Timeline of Althanas

[Zieg dil' Tulfried]

Much of this information is outdated. A new timeline is being constructed. Use this one at your own risk.
--Ashiakin, Current Regions Admin

Basic Timeline
Time Immemorial
Salvar: Bands of nomadic hunter-gatherers migrate into Salvar from Berevar and its connections to other continents. They roam the northern expanses of the continent ceaselessly, and cross into the southern half of the continent, settling in small chiefdoms. Some move to the coast and create a nascent fishing and shipping community.

Approx 15473 years ago [MC 1]
United Raiaera: The Elves land in the area known today as Anebrilith, and establish their colony. The first years are easy, due to the planning the elves had and the supplies they had brought in their ship Eledhwe, and they establish a thriving population center after about 500 years. As per Elvish custom when arriving in a new location, a new calendar year begins, designated, "Minya Coronari," or "First Years."

Between 14114 and 14109 years ago [MC 1360-1365]
United Raiaera: Elvish population, as is its tendency, grows to a point and then stops once territory for expansion is exhausted. By MC 1360, the Elves had grown to about the size supportable by the coastal areas in which they had settled originally. Their expansion was halted by the Durklans, men who lived in the Black Desert and along the northern reaches of what was then the Great Forest (it was not until later when it was cursed.)

Although their elves, their expansion ceased, began to enter their cycle of population stability, the men were worried that the Elvish patterns were such as to demand ever-increasing land. In fear of losing their territory, the men attacked without warning, and for what seemed to the Elves no apparant reason.

In these years, almost all of the Elvish lands were overrun by the Durklans. However, during this time (known as the Years of Famine), the Elves spent much of their time studying the old arts of song-magic, and began training their young in the skills remembered only by their oldest members, skills they had brought from their homeland more than a thousand years before.

Approx. 14108 years ago [MC 1366]
United Raiaera: The Elves begin to attack, operating from fast-moving and agile patrols of "Bladesingers," small and mobile fighting forces present in enough numbers to strike in many fronts at once. Tel Aglarim is organized as a shock force to supplement the Bladesingers, and by 1367 the Durklans are no more.

Approx. 14107 years ago [MC 1367/CE 1]
United Raiaera: The Elves celebrate their victory with a new calender, the "Coronari Estella," or "Years of Hope."

Approx. 13070 years ago [CE 1038]
United Raiaera: During this year, a prominent Elven scholar writes A Country Claimed, asserting the thesis that this year marked the Elves' completion of the dispersal from the shores of Anebrilith to the Mountains of Dusk. Dwarves in the high passes prevent their further expansion, and for a long time the Elves enter a period of population stability.

Between 12048 and 10048 years ago [c. CE 2060 - c. CE 4020]
Raiaera / Alerar: The War of the Tap Begins. While many documents survive in libraries to provide dating systems for before the beginning of the war, along with a rough estimate of the start of the war, the general upheaval prevented scholarship and meticulous record-keeping during this time period. What we do know of this war, which lasted for nearly two thousand years, was that it consisted of many ups and downs -- the Eternal Tap, the preeminent magical force of the time, provided a great weapon against the Forgotten Ones, but these five magicians were so persistent -- often leaving a hundred years of peace between their main attacks -- that it is deemed unwise to attempt to date this affair. It is during one of the longer periods of peace, however, that we have evidence showing the expulsion of the Alerians, who soon proved themselves as implacable foes of the Forgotten Ones -- and who, when the War of the Tap was ended, always harbored resentment towards the Raiaerans.
Salvar: Salvar remains a primitive and largely unpopulated continent, and therefore a choice battleground for the magical campaigns on all sides of the struggle. Various magical enchantments and weaponry are scattered throughout the continent as part of the destruction, which scatters the natives and leaves an indelible print on their common mythology. Many deserters of the war join the remaining natives in Salvar.

Approx. 10048 years ago [c. CE 4020/CWD 1]
Raiaera: The High Elves begin a new calendar to celebrate the victory over the Forgotten Ones, the "Coranari a Winyar Dacilea," or "Years of New Victory."

Between 7,500 and 2,000 years ago [CWD 2,548 – CL 3047]
Salvar: Various lords and rich merchants from the other continents begin to land on Salvar's mountainous southern and eastern shores, founding small trading colonies and resupply ports. Some whaling and seal hunting establishes itself around the continent. The colonies are usually not much more than a few huts or a fortified cove, but one or two good harbors are built up into small settlements, largely populated by male mariners and without any autonomous governing bodies. Ships slowly begin to make it up the western side of Salvar, landing in the much more welcoming shores there and founding a major city at the mouth of the River Salvar (later "The Knife").

These colonies slowly grow in population and prosperity as people migrate into the vast plains, pushing far inland. The natives in the path of the colonizers are pushed ahead of them and into the northern wastes, which are largely ignored for settlement. The plains of Salvar are unforgivingly lonely but fertile, and using the river system around the Knife, a shipping industry is built up that keeps Salvar well off and well fed. No central government exists, however. Each colony has titular ties to the nations on other continents in Althanas but they exist in name only.

Approx. 7000 years ago [3,048 CWD]
Corone: According to most historians, this is the most probable time when the slaver ship Nomad “gave birth” to the Coronians. Around these time the slave trade started to bloom and according to some excavations and ruins, this is the time when the Corone civilization started to arise.

Approx 6000 years ago [CWD 4,048]
Corone: The inscription in the Malani Cave is made by an unknown elven traveler, speaking of the constitution of the barbaric society of the Coronians. It is the first written evidence of life on the island. The inscription speaks of the strict laws that govern the actions of the barbarian clans.

Approx. 5548 years ago [CWD 4500]
Raiaera: From the start of Raiaera, the capital has been located at Anebrilith. However, Elves in Valinatal and along the southwestern reaches of the Red Forest now clamor for a capital that requires less travel time. In response to their requests, plans are announced to build a new Capital, centrally located, and to name it "Raiaera City."

Approx. 5500 years ago [CWD 4,548]
Haidia: The exact origin of the vampires is lost in history, but the oldest living vampires claim that one night, many ages ago two figures emerge from a dark cave and begin their lives.

Approx. 5300 years ago [CWD 4,848]
Haidia: The vampire clans begin to be formed as the small nomadic tribes mentioned earlier. From the first two vampires--they would call themselves Homunus Nocturna (Literally "Children of the Night") there would be spawned several hundred of their children into Haidia. These children would be taught the intricacies of survival using the hunt, and learning how to eat from their pray. The vampires found that they had great skill with regeneration, and were great at survival. Also, they could move quickly with ease and had some connection to the darkness.

The Oldest Vampire records were written by the original two vampires themselves. They were unfathomably powerful. The vampires of today called the two elders "Sara'Khallian-Khan (The Male)" and "Nara'Shakahal" (The Female) and they wrote that either side had traits that the other did not possess. But together--they were powerful.

Their children spread without any real threat for many millenia quickly conquering the wilderness with its bounty.

Approx. 5061 years ago [CWD 4987]
Raiaera: When the Raiaerans first began to relearn their song-spells, there were six schools. The sixth school was Enarlin, and it specialized in creating hate, inspiring fear, and causing terror in the hearts of those who heard its harsh and degrading music. During this year, the High Bards began a movement to ban Enarlin, considering its music too dangerous to allow just anyone to learn.

In a rage, Ereber Ondolindë, the Enar'Linstra, fled to the School of Enarlin. Before the construction of Eluriand was complete, the schools were scattered about Raiaera, and Ereber's was located in the hillcountry, a massive complex larger than the city of Valinatal. From there he fielded an army of Enarlin mages and sympathetic Megilindiri and Tel Aglarim soldiers.