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Timeline
The Age of Blood
The creations of the First Tyrant fought and slew each other in an orgy of bloodletting never before seen or matched since. The length of this age is unknown, for none remember these terrible years.
The Cataclysm (0 FA (First Age)
Legend has it that the First Tyrant was torn from the sky by his creations, creating the rent in the world to the far north. (The scrolls that date to this time are incomplete and none have been recovered that document the first comings of the Upper races.) The Upper races of Elf, Dwarf and, so it is said, Man and Halfling later on are born into the world. The surviving creations of the First Tyrant are gradually driven back to the far places by the primitive but determined new races.
The Colonisation of the Realms (beginning 76 FA)
The Upper races fight back the surviving evils in the world, carving out their own realms in the process. Five realms are documented to have been built in this time. Some Humans lead a nomadic lifestyle in the northlands, later becoming known for their trade with the southern realms.
The Departure of the Elves (544 FA)
The race of Elves are noted to leave the known land, creating their own Elven
kingdom on a distant Island formation to the northwest. Relations between the
Elves and the Kingdoms of man continue to prove fruitful. Some Elves are noted
to have stayed in the realms of man, becoming known after as Wood Elves, as
they chose to live amongst the woodland of the realms.
The Goblin Wars (546 FA)
Vast Goblin hordes, advancing like a green carpet across the lands in the wake
of the departing Elves, sweep over the newly built realms of Man in a
bloodthirsty tide. It seemed that no power could halt them in this dark time,
but salvation was at hand.
The Time of Ramgis (560 FA)
Ramgis, greatest of the Human warriors, unites the tribes of Man. Over the
course of several years, Ramgis and the Human tribes drive back the Goblins in
a bitter war, finally achieving a hard-fought victory.
The Age of Exploration (600 FA)
The realms of the known world begin to explore and expand their lands. The
Elves build their kingdom into a mighty realm of power and beauty, while many
of the Dwarves begin to depart from their homes in the realms of man.
Ramgis is crowned the first King of Man.
The Colonisation of the World’s Spine (632 FA)
The race of Dwarves construct a series of gigantic subterranean holds along the
length of the mountain range known as the World’s Spine, and most of their
people settle here. Other smaller holds are built in other places as well; of
note are Deepforge, and Karag-Morgul.
The Grim Times (911 FA)
After years of failed harvests and terrible omens, an unnatural mist envelops
the lands. Only the Elven kingdom to the far west is untouched; yet its
mariners are unable to pierce the eldritch fog to reach the coasts of the known
lands, and thus contact is severed. In the fog come dark, ethereal creatures
that can be defeated by no mortal. Appearing and disappearing without warning,
they seize the folk of innumerable towns and villages by means unknown, and
reduce the realms to a splintered collection of cowering slums over a period of
a century or more. When the mists finally lift, those who remain begin to
tentatively re-establish contact.
The Years of Reclamation (1020 FA)
Years pass, and the realms slowly lose the fear that a century of terror had
ingrained. Spectral towns and hamlets, their populations lost without trace,
still dot the landscape for decades. With the renewal of sea links, small
groups of Elves visit the recovering lands, aiding their rebuilding, though they
soon withdraw and links decay once more. Men are also assisted by missions of
Dwarves who had been safe in their mountain homes, and now aid the race of Man,
constructing many solid and baroque edifices, which survive to the present day.
The Age of Prosperity (1290 FA)
With the end of fear and the continued absence of the minions of the First
Tyrant from the lands, the realms enter a new age of peace and prosperity. In
this age of invention and discovery, the contact and trade between the realms
of the known world reach a peak.
The Birth of the Kingdom (1387 FA)
The Kingdom is born from an amalgamation of vibrant human city-states, and the
city of Wolfhold is constructed in the north. In the years after the city is
built, several more cities and uncounted towns and villages are planned and
built in a glorious time of expansion that some thought could never end.
The Time of the Dark (1444 FA)
As told in the scrolls, there comes a time when darkness descends upon the
lands, gathering most terribly over the Elven kingdom. The seas to the
northwest boil, and great spears of lighting tore the sky over the distant
islands of the Elven kingdom. It was prophesised as the end of the world,
though after two years, the skies lightened, and the storms in the northeast
finally ended.
The Return of the Elves (1447 FA)
Fully one year after the darkness lifted, groups of Elves return to the realm
of Man. They are granted homes and Embassies within the Kingdom, though rumours
abound over the circumstances of their arrival, and their involvement with the
darkness and strife that wracked the lands the age past.
The Invasion of Greenskins (1732 FA)
The evil creatures known as Orcs and Goblins gather once more in huge armies
after a century of quiet, and attack and overrun many of the Dwarven Holds; it
is heralded as the greatest defeat in the history of these people. Pale Elves
are seen leading the opposing armies, clad in the colours of night.
The Dwarf Holds are left as shattered ruins of their former glory, infested with
greenskins. Consolation by the Elves only further fuels the fire of the Dwarven
hatred, and much of the friendship that existed between these two Upper races
vanishes, to be replaced by mistrust and contempt. For several decades, armed
conflict is noted on occasion between Elf and Dwarf, though the diplomats of
Man manage to avert a full-scale war.
The Long War Against the Greenskins (1876 FA)
Gizzard Grunbad, the first true Orc Warlord, invades the Kingdom, sacking the
southern city of Valendia. The city is never retaken and eventually burned to
the ground by the Greenskin horde. A great army of the combined Upper races
eventually drives back the Orcs. The nomadic northern tribes settle and form
the nation known today as Bolshov.
The Time of Mistrust (1901 FA)
The races of Elves offer their most profound regrets to the Dwarf race after
the discovery of their dark kin, but their offers of aid in reclaiming the
Holds are rudely spurned. The Elves, stung by their failure, enter a time of
mistrust against all races in varying degrees.
The Crowning of the New King (0 NE (New Era)
In the aftermath of the Greenskin wars Tomhas Perigias, the greatest Human
leader in the Long War, is heralded as the new King, and crowned in the city of
Herdheim, naming this city Capitol of the Kingdom.
The Time of the Three Kings (15 NE)
The King, Tomhas Perigias dies in combat, the resulting struggle for the crown
nigh on tears the fragile Kingdom apart. During this time many nobles depart
the lands, some settling in the neighbouring lands now known as Bretagne. The
Council of the Kingdom is formed to prevent such a catastrophic power struggle
ever occurring again.
The Discovery of Havoc (90 NE)
The dormant forces of Havoc awaken; small raids and skirmishes begin along the
northern borders with both the Kingdom and Bolshov.
Reformation of the Royal Army (99 NE)
Due to increased raids and incursions of the Kingdom, the King Heinrich Balstar
introduces sweeping changes to the Royal armies. The race of Dwarves trade with
Men the secret of blackpowder.
The Time of Quiet (117 NE)
After several years of near-constant raids and conflicts, the Kingdom is at
peace. After magic’s worth is proven in battle, the College of Magic is formed
in Altschlag.
The Great War against Havoc (153 NE)
A force of Havoc, the likes of which have never before been seen in bloodlust
and in number, descends from the north against Bolshov; the capital city of
Bolshov falls in the winter.
The War of Blood and Snow (154 NE)
The Royal army is defeated and routed at the borders of Bolshov; the King
himself falls in battle. However, the remains of the Bolshovite and Royal
armies combine and join with a Dwarven force, finally defeating the forces of
Havoc.
The Fortification of the Kingdom (157 NE)
Watchtowers and garrisons are constructed along the border with Bolshov, who in
turn rebuild their own defences once the Havoc forces are eventually driven
back. Much of the trade between Bolshov and the Kingdom comes to an end.
The Expansion of the Borderlands (239 NE)
The inhabitants of the southern borderlands extend their territory south,
eventually creating self-contained lands for themselves. After long discussion,
these lands sever much of their ties with the Kingdom and become independent
states known as Ispenia and Antilea.
The Time of the Black Plague (333 NE)
A terrible disease afflicts the Kingdom; rumours of walking rats the size of
men are a regular tale in taverns. Poisoning becomes a strangely prevalent
means of death among the people of the Kingdom.
The Culling of the Rats (336 NE)
The Royal army begins its long war against the infiltrating Ratmen known as
Skanks. The war has lasted to this day.
The Incursion of Havoc (400 NE)
Havoc forces spill from the northlands and attack the known world.
The Hundred Years War (401 NE)
Havoc forces drive Greenskin armies before them, attacking the Human cities.
Human civilisation lies on the brink of collapse. The Upper races, driven to
trust by desperation, combine their forces and stand united against the storm
that threatens to engulf the world.
The Battle of Death Pass (436 NE)
The lands to the north became known as Death Pass due to its role as the
staging point for the Havoc forces. A rare alliance of Elves and Dwarves make a
stand in the now ruined city of Vayene, known forever after as the City of
Weeping Blood.
The Turning of the Tide (480 NE)
The new King, Magnus Saberhagen, defeats a massive Havoc army in the wilderness
near the city of Wolfhold. This city is afterwards acknowledged as the capital
of the Kingdom, a symbol of Mankind’s unyielding spirit.
The Battle of Dunar’s Field (490 NE)
The King led the final attack that drove the Havoc forces from the lands,
personally slaying the Lord of Havoc that led the horde. Havoc is driven from
the realm of the Kingdom, though Havoc-inspired cults and covens remain that
still exist to this day.
The Time of Rebuilding (493 NE)
The King sets his citizens to rebuilding the Kingdom from the ashes of the
Great Incursion. Many cities are deemed destroyed or lost forever.
The King’s Elevation to Sainthood (500 NE)
King Magnus Saberhagen is raised to sainthood by the people of the realm, the
only King to achieve this since Ramgis himself.
The Assault of the Dark Elves (555 NE)
The City of Wolfhold is attacked by the fell forces of the Dark Elves, evil kin
to the Upper race of Elves. The foe is repelled, at great cost.
The Time of Relative Peace (570 NE)
The Kingdom enjoys a time of peace, rebuilding her armies and re-establishing
trade routes with her neighbours.
The Second Great War against Havoc (599 NE)
The forces of Havoc rear their head once more as the opening of a gateway to
their realm is opened in the wilderness near Wolfhold. After months of near
constant warfare, the Havoc forces are once more repelled, but the city of
Wolfhold would never be the same again...
The New Age (600 NE)
A new age is born.