The Great Accident was the singular event that created The Shard. An explosion of celestial magic spawned the matter that forms the planet, and led to the evolution of life forms that inhabit it.
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The History of Shardinia
The Age Before Time
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The early stages of Shardinia, stretching back to The Great Accident and the early formation of the planet, its landmasses and seas. This era encapsulates the evolution of life in the seas and life stretching its new legs onto land. Over tens of thousands of years, many species evolved, developing the intelligence to form nomadic tribal societies, coming together to ensure their survival and protect themselves from predators and other tribes. Towards the end of this age, tribes began to create primitive weapons and tools to help them thrive, and started to build permanent structures to give themselves a foothold on the planet. As survival became easier, many turned their interests towards the world around them, looking for answers to questions they had of the place they called home. The Age Before Time ends with the derivation of a basic understanding of earth, fire, air and water.
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-155300 BT
The Great Accident
Era beginning/end
The Age of the Elements
0 BT 869 DT
Following the theoretical assumption of four elements, Shardinia entered into an age of spiritual, philosophical and theoretical enlightenment. Many grand concepts were devised during this period, including the concept of time, upon which this timeline, the calendar system, days, months and years are based. The power of the four elements was apparent to those who had reached the level of intelligence to understand it, and those people dedicated themselves to the elements. The concept of worship was developed during The Age of the Elements, with tribes devoting their lives to the element(s) they favoured. Tribes on the coast would likely worship water, sustaining themselves on the fruits of the sea, while those inland might worship earth, planting crops and rearing animals on the land. Those in volcanic or arid areas might favour fire, using it to forge tools, weapons and armour, and those high in mountains might devote themselves to air, uniquely adapted to thrive in the thin air where others can't. Larger settlements began to form during this era, as tribes began to band together to worship their chosen element.
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869 DT
1
The Celestial Collision
Disaster / DestructionA great celestial object, later discovered to be the ball of Alan's hip joint, descended into The Shard's atmosphere at terminal velocity, striking the centre of the planet, starting a chain reaction that would bring The Age of the Elements to an end, and usher in The Age of Religion.
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869 DT
2
Marog awakens
Life, MilestoneThe impact of the Celestial Collision caused significant disruption to the REM sleep of Marog Thistlespear, a great dragon slumbering underneath the Spearmint Spires in North Sherberre.
The Age of Religion
870 DT 1311 DT
Following The Celestial Collision, Shardinia entered into an age of religious rule. The appearance of the eye of stone (The Moon) gave way to the concept of deities. The elements previously worshipped were quickly personified, making them more relatable, and more alluring to the people. Of course, the "gods" they thought they were praying to weren't real - a god can't be willed into existence - but gods do exist in the universe, and they have very good hearing. Soon enough, the prayers were heard by the real gods of the elements, The Elemental Lords, who turned their attention to Shardinia and its inhabitants. Over the first years of this age, the first four religions of Shardinia were formed: The Church of Kossuth, The Holds of Grumbar, The Order of Akadi and The Sects of Istishia. The other gods soon followed the Elemental Lords to Shardinia, trying to get their own slice of the devotion pie.
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903 DT
Marog escapes the Spires
Life, MilestoneAfter spending around 50 years deep in the bowels of the Spearmint Spires, Marog Thistlespear finally made her way to the surface, bursting forth from the mountainside in a hail of rocks and minty, icy blasts.
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937 DT
1312 DT
The War for Celestia
Military actionAs is often the case when multiple religions exist in close proximity to one another, it wasn't long before violence broke out on Shardinia. The major religions all vied for dominance, vowing that theirs was the only God deserving of the devotion of the Shardinian people. The war would rage for hundreds of years, becoming increasingly bitter and costly.
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946 DT
The Red Storm erupts
Scientific achievementThe followers of Kossuth, The Firelord unleashed their secret weapon upon the world. They had discovered a new, highly volatile substance called Paprika, and set about creating a weapon with it. The weapon, dubbed the Red Storm by their enemies, helped turn the early stages of the war in the Church of Kossuth's favour.
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960 DT
Founding of the Isles of Sherberre
Founding -
1012 DT
The discovery of magic
Discovery, ScientificIn the years following the introduction of the Red Storm, the Church of Kossuth's technology advantage helped them gain the upper hand, driving back invading forces and helping them lay waste to the mainly wooden defences of their opposition. The other factions had to think and act fast to avoid their downfall, and while better quality weapons, training and construction methods helped mitigate the effects of the Red Storm, it was the discovery of magic that next changed the tide of battle.
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1015 DT
Turmeric breaks ground
Construction beginning/endHaving seen warriors and sages from Taurinestein wielding weapons adorned with a strange multicoloured mineral, Turmeric began to search for their own source of this material, constructing two mines to search their mountains for Alanmantium.
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1189 DT
Resurfacing in The Dark
Discovery, ScientificMiners at Turmeric's North Alanmantium mine unexpectedly surfaced from the bottom of the mine, making a huge leap in their understanding of the planet they inhabited, and finding Shardinia's Alanmantium core. Both mines immediately set their sights on the core, constructing huge rigs to enable them to access it and mine the precious Alanmantium. They kept their discovery a secret for as long as they could.
The Age of Invention
1312 DT 1595 DT
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1357 DT
The first haul
Scientific achievementThe first haul of Alanmantium was extracted from the mine at Habanero City and brought to the surface.
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1361 DT
Founding of the United States of Turmerica
Founding -
1408 DT
Founding of the Republic of Taurinestein
Founding -
1595 DT
The theft of The Worldrazer
RevolutionAs the factions of the world were locked in a battle to create the deadliest deterrent to attack, a called The Worldrazer, developed by Vedalken Artificers, threatened to plunge the world back to The Age Before Time. It was, however, stolen, bringing the world into a new age.
The Age of Adventure
1596 DT 1944 DT
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1944 DT
The Artifice Purge
Political eventThe Age of Adventure became so degenerate that the governments and factions of the world had lost total control over wealth and power, with a small few hoarding the vast majority of both. Their only solution was to work together to topple the Adventurers who had took far more than their fair share. A purge of magical items was held, along with a symbolic treaty, signed by all governments of the world, ushering in a new age of peace.