only bringing down two Furgols in their attack but the distraction is enough for the Gnomes to gain an advantage and emerge victorious.

3387 – The Hazelmere Tree Rebelion

3450 – 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Order of the Mushroom Knights

3453 – Wild Gnomes (re)discovered

3464 – Population reaches 200,000

3476 – First exclusively military Wheel Ship is built

3497 – The Great Cobbie March

An unusually well coordinated and clothed Cobby force arises in the northwest and marches towards Kingstown. Battle lines are drawn in the Golden Valley. The Cobbie leader is killed and the remaining horde loses focus and scatters, running amok for several months.

3499 – The Reaping Wind

An unnatural purple tornado goes on a rampage in the Golden Valley destroying many crops for beer making. Scores of knights throw themselves into the whirlwind until they eventually smother it.

3510 – Construction on a new Lettuce Berg fortress begins

3512 – The Great Slug Invasion

Hordes of gargantuan slugs and snails devastate the Leafy Green Flats. The sticky war rages for three months with much loss of crops and lives.