1484

## **Two Years into the**Second Sundering**...**

1484 DR hit Toril like a wrecking ball. After the splash of Lantan and Halruaa, other lands had been reappearing (and Abeir lands disappearing) in a way that felt like it was guided more by "natural processes." Earthquakes slammed Iriaebor, tsunamis, sudden changes in weather with storms, floods and droughts (with receding sea waters afflicting South Faerûn) were common around the world.

Plagues of locusts afflictted certain lands, notably Amn, and Amn in turn blamed Stonehearth. Stonehearth denied it, privately remarking they wouldv'e used something more significant than locusts.

It wasn't all bad. As certain lands returned, other conditions were lifed, such as the breaks in the darkness over Sembia.

### **When the Threat of the Friend is Greater than the Threat of the Enemy**

23 years prior, Stonehearth had been one cannon shot away from ending the Thultanthar threat. An armistice was signed, and portions of the agreement remained secret. One thing was certain, though: there was a limit to the duration and scope of the agreement.

Some in Cormyr desperately called for Stonehearth intervention, while others were suspicious of those who'd once made a truce with the Shade. Particularly pointed now: the Cormyr conflict with Netheril was heating up in the east:

* Sembia attacked the Dalelands and captures Archendale.
* Daerlun prepared defenses against a possible Shadovar and Sembian invasion.
* Cormyr sent an army to protect the Dalesfolk.
* Netheril directly attacked Cormyr's borders, forcing Cormyr into a fight on far reaching fronts.

The Stonehearth marquisate was technically non-interventionist, but lately was building coalitions to effect change. They weren’t imperial, but two lands had sworn fealty to the Commonwealth. They had demonstrable military power – enough to level mountains – but only troll kingdoms had felt the brunt of that firepower.

Despite the intricate diplomacy, the etiquette and protocol, Stoneheart seemed to be running out of patience. There was a sense the Coronet was about to start acting unilaterally on these "shared problems," and when that happened, all bets were off.

### **Within Cormyr's Parliament**

Cormyr suffered threats on multiple fronts – and the marquisate formally offered their assistance. People knew Stonehearth had both an official presence and an undeniable level of power – *they would win*.

That was *why* Cormyr declined the offer. Granted, this wasn’t seeking an alliance the Zhents, but it would still be the political equivalent of selling their soul.

The Cormyrian Obarskyr dynasty was willing to accept the help – it would end the threat quickly – but there was nearly a rebellion from the Cormyrian baronage. There were fears that pushing out Nethril would only open a weakened Cormyr to a quick conquest from the power of the Commonwealth (or Stonehearth directly).

The marquisate already had open dialogues and trade agreements with several aligned Houses. A bigger Stonehearth influence threatened their very sovereignty.

## Timeline Exploration

* Go back to the Primal Magic timeline...
* Check out 1484 in the Forgotten Realms original timeline...