Timeline

This article, **Timeline**, contains information that is far beyond the reach of any mortal in Esria. Most characters simply do not know these truths.

## **Era of Discord ( <0 )**

-**670:** **An unnamed noble of the Aeranardal dynasty** outlines the rules and structures that are later used to govern the vast Alvyri Vandryl.

-**332:** **The native humans of Agaroth unite** their island domain, electing their first king.

## **Arcane Era ( 0 - 533 )**

**251: The Kingdom of Leoben is founded** as the first Astrian kingdom, and takes its place as a major regional power.

**312: The Kingdom of Vesryn and the Astran Isles is founded** by the legendary warrior Vulwyn Venhorn.

**381: The Fire Ritual of Londorwyn** annihilates the dominant Alvyri Vandryl, smothering all life in the Arcadian heartlands in the name of the Archangel Netheriel.

**431: The Order of the Ermine Sepulchre is founded** to protect the royal tombs of the Kings of Yndria. It later grows into a secretive police force dedicated to the destruction of magic users.

**530: Thibauld leads his warriors southwards from Ostia and forms the Kingdom of Auvais-Chane**, which five years later forms the basis for the Holy State of Saint-Astan.

## **Era of Harvest ( 534 - 1079 )**

**534: Aden, one of the Everchosen and the first mortal to walk freely in the Kingdom of Heaven** returns from Heaven to Esria. His writings outline the foundation upon which the core beliefs of the Church of the Heavens are later built.

**535: The griffon cavalry of Vesryn is formed.** It serves originally as a policing force, and then develops into a unit suited for warfare.

**672: Leobische settlers and ostgrenzers finish their migration eastward and found the Kingdom of Halengard.** Eventually, the nation forms its own culture and customs, and becomes distinctly different from Leoben.

**929: The western continent of Arcadia is recolonised** by intrepid Mediran explorers, leading to a period of discovery and a clamour to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of the once dominant Empire of the Elves.

**944: The first Sanyar explorers** venture beyond their remote borders, and in doing so, are discovered for the first time.

**1068: The Farwynd dynasty of Vesryn** invades the shores of Ostia with a vast army. There they establish the first settlements that eventually grow to become the civilised Territory of Ostia.

## **Common Era ( 1080 - 1381 )**

**1098: The Zelhardt Family, along with Rynburg, is founded** by Alaric Zelhardt. The city is built in between the mountain chain known as the the Angel Peaksand the river Ryn in Leoben, becoming a vital centre of commerce due to the major trading lane known as the Eastroad passing through it.

**1200: The Isle of Westyre is claimed by the Kingdom of Vesryn.** It is declared an overseas territory, and begins to steadily grow as the crown establishes a foothold in the west.

**1232: As part of The Great Ride, steppe orc chieftains herald a period of Orcish aggression against the rest of Esria. A great warband of the Bektaigar dynasty lands on the eastern shores of Western Astria.** Pillaging and murdering as they please, they lay claim to land from the kingdoms of Leoben, Saint-Astan and Medira and declare it to be a new territory named Olkhun.

**1233:** **Another great warband begins its widespread rape and pillage, heading towards Eastern Astria. It achieves success in the northern Goblin kingdoms, but halts to lay waste to the Kingdom of Halengard.** Although not an official period of war, the raids mark a new era of rivalry between Akhatai and Halengard, and serves as a testament to the Orcish tenacity and belief in racial superiority.

**1330: The Lafayette dynasty under Henri I** inherits the Kingdom of Vesryn and enacts a series of reforms in the hopes of creating a centralised Vesryne empire. The changes are largely effective, but not recognised by the other regional powers.

**1346: The Vesryne King Henri I** is assassinated, and most members of the Lafayette dynasty are massacred. Edric de Laurelay takes the throne. **1358: The Ostian War of Independence.** The nation of Ostia, under the command of the then-Duke and future King Arron I Willard rises up in arms against the Kingdom of Vesryn and the Astran Isles. Ostia succeeds in gaining their independence, effectively ending Vesryn's continental influence and curtailing its aspirations.

**1358: The Great Forsaking of Harbrook**. A huge amount of soldiers-at-arms under both Vesryn and Ostia engage in battle at the town of Harbrook. A basilica of the Archangel Israphel is burnt down, and on the following day all life in the town is annihilated by an unseen force presumed to be divine. Used as proof of the Archangels existence for decades after.

**1364: The Black Chalice is unearthed in a series of underground burial tombs north of Lanskroun.**Archaeologists serving the local lord report the artifact to the castle at Moldauthein, and the King of Halengard rides with the court bishop to observe the phenomenon. Despite the magic of the world fading, the chalice is found to emanate a great aura, and is seized by the King. It is taken back to Moldauthein, where it sits dormant for another eight years.

**1381: The Long Night.** The culmination of the events of the Heartstone Crisis. The world is enveloped in darkness for several months, before being destroyed entirely. However, it is saved by the actions of a few heroes. The Archangel Netheriel and his servants are destroyed, and magic returns to the world after sixteen years of decline.

## **Blessed Era ( 1382 - 1595 )**

**1383: The Empire of Ivryl is founded.**Empress Emryn the Everburning begins restoring the Golden City of Londorwyn on the site of the Alvyri Vandryl, inviting all Elves back to their ancient homeland, and declaring a new era of peace for Arcadia.

**1385: The newly crowned King Reynard IV of Vesryn decrees that all Elven territories be handed back to the crown.** After a tumultuous dispute involving protests at province capitals, the territories of Nela Esari and Nela Estel are greatly reduced. While the new county-sized title of Elyn Estel continues to exist, albeit with greatly reduced authority and population, the Elven forest city of Elyn Esari is left behind as its population leaves for Arcadia. Elyn Maer, already deeply influenced by Vesryne culture, remains largely unaffected.

**1416: Empress Emryn the Everburning dies in combat.** Sacrificing herself to destroy the Asevian army, she is succeeded by her adoptive daughter, Jaeryn.

**1416: The Asevian Invasion is defeated in Vesryn, having defeated most of Western Astria.** The colossal red dragon known as the Mountain Tyrant is slain by Theobold Cagus and Gabrielle Moreau in the course of the battle, ending centuries of oppression for the people of Asevia.

**1416: King Reynard IV is killed during an assault on the palace of Griffon's Rest in Vesryn's capital, Hawkrun.** The assassination is carried out by a rogue element of the Royal Army, spearheaded by the former prince turned adventurer Lucièn Lafayette and his fated queen, Gabrielle Moreau.

**1417: Lucièn Lafayette is officially crowned King of Vesryn.** The truth of the assassination is kept secret from the public, and the death of the former king is attributed to soul sickness. Rumours expressing doubt and suspicion, however, are not uncommon. The kingdom wastes no time preparing for further conflict.

**1420: The First Halesche Crusade** begins.

**1427: The Kingdom of Vesryn declares war and later annexes large parts of Saint-Astan.** King Lucièn I declares the right of conquest and vows to usher in a new era of Vesryne superiority. The posturing is condemned by many of the Astrian countries, who are mostly powerless to stop the actions due to their occupation and destruction by the Asevians over a decade earlier.

**1428: The Church of the Royal Creed is founded** and is made the official religion of Vesryn. It enjoys a great deal of privileges, especially in the colonial regions where it is used to snuff out belief in the Heavens. Later, in 1457 B.E, it becomes the Church of the Imperial Creed.

**1429: Aidan Reyne is appointed the first Hierophant of the Creed**, and starts to build the foundations of stability within the religion.

**1436: The Kingdom of Vesryn begins sending large amounts of men and equipment to former Saint-Astan.** The Queen, Gabrielle Moreau, reportedly visits the lines and orders military exercises to be conducted.

**1437:** **Aidan Reyne finishes developing Tarot magic.** It is used to strengthen the aethereal links connecting the druidic gods to the world, allowing them to be contacted and worshipped by skilled practitioners of the art. Unbeknownst to him, this attracts the attention of many other beings of the world beyond, including the enigmatic celestial Riegel.

**1439:** **Belief in the Heavens begins to rapidly decline** as the druidic gods of the Royal Creed begin to have a palpable effect on the world.

**1454: The Kingdom of Vesryn invades Ostia.** Over the next three years, it conducts an aggressive war of conquest resulting in total annexation of the territories.

**1457: King Lucièn I declares Vesryn's regional power over Western Astria.** He begins styling himself as Emperor of Greater Vesryn. Aidan Reyne, the first Hierophant, crowns him in the throne room at Griffon's Rest, marking the start of Vesryn's period of transition into an Empire.

**1474: The Empire of Ivryl officially ceases to exist following the death of Empress Jaeryn I.** The founding kingdoms of Londorwyn, Caralan and Amareth establish themselves as independent entities once more.

**1474: The second Hierophant of the Imperial Creed, an Ostian named Granwell Verne, is appointed.** His idealism and zeal lead to an even more dedicated movement to tear down belief in the Church of the Heavens.

**1495: The Royal Air Arm of Vesryn is created, and Vesryn's aerial forces enter a period of modernisation.** The position of Sky Marshal is created, and the forces are expanded to include a professional system designed to introduce discipline and order to a force plagued with bravado and independent airmen.

**1497: The Holy Barrier protecting Esria begins to rapidly weaken.** Although very few, some celestial beings with enough power are able to pass through to Esria, inviting unwanted attention from the great beyond.

**1501: The mysterious celestial being Riegel establishes an aethereal link to Esria.**

**1511: Following the adoption of durable cannon and military airship technology by the kingdoms of Auvais-Chane and Leoben,** the Royal Air Arm of Vesryn is expanded to include multiple warships with a fleet of logistical and civilian airships working on contract to support full-time operations. This marks the beginning of a change in how aerial warfare is conducted.

**1515: The West Astrian Alliance is formed to resist the aggressive expansion of the Empire of Greater Vesryn.** Seeking to curtail the seemingly endless ambition of Emperor Lucien I, the nations of Auvais-Chane and Leoben form a historically significant military pact to support one another in times of war. The Republic of Medira remains neutral for the time being.

**1567: The Nasiran Empire is officially created after a confederation of Deyazi states agrees upon reformation.** Immediately, they look to challenge the aspirations of their two imperial rivals, Greater Vesryn and West Astria.

## **Imperial Era ( 1596 - )**

**1600: The Greater Vesryn Hermetic Society discovers the sciences behind electricity.** Copper wiring is used to distribute electricity for lighting and limited heating in major cities.

**1602: A temporal anomaly occurs in Caerle.** At Caerle, the capital of the Empire of Vesryn, onlookers witness the adventurers Lucièn Lafayette, Gabrielle Moreau, Ishka Vural Yasar, Tark Zelhardt and Theobold Cagus rip through time from 1416. Bewildered, crowds gather around a mysterious orb before the Caerle Constabulary arrive on the scene. The group escapes back through time just as the soldiers discharge their rifles, wounding two men stood on the opposite side of the crowd. The event is recorded in local newspapers, before it is suddenly and mysteriously pulled from publication.

**1604: The Kingdom of Heaven, devoid of worship from the mortal plane,** weakens to a point that it can no longer defend itself. While the vile underplane of Hell spews demons into the void, its barriers no longer able to be maintained, the gates to Heaven are forced open by the scheming devil Virgil, utilising the Black Halo. The weakened Archangels and their kin are destroyed, but not before sending a desperate final message to Esria's last heroes. In the chaos, Israphel sends the heavenly champion Árvakr Alfarrsson into the celestial void, where his soul is later preyed upon by Virgil.

**1606: The new Archangel Ariel, with the aid of the Heroes of Havelport and the power of the immortal soul of the wizard Cyril Faulkner, recreates the world one final time.** Along with the permanent sealing of a greatly weakened Hell, Esria and its adjacent planes are reborn anew. The evils of the world beyond are corrected for good.