The Border Kingdoms (or Blackmoore Baronies as they are sometimes called) are troubled lands. A chaotic patchwork of nations, cultures, and religions is scattered throughout the land. Wars and feuds are common; even peaceful lands must vigilantly defend their borders against expansive neighbors and the plots of petty tyrants and would-be-rulers. There can be no lasting peace until the Baronies stand united and end their eternal conflict.<br/><br/>Yet even though the history of this part of Faerûn is a tragic one, there are glorious moments too. Strong baronies and rich towns stand from the shores of the Lake of Steam to the great plains of Unther.  It would be the labor of a lifetime to create an exhaustive list of the Border Kingdom's divided realms, its towns and villages, and every dark forest or vine-covered ruin; but below is a brief history and some notable details.<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">A brief history of the Border Kingdoms (Blackmoore Baronies)</span></strong><br/><br/>For centuries, the humans, elves and dwarves lived peacefully alongside each other on the relatively remote southern coast of the Lake of Steam, because each had its own enemies to fend off – the humanoids of the Iron Peaks.<br/><br/>Gnolls, Goblins, and Orcs swarmed through the Border Kingdoms. Creatures of night and darkness, these humanoids lived where the elves and dwarves shunned. Yet they constantly raided, traveling through the dwarven mountains and the elven forests to take treasure and lay siege to the humanoid encampments. Matters continued in this vein for hundreds of years.<br/><br/>Little in the way of lasting civilization arose during this time, at least none that are known to human scholars. The elves built slender towers; the dwarves constructed their stone wrought wonders and the humans built their temporary trading villages, but these eventually fell to one marauding humanoid tribe or another. In return, the elves and humans slaughtered villages of gnolls and goblins, while the dwarves drove the orcs deeper and deeper into the recesses of the mountains. It seemed that this stalemate would continue forever, and all sides longed for a way to break it. Had they known what was in store for them, they might have realized that their existence was not so bad after all.<br/><br/>Then came the Awnshegh (pronounced ORN-shay); led by a creature known only as The Shadow. The Awnshegh were creatures of living nightmare, inheritors of magic and forces so foul, evil and twisted that the creature's physical forms were corrupted into cruel, almost mocking parodies of their most base instincts or desires.  Minor or middling these creatures were not, each one powerful in its own right – possessor of powerful magic or skill at arms as well as other dark powers.  They had come with a purpose, but that purpose was veiled from all except the Awnshegh.<br/><br/>The wilderness of the Border Kingdoms was thus touched by the hand of the Awnshegh, and would never be the same again.   The dwarves, concentrating on holding back the Orc forces, had little time or inclination to investigate or negotiate with the Awnshegh (even has such a notion been possible).<br/><br/>The elves, on the other hand, were competing with the humans for land around the Lake of Stream.   At first, the elves thought they could live in mutual enjoyment of the forest with the Awnshegh and this arrangement worked for a time. The presence of the Awnshegh drew the attention of the humanoids that constantly raided through the forest and despite the ferocity of the humanoids the Awnshegh quickly subjugated them.  The humans however proved to be resourceful and resilient enough to stand fast and eventually the Awnshegh were driven from human lands.  The Awnshegh however were not beaten, they were merely bidding their time.<br/><br/>One of the most powerful Awnshegh was a creature calling itself Rhoubhe Manslayer who appeared with an elven countenance, but with a soul blacker than evil itself.  Rhoubhe corrupted the elves and soon the humans and elves were engaged in all-out war.  Woodcutters and peasants gathering firewood were slain as brutally as the warriors that would-be-rulers sent to conquer the elven lands.  To what end this served the Awnshegh's plans no one knows, only that it caused decades of unnecessary bloodshed and misery.<br/><br/>The fair folk conceded the plains, the hills, and the coasts to the humans, and withdrew to the sanctity of their forests, concentrating their efforts on destroying any human foolish enough to venture there. The only ones who did were those seeking elven knowledge or seeking revenge on the elves for their atrocities. Only rarely did either kind ever return from the woods.<br/><br/>For a time, the humans were free to do as they would in this new land. Though there was still the ever-present threat of elven retaliation and humanoid incursion, the humans found themselves mostly unopposed in their efforts. 'Kingdoms' rose and fell as everyone sought to earn the right to rule. It was a vital, dangerous time, when the land was still relatively untouched and it was said anyone with the courage to wield a sword could forge themselves a legend and a kingdom.<br/><br/>As the decades passed and melded into centuries, the violence in the Border Kingdoms waned to that of skirmishing.  The influence of the Awnshegh disappeared as did the physical presence of the nightmarish creatures.  Again, no could explain their disappearance and whether this boded good or ill.<br/>The years continued to roll on and the living memory of the Awnshegh slowly faded, becoming nothing more than a legend with which to frighten children at bedtime and to mock those of weak constitution.  The area ironically became known as the Border Kingdoms, for on all four borders more vibrant, powerful and influential kingdoms arose; yet when one sought to influence or gain dominion over the area, the other three would unite and resist.  It became a battleground for those rulers who did not wish to despoil their own lands.<br/><br/>Then a mere 13 years ago came a human man of humble origins, yet so endowed with intellect, wisdom and charm that he swept all before him.  This man was Darien Avan, a former Purple Dragon soldier from Cormyr.  The Avan family had had to flee the Border Kingdoms several generations prior and Darien was determined to return to claim his birthright. With him was a large band of warriors, priests of various faiths, wizards and other assorted opportunists, mercenaries, rogues and adventurers.<br/><br/>Around this group he raised a sizable army and soon captured a rich town to which he gave the name of his deceased infant son, Daunton.  Ever outward Darien exerted his influence, taking villages and towns with military might, cunning or diplomacy.  Yet, he kept very little for himself.  Instead, Darien created numerous baronies for those who had served him with fidelity.  When an elderly retainer passed, Darien took his surname and gave it to the area he had pacified – the Blackmoore Baronies.<br/><br/>Then came the great Battle of Deismaar.  Deismaar was a small lumber mill town nestled in between two hillocks and was of no particular importance, but it is where the armies of Blackmoore met the armies of Iron Peak tribes.  Hundreds, if not thousands died on this day.  To this day, no one knows what caused the fractious Orc, Goblin, Ogre, Gnoll and Hill Giant tribes to unite and invade the Border Kingdoms.  The clash on the gentle slopes of Deismaar was an epic battle, man and monster struggling against each other in the vain attempt to triumph. Nonetheless, despite the bravery and skill of the Blackmoore warriors, it seemed certain that the humans would end the day by lying dead on the slopes of Deismaar.<br/><br/>It was then that the elves came to the aid of the humans, slaughtering the humanoids and renegade humans who fought with them. The elven generals had seen the threat of the Iron Peaks for what it was, and realized that if the humans fell, then they would be next.<br/><br/>The rout of the humanoids had been so complete that many of their leaders had been captured.  In the days following the Battle of Deismaar, Darien Avan had each sign the Treaty of Arar (the town of Arar, while no longer in existence was the spiritual home of the Avan family).  Lands were demarcated, resources assigned and peaceful relations begun.  The treaty was signed but a year ago and already there are cracks beginning to appear…