02-13-2012, 02:03 PM
Havard Wrote:Golden EmpireWe've had some fairly extensive conversations about this one over at the Piazza on the [Mystara 2300 BC] Davania thread. This may or may not work for your version of Blackmoor/Mystara, but the theory we worked out that I like the best was this:
The lands around the Brasol mountains form the heartlands of the Golden Empire, a federation of Kingdoms dominated by Metallic Dragons and Enduks. The Enduks are followers of Ixion. Their relationship with the Enduks who later appear on the Immortal’s arm is unclear. The Dragons are creatures from another world, called to Mystara by Odin as allies for the Enduks in their struggle against the Draconic Empire of Brun. The Hin Kingdoms are under the protection of the Metallic Empire as are a large number of Oltecs from Brun who are on friendly terms with the Metallic Empire. Gold Dragons are the dominant dragon race, but Silver, Bronze and other Metallic Dragons also exist in this age.
The proto-Enduks (let's call them Taurans) are minotaur-like creatures without wings. They are slightly more bestial and bulky than modern day minotaurs and have some similarities with bison in appearance. After the GRoF, a servant of Ixion named Gildesh is set with the task of keeping what's left of the Golden Empire safe from the Wasting disease. After 700 years of doing this successfully, Ixion finally rewards Gildesh, taking a handful of the most devout Taurans and transforming them into Enduks (with wings).
Gildesh and his Enduks then leave Davania to make a home for themselves in Nimmur (on the nearby continent of Brun). From there the canon history picks up leading to the eventual death of Gildesh and creation of the minotaurs circa BC 2000.
I would say that both the Taurans and Gildesh are probably around in BC 4000 (but not Enduks, since they won't be created by Ixion until BC 2300). It's likely that Gildesh is a high-up in the Golden Empire's hierarchy even now, although he may not yet have been awarded Exalted status by Ixion.