The campaign will begin in the shop of Direk the Artificer in the City
of Ishkibbibble at 11:53 AM on March 20, 783 IC.

Over seven hundred years ago, king Martin of Ishkibibble waged a
series of wars of conquest, unifying 13 formerly independent kingdoms
in the region of Ironia under his rule. Crowning himself Emperor of
Ironia, he instituded the new Ironian Calender, to be dated from the
year of his ascension.

The current emperor, Hadir VII, was crowned in 713 IC. 
In 733, emissaries from Kroma, a large empire to the west, made
contact with Ironia. Ambrosia Trading Company, the major power in
Kromian overseas commerce, proposed opening up trade relations with
Ironia. Since Ironia had nothing to speak of in terms of ocean-worthy
ships, commerce would be conducted on Ambrosia's vessels. Ambrosia
also invested in constructing more capable ports in Ironia.
The city of Ishkibibble became a critically important port city and
the hub of overseas commerce. A significant population of Kromians
involved in commerce settled in Ishkibibble, as well as a large
expatriate community. By 748 IC, some 5000 Kromians lived in
Ishkibibble. 

After several years, the lords further from the coast (who were not
prospering from taxing the new trade with Kroma like the inner lords
were) as well as traditionalists who did not like the growing
influence of Kromian culture on Ironia began to protest. They
convinced the emperor to suspend trade with Kroma. In 753 IC, the
imperium announced that Ambrosia's seaports were being seized by the
throne and closed to commerce.

The Kromians' response was swift. An army of 5,000 soldiers was
marshalled in the eastern city of Kraegersport. The major port cities
of Ironia were blockaded and armies were landed. The bulk of the
forces were landed in Ishkibibble, where an advance team secured the
port, allowing the landing of the rest of the army. In the brief
battle for Ishkibibble, the Kromians had several important advantages.
First, while both the Kromian expeditionary force and the Ironian
Imperial Guard were well-trained professional armies, Kroma had an
indisputable advantage when it came to magic. While there are many
magic users in Ironia, Kroma has a heavier emphasis on organized
magical training and close integration of its magical forces with its
mundane ones. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the Kromians had
surprise on their side. The Ironians had not expected this kind of
response, and had not prepared for it. When warships were spotted on
the horizon, the Imperial Guard and city militia were called up and
messengers were sent to the lords asking for military assistance. The
several hours of notice were insufficient, however, for proper
preparations. After several hours of brutal street fighting, the
Imperial Guard began to retreat to the Imperial Palace. The Kromians
were then able to quickly secure the city and surround the Imperial
Palace.

Emissaries were sent to the emperor, demanding that he open
negotiations with the goals of ending hostilities, reopening trade,
and restoring Ambrosia's property. The emperor refused outright,
counting on the armies of his vassals to deliver Ishkibibble. His
lords did, indeed, call their banners and march on Ishkibibble. 
The first lords to arrive, a group that would become known as The Gang
of Four, ruled coastal and near inland territories, and thus had
prospered from Kromian trade. They promptly surrounded Ishkibibble
and set up defensive positions. They then sent an emmissary to the
emperor stating that the believed that further bloodshed would be
unnessecary and tragic and that he should open up negotiations with
the Kromians. The emperor's advisors informed him that he had no
choice but to capitulate; the Kromians held his capital city and the
Gang of Four cut the city off from further relief. Even if the outer
lords could fight through the Gang of Four forces, it would shatter
the empire in a bloody civil war, the likes of which had not been seen
in 400 years. 

The terms of the Treaty of Ishkibibble were simple: trade would be
reopened, the ports that had been siezed would be returned to Ambrosia
Trading Company and the Kromian Empire would station its military in
the ports and a surrounding area sufficient to ensure secure trade
routes. As a result, approximately one tenth of Ishkibibble now lies
under Kromian jurisdiction.