10-04-2019, 04:44 PM
Aldarron, I think you might be right, and it turns out that my "vassal king" suggestion might not have been as far-fetched as I thought.
If we look at the Blackmoor timeline in the 4E campaign setting, along with a line from the Kingdom of Blackmoor section, it sounds like there was a king before Uther. But it's strange that this king is never mentioned by name and is never referenced in the timeline until 1007. Here are some selected quotes from the timeline:
There are no other mentions of a "king" of Blackmoor. The first reference is in the 1007 entry.
However,, according to these entries, elves retook Blackmoor and the orcs were driven to the deeper dungeons. Later, Uther becomes Baron of Blackmoor and then Blackmoor Castle is subdued enough that the king may reside there again. This clearly implies that there was a king who had resided there previously. And eight years later, "King Uther" is backed by Bascom Ungulian.
In the context of the 4E FC, this leaves us with two possibilities.
1) Uther became king between 1005 (when he was named Baron of Blackmoor) and 1007 (when Blackmoor castle was subdued enough for the king to return);
or
2) There was a king before Uther who is unnamed in the timeline and is not referenced before the 1007 entry.
However, in the Kingdom of Blackmoor section on p. 149, we have this line:
This implies that there was an existing throne to which Uther was making his claim. Otherwise, they wouldn't be supporting a claim to the throne: they would be supporting his desire to be crowned king: the first king of Blackmoor.
But all of this is still a bit confusing when you consider the passage you quoted from p. 21 of the FFC. Yes, Ra-All was promoted to king, but it was King of Vestfold. Isn't Vestfold only an earldom in the Blackmoor setting? Or was it possibly a separate kingdom or the seat of power while Blackmoor was overrun? The 4E timeline says Vestfold was the center of Blackmoor politics for a time, but there's no mention of a king residing there.
If we look at the Blackmoor timeline in the 4E campaign setting, along with a line from the Kingdom of Blackmoor section, it sounds like there was a king before Uther. But it's strange that this king is never mentioned by name and is never referenced in the timeline until 1007. Here are some selected quotes from the timeline:
Quote:998 Elf adventurers successfully take Blackmoor. The orcs are driven to the deeper dungeons. Svenson slays Funk I. Svenson later rebuilds Freehold, deciding to steer clear of Blackmoor politics.
1005 Uther’s father killed in battle against Skandaharians. –Uther becomes Baron of Blackmoor.
1007 Blackmoor Castle is subdued enough that the king may reside there again.
1015 The Northern Revolt. King Uther is backed by Bascom Ungulian and Han Aleford.
There are no other mentions of a "king" of Blackmoor. The first reference is in the 1007 entry.
However,, according to these entries, elves retook Blackmoor and the orcs were driven to the deeper dungeons. Later, Uther becomes Baron of Blackmoor and then Blackmoor Castle is subdued enough that the king may reside there again. This clearly implies that there was a king who had resided there previously. And eight years later, "King Uther" is backed by Bascom Ungulian.
In the context of the 4E FC, this leaves us with two possibilities.
1) Uther became king between 1005 (when he was named Baron of Blackmoor) and 1007 (when Blackmoor castle was subdued enough for the king to return);
or
2) There was a king before Uther who is unnamed in the timeline and is not referenced before the 1007 entry.
However, in the Kingdom of Blackmoor section on p. 149, we have this line:
Quote:In light of Uther’s impressive leadership, the region’s other barons supported his claim to Blackmoor’s throne.
This implies that there was an existing throne to which Uther was making his claim. Otherwise, they wouldn't be supporting a claim to the throne: they would be supporting his desire to be crowned king: the first king of Blackmoor.
But all of this is still a bit confusing when you consider the passage you quoted from p. 21 of the FFC. Yes, Ra-All was promoted to king, but it was King of Vestfold. Isn't Vestfold only an earldom in the Blackmoor setting? Or was it possibly a separate kingdom or the seat of power while Blackmoor was overrun? The 4E timeline says Vestfold was the center of Blackmoor politics for a time, but there's no mention of a king residing there.