The Madness

During the winter of 564 4A a swarm of berserk goblins burst from their caverns in the eastern mountains. They ravaged the lands of Ostenmark, Jarlshold and Heortland, burning farms, killing livestock and people as they tore across the countryside. Many fled into the fortifications of towns and cities for safety, but before long something even more sinister occurred.

The people themselves began acting erratically and violently, often damaging buildings and randomly killing their fellow citizens with little or no reason. Time only made matters more desperate. Gates were opened in Jarlshold and Talonstone, and goblins swarmed into the towns. Chaos reigned as the inhabitants fought a bitter struggle against invader and neighbor. Fires raged in Trollfen and Axefield, burning much of the towns' defenses and food stores.

As word of the tragedy spread, a small band of warriors from Grimhall resolved to put an end to the goblin threat by assaulting the caverns in which they dwelt. In the summer of 565 they bravely delved into the enemy lair, being often taken by surprise or ambush, and many of their numbers lost; nevertheless, they slaughtered their way through the goblin hordes to the very heart of the complex. There they discovered an enormous chamber overgrown with an evil-looking fungus. Fearing some contagion, they burned the chamber to ash and fought their way out of the warrens.

Within days, the goblins retreated to their caves; in a few weeks the madness had passed. It was generally agreed that the fungal growth had driven the goblins to madness, and they brought the contagion with them to the people they had contact with. When the fungus was destroyed the threat ended.

The warriors were hailed as heroes, and their leader, Haemund son of Erlend of Grimhall, was elected King.