The dwarves of Dwarvenhearth observe that someone has moved onto the Spire near their city and has begun building a fortress. Their spies reveal it to be Ghul —the Half God, the Skull-King—who claims to be the son of Eslathagos Malkith, an evil lord from the distant past. Ghul calls his fortress Goth Gulgamel and builds it by the labor of Toruk-Rul (meaning “closing fist”), creatures he created from orcs.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
History of Ptolus
Before the Empire of Tarsis
0 0
-
-350 BE
Ghul Arrives
Construction beginning/end -
-319 BE
Fall of Dwarvenhearth
Ghul’s forces drive the dwarves from Dwarvenhearth.
-
-291 BE
Fall of Palastan
Military: BattlePalastan falls to Ghul.
-
-290 BE
Fall of the Sea Kingdoms
Military: BattleThe Sea Kingdoms fall to Ghul.
-
-289 BE
Fall of Rhoth
Eastern Rhoth falls to Ghul, cutting off Cherubar to the far west from the rest of the continent.
-
-288 BE
-87 BE
The Utterdark
Plague / EpidemicGhul conjures forth a vast magical darkness called the Utterdark, which covers the lands he has conquered.
-
-285 BE
Moonsilver Falls
Military: BattleThe elves of the northern Moonsilver Forest fall to Ghul. They are taken to Goth Gulgamel and filter out again slowly as Harrow elves—the blighted ones.
-
-282 BE
The Halting
Military: BattleThe Elder Elves of Theridae stop the advance of Ghul’s armies near the River Tonam.
-
-281 BE
-152 BE
The Cold Quiet
Era beginning/endFew pass into or out of the Utterdark. When the cold quiet ends the armies of Ghul issue forth from the Utterdark, composed of his creatures the Toruk-Rul and the even mightier Sorn-Ulth (meaning “bleeding breath”), ogres, trolls, giants, undead, and other monsters.
-
-150 BE
The tide turns
Military: BattleThe Elder Elves, now allied with the Stonelost dwarves (descended from those who fled Dwarvenhearth), drive back Ghul’s armies.
-
-87 BE
The Light
The elven wizard Khelaeson banishes the Utterdark.
-
-86 BE
Invasion
Military: WarThe elves and dwarves invade the realm of Ghul.
-
-85 BE
Liberation of Moonsilver
Military: BattleThe invaders take back the Moonsilver Forest and most of Palastan from Ghul.
-
-84 BE
The Horde
Military: BattleGhul calls forth the Squirming Horde, also known as the Shrieking Horde, and defeats the elves and dwarves. The horde, composed mainly of minor demons, lycanthropes, fiendish monsters, and incorporeal undead, follows the Elder Elves back to their homeland of Theridae and razes it.
-
-71 BE
Brightfather Pact
Diplomatic actionThe Stonelost dwarves, Shoal elves, halflings, and gnomes forge the Pact of Brightfather’s Day with eastern forces—the Grailwarden dwarves and the Prustan humans of Tarsis—to ally against Ghul. They also gain allies from among the aram and the Cherubim elves, as well as a few select individuals—giants, unicorns, and others.
-
-61 BE
Victory
Military: BattleThe dark hordes of Ghul, weakened from a battle with an unknown foe, fall to the combined forces of the Brightfather Pact, bringing an end to the Ghulwar.
-
-59 BE
Fall of Goth Gulgamel
Military: BattleGoth Gulgamel falls in the harrying that follows the war. Ghul flees to amysterious place known only as Orr.
-
-55 BE
The Seven
Military actionThe Great Seven—Uthegos (a dwarf fighter), Saerth (an elf wizard-rogue), Runshallot (a human cleric), Yllistro (a half-elf sorcerer-ranger), Kam (a halfling monk), Dionys (a human fighter-druid), and Eriskal (an elf rogue)—hunt down Ghul and destroy him in Orr.
-
-50 BE
Reconstruction
Construction beginning/endWith help from Tarsis, the people of the once-dark lands begin to rebuild.
-
-43 BE
-40 BE
Dalenguard
Construction beginning/endConstruction of Dalenguard, a fortress the dwarves build for the Tarsisans, begins near the Spire.
-
-41 BE
Civilization
Construction beginning/endTarsisan outposts and garrisons dot the landscape, providing security and maintenance on the roads.
-
-9 BE
First Emperor
Era beginning/endDelian Von Tessel becomes ruler of Tarsis. He christens his seat of power “the Lion-Guarded Throne” after his family symbol.
Imperial Age
0 721
-
1 IA
The empire rises
Era beginning/endThe Lion-Guarded Throne proclaims Imperial control over the lands around it. The Age of the Empire of Tarsis begins.
-
110 IA
Death of an Emperor
Despite magical aids, Delian Von Tessel, first Emperor of theLion-Guarded Throne, dies.
-
386 IA
Firearms restricted
Following the assassination of her husband, Empress Addares (Von Tessel) X makes it illegal to own a firearm without an official Imperial dispensation.
-
413 IA
Founding of Ptolus
FoundingPtolus—named after fragmentary facts from the distant past discovered by the loremaster Gerris Hin—is founded as a small port city on the edge of a large bay off the Whitewind Sea. It is built near the fortress of Dalenguard and eventually will encompass it.
-
500 IA
Raguel
Celestial / CosmicThe demigod Raguel arrives in the world with a demonic host, seeking his divine parents. They find a home with the undead-loving Forsaken in the Dark Reliquary.
-
560 IA
641 IA
Edict of Devilry
Cultural eventThe Edict of Deviltry is issued, adding strict laws prohibiting arcane magic tothe Vast Codex.
-
562 IA
564 IA
The First Inquisition
Cultural eventhe First Inquisition terrorizes the Empire. The “Days of Blood” begin.
-
598 IA
609 IA
Second Inquisition
Cultural eventThe Second Inquisition begins, in particular looking for a group ofarcanists called the Inverted Pyramid. Despite tortures and horrible massacres, the Second Inquisition ends in failure. The Edict of Deviltry falls into disfavor. The “Days of Blood” end.
-
615 IA
Sanctuary City
The leadership of Ptolus declares the city a safe haven for arcane spellcasters.
-
657 IA
Reformation
Life, RelocationIn a surprising move by the Church of Lothian, the Prince of the Church takes up permanent residence in the fairly remote city of Ptolus.
-
706 IA
Chaos
The Empire is in chaos, with three different people claiming the Lion-Guarded Throne. Empress Addares (Von Tessel) XXXIV attempts to move the capital to Dohrinthas, her longtime home.
-
708 IA
Urthon Aedar
The mysterious and ornately armored Urthon Aedar begin to appear in Ptolus, prophesying doom.
-
710 IA
Tarsis Sacked
Military: BattleTarsis is overrun by barbarians from the Eastern Hordes. Holy Emperor Rehoboth of the Church of Lothian flees to Ptolus to stay with the Prince of the Church, his son Kirian.
-
713 IA
Delving
Discovery, ExplorationExplorers plumbing down into ancient Dwarvenhearth discover great treasures and begin bringing them to the surface.
-
714 IA
Liberation of Tarsis
The barbarians leave Tarsis. “Emperor” Segaci attempts to reestablish the Empire from its traditional capital.
-
717 IA
Rise of Ptolus
Ptolus becomes the center of much attention as more and more would-be treasure-seekers plumb the depths below the city. Activities of so-called “chaos cults” increase. The potential for both greatness and danger has never been as intense.
-
721 IA
Current Date