History & Timeline

Skarrit Hills: At its height, the town boasted a stable population of near 3-5000 people. Several small villages marked the route along West Amber Way to the end of it at the top of the Ghora Basin. The tribes folk were settled in the process and many became the primary workers, collecting the amber on the sea side for the traders of the region. They were allowed to keep non-export amber for decoration and burning, but the top 10% of amber – export quality – was made illegal for them to keep. A ‘harvest’ season was even established as it was discovered that the winter storms produced more amber on the shores. A few attempts were made to search for Amber inland, this time by more reputable groups, who discovered a few veins and set up mining operations over time. The area supported a population of over 10,000, including about 2,000 ‘civilized’ folk of the Pine Tribe, who had come to be known as Ambermen. Amberwsell’s golden age came in 6150 to 6200 when the fashion of the shining east turned towards it. Always valuable, it’s price doubled and tripled, even up to 10 times normal in farther places. Population swelled and conflict with the Ambersman became a daily struggle – for the territory was stretched thin on the population it could support and the civilized folk hunted, fished and domesticated the lands set aside for the Ambersmen. It was at this time that a small port grew up and the privateering began. The golden age also drew Orrish raiders a plenty. Open warfare with the Chauvelah elves lasted for most of the time. It was during this time that the area became to be known as Cabella – named after the Hedge Knight Sir Cabella who came from the north and brought with him a retinue of men and gained the support of locals whom he enlisted and trained to fight. In 6162, he set out to ‘cleanse’ the area. It took 10 years and many deaths, but finally the place was rooted of Orrish and highwaymen. Though this peace lasted only 5 years, the road of his adventures was named after him, the route he opened from north to south bears his name – the Via Cabella. After his death by natural causes, the region just assumed his named for it was easy to reference it as the lands between the ends of the Via Ceballa. The entire region was united in this moment, and has been ever since. In 6200, with the fall of the east, fashion changed and amber, though still a very valuable stone, became less a sought after commodity. The region collapsed, and many an empty steading and village can be found throughout the area. Peace was made with the elves, lands returned to them and the Ambersmen and new treaties established. The port was abandoned, though the pirates stayed – taking the coast for themselves. The Ambersmen have since worked only for the pirates, while Amberswell itself has continued to try and mine the amber from the earth east of the Skaret Hills.

Though little other commodities enrich the region – some iron, coal, a few other metals (including silver and copper) and minor resources – there have been many a battle fought nearby. The Merchant Cities have always sought to take control of the region. In its golden day, Redgate Castle was built to defend the region. A constant flow of troops into the region secured Dunstrand’s northern jewel and a constant flow of trade and spending in the region. The battles between the Merchant Cities and Dunstrand, along the northern border, were fierce and constant. Then, the earthquake in 9030 changed everything. The remaining mines collapsed, buildings fell, and terrain was ripped apart… killing over a thousand people in the process. Since then, the stone has continue to be mined, though in much smaller amounts. The region’s roads, cities and towns had an initial influx of capital which helped somewhat, but West River Run stopped rebuilding anything beyond a few isolated towns where nobles had dwellings and the city itself, and Ducal aid stopped coming. A garrison of troops is still provisioned in Amberswell, and a baron nominally holds political control in the city. In 9134 Linnis Faer, called ‘Golden Axe’ and cousin of the Duke, built Faerdale Hall in an attempt to revitalize the area – as it was one of his favorite hunting locales. The hall lies at the northern outskirts, on the west side of the Via Cabella. He was a patron to the town for a few years, but it seems to generate little stimulus, and with his recent death it gets few visits but for tourists and family members. It is also a shrine to his patron god Whelm.

The locals are seen as lazy and undependable by their rulers to the south, and ill-treated. Truthfully, the locals are simply tired and fed up with their treatment under West River Run.