The Current Age - The Age of Coalescence
PE = Pyrideon Era - Years before Coalescence Counting Forward from the Birth of Pyrideon.
BC = Before Coalescence - Years before Coalescence Counting Backwards from year Zero.
AC = AFter Coalescence - Years After Coalescence Counting Forward from year Zero.
The first years of Camoray are difficult indeed. Only about 5% of the populations survive Coalescence and transfer across initially. Several races, like centaurs and ogres, are lost. Magic is lost. Most technology is lost and must be created from its primitive roots. For the most part, all are living out of caves and slowly trying to rebuild. Many memories of before Coalescence are also lost or faulty at this time. The rate and pacing which people and places transfer across seems to be temporally out of sync also. One day there might be a forest, the next day a small town of several houses might appear. It might be a few days after that before any people appear. There has never been any reason or order behind how long it takes someone, a place, or thing to transfer across. Culturally, as races and peoples are forced to intermingle as some come from Pyrideon and some from Nakir, aggression for resources becomes the norm. A theory exists that Camoray might have existed long before the initial guesses as to the first year, year 0 AC could just be the appearance of the first beings sentient enough to record the crossing.
Most of the races segregate themselves to their own areas where they are most comfortable. Of the prominent races on Arisilon, the elves and their brethren take up habitation in the vast dark jungles of the western peninsula, the dwarves dig down into the mountains they knew so well in central Arislon, humans take up abode in the forests south of the great mountains, halflings stay true to their nature and remain close to the humans in the nearest plains, the insectoids all but disappear for the next two hundred years, the gnomes settle down to their old habits of warfare with the kobolds whom they share land within the northwestern parts of the continent. The races of the deep go deeper while the races on high like the alar go higher, borliks find themselves in the shadows of the great mountains both to the north and the south, orcs, goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears find homes wherever others are not, and the lizardfolk, as always, find the marshes that no one else wants.
A fishing village of about four hundred humans and a hundred halflings appears on the shores of a giant freshwater lake in the middle of the jungles of Mashapaloopa. Their first years are a struggle as they learn to adapt to living in a jungle and to fish in new waters. Nearby are a few elf tribes who have also started appearing and with whom they make quick friends.
Brynthia returns intact on a great plateau in central Arisilon. With it, about 100,000 of its final population of over 3 million return with it.
Both of the other two major Rynth cities return within a few weeks of each other. On the last week of the year, Kraylin returns. By now, most other races have started to return in small numbers.
A tiny clan of fewer than fifty dwarves appears near a bluff overlooking an impassable river about fifty miles from Black Moss. The few elves in the area aid the dwarves to contact the town. Once contact is made, trade starts. The dwarves dig deep into the bluff and find a few metals, an exceedingly rare item in the jungle. In return, the humans supply fish and what craft goods they can from hunting. At the base of the bluff, a small town of Chrailis is started as a trading center for the elves, humans, and dwarves.
Many of the cities which made up the Cal Confederate appear in the cradled forest between the Crimson Spires and Borrolo’s Towers, due south of Drake’s Peaks. Because of the age of the forest and the limited size of the cities populations, what was once the great Cal Confederate is now several loosely connected towns and forts. With none of the royal family reappearing as of yet, General Jecofer Sovanyak (no relation to the Elven King of Legend) takes control of the forces in Illania and then starts reaching out for the nearby cities, most of which restore their affiliations to Illania as the woods are still dangerous and traveling on the roads requires a common source of protection.
General Jecofer has already been acting as the supreme leader and dictator of the Cal Confederate. Retitling himself from General Jecofer to Grand Warden Jecofer, he ensures the peaceful transfer of power to his eldest son in the next few years. He keeps the grand warden title in reverence to the ruling family should they return someday. However, it is commonly believed he would dispatch them as soon as he became aware of them.
South of Drynthia, two city-states, Blue Stream and Tobac Grove, begin a long drawn out war which will eventually claim the lives of over 50,000 souls throughout its eight-year length. The war starts over a single mistranslation of a word meant as respect in one city-state and a vile insult in the other. The offending side insists that leaders Blue Stream were well aware of the double meaning all along.
The first mention of the return of magic is made. Very simple cantrips are all that’s possible. Due to the complete non-use of magic for over three hundred years and a slight change in its governing formulas, its methodology slowly starts on the path toward being relearned. By this time, small cities with small armies are appearing across Arisilon.
Grand Warden Jecofer Sovanyak the Second ascends the throne and peacefully takes control of the reorganized Cal Confederate. Under him, the Cal Confederate starts uniting more and more cities around the Theldadorne woods under one banner.
Emperor Zalkonea wakes up in his bed in the royal palace in Brynthia. Up until now, the bedroom was completely empty. Upon reappearing, he has some fight to reclaim himself as leader of the Brynthia. The compromise for now is he is a figurehead mostly and made a permanent senate member of the high council, otherwise, he has no other special privileges.
A chance encounter deep in the lake alerts the fishers of Black Moss to the presence of orcs who have been roaming the seas of the northern half of the lake. The first few encounters are disastrous for the men, with few escaping. Over the next few years, the presence of the orcs becomes more and more prevalent as the orcs start moving down the coastline. Black Moss begins building ships capable of fighting on the water and also begins fortifying the town.
With the slow return of magic, the return of the thirteen gods comes about slowly. The gods managed to cross over, but their computer halves didn't make the crossing. The gods are forced to take on physical manifestations to consolidate their powers. With their limited powers, they are all confined to Arisilon and mostly just the cities. Now unlike never before, their power is tied directly into the number of worshipers they have.
The city AI of Brynthia is the only one known to have made the crossing and makes itself known to the people of its city by appearing on the public square in the city center. With its return, the gods attempt to reassert their main power base out of Brynthia, using the AI for some of their lower level functions like data storage.
As the orcs continue to move south along the coastline, Black Moss prepares for a unified stand. In their favor are years of building fortifications along with metal weapons from the dwarves and aid from the growing number of elves. Against them is a marching army of nearly 5000 orcs intent on destroying everything in its path. Realizing the battle is over before it has begun, the citizens of Black Moss abandoned their town and headed inland to Chrailis. Once there, they will determine what to do. Unfortunately for them, the Orcs were farther along than anticipated. About 2000 orcs were in the process of circling Black Moss from inland about the same time as the main invasion force arrived at Black Moss. The escaping refugees suddenly find themselves with a town being destroyed by orcs to their back and an army of orcs in their path ahead.
Upon her awakening and becoming self-aware, she immediately starts protecting those nearest her birth site. She becomes cognizant around the same time as a large group of humans and halflings from the coast of a large inland lake are fleeing an orcish invasion. She makes her presence known to the humans and halflings – promising that if they will stay, she will protect them. Not seeing any choice, they agree while being fearful that this is actually the worse choice. Legend has it that this is the only time Si’Nassapherion has ever appeared in human form. She directs the humans and halflings to Chrailis and instructs them to resettle in the trading town. Of the orcish invasion, nothing is ever heard again.
As the town of Chrailis continues to stabilize, Si’Nasspherion is rarely seen. In early 312, two individuals of few words arrive. They state they are the faithful of Si’Nassapherion and wish to meditate. They move up the bluff away from the town and set up a small hut. Over the next several years, more and more arrive from the woods. Most are accepted with no question, a few are turned away. Many of the faithful are powerful magic users and they start creating large structures out of marble brought up from below by the dwarves, eventually beginning what will be central Chrailis.
Powerful elemental lords from one of the worlds captured during Coalescence start to make an appearance. These elemental lords are devoid of empathy and morals, they exist for the wanton destruction of all that is physical. Whether they were like this before or this is a result of being forced into this world is unknown. What is known is that they squabble among themselves like spoiled children. If it wasn’t for their infighting, they would be powerful enough to completely overpower the Gods of Peace. As they start to appear, the twelve gods (Grethello is still rogue) spend a considerable amount of their efforts in keeping them in check – focusing mostly on protecting Arisilon and leaving the other lands to fend for themselves.
As the Cal Confederate continues to extend its borders, it pushes up into the dwarven ranges of the Crimson Spires and Drake’s Peaks. While the few elves and halflings in the Confederate are already considered first citizens, the dwarves are now granted the same status. At the same time, Grand Warden Jecofer Sovanyak the third starts pushing the borders of the Confederate further to the southwest all the way to the Grefanau Hills.
The Academy of Science and Magic in Brynthia determines that the loss of magic is due to a passing rogue black star which seems to absorb magic. It is passing through the outer edges of the system. While this star can’t be seen with the naked eye, it is detectable. They name it Maus Gorn.
Within a few years of Grand Warden Jecofer Svoanyak the 4th ascending the throne, he becomes known as the Warrior General as he leads his troops to expand their influence throughout most of the northern part of the Crimson Peaks foothills and pushes the effective boundary of the Cal Confederate all the way to the Black Star mountains.
The size of Chrailis is now over 1500 inhabitants and the town continues to grow, thriving off of both fishing the river and trade with the local elves and dwarves. The City of the Faithful consisting of eight large towers is now surrounded by a single ring. In the center of the City of the Faithful is a single large tower in which Si’Nassapherion now abides. Even this early, those devoted to the City of the Faithful remain apart from most of Chrailis. They have now created a class of underlings in the City which deals directly with Chrailis which will become known as the aristocracy. Meanwhile, the halflings have started exploring the lands above the bluff, finding them to be fertile croplands once the trees are cleared back. The additional altitude above the surrounding jungles makes these prime growing lands.
With magic now almost back to pre-coalescence levels, the gods release themselves of all physical restraints and leave the city AI of Brynthia. During their presence, they had expanded the abilities and overall capability of the city AI. The Spirit of Brynthia now has the capabilities of acting as a minor god. So as to not lose these abilities, the Spirit of Brynthia strives to stay beneath the notice of the gods. Another side effect of their ties to the cities of man and Pyrideon for the gods is they find their powers dwindle quickly the farther they get away from the main continent of Arisilon.
With their area of influence now extending around the God Haven and approaching the edges of the Brynthian protectorate area, the leaders of the Cal Confederate, Grand Warden Jecofer the 5th in particular, announce that in reverence to their expanding size they shall now be known as an empire. As such, the Caldonian Empire is beholden to the protection of all its member states and territories. Rather than return to the Calliff Empire, they chose to emphasize their new starts in the Theladorne woods. Caladorne or the Caladornean Empire is chosen. Grand Warden Jecofer picks up the additional title of Emperor.
The elemental lords continue fighting among themselves as much as they fight the thirteen gods. Sensing that they are losing to the growing power of the thirteen gods, around two hundred of the elementals band together into a new pantheon to counter the pantheon of the thirteen gods. They call themselves the Elemental Conglomerate. Finding it difficult to find followers in the mainland of Arisilon, they find purchase in a nearby small continent of Zylonica and the large island of Teseriac. They set themselves up as rival gods and start using the power gained by faith-based followers to increase their power. They find additional followers in the scattered bands of orcs and goblins throughout the wildernesses of Arisilon. Most of the Elemental Conglomerate members are capricious in nature, going from having fun terrorizing a local community to getting in an angry fight with one another within the Conglomerate. This nature largely moots their overall effectiveness of challenging the thirteen gods of peace.
By Year 400, almost every major city from Pyrideon has now returned along with most towns. Of interest, new cities have also appeared which previously didn’t exist. While already commonly believed to be the case, this is just more proof that something went wrong with the Ritual of Leaving and that Pyrideon has joined with another world.
While most of the other races have been returning with little difference, the elves which have been returning are changed significantly. They share a lot of characteristics with the elves which first arrived in Pyrideon from Gashmyr. They are taller, stronger, and faster. They tend to appear near the jungles and forests of Camoray and have a deeper connection with their homelands. Gone is the desire to congregate in large communities, they all tend to be tribal and shun large gatherings.
With the somewhat questionable means by which people and places reappear from before Coalescence, there has been considerable thought given to the idea that there is some intelligent planning behind the events. Working with several high priests and Emperor Zalkonea, the Academy puts forth a formal proof that the events are not random. With that submitted, the question remains, who or what is the intelligence. One candidate is Darkwing.
A massive volcano deep in the Blackstar Mountains near Borollo’s peaks explodes, spewing ash over most of southern Arisilon. For several days, the sky is cloudy and overcast. For the next several years temperatures are lower and the winters harsher than in recent memories, especially over Arisilon. A large group of Borliks are dislocated by this event and will trek south to find a new home. The gods step in and to the best of their still limited ability counteract some of the worst effects of a volcano winter. Of note, while some minor earthquakes have happened, more so in the northeastern part of the continent, this is the first signs of major upheaval resulting from an active planet. Pyrideon was an inactive world and never experienced earthquakes or volcanos so for some of the longer-lived transplants, this is a first.
Several thousand borliks are dislocated by the explosion of the volcano in Borollo’s peaks. Fleeing their home, they follow a young priest of Slinjetto named Calliss who claims that borliks originated in a land far from where they currently live. Convincing thousands of his people to migrate, they begin traveling south down toward Drynthia. Drynthia’s army heads them off and reroutes them around the city and its farmlands. To the west, they are continuously hounded by the Caladornean army as it tries to round them up so that it can resettling them, possibly making them a slave caste. After six years of travel and being rejected by multiple peoples, the borliks travel through the black marshes and on toward Kraylin where they will eventually find a new home in the many hills surrounding the city. Calliss dies in 420 AC, however, he claims this is the actual home of their Ancestors and the location they first crossed over from Gashmyr. He promises that one day, that path will open up again. And when it does, that path will lead through Kraylin’s world gate.
The explorer Mashakugi from Amaravati discovers a new land when sailing north toward the pole. Following the coastline, he believes he has found a new island. In a later trip, he travels thousands of miles down the coastline and determines he has actually discovered a new continent on the far side of the planet. His young daughter is with him and he allows her to name the land. She names it Mashapaloopa, which roughly translates as Masha’s Dream Land. For decades, his charts are the only reference points to the land in Arislon and many believe to possibly be a fabled land. By the time the Academy verifies the continent is not only real but a supercontinent covering the other entire half of the planet, the name has stuck.
For the most part, the dwarves have found themselves displaced and without homes. Their great underground cities have not reappeared and many of the dwarves which have appeared have found themselves stranded in the mountainous wilderness of the Southern Drake’s Peaks mountain range north of Brynthia. A concerted effort is made by the surviving dwarves to relocate back to one location, especially those now fleeing the increasing tyrannical mechanizations of the Caladornean Empire. In the deep caverns beneath Brynthia’s plateau, they form a new home – Stone Earth Stammburg.
A world gate is established with Brynthia along with four other locations around Mashapaloopa. The reasons the gates are created is thought to be for exploration. The Academy in Brynthia believes that Si’Nassapherion is one of the Elemental Conglomerate, yet a peaceful member. The net result of the gates is a large influx of peoples from around the world visiting and exploring the now impressive City of Marble. As trade and tourism through the gates increase, so does the size and prosperity of the neighboring city, Chrailis. Even now, Chrailis is big enough that it butts up against the outer tiers of the City of Marble. The City of the Faithful now has at least 30 houses which claim devotion to Si’Nassapherion. While they do not treat her like a god, they give reverence and say that what they do is in her honor. Even now, they are starting to get the name of Aristocrats to distinguish between those that will only interact with commoners through lesser members of their households.
A small town of Bard’s Vale is vaporized instantly in a great fireball. Only the gods remember this event from before Coalescence, however, it is almost identical to how the original Bard’s Vale was destroyed thousands of years earlier. Fearing a connection, the gods put in motion steps to find out the underlying problem.
Shades start appearing all over Arisilon of powerful creatures and beings from years past, some going back before Coalescence. Several minor cities across Arisilon are heavily damaged as the reappearing shades cause havoc. Beyond the convergence of Pyrideon with other existing worlds, these shades are the first real clues the gods have that something didn’t go right when they crossed over, A small group of adventurers which barely survived Bard's Vale find the cause and with the help of an orc named Obrus, they temporarily stop the shades. One of the adventurers is Shanric, a half-demon transplant from Gashmyr. After sealing the breach, as he called it, he finds and retires with the Shurandai, having met several before on his travels out of Gashmyr years past. This, in turn, gives the Shurandai hope that the three hundred are still alive.
Fearing the worst, Obrus is still seeking the cause of the latest Pryson Break. The breach seems centered near heart of the elven jungles on Arisilon. Teaming up with another warden (Malshazir the paladin mage) and about 100 Sharlashtri, they find the central cause. The evil black sword of Shazu has entered this world, returning as close as it can to its original homeworld of Nakir. Confirming the break, they once again create a guard tower to patch the breach and the surviving Sharlashtri are left as wardens to protect the breach. This time Obrus stays on Camoray, as he believes that something is different from other breaches and expects to see more in the future. No other breach has ever occurred twice in the same universe.
The city of Chrailis now completely surrounds the City of the Faithful. The moniker City of the Faithful has already started to disappear as the city has begun to merge with Chrailis. As the wealthy and the rich start building around the closer rings of the initial city, they adopt similar architectural standards of marble buildings, though nothing as elaborate as what is found in the central city. Additionally, the marble used by the humans and elves who are not members of the aristocracy differs in that does not come out with the alabaster whiteness found in the original structures. For reasons unknown, the Faithful declare that the gates will be permanently closed, as ordered by Si’Nassapherion in preparation for a coming threat. They give a one-month warning, then the gates are shut. Even with the warning, many are caught in Chrailis from Brynthia, especially those in a branch of the Academy of Science and Magic which had been opened on the third tier. What was thought to be a temporary closure turns out to be permanent. Additionally, Si’Nassapherion herself enacts a teleportation shield around Chrailis out to 30 miles that is impenetrable to even the most advanced of wizards. With the incoming amount of previous immigrants to Chrailis along with those now stranded in the city, the population of Chrailis is nearly 150,000 people. The Academy of Science and Magic branch in Chrailis will eventually become great library and headquarters of the Alchemical Guild.
Early in 464 AC, a second tower begins construction near the main tower which houses Si’Nasspherion. This new tower is built to staggering heights over nearly 1200 feet and once completed, Si’Nassapherion moves into her new home. Then with great fanfare, it is announced that Si’Nassapherion’s daughter will be flying in from what is now known as First Dawn Lake. She is called Si’Lachara and when she flies in, she is a brilliant amber colored dragon with transparent wings. While tiny compared to her mother, she still has a wingspan of nearly 100’. Once she flies in, she is never seen in dragon form again. Of note, Si’Nassapherion was not present when her daughter arrived.
The Elemental Conglmorate continues to fight among themselves with their activities spilling over more and more into the civilized areas of Arisilon. The twelve gods realize that part of the problem is virtual immortality of the elemental lords. With much of their power returned, the gods are able to enact a fundamental change to the elementals, tying them to Camoray in such a way that they can be slain. At first, the elemental lords don’t understand and end up killing several of their own number off. Once they figure it out, several of them go on a rampage attacking anything they perceive as belonging to the Gods of Peace. Several more die in the process. Those that are left eventually come to the realization of what it means to possibly die. At this time, they number less than forty. These forty experience a large upsurge in power as they are no longer sharing the faith based energies with the others. The forty left are the most self-controlled, powerful, and diabolical of the Conglomerate. They back off for now, however to an elemental, they vow revenge and start seeking a way to remove the Gods of Peace forever.
The halflings spread their farmlands further and further north, eventually running into bands of roaming gnolls. The gnolls savagely beat the halflings back into the safety of where Si’Nasspherion actively protects her city, about 50 miles out. About this time, a small farming family stumbles upon a cave deep in their lands. Exploring this shallow cave, they find two tall stone doors, one slightly ajar. Entering what they will eventually call the Enlightened Shrine, they find a wealth of information in the form of carvings on the walls dictating powerful forms of martial arts which when followed allow the channeling of the inner spirit. Seeing a need to fight off the gnolls, two brothers and one sister make it their life work to better understand these martial art forms. As they do so, they begin teaching other family members and friends. Eventually, the forms take hold and allow the halflings to venture further north again, this time more than a match for the raiding gnoll parties. By 650 AC, few halflings do not have at least minimal training in the martial arts.
The secretive Shurandai order of the Shar Dankra finish the building of their new home, Suthandor Mind Hall, located in the valley between Borollo Peaks.
One of the most powerful of the elemental lords is the Ice God Raxemores. In a great fight on southern Arisilon, the twelve gods get involved and actually join up with some of the minor members of the Conglomerate. With the exception of Crynthia, many of the southern lands are devastated from the war. The war has also spread to the uncivilized lands east of the northern Drakes Peak chain. The end result is several more Conglmorate lords are killed. Raxemores is the final deific casualty of the war, falling before the Flame Baron Crasticer. With his dying breath, he expends all of his essence to create an eternal polar wind over the isle of Teseriac, home of the Crasticer’s followers. The Isle of Teseriac goes from being a large tropical island to a land eternally locked in arctic conditions. Rather than try and save his people, Crasticer abandons them to their fate and moves to the largely uninhabited lands of the northeastern part of Arisilon populated by only a few stray villages of gnomes. During the thirty months war, Caladorne officially parts ways with the pantheon of the Thirteen and declares itself for several of the Elemental Conglomerate.
Whereas before the Dragonguard was always the complete army of Brynthia, it is now officially split into three groups. The Army for protection and external affairs. The Police for the purpose of internal protection. Then the Intelligence Corp with the intention that it be a smaller unit focusing on magic and countering magical threats through the use of investigation, spying, divination, and diplomacy. The division is part of a response to the thirty-month war. All three groups now operate independent of each other and are answerable only to the High Senate. The exception is the Intelligence Corp which answers to Emperor Zalkonea first and foremost with the High Senate just overseeing operations. One of the reasons for the split was lack of focus of the leading generals who were constantly infighting for where resources would go. A fourth smaller division is created which is charge of banking and currency. While technically their own division, their small size often leaves them left out when talking about the Dragonguard as a whole.
Appearing to have changed his ways some and left his warmongering and rampage tendencies behind, he takes on the role of a benevolent god of the gnomes, and they respond accordingly to his presence. Under him, they begin to thrive and quickly expand through their territories.
The first Dragon Patriarch becomes known on Mashapaloopa. The threat and power of the dragon patriarch is such that even the gods warn everyone to steer clear of the continent. Around this time, two other dragon matriarchs are also discovered, who came first, or if there are other such dragons is unknown. The Academy now reclassifies Si’Nassapherion as a Dragon Matriarch and not a goddess choosing a dragon form, which actually makes her the first Dragon Noble found on the continent.
The Gods of Peace are caught off guard when they suddenly become blind to the city of Amaravati. This blindness spreads over the next year to most of the northern desert and then starts spreading along the northern coast of Arisilon. Not only are the gods blind, but their powers won’t reach into the areas they are cut off from, even when they send their priests to investigate.
With their area of influence starting to dwindle and not knowing why, Borollo devises a method to grant his priests the ability to store some of his essence so that the priest can enter the dead zone and still have access to divine powers. This method is different from the magic batteries the gods had devised before departure. It is adding an essence of divine spark into the follower. Because of this, the spark dwindles out after several days whether it is used or not. The other benefit is that this still allows the casting of divine spells whereas the batteries do not. When his priests return a few months later from trekking to Amaravati, they claim that the Gods of War have returned. They have found that Amaravati is fully in the servitude of both Throki and Tharakku, and the city is prospering under their leadership. Additionally, the city is preparing for war and preparing to march south. The Gods of Peace have trouble believing, positive that not only were the Gods of War destroyed but what little was left of them was left in the Thrage universe. However, they can’t deny that a power they don’t understand is not only blocking them but also growing.
Raxemores reappears in the large island of Zylonica and begins attracting worshipers. This gives hope to the other members of the conglomerate that maybe death isn’t permanent for them. Some of them begin resort to their base natures and become more rambunctious once again. Additionally, Raxemores has changed – his former instances of insane rage has disappeared. Instead is calculating and manipulative. Whereas before his power and influence in the Elemental Conglomerate came from his strength of his power and wrath, he is now gaining influence through alliances and cunning.
Realizing the threat of the Caladornean advances, Emperor Zalkonea starts expanding the size of the Dragonguard and pushing for even more control and power over the Senate. Begrudgingly year by year, the High Senate has been giving up more and more power as Emperor Zalkonea remains relentless in his goals. As the Senate changes out seats, new deals get made increasing his control over time. With the army expanding, Emperor Zalkonea sends them south rather than north toward Caladorne. The purpose is to build them up so big that if war does come, the ever-expanding Caladornecalan Empire would have a protracted war to take Brynthia. By having the army expand to the lands south, they are not seen as acting in an aggressive manner. By 690 AC the borders extend south all the way to the Chromatic Bay following along the Thoridon river. By 720, the Brynthian empire now spreads west of the Thoridon river to encapsulate the entire peninsula all the way to the Qulen Sea and east all the way to the boundaries of the Rushaga river. As of now, the standing army is nearly 500,000 strong.
Raxemores has brought considerable vitality to the Zyloan nations since he returned. In 10 years, Quazicol is once again the undisputed capital of their new home on Zylonica. The Gods of Peace have been reluctant to allow the opening of a portal to Gashmyr, fearful it might somehow undo their escape from the Thrage, believing themselves to be sealed in this new universe. Raxemores declares he has the knowledge to open a world gate for his people and then does so atop the central temple in Quazicol.
It is believe that Raxemores has made overtures for alliance with the Gods of War Throki and Thrakku which had returned in northern Arisilon and that they showed him how to blind the presence of his people from the Gods of Peace.
After years of failed negotiations, Raxemores has four soul crystals stolen from a limbo-like dimension smuggled through the World Gate connected to Gashmyr. Once they are on Camoray, he personally begins deconstructing them so as to learn their properties.
As the armies prepare their for march south toward the mountains north of Brynthia, a large oasis jungle over 100 miles across appears in the middle of the Great Sand Desert. One of the lead vanguards of the army is rerouted to enter and explore it. The entire vanguard of 10,000 troops is completely lost. With a greater concern than war on the south lands, Amaravati orders its army to stand guard as they further explore the Vale and what threat it represents.
Amaravati discovers that a large portion of the threat from the Vale is actually marching on them. They determine that the threat is an army of ogres, yet these ogres are unlike anything ever seen before. adonThey are larger, more intelligent, militarized, and in possession of powerful battle magics. The threat to Amaravati is real.
The Sharlashtri complete the construction of their new home and school enough to which they can move in. The actual structure is finally finished in 758 AC.
After 5 years of fighting a war of attrition with Amaravati, all of the forces of the vale suddenly retreat back into the vail for reasons unknown. It is believe that a small group of adventurers had entered the Vale, had found a dimensional rupture and were able to seal it from the other side after crossing over. A warrior by the name of Sinja, born north of Brynthia, is the only name associated with these adventurers.
Having deconstructed the soul crystals and figured out how they worked, Raxemores begins creating new vessels capable of siphoning off and holding the power of a god. His intent is clear in that he is constructing thirteen such devices. He has them constructed miles south of Zylonica deep in the Drenegar ocean far above a deserted island. This seclusion allows them to be made in secret. Each receptacle is a floating diamond citadel over a mile high, fashioned in the appearance of a large briolette-cut diamond with sharp points on the top and bottom. Only Raaxmores most devoted priests and followers are allowed to work on the project.
With Brynthia still expanding, Crynthia proactively informs the Brynthian Empire that they will remain independent yet an ally. A formal agreement is made that all lands within 75 miles of Crynthia shall remain in their control. Brynthia promises aid as needed and only establishes minimal fortifications near the border. Brynthia’s main concern is still the Caladornean Empire to the north. The peaceful relationships between Crynthia and the Brynthian empire grow strong enough that many just consider Crynthia a self-ruled province of the Brynthian Empire.
As Caladorne closes in on Drynthia, they begin demanding the city start paying tribute. Already the Caladorne armies are surrounding the city and cutting it off from much of its farmlands. As Drynthia is not and has never been much of a military city, they are not prepared for a protracted Siege. Their recourse is a plea to the gods. Stengard himself commands that Drynthia is to be left alone. Following the example of Crynthia, he states that all lands within 100 miles of Drynthia are off limits, if Caladorne crosses that line, there will be divine retribution.
Anyone who has ever entered the Vale has failed to return, so Amaravati sets up several sentry positions around the Vale. No movement is ever detected by these sentry positions within this vast jungle in the middle of the driest of deserts. In early 708, three 400’ tall gargantuan titans suddenly appear and beginning walking toward Amaravati. They appear to be made of brown stone with glowing golden veins covering their bodies. Their eyes glow the brightest gold, visible for miles during the night. When they open their mouths occasionally to roar, their raging insides can be seen as that of white-hot molten metal. Though they only open their mouths a few times a day, when they do it is to emit a great boom with tones so low the earth shakes for miles in every direction. The destruction from their roar destroys and liquefies anything stone in front of them, living flesh is instantly seared and incinerated, and metal is warped beyond recognition. Merely approaching the titans is difficult, as even at distances of a hundred yards water begins to boil from the heat they create. The sand beneath their steps glows brightly for several minutes before drying into shards of glass footprints. The only saving grace was that the Vale was still several hundred miles south of Amravati and the titans were moving a slow but continuous eight miles a day. Amaravati in the first several days of the march expends first their armies and then most of the resources trying to stop the titans.
Realizing that they are powerless before the titans to save their city, the two returned Gods of War reach out and seek help from the Gods of Peace. The Gods of Peace agree to help in exchange that the cloak which protects Amaravati must not only be lifted, but its workings must be divulged so the Gods of Peace are no longer blinded by it. Thorki and Thrakku both agree. After 2 days, the Gods of Peace realize that the titans might be unstoppable and Amaravati is almost surely doomed. With no other recourse, the Gods of Peace send a small group of their most powerful followers into the Vale to attempt to find a solution.
The group of adventurers led by several high priests of the thirteen gods along with Mazik, a monk warrior of Throki journey into the Vale. They soon discover themselves in another reality where they meet three of the Pryson’s wardens – Torimrae, Obris the Orc, and Malakar. They find out that the Solar Titans are from a desert world where massive war magics have destroyed everything and the titans are all that is left on that world, created to seek out life and destroy it. The solution, the wardens explain, is sealing the breach which let them through, and that should hopefully break the connection to their home universe. It is also explained that time works differently in the Pryson – sealing the rift may occur instantly or may occur centuries after it formed. Torimrae explains that he has a good understanding of how the timelines can interweave and believes he can send them back just as they enter and cause the rift to seal at that instant, but not before – due to them not being able to alter a previous event in a ‘fixed timeline world’ without erasing it. Mazik also questions about the Ogre army. Torimrae uses that as an example, in the Pryson timelines continuously rearrange themselves and whatever general was leading the army probably ceased to exist at some point or found himself in a war with another opponent. Regardless, the three wardens are not aware of any massive ogre army as the Camorayans described. Shortly after fixing the breach, Torimra finds that such an army had existed on this world over thirty-thousand years ago. Additionally, they explain that the High Courts have determined that this is the thirteenth such breach of the Pryson. The good news is, once a breach is fixed, that world is generally safe from the influences of the Pryson. The priests succeed in the mission, returning to the moment they had left, and the rift is closed. The Vale remains and those who venture into the oasis return with no adverse effects. Soon it will be populated by the Amaravatians, however, it almost immediately starts to dry up and turn back into desert over the next decades. As far as the solar titans, once the rift closed up they just stopped. Their heat and glowing eyes also ceased, the titans now just 400’ tall statues of a granite-hard stone standing about twenty miles from the walls of Amravati, staring at the walls. From the walls, the statues can be seen staring back at them.
Drynthia holds a vote and determines their best course of action is to join the empire. Much speculation and accusations exist that Caladorne rigged the voting and had been sending in spies for decades to subvert the parties which were in favor of remaining separate from the Caladorn Empire. Regardless of the how, Drynthia joins peacefully and retains much of the autonomy for itself and nearby cities.
While the number of monasteries in the halfling lands north of Chrailis are numerous, there are only 5 traditions, each monastery typically adhering to a single tradition. With intratraditional rivalry common and the continued threat of gnolls and now orcs to the west, the halflings continue to militarize their society. What starts as a movement among some village elders eventually spreads to all the halfling villages, known as the Years of Remembrance. This tradition is the process by which every twelve-year-old halfling joins one of the monasteries, usually their parent’s or village’s local monastery, for a period of at least two years to fully learn its combat styles and teachings, so that upon leaving they are considered adults and fully capable of helping to defend the village and halfling lands.
With years of focused effort, Raxemores has finished his Soul Receptacles. By this time, he has brought in the most loyal and disciplined of the Elemental Conglomerate to aid in finishing the construction of the receptacles and also let them in on his grand plan – using the receptacles to steal the powers of the thirteen gods of peace. Now all that remains is getting the thirteen gods to manifest on the island in the midst of the soul receptacles and then activating them. To do this, he has formulated a new plan based on the information obtained from the Pryson Break near the Vale.
The seat of power for eastern Caladorne is firmly established in four newly built palaces on the northern edge of the growing city. Caladorne’s influence now extends all the way from Theladorne Woods to all of the eastern shores along Imbrium Ocean. From there, the empire starts spreading its influence north along the strip of land sitting between the ocean and the Malaras Mountains.
Raxemores has already reached out to Throki and Thrakku with plans of eliminating the twelve of the thirteen gods of peace. Early in the ninth month, Raxemores gathers the rest of the Elemental Conglmorate together on his island with the soul receptacles. They plan on creating a threat which will mimic many of the properties of the Pryson Break in the Vale. They will then ask for help in a similar manner to which Throki and Thrakku did. Throki and Thrakku will also agree to lend aid and it is hoped that the Gods of Peace will also be compelled to agree. When he finally petitions for help from the other pantheon in the fourteenth month, Raxemores agrees to lift the cloak over Zylonica and offers grant the twelve gods representation on the councils of the Elemental Conglomerate in exchange for help. As expected, the twelve agree. When the thirteen Gods of Peace (Grethello reluctantly came along at Ramian Fax’s insistence) send their awareness to investigate the island, they immediately find the crystal receptacles. As they investigate the receptacles, the soul receptacles are primed and start drawing in the essence of the Gods of Peace into them. Slowly at first and unnoticed, the connection is made between the receptacles and the gods. As soon as the Gods of Peace are linked, Raxemores initiates the Soul Receptacles to full power, and the powerful artifacts begin drawing in the complete essences of the Gods of Peace. This is the purpose and function of a soul receptacle. He then has the Elemental Conglomerate on the island prepare themselves for when Raxemores releases the power of the receptacles, for it will be into them that the stolen power travels. Thrakku and Throki are supposed to also be on the island, however Raxemores tricked Elemental Conglomerate, causing the final control stone to activate early. Unbeknownst to the Elemental Conglomerate, the thirteenth stone was not a control stone, just another stone which started absorbing the essence of all the Elemental Conglomerate members present. Thrakku and Throki then joined with Raxemores along with six of the other gods of war who had crossed over in the last few centuries. With the crystals full, he reveals yet another secret, he has managed to obtain two of the three Kyofu. Nihilistic Dream and Mindslasher. Not only that, he knows how to use them. Using Mindslasher first, he aims at the island and the center of the crystals. All living thought is utterly destroyed and any personality residing within is erased. Only energy remains trapped in the crystals. He then uses Nihilistic Dream to destroy the almost indestructible Receptacles. As they crumble to a fine gray dust to be blown away on the wind, Raxemores and the other eight with him rush in and absorb all the power and energy they can, claiming up links to worshipers all over Camoray. The Elemental conglomerate is destroyed. The only known surviving members of the Conglomerate, including Raxemores number twelve. Triumvirates of Fire
Of the 13 Gods of Peace, for Grethello ended up joining them at the last minute at Ramian Fax’s urging – a different story evolves. With the deal made at the Vale with Thrakku and Throki, the Gods of Peace had already pierced Raxemores cloak over the island. Not only had the watched the completion of the Soul Receptacles, they had discerned their use and already figured out a way not be trapped by them once they were activated. When Raxemores activates them, the Gods of Peace easily slip the prison and escape. Not knowing the true purpose of the Raxemores’ plan, the Gods of Peace just assume receptacles were to be prisons and the inhabitants power would slowly be siphoned off. Only Ramian Fax knows different for he had also been in contact with Raxemores, he knew that Raxemores had a plan to take the power of those trapped quickly. The Gods of Peace did not know was that the existence of the Kyofu was real. Created by the Gods of War back before the Gods of Peace existed, the Gods of Peace always considered them myths. True to his nature, Ramian had two levels of betrayal going himself. First of which was though he convinced Grethello to come along, he didn’t bother to let Grethello know how to escape, thus leaving him trapped as the rest escaped. Second was he had revealed to the other Gods of Peace the full plan of Raxemores as far as he knew it. The Gods of Peace, seeing a chance to possibly rid them once and for all of several threats, reached out into the void of space and altered the course of a passing comet. Having been planning this for years, the comet had been pulled into a close parallel orbit for several years. With all the levels of betrayal going on, the final outcome comes out as follows.
The destruction of Zylonica results in massive damage and untold casualties as a great Tsunami of over 150’ high hits both cities. With the level of destruction, Brynthia offers aid and ends up establishing control of most of the surrounding countryside to Crynthia. Needing years to recover, Crynthia reaffirms its intention to remain a free city-state, however it concedes to join the Brynthian Empire in name for both military and naval protection.
Now godless after their god has been revealed to be one of the warmongering Elemental Conglomerate, the gnomes now start turning in mass to the Gods of Peace, Yahalla, and Radok primarily.
Speculation occurs that the nomadic Hyabari Riders which travel the southern plains of the Nakir Planesta are somehow related to the barbarians of the old world. As a peaceful people, they are often preyed upon by bandits and the Caladorne Empire to the north. Emperor Zalkonea annexes their lands and vows to march on any nation which bothers the Hyabari peoples. In return, the Hyabari Riders swear allegiance to the crown of Brynthia. This gives Emperor Zalkonea a good excuse to spread the borders of the Brynthian Empire well beyond the Rushanga River. The threat of war with Brynthia, along with their own internal problems, is enough to have Emperor Jecofor the 8th order a similar protection of the Hyabari Riders. Once this is done, even the temples now proclaim the riders as a noble people under the protection of the gods. Noted as some of the best riders and horse breeders of the land, the Hyabari trade and supply horses of unsurpassed quality to both nations. The main food source of the Hyabari are the great weeping beast herds they follow. While not a delicacy, the rarity weeping beast meat is another commodity they supply throughout the lands.
Suspected of being a magician class mage, Deathmaster Zern is a lich who rises to power north of the Crimson Peaks and begins marching down toward the Caladorne empire. He marches with nearly 1,000,000 undead as his troops. The initial force is halted in the valley of Mount Morri by the northern army consisting of 5000 troops and the aid of the Sharlashtri. They are able to hold in a withdrawing action until the main Caladorne army is brought to bear, stopping the undead force from leaving the mountains. In a protracted 18 year battle in the mountains, the forces of Caladorne finally prevail. It is largely through manipulation of and mastering the magic of necromancy which allow Caladorne to prevail. Deathmaster Zern flees and ends up leaving the continent altogether. Where he disappears to is unknown, though it is suspected he fled to Mashapaloopa. Years later, references are found to Deathmaster Zern in some of the few surviving writings from Nakir. It is possible he initially rose to power there before Coalescence. The ancient references refer the saurian riding Nutt brothers as having been his downfall on Nakir.
Mining dwarves digging deep in the mountains north of Drynthia break into a large cave system. At first, they are excited and word spreads quickly as they find several dwarf markings and runes on the walls. This quickly changes to horror as they realize that an entire city lies before them. It is completely enclosed and the skeletal remains of nearly 100,000 dwarves are found. It is determined that the Granuul Batterion had relocated after Coalescence too deep for the dwarves to get out. Where they appeared is in a massive granite structure of an old volcano. With no fresh water source or magic, the city would have had weeks at best to survive.
A major earthquake happens upriver along the Thoridon river from Brynthia. It causes a major blockage in the river. As the river builds up, a massive lake forms in the mountains. Reaching the breaking point, the lake bursts down river in a rush of flood waters which inundates the city, especially Upper Brynthia at the top of the Aujric Cliffs. While Upper Brynthia suffers flooding, Middle Brynthia receives considerable damage as the waters fall over the cliff onto the city. Radok and Stengard now take more interest in the overall health of the world and with the dangers of the Conglomerate behind them, they focus on stabilizing and minimizing future disasters on Arisilon.
After years of a standing stalemate between the Brynthian Empire and Caladorne, the earthquake and ensuing damage to Upper Brynthia gives the Caladorneans the opening they believe they need to take the city. Marshaling their troops, they attack the city and within a week have established a major lodgement consisting of all of Upper Brynthia. In response, Brynthia sends its troops north all along the border, primarily traveling up the Rushanga River. Caladorne reveals that they have been massing a force of nearly 500,000 undead and have been waiting for the perfect time to attack. They meet the Rushanga force head on. Additionally, coming down out of the Crimson spires, they have an army of dwarves intent on reinforcing the entire upper plateau. It is at this time that Emperor Zalkonea reveals just what it means to be a magician. Teleporting in, he annihilates the undead army in a matter of hours. He then returns to Brynthia and threatens to do the same to the invading army of dwarves if they don’t turn back. Emperor Jecofer the 11th refuses, saying he will run every Caladorne troop off over the plateau into Brynthia if that is what it takes to win the day. Radok steps in at this point, and with Stengard’s help, they force a truce. Stengard lets it be known he is still not please with how Drynthia was annexed into the Caladorne Empire. They rule that the Plateau and the edge of the Theladorne Woods will be a permanent boundary between the two empires. Zalkonea readily accepts this on behalf of the Brynthia Empire, foreseeing a future peace between the two nations may now be possible, especially if Caladorne is to keep control of Upper Brynthia. Emperor Jecofer refuses. Stengard strikes him dead moments after he issues his proclamation of refusal. It is said that as soon as he brought his staff down saying the war continues, the staff turned to ash in his hands, his eyes caught fire, and with an agonizing gasp, he slumped over out of his throne. Jecofer Sovanyak the Ninth is coronated the next day and readily agrees to the truce enforced by the gods.
Duke SardÆ Sovanyak is vocal against his uncle’s extreme position on allowing undead to retain lifelong appointments in the social ministry. With the threat of several outer districts possibly rising up in arms, the Duke attempts to quell the efforts and only ends up becoming a figurehead. Emperor Jecofer banishes the Duke along with his followers. Seeing an out that does not involve open bloodshed, Duke SardÆ takes his followers south. It is only as they are pursued south by the Caladorne armies and word comes of the actions taking against those seen as sympathizers that he regrets his decision of not inciting an actual revolt. As he heads further south, he comes to the decision to one day return and claim Caladorne for himself.
Pirates out of unknown source begin attacking and ransacking cities between Kraylin to almost half the way down the coast toward Crynthia. The worst pirate is one known only as Viper who claims to be a member of the SardÆ. Eventually, it is believed that the attacks are coming from a most improbable source, the frozen isle of Teseriac.
At the mouth of the Eosail river, a small city which has seen constant attacks from the SardÆ begins forming fortification to protects against future attacks. Its success is strong enough that they extend their protection to other nearby villages and cities, forming a league of cities designed to fight off the SardÆ. This league becomes known as the Malistrum League and is led by a masterful tactician named The Falcon.
Having been away from Chrailis for centuries since it locked its gates, Gráinne Líadan finally tracks down and returns to the city on foot. This time, her sister comes with her, hoping to help Gráinne with her research into the mysterious overlapping of worlds – hoping to find a way back to Anytime, this time using the conduits possibly available in the Quirk Woods. At this time, the only gate off of Camoray still resides in Quazicol and this is not common knowledge.
Under the direction of the Falcon, using inferior ships, he surrounds and traps the pirate king. It is soon revealed that Viper is the second son of Emperor Jecofer IX’s nephew, Duke SardÆ Sovanyak. Duke SardÆ had left Caladorne willing and was later banished by his uncle the Emperor. The duke had then fled with his entire household and followers south to Kraylin, where he eventually purchased several ships and sailed out. He chooses to go to Teseriac with his exiled nationals to harden and train his troops for a triumphant return. He died ten years later on the island from a magical version of pneumonia resistant to magical treatments. By his death, his nation had already established its roots as a future nation of pirates which would later be known as the SardÆ nation. It is a nation of unified villages living on Teseriac, in particular, they live on the middle part of the isle known as the Saeva Indignatio Plains. With the hardships of living on a frozen island, they excelled at fishing, boat building, and soon piracy. And it is from this lineage which Viper hails. With his royal connections, he is ransomed back to the SardÆ nation for concession of ceasing all raids on the cities of the Malistrum League.
The first mentions of the Yinkida once again surface in Brynthia after a thousand years of absence. Whether or not any actual connection exists between the two groups, what is definite is this new force of all female vigilantes operates under the a similar code of conduct and displays similar abilities. There are a few differences however from the legends of the former Yinkida. These Yinkida work for protection fees, though they don't force others into paying. They just let it be known whom they will and will not protect. Another oft-repeated rumor is that most males cannot complete the training of the Yinkida, but those who do are called Yangkida's.
After years of being courted by a powerful elf lord of House Elurica, Gráinne marries into the household. For convenience, Imogen is adopted into the house also 10 years later in 992 AC, changing her birth name of Imogen to Imokan to better fit the local language. She had already been going by Imokan for several decades.
Born of two human parents, Allistaire is quickly recognized by age five as having strong magic potential. The elves which come to trade with his birth village start teaching him their language and unlike almost every other human, he quickly picks up enough basics to hold conversations with them. By age seven he is already picking up a reputation as being a marvel, fluent in over twenty languages. By age six, he has master over 30 different shalingra magics and by age eight is casting spells that grey haired mages still haven’t mastered.
A great earthquake in the middle of northern Arisilon is felt all the way to Amaravati. At the steppes near the edge of the Great Desert, the ground opens up into a great canyon hundreds of miles long. Inside the canyon, lining the walls is a metal structure reaching hundreds of feet into the ground consisting of old rooms, stairwells, abandoned factory equipment, some of it hundreds of feet in size. What it does, whether it is part of a greater structure or complete in itself is unknown. For decades afterward, it will be explored by countless numbers, even with the gods sending in representatives trying to discern its purpose and true dimensions. The deepest anyone has traveled into the structure has been almost two miles, with stairwells and levels going even further down beyond the floor of the canyon. While some of the upper levels will become inhabited with various orc and goblin tribes, the lower levels appear to be completely abandoned. The determination that the quake was not natural and magical instead is related to the appearance of the great machine as being the cause.
Traveling with over sixty hirelings, seeking to explore what lies beyond the Black Marshes to the south, on his first trip he learns of a lost city further south. After securing funding for a second expedition, he treks south and discovers the lost city of the draconian sarloks.
Allistaire joins the academy as a prodigy in his teens. He attracts the attention of Emperor Zalkonea who takes him on as his personal pupil. Zalkonea at first believes he might be of magician caliber ability, however soon determines that while Allistaire is quite gifted, especially in researching new spells, he lacks the overall ability to master massive spell energies. Nevertheless, as one of the most powerful mages of his generations, Emperor Zalkonea continues to work directly with the young student. By age 20, Allistaire has mastered over two hundred distinct languages.
Obrus has predicted the next Pryson Break. He is becoming certain, possibly after listening to Torim Rae’s many speculations, that somehow the Pryson Dimension was possibly wounded, possibly mortally wounded, by Coalescence. If so, no universe is safe from the horrors of the Pryson. Being on hand, he is unprepared for the severity as several captured elements of the Pryson are released with a focal point at the bottom of the Drenegar ocean. He summons Malakar to round up the worst of the escaped convicts and heads off with Torim Rae to find a solution. After much research, they determine that there is an element of power from Camoray stuck in the Pryson, much like a splinter. If they can remove it, they can possibly finally put an end to all the breaches. Obrus enters Anytime to find the truest aspect of Underground Monastery and return it to this world where it rightfully belongs. In doing so, he finds that this world is completely cut off from Anytime, just as if it were in the Pryson, so he travels to Gashmyr and spends years trying to find another way into Anytime. Of note, Obrus and his companions do not need gates to travel to and from Gashmyr.
A poor kept secret, vampirism has become rampant in central Caladorne. Many nobles are risen vampire with their populace existing as a potential food source. While Emperor Jecofer isn’t undead, his cavortations with undead mistress are well known. Whether he was already mad or this led to his to his insanity is unknown. He starts ordering wild parties, great orgies where many of the commoners are publicly used and often killed for the pleasures of his fellow nobles. Many of the outlying noble families protest. Tensions rise. To make a point and prove his power, Emperor Jecofer visits one of his dukes in southern Theladorne woods and orders a lavish celebration to be held. Near the beginning of the celebration, he declares he is going to marry both the duke’s daughters, but first they must be turned to vampires. He has them slain and drained by his captain of the guard and exclaims the celebration will resume when the daughters rise on the next night as fledgling vampires. On the next night, he publicly consummates the marriage to both of the daughters, forcing everyone to attend. As word of this gets out, the unrest quickly turns to arms. Drynthia declares itself free of Caladorne and begins massing its armies to defend itself. At the same time, the growing community in Upper Brynthia also declares their independence, wishing to join back with the Brynthian Empire. In a rage, Emperor Jecofer returns home and raises the battle arms. He orders a march on Brynthia in violation of the God’s Truce. Tired of the whole mess, Stengard and the other good and neutral gods convene. They determine that the Caladorne Empire is in violation of the truce and must be abrogated. Stengard curses the capital city Theladorne and causes the entire woods of Theladorne to grow up into a shadowy and foreboding forest. This cursed forest becomes known as the Theladorne Dark Woods and becomes for centuries to come a place of haunted legends. Many of the undead lords and ladies are turned into malevolent vegetation throughout the woods, rooted to one spot. Legend has it that Emperor Jecofer himself is left as the only living sole of the now abandoned city of Theladorne hidden deep in the forest. He has become an immortal beast which prowls and hunts any foolish enough to enter the city. Three new nations are created in the fallout. Borez, Thorn, and the new Cal Confederate.
With the loss of leadership from central Caladorne, the provinces of the hills south of the Crimson Spires now look to self-govern. There is a movement to join the Brynthian Empire, however, the nobility of the provinces reject this notion, not wishing to lose their newfound of the autonomy. Utilizing their friendly relations, the fourteen provinces declare and ratify a constitution which unites them as a confederacy. Looking back to the distant past, they take the name Cal Confederate as many of the nobles ‘supposedly’ can trace their lineage to the house of Illan. With the most urban settlement of the new Cal Confederate still being Upper Brynthia, they move to make this the new capital of the Cal Confederate.
After years of being two separately governed cities sitting right next to each other, the sudden absence of power in Caladorne prompts a movement to reunify the city. This happens concurrently with the Cal Confederate wishing to make Upper Brynthia the capital. The city does reunify and the Brynthian Empire once again lays claim to the entire city, however with the now present aspect of the Cal Confederate, all Upper Brynthians share dual citizenship. Within Brynthia, Brynthian law holds sway, while secondary courts in Upper Brynthia do enact a set of laws for the citizens of the Cal Confederate within the borders of Upper Brynthia. The primary reason for keeping the Cal Confederate capital in Brynthia really is due to the freedoms and luxuries attained from a highly developed city like Brynthia enjoyed by the leaders of the Cal Confederate. Emperor Zalkonea strongly urges and supports this arrangement, which becomes known as the Brynthian Accord.
Luxtorough is the only city of Caladorne proper which lies at the edge of the Theladorne Dark Woods. The highest-ranking noble in the city is Duke Cataulia Kadin, a known vocal critic of the Jecofer lineage. He immediately declares himself as the new ruler of the Caladorne empire. With the current state of the Theladorne Dark Woods cutting off everything to the west of Luxtorough and Drynthia in open revolt, he orders the withdraw of all armies back to the Renothak river and declares it the new border. Rather than take the title of emperor, as one of the main issues he had with the Jecofer’s were their continual warring nature to expand the empire, he takes the title of king and names the new kingdom as Borez, an ancient lineage of the Illan nations. Of note, Cataulia Kadin is of Totalis lineage, somewhat a sect of Letheria but also a people who have as one of their customs that the surname comes first, then the proper name. The most powerful member of the lineage often goes by the surname.
General Olar Thorn, formerly in command of the eastern armies and now the top military commander of the Drynthian Freedom Army, assumes absolute control over all forces in the east and following the example of Duke Cataulia orders all troops to pull back east of the Pacheo River. He declares that Duke Cataulia is not the recognized heir and proclaims that Duke Cataulia was never more than a puppet of the Emperor Jecofer despite his public criticisms. He further contends that Duke Cataulia was always just as culpable in all of the sordid rumors surrounding the imperial family. General Olar Thorn sets up the central command of the entire eastern army in Drynthia. With several leaders of Drynthia wishing to keep their authority, they declare for General Olar Thorn as the newly titled Duke of the East. The new nation adopts the name of Eastern Caladorne
Coming out of the deep valleys between Drake’s Peaks and Balckspire Mountains is a mercenary band of over five thousand soldiers and three hundred sorcerers. They have been running subversive campaigns and raids in the employ of the Jecofer’s in northern Arisilon for over two centuries, often going in to destabilize a region before the empire moves in. With the new power vacuum and feeling they are owed considerable backpay and status for all their services to the empire, they begin pushing the Cataulia’s for recognition. When this doesn’t come, they begin destabilizing the northern rule and building support for themselves.
With Brynthia being the capital of two major nations, closest ally with Crynthia, central source for many of the major religions, and only major city with any relevant contact to the elves, Emperor Zalkonea wishes to build a structure not only to commemorate the wealth of the Brynthian Empire while serving as a central hub to society. With the help of one of his students, Allistaire (who will later be dubbed the Light Thief), plans which they have been working on for decades are revealed.
After weeks of planning and inserting themselves into key positions, especially in the assassins guild, Tarek Company orchestrates a complete take over of Luxtorough. They had planned to capture and execute all of the Cataulias that same night, however, King Cataulia escapes largely through the luck of having his simulacrum residing in the royal residence while he was off at the edge of Theladorne Dark Woods with his family observing dark sabbaths to Letheria.
With free trade once again allowed and the majority of profits staying in Drynthia, the farmers experience a great upsurge in the profits as the harvest season ends. The priests of Radok and Torya thrive mightily as the yoke of servitudes to the ideals of Ramian Fax and Letheria is thrown off. While their worship was never illegal, the worship of Radok and Torya was highly discouraged during the years of the Caladorne empire. Most of their devout existed in the farms around Drynthia, not in the city itself.
Now having a surplus of grain products, cattle, and sheep, Drynthia is once again ready to trade with greater Arisilon. Having spent years in negotiations, General Thorn succeeds in convincing Emperor Zalkonea to open a world gate between Brynthia and Drynthia. In a reach out to his brethren in the former western half of Caladorne, General Thorn also is able to convince Zalkonea to open the gate on the northern edges of Upper Brynthia so that the new Cal Confederate will reap much of the benefit.
Not recognizing the independence of Drynthia from the Caladorne Empire, the current leaders of Borez send missives stating that backpay of taxes are to be forgiven, but the old tithes are once again expected. Drynthia refuses and declares its freedom. Threats and proclamations are dispatched from Borez, which General Thorn answers at first, then just ignores. The final missive is a declaration of war if Drynthia does not accede to recognizing its place as a subject land of Caladorne – now Borez.
With no warning, Allistaire leaves the Academy with only a simple note to the Emperor stating, “I have found reference in some ancient tomes from Gashmyr as to what the significance of the Scar is. I travel there, I should be back within the week.” Teleporting to the northern edge of the Scar, he descends into the machine and won’t be seen again for over a century.
With the armies of Borez marching, the reunified Tarek Company starts circling north to covertly descend on Drynthia from the Malaras Mountains. General Olar Thorn marshalls his troops and meets the approaching army in the plains between the Pacheo and Renathak rivers. The stalling battle is a protracted five-day affair in the now haunted Valley of the Frogs. Even centuries past, the frogs which lines the edges of the valley are blood red, legends saying that all they had to drink for months following the battle was blood – even the mists of the valley were red. By 1091 the efforts to destabilize the region by the efforts of the Tarek Company succeed. General Olar Thorn is routed at several key battles and withdraws all the way back to Drynthia. By 1093, Drynthia is surrounded and fully held in siege.
Masterful strategies afield have led to Drynthia being held under siege. General Olar has much of his army secluded in the city, while he is cut off running guerilla-style raids in the countryside against the occupying forces of Borez. Several of the cities of Eastern Caladorne have already sided with Borez to ward off their excessively harsh treatment of those seen as traitors and insurgents to the crown of Borez. Undead are starting to be seen more and more in the occupying forces. General Olar Thorn only survives due to being a superior strategist. Drynthia survives based on its virtues of having deep wells and keeping the world gate with Brynthia open. Brynthia sends aid Drynthia, however the gate is too small and the circumstances too dire to launch a counter-attack from Drynthia itself. Meanwhile, Emperor Zalkonea wishes to further help however knows that he must do so through traditional methods as the gods have warned him not to reawaken the threat of magicians by getting directly involved on the field. He instead marshals the Dragon Guard to march on Borez itself, sending it up around the Theladorne Darkwoods. At first, Borez ignores the threat, knowing that the Dragon Guard lacks the numbers and support that far from Brynthia. However, a recently rising nation south of the God Haven has also sent troops. This new yet small nation goes by the name of the Malistrum League. The potential historical reference is lost on the peoples of Borez. Borez believes that the two forces will collide and the instability of the situation will stall the Dragon Guard. However, the two forces instead combine seamlessly under a general from the new nation going by the name of General Falcon. Emperor Zalkonea immediately and unprecedently surrenders the control of the forces to a foreign power for the duration of the campaign. Once combined, they march up the along the edges of the Grefenau moving faster than thought possible toward the heart of Borez. Borez is forced to withdraw its forces from Drynthia after a few battles on the southern edges of Borez turn into complete routs, the masterful Falcon proving to be a tactician beyond the peer of even General Thorn. Once the forces withdraw from Drynthia, General Olar Thorn harries the forces as they retreat. While his forces never actually meet up with those of the Brynthian Empire and Malistrum, their combined threat causes the Borez forces to demoralize and fall apart. The united forces of Brynthia and Malistrum League remain in the field another six months before retreating and separating.
General Olar Thorn returns to Drynthia after years of warfare. He is hailed as the hero and savior of the city and is immediately recognized once again as the leader of the city. With that, the Empire of the Thorn is born. Many of the small cities around Drynthia declare for Drynthia while many others declare that they will now be separate entities. Those that declare for Drynthia are given exempt trade status along with promise of aid from Drynthia should they need it. Many of the individual cities in eastern Arisilon eventually join the Empire of the Thorn more as trading parties than as actual members of the new empire. Drynthia for the most part only settles disputes between cities where each city is allowed to govern itself and the lands surrounding as it sees fit.
Nerisht’ is the shaman of a small elven village of Canton located west of Chrailis. Receiving dark visions, he starts overturning centuries of tradition and performing dark rites, subverting his own people to evil. It takes several of the neighboring villages to run Nerisht’ off. When he leaves, nearly half the village follows him into the jungles never to be seen again. The memory and events of Nerisht’ are put behind the village of Canton. The story is considered taboo and after time, only the ancient shaman from nearby villages even remember the truth of Canton’s shame.
As it settles more and more disputes, the authority of the Empire continues to grow. Member cities give up more and more rights and privileges as time goes on through an erosion of independence and a needed greater conformity to exist with their neighbors. While the Empire doesn’t expand its borders beyond the limits of what used to be Eastern Caladorne, the harmony of the land continues to grow.
With much of Tarek Company leadership exhausted in Eastern Caladorne, Duke Cataulia once again is able to initiate a coup in central Borez which over the course of three months allows him to assume control of the nation. While he doesn’t do much of the fighting, his two sons are responsible for leading many of the hostilities leading up to the bloody coup needed to seize control once more. Once everything settles out, Tarek Company is no more and is completely disavowed. Any owing allegiance to Tarek Company are convicted as such are fed to the ghoul army as either food or future recruits.
Towering nearly 2500 feet, it not only reaches 1500 feet above the upper plateau but into the clouds. The entire structure looks like a narrow rod of white crystal, slightly twisted. Hovering about 200 feet above the top of the tower is a floating disc which houses the High Senate Assembly and their offices. Overall, the base is nearly 250 feet by 250 feet wide. The tower has over 148 known floors and houses several dignitaries from all over Arisilon. The 80th through 84th floors house the royal palace. Much of the Academy and Science and Magic had already moved over to the 30th through 50th floors during construction.
With his passing, Cataulia Kadin’s eldest son Cataulia De’vonn takes the throne and posthumously declares his father as Emperor Cataulia Kadin and thusly himself as Emperor Cataulia De’Vonn. As celebration, he chooses his much younger close cousin Cataulia Sorvena to be his Empress. She makes no secret that she is against this union.
With no warning, Emperor Cataulia De’Vonn dies in his sleep. Foul play is suspected, but the best divinations can’t produce any proof. Empress Cataulia Sorvena becomes the sole ruler of Borez. She is with child and it is assumed the lineage is safe for the Cataulia line. It isn’t till after her daughter is born, Cataulia Sorvena the Second that speculation occurs that it is not De’Vonn’s child. Empress Cataulia Sorvena proves not only an able ruler but possibly more ruthless than any of the Jecofer lineage.
The dwarves in the Malaras Mountains have been a unified nation for several centuries now and in all that time, they have remained allies with Drynthia in one form or another. After the war between Drynthia and Borez saw several dwarves killed, a movement for isolationist policies occurs. Once Master Skyseeker becomes the highest ranking dwarf in their nation, he starts closing doors of communication. At the same time, he actively pursues spreading the powers and limits of the dwarf nation north further into the Malaras Mountains. Mostly it is various goblinoid species living there, many actually quite peaceful. He cares not and begins to push them out of the mountains by force. When they start approaching the gnome lands, they continue to push, not giving the gnomes any extra quarter. They are warned to leave once, and if not, they are overran and slain.
While General Olar Thorn had hoped his descendants would follow him as leader of the Empire of the Thorn, he realizes in his later years that only an elected official from the Drynthian Parliament can actually succeed as a figurehead. The methods and the way the government had been set up wouldn’t allow for a dynasty type rule. Once he realizes this, he makes sure that his descendants would have an honorary significance important to the government. He also makes sure that a smooth transition of power occurs through peaceful elections and a simple vote of ascension from the Parliament. Senator Black Thogerson assumes the mantle of Supreme Governor in 1134 AC.
Gráinne is knighted by Coterie Tar Isovral and is tied to their house which also happens to the liege house of House Elurica. This honor is granted after negotiating several binding protections from the lords of the Quirk Woods with the rulers of Chrailis concerning the several villages which border the fringe areas of the Quirk Woods. The first contract was initiated in 1095 and the final one was a pact with the Winter Queen in 1137.
He passes away peacefully in the night, attended by his eldest daughter and three of his grandchildren. The state funeral sees leaders of Kraylin, Emperor Zalkonea, and Malistrum Falcron in attendance. No one from Borez attends.
Several nobles are out for celebration cruise for a young married couple. The young groom, quite drunk, demands that the captain of the barge take to deeper waters. When the captain refuses, the groom has the captain thrown overboard (they were still in shallow water near the shore at the time) then takes the barge out himself. He claims that before he shoots off the fireworks, he wants to be completely out of sight of the land. As darkness turns to night, the barge does not return. Fearing loss of all lives, a large-scale effort is made to search the water. Using scrying magic, it is determined that the barge was set upon by orcish raiders and while many were killed, the rest were taken and are on their way back to the Citadel of Wails. An accomplished sea captain of years past, Imokan of the Ivory Guards volunteers to take a fleet out to rescue as many nobles as she can. With a small fleet of five ships, she sets out. Three months later, she returns with many of the nobles, the groom and bride included. Not only did she track them down, she had to lead a raid deep into the Citadel of Wails to free them and then escape. Of the five ships she set out with, four return, only one lost on the pursuit back. She is knighted into the house of Coterie Pramkia Ertis, the liege coterie over the house whose nobles she rescued. With the status and money gained from being knighted, she buys a vineyard and resumes some of her research projects full time.
Over 200 individuals from the past are suddenly and unexplainably transported to this year in Brynthia. Over the next two years, three-quarters of them are killed off savagely. Then the killing just stops. No reason is ever found for them being transported here. (One common belief, at least by Torim Rae the philosopher, is that they were all agents in stopping one of Pryson Break and this is where they were all deposited. If so, it was probably a convict still on the loose which was killing them, until one of them sent the convict back. If so, none of them voice a recollection of the Pryson.)
A mage of some renown from Amaravati, which goes by the name of Light Thief and known for his bright yellow robes, heads into the desert claiming that he believes that the continual manifestation of shades may be related to the vale. He believes the Vale has returned. Traveling south, he finds that the location in which the Vale used to exist does indeed have a new oasis, though this one is a mere two miles across, unlike the old one which was miles across. However, it is growing. Using magic previously unknown of his own design, he focuses the rays of the sun on the sand and forms a gargantuan tower of crystal over five hundred feet tall to aid in his research. He departs after three years of research having learned what he needed.
Sorvena I dies of chest pains after while engaging in the preparatory celebration activities for the combat sports done in deference to the Winter Solstice. Empress Cataulia Sorvina II is crowned. She is nearly as ruthless as her mother, just not as politically savvy.
In an arranged marriage, the eldest grandson of OmarThorn marries the daughter of Empress Cataulia Sorvena II, Duchess Cataulia Amily, and forges a tense bond between the two nations, somewhat reuniting former relations. This marriage is met with scorn by many of the Borez nobles, feeling that the Thorn lineage is corrupt and was a betrayal of Borez nationality. Many still feel that the Empire of the Thorn rightfully belongs to Borez and will someday be returned to the motherland.
Master thief SunJack leads a coup within one of the thief’s guilds in the Web and successfully usurps it to start his own guild, the Sun Guild. The Sun Guild creates a policy of aiding those in the Web and only stealing from those beyond the border of the web. This, in turn, raises the ire of the wealthy in Brynthia. Rumors of ties with the Yinkida are constant. After several years only the Assemblies is larger in size, however, the Sun Guilds influence serves to mollify their overall abuse of their fellow inhabitants of the Web.
In open court, with a fully heated battle of words engaged over several disruptive provinces to the south, Sorvena the III lunges at her mother and strangles her on the throne. The royal guard is unable to halt their empress from being killed, calling forth much speculation that the encounter was staged with many of the guards bribed to turn the other way. The next day, Empress Cataulia Sorvena the III is crowned.
Word of a powerful mage, possibly a magician, living in the northern desert have been circulating in the halls of the Academy of Science and Magic for several years now. Emperor Zalkonea takes a personal interest and from his own coffers funds a trip to the Great Desert to Investigate. The expedition finds the abandoned citadel this Light Thief was using and finds that it is already starting to crumble back into the desert. They also find that the Vale is back, however, whatever was giving it sustenance is quickly fading as it is dying back into desert and will probably be gone within the year.
Despite being a marriage of political convenience, Maxis Thorn successfully courts Shenora for several years before their nuptials. It is a marriage of love and as such, has the full blessing of Emperor Thargax Zalkonea.
Crown Prince Maxi Thorn assumes the throne of the Empire of the Thorn
Arriving at the Sarlok City, the Light Thief determines that the situation is worse than he feared. He immediately begins construction of a new tower with the goal of keeping the Sarlok City from fulling breaching into this world
Maintaining his innocence and that he had been framed, he manages to escape with several of his men into the northern Quirk Woods, never to be seen again until he is returned as the prisoner of the adventuring group consisting of Urik, Aja, Graykar, Morvion, and Tars.
Stating that she has made a breakthrough in her research, Gráinne declares she is leaving for a few nights. She never returns. Dame Imokan suspicions that she went to visit the Quirk Woods and was unable to return. Approaching this avenue, she herself approaches some of the denizens of the Quirk Woods and eventually earns an audience with some of the underlings of the Void Wife. She determines that they are somehow involved. After challenging the underling to a game, she outplays the creature in a game of wits and strategy. For her reward, she allowed to leave and given a single name – Hursing.
Far to the west of Chrailis, a small elf village by the name of Canton is ransacked and destroyed by several lizardfolk. This is Morvion’s home village for which he was village shaman.
Having located Hursing’s journal and done some base research, she determines that the next step to finding her sister is to investigate the city. At about the same time, several dignitaries from house Si’Lachian arrive at her vineyard estate in the city. They give her multiple items of power and tell her to find five people worthy of using these items. Some of the people will be drawn by the items, others she will need to locate. Gathering these individuals, she sets them on a quest to determine the secrets of the Sarlok city.
In a world far removed, the Sun Goddess Codesta knew the only way to stop the evils of her paramour the Moon God Majalacturis was to imprison him. For time uncounted, he has been her prisoner. With the advent of Coalescence, his prison finally begins to crack and through one of those cracks, he finds freedom as a plan created dozens of years earlier comes to fruition.
By true reckoning of years lived, Zalkonea has a grand celebration in Brynthia for his 3000th birthday. Dignitaries from around the world, even from other worlds, attend. As with many such events, and with the event being planned for years in advance, many intrigues and conspiracies occur in preparation for the event – even a major bomb scare in the celestial palace the night of the celebration.
When it reappears, coming back from Anytime, there is a thriving society of culturally alien elves living inside. Cautiously accepted by the jungle elves, there is little strife as the two start to mix. The Underground Monastery forms the basis of the first elven city on Arisilon. The location of its return is on the Joshaku Penisula of the Sylvan Rain Forest near the Aoiro River.
The loosely affiliated tribes of the elves start speaking of a new fabled emperor, Democh, who is now the head of all the elves and lives in the Underground Monastery. This title appears to be in name only, not in actuality.
Arriving back the location of the lost city, the new expedition finds it gone. All that remains is the barren land of the volcano caldera being reclaimed by the jungle. At the edge of the caldera, they see the husk of what used to the crystal citadel, the top half missing as if shattered off with the crystal warped and darkened from what appears to be a great heat.
With the sudden increase in the number of guilds inside the Web, all out war occurs. The city mostly ignores the war until it spills out into the rest of the city, at which time the Dragon Guard is called in to put it down. The whole operation takes over a month. Fires in the Web burn for two months following the end of the war. Out of the rubble, only eight guilds remain. The Sun Guild, who takes the role of do-gooding troubleshooters. The Slayer’s Guild, the best assassins anywhere. The Crier’s Guild, a guild built specifically for the stealing and trading of information. The Mocking Guild, perhaps the most prosperous guild, they are simply a thieves’ guild. The Assembly, a guild built to enhance the power of the few at the top where succeed or die is the rule. These five guilds mostly survived by virtues of their size and strength. All five of these guilds are represented all over the continent with their headquarters located in Brynthia. The other three guilds are local guilds. The Pretty Boy Guild, a guild of con artist. The Shadow Guild, a guild of beggars who gather information. And finally, the Glass Guild, more often known as the guild of losers.
The temple of Borollo in Far Reach known as the Spinning Citadel is attacked. From it, several minor items are stolen, as it didn’t have much in the way of treasure. However, stored deep in its vaults is a single item of great worth, a controlling a spell penned by a god and meant to be cast by a mortal. None of the thieves know the value of that which they have stolen.
A major artifact from the past reappears. The Black Ship of Slinjetto. As it sails into port of Far Reach, a wave of utter despair descends upon the entire harbor. A hopelessness spreads from the harbor over the entire town, the guards make no attempt to defend it from an approaching army of dwarves. The timing of the ship and the dwarven attack is coordinated by unknown parties. As the dwarves of the Swartzblodt Clan begins to attack, the effects of despondency start to overwhelm the them also. However, as planned for the attack, the ship withdraws. The damage is done and the dwarves are already in the town and the town has not reacted. Slaughtering the entire town, the dwarves make off the treasures, including the scroll containing the god spell. Little is known of the Swartzblodt Clan except they are fanatically loyal to their god, Ramian Fax. Over the next several years, the scroll will make it from here to the hands of the High Mage Kern in Kraylin.
Much anticipation has been held for the year 1292 AC, for it falls within the timing of when the next Chaos Storm should occur. While nothing all effecting occurs, various surges in magic occur during this five-year gap which make it hard for any not to relate to the events which spawned the Chaos Storms in the first place.
Using a spell stolen from the temple of Borollo, the High Mage Kern casts the spell which will ultimately kill him. The result of the spell is Kern’s tower being destroyed and the COVeC Nash being brought from the past to current day. It is this event which creates the Vortex in the first place and initially punctures this universe with a channel to the other. By this time, Kristor has foreordained many events and has been behind several mechanizations to make this event happening, fully reasoning that if it must happen, it will happen as she dictates. To that end, she is the initial author of the spell Kern casts.
One of the true horrors of the Pryson escapes and begins to consume all life on Arisilon. As the Plague calling itself the One spreads, its evil seems unstoppable. Led by Arthyon, the Sharlashtri are able to fend off the threat, however the cost is severe as the Eminence is compromised and most of the Sharlashtri are killed. The Shurandai reveal themselves and rescue what Sharlashtri they can, inviting them into their home.
With the aid of Grethello’s followers, the SardÆ are able to invade Kraylin successfully.
Obrus, Torimrae, and Malakar return to find that the Pryson is failing as a whole as a new threat escapes on to Camoray. This time, they believe they can not only repair the damage but actually heal the puncture and forever separate the world of Camoray from the Pryson. The Underground Monastery has been returned, so the only step left is to seal the breach one final time.
With the reveal that at least two of the Kyofu made it across Coalescence, it is known that the Shafts must still exist in some form. Only after the unfolding with the events of the Great Incursion is the first of the shafts revealed. Most troubling, this shaft belongs to Thunder Howler and is fully powered, which hints that Thunder Howler might also be in this new world. The Shaft is discovered deep in the mountains of Mashapaloopa. Inside the shaft, the Rashiars, remnants of the Famine King’s rule escape the Barriers of the shaft and escape into the world. The legend of the Famine King is as follows: Placed as caretaker of this most holy locale, the House of Thunder, the peoples of Rashiar dutifully fulfilled their due diligence to their gods each and every day. Until the day their world was removed from the outer world by the great barriers. Cut off from fresh water and food, resources were scarce. In a most horrible decision, the King declared that only enough food and water exist to feed half the population. By lottery of which the King and his household were excluded, half the population was slain. With food and meat especially scarce, the King used dark magic to preserve many of the bodies so that his household could continue to eat meat. Half the population was not enough, so half it was again. And yet, the King and his family did not suffer. The people of the Rashiar rise up and imprison the kings with his family, saying that if they want to eat, then they can eat each other. What happened in their bricked off prison is unknown. Within months, the people start losing weight and starving despite what they eat. It soon comes to pass that they have been cursed, only human flesh can sustain them. The people then slowly descend to savagery as they fall upon themselves. However, this hunger didn’t end with death. Their spirits were hungry and unable to find release from the House of Thunder. Once all living flesh was consumed, the spirts began feeding off of each other, in an endless cycle. Worse yet, each spirit as it is consumed is reborn days later, hungrier than before for the flesh and spirits of its fellow Rashiars.
Unrelated to the Incursions, a plague begins on Arisilon first appearing around Drynthia. It spreads west faster than it does south, killing about 30% of the people who get sick. Even those who recover don’t recover fully, they remain sickened. No one seems spared unless they are completely sealed off. Proximity to the ill doesn’t matter. As summer turns into winter, it slows considerably in the north. It is still spreading quickly in the south and by the end of the year, the Hyabari riders are now being afflicted.
It doesn’t take long for the cause to become apparent. A new invasive species of vine is discovered which grows nearly 10’ a day. As the vine spreads, so does the sickness. Burning back the vine helps minorly. With that discovery, Valshin gets in involved and creates a parasite which consumes the vine. She then makes it whereas the parasite lives inconspicuously in all mammals. The ultimate source of the Kilroy Vines are traced back to Zylonica, a potentially engineered plant designed for its specific purpose.
Having planned their attack to coincide with the Kilroy Plague, the Zyloans set sail believing that over half of the population will have been killed and the other half sickened, ripe for easy conquest. The Zyloans have engineered the vine in such a way that they themselves are immune to the deadly pollen of the vine. They initially land at Kraylin and set up the city as their main base of operations, beginning to sail up and down the coast attacking towns and villages. The Malistrum Kingdom is the first to launch a focused resistance.
Having seen their attack on Kraylin ultimately fail and be considered an embarrassment, the sea pirates wait and watch. The Kilroy Plague spares Teseriac largely due to its frigid temperatures. Once they learn that the mainland is now freed of the curse, they also learn how the wounded the armies of Arislon are still recovering. Considering their time ripe to enact revenge, the set sail. Unfortunately for them, as they are returning from their first wave of coastal attacks, the run into the Zyloan fleet. After a harried sea battle lasting days, only a handful of the Sardæ ships survive. Those that do return to their home island and call to arms the entire island. For the next year, they will harry and harass the Zyloan fleet from a distance with their superior ships. The Zyloans eventually turn their focus on Teseriac and begin sailing to attack its ports. Until the end of the Zyloan invasion, the Sardæ manage to harass and skirmish with the Zyloans in their own waters. In turn, the Zyloans keep the pirates pinned down enough that their shipping lanes back home to Zylonica are restored and protected.
Having beat back must of the Malistrum Kingdom and routing them further inland, the Zyloans begin launching attacks on the coastal cities of the Zalkonean Empire. Most of the counter-offensive to the Zyloan attack is based out of Crynthia with massive war galleys being constructed to repel the invasion. In a large offensive, the Zyloan fleet plans to overwhelm the Crynthian Navy with a single push. The Crynthian Navy, led by an inept Admiral Lagold, meets the Zyloan navy in open waters near the great bay of Crynthia and lose the first engagement. The Zyloans then barricade Crynthia and begin putting soldiers ashore nearby. Those putting ashore on the western coast are met by legions of jungle elves and forced back to their ships, meanwhile, those on the eastern coasts land unhindered. The main saving grace for the Crynthian Navy is that their ships are bigger and better constructed for battle against ships designed for long ocean travel. The gods have warned Emperor Zalkonea to not get directly involved as their hands are tied as the gods of Zylonica will get involved directly should Zalkonea act. Not wishing to remain idle, Zalkonea uses the knowledge that with one of the Shafts discovered, it stands to reason that at least some of the Cyrkransis survived Coalescence and he begins a search for any of the missing Cyrkransis he can find. With the battle looking grim and it appearing that Crynthia will fall, a final sneak attack is made upon the Zyloan flagships. Three of the four flagships are taken in a single night. Of those, two are destroyed and one is returned to the Crynthian Harbor. The superstitious Zyloans lose courage after this and suddenly find themselves losing battles. A new admiral has arrived to take charge of the Crynthian fleet. Malistrum Falcron’s wife has return. She is considered one of the best tacticians to have ever lived, and after a brief meeting with her husband, she immediately went to her old friend Emperor Zalkonea and petitioned him for control of his fleets. By the end of the year, the Zyloan fleet is in withdraw from Crynthia.
A massive hurricane consumes the entire mini-continent of Zylonica. With its level of destruction, the entire invasion of Arisilon is recalled. Already faring badly with Kraylin having regained its independence, the Sardæ once again on the offensive, and the Sea Witch of the Malistrum Kingdom now hunting down Zyloan ships, the invasion force is ready to return. Raxemores is able to discern that the hurricane was not caused by the gods, however, he is unsure as to its source. He believes that possibly Ocean Fury or Thunder Howler was used. With neither wand having ever been tested, the results were uncertain. Even possessing the Kyofu, he is not ready to seek mutual destruction if it turns out that one of the Cyrkransis has actually resurfaced.
The Roslik and their island remain seemingly unchanged and unaffected by Coalescence. Its location is about 300 miles due west of Amaravati
BC = Before Coalescence - Years before Coalescence Counting Backwards from year Zero.
AC = AFter Coalescence - Years After Coalescence Counting Forward from year Zero.
The Early Years Are Difficult
Year 0? ACThe first years of Camoray are difficult indeed. Only about 5% of the populations survive Coalescence and transfer across initially. Several races, like centaurs and ogres, are lost. Magic is lost. Most technology is lost and must be created from its primitive roots. For the most part, all are living out of caves and slowly trying to rebuild. Many memories of before Coalescence are also lost or faulty at this time. The rate and pacing which people and places transfer across seems to be temporally out of sync also. One day there might be a forest, the next day a small town of several houses might appear. It might be a few days after that before any people appear. There has never been any reason or order behind how long it takes someone, a place, or thing to transfer across. Culturally, as races and peoples are forced to intermingle as some come from Pyrideon and some from Nakir, aggression for resources becomes the norm. A theory exists that Camoray might have existed long before the initial guesses as to the first year, year 0 AC could just be the appearance of the first beings sentient enough to record the crossing.
The Races have Segregated Themselves
Year 100 ACMost of the races segregate themselves to their own areas where they are most comfortable. Of the prominent races on Arisilon, the elves and their brethren take up habitation in the vast dark jungles of the western peninsula, the dwarves dig down into the mountains they knew so well in central Arislon, humans take up abode in the forests south of the great mountains, halflings stay true to their nature and remain close to the humans in the nearest plains, the insectoids all but disappear for the next two hundred years, the gnomes settle down to their old habits of warfare with the kobolds whom they share land within the northwestern parts of the continent. The races of the deep go deeper while the races on high like the alar go higher, borliks find themselves in the shadows of the great mountains both to the north and the south, orcs, goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears find homes wherever others are not, and the lizardfolk, as always, find the marshes that no one else wants.
The Fishing Village of Black Moss Appears
Year 174 ACA fishing village of about four hundred humans and a hundred halflings appears on the shores of a giant freshwater lake in the middle of the jungles of Mashapaloopa. Their first years are a struggle as they learn to adapt to living in a jungle and to fish in new waters. Nearby are a few elf tribes who have also started appearing and with whom they make quick friends.
Brynthia Returns
Year 225 ACBrynthia returns intact on a great plateau in central Arisilon. With it, about 100,000 of its final population of over 3 million return with it.
Crynthia and Drynthia Return; Kraylin Returns
Year 231 ACBoth of the other two major Rynth cities return within a few weeks of each other. On the last week of the year, Kraylin returns. By now, most other races have started to return in small numbers.
The Dwarf Clan of Strombult Appears Near Black Moss
Year 258 ACA tiny clan of fewer than fifty dwarves appears near a bluff overlooking an impassable river about fifty miles from Black Moss. The few elves in the area aid the dwarves to contact the town. Once contact is made, trade starts. The dwarves dig deep into the bluff and find a few metals, an exceedingly rare item in the jungle. In return, the humans supply fish and what craft goods they can from hunting. At the base of the bluff, a small town of Chrailis is started as a trading center for the elves, humans, and dwarves.
The Rebirth of the Cal Confederate Begins
Year 243 ACMany of the cities which made up the Cal Confederate appear in the cradled forest between the Crimson Spires and Borrolo’s Towers, due south of Drake’s Peaks. Because of the age of the forest and the limited size of the cities populations, what was once the great Cal Confederate is now several loosely connected towns and forts. With none of the royal family reappearing as of yet, General Jecofer Sovanyak (no relation to the Elven King of Legend) takes control of the forces in Illania and then starts reaching out for the nearby cities, most of which restore their affiliations to Illania as the woods are still dangerous and traveling on the roads requires a common source of protection.
General Jecofer Retitles himself as Grand Warden Jecofer the 1st
Year 268 ACGeneral Jecofer has already been acting as the supreme leader and dictator of the Cal Confederate. Retitling himself from General Jecofer to Grand Warden Jecofer, he ensures the peaceful transfer of power to his eldest son in the next few years. He keeps the grand warden title in reverence to the ruling family should they return someday. However, it is commonly believed he would dispatch them as soon as he became aware of them.
The War of the Word Begins
Year 271 ACSouth of Drynthia, two city-states, Blue Stream and Tobac Grove, begin a long drawn out war which will eventually claim the lives of over 50,000 souls throughout its eight-year length. The war starts over a single mistranslation of a word meant as respect in one city-state and a vile insult in the other. The offending side insists that leaders Blue Stream were well aware of the double meaning all along.
The Return of Magic
Year 281 ACThe first mention of the return of magic is made. Very simple cantrips are all that’s possible. Due to the complete non-use of magic for over three hundred years and a slight change in its governing formulas, its methodology slowly starts on the path toward being relearned. By this time, small cities with small armies are appearing across Arisilon.
Grand Warden Jecofer the 2nd Ascends
Year 283 ACGrand Warden Jecofer Sovanyak the Second ascends the throne and peacefully takes control of the reorganized Cal Confederate. Under him, the Cal Confederate starts uniting more and more cities around the Theldadorne woods under one banner.
The Return of Emperor Zalkonea
Year 286 ACEmperor Zalkonea wakes up in his bed in the royal palace in Brynthia. Up until now, the bedroom was completely empty. Upon reappearing, he has some fight to reclaim himself as leader of the Brynthia. The compromise for now is he is a figurehead mostly and made a permanent senate member of the high council, otherwise, he has no other special privileges.
Black Moss Encounters Orcs
Year 290 ACA chance encounter deep in the lake alerts the fishers of Black Moss to the presence of orcs who have been roaming the seas of the northern half of the lake. The first few encounters are disastrous for the men, with few escaping. Over the next few years, the presence of the orcs becomes more and more prevalent as the orcs start moving down the coastline. Black Moss begins building ships capable of fighting on the water and also begins fortifying the town.
The Return of the Gods
Year 302 ACWith the slow return of magic, the return of the thirteen gods comes about slowly. The gods managed to cross over, but their computer halves didn't make the crossing. The gods are forced to take on physical manifestations to consolidate their powers. With their limited powers, they are all confined to Arisilon and mostly just the cities. Now unlike never before, their power is tied directly into the number of worshipers they have.
The Spirit of Brynthia Returns; The Gods Reassert their Power Base in Brynthia
Year 304 ACThe city AI of Brynthia is the only one known to have made the crossing and makes itself known to the people of its city by appearing on the public square in the city center. With its return, the gods attempt to reassert their main power base out of Brynthia, using the AI for some of their lower level functions like data storage.
Black Moss is Overrun By Orcs
Year 308 ACAs the orcs continue to move south along the coastline, Black Moss prepares for a unified stand. In their favor are years of building fortifications along with metal weapons from the dwarves and aid from the growing number of elves. Against them is a marching army of nearly 5000 orcs intent on destroying everything in its path. Realizing the battle is over before it has begun, the citizens of Black Moss abandoned their town and headed inland to Chrailis. Once there, they will determine what to do. Unfortunately for them, the Orcs were farther along than anticipated. About 2000 orcs were in the process of circling Black Moss from inland about the same time as the main invasion force arrived at Black Moss. The escaping refugees suddenly find themselves with a town being destroyed by orcs to their back and an army of orcs in their path ahead.
Si’Nassapherion Becomes Cognizant
Year 308 ACUpon her awakening and becoming self-aware, she immediately starts protecting those nearest her birth site. She becomes cognizant around the same time as a large group of humans and halflings from the coast of a large inland lake are fleeing an orcish invasion. She makes her presence known to the humans and halflings – promising that if they will stay, she will protect them. Not seeing any choice, they agree while being fearful that this is actually the worse choice. Legend has it that this is the only time Si’Nassapherion has ever appeared in human form. She directs the humans and halflings to Chrailis and instructs them to resettle in the trading town. Of the orcish invasion, nothing is ever heard again.
The First of the Faithful Arrive
Year 312 ACAs the town of Chrailis continues to stabilize, Si’Nasspherion is rarely seen. In early 312, two individuals of few words arrive. They state they are the faithful of Si’Nassapherion and wish to meditate. They move up the bluff away from the town and set up a small hut. Over the next several years, more and more arrive from the woods. Most are accepted with no question, a few are turned away. Many of the faithful are powerful magic users and they start creating large structures out of marble brought up from below by the dwarves, eventually beginning what will be central Chrailis.
Several Powerful Beings Appear and Start Terrorizing Arisilon
Year 344 ACPowerful elemental lords from one of the worlds captured during Coalescence start to make an appearance. These elemental lords are devoid of empathy and morals, they exist for the wanton destruction of all that is physical. Whether they were like this before or this is a result of being forced into this world is unknown. What is known is that they squabble among themselves like spoiled children. If it wasn’t for their infighting, they would be powerful enough to completely overpower the Gods of Peace. As they start to appear, the twelve gods (Grethello is still rogue) spend a considerable amount of their efforts in keeping them in check – focusing mostly on protecting Arisilon and leaving the other lands to fend for themselves.
Dwarves Recognized as First Citizens of the Cal Confederate
Year 344 ACAs the Cal Confederate continues to extend its borders, it pushes up into the dwarven ranges of the Crimson Spires and Drake’s Peaks. While the few elves and halflings in the Confederate are already considered first citizens, the dwarves are now granted the same status. At the same time, Grand Warden Jecofer Sovanyak the third starts pushing the borders of the Confederate further to the southwest all the way to the Grefanau Hills.
The Academy Assigns a Cause to the Loss of Magic – The Black Star Maus Gorn
Year 375 ACThe Academy of Science and Magic in Brynthia determines that the loss of magic is due to a passing rogue black star which seems to absorb magic. It is passing through the outer edges of the system. While this star can’t be seen with the naked eye, it is detectable. They name it Maus Gorn.
The Cal Confederate Begins Aggressive Expansionism
Year 365 ACWithin a few years of Grand Warden Jecofer Svoanyak the 4th ascending the throne, he becomes known as the Warrior General as he leads his troops to expand their influence throughout most of the northern part of the Crimson Peaks foothills and pushes the effective boundary of the Cal Confederate all the way to the Black Star mountains.
Chrailis is Now a Large Town; The City of the Faithful Grows; The Halflings Start Farming the Lands to the North
Year 369 ACThe size of Chrailis is now over 1500 inhabitants and the town continues to grow, thriving off of both fishing the river and trade with the local elves and dwarves. The City of the Faithful consisting of eight large towers is now surrounded by a single ring. In the center of the City of the Faithful is a single large tower in which Si’Nassapherion now abides. Even this early, those devoted to the City of the Faithful remain apart from most of Chrailis. They have now created a class of underlings in the City which deals directly with Chrailis which will become known as the aristocracy. Meanwhile, the halflings have started exploring the lands above the bluff, finding them to be fertile croplands once the trees are cleared back. The additional altitude above the surrounding jungles makes these prime growing lands.
The Gods Free Themselves of Brynthia
Year 384 ACWith magic now almost back to pre-coalescence levels, the gods release themselves of all physical restraints and leave the city AI of Brynthia. During their presence, they had expanded the abilities and overall capability of the city AI. The Spirit of Brynthia now has the capabilities of acting as a minor god. So as to not lose these abilities, the Spirit of Brynthia strives to stay beneath the notice of the gods. Another side effect of their ties to the cities of man and Pyrideon for the gods is they find their powers dwindle quickly the farther they get away from the main continent of Arisilon.
The Cal Confederate Formally Announces a Reorganization as the Caladornean Empire
Year 390 ACWith their area of influence now extending around the God Haven and approaching the edges of the Brynthian protectorate area, the leaders of the Cal Confederate, Grand Warden Jecofer the 5th in particular, announce that in reverence to their expanding size they shall now be known as an empire. As such, the Caldonian Empire is beholden to the protection of all its member states and territories. Rather than return to the Calliff Empire, they chose to emphasize their new starts in the Theladorne woods. Caladorne or the Caladornean Empire is chosen. Grand Warden Jecofer picks up the additional title of Emperor.
The Elemental Conglomerate Forms
Year 393 ACThe elemental lords continue fighting among themselves as much as they fight the thirteen gods. Sensing that they are losing to the growing power of the thirteen gods, around two hundred of the elementals band together into a new pantheon to counter the pantheon of the thirteen gods. They call themselves the Elemental Conglomerate. Finding it difficult to find followers in the mainland of Arisilon, they find purchase in a nearby small continent of Zylonica and the large island of Teseriac. They set themselves up as rival gods and start using the power gained by faith-based followers to increase their power. They find additional followers in the scattered bands of orcs and goblins throughout the wildernesses of Arisilon. Most of the Elemental Conglomerate members are capricious in nature, going from having fun terrorizing a local community to getting in an angry fight with one another within the Conglomerate. This nature largely moots their overall effectiveness of challenging the thirteen gods of peace.
Most Cities have Returned (notable exception is Galechrome New Cities Appear
Year 400 ACBy Year 400, almost every major city from Pyrideon has now returned along with most towns. Of interest, new cities have also appeared which previously didn’t exist. While already commonly believed to be the case, this is just more proof that something went wrong with the Ritual of Leaving and that Pyrideon has joined with another world.
The Returned Elves have Changed
Year 400 ACWhile most of the other races have been returning with little difference, the elves which have been returning are changed significantly. They share a lot of characteristics with the elves which first arrived in Pyrideon from Gashmyr. They are taller, stronger, and faster. They tend to appear near the jungles and forests of Camoray and have a deeper connection with their homelands. Gone is the desire to congregate in large communities, they all tend to be tribal and shun large gatherings.
The Theory of Planned Restoration is Submitted
Year 405 ACWith the somewhat questionable means by which people and places reappear from before Coalescence, there has been considerable thought given to the idea that there is some intelligent planning behind the events. Working with several high priests and Emperor Zalkonea, the Academy puts forth a formal proof that the events are not random. With that submitted, the question remains, who or what is the intelligence. One candidate is Darkwing.
The Day the Suns Disappeared
Year 414 ACA massive volcano deep in the Blackstar Mountains near Borollo’s peaks explodes, spewing ash over most of southern Arisilon. For several days, the sky is cloudy and overcast. For the next several years temperatures are lower and the winters harsher than in recent memories, especially over Arisilon. A large group of Borliks are dislocated by this event and will trek south to find a new home. The gods step in and to the best of their still limited ability counteract some of the worst effects of a volcano winter. Of note, while some minor earthquakes have happened, more so in the northeastern part of the continent, this is the first signs of major upheaval resulting from an active planet. Pyrideon was an inactive world and never experienced earthquakes or volcanos so for some of the longer-lived transplants, this is a first.
The Trek of The Ancestors
Year 414-420 ACSeveral thousand borliks are dislocated by the explosion of the volcano in Borollo’s peaks. Fleeing their home, they follow a young priest of Slinjetto named Calliss who claims that borliks originated in a land far from where they currently live. Convincing thousands of his people to migrate, they begin traveling south down toward Drynthia. Drynthia’s army heads them off and reroutes them around the city and its farmlands. To the west, they are continuously hounded by the Caladornean army as it tries to round them up so that it can resettling them, possibly making them a slave caste. After six years of travel and being rejected by multiple peoples, the borliks travel through the black marshes and on toward Kraylin where they will eventually find a new home in the many hills surrounding the city. Calliss dies in 420 AC, however, he claims this is the actual home of their Ancestors and the location they first crossed over from Gashmyr. He promises that one day, that path will open up again. And when it does, that path will lead through Kraylin’s world gate.
Mashapaloopa Discovered
Year 424 ACThe explorer Mashakugi from Amaravati discovers a new land when sailing north toward the pole. Following the coastline, he believes he has found a new island. In a later trip, he travels thousands of miles down the coastline and determines he has actually discovered a new continent on the far side of the planet. His young daughter is with him and he allows her to name the land. She names it Mashapaloopa, which roughly translates as Masha’s Dream Land. For decades, his charts are the only reference points to the land in Arislon and many believe to possibly be a fabled land. By the time the Academy verifies the continent is not only real but a supercontinent covering the other entire half of the planet, the name has stuck.
Stone Earth Stammburg is Founded
Year 430 ACFor the most part, the dwarves have found themselves displaced and without homes. Their great underground cities have not reappeared and many of the dwarves which have appeared have found themselves stranded in the mountainous wilderness of the Southern Drake’s Peaks mountain range north of Brynthia. A concerted effort is made by the surviving dwarves to relocate back to one location, especially those now fleeing the increasing tyrannical mechanizations of the Caladornean Empire. In the deep caverns beneath Brynthia’s plateau, they form a new home – Stone Earth Stammburg.
The Faithful Establish A World Gate with Brynthia
Year 435 ACA world gate is established with Brynthia along with four other locations around Mashapaloopa. The reasons the gates are created is thought to be for exploration. The Academy in Brynthia believes that Si’Nassapherion is one of the Elemental Conglomerate, yet a peaceful member. The net result of the gates is a large influx of peoples from around the world visiting and exploring the now impressive City of Marble. As trade and tourism through the gates increase, so does the size and prosperity of the neighboring city, Chrailis. Even now, Chrailis is big enough that it butts up against the outer tiers of the City of Marble. The City of the Faithful now has at least 30 houses which claim devotion to Si’Nassapherion. While they do not treat her like a god, they give reverence and say that what they do is in her honor. Even now, they are starting to get the name of Aristocrats to distinguish between those that will only interact with commoners through lesser members of their households.
Bard’s Vale is Vaporized
Year 435 ACA small town of Bard’s Vale is vaporized instantly in a great fireball. Only the gods remember this event from before Coalescence, however, it is almost identical to how the original Bard’s Vale was destroyed thousands of years earlier. Fearing a connection, the gods put in motion steps to find out the underlying problem.
Shades of Peoples Long Gone Keep Appearing
Year 450 ACShades start appearing all over Arisilon of powerful creatures and beings from years past, some going back before Coalescence. Several minor cities across Arisilon are heavily damaged as the reappearing shades cause havoc. Beyond the convergence of Pyrideon with other existing worlds, these shades are the first real clues the gods have that something didn’t go right when they crossed over, A small group of adventurers which barely survived Bard's Vale find the cause and with the help of an orc named Obrus, they temporarily stop the shades. One of the adventurers is Shanric, a half-demon transplant from Gashmyr. After sealing the breach, as he called it, he finds and retires with the Shurandai, having met several before on his travels out of Gashmyr years past. This, in turn, gives the Shurandai hope that the three hundred are still alive.
Elves are Being Slain by the Hundreds
Year 453 ACFearing the worst, Obrus is still seeking the cause of the latest Pryson Break. The breach seems centered near heart of the elven jungles on Arisilon. Teaming up with another warden (Malshazir the paladin mage) and about 100 Sharlashtri, they find the central cause. The evil black sword of Shazu has entered this world, returning as close as it can to its original homeworld of Nakir. Confirming the break, they once again create a guard tower to patch the breach and the surviving Sharlashtri are left as wardens to protect the breach. This time Obrus stays on Camoray, as he believes that something is different from other breaches and expects to see more in the future. No other breach has ever occurred twice in the same universe.
Chrailis Is a Small City; The World Gates are Permanently Closed
Year 463 ACThe city of Chrailis now completely surrounds the City of the Faithful. The moniker City of the Faithful has already started to disappear as the city has begun to merge with Chrailis. As the wealthy and the rich start building around the closer rings of the initial city, they adopt similar architectural standards of marble buildings, though nothing as elaborate as what is found in the central city. Additionally, the marble used by the humans and elves who are not members of the aristocracy differs in that does not come out with the alabaster whiteness found in the original structures. For reasons unknown, the Faithful declare that the gates will be permanently closed, as ordered by Si’Nassapherion in preparation for a coming threat. They give a one-month warning, then the gates are shut. Even with the warning, many are caught in Chrailis from Brynthia, especially those in a branch of the Academy of Science and Magic which had been opened on the third tier. What was thought to be a temporary closure turns out to be permanent. Additionally, Si’Nassapherion herself enacts a teleportation shield around Chrailis out to 30 miles that is impenetrable to even the most advanced of wizards. With the incoming amount of previous immigrants to Chrailis along with those now stranded in the city, the population of Chrailis is nearly 150,000 people. The Academy of Science and Magic branch in Chrailis will eventually become great library and headquarters of the Alchemical Guild.
Si’Nassapherion Welcomes Her First Daughter
Year 465 ACEarly in 464 AC, a second tower begins construction near the main tower which houses Si’Nasspherion. This new tower is built to staggering heights over nearly 1200 feet and once completed, Si’Nassapherion moves into her new home. Then with great fanfare, it is announced that Si’Nassapherion’s daughter will be flying in from what is now known as First Dawn Lake. She is called Si’Lachara and when she flies in, she is a brilliant amber colored dragon with transparent wings. While tiny compared to her mother, she still has a wingspan of nearly 100’. Once she flies in, she is never seen in dragon form again. Of note, Si’Nassapherion was not present when her daughter arrived.
The Elemental Conglomerate is Brought to Heel
Year 468 ACThe Elemental Conglmorate continues to fight among themselves with their activities spilling over more and more into the civilized areas of Arisilon. The twelve gods realize that part of the problem is virtual immortality of the elemental lords. With much of their power returned, the gods are able to enact a fundamental change to the elementals, tying them to Camoray in such a way that they can be slain. At first, the elemental lords don’t understand and end up killing several of their own number off. Once they figure it out, several of them go on a rampage attacking anything they perceive as belonging to the Gods of Peace. Several more die in the process. Those that are left eventually come to the realization of what it means to possibly die. At this time, they number less than forty. These forty experience a large upsurge in power as they are no longer sharing the faith based energies with the others. The forty left are the most self-controlled, powerful, and diabolical of the Conglomerate. They back off for now, however to an elemental, they vow revenge and start seeking a way to remove the Gods of Peace forever.
Halflings Continue to Cultivate the Lands Above Chrailis; Find the Enlightened Shrine
Year 516 ACThe halflings spread their farmlands further and further north, eventually running into bands of roaming gnolls. The gnolls savagely beat the halflings back into the safety of where Si’Nasspherion actively protects her city, about 50 miles out. About this time, a small farming family stumbles upon a cave deep in their lands. Exploring this shallow cave, they find two tall stone doors, one slightly ajar. Entering what they will eventually call the Enlightened Shrine, they find a wealth of information in the form of carvings on the walls dictating powerful forms of martial arts which when followed allow the channeling of the inner spirit. Seeing a need to fight off the gnolls, two brothers and one sister make it their life work to better understand these martial art forms. As they do so, they begin teaching other family members and friends. Eventually, the forms take hold and allow the halflings to venture further north again, this time more than a match for the raiding gnoll parties. By 650 AC, few halflings do not have at least minimal training in the martial arts.
The Shurandai Have a New Home
Year 525 ACThe secretive Shurandai order of the Shar Dankra finish the building of their new home, Suthandor Mind Hall, located in the valley between Borollo Peaks.
The Thirty Month War; The Death Curse of Raxemores
Year 587-589 ACOne of the most powerful of the elemental lords is the Ice God Raxemores. In a great fight on southern Arisilon, the twelve gods get involved and actually join up with some of the minor members of the Conglomerate. With the exception of Crynthia, many of the southern lands are devastated from the war. The war has also spread to the uncivilized lands east of the northern Drakes Peak chain. The end result is several more Conglmorate lords are killed. Raxemores is the final deific casualty of the war, falling before the Flame Baron Crasticer. With his dying breath, he expends all of his essence to create an eternal polar wind over the isle of Teseriac, home of the Crasticer’s followers. The Isle of Teseriac goes from being a large tropical island to a land eternally locked in arctic conditions. Rather than try and save his people, Crasticer abandons them to their fate and moves to the largely uninhabited lands of the northeastern part of Arisilon populated by only a few stray villages of gnomes. During the thirty months war, Caladorne officially parts ways with the pantheon of the Thirteen and declares itself for several of the Elemental Conglomerate.
The Dragonguard is Split into Three Distinct Divisions
Year 588 ACWhereas before the Dragonguard was always the complete army of Brynthia, it is now officially split into three groups. The Army for protection and external affairs. The Police for the purpose of internal protection. Then the Intelligence Corp with the intention that it be a smaller unit focusing on magic and countering magical threats through the use of investigation, spying, divination, and diplomacy. The division is part of a response to the thirty-month war. All three groups now operate independent of each other and are answerable only to the High Senate. The exception is the Intelligence Corp which answers to Emperor Zalkonea first and foremost with the High Senate just overseeing operations. One of the reasons for the split was lack of focus of the leading generals who were constantly infighting for where resources would go. A fourth smaller division is created which is charge of banking and currency. While technically their own division, their small size often leaves them left out when talking about the Dragonguard as a whole.
Baron Crasticer Sees Success as the God of the Gnomes
Year 595 ACAppearing to have changed his ways some and left his warmongering and rampage tendencies behind, he takes on the role of a benevolent god of the gnomes, and they respond accordingly to his presence. Under him, they begin to thrive and quickly expand through their territories.
The First Dragon Patriarch is Discovered on Mashapaloopa
Year 602 ACThe first Dragon Patriarch becomes known on Mashapaloopa. The threat and power of the dragon patriarch is such that even the gods warn everyone to steer clear of the continent. Around this time, two other dragon matriarchs are also discovered, who came first, or if there are other such dragons is unknown. The Academy now reclassifies Si’Nassapherion as a Dragon Matriarch and not a goddess choosing a dragon form, which actually makes her the first Dragon Noble found on the continent.
Amaravati is Cut off From the Gods of Peace
Year 642 ACThe Gods of Peace are caught off guard when they suddenly become blind to the city of Amaravati. This blindness spreads over the next year to most of the northern desert and then starts spreading along the northern coast of Arisilon. Not only are the gods blind, but their powers won’t reach into the areas they are cut off from, even when they send their priests to investigate.
The Gods of War Have Returned
Year 648 ACWith their area of influence starting to dwindle and not knowing why, Borollo devises a method to grant his priests the ability to store some of his essence so that the priest can enter the dead zone and still have access to divine powers. This method is different from the magic batteries the gods had devised before departure. It is adding an essence of divine spark into the follower. Because of this, the spark dwindles out after several days whether it is used or not. The other benefit is that this still allows the casting of divine spells whereas the batteries do not. When his priests return a few months later from trekking to Amaravati, they claim that the Gods of War have returned. They have found that Amaravati is fully in the servitude of both Throki and Tharakku, and the city is prospering under their leadership. Additionally, the city is preparing for war and preparing to march south. The Gods of Peace have trouble believing, positive that not only were the Gods of War destroyed but what little was left of them was left in the Thrage universe. However, they can’t deny that a power they don’t understand is not only blocking them but also growing.
Raxemores Returns
Year 660 ACRaxemores reappears in the large island of Zylonica and begins attracting worshipers. This gives hope to the other members of the conglomerate that maybe death isn’t permanent for them. Some of them begin resort to their base natures and become more rambunctious once again. Additionally, Raxemores has changed – his former instances of insane rage has disappeared. Instead is calculating and manipulative. Whereas before his power and influence in the Elemental Conglomerate came from his strength of his power and wrath, he is now gaining influence through alliances and cunning.
Emperor Zalkonea Extends the Borders of the Brynthian Empire
Year 662 ACRealizing the threat of the Caladornean advances, Emperor Zalkonea starts expanding the size of the Dragonguard and pushing for even more control and power over the Senate. Begrudgingly year by year, the High Senate has been giving up more and more power as Emperor Zalkonea remains relentless in his goals. As the Senate changes out seats, new deals get made increasing his control over time. With the army expanding, Emperor Zalkonea sends them south rather than north toward Caladorne. The purpose is to build them up so big that if war does come, the ever-expanding Caladornecalan Empire would have a protracted war to take Brynthia. By having the army expand to the lands south, they are not seen as acting in an aggressive manner. By 690 AC the borders extend south all the way to the Chromatic Bay following along the Thoridon river. By 720, the Brynthian empire now spreads west of the Thoridon river to encapsulate the entire peninsula all the way to the Qulen Sea and east all the way to the boundaries of the Rushaga river. As of now, the standing army is nearly 500,000 strong.
The Portal is Reopened to Gashmyr in the Revitalized Quazicol
Year 670 ACRaxemores has brought considerable vitality to the Zyloan nations since he returned. In 10 years, Quazicol is once again the undisputed capital of their new home on Zylonica. The Gods of Peace have been reluctant to allow the opening of a portal to Gashmyr, fearful it might somehow undo their escape from the Thrage, believing themselves to be sealed in this new universe. Raxemores declares he has the knowledge to open a world gate for his people and then does so atop the central temple in Quazicol.
Raxemores Blinds the Gods of Peace from Zylonica
Year 672 ACIt is believe that Raxemores has made overtures for alliance with the Gods of War Throki and Thrakku which had returned in northern Arisilon and that they showed him how to blind the presence of his people from the Gods of Peace.
Raxemores Smuggles 4 Soul Crystals Out of Gashmyr
Year 675 ACAfter years of failed negotiations, Raxemores has four soul crystals stolen from a limbo-like dimension smuggled through the World Gate connected to Gashmyr. Once they are on Camoray, he personally begins deconstructing them so as to learn their properties.
Amaravati Prepares to March South when the Vale Suddenly Appears
Year 675 ACAs the armies prepare their for march south toward the mountains north of Brynthia, a large oasis jungle over 100 miles across appears in the middle of the Great Sand Desert. One of the lead vanguards of the army is rerouted to enter and explore it. The entire vanguard of 10,000 troops is completely lost. With a greater concern than war on the south lands, Amaravati orders its army to stand guard as they further explore the Vale and what threat it represents.
Ogres have Returned
Year 677 ACAmaravati discovers that a large portion of the threat from the Vale is actually marching on them. They determine that the threat is an army of ogres, yet these ogres are unlike anything ever seen before. adonThey are larger, more intelligent, militarized, and in possession of powerful battle magics. The threat to Amaravati is real.
The Eminence is Occupied
Year 680 ACThe Sharlashtri complete the construction of their new home and school enough to which they can move in. The actual structure is finally finished in 758 AC.
The Vale Halts all Hostilities
Year 682 ACAfter 5 years of fighting a war of attrition with Amaravati, all of the forces of the vale suddenly retreat back into the vail for reasons unknown. It is believe that a small group of adventurers had entered the Vale, had found a dimensional rupture and were able to seal it from the other side after crossing over. A warrior by the name of Sinja, born north of Brynthia, is the only name associated with these adventurers.
Raxemores Begins the Construction of the Soul Receptacles
Year 684 ACHaving deconstructed the soul crystals and figured out how they worked, Raxemores begins creating new vessels capable of siphoning off and holding the power of a god. His intent is clear in that he is constructing thirteen such devices. He has them constructed miles south of Zylonica deep in the Drenegar ocean far above a deserted island. This seclusion allows them to be made in secret. Each receptacle is a floating diamond citadel over a mile high, fashioned in the appearance of a large briolette-cut diamond with sharp points on the top and bottom. Only Raaxmores most devoted priests and followers are allowed to work on the project.
Crynthia Announces Independence from the Brynthian Empire
Year 686 ACWith Brynthia still expanding, Crynthia proactively informs the Brynthian Empire that they will remain independent yet an ally. A formal agreement is made that all lands within 75 miles of Crynthia shall remain in their control. Brynthia promises aid as needed and only establishes minimal fortifications near the border. Brynthia’s main concern is still the Caladornean Empire to the north. The peaceful relationships between Crynthia and the Brynthian empire grow strong enough that many just consider Crynthia a self-ruled province of the Brynthian Empire.
Caladorne Reaches the Edges of Drynthia’s Sphere of Influence
Year 706 ACAs Caladorne closes in on Drynthia, they begin demanding the city start paying tribute. Already the Caladorne armies are surrounding the city and cutting it off from much of its farmlands. As Drynthia is not and has never been much of a military city, they are not prepared for a protracted Siege. Their recourse is a plea to the gods. Stengard himself commands that Drynthia is to be left alone. Following the example of Crynthia, he states that all lands within 100 miles of Drynthia are off limits, if Caladorne crosses that line, there will be divine retribution.
March of the Solar Titans
Year 708 ACAnyone who has ever entered the Vale has failed to return, so Amaravati sets up several sentry positions around the Vale. No movement is ever detected by these sentry positions within this vast jungle in the middle of the driest of deserts. In early 708, three 400’ tall gargantuan titans suddenly appear and beginning walking toward Amaravati. They appear to be made of brown stone with glowing golden veins covering their bodies. Their eyes glow the brightest gold, visible for miles during the night. When they open their mouths occasionally to roar, their raging insides can be seen as that of white-hot molten metal. Though they only open their mouths a few times a day, when they do it is to emit a great boom with tones so low the earth shakes for miles in every direction. The destruction from their roar destroys and liquefies anything stone in front of them, living flesh is instantly seared and incinerated, and metal is warped beyond recognition. Merely approaching the titans is difficult, as even at distances of a hundred yards water begins to boil from the heat they create. The sand beneath their steps glows brightly for several minutes before drying into shards of glass footprints. The only saving grace was that the Vale was still several hundred miles south of Amravati and the titans were moving a slow but continuous eight miles a day. Amaravati in the first several days of the march expends first their armies and then most of the resources trying to stop the titans.
Throki and Thrakku Seek Help
Year 708 ACRealizing that they are powerless before the titans to save their city, the two returned Gods of War reach out and seek help from the Gods of Peace. The Gods of Peace agree to help in exchange that the cloak which protects Amaravati must not only be lifted, but its workings must be divulged so the Gods of Peace are no longer blinded by it. Thorki and Thrakku both agree. After 2 days, the Gods of Peace realize that the titans might be unstoppable and Amaravati is almost surely doomed. With no other recourse, the Gods of Peace send a small group of their most powerful followers into the Vale to attempt to find a solution.
The Solar Titans are Halted
Year 708 ACThe group of adventurers led by several high priests of the thirteen gods along with Mazik, a monk warrior of Throki journey into the Vale. They soon discover themselves in another reality where they meet three of the Pryson’s wardens – Torimrae, Obris the Orc, and Malakar. They find out that the Solar Titans are from a desert world where massive war magics have destroyed everything and the titans are all that is left on that world, created to seek out life and destroy it. The solution, the wardens explain, is sealing the breach which let them through, and that should hopefully break the connection to their home universe. It is also explained that time works differently in the Pryson – sealing the rift may occur instantly or may occur centuries after it formed. Torimrae explains that he has a good understanding of how the timelines can interweave and believes he can send them back just as they enter and cause the rift to seal at that instant, but not before – due to them not being able to alter a previous event in a ‘fixed timeline world’ without erasing it. Mazik also questions about the Ogre army. Torimrae uses that as an example, in the Pryson timelines continuously rearrange themselves and whatever general was leading the army probably ceased to exist at some point or found himself in a war with another opponent. Regardless, the three wardens are not aware of any massive ogre army as the Camorayans described. Shortly after fixing the breach, Torimra finds that such an army had existed on this world over thirty-thousand years ago. Additionally, they explain that the High Courts have determined that this is the thirteenth such breach of the Pryson. The good news is, once a breach is fixed, that world is generally safe from the influences of the Pryson. The priests succeed in the mission, returning to the moment they had left, and the rift is closed. The Vale remains and those who venture into the oasis return with no adverse effects. Soon it will be populated by the Amaravatians, however, it almost immediately starts to dry up and turn back into desert over the next decades. As far as the solar titans, once the rift closed up they just stopped. Their heat and glowing eyes also ceased, the titans now just 400’ tall statues of a granite-hard stone standing about twenty miles from the walls of Amravati, staring at the walls. From the walls, the statues can be seen staring back at them.
Drynthia Joins the Caladorne Empire
Year 712 ACDrynthia holds a vote and determines their best course of action is to join the empire. Much speculation and accusations exist that Caladorne rigged the voting and had been sending in spies for decades to subvert the parties which were in favor of remaining separate from the Caladorn Empire. Regardless of the how, Drynthia joins peacefully and retains much of the autonomy for itself and nearby cities.
The Halfling Traditions Number Five; The Years of Remembrance are Established
Year 713 ACWhile the number of monasteries in the halfling lands north of Chrailis are numerous, there are only 5 traditions, each monastery typically adhering to a single tradition. With intratraditional rivalry common and the continued threat of gnolls and now orcs to the west, the halflings continue to militarize their society. What starts as a movement among some village elders eventually spreads to all the halfling villages, known as the Years of Remembrance. This tradition is the process by which every twelve-year-old halfling joins one of the monasteries, usually their parent’s or village’s local monastery, for a period of at least two years to fully learn its combat styles and teachings, so that upon leaving they are considered adults and fully capable of helping to defend the village and halfling lands.
The Soul Receptacles are Finished
Year 715 ACWith years of focused effort, Raxemores has finished his Soul Receptacles. By this time, he has brought in the most loyal and disciplined of the Elemental Conglomerate to aid in finishing the construction of the receptacles and also let them in on his grand plan – using the receptacles to steal the powers of the thirteen gods of peace. Now all that remains is getting the thirteen gods to manifest on the island in the midst of the soul receptacles and then activating them. To do this, he has formulated a new plan based on the information obtained from the Pryson Break near the Vale.
Caladorne Begins Expanding Along the Imbrium Shorline
Year 716 ACThe seat of power for eastern Caladorne is firmly established in four newly built palaces on the northern edge of the growing city. Caladorne’s influence now extends all the way from Theladorne Woods to all of the eastern shores along Imbrium Ocean. From there, the empire starts spreading its influence north along the strip of land sitting between the ocean and the Malaras Mountains.
The Day the Gods Died; Zylonica is Destroyed
Year 718 ACRaxemores has already reached out to Throki and Thrakku with plans of eliminating the twelve of the thirteen gods of peace. Early in the ninth month, Raxemores gathers the rest of the Elemental Conglmorate together on his island with the soul receptacles. They plan on creating a threat which will mimic many of the properties of the Pryson Break in the Vale. They will then ask for help in a similar manner to which Throki and Thrakku did. Throki and Thrakku will also agree to lend aid and it is hoped that the Gods of Peace will also be compelled to agree. When he finally petitions for help from the other pantheon in the fourteenth month, Raxemores agrees to lift the cloak over Zylonica and offers grant the twelve gods representation on the councils of the Elemental Conglomerate in exchange for help. As expected, the twelve agree. When the thirteen Gods of Peace (Grethello reluctantly came along at Ramian Fax’s insistence) send their awareness to investigate the island, they immediately find the crystal receptacles. As they investigate the receptacles, the soul receptacles are primed and start drawing in the essence of the Gods of Peace into them. Slowly at first and unnoticed, the connection is made between the receptacles and the gods. As soon as the Gods of Peace are linked, Raxemores initiates the Soul Receptacles to full power, and the powerful artifacts begin drawing in the complete essences of the Gods of Peace. This is the purpose and function of a soul receptacle. He then has the Elemental Conglomerate on the island prepare themselves for when Raxemores releases the power of the receptacles, for it will be into them that the stolen power travels. Thrakku and Throki are supposed to also be on the island, however Raxemores tricked Elemental Conglomerate, causing the final control stone to activate early. Unbeknownst to the Elemental Conglomerate, the thirteenth stone was not a control stone, just another stone which started absorbing the essence of all the Elemental Conglomerate members present. Thrakku and Throki then joined with Raxemores along with six of the other gods of war who had crossed over in the last few centuries. With the crystals full, he reveals yet another secret, he has managed to obtain two of the three Kyofu. Nihilistic Dream and Mindslasher. Not only that, he knows how to use them. Using Mindslasher first, he aims at the island and the center of the crystals. All living thought is utterly destroyed and any personality residing within is erased. Only energy remains trapped in the crystals. He then uses Nihilistic Dream to destroy the almost indestructible Receptacles. As they crumble to a fine gray dust to be blown away on the wind, Raxemores and the other eight with him rush in and absorb all the power and energy they can, claiming up links to worshipers all over Camoray. The Elemental conglomerate is destroyed. The only known surviving members of the Conglomerate, including Raxemores number twelve. Triumvirates of Fire
Crimson Madder
Hazy ConclaveDraknell the Doom
Assembly of AirRaddioshar the Night Lord
Harmattan the Spear
Lighting ChamberJorg the Dark Cloud
Celestriar the Bright
Eyok the Gentle
Water Sultans None
Holy CamarillaRaleefa High Lord of Muck
Council of MineralsGiter Strong Fist
Malice the Mithril Razor
Magma ChamberNone
The White HeartMulathap the Obscure
Of the 13 Gods of Peace, for Grethello ended up joining them at the last minute at Ramian Fax’s urging – a different story evolves. With the deal made at the Vale with Thrakku and Throki, the Gods of Peace had already pierced Raxemores cloak over the island. Not only had the watched the completion of the Soul Receptacles, they had discerned their use and already figured out a way not be trapped by them once they were activated. When Raxemores activates them, the Gods of Peace easily slip the prison and escape. Not knowing the true purpose of the Raxemores’ plan, the Gods of Peace just assume receptacles were to be prisons and the inhabitants power would slowly be siphoned off. Only Ramian Fax knows different for he had also been in contact with Raxemores, he knew that Raxemores had a plan to take the power of those trapped quickly. The Gods of Peace did not know was that the existence of the Kyofu was real. Created by the Gods of War back before the Gods of Peace existed, the Gods of Peace always considered them myths. True to his nature, Ramian had two levels of betrayal going himself. First of which was though he convinced Grethello to come along, he didn’t bother to let Grethello know how to escape, thus leaving him trapped as the rest escaped. Second was he had revealed to the other Gods of Peace the full plan of Raxemores as far as he knew it. The Gods of Peace, seeing a chance to possibly rid them once and for all of several threats, reached out into the void of space and altered the course of a passing comet. Having been planning this for years, the comet had been pulled into a close parallel orbit for several years. With all the levels of betrayal going on, the final outcome comes out as follows.
- Raxemores secures the help of Gods of Peace, the Gods of Peace come and investigate and get trapped.
- The Elemental Conglomerate already on the island rise up believing they are about to get their reward only to be trapped themselves.
- The Gods of Peace secretly slip the bonds. They then grab the comet and hurl it at Zylonica. The force of which should completely eradicate the soul receptacles.
- Raxemores unleashes the power of Mindslasher as soon as the Elemental Conglomerate are trapped. The Elemental Lords and Grethello are slain. He then uses Nihilistic Dream to completely disintegrate the structures of the Receptacles.
- Raxemores and the other 8 gods with him rush in to absorb all the powers and conduits of those now slain. Knowing from Ramian that Grethello might be the only God of Peace present, he focuses on absorbing his powers.
- As they absorb the powers, they detect the approaching comet. The other gods flee the coming destruction, only Raxemores stays behind to better defend his power base and protect his followers, the Zyloans.
- The comet hits and wrecks Zylonica. The 12 Gods of Peace use their immense powers to keep the destruction minimal and localized to the area around Zylonica. Raxemores, using his new found power, is able to shield Quazicol itself and protect it from the destruction. What is left of Zylonica is a ringed island around the impact site. The only Zyloans to survive are those within Quazicol and around, about one and a half million in number.
Rikorskey had already taken on the mantle of Malice the Mithral Razor centuries earlier after killing her. He relocates to Mashapaloopa completely out of contention with the Gods of Peace.
Elarxinebos doesn’t take on any other role, however, she also relocates to Mashapaloopa.
Wegsetze had slain Celestriar the Bright when she came over and took her alias. She joins Raxemores/Shaze/Grethello as his consort.
Kog himself had slain Draknell the Doom upon his crossing over and also joins in the new pantheon of Zylonica as the warrior god of the pantheon.
Darkello takes on the role of Radioshar the Night Lord, absorbing his essence in full during the Day the Gods Died. He also joins the Zylonica pantheon as the god of death, tormentor of the unfaithful, and protector of the underworld.
Salar takes on the role of Mulathap the Obscure after absorbing his essence and becomes the god of mysteries in the new Zylonica pantheon.
With the assumption of roles, this actually means that only 6 of the Elemental Lords actually survived out of the eleven supposed survivors. All six of them flee to Mashaloopa. They are Crimson Madder, Harmattan the Spear, Jorg the Dark Cloud, Eyok the Gentle, and Giter Strong Fist. They survived only because they didn’t heed the call to come. Some are known as being extremely cautious, other extremely paranoid, and this is why they avoided the call of Raxemores.
As the new pantheon on Zylonica forms, Shaze takes two final measures. He first includes roles for the missing gods of war should they someday also return. The myth he has for them is that they are lost in the underworld having been slain by the now enemy Gods and Peace and will return someday. The second measure is he threatens the Gods of Peace with the destruction of everything if his status is challenged on Zylonica, for he still has in his possession both Mindslasher and Nihilistic Dream. He allows that Time Gorge, the third Kyofu, is also in his possession.
Tsunami hits both Crynthia and Kraylin
Year 718 ACThe destruction of Zylonica results in massive damage and untold casualties as a great Tsunami of over 150’ high hits both cities. With the level of destruction, Brynthia offers aid and ends up establishing control of most of the surrounding countryside to Crynthia. Needing years to recover, Crynthia reaffirms its intention to remain a free city-state, however it concedes to join the Brynthian Empire in name for both military and naval protection.
The Gnomes Turn to the Gods of Peace
Year 719 ACNow godless after their god has been revealed to be one of the warmongering Elemental Conglomerate, the gnomes now start turning in mass to the Gods of Peace, Yahalla, and Radok primarily.
Hyabari Riders Earn the Protection of Brynthia
Year 725-745 ACSpeculation occurs that the nomadic Hyabari Riders which travel the southern plains of the Nakir Planesta are somehow related to the barbarians of the old world. As a peaceful people, they are often preyed upon by bandits and the Caladorne Empire to the north. Emperor Zalkonea annexes their lands and vows to march on any nation which bothers the Hyabari peoples. In return, the Hyabari Riders swear allegiance to the crown of Brynthia. This gives Emperor Zalkonea a good excuse to spread the borders of the Brynthian Empire well beyond the Rushanga River. The threat of war with Brynthia, along with their own internal problems, is enough to have Emperor Jecofor the 8th order a similar protection of the Hyabari Riders. Once this is done, even the temples now proclaim the riders as a noble people under the protection of the gods. Noted as some of the best riders and horse breeders of the land, the Hyabari trade and supply horses of unsurpassed quality to both nations. The main food source of the Hyabari are the great weeping beast herds they follow. While not a delicacy, the rarity weeping beast meat is another commodity they supply throughout the lands.
The Rise of Deathmaster Zern
Year 754 ACSuspected of being a magician class mage, Deathmaster Zern is a lich who rises to power north of the Crimson Peaks and begins marching down toward the Caladorne empire. He marches with nearly 1,000,000 undead as his troops. The initial force is halted in the valley of Mount Morri by the northern army consisting of 5000 troops and the aid of the Sharlashtri. They are able to hold in a withdrawing action until the main Caladorne army is brought to bear, stopping the undead force from leaving the mountains. In a protracted 18 year battle in the mountains, the forces of Caladorne finally prevail. It is largely through manipulation of and mastering the magic of necromancy which allow Caladorne to prevail. Deathmaster Zern flees and ends up leaving the continent altogether. Where he disappears to is unknown, though it is suspected he fled to Mashapaloopa. Years later, references are found to Deathmaster Zern in some of the few surviving writings from Nakir. It is possible he initially rose to power there before Coalescence. The ancient references refer the saurian riding Nutt brothers as having been his downfall on Nakir.
The Ruins of Granuul Batterion are Found
Year 780 ACMining dwarves digging deep in the mountains north of Drynthia break into a large cave system. At first, they are excited and word spreads quickly as they find several dwarf markings and runes on the walls. This quickly changes to horror as they realize that an entire city lies before them. It is completely enclosed and the skeletal remains of nearly 100,000 dwarves are found. It is determined that the Granuul Batterion had relocated after Coalescence too deep for the dwarves to get out. Where they appeared is in a massive granite structure of an old volcano. With no fresh water source or magic, the city would have had weeks at best to survive.
Earthquake in the Crimson Spires, Much of Upper Brynthia is Damaged
Year 804 ACA major earthquake happens upriver along the Thoridon river from Brynthia. It causes a major blockage in the river. As the river builds up, a massive lake forms in the mountains. Reaching the breaking point, the lake bursts down river in a rush of flood waters which inundates the city, especially Upper Brynthia at the top of the Aujric Cliffs. While Upper Brynthia suffers flooding, Middle Brynthia receives considerable damage as the waters fall over the cliff onto the city. Radok and Stengard now take more interest in the overall health of the world and with the dangers of the Conglomerate behind them, they focus on stabilizing and minimizing future disasters on Arisilon.
Caladorne Marches on Brynthia; The God’s Truce is Enacted
Year 805 ACAfter years of a standing stalemate between the Brynthian Empire and Caladorne, the earthquake and ensuing damage to Upper Brynthia gives the Caladorneans the opening they believe they need to take the city. Marshaling their troops, they attack the city and within a week have established a major lodgement consisting of all of Upper Brynthia. In response, Brynthia sends its troops north all along the border, primarily traveling up the Rushanga River. Caladorne reveals that they have been massing a force of nearly 500,000 undead and have been waiting for the perfect time to attack. They meet the Rushanga force head on. Additionally, coming down out of the Crimson spires, they have an army of dwarves intent on reinforcing the entire upper plateau. It is at this time that Emperor Zalkonea reveals just what it means to be a magician. Teleporting in, he annihilates the undead army in a matter of hours. He then returns to Brynthia and threatens to do the same to the invading army of dwarves if they don’t turn back. Emperor Jecofer the 11th refuses, saying he will run every Caladorne troop off over the plateau into Brynthia if that is what it takes to win the day. Radok steps in at this point, and with Stengard’s help, they force a truce. Stengard lets it be known he is still not please with how Drynthia was annexed into the Caladorne Empire. They rule that the Plateau and the edge of the Theladorne Woods will be a permanent boundary between the two empires. Zalkonea readily accepts this on behalf of the Brynthia Empire, foreseeing a future peace between the two nations may now be possible, especially if Caladorne is to keep control of Upper Brynthia. Emperor Jecofer refuses. Stengard strikes him dead moments after he issues his proclamation of refusal. It is said that as soon as he brought his staff down saying the war continues, the staff turned to ash in his hands, his eyes caught fire, and with an agonizing gasp, he slumped over out of his throne. Jecofer Sovanyak the Ninth is coronated the next day and readily agrees to the truce enforced by the gods.
Perceived Insurrection Leads to the Real Thing in Caladorne
Year 848 ACDuke SardÆ Sovanyak is vocal against his uncle’s extreme position on allowing undead to retain lifelong appointments in the social ministry. With the threat of several outer districts possibly rising up in arms, the Duke attempts to quell the efforts and only ends up becoming a figurehead. Emperor Jecofer banishes the Duke along with his followers. Seeing an out that does not involve open bloodshed, Duke SardÆ takes his followers south. It is only as they are pursued south by the Caladorne armies and word comes of the actions taking against those seen as sympathizers that he regrets his decision of not inciting an actual revolt. As he heads further south, he comes to the decision to one day return and claim Caladorne for himself.
Pirates Begin Terrorizing Southern Cities
Year 893 ACPirates out of unknown source begin attacking and ransacking cities between Kraylin to almost half the way down the coast toward Crynthia. The worst pirate is one known only as Viper who claims to be a member of the SardÆ. Eventually, it is believed that the attacks are coming from a most improbable source, the frozen isle of Teseriac.
A Small City State Starts Carving out a Small Nation As Protection from the SardÆ Pirates
Year 920 ACAt the mouth of the Eosail river, a small city which has seen constant attacks from the SardÆ begins forming fortification to protects against future attacks. Its success is strong enough that they extend their protection to other nearby villages and cities, forming a league of cities designed to fight off the SardÆ. This league becomes known as the Malistrum League and is led by a masterful tactician named The Falcon.
The Líadan Sisters Arrive in Chrailis
Year 925 ACHaving been away from Chrailis for centuries since it locked its gates, Gráinne Líadan finally tracks down and returns to the city on foot. This time, her sister comes with her, hoping to help Gráinne with her research into the mysterious overlapping of worlds – hoping to find a way back to Anytime, this time using the conduits possibly available in the Quirk Woods. At this time, the only gate off of Camoray still resides in Quazicol and this is not common knowledge.
The Pirate King Known as Viper is Caught
Year 926 ACUnder the direction of the Falcon, using inferior ships, he surrounds and traps the pirate king. It is soon revealed that Viper is the second son of Emperor Jecofer IX’s nephew, Duke SardÆ Sovanyak. Duke SardÆ had left Caladorne willing and was later banished by his uncle the Emperor. The duke had then fled with his entire household and followers south to Kraylin, where he eventually purchased several ships and sailed out. He chooses to go to Teseriac with his exiled nationals to harden and train his troops for a triumphant return. He died ten years later on the island from a magical version of pneumonia resistant to magical treatments. By his death, his nation had already established its roots as a future nation of pirates which would later be known as the SardÆ nation. It is a nation of unified villages living on Teseriac, in particular, they live on the middle part of the isle known as the Saeva Indignatio Plains. With the hardships of living on a frozen island, they excelled at fishing, boat building, and soon piracy. And it is from this lineage which Viper hails. With his royal connections, he is ransomed back to the SardÆ nation for concession of ceasing all raids on the cities of the Malistrum League.
The Yinkida Resurface
Year 942 ACThe first mentions of the Yinkida once again surface in Brynthia after a thousand years of absence. Whether or not any actual connection exists between the two groups, what is definite is this new force of all female vigilantes operates under the a similar code of conduct and displays similar abilities. There are a few differences however from the legends of the former Yinkida. These Yinkida work for protection fees, though they don't force others into paying. They just let it be known whom they will and will not protect. Another oft-repeated rumor is that most males cannot complete the training of the Yinkida, but those who do are called Yangkida's.
Gráinne Líadan Marries into House Elurica
Year 982 ACAfter years of being courted by a powerful elf lord of House Elurica, Gráinne marries into the household. For convenience, Imogen is adopted into the house also 10 years later in 992 AC, changing her birth name of Imogen to Imokan to better fit the local language. She had already been going by Imokan for several decades.
Allistaire Banarc is Born In a Small Trading Village South of Brynthia
Year 1018 ACBorn of two human parents, Allistaire is quickly recognized by age five as having strong magic potential. The elves which come to trade with his birth village start teaching him their language and unlike almost every other human, he quickly picks up enough basics to hold conversations with them. By age seven he is already picking up a reputation as being a marvel, fluent in over twenty languages. By age six, he has master over 30 different shalingra magics and by age eight is casting spells that grey haired mages still haven’t mastered.
A Magical Quake in Northern Arisilon Reveals the Great Scar
Year 1025 ACA great earthquake in the middle of northern Arisilon is felt all the way to Amaravati. At the steppes near the edge of the Great Desert, the ground opens up into a great canyon hundreds of miles long. Inside the canyon, lining the walls is a metal structure reaching hundreds of feet into the ground consisting of old rooms, stairwells, abandoned factory equipment, some of it hundreds of feet in size. What it does, whether it is part of a greater structure or complete in itself is unknown. For decades afterward, it will be explored by countless numbers, even with the gods sending in representatives trying to discern its purpose and true dimensions. The deepest anyone has traveled into the structure has been almost two miles, with stairwells and levels going even further down beyond the floor of the canyon. While some of the upper levels will become inhabited with various orc and goblin tribes, the lower levels appear to be completely abandoned. The determination that the quake was not natural and magical instead is related to the appearance of the great machine as being the cause.
Hursing Makes His Second Fateful Journey Far Past the Black Marshes
Year 1023 ACTraveling with over sixty hirelings, seeking to explore what lies beyond the Black Marshes to the south, on his first trip he learns of a lost city further south. After securing funding for a second expedition, he treks south and discovers the lost city of the draconian sarloks.
Allistaire Banarc Enters the Academy of Science and Magic as a Student
Year 1031 ACAllistaire joins the academy as a prodigy in his teens. He attracts the attention of Emperor Zalkonea who takes him on as his personal pupil. Zalkonea at first believes he might be of magician caliber ability, however soon determines that while Allistaire is quite gifted, especially in researching new spells, he lacks the overall ability to master massive spell energies. Nevertheless, as one of the most powerful mages of his generations, Emperor Zalkonea continues to work directly with the young student. By age 20, Allistaire has mastered over two hundred distinct languages.
A New Pryson Threat Emerges From Below
Year 1051 ACObrus has predicted the next Pryson Break. He is becoming certain, possibly after listening to Torim Rae’s many speculations, that somehow the Pryson Dimension was possibly wounded, possibly mortally wounded, by Coalescence. If so, no universe is safe from the horrors of the Pryson. Being on hand, he is unprepared for the severity as several captured elements of the Pryson are released with a focal point at the bottom of the Drenegar ocean. He summons Malakar to round up the worst of the escaped convicts and heads off with Torim Rae to find a solution. After much research, they determine that there is an element of power from Camoray stuck in the Pryson, much like a splinter. If they can remove it, they can possibly finally put an end to all the breaches. Obrus enters Anytime to find the truest aspect of Underground Monastery and return it to this world where it rightfully belongs. In doing so, he finds that this world is completely cut off from Anytime, just as if it were in the Pryson, so he travels to Gashmyr and spends years trying to find another way into Anytime. Of note, Obrus and his companions do not need gates to travel to and from Gashmyr.
Emperor Jecofer Sovanyak XIV the Deranged Leads to Downfall of Caladorne
Year 1068-1069 ACA poor kept secret, vampirism has become rampant in central Caladorne. Many nobles are risen vampire with their populace existing as a potential food source. While Emperor Jecofer isn’t undead, his cavortations with undead mistress are well known. Whether he was already mad or this led to his to his insanity is unknown. He starts ordering wild parties, great orgies where many of the commoners are publicly used and often killed for the pleasures of his fellow nobles. Many of the outlying noble families protest. Tensions rise. To make a point and prove his power, Emperor Jecofer visits one of his dukes in southern Theladorne woods and orders a lavish celebration to be held. Near the beginning of the celebration, he declares he is going to marry both the duke’s daughters, but first they must be turned to vampires. He has them slain and drained by his captain of the guard and exclaims the celebration will resume when the daughters rise on the next night as fledgling vampires. On the next night, he publicly consummates the marriage to both of the daughters, forcing everyone to attend. As word of this gets out, the unrest quickly turns to arms. Drynthia declares itself free of Caladorne and begins massing its armies to defend itself. At the same time, the growing community in Upper Brynthia also declares their independence, wishing to join back with the Brynthian Empire. In a rage, Emperor Jecofer returns home and raises the battle arms. He orders a march on Brynthia in violation of the God’s Truce. Tired of the whole mess, Stengard and the other good and neutral gods convene. They determine that the Caladorne Empire is in violation of the truce and must be abrogated. Stengard curses the capital city Theladorne and causes the entire woods of Theladorne to grow up into a shadowy and foreboding forest. This cursed forest becomes known as the Theladorne Dark Woods and becomes for centuries to come a place of haunted legends. Many of the undead lords and ladies are turned into malevolent vegetation throughout the woods, rooted to one spot. Legend has it that Emperor Jecofer himself is left as the only living sole of the now abandoned city of Theladorne hidden deep in the forest. He has become an immortal beast which prowls and hunts any foolish enough to enter the city. Three new nations are created in the fallout. Borez, Thorn, and the new Cal Confederate.
The Caladorne Provinces North of Brynthia Reunify as the Cal Confederate
Year 1069 ACWith the loss of leadership from central Caladorne, the provinces of the hills south of the Crimson Spires now look to self-govern. There is a movement to join the Brynthian Empire, however, the nobility of the provinces reject this notion, not wishing to lose their newfound of the autonomy. Utilizing their friendly relations, the fourteen provinces declare and ratify a constitution which unites them as a confederacy. Looking back to the distant past, they take the name Cal Confederate as many of the nobles ‘supposedly’ can trace their lineage to the house of Illan. With the most urban settlement of the new Cal Confederate still being Upper Brynthia, they move to make this the new capital of the Cal Confederate.
Brynthia and Upper Brynthia Reunify Into One City
Year 1069 ACAfter years of being two separately governed cities sitting right next to each other, the sudden absence of power in Caladorne prompts a movement to reunify the city. This happens concurrently with the Cal Confederate wishing to make Upper Brynthia the capital. The city does reunify and the Brynthian Empire once again lays claim to the entire city, however with the now present aspect of the Cal Confederate, all Upper Brynthians share dual citizenship. Within Brynthia, Brynthian law holds sway, while secondary courts in Upper Brynthia do enact a set of laws for the citizens of the Cal Confederate within the borders of Upper Brynthia. The primary reason for keeping the Cal Confederate capital in Brynthia really is due to the freedoms and luxuries attained from a highly developed city like Brynthia enjoyed by the leaders of the Cal Confederate. Emperor Zalkonea strongly urges and supports this arrangement, which becomes known as the Brynthian Accord.
Duke Cataulia Takes Control of Caladorne Proper
Year 1069 ACLuxtorough is the only city of Caladorne proper which lies at the edge of the Theladorne Dark Woods. The highest-ranking noble in the city is Duke Cataulia Kadin, a known vocal critic of the Jecofer lineage. He immediately declares himself as the new ruler of the Caladorne empire. With the current state of the Theladorne Dark Woods cutting off everything to the west of Luxtorough and Drynthia in open revolt, he orders the withdraw of all armies back to the Renothak river and declares it the new border. Rather than take the title of emperor, as one of the main issues he had with the Jecofer’s were their continual warring nature to expand the empire, he takes the title of king and names the new kingdom as Borez, an ancient lineage of the Illan nations. Of note, Cataulia Kadin is of Totalis lineage, somewhat a sect of Letheria but also a people who have as one of their customs that the surname comes first, then the proper name. The most powerful member of the lineage often goes by the surname.
General Olar Thorn Seizes Control of All Caladorne Armies East of the Pacheo River
Year 1069 ACGeneral Olar Thorn, formerly in command of the eastern armies and now the top military commander of the Drynthian Freedom Army, assumes absolute control over all forces in the east and following the example of Duke Cataulia orders all troops to pull back east of the Pacheo River. He declares that Duke Cataulia is not the recognized heir and proclaims that Duke Cataulia was never more than a puppet of the Emperor Jecofer despite his public criticisms. He further contends that Duke Cataulia was always just as culpable in all of the sordid rumors surrounding the imperial family. General Olar Thorn sets up the central command of the entire eastern army in Drynthia. With several leaders of Drynthia wishing to keep their authority, they declare for General Olar Thorn as the newly titled Duke of the East. The new nation adopts the name of Eastern Caladorne
The Mercenary Band of Tarek Company Begins Civil Unrest in Northern Borez
Year 1072 ACComing out of the deep valleys between Drake’s Peaks and Balckspire Mountains is a mercenary band of over five thousand soldiers and three hundred sorcerers. They have been running subversive campaigns and raids in the employ of the Jecofer’s in northern Arisilon for over two centuries, often going in to destabilize a region before the empire moves in. With the new power vacuum and feeling they are owed considerable backpay and status for all their services to the empire, they begin pushing the Cataulia’s for recognition. When this doesn’t come, they begin destabilizing the northern rule and building support for themselves.
Ground is Broken for the Celestial Tower in Brynthia
Year 1075 ACWith Brynthia being the capital of two major nations, closest ally with Crynthia, central source for many of the major religions, and only major city with any relevant contact to the elves, Emperor Zalkonea wishes to build a structure not only to commemorate the wealth of the Brynthian Empire while serving as a central hub to society. With the help of one of his students, Allistaire (who will later be dubbed the Light Thief), plans which they have been working on for decades are revealed.
Tarek Company Succeeds in Ousting the Cataulia Family and Takes Control of Borez
Year 1078 ACAfter weeks of planning and inserting themselves into key positions, especially in the assassins guild, Tarek Company orchestrates a complete take over of Luxtorough. They had planned to capture and execute all of the Cataulias that same night, however, King Cataulia escapes largely through the luck of having his simulacrum residing in the royal residence while he was off at the edge of Theladorne Dark Woods with his family observing dark sabbaths to Letheria.
General Olar Thorn Sees Drynthia Once Again Prosper as the Main Harvest Center of Arisilon
Year 1079 ACWith free trade once again allowed and the majority of profits staying in Drynthia, the farmers experience a great upsurge in the profits as the harvest season ends. The priests of Radok and Torya thrive mightily as the yoke of servitudes to the ideals of Ramian Fax and Letheria is thrown off. While their worship was never illegal, the worship of Radok and Torya was highly discouraged during the years of the Caladorne empire. Most of their devout existed in the farms around Drynthia, not in the city itself.
Drynthia Opens Transport Gates with Brynthia and Secures Trade Routes Through Kraylin
Year 1085 ACNow having a surplus of grain products, cattle, and sheep, Drynthia is once again ready to trade with greater Arisilon. Having spent years in negotiations, General Thorn succeeds in convincing Emperor Zalkonea to open a world gate between Brynthia and Drynthia. In a reach out to his brethren in the former western half of Caladorne, General Thorn also is able to convince Zalkonea to open the gate on the northern edges of Upper Brynthia so that the new Cal Confederate will reap much of the benefit.
With Food Resources Scarce, Borez Begins Demanding Tribute from Drynthia
Year 1087 ACNot recognizing the independence of Drynthia from the Caladorne Empire, the current leaders of Borez send missives stating that backpay of taxes are to be forgiven, but the old tithes are once again expected. Drynthia refuses and declares its freedom. Threats and proclamations are dispatched from Borez, which General Thorn answers at first, then just ignores. The final missive is a declaration of war if Drynthia does not accede to recognizing its place as a subject land of Caladorne – now Borez.
Allistaire Banarc Leaves the Academy
Year 1088 ACWith no warning, Allistaire leaves the Academy with only a simple note to the Emperor stating, “I have found reference in some ancient tomes from Gashmyr as to what the significance of the Scar is. I travel there, I should be back within the week.” Teleporting to the northern edge of the Scar, he descends into the machine and won’t be seen again for over a century.
The Invading Forces of Borez are Halted in the Valley of the Frogs; The Six Year War of the Grains Starts
Year 1089-1095 ACWith the armies of Borez marching, the reunified Tarek Company starts circling north to covertly descend on Drynthia from the Malaras Mountains. General Olar Thorn marshalls his troops and meets the approaching army in the plains between the Pacheo and Renathak rivers. The stalling battle is a protracted five-day affair in the now haunted Valley of the Frogs. Even centuries past, the frogs which lines the edges of the valley are blood red, legends saying that all they had to drink for months following the battle was blood – even the mists of the valley were red. By 1091 the efforts to destabilize the region by the efforts of the Tarek Company succeed. General Olar Thorn is routed at several key battles and withdraws all the way back to Drynthia. By 1093, Drynthia is surrounded and fully held in siege.
The Six Year War Ends With the Siege of Drynthia Being Broken
Year 1095-1096 ACMasterful strategies afield have led to Drynthia being held under siege. General Olar has much of his army secluded in the city, while he is cut off running guerilla-style raids in the countryside against the occupying forces of Borez. Several of the cities of Eastern Caladorne have already sided with Borez to ward off their excessively harsh treatment of those seen as traitors and insurgents to the crown of Borez. Undead are starting to be seen more and more in the occupying forces. General Olar Thorn only survives due to being a superior strategist. Drynthia survives based on its virtues of having deep wells and keeping the world gate with Brynthia open. Brynthia sends aid Drynthia, however the gate is too small and the circumstances too dire to launch a counter-attack from Drynthia itself. Meanwhile, Emperor Zalkonea wishes to further help however knows that he must do so through traditional methods as the gods have warned him not to reawaken the threat of magicians by getting directly involved on the field. He instead marshals the Dragon Guard to march on Borez itself, sending it up around the Theladorne Darkwoods. At first, Borez ignores the threat, knowing that the Dragon Guard lacks the numbers and support that far from Brynthia. However, a recently rising nation south of the God Haven has also sent troops. This new yet small nation goes by the name of the Malistrum League. The potential historical reference is lost on the peoples of Borez. Borez believes that the two forces will collide and the instability of the situation will stall the Dragon Guard. However, the two forces instead combine seamlessly under a general from the new nation going by the name of General Falcon. Emperor Zalkonea immediately and unprecedently surrenders the control of the forces to a foreign power for the duration of the campaign. Once combined, they march up the along the edges of the Grefenau moving faster than thought possible toward the heart of Borez. Borez is forced to withdraw its forces from Drynthia after a few battles on the southern edges of Borez turn into complete routs, the masterful Falcon proving to be a tactician beyond the peer of even General Thorn. Once the forces withdraw from Drynthia, General Olar Thorn harries the forces as they retreat. While his forces never actually meet up with those of the Brynthian Empire and Malistrum, their combined threat causes the Borez forces to demoralize and fall apart. The united forces of Brynthia and Malistrum League remain in the field another six months before retreating and separating.
Eastern Caladorne Dissolves into several City States as Drynthia and the Immediate Surrounding Areas Becomes the Empire of the Thorn
Year 1097 ACGeneral Olar Thorn returns to Drynthia after years of warfare. He is hailed as the hero and savior of the city and is immediately recognized once again as the leader of the city. With that, the Empire of the Thorn is born. Many of the small cities around Drynthia declare for Drynthia while many others declare that they will now be separate entities. Those that declare for Drynthia are given exempt trade status along with promise of aid from Drynthia should they need it. Many of the individual cities in eastern Arisilon eventually join the Empire of the Thorn more as trading parties than as actual members of the new empire. Drynthia for the most part only settles disputes between cities where each city is allowed to govern itself and the lands surrounding as it sees fit.
Shaman Nerisht’ O Ta Leads His Village To Darkness
Year 1072 ACNerisht’ is the shaman of a small elven village of Canton located west of Chrailis. Receiving dark visions, he starts overturning centuries of tradition and performing dark rites, subverting his own people to evil. It takes several of the neighboring villages to run Nerisht’ off. When he leaves, nearly half the village follows him into the jungles never to be seen again. The memory and events of Nerisht’ are put behind the village of Canton. The story is considered taboo and after time, only the ancient shaman from nearby villages even remember the truth of Canton’s shame.
The Empire of the Thorn Expands Its Authority Over Its Member Cities
Year 1100-1150 ACAs it settles more and more disputes, the authority of the Empire continues to grow. Member cities give up more and more rights and privileges as time goes on through an erosion of independence and a needed greater conformity to exist with their neighbors. While the Empire doesn’t expand its borders beyond the limits of what used to be Eastern Caladorne, the harmony of the land continues to grow.
Duke Cataulia Once Again Takes Control of Borez
Year 1104 ACWith much of Tarek Company leadership exhausted in Eastern Caladorne, Duke Cataulia once again is able to initiate a coup in central Borez which over the course of three months allows him to assume control of the nation. While he doesn’t do much of the fighting, his two sons are responsible for leading many of the hostilities leading up to the bloody coup needed to seize control once more. Once everything settles out, Tarek Company is no more and is completely disavowed. Any owing allegiance to Tarek Company are convicted as such are fed to the ghoul army as either food or future recruits.
The Celestial Tower is Finished
Year 1108 ACTowering nearly 2500 feet, it not only reaches 1500 feet above the upper plateau but into the clouds. The entire structure looks like a narrow rod of white crystal, slightly twisted. Hovering about 200 feet above the top of the tower is a floating disc which houses the High Senate Assembly and their offices. Overall, the base is nearly 250 feet by 250 feet wide. The tower has over 148 known floors and houses several dignitaries from all over Arisilon. The 80th through 84th floors house the royal palace. Much of the Academy and Science and Magic had already moved over to the 30th through 50th floors during construction.
Duke Cataulia Kadin Passes
Year 1122 ACWith his passing, Cataulia Kadin’s eldest son Cataulia De’vonn takes the throne and posthumously declares his father as Emperor Cataulia Kadin and thusly himself as Emperor Cataulia De’Vonn. As celebration, he chooses his much younger close cousin Cataulia Sorvena to be his Empress. She makes no secret that she is against this union.
Emperor Cataulia De’Vonn Dies
Year 1124 ACWith no warning, Emperor Cataulia De’Vonn dies in his sleep. Foul play is suspected, but the best divinations can’t produce any proof. Empress Cataulia Sorvena becomes the sole ruler of Borez. She is with child and it is assumed the lineage is safe for the Cataulia line. It isn’t till after her daughter is born, Cataulia Sorvena the Second that speculation occurs that it is not De’Vonn’s child. Empress Cataulia Sorvena proves not only an able ruler but possibly more ruthless than any of the Jecofer lineage.
Master Skyseeker Bloodstone Comes to Power
Year 1127 ACThe dwarves in the Malaras Mountains have been a unified nation for several centuries now and in all that time, they have remained allies with Drynthia in one form or another. After the war between Drynthia and Borez saw several dwarves killed, a movement for isolationist policies occurs. Once Master Skyseeker becomes the highest ranking dwarf in their nation, he starts closing doors of communication. At the same time, he actively pursues spreading the powers and limits of the dwarf nation north further into the Malaras Mountains. Mostly it is various goblinoid species living there, many actually quite peaceful. He cares not and begins to push them out of the mountains by force. When they start approaching the gnome lands, they continue to push, not giving the gnomes any extra quarter. They are warned to leave once, and if not, they are overran and slain.
General Olar Thorn Prepares his Successor Before Passing
Year 1132 ACWhile General Olar Thorn had hoped his descendants would follow him as leader of the Empire of the Thorn, he realizes in his later years that only an elected official from the Drynthian Parliament can actually succeed as a figurehead. The methods and the way the government had been set up wouldn’t allow for a dynasty type rule. Once he realizes this, he makes sure that his descendants would have an honorary significance important to the government. He also makes sure that a smooth transition of power occurs through peaceful elections and a simple vote of ascension from the Parliament. Senator Black Thogerson assumes the mantle of Supreme Governor in 1134 AC.
Gráinne Líadan Elurica Is Knighted
Year 1138 ACGráinne is knighted by Coterie Tar Isovral and is tied to their house which also happens to the liege house of House Elurica. This honor is granted after negotiating several binding protections from the lords of the Quirk Woods with the rulers of Chrailis concerning the several villages which border the fringe areas of the Quirk Woods. The first contract was initiated in 1095 and the final one was a pact with the Winter Queen in 1137.
General Olar Thorn Passes Away
Year 1151 ACHe passes away peacefully in the night, attended by his eldest daughter and three of his grandchildren. The state funeral sees leaders of Kraylin, Emperor Zalkonea, and Malistrum Falcron in attendance. No one from Borez attends.
Captain of the Guard Imokan Líadan Elurica is Knighted
Year 1157 ACSeveral nobles are out for celebration cruise for a young married couple. The young groom, quite drunk, demands that the captain of the barge take to deeper waters. When the captain refuses, the groom has the captain thrown overboard (they were still in shallow water near the shore at the time) then takes the barge out himself. He claims that before he shoots off the fireworks, he wants to be completely out of sight of the land. As darkness turns to night, the barge does not return. Fearing loss of all lives, a large-scale effort is made to search the water. Using scrying magic, it is determined that the barge was set upon by orcish raiders and while many were killed, the rest were taken and are on their way back to the Citadel of Wails. An accomplished sea captain of years past, Imokan of the Ivory Guards volunteers to take a fleet out to rescue as many nobles as she can. With a small fleet of five ships, she sets out. Three months later, she returns with many of the nobles, the groom and bride included. Not only did she track them down, she had to lead a raid deep into the Citadel of Wails to free them and then escape. Of the five ships she set out with, four return, only one lost on the pursuit back. She is knighted into the house of Coterie Pramkia Ertis, the liege coterie over the house whose nobles she rescued. With the status and money gained from being knighted, she buys a vineyard and resumes some of her research projects full time.
The Mysterious 200
Year 1161 ACOver 200 individuals from the past are suddenly and unexplainably transported to this year in Brynthia. Over the next two years, three-quarters of them are killed off savagely. Then the killing just stops. No reason is ever found for them being transported here. (One common belief, at least by Torim Rae the philosopher, is that they were all agents in stopping one of Pryson Break and this is where they were all deposited. If so, it was probably a convict still on the loose which was killing them, until one of them sent the convict back. If so, none of them voice a recollection of the Pryson.)
A Citadel of Crystal Appears in the Great Desert
Year 1178 ACA mage of some renown from Amaravati, which goes by the name of Light Thief and known for his bright yellow robes, heads into the desert claiming that he believes that the continual manifestation of shades may be related to the vale. He believes the Vale has returned. Traveling south, he finds that the location in which the Vale used to exist does indeed have a new oasis, though this one is a mere two miles across, unlike the old one which was miles across. However, it is growing. Using magic previously unknown of his own design, he focuses the rays of the sun on the sand and forms a gargantuan tower of crystal over five hundred feet tall to aid in his research. He departs after three years of research having learned what he needed.
Empress Catualia Sorvena I dies, Her Daughter Assumes the Throne
Year 1180 ACSorvena I dies of chest pains after while engaging in the preparatory celebration activities for the combat sports done in deference to the Winter Solstice. Empress Cataulia Sorvina II is crowned. She is nearly as ruthless as her mother, just not as politically savvy.
Duke Aserof Thorn Marries Duchess Cataulia Amily of Borez
Year 1181 ACIn an arranged marriage, the eldest grandson of OmarThorn marries the daughter of Empress Cataulia Sorvena II, Duchess Cataulia Amily, and forges a tense bond between the two nations, somewhat reuniting former relations. This marriage is met with scorn by many of the Borez nobles, feeling that the Thorn lineage is corrupt and was a betrayal of Borez nationality. Many still feel that the Empire of the Thorn rightfully belongs to Borez and will someday be returned to the motherland.
SunJack Comes to Power
Year 1190 ACMaster thief SunJack leads a coup within one of the thief’s guilds in the Web and successfully usurps it to start his own guild, the Sun Guild. The Sun Guild creates a policy of aiding those in the Web and only stealing from those beyond the border of the web. This, in turn, raises the ire of the wealthy in Brynthia. Rumors of ties with the Yinkida are constant. After several years only the Assemblies is larger in size, however, the Sun Guilds influence serves to mollify their overall abuse of their fellow inhabitants of the Web.
Cataulia Sorvena III Strangles Her Mother
Year 1201 ACIn open court, with a fully heated battle of words engaged over several disruptive provinces to the south, Sorvena the III lunges at her mother and strangles her on the throne. The royal guard is unable to halt their empress from being killed, calling forth much speculation that the encounter was staged with many of the guards bribed to turn the other way. The next day, Empress Cataulia Sorvena the III is crowned.
Reports of a New Magician circulate in the Desert Reach of the Academy
Year 1202 ACWord of a powerful mage, possibly a magician, living in the northern desert have been circulating in the halls of the Academy of Science and Magic for several years now. Emperor Zalkonea takes a personal interest and from his own coffers funds a trip to the Great Desert to Investigate. The expedition finds the abandoned citadel this Light Thief was using and finds that it is already starting to crumble back into the desert. They also find that the Vale is back, however, whatever was giving it sustenance is quickly fading as it is dying back into desert and will probably be gone within the year.
Crown Prince Maxis Thorn Marries Shenora Zalkonea
Year 1204 ACDespite being a marriage of political convenience, Maxis Thorn successfully courts Shenora for several years before their nuptials. It is a marriage of love and as such, has the full blessing of Emperor Thargax Zalkonea.
Emperor Aserof Thorn Abdicates his Throne in Favor of his Son Maxis Thorn
Year 1208 ACCrown Prince Maxi Thorn assumes the throne of the Empire of the Thorn
The Light Thief Arrives at the Sarlok City
Year 1208 ACArriving at the Sarlok City, the Light Thief determines that the situation is worse than he feared. He immediately begins construction of a new tower with the goal of keeping the Sarlok City from fulling breaching into this world
Sir Caladanis Flees Chrailis After Being Charged with Selling Children to the orcs
Year 1217 ACMaintaining his innocence and that he had been framed, he manages to escape with several of his men into the northern Quirk Woods, never to be seen again until he is returned as the prisoner of the adventuring group consisting of Urik, Aja, Graykar, Morvion, and Tars.
Gráinne Líadan Eluric Goes Missing
Year 1225 ACStating that she has made a breakthrough in her research, Gráinne declares she is leaving for a few nights. She never returns. Dame Imokan suspicions that she went to visit the Quirk Woods and was unable to return. Approaching this avenue, she herself approaches some of the denizens of the Quirk Woods and eventually earns an audience with some of the underlings of the Void Wife. She determines that they are somehow involved. After challenging the underling to a game, she outplays the creature in a game of wits and strategy. For her reward, she allowed to leave and given a single name – Hursing.
The Elf Village of Canton is Destroyed
Year 1227 ACFar to the west of Chrailis, a small elf village by the name of Canton is ransacked and destroyed by several lizardfolk. This is Morvion’s home village for which he was village shaman.
Dame Imokan Gathers Five Individuals to Explore the City of the Sarloks
Year 1227 ACHaving located Hursing’s journal and done some base research, she determines that the next step to finding her sister is to investigate the city. At about the same time, several dignitaries from house Si’Lachian arrive at her vineyard estate in the city. They give her multiple items of power and tell her to find five people worthy of using these items. Some of the people will be drawn by the items, others she will need to locate. Gathering these individuals, she sets them on a quest to determine the secrets of the Sarlok city.
The Moon God Majalacturis is Freed
Year 1228 ACIn a world far removed, the Sun Goddess Codesta knew the only way to stop the evils of her paramour the Moon God Majalacturis was to imprison him. For time uncounted, he has been her prisoner. With the advent of Coalescence, his prison finally begins to crack and through one of those cracks, he finds freedom as a plan created dozens of years earlier comes to fruition.
Emperor Thargax Zalkonea Celebrates His 3000th Birthday
Year 1231 ACBy true reckoning of years lived, Zalkonea has a grand celebration in Brynthia for his 3000th birthday. Dignitaries from around the world, even from other worlds, attend. As with many such events, and with the event being planned for years in advance, many intrigues and conspiracies occur in preparation for the event – even a major bomb scare in the celestial palace the night of the celebration.
The Underground Monastery Suddenly Reappears in Elven Lands
Year 1231 ACWhen it reappears, coming back from Anytime, there is a thriving society of culturally alien elves living inside. Cautiously accepted by the jungle elves, there is little strife as the two start to mix. The Underground Monastery forms the basis of the first elven city on Arisilon. The location of its return is on the Joshaku Penisula of the Sylvan Rain Forest near the Aoiro River.
The Elves Begin Speaking of a New Emperor
Year 1237 ACThe loosely affiliated tribes of the elves start speaking of a new fabled emperor, Democh, who is now the head of all the elves and lives in the Underground Monastery. This title appears to be in name only, not in actuality.
The Second Expedition to the Lost City of the Sarloks
Year 1237 ACArriving back the location of the lost city, the new expedition finds it gone. All that remains is the barren land of the volcano caldera being reclaimed by the jungle. At the edge of the caldera, they see the husk of what used to the crystal citadel, the top half missing as if shattered off with the crystal warped and darkened from what appears to be a great heat.
The Great Guild War of 49’
Year 1249 ACWith the sudden increase in the number of guilds inside the Web, all out war occurs. The city mostly ignores the war until it spills out into the rest of the city, at which time the Dragon Guard is called in to put it down. The whole operation takes over a month. Fires in the Web burn for two months following the end of the war. Out of the rubble, only eight guilds remain. The Sun Guild, who takes the role of do-gooding troubleshooters. The Slayer’s Guild, the best assassins anywhere. The Crier’s Guild, a guild built specifically for the stealing and trading of information. The Mocking Guild, perhaps the most prosperous guild, they are simply a thieves’ guild. The Assembly, a guild built to enhance the power of the few at the top where succeed or die is the rule. These five guilds mostly survived by virtues of their size and strength. All five of these guilds are represented all over the continent with their headquarters located in Brynthia. The other three guilds are local guilds. The Pretty Boy Guild, a guild of con artist. The Shadow Guild, a guild of beggars who gather information. And finally, the Glass Guild, more often known as the guild of losers.
The Spinning Citadel Is Robbed
Year 1318 ACThe temple of Borollo in Far Reach known as the Spinning Citadel is attacked. From it, several minor items are stolen, as it didn’t have much in the way of treasure. However, stored deep in its vaults is a single item of great worth, a controlling a spell penned by a god and meant to be cast by a mortal. None of the thieves know the value of that which they have stolen.
Slinjetto’s Black Ship Surfaces; Far Reach is Razed
Year 1318 ACA major artifact from the past reappears. The Black Ship of Slinjetto. As it sails into port of Far Reach, a wave of utter despair descends upon the entire harbor. A hopelessness spreads from the harbor over the entire town, the guards make no attempt to defend it from an approaching army of dwarves. The timing of the ship and the dwarven attack is coordinated by unknown parties. As the dwarves of the Swartzblodt Clan begins to attack, the effects of despondency start to overwhelm the them also. However, as planned for the attack, the ship withdraws. The damage is done and the dwarves are already in the town and the town has not reacted. Slaughtering the entire town, the dwarves make off the treasures, including the scroll containing the god spell. Little is known of the Swartzblodt Clan except they are fanatically loyal to their god, Ramian Fax. Over the next several years, the scroll will make it from here to the hands of the High Mage Kern in Kraylin.
The First Aftershock
Year 1321-1325 ACMuch anticipation has been held for the year 1292 AC, for it falls within the timing of when the next Chaos Storm should occur. While nothing all effecting occurs, various surges in magic occur during this five-year gap which make it hard for any not to relate to the events which spawned the Chaos Storms in the first place.
The Mage Kern Pierces the Veil of Time to Bring Nash from the Past
Year 1331 ACUsing a spell stolen from the temple of Borollo, the High Mage Kern casts the spell which will ultimately kill him. The result of the spell is Kern’s tower being destroyed and the COVeC Nash being brought from the past to current day. It is this event which creates the Vortex in the first place and initially punctures this universe with a channel to the other. By this time, Kristor has foreordained many events and has been behind several mechanizations to make this event happening, fully reasoning that if it must happen, it will happen as she dictates. To that end, she is the initial author of the spell Kern casts.
The Great Incursion
Year 1334 ACOne of the true horrors of the Pryson escapes and begins to consume all life on Arisilon. As the Plague calling itself the One spreads, its evil seems unstoppable. Led by Arthyon, the Sharlashtri are able to fend off the threat, however the cost is severe as the Eminence is compromised and most of the Sharlashtri are killed. The Shurandai reveal themselves and rescue what Sharlashtri they can, inviting them into their home.
The SardÆ Invade Kraylin
Year 1335 ACWith the aid of Grethello’s followers, the SardÆ are able to invade Kraylin successfully.
The Second Incursion Begins
Year 1336 ACObrus, Torimrae, and Malakar return to find that the Pryson is failing as a whole as a new threat escapes on to Camoray. This time, they believe they can not only repair the damage but actually heal the puncture and forever separate the world of Camoray from the Pryson. The Underground Monastery has been returned, so the only step left is to seal the breach one final time.
The First of the Shafts to DiamondShell are Rediscovered
Year 1337 ACWith the reveal that at least two of the Kyofu made it across Coalescence, it is known that the Shafts must still exist in some form. Only after the unfolding with the events of the Great Incursion is the first of the shafts revealed. Most troubling, this shaft belongs to Thunder Howler and is fully powered, which hints that Thunder Howler might also be in this new world. The Shaft is discovered deep in the mountains of Mashapaloopa. Inside the shaft, the Rashiars, remnants of the Famine King’s rule escape the Barriers of the shaft and escape into the world. The legend of the Famine King is as follows: Placed as caretaker of this most holy locale, the House of Thunder, the peoples of Rashiar dutifully fulfilled their due diligence to their gods each and every day. Until the day their world was removed from the outer world by the great barriers. Cut off from fresh water and food, resources were scarce. In a most horrible decision, the King declared that only enough food and water exist to feed half the population. By lottery of which the King and his household were excluded, half the population was slain. With food and meat especially scarce, the King used dark magic to preserve many of the bodies so that his household could continue to eat meat. Half the population was not enough, so half it was again. And yet, the King and his family did not suffer. The people of the Rashiar rise up and imprison the kings with his family, saying that if they want to eat, then they can eat each other. What happened in their bricked off prison is unknown. Within months, the people start losing weight and starving despite what they eat. It soon comes to pass that they have been cursed, only human flesh can sustain them. The people then slowly descend to savagery as they fall upon themselves. However, this hunger didn’t end with death. Their spirits were hungry and unable to find release from the House of Thunder. Once all living flesh was consumed, the spirts began feeding off of each other, in an endless cycle. Worse yet, each spirit as it is consumed is reborn days later, hungrier than before for the flesh and spirits of its fellow Rashiars.
The Kilroy Plague Begins
Year 1338 ACUnrelated to the Incursions, a plague begins on Arisilon first appearing around Drynthia. It spreads west faster than it does south, killing about 30% of the people who get sick. Even those who recover don’t recover fully, they remain sickened. No one seems spared unless they are completely sealed off. Proximity to the ill doesn’t matter. As summer turns into winter, it slows considerably in the north. It is still spreading quickly in the south and by the end of the year, the Hyabari riders are now being afflicted.
The Cause of the Kilroy Plague Revealed
Year 1339 ACIt doesn’t take long for the cause to become apparent. A new invasive species of vine is discovered which grows nearly 10’ a day. As the vine spreads, so does the sickness. Burning back the vine helps minorly. With that discovery, Valshin gets in involved and creates a parasite which consumes the vine. She then makes it whereas the parasite lives inconspicuously in all mammals. The ultimate source of the Kilroy Vines are traced back to Zylonica, a potentially engineered plant designed for its specific purpose.
The Zyloans Sail, Preparing for a Mass Invasion of Arisilon
Year 1340 ACHaving planned their attack to coincide with the Kilroy Plague, the Zyloans set sail believing that over half of the population will have been killed and the other half sickened, ripe for easy conquest. The Zyloans have engineered the vine in such a way that they themselves are immune to the deadly pollen of the vine. They initially land at Kraylin and set up the city as their main base of operations, beginning to sail up and down the coast attacking towns and villages. The Malistrum Kingdom is the first to launch a focused resistance.
The Sardæ Sail On Arisilon Again
Year 1340 ACHaving seen their attack on Kraylin ultimately fail and be considered an embarrassment, the sea pirates wait and watch. The Kilroy Plague spares Teseriac largely due to its frigid temperatures. Once they learn that the mainland is now freed of the curse, they also learn how the wounded the armies of Arislon are still recovering. Considering their time ripe to enact revenge, the set sail. Unfortunately for them, as they are returning from their first wave of coastal attacks, the run into the Zyloan fleet. After a harried sea battle lasting days, only a handful of the Sardæ ships survive. Those that do return to their home island and call to arms the entire island. For the next year, they will harry and harass the Zyloan fleet from a distance with their superior ships. The Zyloans eventually turn their focus on Teseriac and begin sailing to attack its ports. Until the end of the Zyloan invasion, the Sardæ manage to harass and skirmish with the Zyloans in their own waters. In turn, the Zyloans keep the pirates pinned down enough that their shipping lanes back home to Zylonica are restored and protected.
The Zyloans are Defeated at the Battle of Crynthia
Year 1342 ACHaving beat back must of the Malistrum Kingdom and routing them further inland, the Zyloans begin launching attacks on the coastal cities of the Zalkonean Empire. Most of the counter-offensive to the Zyloan attack is based out of Crynthia with massive war galleys being constructed to repel the invasion. In a large offensive, the Zyloan fleet plans to overwhelm the Crynthian Navy with a single push. The Crynthian Navy, led by an inept Admiral Lagold, meets the Zyloan navy in open waters near the great bay of Crynthia and lose the first engagement. The Zyloans then barricade Crynthia and begin putting soldiers ashore nearby. Those putting ashore on the western coast are met by legions of jungle elves and forced back to their ships, meanwhile, those on the eastern coasts land unhindered. The main saving grace for the Crynthian Navy is that their ships are bigger and better constructed for battle against ships designed for long ocean travel. The gods have warned Emperor Zalkonea to not get directly involved as their hands are tied as the gods of Zylonica will get involved directly should Zalkonea act. Not wishing to remain idle, Zalkonea uses the knowledge that with one of the Shafts discovered, it stands to reason that at least some of the Cyrkransis survived Coalescence and he begins a search for any of the missing Cyrkransis he can find. With the battle looking grim and it appearing that Crynthia will fall, a final sneak attack is made upon the Zyloan flagships. Three of the four flagships are taken in a single night. Of those, two are destroyed and one is returned to the Crynthian Harbor. The superstitious Zyloans lose courage after this and suddenly find themselves losing battles. A new admiral has arrived to take charge of the Crynthian fleet. Malistrum Falcron’s wife has return. She is considered one of the best tacticians to have ever lived, and after a brief meeting with her husband, she immediately went to her old friend Emperor Zalkonea and petitioned him for control of his fleets. By the end of the year, the Zyloan fleet is in withdraw from Crynthia.
A Major Hurricane Devastates Zylonica
Year 1344 ACA massive hurricane consumes the entire mini-continent of Zylonica. With its level of destruction, the entire invasion of Arisilon is recalled. Already faring badly with Kraylin having regained its independence, the Sardæ once again on the offensive, and the Sea Witch of the Malistrum Kingdom now hunting down Zyloan ships, the invasion force is ready to return. Raxemores is able to discern that the hurricane was not caused by the gods, however, he is unsure as to its source. He believes that possibly Ocean Fury or Thunder Howler was used. With neither wand having ever been tested, the results were uncertain. Even possessing the Kyofu, he is not ready to seek mutual destruction if it turns out that one of the Cyrkransis has actually resurfaced.
Shurekeo, the Isle of the Roslik, is Rediscovered
Year 1376 ACThe Roslik and their island remain seemingly unchanged and unaffected by Coalescence. Its location is about 300 miles due west of Amaravati
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