The Blue Century
The Blue Century was a truly strange period. The Elves had disappeared shortly before the dawn of the century, but then the Knosis Silence occurred in 306. The Minotaurs of the Asterus Isles disappeared. Kari traders arrived to find their island nation abandoned and burned down. And in the year 315 AGC the Reinstated Khaja Sultanate took their revenge on the Tarisians. The Khaja mages had developed a magical bio weapon called Dama Altinin, a gas that clung to clouds and rained down poisonous black rain on any caught in the downpour. It melted the skin, and left indelible scars on it’s victims. Killing thousands, the Khaja Sultanate made the day a holy day for Felis-Cathar. The Ordo Magia was petitioned by survivors to punish the Sultanate, and so the powerful mages threatened the Khaja to come to the table, or face the strongest mages of the day. There was initial defiance, but cooler heads prevailed and in that same year the Pan-Sarasaradan Peace Treaty was signed to keep the nations in peace, and the mages drew new borders, while also making Constantia a neutral city, open to both nations. In 322 AGC war was sparked over trade disputes between Vilka and Anglica. The war saw the mighty Vilkan cavalry bested by Anglica’s longbowmen, yet still the Vilkans won, taking small territorial gains in the north of their border. The war finally ended in 326 AGC. And in 327 AGC Krazkow attempted to invade Shyrland, but they were thwarted by the Halflings who fought using guerrilla tactics against the Krazka. The Krazka were left with tales of ferocious short-folk wielding magic weapons, and devising devious traps. Meanwhile, the Dwem’vera Triumverate became more than just a Kingdom ruled by three representatives, it became more of a democracy. In 345 AGC ancient documents were found written by Sylra Vereth all the way back during the wars with Moraphan. He wrote of a representative government ruled by the people who could elect their leaders. But he also wrote that his theory was too rough to put into practice in the short time he had to maintain order in a bleeding Aeris after Moraphan’s defeat. The Triumvirate became less a nation ruled by three, but instead the governance was split between executive, judicial, and legislative branches. With the Triumvirate still being intact by elected leaders from each branch conveening to go over matters of state. The Praetoran Empire saw this kind of representative government as a threat to their own hold on power, so in 349 AGC the Praetoran Empire launched a surprise invasion into the Dwem’vera Triumvirate the successful invasion of the Triumvirate was seen as a victory for imperial government, and spurred by this they invaded Anor-Gotha next. The Anor-Gothans fought bravely, aided by the Vilkans. But both were toppled by the new imperial fervor from the aging Empire. The Empire’s war motto became “Glory, Pride, Honor” or “Gloria, Gloria, Gloria” as they swept through their old territory. Soon it was only Anglica and Krazkow that stood, with Shyrland staying neutral. And as the Empire came closer and closer to defeating the two last standing kingdoms, Shyrland sent diplomats to Novoto, which at the time held Esla. At the meeting both nations came to the conclusion that they had to intervene. The Novoto and Halflings mustered their armies and marched to aid the other kingdoms, surprising the Praetorans, and starting to push them back. It prolonged the war further till 388 AGC. In 388 the Praetorans lost the Battle of Gothric’s Way, where their army was crushed by the Val’Karan kingdoms at last. The bones of the ancient Aerean Empire continued to slowly rot away, as this war became known as the War of Falling Stars. Named so for what many saw as the Empire’s final loss. Becoming a shell of itself, the victorious Val’Karan kingdoms occupied different parts of the old Praetoran Empire, all but completely destroying it. And in 390 AGC the Val’Karan Unity Conference was held, the nations elected to form a defensive pact. It was called the One Val’Kara Defense Pact. And as the century closed the Knosis Minotaurs returned from their enslavement by a draconic empire in the “Far Lands”. The returning refugees were led by “The Hornbearer”, a Minotaur male who became known as the savior of the Knosis. This not only confirmed the existence of other continents across the seas, but also brought Dragonborns to the known world. These Dragonborn were allies of the freed Knosis, and were allowed to come along with them after their revolt. The coordinates of this far off land were never recorded, but tales spread nonetheless of a dangerous force from outside the world coming to bring them all down. They returned in 398 AGC.
