Imperium Chronology

*(This is an incomplete history of Imperium. For general information on the planet, click **here**.)*

**Legend-    BRH= Before Recorded History      RH= Recorded History**

## The Primal Age (?-0 BRH)

**? BRH:** The world is created through unknown means and by unknown forces.

**2000 BRH:** The four Elemental Lords are created to watch over the developed world. They are Aros, Lord of Fire, Krom’Thor, Lord of Earth, Zephryn, Lord of Wind, and Elarel, Lady of the Depths.  The Elemental Ladies of Light and Shadow soon follow.

**1500 BRH:**  Euvine, Lady of Nature is created to stimulate the progress of life in the world. She plants the seed of the first world tree: Euvinian.

**1100 BRH:** The first sentient races of Imperium begin to develop primitive societies. The Elemental Lords favour their patron races: Krom’Thor  becomes the deity of the elves; Aros becomes the deity of the dragons and dragon-worshippers; Zephryn becomes the deity of the Gatos; Elarel becomes the deity of the Cladge; and Euvine becomes the deity of the reclusive Sluglams. The Cladge disappear into the ocean and are soon forgotten.

**800 BRH:** The grand kingdom of Halden is recognized as the cultural and technological center of Imperium. Though the Elementals acknowledge that the kingdom was the first to formally record their history, all known historical documents regarding Halden have been destroyed or lost to time.

**600 BRH:** Elarel creates the Melkai and Sphinx races , claiming the Cladge are disloyal to her. All three races eventually recognize Elarel as their deity.

**300 BRH:** Zephryn raises his temple and the nearby hills into the sky to protect his temple and isolate a plague which is affecting the local people. The humans of the floating hills forge a bond with another local race known by the Elementals as Goat Eaters. The humans and Goat Eaters breed to create a strange new hybrid, but their favouritism of this hybrid, which is immune to the effects of plague, leads to the eventual decline and disappearance of both humans and Goat Eaters in the Highlands.

**200 BRH:** Euvine plants the seeds for two more world trees: Euvar and Euvilias, the first to watch over the lands of air and fire, and the second to survey the health of the ocean which surrounds Imperium’s central continent.

**100 BRH:** The Pigmen evolve into a coherent society. They make their home in the Tangerine Desert, in a city which will eventually come to be known as Khamen.

**50 BRH:** The Kingdom of Halden is destroyed by unknown forces. Nearly every trace of the kingdom above ground is wiped out. The kingdom will eventually become no more than legend.

**20 BRH:** With Halden destroyed, the ancient elf city of  Kal’Ra becomes a mecca of culture in Imperium. The progress of the elves leads to unrest among Aros and the other Fire Elementals.

**7 BRH:** The Gatos finish constructing their great fortress-city Legato. One of the first acts of the newly formed Gato Monarchy is to expel the Gato-Human hybrid race known as Nekos from the city forever.

* A note on Nekos: Despite it being common knowledge that they resulted from Human-Gato interbreeding, there is no estimated date of origin for the Neko race. Given that it is believed that both Gatos and Humans have existed since millenia before the advent of recorded history, most also accept that Nekos have existed for nearly as long as their parent races.

**0:** A radical sect of Pigmen break from the peaceful ways of their ancestors and leave the desert, eventually settling in the Ribeye Vale, a far off land beyond which few have dared to explore.

The Sluglam people master the art of Necromancy. A particularly ambitious necromancer known only as Wan is exiled for abuse of power. He begins planning to construct an army of the dead in order to march on Oujounuma and declare himself king of Slugs.

The Desert Pigmen begin to record history, perhaps prompted by the advent of their mountain cousins. Other races soon follow their lead, beginning an era of knowledge.

## The Age of Blood (0-53 RH)

**2 RH:** A great Tower City is constructed by Zephryn and Elarel in the faroff Ribeye Vale as a means of educating the neighbouring Mountain Pigmen. Despite initial successes, the stubborn pigmen largely spurn the city's influence, instead craving the Earth magic of Krom'Thor and the Kal'Ran elves.

**3 RH:** A small fellowship of mountain pigmen travel to Kal'Ra to attempt to foster relationships with the elves and their Earth Lord. They remain on the isle for the following few years, exchanging cultural sensibilities and combat strategies with the more accepting of the elves. However, Krom'Thor refuses to grant the mountain pigmen access to Earth magic for the time being. In the meantime, trade commences between Kal'Ra and the nascent pigman stronghold of Grok, with caravans from Grok regularly making the journey to and from the Isle. Both races begin to prosper and develop culturally as a result of this relationship.

**4 RH:** Word of the growing influence of the elves reaches other races on the mainland, such as the Gatos and Desert Pigmen, as well as the scattered remnants of the humans who once comprised the kingdom of Halden. All three races begin trading with the elves, further increasing theirs and Krom'Thor's influence.

**5 RH:** Aros, Lord of Fire, becomes enraged by the good fortune of Lord Krom’Thor’s elf devotees. Using strange magic apparently unknown to the other Elementals, he transfigures the inhabitants of  Kal’Ra and other known elf communities into vicious exploding mutants who will eventually become known as husks. Krom'Thor demands the spell be reversed, but Aros refuses.

**6 RH:** In retaliation, Lord Krom’Thor orders his Elementals to hunt down the dragons of Imperium. The Mountain Pigmen join the hunt, pledging themselves to the Earth Lord in exchange for rare earth magic. The sluglams of the Oujounuma swamp -having long been terrorized by the dragons of the neighbouring Fang Peak- rally their finest hunters and begin what will go down in sluglam legend as the Great Lizard Hunt, despite Euvine's dismayed disavowal of their decision.

**7 RH:** Lord Zephryn opposes the mass extermination of the dragons, viewing it as a crime against creatures of the air. In doing so, he inadvertently sides with Aros in defense of the dragons.

**8 RH:** Elarel sides with Krom’Thor and extermination of the dragons resumes. Elemental War is declared. Euvine refuses to become involved, despite the continued fervour of her sluglam devotees.

**10 RH:** The first Hellgate between Imperium and the Underworld is invented. Though its inventors are lost to history, most agree that it was not the Elementals who were responsible. Nevertheless, several of the Elemental kingdoms are quick to adopt the Hellgate in place of the now-archaic Soulgate. The main improvement of the Hellgate over the Soulgate is its ability to transport the body in addition to the soul, which the Soulgate cannot do. Most scholars agree that the Elemental Lords had ulterior motives in adopting the Hellgate, most prominently Elarel -who likely sought more in-depth knowledge of the Underworld- and Asura, the brother of Lord Aros, who vanished conspicuously not long after the Hellgate was adopted by the Fire Elementals.

**15 RH:** Frustration at being snubbed by the mountain pigmen leads to conflict, which leads to miniature warfare in the Elemental Tower City. The Water Elementals claim the lower half of the city, while the Air Elementals hold sway over the upper levels.

**17 RH:** Legato becomes known as a safe haven for dragonkind, housing a number of the great lizards in an attempt to prevent their extermination.

**20 RH:** While Oujounuma city's finest warriors are distracted by the Great Lizard Hunt, the necromancer Wan sends forth a legion of undead from his black tower on the cliffs near Oujounuma. The Hunt is called off and its participants hasten to defend their swampland home. The sluglam people fend off hordes of undead beasts for three years. The surrounding lands become dangerous due to the presence of stray undead creatures.

**23 RH:** After a failed assassination attempt leaves Wan crippled and paranoid, the necromancer abandons his tower and flees across the continent. Peace is declared in Oujounuma, and the Great Lizard Hunt resumes.

**25 RH:** The nomadic plant people known as the Dewfolk begin to gather deep in the Tangerine Desert for some sort of ritual, presided over by Euvine herself and many of Imperium's most powerful nature elementals. They remain hidden in the desert for the next six years.

**27 RH:** Krom'Thor demands that Lord Zephryn and the Gatos relinquish the dragons they are keeping safe. Once again, his demands are bluntly refused. A young Fire Elemental knight, Charon, earns himself a reputation by spitting fire in the Earth Lord's face during what was meant to be a diplomatic meeting in the mountains south of Lord Aros' lands. The meeting erupts into a 'bloodbath' that only ends when Aros himself arrives to drive off Krom'Thor's forces. The scoured mountain passage that housed the conflict becomes known as the Magma Tunnel, and is marked as a site of significance for all Fire Elementals.

**28 RH:** Amidst the raging conflict between the Earth and Fire Elementals, angels arrive in Imperium and manage to secure a tenuous foothold on the forest-island of Brightwood, at the fringes of Lord Aros' domain. They are met by resistance fronted largely by Charon, who is one of the wardens of the Isle.

**31 RH:** After many years spent living in the shadows, Wan and his forces assault the young world tree Euvar and rout the timid nature elementals who protect it.

**32 RH:** The wrath of Nature descends on Wan and his forces. The necromancer manages to escape alive and conceals himself in the wilderness for hundreds of years.

Euvine’s forces arrive in an attempt to save Euvar, but the young world tree has been mutilated by the undead and is beyond repair. It is abandoned and left to the lingering Bone Golems, necromantic constructs who remain drawn to the dormant nature magic inside the tree itself.

**36 RH:** The city of Legato falls under attack by Earth Elemental forces and Mountain Pigmen. The city remains under siege for many years. The Gato people are backed by the forces of Air and Fire.

**37 RH:** The Fire Elementals retaliate by attempting to annex the ruins of Kal'Ra -no small task given that it is the location of the Earth Temple, Krom'Thor's seat of power.

**38 RH:** The Duke of Magma and the Duke of Fire are killed during the assault on the Earth Temple, situated in the ruins of Kal’Ra. The temple suffers heavy damage but the forces of Fire are driven back. The magma elemental Karen and the fire knight Charon are promoted to fill the roles of Duchess of Magma and Duke of Fire respectively. This promotion takes Charon far from his homeland of Brightwood.

**40 RH:** The angels are nearly driven out of Brightwood by the children of the monstrous Rage Titan Skaramok, a former general of Aros whose offspring have grown wild in the absence of Charon's leadership. The angels strike a shaky peace with Aros himself by pledging to help defend Brightwood from Earth and Water Elemental encroachment.

**42 RH:** Charon's first assignment as Duke of Fire is to defend the City of Legato and the remaining dragons, many of whom have been ambushed and slain by fanatical pigmen and human hunting parties.

**45 RH:** Appalled by the state of Imperium, Lady Euvine calls for Elemental Peace. Her plea is ignored.

**47 RH:** Small skirmishes begin to occur between the Angels of Brightwood and the Obsidian Lords of the fortress-city Spire. Both are relatively uninvolved in the Elemental War, but their wariness leads them to encroach upon one-another’s territory and monitor the other’s activities. The Angels and the winged Obsidian Lords develop a deep mistrust for one-another that will persist for ages.

**50 RH:** The forces of Water join in the assault on Legato. After some kind of heated disagreement with Lord Aros, Charon withdraws his forces for largely unexplained reasons.

**51 RH:** The Elemental Lady of Lakes is killed in battle after her forces breach Legato. The knight who slayed her, Sir Raziel, is named a hero and eventually becomes the stuff of legend. Opposing Elemental forces withdraw temporarily to regroup, but not without having slain several of the remaining dragons housed in the city. The Obsidian Lord Tacitus Vesuvius defects and reimagines itself as Lady Tacita Vesuvia, craving a more direct connection with the forces of Fire and Water.

**53 RH: The End of the Elemental War**

- Euvine calls for Elemental Peace. Her plea is ignored.

- The forces of Water and Earth retire from their assault on Legato, leaving the Mountain Pigmen to continue the siege. The Mountain Pigmen are soon beaten back and defeated by the remaining Gatos and Air Elementals.

- Aros’ Throne of Fire atop Mount Tabula is set upon by the Earth and Water forces that had previously attacked Legato, joined now by Lord Krom’Thor himself. The Air Elementals and soldiers of Legato rush to help defend the Throne, but in their absence, an elite army of sluglam hunters allies with the savage humans of the Pastrami Bluffs and infiltrates Legato, slaying the last of the dragons housed there.

- Upon urgings from Charon, Lord Aros leads a secret force of Fire Elementals to the ruins of Kal’Ra in a counter-effort to destroy the Earth Temple while Krom’Thor and his forces are absent.
Aros and his forces are ambushed at the ruins by Lady Elarel and her generals. Duke Charon and his underlings turn on Aros and, after a battle that further sunders the island ruins, the Fire Lord is eventually subdued. His unbreakable core is kept within Elarel so that it may never be restored.

- Krom’Thor and Zephryn meet in battle at the Throne of Fire atop Mount Tabula. A last brigade of Dragons turns the tide of the battle at the cost of their lives, and Krom’Thor is subdued but spared. The Throne of Fire is destroyed during the battle.

- Euvine calls for Elemental Peace. Her call is finally heeded and the Great Elemental War ends, and with it the Age of Blood.
Charon claims the title of Lord of Fire in Aros' absence and appoints his steward Caldryn to the rank of Duke. The four Lords create the Isle of the Elements and hold the first Elemental Council there. The council is reportedly attended by all Lords, Ladies, Dukes, Duchesses, and racial representatives, including the Angels, the Obsidian Lords, the mysterious Sonic Elementals and even the mythic Lady Shadow.

**Summary of the First Elemental Council (53 RH)**

- Dukes and Duchesses officially appointed to replace deceased predecessors: Nimue, Lady of Lakes; Caldryn, Duke of Fire.
Dukes and Duchesses created to cement bonds between Elemental Lords: Tacita Vesuvia, Duchess of Steam; Brack, Duke of Estuaries.

- Duke Charon is officially crowned Elemental Lord of Fire by a collective agreement between the other Lords.

- The effects of Aros’ curse on the Elves are seemingly irreversible. The husks remain devotees of Krom’Thor, but the Mountain Pigmen become the favoured race for a time.

- Officially, the Dragon race is extinct. Unofficially, they are only heavily endangered. Many leave for far off lands, never returning. The rest stay in secluded parts of the continent. The Great Lizard Hunt remains ongoing, but no further dragons are slain by the sluglams. The Hunt officially concludes ten years later.

## The Age of Flesh and Bone (54-216 RH)

**54 RH:** Conflict ceases in the Tower City, though both sides maintain footholds in the upper and lower tiers of the tower. The site becomes famous in later years as a hotbed of Elemental skirmishes.

**60 RH:** Peace is declared between the Gatos and Pigmen. Many of the neighbouring humans repent their actions against the city and pledge their loyalty to Lord Zephryn. Legato is rebuilt and fortified. The face of the legendary knight Raziel is carved into the side of the city, where it remains to this day.

**73 RH:** One of the scattered colonies of humans in Central Imperium founds the city of Riverport on a tributary connecting to the Northern Sea.

**94 RH:** Another colony of nearby humans make their first attempt to settle in Ironfruit Jungle. Most perish at the hands of Creeping Jenny, the tyrranical Plantkeeper who guards all of Imperium's forests.

**98 RH:** The lands around Spire and Oujounuma become thick with undead once more. Tensions rise in the sluglam court.

**104 RH:** Creeping Jenny is demoted to Assistant Plantkeeper following a series of atrocities against mortals living in Imperium's forested regions. Vegana is promoted to Plantkeeper in her place. Jenny becomes the guardian of Ironfruit Jungle, and ironically continues to foil human attempts to settle there.

**107 RH:**  After decades of continuous ritual, the dewfolk finish nurturing what will become their capital city: the great cactus, El Grande Cactissimo.

**115 RH:** The  humans make their second attempt to settle in Ironfruit Jungle. With the aid of Riverport's warriors and some sympathetic Nature Elementals, they found a small, walled settlement known as Ironfruit Village and begin sea trade with others of their kind. Creeping Jenny is warned not to attack this new village, but she continues to waylay and terrorize human pioneers outside its walls.

**127 RH:** Reports of roaming undead become common in Brightwood and around Riverport and Ironfruit Village.

**140 RH:** The sprawling underground Mountain Pigman Capital of Grok is unveiled to the rest of the world with the approval of Lord Krom'Thor, who recognizes the efforts of the pigs in establishing their own culture. A high warlord is declared to lead the encouraged Mountain Pigmen in future battles for the glory of Krom'Thor.

**153 RH:** The Elementals celebrate the 100th anniversary of Elemental Peace.

**158 RH:** Wandering undead are spotted in the Tangerine Desert and around the ruins of Kal’Ra.

**160 RH:** Charon’s forces finish building Eris, the tower atop the Pastrami Bluffs which will house the new Fire lord until the present day.

**164 RH:** With Lord Zephryn's aid, the Desert Pigmen invent a sport which will later be known as Drop-Tile. The Mountain Pigmen are quick to adopt the sport despite their shaky relationship with their desert cousins. Drop-Tile soon becomes one of the most important aspects of Pigman culture.

**172 RH:** The Mountain Pigmen finish construction of their legendary arena: Vorth Colosseum. The arena is outfitted for both gladiatorial combat and high stakes Drop-Tile.

**178 RH:** The presence of undead across the continent is recognized by the Elementals as a problem. Reports of undead span everywhere from Charon’s Tower to Grok. The Bone Golems in particular have vastly increased in number, and continue to gather at the site of the dead world tree Euvar, which becomes known as the city of Black Gorge.

**180 RH:** A force of Earth and Wind Elementals  marches on Black Gorge. The city is ransacked, but no hint as to the origin of the undead menace is found. The Bone Golems of Black Gorge are deemed to be unrelated to the epidemic.

**199 RH:** Rumours spread throughout Oujounuma of a cult of necromancers working in the shadows to overthrow the current Sluglam Emperor.

**207 RH:** A young Sluglam claiming to be the son of the dread necromancer Wan seeks the safety of Oujounuma. He offers the Sluglam Emperor information concerning the whereabouts of Wan and his cult in exchange for the opportunity to live peacefully in Oujounuma.

**208 RH:** The Sluglams enlist the aid of Krom’Thor’s servants in discovering and assaulting the stronghold of the Cult of Wan. Thus begins the Bone War.

## The Bone War: 208 RH – 216 RH

**208 RH:** The Cult Stronghold in the base of Mount Tabula is attacked, but the Sluglams and Elementals underestimate the Cult’s numbers. Much of the Sluglam attack force is wiped out by undead hordes, and the Elementals are forced back after suffering similar casualties.

**209 RH:** The Elementals hold a second Council on the Isle of the Elements to decide if and how to deal with the Cult of Wan. Only Krom’Thor and Euvine support open war. The remaining lords conclude that the matter is best left to the mortal races.

Krom’Thor sends his forces to Oujounuma once more to aid the Sluglams.

**211 RH:** A large force of undead minions and lesser necromancers attacks Oujounuma. The force is beaten back, but the city’s defenses are weakened.

**212 RH:** Krom’Thor travels to Spire to personally ask for the assistance of the Obsidian Lords. A temporary alliance is forged.

**213 RH:** A combined force of Obsidian Lords, Earth Elementals, and Sluglams assaults the Cult’s stronghold. Though they succeed in defeating the forces gathered there, they find no trace of Wan or his higher ranking cultists.
Wan and an army of undead march across the seafloor and scale Spire, taking the city and enslaving its inhabitants while its army is away.

**214 RH:** The Obsidian Lords travel to Brightwood in an attempt to enlist the help of the Lady Light. They are promptly refused and turned away.

Oujounuma is besieged repeatedly by waves of undead.

**215 RH:** A small militia of humans travels from Riverport to Oujounuma to aid the Sluglams and Obsidian Lords. They receive a lukewarm welcome.

The undead pressure on Oujounuma increases. The combined force of Sluglams, Earth Elementals, Obsidian Lords and Humans  rally  to defend the city.

The combined forces destroy the undead army and drive back the necromancers. The Elementals, Obsidian Lords, and Humans press on to assault Spire, while the Sluglams stay behind to repair the damage to their city.

The Cult of Wan makes their last stand atop Spire, but they are eventually defeated by the combined army. Many ancient and powerful Earth Elementals sacrifice themselves to secure the victory. Wan is nowhere to be found. The Obsidian Lords reclaim Spire and the Earth Elementals and humans depart.

**216 RH:** Wan and a few remaining cultists are located on the outskirts of Riverport, hidden in a small underground shrine. Wan and the cultists are publicly tried and drowned.
News of Wan’s death reaches Oujounuma. Peace is declared. Lord Krom'Thor finally takes the stance of the other Elemental Lords that mortal affairs -especially wars- are the business of mortals, a stance the Elementals as a whole will largely maintain from that point onward.

## The Age of Prosperity (217-602 RH)

**221 RH:** With the aid of some skillful diplomacy by Lord Zephryn, the humans of the Pastrami Bluffs establish the town of Highrise on the great plains just a few miles from Charon’s Tower. Their presence there infuriates Lord Charon, who refuses to recognize them as anything but inappropriately-pardoned dragon-butchers.

**234 RH:** The Desert Pigman village of Khur, named after the first Pharaoh of the pigmen, is founded in the desert south of the Magma Tunnel. Contact is established with the reclusive Duke of Sand, Cathix, whom the pigmen begin to court.

**240 RH:** After years of contact with the Desert Pigmen, Cathix finally agrees to grant them his protection, though he does not grant them his magic due to pressure from Lord Krom'Thor and the Mountain Pigmen.

**248 RH:** More humans flock to Ironfruit Village as it grows in popularity and size, becoming Ironfruit Town by 248.

**261 RH:** The wandering undead are recognized officially as remnants of the Bone war and not a collective threat. The Bone Golems of Black Gorge begin to trade with the Dewfolk of El Grand Cactissimo, thus establishing themselves as a culture in and of themselves.

**270 RH:** Cladge and Melkai begin to trade with Riverport and other water-based settlements. Emboldened, Melkai also begin to terrorize said water-based settlements in search of easy meals.

**288 RH:** Rumours of Mountain Pigman aggression begin to spread from Ribeye Vale, though their target is unclear.

**296 RH:** Relations between Highrise and Legato prosper under Zephryn's guidance, and trade commences between the Gatos and humans.

**302 RH:** The Mountain Pigmen unexpectedly declare themselves heirs to the holdings of their desert cousins. An army of Mountain Pigmen marches from Grok toward Khur. The village is ransacked and its people are enslaved, despite the efforts of Duke Cathix and the Sand Elementals to protect them.

**303 RH:** The Mountain Pigman army marches on Khamen. The Desert Pigmen plead for peace. Their pleas are ignored.

Khamen falls under seige. The Desert Pigmen call for the aid of the Dewfolk, who in turn call upon their Bone Golem allies. Khamen receives no aid, but with Cathix's help it defends itself well enough to force a temporary stalemate.

**304 RH:** Blinded by a sandstorm created by Cathix, the Mountain Pigmen are ambushed by an entire regiment of Bone Golem Archers while besieging Khamen. The Desert Pigmen and Sand Elementals rush to the aid of the Bone Golems. The Mountain Pigman Army is driven back. The Desert Pigmen and Duke Cathix beg Lord Krom'Thor to address the aggression of his patron race, but the Earth Lord refuses to become involved.

**307 RH:** Pharaoh Ramkhef calls for a peaceful meeting between the leaders of the two Pigman Tribes. The call is ignored.

**308 RH:** Duke Cathix sends envoys to Spire in an attempt to seek the aid of the Obsidian Lords in protecting the Desert Pigmen from future harm. The Obsidian Lords are initially impassive to the idea.

**310 RH:** A live dragon is sighted repeatedly in the mountains near Oujounuma, but despite their efforts, no sluglam hunting party is able to track it down.

**312 RH:** An army of Mountain Pigmen marches once again toward Khamen. They are reported to have enlisted the aid of Ogres and their Gremlin underlings from the Thunder Highlands. Pharaoh Ramkhef, Duke Cathix, and a small army of Desert Pigmen march out to meet them at the ruins of Khur, attempting to make a truce. The Mountain Pigmen refuse a truce and the two armies engage. The battle is interrupted by the Obsidian Lords, who side with the Desert Pigmen and subdue the Mountain army. A shaky peace is declared between the Pigman tribes. Khur is reclaimed and rebuilt by the Desert Pigmen.

**315 RH:** The body of Wan is reportedly vanished from the depths outside Riverport, according to Cladge divers.

**323 RH:** The water Elemental who will later be known as Smish is promoted to the rank of soldier, thus gaining sentience for the first time.

**333 RH:** The sluglam Emperor who has ruled since the beginning of recorded history is assassinated by rogue necromancers who claim to be remnants of the cult of Wan. The necromancers are captured and executed. The Sluglams appoint his young neice, Kallysta Han, to take the throne next. She becomes their first and only Empress, and rules Oujounuma to this day.

**346 RH:** Riverport begins to experience trouble with merfolk, vicious aquatic people who attack small river vessels in order to steal goods.

**351 RH:** Smish is demoted to the rank of non-sentient elemental after swallowing and digesting the Faunaherd of Euvine at a diplomatic gathering. No retribution is taken against Elarel by Euvine.

**352 RH:** The Nature Elemental known as Galatea is created by Euvine and becomes the new Faunaherd. Although she appears human, she is blessed with much of Euvine's knowledge and wisdom, and becomes a keen student of mortal culture.

**357 RH:** A bizarre humanoid husk is born on the isle of Kal’Ra.

**370 RH:** Seeking to gain the adoration of her people, Kallysta Han declares the Great Lizard Hunt to be officially resumed. She promises great fame to whoever is able to hunt down and kill the gigantic white dragon which is reported to be lurking in the mountains around Oujounuma.

**384 RH:** Disputes escalate between the town of Highrise and the neighbouring Fire Elementals. Highrise is burnt to the ground during one such dispute.

**386 RH:** The dragon living in the mountains around Oujounuma is finally tracked and killed by a group of sluglam hunters. Its skull is mounted in the throne room of the city's great palace. Outraged, Lord Charon orders the Duchess of Magma, Karen, to attack Oujounuma. Karen refuses, somehow avoiding the ire of her Lord and deescalating the conflict in the process.

**390 RH:** The reclusive race of Mole people known as Diggers begin to trade with nearby races, specializing in iron and other types of metal. The whereabouts of their settlements remains a mystery until many years later.

**402 RH:** Highrise is rebuilt as a smaller village, populated only by those brave enough to risk the Fire Lord’s wrath again. The resurrected village is dubbed by the neighbouring Gatos as Flamebane. The name sticks.

**421 RH:** Pharaoh Gezura of the Desert Pigmen arranges a meeting with the current High Warlord of the Mountain Pigmen, Hruff. The two become fast friends.

**423 RH:** Drop-Tile matches are organized between the two Pigman tribes in order to foster a bond between them.

**430 RH:** Smish is promoted to the rank of Soldier once more.

**432 RH:** Smish is demoted again after swallowing and digesting the Duke of Stone during another diplomatic gathering. She is only spared annihilation by the compassion of Lady Nimue, who claims responsibility for the incident by having egged Smish on. The accuracy of Nimue's claim is never determined, but the unusual assimilative power of Smish's core is whispered about for quite some time by elementals of all varieties.

**433 RH:** Lady Mara is promoted to Duchess of Stone.

**439 RH:** The structure known as Skytower is constructed by Lord Zephryn as a link between his Sky Castle and the world below.

**451 RH:** Another humanoid husk is born. Like its predecessor, it is revered by some and reviled by others. Unlike its predecessor, it will live past infancy.

**454 RH:** A riot during a Drop-Tile match leads to a temporary disconnect in communication between the two Pigman tribes.

**456 RH:** Cathix succeeds in begging Lord Krom'Thor to speak with both Pigman tribes, but the Mountain Pigmen, remain stubbornly opposed to re-establishing amicable contact with their cousins.

**457 RH:** Restless without the distraction of Drop-Tile, the Mountain Pigmen devise a scheme to use a hellgate to enter the dark and mysterious Underworld, hoping to reap great power and wealth. High Warlord Hruff, under great pressure from his people, reluctantly gives the venture his blessing and announces that he will lead the expedition.

**459 RH:** High Warlord Hruff suffers a terrible injury before triumphing in battle against the mighty Asura, lost brother of Aros, during the unprecedented and unsanctioned Mountain Pigman expedition into the Underworld. Though the Mountain Pigmen avoid venturing into the Underworld again for centuries, the legend of Hruff and Asura persists and becomes engrained in pigman lore.

**460 RH:** Pharaoh Gezura travels to Grok in an attempt to heal the crippled Hruff. Although he does not succeed in healing the grievous scars left by Azura, the pigs of Grok are moved by his compassion. The inter-tribe Drop-Tile matches are re-established.

**466 RH:** The largely nomadic Neko tribes are divided when the most advanced of the tribes founds the beach town of Costa del Nyan and declares itself superior.

**471 RH:** Afer a decade of battling with the wounds left by Asura, High Warlord Hruff passes away and is succeeded by an ornery, tyrannical warlord whose name has been scoured from Mountain Pigman history. Tribal Drop-Tile matches are cancelled.

**475 RH:** The Mountain Pigmen are once more coaxed into a frenzy by their High Warlord, who promises to deliver unto his people the holdings of their Desert Cousins once and for all.

**477 RH:** The now-venerable Pharaoh Gezura attempts another pilgrimage to Grok in an effort to restore relations with the Mountain Pigmen. Tragically, he passes away just a few miles from Ribeye Vale, along the adjacent coast. Recognizing the late Pharaoh, the Mountain Pigmen disobey the orders of the High Warlord and erect a monument to all of Pigman-kind at the spot where Gezura died.

**478 RH:** Cathix convinces Krom'Thor to allow a tiny fraction of Desert Pigmen to learn and master sand magic. Those who undertake this calling form the elite and secretive caste known as the Permitted - and to this day, the Permitted remain a small, elite, and heavily regulated order, representing the cultural belief that the magic is not a gift, but something they have been permitted to wield.

**481 RH:** After a few years of passive resistance to the warmongering of their High Warlord, the Mountain Pigmen are finally roused to begin preparing for another assault on Khamen. Battle mages are trained in the art of Earth Magic, which is believed to be their key to victory.

**482 RH:** Morale among the Mountain Pigmen remains low as they begin their march from Grok, and reports of wanton destruction arise in their wake.

**483 RH:** Riverport is raided by conquering Mountain Pigmen. The city is destroyed and its inhabitants scattered.

**484 RH:** The survivors from Riverport settle in a nearby  nook which they come to call Blackhollow.
The Mountain Pigmen, unsurprisingly, march toward Khamen. They are temporarily halted at Khur by Duke Cathix and the ranks of the Permitted, who rouse an impenetrable sandstorm in the city's defense. The new Pharaoh of the Desert Pigmen travels to Kal'Ra to beg Lord Krom'Thor to respond to this newest crusade.

**485 RH:** Lord Krom’Thor becomes displeased with the persistently-invasive nature of the Mountain Pigmen. He disowns them as a patron race, causing them to lose their affinity with earth magic. Their army is crippled and they are forced to retreat without damaging their Desert cousins. The disgraced High Warlord of the Mountain Pigmen is ousted by his own army and exiled from Ribeye Vale forever.

**491 RH:** Humanoid husks start to become  more frequent  among those husks who remain in the ruins of Kal’Ra.

**494 RH:** The nomadic tribe of Nekos that was refused a place in Costa Del Nyan begs for acceptance into Gato society. The current ruler of Legato, known as the Virgin Queen, answers their plea by revoking the law banning them from the fortress-city. The nekos settle in and around Legato, leading to overpopulation and a strain on the city’s economy.

**500 RH:** After years of study, a powerful Mountain Pigman shaman known as Grunk masters the art of crude magic: harnessing unrefined magic energy and turning it into harmful energy.

**510 RH:** The Mountain Pigmen strike a deal with the merfolk currently inhabiting the ruins of Riverport, taking over the city and turning it into a semi-stronghold known as Hruk.

**515 RH:** Humans are invited to settle in Brightwood by the Angels. The town of Rotwald is founded. The children of Skaramok are slowly hunted to extinction.

**517 RH:** Despite threats from Lord Charon, the humans and Angels begin mining the rich earth beneath Brightwood.

**522 RH:** A combined force of humans from Blackhollow and Ironfruit Town march on Hruk in an attempt to reclaim the area. Initial attempts are unsuccessful.

**525 RH:** An ambassador from Ironfruit town travels to Khamen to seek the aid of the Desert Pigmen in routing their mountain relatives from Hruk. Fearing another lapse in relations with Grok, the Desert Pigmen refuse to become involved.

**534 RH:** A plague sweeps through Legato, killing many Gatos and Nekos. The plague is blamed on the Neko contingent of the population and the Nekos are once again exiled from the city.

**538 RH:** First contact is made between Central Imperium and the remote Sakura Kingdom of the South Seas. A ship arrives in Central Imperium from the South, carrying masked beings known as Shapestealers. The settlements of Riverport, Oujounuma, and Costa Del Nyan become the first to trade with the Shapestealers. From then on, merchants ships from the Sakura Kingdom visit Central Imperium every few years to trade goods and knowledge.

**541 RH:** Roughly one tenth of the population in the ruins of Kal’Ra is now composed of Humanoid husks, which are henceforth known as Elvish Remnants.

**548 RH:** As the Bone War fades into distant memory, some of the sluglam people express a renewed interest in Necromancy as a legitimate school of nature magic, attempting to label Golgar, the Lord of Rot, as a patron deity. Golgar remains aloof on the matter.

**550 RH:** The exiled tribe of Nekos founds a small settlement known as Nyaren on the shore opposite the city of Spire. Duchess Karen takes a liking to them and begins to research the history of demihuman half-breeds in Imperium.

**552 RH:** The existence of the subcontinent of Oni Shima is revealed to denizens of Central Imperium after cartographers from the Sakura Kingdom agree to share their sea charts.

**554 RH:** The Shapestealers bring a few exotic species from Oni Shima to Central Imperium to sell. Notably, this marks the introduction of Garuda Birds and Sicklebugs onto the continent, along with an at-the-time unnamed species of stilt-legged, eyeless mammalians...

**555 RH:** Karen seeks the wisdom of the Faunaherd Galatea in furthering her research. Together, the two scour the historical records of whatever elemental kingdoms will permit their prying gaze.

**557 RH:** Karen and Galatea receive help from the long-vanished Lady Avalancha, Duchess of Ice, who reveals the existence of a half-human half-dog race, known as Inu, in Imperium's remote Northern Reaches.

**558 RH:** Inspired by the existence of the Inu, Karen changes her shape to resemble one. However, the lack of knowledge of the Inu among Central Imperium's mortal races leads her action to be mistaken for the taking of a neko's shape. Karen's positive relationship with the nekos of Nyaren does little to clear-up the matter.

**559 RH:** Armed with her knowledge of the proud Inu people, Karen travels to Legato and befriends the Virgin Queen, educating her on the storied history of Imperium's demihuman races. The Virgin Queen is deeply moved and attempts to pass a decree naming Gatos and Nekos equal. A large portion of Legato riots. The queen is seized and burned at the stake. Ignoring the warnings of Lord Zephryn, a mob of Gatos ransacks Nyaren and destroys it. Zephryn inexplicably fails to reprimand his people for these atrocities.

**560 RH:** Distraught at the result of her actions, Lady Karen retreats from the public eye, relinquishing her position as Duchess of Magma despite Lord Charon's protests.

**561 RH:** One of Karen's disciples, Nimrod, is promoted to Duke of Magma in her stead.

**563 RH:** After years of fleeing from Gato radicals, the weary Nekos of Nyaren reach Costa Del Nyan and seek refuge there. They are accepted by their cousins on the immutable understanding that the Del Nyan Nekos are of a higher class than the weathered Nyaren variety.

**564 RH:** It is generally accepted by the sluglam people that Golgar has no interest in supporting the art of necromantic magic. Necromancers in Oujounuma decide to practice necromancy independantly of any specific Duke's blessing, as Euvine remains wary but not outright hostile towards the idea.

**566 RH:** The Shapestealers begin trading with Ironfruit Town and Legato. They also take a liking to the utterly mysterious Giants of the Endless Shore, the great beach at the bottom of the smaller of Central Imperium's main two landmasses.

**570 RH:** After some courtship, the Shapestealers manage to interest the Mountain Pigmen in trade. They offer the members of a primitive race of enormous boar-folk -known as Wildermen- as slaves to the pigmen. The Wildermen become a rare but deeply-feared sight in Central Imperium, particularly as the enforcers of Mountain Pigman might.

**574 RH:** A young necromancer known as Haisho Hinonuma gathers a small band of necromancers and travels to Euvinian to seek audience with Lady Euvine. The group attempts to convince the Lady of Nature that -with the proud history that the Bone Golem people have put together thusfar, and with more responsible contemporary practice of the art- Necromancy is an unavoidable part of Imperium's schools of magic, and ought to be officially supported to remove stigma surrounding it. Euvine rejects this proposal, but is impressed by it, and agrees to send diplomats to Haisho's school in the old Tower of Wan to study the magic further. Lady Galatea the Faunaherd is appointed to commence and direct this study- an honour which causes a buzz throughout sluglam society.

**575 RH:** Galatea and a group of Nature Elemental diplomats arrive at Haisho's school of necromancy and begin their observations.

**576 RH:** The Nekos of Del Nyan begin trading with various human settlements, including the booming Ironfruit Town.

**581 RH:** The Dewfolk of the Tangerine Desert forge a close connection with the Desert Pigmen, trading more frequently and organizing festivals between the two races.

**585 RH:** After ten years of residency, the Nature Elementals stationed at Haisho's school return to Euvinian. While their observations are not sufficient to change Euvine's mind on the official sanctioning of Necromancy within her order, they are soon applied by less scrupulous Nature Elementals who require eyes throughout their domains. The result is the zombie-like Drump Shambler, a nature elemental that feeds off the body of a deceased mortal.

**590 RH:** Drump Shamblers become widely used by many Nature Elementals across Imperium, assisting in decomposition and the redistribution of dead organic matter. This inadvertantly leads to a burgeoning of life in areas where Drump Shamblers are present, such as the Sand Swamp and Ironfruit Jungle.

**592 RH:** The humans of Ironfruit Jungle plead for Euvine to do something about the state of the jungle, in which not only Creeping Jenny, invasive Gluttons, and the Drump Shamblers but also a particularly monstrous new species of plant-beast have made it difficult to farm outside Ironfruit Town's walls. The plant-beasts are termed Lash Plants by the locals. No action is taken by Euvine to curb any of these significant threats.

**597 RH:** The Mountain Pigmen found the village of Grunk after the great shaman. Rumours begin to spread once more of war plans. This time, the Mountain Pigmen seethe with hostility toward not just the Desert Pigmen, but Cathix and even Lord Krom'Thor himself for having taken the blessing of Earth from them.

**601 RH:** Rumours of strange activity begin to spread from the Ironfruit Jungle. The humans of Ironfruit Town are busying themselves with some sort of strange project...

**602 RH:** Desert Pigman Scouts spy an army of Mountain Pigmen once again marching toward Khamen.

## The Great Pigman War: 602 – 610 RH

**602 RH:** The two Pigman armies meet outside Khamen. The Mountain Pigman army is reinforced by Ogres and crude magic shamans, plus a few rudimentary war machines and several of the monstrous Wildermen. Even with the aid of Duke Cathix and the Permitted, the Desert Pigmen suffer a crippling defeat and are forced to retreat behind the city walls. A sandstorm is raised to protect the city, but the sheer might of the Mountain army manages to break through Khamen's walls and charge in through the raging sands.

**603 RH:** Khamen is taken by the Mountain Pigmen. The surviving Desert Pigmen retreat to El Grand Cactissimo, where they are welcomed by the Dewfolk. The humans of Ironfruit Town send word to the Desert Pigmen that they are on their way to offer assistance.

The Mountain Pigmen attack El Grand Cactissimo but are beaten back by a first of wave of human defenders riding giant rats. The humans have spent the past few years training these rats -first found in the ancient catacombs buried beneath Ironfruit Town- for use as mounts, and despite their orneriness, their presence is crucial to the defense of El Grand Cactissimo. The giant rats become known as kroats, and remain a fixture of Ironfruit Town, though they do not catch on anywhere outside the jungle due to their brutal temperaments.

**604 RH:** The current Desert Pigman Pharaoh dies of illness. A young Pigman known as Khamen, after which the city will eventually be named, becomes the next Pharaoh. The Desert Pigmen and Humans make plans to retake the city from the Mountain Pigmen.

**605 RH:** A large force of Mountain Pigmen marches to take Khur.
The Desert Pigmen and Humans attack Khamen while the bulk of the Mountain army is away. They retake the city and take the remaining invaders captive.
Khur falls to the Mountain Pigmen. A fresh army is sent from Grok.

**607 RH:** The two Pigman armies march on the Desert Pigman city. Pharaoh Khamen recognizes the might of the Mountain force and devises a plan to avoid a head-on battle. The Desert Pigmen and Humans hide in the catacombs beneath the city as the Mountain Pigmen retake it. At night, once the army disperses and begins to rest, the Desert Pigmen and Humans attack from below, using their kroat mounts to outmaneuver and divide their enemies. The Mountain Pigmen are caught unaware and are forced to surrender after a brief skirmish. They are stripped of their weapons and sent back to Grok.

**608 RH:** The Human forces urge the Desert Pigmen to attack Grok before the Mountain Pigmen regroup. The Desert Pigmen refuse to divert their attention from rebuilding their city, but Pharaoh Khamen and a small elite force of soldiers lend themselves to the Humans, who begin to gather an army in preparation to assault Grok.

**609 RH:** A combined army of Humans, Desert Pigmen, Bone Golems and Gatos marches on Grok. After heavy casualties on both sides, the High Warlord of the Mountain Pigmen is killed and the great forges of the Mountain Pigmen are destroyed. The city is taken and occupied by Humans.

**610 RH:** At the request of Pharaoh Khamen, the Humans release their hold on Grok and return it to the Mountain Pigmen. The two tribes make peace once more.

## The Age of Men (611-927 RH)

**611 RH:** Khur and Khamen are rebuilt and Khamen is renamed after the young Pharaoh, an honour which has graced no other living Pigman.

**612 RH:** The humans of Ironfruit Town succeed in domesticating a small Lash Plant, giving hope that the species can be harnessed to combat the hostile forces of the jungle; However, subsequent attempts at Lash Plant domestication are spotty, leading to public concensus that the practice is not worth the risk.

**613 RH:** Ironfruit Town becomes so large that it becomes henceforth known as Capital City, a bustling trade hub and seat of the Human royal family.

**614 RH:** The Mountain Pigmen trade a sizeable quantity of precious ore for some of Ironfruit Town's kroats, attempting to integrate the rats into their own society. This effort is quickly abandoned after it is discovered that even the smallest pigmen are either too heavy or lack the patience to properly ride the difficult beasts.

**615 RH:** Roasted Kroat becomes a delicacy in Grok.

**616 RH:** After much discussion between the two tribes, Drop-Tile matches are re-established between the Mountain and Desert Pigmen. Representatives of each group are stationed in each city in an effort to strengthen the bonds between the two tribes.

**618 RH:** At the request of Pharaoh Khamen, the Mountain Pigmen withdraw from Hruk, allowing the Humans to reclaim the decrepit stronghold.

**631 RH:** Humans discover how to travel to the Underworld via the Hellgate, and are the third race of Imperium proper (behind the Elementals and Mountain Pigmen) to travel to and from the Underworld.

**634 RH:** After decades of attacking unwary travellers to and from Capital City (including a few recent attacks) the previously unnamed mamallians brought over from Oni Shima become commonly referred to as Gluttons.

**637 RH:** One sixth of the population of Kal’Ra now consists of Elvish Remnants. The ruins become henceforth known as Ancestor Isle.

**640 RH:** Smish is promoted to the rank of Soldier once more, regaining her sentience. She is assigned to Lady Nimue’s service.

**648 RH:** Despite the warnings of the other Elemental Lords, Charon travels to the Underworld and begins constructing a fortress, seeking to establish a foothold in the region. There, he discovers that Asura, the brother of Aros, has risen from the dead and now rules much of the Underworld. Asura's hatred of Aros and by extension Charon makes the task difficult.

**661 RH:** Spurred by Charon's entrance into their domain, the Pygmy Flayers of the Underworld make themselves known to the inhabitants of Imperium. They are recognized as a peaceful tribe. Their larger cousins are recognized as less friendly, and become an invasive presence in many of Imperium's most hostile areas.

**667 RH:** Violent skirmishes erupt between Humans and Merfolk over the ruins of Riverport and Hruk, upon which the Humans have begun to build anew.

**669 RH:** A high-profile case of mass-graverobbing rocks Oujounuma. Public distrust toward Necromancers is rekindled and rises, forcing those who have taken up practicing the art to either disavow it or go into hiding. Haisho's school is temporarily closed and its students' locations kept secret.

**672 RH:** Capital City becomes overpopulated and ripe with crime as a result of its opulence. Small riots begin to occur around the city.

**673 RH:** The Humans begin to construct a strange, large structure on a distant shore.

**675 RH:** The noble families of Capital City begin to publicly accuse one-another of corruption, frequently citing the bizarre condition known as voracious gluttony in particular as something malicious that other families are attempting to conceal from the public.

**676 RH:** Following a series of high-profile takedowns of prominent nobles on the grounds of voracious gluttony, the underground organization known as the Caretakers become known to the residents of Capital City. They remain spoken of in whispers for the next few decades.

**678 RH:** An unprecedented army of Merfolk emerges from the depths surrounding the ruins of Riverport, driving back the humans and establishing a firm foothold in the area.

**682 RH:** Crime continues to rise in Capital City despite the incarceration and execution of several nobles. Public sentiment moves toward the lower classes being to blame.

**685 RH:** A massive Riot erupts in Capital City. The riot is quelled but the damage to the city and its inhabitants is unprecedented.

**686 RH:** By order of the King, all those involved in the riot are captured and deported from the city and across the North Sea, where they are resettled in the now finished Kalvarr Prison. Reports from this time indicate that many of Capital City's lower class citizens were arrested and deported despite having no confirmed role in the riots. The mass-deportation conveniently abates the city's overpopulation issues.

**688 RH:** The Desert Pigmen found the small settlement of Gezura in the desert hills near Skytower.

**695 RH:** The first reported sighting of Redcap Lycanthropes around El Grand Cactissimo.

**700 RH:** The long-reigning sluglam empress Kallysta Han is accused of practicing Necromancy and being a disciple of Wan due to her unusual lack of aging. The sluglam kingdom erupts into civil war between those loyal to the empress and those who wish to see Necromancy destroyed forever.

**705 RH:** Elvish Remnant husks begin to venture forth from the Isle of the Ancessstors to learn about other races. Many of these husks are not accepted back into their own society, leading the husk race to an eventual relapse into secrecy.

**707 RH:** The sluglam civil war ends when a rogue cult of Necromancers is discovered by Haisho and his students and found to be the culprits behind the mass graverobbing of 669 RH. The incident quells public fear of Necromancy, especially in the continued absence of evidence that Empress Han is a Necromancer. Haisho's school is reopened on the condition that it remain the only condoned school for the study of Necromancy in Imperium. It remains that way to this day.

**714 RH:** A bizarre creature is killed outside Blackhollow. Due to its resemblance to certain mythological beasts, the creature is named Shadowman.

**720 RH:** Sir Cross is promoted to the rank of Soldier.

**731 RH:** Another Shadowman is killed near Capital City. The creatures are deemed strange but harmless unless provoked.

**739 RH:** Charon’s Underworld fortress is sacked by the forces of Asura, prompting the Lord of Fire to withdraw from the Underworld. Several lesser Fire Elementals are scattered across the Underworld and continue to gravitate toward the ruins of the fortress, eventually recognizing Asura's authority and joining his ranks.

**743 RH:** A riot occurs at Kalvarr Prison but is quickly quashed.

**747 RH:** Rumours of Demons appearing around Imperium begin to emerge. One insists that a demon kidnapped a Neko woman to bring back to the Underworld as a pet.

**752 RH:** Another riot occurs at Kalvarr Prison. This one is assisted by the emergence of a Merfolk army at the prison, which is quickly overrun. The Merfolk and the liberated prisoners strike an alliance and share their respective footholds.

**755 RH:** The ravaged ruins of Riverport are rebuilt into a shady town which becomes known as Crabshoot Bay. A larger, shadier town known as Kalvarr sprouts up from the ruins of its prison namesake.

**761 RH:** Shadowmen become well known creatures of the night throughout Imperium, deemed to be wild and thus non-threatening.

**766 RH:** Explorers discover a cluster of wintery islands far off the coast of Olive Valley. The islands become known as the Frigid Isles. Disgraced human nobles from Capital City become the first to colonize these islands.

**772 RH:** The Bone Golem Witch Doctor known as Skazilli becomes well known among locals as a charismatic figure and spiritual leader in Black Gorge.

**775 RH:** After many centuries of infrequent trade, Capital City reestablishes a connection with the town of Rotwald, helping to bolster the economy of it and other settlements on Brightwood Isle.

**780 RH:** Explorers Discover a far off jungle island and found a small village on its outskirts. The village becomes known as Barkwatch and is frequently preyed upon in the future by the native Lamia. The island and jungle become known as Lamnar.

**793 RH:** Euvine observes the emergence of a peculiar species of mushroom people around the world tree Euvilias far out at sea. The islands surrounding Euvilias become known as the Sporelands.

**800 RH:** Lords Zephryn and Krom’Thor meet to discuss rising tensions between Earth and Air elementals.

**802 RH:** The first stonebird is created. These elemental birds are representatives of both Earth and Air.

**804 RH:**  The Diggers allow Windrush Canyon, one of their territories, to be built upon by Elementals.

**805 RH:** Renowned sluglam Necromancer Haisho visits Black Gorge and publicly recognizes the witch doctor Skazilli as his own creation from many years ago. Outraged, the Bone Golems drive the necromancer away. They later refuse to accept sluglams as their creators and eventually develop a distrust of Imperium’s history, instead placing increased importance in their own cultural heritage.

**808 RH:** Linda Lam is born in Oujounuma. She remains an only child until 821, when a younger brother is born into her family.

**810 RH:** The first Stonebird Race is held in Windrush Canyon. The sport quickly becomes a sensation across the continent, with many races quickly viewing it as a highly prestigious activity.

**811 RH:** The half-demon, half-neko Kortis becomes Mayor of Costa Del Nyan. The city becomes a major entertainment and leisure hub under his supervision.

**814 RH:** The humans found a small village known as Miner’s Nook in the mountains near Khamen.

**816 RH:** The first annual Windrush Championship is held, comprised of 30 races over the course of a year. Don Mendez of the Gatos is the first champion and will go on to become a racing legend.

**817 RH:** The Angels of Brightwood construct the Palace of Light using radiant crystals mined from deep beneath the forest.

**822 RH:** The human King travels to Ancestor Isle in a highly-publicized attempt to understand the local husks. He is killed by an accidental husk explosion. The human race reacts poorly.

**826 RH:** Rumours spread of humans hunting feral husks for sport. The practice of husk-hunting soon becomes commonplace in human culture.

**828 RH:**  The husks begin to send ambassadors into the world in an attempt to curb the practice of husk-hunting.

**832 RH:** Don Mendez retires from Stonebird Racing after a crippling accident. Lord Krom’Thor works to improve the safety of the stonebirds, which eventually become able to encase their riders in protective stone, decreasing the sport’s likelihood of fatality by a significant amount.

**836 RH:** After several more explosive accidents, the humans refuse husk ambassadors in any of their settlements, declaring husks to be barbarians and animals.

**838 RH:** A husk known as Pash’Ra becomes the first husk to race Stonebirds.

**841 RH:** Sightings of a Gorgon are reported in the Barkwatch Village area.

**846 RH:** Racism increases among humans after their  current racing champion is found to have cheated his way to multiple championships by magically enhancing his own Stonebird while cursing others. His name is wiped from the sport and many humans claim that he has been framed by husks.

**848 RH:** A failed assassination attempt on Pash’Ra cuts her incredible racing career short and forces her to retire to Ancestor Isle. The husks pin the attempt on racist humans.

**855 RH:** The intact remains of a mysterious ancient city are discovered by Diggers deep beneath Olive Valley. The site becomes known as the Lost City and turns into a tourist attraction preserved and run by Digger entrepreneurs.

**859 RH:** Reports surface of radical humans assaulting husk ambassadors across Imperium, prompting the husks to withdraw their connections to the outside world, leaving handfuls of hostile ‘feral’ husk tribes behind on the mainland. Of these, only the aggressive Slag Tribe remain in Ironfruit Jungle and become the sworn enemies of humankind. A smaller, less aggressive tribe known as the Root Tribe voice their support of the Slag Tribe and promise to kill any humans they find trespassing on their territory, which humans believe to be somewhere in the woods between Crabshoot Bay and Khur.

**862 RH:** The infamous Sulphur Lodge is founded in the unfortunate location of right next to a husk village. The lodge becomes famous for stubbornly continuing to exist in the face of rampant husk attacks.

**866 RH:** A horribly diseased tree is found in the mountains near Lady Light’s stronghold and is put out of its misery.

**870 RH:** Stonebird Races are put on hold after a series of tremors make Windrush Canyon unstable.

**875 RH:** A Core Worm, a massive beast of myth, is found living far beneath Windrush Canyon. Upon discovery, the beast becomes vicious and threatens to burst upwards and sunder the canyon. It is swiftly subdued by Earth Elemental forces.

**876 RH:** Efforts begin to restabilize the area beneath Windrush Canyon. The Diggers take charge of this effort and use the opportunity to further develop their underground network to encompass the Core Worm’s nest.

**879 RH:** More diseased trees are found in the woods near Lady Light’s stronghold. Elementals begin investigating what seems to be a rampant disease of some sort.

**883 RH:** The famed human ship The Iron Stag wrecks off the coast of Ironfruit Jungle. The survivors are ambushed by the Slag Tribe and murdered. The site of the attack becomes known as Blam Beach.

**885 RH:** Humans actively begin to seek out and destroy Slag Tribe settlements near Capital City.

Vexus is born in Underworldrack Village.

**888 RH:** The Royal Feldwich art gallery and library is established near Capital City. It is a gift from Lord Zephryn that is not well-received by Lord Krom'Thor or the wounded husk race.

**892 RH:** Gus Stevens is born to a wealthy family in Capital City.

**895 RH:** A secretive tribe of  human berserkers who use rare Rage magic are discovered in the remote Fang Peaks beyond Oujounuma. Reports claim that these berserkers may even be housing dragons.

**898 RH:** Nell is born in the Fang Peaks.

Reverend Sykes of Flamebane Village celebrates the birth of his first child Cedric. The child is blessed by Lord Zephryn himself.

**900 RH:** Linda is exiled from Oujounuma for unknown reasons. She will eventually settle in the far off Lamia Village due to a recommendation from her mentor Haisho.

**903 RH:** Lamel is born in the south seas of Imperium.

**904 RH:** Windrush Canyon is declared safe once more. Stonebird Races resume.

The Digger Capital of Dolgur becomes open to a select few wealthy travellers.

Natasha is born to a poor family in Costa Del Nyan.

**905 RH:** Anya is born to an exceedingly wealthy family in Costa Del Nyan.

The human village of Trent is founded by emigrants from Blackhollow, which claims to be plagued by strange hauntings as of late. Those who remain in Blackhollow become reclusive and distant.

**906 RH:** Twyg is born in a far off village somewhere in the South Seas.

Carrie is born on the Isle of the Ancessstors.

**907 RH:** Selkie is born in the north seas of Imperium.

Arciella is born in Trent and is seen as a good omen by the villagers.

**908 RH:** Reverend Sykes celebrates the birth of his second child, Lani, who is also blessed by Zephryn.

The diseased wildlife around Lady Light’s stronghold reaches epidemic proportions. Numerous locals begin to become infected as well, resulting in the advent of a deadly race known as vampires.

**912 RH:** Vespa is born and promptly abandoned in the Underworld by her parents.

Maddie is born in Blackhollow.

Ashley is born in the Highland Village.

**913 RH:** Ghost sightings around Blackhollow increase. Investigations reveal that the ghosts emerge from underground at night to prey on the living. The ghosts, which are soon known as Spiters, are averse to bones and will cease to exist upon contact with bones of any sort. Upon this discovery, the citizens of Blackhollow and surrounding areas begin to decorate their homes with bone ornaments.

**914 RH:** Lady Euvine herself travels to the woods surrounding Lady Light’s stronghold to assess the rampant disease. She finds that the disease is not reversible, and affects nearly 80% of those living in Brightwood. The village of Rotwald collapses into anarchy, and the non-vampiric survivors flee to the safety of the Palace of Light.

**915 RH:** Anya and Natasha become inseparable after Natasha’s parents are paid to tutor Anya in mathematics.

**917 RH:** The neko village of New Nyaren is founded in a valley between Olive Valley and the Tangerine Desert.

**918 RH:** Gus Stevens leaves Capital City to become an entrepreneur. He founds the small Gus Corporation, a venture dedicated to researching new technology.

**920 RH:** The Gus Corporation builds a small research facility in the woods between Crabshoot Bay and Khur. After only a few months of work there, the facility is destroyed and its inhabitants driven out or killed by the Root Tribe of husks who hold claim to the lands on which the facility was built. CEO Gus Stevens appeals to the humans of Crabshoot Bay and Blackhollow, finding enough sympathy to amass a militia of humans. This militia returns to the site of the facility and prompts a violent conflict with the Root tribe husks present there, managing to drive them out and occupy the ruins of the Guscorp facility. Two weeks pass, at which point human reinforcements arrive from Crabshoot Bay. The humans drive the remaining Root tribe members from the area, killing a large portion of their population in the process. Despite all this conflict, the humans come to the collective decision not to attempt to rebuild the research facility, instead moving north to begin construction on a more permanent base of operations for Guscorp...

**921 RH:** Krom’Thor decries the entire human race for their recent acts of violence against husks. The humans of Ironfruit and Crabshoot Bay respond defensively, claiming the husks are just as culpable. No other elemental or human population takes a side in the argument.

**924 RH:** Natasha becomes the first Neko to be allowed in the Stonebird races, largely due to behind-the-scenes agreements between Mayor Kortis and the Diggers responsible for managing the stonebirds.

**926 RH:** Gus meets a scientist named Katya who establishes Guscorp’s R&D division as a force to be reckoned with.

## The Crisis of Mankind (928-929 RH)

**928 RH:** Linda Lam leaves the Lamia Village after disagreements between her and the Gorgon Sasha.

Guscorp hires workers from Crabshoot Bay and Blackhollow to begin deforesting the woods surrounding their old research facility, using the materials gathered to bolster the construction of their new headquarters.

Husks of the decimated Root Tribe launch a coordinated attack on the village of Blackhollow in the wee hours of the morning, destroying it and murdering its inhabitants.

Lamel gains recognition as an artist of some repute for his Blue series.

Ghorf becomes the first High Warlord of the Mountain Pigmen to condone interracial marriage.

**929 RH:** The Root Tribe attack Trent but are thwarted by the intervention of local Nature Elementals, who summon a stampede of wild animals to drive back and scatter the tribe. Trent soon receives reinforcements from Crabshoot Bay to defend against subsequent attacks, but the Root Tribe is never again seen in the area.

Arciella disappears from Trent, reportedly on the back of a giant bird, headed toward the world tree Euvinian.

Humans sail toward Ancestor Isle with the intent to invade it. Lord Krom’Thor amasses his forces to meet the attackers head on. New technology supplied by the nascent Gus Corporation allows the humans to effectively fight the Earth Elementals, leading to a fierce conflict. In Capital City, pressure is put upon the current king, Feldwich III, to step down and cease attacks on the husks. Finally, after a rebellion, he is succeeded by Jens I, who withdraws his forces from the Isle of the Ancessstors. Shaky peace is declared. Krom'Thor warns Guscorp that any further acts against elemental sovereignty will result in the corporation's annihilation.

## The Present Day (the Age of Progress) (930 RH-)

**930 RH:** Carrie is exiled from Ancestor Isle for private reasons.

The Gus Corporation, or Guscorp, becomes a major player in the political scene of many races, especially the Mountain Pigmen. Construction of their towering corporate Headquarters north of their previous research facility concludes. The tower is heavily guarded at all times to curb the possibility of any husk attack.

While investigating the disease-ridden lands around Lady Light’s stronghold, Cedric Sykes becomes infected himself. The lands cease being known as Brightwood as mortal society on the island collapses completely into vampiric mayhem. The isle is henceforth known as Blightwood, despite the protests of the angels. Rumours circulate that even Lady Light has become infected with vampirism. The angels deny such rumours.

Vespa acquires a job cooking for the royal family in Capital City.

Arciella becomes a full-fledged priestess of the order of Euvine.

A group of nekos from New Nyaren moves back into the ruins of Old Nyaren and begin to rebuild.

**931 RH:** Carrie and the freshly exiled Bone Golem Clark construct a house above Olive Valley which becomes known as Gusbuster Base. Lani Sykes leaves home after disagreements with her father. She and Linda Lam move into GB base, along with the air elemental Cross.

Hired Guscorp soldiers under the command of Lady General Nell manage to locate the remaining members of the Root tribe of husks, who have lived in hiding since their attack on Blackhollow. Guscorp's forces massacre the tribe, with eyewitness accounts claiming that only the children were spared General Nell's wrath and left to survive on their own in the wilderness. Whether or not it was Nell's decision to spare them is unknown.

Nimue, Lady of Lakes, meets Linda Lam while visiting Lord Zephryn’s Sky Castle. The two become close ‘friends.’

Lord Charon condemns the angels for the state they have allowed Blightwood to come to, and declares war on the Palace of Light, with the intent to burn Blightwood to the ground so that the tormented land may be born anew.

**932 RH (present day):** Anya joins Guscorp, as does Vexus after extended communications with Gus. Nell is enlisted as a general.

Ashley meets a descendant of the ancient goat eater race. The two become close friends.

Lamel starts a ferry service to his new home in the frigid Isles.

Tensions rise between Gatos and Nekos over Natasha’s success as a Stonebird Racer.

Lord Charon speaks out against Lady Elarel, believing the aqua garden she has constructed near his tower is in fact a spy post. In retaliation, he annexes an area near one of Elarel’s shrines. Zephryn and Krom’Thor follow suit by constructing poorly concealed spy posts near one-another’s thrones.

Duke Caldryn arrives in Blightwood and leads the forces of Fire in laying siege to the forest. Rumours of Elemental unrest circulate.

The residents of GB base become known for disagreeing with Guscorp’s practices, particularly their blatant disrespect toward the natural world and their misdeeds done to the husk people.

The Guscorp Oil Rig is built off the coast of Olive Valley, funded by an unknown patron of Guscorp.

A mysterious explosion in the desert east of Skytower prompts Lord Zephryn to move the settlement of Gezura to a safer location. The desert becomes a site of bizarre magical disturbances and unnatural snows. It becomes known as the Glitchlands.

Rumours surface of hostility among Mountain Pigmen toward their Desert Cousins yet again...