Taskmienster
01-20-11, 01:15 PM
The Althanas Timeline
This is the updated and reworked version of the timeline. Althanas is a creative writing site, and I felt that the history should reflect that instead of being linear in nature. As such, I have changed the layout. The most up to date information, regarding what has happened recently with the FQ and other canon related threads will need to be edited at the end of the timeline. However, I will be creating a thread for canon related threads to be posted and any information that needs to be added or updated that I should add.
Time Immemorial
An Age of Magic
The earliest time spoken of by any race, even the oldest of elven kind, was a time of magic and mysticism unlike any other. The Thayne were but a newly constructed religious belief, founded on the principles that underlined the basics for ancient times and the people that survived in this time day to day. Men and women of the ancient times were god-like compared to how they are perceived in modern times. The Tap was a singular piece, untouched by destructive or divisive means. Feats of wonder were not only prevalent, but also commonplace. It was a time of global change founded by the mere whim of humanity and society. Technology was less than invasive, it was nearly non-existent. In a time when the world was flooded by magic, the means to protect and provide were but a mere thought away, advancements in common society were all but put aside.
Though in these times a written record was scarce, and even rarer was a true historian, stories of the times have been passed down. Mostly word of mouth, these tales are as fantastic as they might be true. Tales of dragons reign supreme amongst current society, stories for the children. Truth to them is up to each person to gain, as one person may see a weakness of the dragon as truth, whereas another would see it as just a storytelling device. These tales do not stop at dragons though; they extend to a multitude of different races, be they humanoid or otherwise.
During this time the elven people spread across modern day Raiaera, warring with the native population called the Durklan, and eventually all but destroying them. Song-magic and Bladesinger’s were introduced to Raiaera during this period, a staple even until modern Althanas. The human population of Corone, discovered by elven explorers, was little more than nomadic tribes without any form of centralized government. As with most civilized races, the oppressive nature of the elven people during these times got the best of them, and the demands for the fertile and resource-rich island became a place of conflict. Likewise, the dwarven population from the mainland preyed on the human population of Corone. They worked into the mountains and thrived on the ore-rich lands. It was not until Chief Fannos of the Burning River clan negotiated for the four major Corone tribes with a well noted half-elf Aranis Kaledin that the constant struggle was put aside for a long time. The dwarven capital of Teria was established at this time, as well as the trading city of Serenti. The uneasy peace lasted for centuries.
Throughout all of this era, expanding and growing was paramount. Magic was the key to everything, and the world was a place where anyone who wanted power was but a mind-set away. It was this mind-set that triggered the global change, the true conflict that changed how the world worked and made it into how it is commonly known as today.
The War of the Tap
At first the small band of rogue sorcerers were like any other, a minor inconvenience that was dealt with by the only world super-power, Raiaera. Stopping the challenge to their authority, the usurpers to civilized life, was merely a trivial dispute handled by the bards and bladesingers. As the small group grew, extended their claims and undermined cultures, the threat stopped being an underground movement and grew into an expansive dispute, which would later become a full-blown war. This war, between The Forgotten and the rest of the world, continued for what most assume was close to a century.
Denebriel was the Forgotten that pulled the winter cold out of Berevar and swept it across Salvar, but also created the "Cult of the Ethereal Sway". She was remembered throughout the years to follow by the native population through religion. The Sway became a religion passed from native to future populations that came to Salvar, and the Forgotten was remembered as a savior, becoming St. Denebriel. Xem'Zund attempted to overtake Raiaera, the only super-power of the time, by creating hordes of undead to walk the world. The lasting reminder of his reign of terror was forever memorialized as the Obsidian Tower in Southern Raiaera. Pode was a sorcerer who worked with nature, warping it into a vile state so that it would act defensively and keep people away from territories claimed as well as kick them out of one’s disputed. Her tainted magic touched the world, warping what was once known as the Great Forest into the Red Forest. Aesphestos lived in Kebiras, creating orks, goblins, trolls, giants, and other brutish races, and used them as the foot soldiers that did battle in the scarcely populated Salvar region (at the time). Esthilda created the vile races of the underworld, demons, vampires, and others that come from Haidia. She, with the assistance of the other Forgotten, created portals from Haidia so that once her creations were completed they could be loosed on the world just like the creations of Nash.
By the end of the war, many races had been created by both sides. The original civilized races (humans, elves, dwarves, and an assortment of the lesser prevalent) were no longer alone in the world. In order to truly destroy them, and in turn the true power of the Forgotten, the mightiest mages of the time gathered on the battlefield of the final battle. The raging war was brought to an end when they sealed the five sorcerers in the Antifirmament for what seemed permanently. However, before they were fully sealed, with one last devious push they gathered their powers and fractured The Tap, forever shattering it so that works of wonder and magic from the beginning times would forever be lost.
The Era of Building Nations
Once the power of the Eternal Tap was shattered, the world was left in a state of confusion. The way of life that had been prevalent for centuries to that point was lost. Feats of magic were diminished greatly, and the powers that were once at the control of anyone who had the gift for bending the state of the world at their whim was no more. The elven people of Raiaera, having been soundly trodden on by the Forgotten, were left with a question that tore their civilization in half. Would the world continue with the study and continuation of magic use? Or was the nearly blank slate created in the aftermath of the war to be taken advantage of by those that sought higher technological understanding? Both questions were at the hearts of the elven people, who split over the decision. What we know as Alerar currently came to being during these times. The elven people that willed to explore technology, and in turn use what little magic they could to advance it, were given little chance to influence the overwhelming majority of the magic devoted elven people of their culture. What came of the split in ideologies was known as The Elven Schism. The future of the dark elven race left the borders of their kin, taking up residence in modern Alerar. The future of the high elven race, which was dedicated to keeping technology from tainting their magical prowess and nature itself, remained in modern day Raiaera. From the Schism onwards the lingering and festering feud between the two remained.
Alerar, as it becomes known as, is a land west of Raiaera, past the Mountains of Dawn. Seeing the exiled elves as an invading army, the dwarves (who are the natives of the land) begin to fight the elves. The War of Inference begins, and within fifteen years it ends. The elven exiles sign a pact with the dwarven people, The Treaty of Congruity, the flatlands and inner portion of the lands are left to the elves while the mountains and surrounding areas belong to the dwarves. Within fifty years the capital of Alerar, Ettermire, is founded and the dwarven seat of power is established in the newly created fortress-town of Kachuk.
The bards of Raiaera, having removed the influence of their unwanted brethren in Alerar, quickly started their course towards the study and understanding of the fractured Tap. It was in this time that they started a new calendar, and a newly developed system of study. Originally six schools of magic existed. The sixth school, Enarlin, was feared. This distrust and disgust became a war within the nation, and for fifteen years Enarlin and the other five schools of magic warred. In the end, Enarlin was destroyed as a school, the only ones allowed to continue practicing were very high ranking Turlin bards.
Shortly following the Schism and The War Within, the political change of the world of Althanas continued to develop. Corone was under a state of strife, with foreigners flooding the shores and spreading throughout the island. A stalemate of sorts was created, the elven explorers remained in the Concordian Forest, and the dwarves took residence in the Comb Mountains, and the nomadic tribes of humans remained on the plains of Corone. The third most notable town of Corone came into existence during this time of bloodshed. The elven people in Concordia built the town of Conileth at the forests heart. For nearly 450 years the three factions, three warring races, remained in their respective areas. No force mustered by either side would break the boundaries, all knew it as fact, however the borders ran red with constant skirmishes by all involved.
However, Alerar was a place growing in power slowly, technologically advancing to a point where they could rival Raiaera. The original elven kin, meanwhile, fortified their borders and cast spells to cover their lands. Technology was unworkable in the motherland of the elven people, guns (not yet explored) would not fire and siege weapons were clumsier than even what was common for the times. Alerar, growing in power and knowledge, branched out to learn of other cultures, quickly finding the island of Fallien and a people of common interest.
Fallien was a world of lush, beautiful land. Untouched by wars of the mainland, or the conflict that overtook the island of Corone, Fallien was a place of peace. Alerar quickly took advantage of the island nation, forming an alliance and opening trade. The two nations prospered from being allies. As they progressed they continued to allow the dark elven influence into their lands, and eventually were punished for it. Legend has it that the goddess Suravani, displeased with the greed of her people, brought her wrath down upon the nation. Whether it was a natural disaster or truly the ire of the goddess, Fallien’s lush environment and easy living was ripped out from under them. From a world of flowers to a desert, the nation was practically destroyed.
Salvar, having been devastated by the warring civilized lands of Raiaera and The Forgotten, was even sparser in population than ever before. Merchants, would-be kings, social deviants, and expeditions by the budding nations slowly expanded into the territory. Rich sources of ore lured the dwarves, arable land to the south provided incentive for the humans of Corone to spread into the territory, and the previous encounters with Salvar gave little reason for the elven people to have interest.
The Demon Wars
Nearly a century ago, the second greatest war of Althanas tore across the world. It was an age of darkness, where infighting amidst races was pushed aside in favor of survival. The Demon Wars raged, and humanity was powerless to stop it. Where the demons suddenly arrived from is a mystery. The only guess as to their appearance is by way of the portals to Haidia created by the Forgotten, nearly completely forgotten after millenium.
The heaviest fighting was done in Corone, the initial assault of the demons taking Teria by storm. Overrun in a single day, the dwarves and humans of the plains retreated to the defensible fortresses built into the Comb and Jagged mountains. Unlike the humans and dwarves, the elves of Concordia had nowhere to run and hide, instead seeking solace within the forests and surviving in the depths of their domain. Two years after the initial surge of the demonic horde, Aroen the Lightforger the leader of the elves and the leader of the human tribe Gerth of the Crying Wolves united in a stand against the invasion. The single army met the power of the Haidian spawn on the fields of Gisela. A massive battle ensued. Though the power of the elves and the strength of the humans were great, they were gravely outnumbered. Gisela became soaked in the blood of both sides; two massive armies waged war for days on end till finally the remnants of the united force was forced to retreat. As had happened in the initial assault on Corone, the dwarves opened their gates and allowed all manner of refugees and defeated soldier into their underground habitat. The demons roamed the lands of the island freely for nearly 200 years, leaving the former denizens of the resource rich island to starvation and meager aide from other nations.
Salvar, likewise, was struck by the demonic forces. The barely settled and unorganized lands were unable to combat the initial assault due to lack of organized forces. Knifes Edge, the largest of the merchant created cities, became a fortress for territory. Merchants, settlers, soldiers, and all manner of people banded together to continue to keep the invasion at bay. It was not until almost a century later that the native tribes of Salvar were able to use their powerful and esoteric magic to drive back and eliminate the organized demonic forces. Though, organized government was not established even after the demons were eliminated.
The elven lands of Raiaera and Alerar fared much better, having established their domains and lands much sooner than any other nations. The first inclination of firearms being established by the Alerar nation is spoken of during these times, rudimentary and crude versions of the muskets the nation is well known for in current times. The first time the term “dark elf” was coined was during the demon wars, when the study of technology caused the tint of the Alerar elves to darken. Raiaera’s famed bards and bladesingers fought furiously against the invasion, seeking shelter in their fortified cities, striking in large armies when fully prepared. It is from Raiaera and Alerar that the savior of these trying times emerged.
Radasanth the Starlight the elves called him, Radasanth the Braveheart the dwarves knew him by, Radasanth the Savior the humans simply called him; he was an elf clad in mythril armor only the Aleraran people could have made so strong, carrying a massive claymore only the people of Salvar could have been known for, wielding magic Raiaeran’s were famed for using. With him came the news of the defeat of the demons on the mainland, with him came troops, food, and hope. At his call the men, elves, and dwarves mustered their strength and valiantly defeated the foe. Teria was re-conquered, and in honor of their Savior renamed Radasanth. He went on to serve as the First Steward of Corone, the first solitary authority figure in the history of the country. At the end of the demon wars, the demons were once again banished to Haidia.
This is the updated and reworked version of the timeline. Althanas is a creative writing site, and I felt that the history should reflect that instead of being linear in nature. As such, I have changed the layout. The most up to date information, regarding what has happened recently with the FQ and other canon related threads will need to be edited at the end of the timeline. However, I will be creating a thread for canon related threads to be posted and any information that needs to be added or updated that I should add.
Time Immemorial
An Age of Magic
The earliest time spoken of by any race, even the oldest of elven kind, was a time of magic and mysticism unlike any other. The Thayne were but a newly constructed religious belief, founded on the principles that underlined the basics for ancient times and the people that survived in this time day to day. Men and women of the ancient times were god-like compared to how they are perceived in modern times. The Tap was a singular piece, untouched by destructive or divisive means. Feats of wonder were not only prevalent, but also commonplace. It was a time of global change founded by the mere whim of humanity and society. Technology was less than invasive, it was nearly non-existent. In a time when the world was flooded by magic, the means to protect and provide were but a mere thought away, advancements in common society were all but put aside.
Though in these times a written record was scarce, and even rarer was a true historian, stories of the times have been passed down. Mostly word of mouth, these tales are as fantastic as they might be true. Tales of dragons reign supreme amongst current society, stories for the children. Truth to them is up to each person to gain, as one person may see a weakness of the dragon as truth, whereas another would see it as just a storytelling device. These tales do not stop at dragons though; they extend to a multitude of different races, be they humanoid or otherwise.
During this time the elven people spread across modern day Raiaera, warring with the native population called the Durklan, and eventually all but destroying them. Song-magic and Bladesinger’s were introduced to Raiaera during this period, a staple even until modern Althanas. The human population of Corone, discovered by elven explorers, was little more than nomadic tribes without any form of centralized government. As with most civilized races, the oppressive nature of the elven people during these times got the best of them, and the demands for the fertile and resource-rich island became a place of conflict. Likewise, the dwarven population from the mainland preyed on the human population of Corone. They worked into the mountains and thrived on the ore-rich lands. It was not until Chief Fannos of the Burning River clan negotiated for the four major Corone tribes with a well noted half-elf Aranis Kaledin that the constant struggle was put aside for a long time. The dwarven capital of Teria was established at this time, as well as the trading city of Serenti. The uneasy peace lasted for centuries.
Throughout all of this era, expanding and growing was paramount. Magic was the key to everything, and the world was a place where anyone who wanted power was but a mind-set away. It was this mind-set that triggered the global change, the true conflict that changed how the world worked and made it into how it is commonly known as today.
The War of the Tap
At first the small band of rogue sorcerers were like any other, a minor inconvenience that was dealt with by the only world super-power, Raiaera. Stopping the challenge to their authority, the usurpers to civilized life, was merely a trivial dispute handled by the bards and bladesingers. As the small group grew, extended their claims and undermined cultures, the threat stopped being an underground movement and grew into an expansive dispute, which would later become a full-blown war. This war, between The Forgotten and the rest of the world, continued for what most assume was close to a century.
Denebriel was the Forgotten that pulled the winter cold out of Berevar and swept it across Salvar, but also created the "Cult of the Ethereal Sway". She was remembered throughout the years to follow by the native population through religion. The Sway became a religion passed from native to future populations that came to Salvar, and the Forgotten was remembered as a savior, becoming St. Denebriel. Xem'Zund attempted to overtake Raiaera, the only super-power of the time, by creating hordes of undead to walk the world. The lasting reminder of his reign of terror was forever memorialized as the Obsidian Tower in Southern Raiaera. Pode was a sorcerer who worked with nature, warping it into a vile state so that it would act defensively and keep people away from territories claimed as well as kick them out of one’s disputed. Her tainted magic touched the world, warping what was once known as the Great Forest into the Red Forest. Aesphestos lived in Kebiras, creating orks, goblins, trolls, giants, and other brutish races, and used them as the foot soldiers that did battle in the scarcely populated Salvar region (at the time). Esthilda created the vile races of the underworld, demons, vampires, and others that come from Haidia. She, with the assistance of the other Forgotten, created portals from Haidia so that once her creations were completed they could be loosed on the world just like the creations of Nash.
By the end of the war, many races had been created by both sides. The original civilized races (humans, elves, dwarves, and an assortment of the lesser prevalent) were no longer alone in the world. In order to truly destroy them, and in turn the true power of the Forgotten, the mightiest mages of the time gathered on the battlefield of the final battle. The raging war was brought to an end when they sealed the five sorcerers in the Antifirmament for what seemed permanently. However, before they were fully sealed, with one last devious push they gathered their powers and fractured The Tap, forever shattering it so that works of wonder and magic from the beginning times would forever be lost.
The Era of Building Nations
Once the power of the Eternal Tap was shattered, the world was left in a state of confusion. The way of life that had been prevalent for centuries to that point was lost. Feats of magic were diminished greatly, and the powers that were once at the control of anyone who had the gift for bending the state of the world at their whim was no more. The elven people of Raiaera, having been soundly trodden on by the Forgotten, were left with a question that tore their civilization in half. Would the world continue with the study and continuation of magic use? Or was the nearly blank slate created in the aftermath of the war to be taken advantage of by those that sought higher technological understanding? Both questions were at the hearts of the elven people, who split over the decision. What we know as Alerar currently came to being during these times. The elven people that willed to explore technology, and in turn use what little magic they could to advance it, were given little chance to influence the overwhelming majority of the magic devoted elven people of their culture. What came of the split in ideologies was known as The Elven Schism. The future of the dark elven race left the borders of their kin, taking up residence in modern Alerar. The future of the high elven race, which was dedicated to keeping technology from tainting their magical prowess and nature itself, remained in modern day Raiaera. From the Schism onwards the lingering and festering feud between the two remained.
Alerar, as it becomes known as, is a land west of Raiaera, past the Mountains of Dawn. Seeing the exiled elves as an invading army, the dwarves (who are the natives of the land) begin to fight the elves. The War of Inference begins, and within fifteen years it ends. The elven exiles sign a pact with the dwarven people, The Treaty of Congruity, the flatlands and inner portion of the lands are left to the elves while the mountains and surrounding areas belong to the dwarves. Within fifty years the capital of Alerar, Ettermire, is founded and the dwarven seat of power is established in the newly created fortress-town of Kachuk.
The bards of Raiaera, having removed the influence of their unwanted brethren in Alerar, quickly started their course towards the study and understanding of the fractured Tap. It was in this time that they started a new calendar, and a newly developed system of study. Originally six schools of magic existed. The sixth school, Enarlin, was feared. This distrust and disgust became a war within the nation, and for fifteen years Enarlin and the other five schools of magic warred. In the end, Enarlin was destroyed as a school, the only ones allowed to continue practicing were very high ranking Turlin bards.
Shortly following the Schism and The War Within, the political change of the world of Althanas continued to develop. Corone was under a state of strife, with foreigners flooding the shores and spreading throughout the island. A stalemate of sorts was created, the elven explorers remained in the Concordian Forest, and the dwarves took residence in the Comb Mountains, and the nomadic tribes of humans remained on the plains of Corone. The third most notable town of Corone came into existence during this time of bloodshed. The elven people in Concordia built the town of Conileth at the forests heart. For nearly 450 years the three factions, three warring races, remained in their respective areas. No force mustered by either side would break the boundaries, all knew it as fact, however the borders ran red with constant skirmishes by all involved.
However, Alerar was a place growing in power slowly, technologically advancing to a point where they could rival Raiaera. The original elven kin, meanwhile, fortified their borders and cast spells to cover their lands. Technology was unworkable in the motherland of the elven people, guns (not yet explored) would not fire and siege weapons were clumsier than even what was common for the times. Alerar, growing in power and knowledge, branched out to learn of other cultures, quickly finding the island of Fallien and a people of common interest.
Fallien was a world of lush, beautiful land. Untouched by wars of the mainland, or the conflict that overtook the island of Corone, Fallien was a place of peace. Alerar quickly took advantage of the island nation, forming an alliance and opening trade. The two nations prospered from being allies. As they progressed they continued to allow the dark elven influence into their lands, and eventually were punished for it. Legend has it that the goddess Suravani, displeased with the greed of her people, brought her wrath down upon the nation. Whether it was a natural disaster or truly the ire of the goddess, Fallien’s lush environment and easy living was ripped out from under them. From a world of flowers to a desert, the nation was practically destroyed.
Salvar, having been devastated by the warring civilized lands of Raiaera and The Forgotten, was even sparser in population than ever before. Merchants, would-be kings, social deviants, and expeditions by the budding nations slowly expanded into the territory. Rich sources of ore lured the dwarves, arable land to the south provided incentive for the humans of Corone to spread into the territory, and the previous encounters with Salvar gave little reason for the elven people to have interest.
The Demon Wars
Nearly a century ago, the second greatest war of Althanas tore across the world. It was an age of darkness, where infighting amidst races was pushed aside in favor of survival. The Demon Wars raged, and humanity was powerless to stop it. Where the demons suddenly arrived from is a mystery. The only guess as to their appearance is by way of the portals to Haidia created by the Forgotten, nearly completely forgotten after millenium.
The heaviest fighting was done in Corone, the initial assault of the demons taking Teria by storm. Overrun in a single day, the dwarves and humans of the plains retreated to the defensible fortresses built into the Comb and Jagged mountains. Unlike the humans and dwarves, the elves of Concordia had nowhere to run and hide, instead seeking solace within the forests and surviving in the depths of their domain. Two years after the initial surge of the demonic horde, Aroen the Lightforger the leader of the elves and the leader of the human tribe Gerth of the Crying Wolves united in a stand against the invasion. The single army met the power of the Haidian spawn on the fields of Gisela. A massive battle ensued. Though the power of the elves and the strength of the humans were great, they were gravely outnumbered. Gisela became soaked in the blood of both sides; two massive armies waged war for days on end till finally the remnants of the united force was forced to retreat. As had happened in the initial assault on Corone, the dwarves opened their gates and allowed all manner of refugees and defeated soldier into their underground habitat. The demons roamed the lands of the island freely for nearly 200 years, leaving the former denizens of the resource rich island to starvation and meager aide from other nations.
Salvar, likewise, was struck by the demonic forces. The barely settled and unorganized lands were unable to combat the initial assault due to lack of organized forces. Knifes Edge, the largest of the merchant created cities, became a fortress for territory. Merchants, settlers, soldiers, and all manner of people banded together to continue to keep the invasion at bay. It was not until almost a century later that the native tribes of Salvar were able to use their powerful and esoteric magic to drive back and eliminate the organized demonic forces. Though, organized government was not established even after the demons were eliminated.
The elven lands of Raiaera and Alerar fared much better, having established their domains and lands much sooner than any other nations. The first inclination of firearms being established by the Alerar nation is spoken of during these times, rudimentary and crude versions of the muskets the nation is well known for in current times. The first time the term “dark elf” was coined was during the demon wars, when the study of technology caused the tint of the Alerar elves to darken. Raiaera’s famed bards and bladesingers fought furiously against the invasion, seeking shelter in their fortified cities, striking in large armies when fully prepared. It is from Raiaera and Alerar that the savior of these trying times emerged.
Radasanth the Starlight the elves called him, Radasanth the Braveheart the dwarves knew him by, Radasanth the Savior the humans simply called him; he was an elf clad in mythril armor only the Aleraran people could have made so strong, carrying a massive claymore only the people of Salvar could have been known for, wielding magic Raiaeran’s were famed for using. With him came the news of the defeat of the demons on the mainland, with him came troops, food, and hope. At his call the men, elves, and dwarves mustered their strength and valiantly defeated the foe. Teria was re-conquered, and in honor of their Savior renamed Radasanth. He went on to serve as the First Steward of Corone, the first solitary authority figure in the history of the country. At the end of the demon wars, the demons were once again banished to Haidia.