History

**"*The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.*"**  **— Diero de Naessens**

**History** is the study of events that have previously transpired. It is considered to be one of the primary fields in academia, particularly in the social sciences. Several institutions and organizations are expressly dedicated to its study, while others include it in their curriculum.

Among the eminent institutions dedicated to the study of history in Erideon are the Athenaeum in Roulan, the Veredyne Lyceum in Coburg, the Pontifical Institute in Freienthal, and the Hanseatic Academy in Vaalburght.

History in Erideon is typically organized into ages. In the standard calendar, the date at the beginning of the campaign is the 18th of May of the year 120 of the 3rd Age (18 May 120 3A).

## Conventional History

It is known by the Usual Suspects that Conventional History has been doctored and edited to an unacceptable degree, to the point where only the historiography of the third age is valid in any sense of the word.

### Timeline of the Third Age

* 0 3A -- the Glorious Revolution and the establishment of the New Monarchy.
* 3 3A -- the unification of Keldar is ratified.
* 18 3A -- eruption of the Endless War.
* 43 3A -- Mzundelft is destroyed by volcanic eruptions. It is now known Logarius of Tyrland was responsible for such machinations, in order to forestall the use of the terrible contraption in the Golden Tower.
* 12 May 120 3A -- Eden Campaign begins.

### Before the First Age

It is believed only dragons, the elder race, lived prior to the first age.

### First Age

Only myths and legends are known of the First Age. However, most commoners believe that the gods walked the Earth during this time. At the start of the first age, the younger races are believed to have been created -- Elves, Dwarves, and so on and so forth. At the end of the first age, Humans began to appear. There is much debate about the length of this age, the events that transpired in it, and so forth.

The knowledge of this age is almost entirely comprised of popular myths and legends, which are, of course, very different from the objective study of **History**.

### Second Age

This age, although still largely intertwined with myth and legend, is easier to study. Great progress was achieved, but at great cost -- it sowed the seeds for the first conflicts and wars. Scholars agree that the second age lasted anywhere from 4500 to 6000 years. For the sake of convention, the long scale is used.

#### The Eternal War

Main article: Eternal War
It is rumored that the Eternal War between the Surface and the Underdark began in the Second Age. As with many events in the beginning of the Second Age, much of the information about the origin of this conflict appears to have been fused with myth and superstition; what is known is that the conflict has been the bloodiest conflict known to the study of History.

#### The Great Conqueror

There are tales and legends of a great conqueror who ruled the world during this age, but all records and memory of this individual appear to have vanished; such beliefs now only reside in the tales of old wives, and the mutterings of the mad and the insane.

### Third Age

The third age is the only age in which events have been tracked and recorded with some amount of reliability. Although initially peaceful, the third age has rapidly seen a number of conflicts spread across the land.

Still in its early days, the spirit of the Third Age is yet to be determined.

#### The Glorious Revolution

Main article: Glorious Revolution
The Old Monarchy becomes the New Monarchy and such... led by the nobleman of Verhasselt, Laurence I Istiniac, who is chosen by the nobles as the first of the new sovereigns, the Old Monarchy was toppled and the democratic government that now rules Aldia was established.

#### The Unification of Keldar

Main article: Kelic compact
The unification of the fractious Keldari and Duranian duchies, in western Erideon, ocurred as a result of religious fervor by bloodless popular uprising. The Pontiff of the Kelic religion, known there as the Ideal Path, was chosen the spiritual leader of the realm, and the Grand Master of the military wing of this faith assumed temporal control of the now-united Holy Order.

Ever since the demise of the last Pontiff, however, the Conclave (likely influenced by the Grand Master) has failed to elect a new Pontiff. Hence, the Grand Master has assumed near-total control of all facets of life in the Holy Order, acting as a Warlord and Despot over the substantial military resources of the Eastern realm.

#### The Endless War

Main article: Endless War
The New Monarchy and the Holy Order both place the blame on the other for the Endless War, but scholars agree that both were to blame. Aldia initially had the upper hand, and its forces invaded great portions of the Holy Order; However, the war has rapidly descended into a desperate defensive affair for the New Monarchy over the last few decades.

## Real History

By the knowledge acquired by the Usual Suspects to this point, there have been at least six ages in the true history of the World, as opposed to the conventional Three-Age model, which is patently false.

It seems obvious that whoever was responsible for the erasing of memories, apparently an act of desperation, fabricated the three-age model in order to erase the historical records of the entirety of the six ages.

### Timeline

* 6,000 years ago: Heaven's Reach constructed by the Elves.
* ca. 5,000 years ago: Rule of Logarius. Faith of Tyr first emerges.
* ca. 4,000 years ago: Downfall of Logarius.
* 1,754 years ago: Corruption of Heaven's Reach

### First Age

The Age of Dragons. Unknown duration. Little is known of this age, even to scholars of the true history of the world, mostly the Aetherial Council, but it is believed Dragons created the Universe at this point, or at least the Nexus.

### Second Age

The Age of Elves. Lasted for at least 1,000 years, but its true duration is unknown. The first mortal races spawn in the Nexus. Little is known of this age, even to scholars of the true history of the world, mostly the Aetherial Council. Even the minds of Elves have lost the memory of this age. It is known, however, that the Elves built many cities and civilizations, including Heaven's Reach, which may have been their ancient capital.

### Third Age

The Age of Logarius. Lasted for 1,032 years. The Son of Gods rules over the Nexus in great lordship, extending his demesne to many of the other planes as well. He builds many great cities, including Roulan (then known as the Footstool of Paradise). It is believed he propagated the religion of Tyr and Argastus, his supposed parents. His downfall leads to the fourth age.

### Fourth Age

The Second Age of Elves. Lasted for 2,334 years. Considered to begin when Dragons largely vanish from the material plane, or at least from the sight of mortals. Around this point of time, Humans first appear in the Nexus. The destruction of Heaven's Reach, the old Elven city being sacrificed to forestall the Corruption, signals the start of the fifth age.

### Fifth Age

The Previous Age. Lasted for 1,634 years. Coincides with OTL 2nd age. Did not last for 4,000 to 6,000 years, as this entire collection of additional history has now been revealed to be a fabrication, probably by Logarius of Tyrland, the Last of the Dragons.

### Sixth Age

The Present Age. Has lasted 120 years. Coincides with OTL 3rd age.