03-18-2011, 12:20 PM
Da1 page 4 tells us this about Uthers father:
He is descended from a long line of Barons of Blackmoor.
He is the Baron of Blackmoor when he dies
He dies fighting Skandarrians
Uther, “a boy” but also a university graduate, becomes baron of Blackmoor when his father dies.
Bakula
Garbage pits of despair occurs at a time when the “Northern Marches” are under the control of a regency council in Vestfold. The regency council appears led by several co-regents including Bakula. (DW 42&43)
This means that it has to be after 1973 (AD), when the first council is formed.
The Northern Marches are still part of the Great Empire (DW42:MM2)
This means that it has to be before Uther Becomes King.
Ten is also described as a place where Blackmorians can travel and enter into the service of local rulers (sartraps). (DW43:M2,M6) Note that Ross seems to presume a connection between the term Sartraps and the Afridhi, but “Sartrap” could be a term more associated with the nomads of Ten who dwell in desert like conditions.
GPoD does not say why Bakula is on the council of regents or exactly what his position is, other than Co-Regent, but he seems to be someone of particular importance, or at least the person of authority around Vestfold where most of the events are taking place. It seems to be assumed he is from Vestfold simply because he is not specified as being from somewhere else - Baron of Glendower or whatever. It would seem likely then, that Bakula is the Earl of Vestfold and “king” of the Northern Marches. If he is the Earl of Vestfold, he is almost certainly an Andahar, because the previous Earl of Vestfold, Ra-All is very likely his father and an Andahar.
Still it remains possible Bakula could also be some other baron, even possibly the Baron of Blackmoor, or less likely, he could have both titles. Bakula then, could be Uther’s father, but the timing is tricky. Uther’s father must be dead by circa 1008 when Uther is described as in charge of Blackmoor. (TWC) In the period 1008-14 Uther is described as both duke and baron of Blackmoor. If Bakula is his father and Uther inherits the barony of Blackmoor when his father dies, Then either Bakula is not earl of Vestfold or there is another heir to Vestfold, since Uther does not also become Earl of Vestfold and a Co- Regent. If there is an older brother who becomes Earl of Vestfold, then how is it that Uther always seems to be in charge?
There’s also several timing issues that present difficulties to the idea of Bakula dying in 1007/8. There’s the Temple of the Frog issue, in that “everyone knows the temple no longer exists” (DW:M6) having been discovered and sacked circa early 1974 (999 on my timeline). The cultists would have needed time some to rebuild, so a date after 1007 would seem preferable to a date before it.
Slavery has been abolished by the council. (DW42:M4) Given that slavery is still present in the FFC, this can not have happened prior to 1000, and probably not before 1002 (1977 when the FFC was published).
Another factor is that Orcs have been largely chased out of the land by the Great Svenny who is now a legendary hero (DW42:M1,43:M3).
So while we can put Bakula as a baron of Blackmoor, have him die at the end of 1007 and fit the events of GPoD into 1005/6 it’s a tight squeeze. It’s workable, but a little tight. My main objection to this is the actual, real time date of the module. My sense of Arnesons campaing is that Blackmoor years mostly followed real years. It was spring in Blackmoor when it was spring in Minnesota, more or less, and I think its no coincidence that the d20 books are set at 1030 - they being published beginning in 2004 and the original campaign having come to a halt at the end of 1974/early75, i.e. about the year 1000. GoPD was published in 1986 and likely written in 1985 or thereabouts – in Blackmoor years that would be 1009. That date fits the facts above a little more comfortably than a 1005 date.
The more likely situation to account for all these hints and complications is that Bakula is the Earl of Vestfold not Baron of Blackmoor, is still alive when Ten falls to the Afridhi , and is not Uther’s father.
Fant
Fant is a natural candidtate because he is the last baron on record before Uther. However, Fant does not die at the hand of Skandaharians, doesn’t seem to be an Andahar, and is described in DoCB as a Great hero Uther seems to have known, rather than a relative of some kind.
Alvarez
Alvarez is possibly an Andahar, but maybe not if Ra-All’s promotion to Vestfold meant the entire family moved, as seems likely. Alvarez also does lose his head in a Barbarian raid like Uthers father. But TWC timeline places that in 985 (same year as Uther’s birth) and regardless of timelines Alvarez is pre Fant for sure. The only way around this is to assume that the baron who dies, leading to Uther becoming baron, isn't his biological father, but a step father. Seems a bit too complicated that way.
Mr. X - son of Ra-all?
When Ra-all is promoted to Vestfold, we can assume his “seat” changed and the Barony of Blackmoor was given to a new house. That new house is that of “The Weasel”. The family may have changed yet again when Alvarez was made baron, and perhaps again with Fant.
After the 2nd Coot invasion, Fant remained the defacto baron despite being a Vampire. At this point, however, it seems almost certain the Council of Regents or perhaps the empire would appoint a new baron. To fit the other timelines, that Baron must be Uther’s father and he must be an Andahar.
It’s conceivable that Ra-all had two son’s. Bakula, as the elder son inherits Vestfold etc. The younger son could well be the Andahar who is the father of Uther and is the appointed Baron of Blackmoor after Fant.
Any other candidates?
One interesting tidbit I've noticed is that whoever the father is, he should probably have AL somewhere in his name - all the Barons, except Weasel and Fant, do.
He is descended from a long line of Barons of Blackmoor.
He is the Baron of Blackmoor when he dies
He dies fighting Skandarrians
Uther, “a boy” but also a university graduate, becomes baron of Blackmoor when his father dies.
Bakula
Garbage pits of despair occurs at a time when the “Northern Marches” are under the control of a regency council in Vestfold. The regency council appears led by several co-regents including Bakula. (DW 42&43)
This means that it has to be after 1973 (AD), when the first council is formed.
The Northern Marches are still part of the Great Empire (DW42:MM2)
This means that it has to be before Uther Becomes King.
Ten is also described as a place where Blackmorians can travel and enter into the service of local rulers (sartraps). (DW43:M2,M6) Note that Ross seems to presume a connection between the term Sartraps and the Afridhi, but “Sartrap” could be a term more associated with the nomads of Ten who dwell in desert like conditions.
GPoD does not say why Bakula is on the council of regents or exactly what his position is, other than Co-Regent, but he seems to be someone of particular importance, or at least the person of authority around Vestfold where most of the events are taking place. It seems to be assumed he is from Vestfold simply because he is not specified as being from somewhere else - Baron of Glendower or whatever. It would seem likely then, that Bakula is the Earl of Vestfold and “king” of the Northern Marches. If he is the Earl of Vestfold, he is almost certainly an Andahar, because the previous Earl of Vestfold, Ra-All is very likely his father and an Andahar.
Still it remains possible Bakula could also be some other baron, even possibly the Baron of Blackmoor, or less likely, he could have both titles. Bakula then, could be Uther’s father, but the timing is tricky. Uther’s father must be dead by circa 1008 when Uther is described as in charge of Blackmoor. (TWC) In the period 1008-14 Uther is described as both duke and baron of Blackmoor. If Bakula is his father and Uther inherits the barony of Blackmoor when his father dies, Then either Bakula is not earl of Vestfold or there is another heir to Vestfold, since Uther does not also become Earl of Vestfold and a Co- Regent. If there is an older brother who becomes Earl of Vestfold, then how is it that Uther always seems to be in charge?
There’s also several timing issues that present difficulties to the idea of Bakula dying in 1007/8. There’s the Temple of the Frog issue, in that “everyone knows the temple no longer exists” (DW:M6) having been discovered and sacked circa early 1974 (999 on my timeline). The cultists would have needed time some to rebuild, so a date after 1007 would seem preferable to a date before it.
Slavery has been abolished by the council. (DW42:M4) Given that slavery is still present in the FFC, this can not have happened prior to 1000, and probably not before 1002 (1977 when the FFC was published).
Another factor is that Orcs have been largely chased out of the land by the Great Svenny who is now a legendary hero (DW42:M1,43:M3).
So while we can put Bakula as a baron of Blackmoor, have him die at the end of 1007 and fit the events of GPoD into 1005/6 it’s a tight squeeze. It’s workable, but a little tight. My main objection to this is the actual, real time date of the module. My sense of Arnesons campaing is that Blackmoor years mostly followed real years. It was spring in Blackmoor when it was spring in Minnesota, more or less, and I think its no coincidence that the d20 books are set at 1030 - they being published beginning in 2004 and the original campaign having come to a halt at the end of 1974/early75, i.e. about the year 1000. GoPD was published in 1986 and likely written in 1985 or thereabouts – in Blackmoor years that would be 1009. That date fits the facts above a little more comfortably than a 1005 date.
The more likely situation to account for all these hints and complications is that Bakula is the Earl of Vestfold not Baron of Blackmoor, is still alive when Ten falls to the Afridhi , and is not Uther’s father.
Fant
Fant is a natural candidtate because he is the last baron on record before Uther. However, Fant does not die at the hand of Skandaharians, doesn’t seem to be an Andahar, and is described in DoCB as a Great hero Uther seems to have known, rather than a relative of some kind.
Alvarez
Alvarez is possibly an Andahar, but maybe not if Ra-All’s promotion to Vestfold meant the entire family moved, as seems likely. Alvarez also does lose his head in a Barbarian raid like Uthers father. But TWC timeline places that in 985 (same year as Uther’s birth) and regardless of timelines Alvarez is pre Fant for sure. The only way around this is to assume that the baron who dies, leading to Uther becoming baron, isn't his biological father, but a step father. Seems a bit too complicated that way.
Mr. X - son of Ra-all?
When Ra-all is promoted to Vestfold, we can assume his “seat” changed and the Barony of Blackmoor was given to a new house. That new house is that of “The Weasel”. The family may have changed yet again when Alvarez was made baron, and perhaps again with Fant.
After the 2nd Coot invasion, Fant remained the defacto baron despite being a Vampire. At this point, however, it seems almost certain the Council of Regents or perhaps the empire would appoint a new baron. To fit the other timelines, that Baron must be Uther’s father and he must be an Andahar.
It’s conceivable that Ra-all had two son’s. Bakula, as the elder son inherits Vestfold etc. The younger son could well be the Andahar who is the father of Uther and is the appointed Baron of Blackmoor after Fant.
Any other candidates?
One interesting tidbit I've noticed is that whoever the father is, he should probably have AL somewhere in his name - all the Barons, except Weasel and Fant, do.
![[Image: sword05.jpg]](http://animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/sword05.jpg)
