To this very day, the chaotic weave of magic is a mystery to us. There are the well known stories of Mystra and her influence on our understanding of it, but in many ways, it’s just a force of destruction, that we can somehow wield as a mutated arm of our extended spirit. It’s accepted theory that the art of learning arcane secrets - taming these forces of magic, was brought to us as a gift from the elves when they originally migrated to our lands. Something they learned from Mystra.
But, it was not the elves who created these powers, or Mystra. It is theorized that it came in a great sudden surge of power, not unlike the collision, if only much more concentrated and subtle around the time of the Betrayal of Eos. Something allowed this great force to break through onto our plane, and it changed everything. But still, from where it came, we can only ponder...
A lecture on the history of arcana, Lopp'aris Polymoris, 642 AE, the third age.
History of the Second Age
The scattered knowledge and gathered history of the age of myth and legend. From the spark of dawn, to the great sacrifice.
The Dawn
1 - 62 AD The Second Age
As the fire and passion of life expands, the intricate web of civilisation takes its first few steps on the surface of Pangea. A spark towards complexity and civility between the sapient races of its bountiful earth.
Also referred to as The Beginning of the Second Age, The Era of Dawn.
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61 AD
69 AD
A Surge of Arcana
Metaphysical / Paranormal event -
61 AD
A Promise of Oblivion
Religious eventAs Eos’ body turns cold, and Helios hides beneath the growing horizon, the shadows prey upon the souls of the living. With no power to watch over the kiln of men, the lifespan of people becomes a fleeting thing, ultimately withering away into dust and bone. From here the soul is lost in the grasp of a war between angels and demons, with nobody to guide it homeward.
- The Grail of Dawn Passage 13:13 -
62 AD
67 AD
Orcish Vengeance
Disaster / DestructionIn the darkness, away from the light of the sun god, they survived for many decades waiting for their moment. And it finally came when Eos was betrayed, and the sun for the first time hid beneath the bow of the growing horizon. In the waning twilight, they gathered their numbers and marched south for the first time in history, viciously and violently raiding everything that stood in their wake.
Species
Orcs
The Arcane Twilight
63 - 120 AD The Second Age
After the betrayal, the world was enveloped in twilight carried by the god Astraeus. He then introduced the world to elves and gnomes, who brought with them the gift of magic. Spawning an era of arcane curiosity and divine discovery.
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70 AD
The Prismatic Array
FoundingThe Prismatic Array is founded as a union between the High Elves and the Humans of Elisiat, to solidify the teachings of magic within the purist ideals of the followers of Mystra.
Species
Elves -
72 AD
90 AD
The Twilight Curriculum
Construction beginning/endThe earliest known school for magic is build in the vicinity of Elysium, under guidance from the Prismatic Array and the Twilight Covenant. Creating a landmark of some fame and renown. Sister locations are slowly spread out across the kingdom and neighboring nations during the following 20 years or so.
The Ethereum
200 - 506 AD The Second Age
As the pact of Ethereum was made, the world ushered into a new and prosperous era of development. Defined by the hight of the Etherean Empire, before its collapse.
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203 AD
The Reapers Kiss
Religious eventAs the Ethereum Pact is solidified, and the changes of both seasons and day cycles comb the world, an old promise stands unatoned. Death, the ultimate change, has since the betrayal of Eos, remained in the hands of angels and demons - the eternal war. Now, with the world at peace, Helios turns his attention towards the inevitable transition. He turns to the most unlikely individual for help, a lone diligent farmer by the name of Thanatos. Helios will grant him powers that only a few know of, in turn, Thanatos will be charged with the harvest and guidance of lost souls.
Thanatos agrees, and so the Reaper is born.
- The Grail of Dawn, Passage 25:18 -
354 AD
The Legacy
Disaster / DestructionDeep in the lands of Sheol a strange artefact is discovered by gnomish explorers. They bring it back to Zenith and offer it up as a gift to the elven king Élon-Shar, but the strange relic corrupts him and his people. Making them mad with lust for violence and slaughter.
Realising their mistake the gnomes of Garheaven gather the strength of their alliances, trying to contain the mad king. Not being able to kill him, they manage to banish him to the shadowfell alongside his closet kin.
The Shattered Flame
507 - 691 AD The Second Age
As the Etherean empire shattered, 3 new kingdoms were born in its place. Resulting in a wave of slave revolts and racial paradigm changes across Zenith and Nadir, causing a great shift in power and attitude in the cultural and political sphere of the world.
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566 AD
The Dwarven Seperation
Population Migration / TravelSome dwarfs found solace and common ground under a banner of separation from the kingdom of men, and racial solidarity. These factions gained more and more traction as the Etherean kingdom shattered in three.
Amongst these dwarven factions, stubborn disagreement created a divide between the outspoken, resulting in two different migrations leading north and east away from the new Pallisiat regime.
The Dwarfs of Felt, and the Dwarfs of Gorseech. Two new large kingdoms on opposite sides of the Solemn Seas. The first of which cut all contact with the Western world, while the latter signed a trade agreement with the Pallisiat leaders, while slowly neutering a growing alliance despite the separation. -
683 AD
Defeat of the Jade Dragon
Diplomatic actionA couple of years after the battle of Yasol The Jade Dragon Jáarl Khan is ultimatly hunted down and defeated by Pellos and the Zenith Consolidation. Him and his men are then driven back across the stream of voices, where the powers of Helios charges the waters to be fierce and protective against any further incursions.
A defensive league is born in what would be named the Bay of the Jade Dragon.
Early Empirical Era
692 - 905 AD The Second Age
When Pellos returned and crowned himself Emperor, a new era dawned. One steeped in the might and power of mortals, a time of rising empires. Pellos saw himself as equal to the Sunlord, and so blessed himself and his people by giving way to this radical new way of thinking. Blasphemy to some. But who is to stop those in power, without he himself becoming powerful?
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734 AD
Whispers from the Underdark
Discovery, ExplorationAccording to historic records, all communication with the dwarfs of Felt and Karridge in the north ceases to be. With rumours that their great cities had been left abondened. Some reports say they had found something in the depth beneath their tunnels and mines. Ancient relics and secrets long forgotten.
Species
Dwarfs -
804 AD
Handshake of Jade and Gold
Cultural eventThe defensive league against the east is disbanded opening up the first trade agreements with the chromatic dynasties and clans of the east. Running through the Bay of the Jade Dragon and all the way to Zenith, via what would be known as the Silk Road.
High Empirical Era
906 - 1133 AD The Second Age
Gods and masters of the sea, the distant lands and continents of the world became subject for colonisation and war. Conquerers battled for supremecy, and cultures toppled and fell under the boot of men. The world becoming larger by the day, as well as ever smaller by the minute.
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1126 AD
Elision is born
Life, BirthElision is born, later named the Daughter of Faith and second coming of Eos. She is birthed by an unnamed virgin in the slums of Pallisia under a time of war and poverty, doing the fall of the once great empire.
Late Empirical Era
1134 - 1301 AD The Second Age
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1152 AD
Elision becomes Empress
Life, MilestoneElision is crowned in the golden palace at the end of the 4th revolt and Peoples Rebellion, throwing emperor Rinn into exile. Basking the empire and Zenith in 100 golden years.
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1301 AD
The Grand Sacrifice
Life, DeathBy the end of the abyssal corruptions most hope had left the world, in desperation Elision marched into the abyss and confronted Abaddon. Here she made a deal for the fate of the world, giving her own soul in exchange.
The armies of the abyss withdrew and the withered state of zenith and Pallisia were allowed to once more blossom and grown in the light of a new deity. When Elision sacrificed herself she gave birth to a new religion and became in the eyes of her worshippers a god. Elisianity was born with her death, which created a second schism in the Altar.
Pallisia was made a democracy by her last commands and Zenith was thereby given back to its people, forever scarred by the touch of the abyss.