Dark Ages

First Age >

## Pre-Adamantium

**-7600D**: The legendary elven city of Hathalas is founded nearly three thousand years before the arrival of humans on the continent. The date is difficult to pinpoint in Ministry years and is not exact.

**-4600D**: Approximately at this time the elves make first contact with the dwarves.

**-3100**: Records claim humanity arrives in Morgaea around this date. This is disputed by scholars, who ask where humans came from and why they left. The humans are said to have first appeared in the south as a single tribe known as the Oremeni.

**-2850D**: Elves first notice the quickening, which puts an end to their immortality and forces them to withdraw from human contact. This is thought to be mere legend.

**-2800D**: The Deceivers begin whispering to humanity from the Dreaming. They teach the Dreamers of the Oremeni tribes magic. These Dreamers become the priests and rulers of their people.

**-2415D**: The Drahanim tribes cross the White Spine and settle in the lands that will eventually become known as Nordain. Drahanim tribal legends say they were fleeing a “shadow goddess”, but modern scholars believe they were escaping some kind of natural disaster.

**-1815D**: The Drahanim living near what is known today as Lake Lontan break away, becoming known as the Cleve. The two tribes fight with each other for several centuries, though unite when the need arises.

**-1700D**: The Oremeni tribes split and form four ancient kingdoms: Oremenia, Estagon, Stiria, and Phabet.

**-1595D**: Proteus, also known as the First Apostle of Vemon, is the first known person to wield blood magic, and the first magister. The Archon claims to to have learned this art after personally communicating with the Dragon-God. The power he gained from blood magic allowed him to spark the birth of a future empire under his rule.

**-1415D**: The Welserine break away from the Drahanim tribes and settle in the wild and unexplored Welserine Wilds.

**-1207D**: Carinius, the High King of Stiria, takes control of the Estagon throne, uniting the kingdoms of Stiria and Estagon under his rule.

**-1200D**: Archon Carinius ventures into the Underways and forges an alliance with King Endark Stonehammer, ruler of the Dwarven Empire.

* The dwarven contests known as Provings become popular among the noble class of the Estagon. A Grand Proving Arena is built in the City of Adamantium.

## Pre-Scourge

**0 AE or -1195D**: Carinius unites the kingdoms Stiria and Phabet, forming the mighty Adamantine Imperium. He declares himself the first Archon. Prior to this event, only scattered fragments are known. It is believed that elves existed in the land first and that humans came from elsewhere—though there are many theories about from where that might be, and few historians agree. Some suggest that humans came from across the ocean as the Orcimar did, but if so, there is no record from such a time. Humans spread across Morgaea - as various tribes of people known as the Thracian and the Drahanim, and those started other tribes such as Lyriane and the Anamene - but it is the Adamantines, centered on the port city of Adamantium, who became ascendant.

* History records that elves and humanity were hostile toward each other and that the Adamantium led the way in aggressive retaliation against the elven city of Hathalas. The elves responded by retreating from human contact, and the Adamantines thus flourished and spread. The first "dreamers" learned the use of lucenium to enter the Dreaming from elven captives, and these dreamers later became the first of the Adamantium's ruling magisters.

**15 AE or -1180D**: Archon Carinius of the Adamantium dies.

**25 AE or -1170D**: The ruler of the dwarven empire, King Endark Stonehammer, moves the capital of the empire from Nar-Lodahr to Ondrathum, as trade with the surface becomes more and more vital for the prosperity of the dwarves, and because of the internal turmoil caused in the Adamantium following Carinius' death.

* The Ondrathum Proving Grounds are expanded for the Grand Provings, previously held in Nar-Lodahr. The winners of these Provings become the first of Ondrathum’s Exemplars. Stonehammer orders the construction of a hall to house huge statues made in their honor.

**64 AE or -1131D**: King Endark Stonehammer is made an Exemplar on his deathbed, and becomes known as the "First Exemplar" presumably for his vast accomplishments.

**214 AE or -981D**: The hostility that festered between the Adamantium and the elves of Elveshaal finally turn into open conflict. Armies of the Adamantium surrounded the fabled elven city of Hathalas.

**220 AE or -975D**: The Magisters resorted to a horrifying blood ritual that sank Hathalas into the earth, destroying it utterly and deciding the war in their favor. The conquest of the elven kingdom was complete: All those who did not perish with their city were enslaved, their spirit crushed and their ancient culture destroyed.

**300 AE or -895D**: The Adamantium expands rapidly, bolstered by its new elven slaves. It takes nearly all of southern Morgaea and begins the conquest of lands across the Narrow Sea.

**315 AE or -880D**: The Adamantium settles the island of Westenia and fortifies its bay. The port is built for repairing warships.

**435 AE or -760D**: Archon Mettius ascends to the throne of the Adamantium.

**480 AE or -715D**: The Adamantium begins several campaigns to subjugate the barbarous Drahanim tribes in the Nordish Valley. After many near losses, they manage to hold the central region for a time and pave the Northern Adamant Highway from the White Spine to the fortress of Genedara.

**483 AE or -712D**: The First Adamantine expedition against the Cleve in the White Spine.

**500 AE or -695D**: The eastern part of the Adamantium rebels to form Netheren, mainly populated by the Tharnid people.

**503 AE or -692D**: Archon Mettius is assassinated. His apprentice Rodarion inherits the throne. Civil wars break out in the Adamantium.

**555 AE or -640D**: Archon Rodarion dies without an heir. The civil war continues, and the magisters fight for power.

**575 AE or -620D**: Numidius, the last of the great Imperial cities, is founded in the distant north of the Adamantium by the powerful magister, Numidius Kravarus. Elven slaves were brought in by the thousands to work the stone quarries, and suffered hardships that would give the city a dark and bloody reputation. In time it became known as the "City of Chains," the center of the Adamantine slave market, and the destination of all those captured by the spread of arcane rule.

* Archon Varthenius claims the throne of the Adamantium, and brings an end to the civil war.

**620–640s AE or -575D to -555D**: The largest civil war of the Adaamantium is usually cited as when it began to decline markedly from its golden age. The magisters of the various noble houses wield terrible power but still seek more; their competition with each other leads to human sacrifice, and demon summoning becomes a regular occurrence. When two of the largest Adamantine houses battle to claim the Archon's throne, the Adamantium is almost split in two. The resulting war left ruins and battlefields where the magical wounds continues to be felt to this day. Peace is brokered in the Senate to prevent the dissolution of the Adamantium, but the nobility continues its oppression of the masses in an effort to achieve supremacy.

**660 AE or -535D**: After generations of independence, Netheren is reconquered by the Adamantium.

**785 AE or -410D**: A group of voshu is believed to land in the northern Welserine Wilds, establishing a colony. They are likely killed off in the First Scourge, giving rise to the first appearance of ogres on the continent.

**800 AE or -395D**: According to Ministry lore, seven of the most powerful magister lords, seeking more power, open a gate to the Golden City at the heart of the Dreaming. The result is catastrophic: The Golden City becomes tainted, and the magisters bring the taint into the world, creating the first fiends.

## The Scourge

The Dragon-God Vemon is freed and transformed into the first Archfiend. The First Scourge begins. The fiendish hordes attack en masse, concentrating at first on the underground Underways of the dwarven empire. The dwarven kingdoms begin to fall by 815 AE and the race being at the brink of collapse, are saved from annihilation by the actions of Exemplar Grynar. The fiendish hordes use the Underways to appear throughout the continent. All of the Adamantium is under siege and in a state of chaos. Finally, the nations of the Adamantium begin to settle in for a long war as they become accustomed to the surges of fiends. Communication becomes difficult across the Adamantium, but cooperation is paramount. The Adamantine pray to the remaining High Pantheon for help against Vemon, but they receive only silence. With the people's faith waning, unrest sees many temples destroyed as the Adamantines begin to turn from the Dragon-Gods, believing themselves forsaken. This dark period lasts for over 200 years, extending post Scourge.

**840 AE or -355D**: The Scourge has yet to reach the Drahanim. They are instead caught up in a war with the Cleve. In the Battle of Redfall, Drahanim warrior Lugas Dwarfson fights Gwen'nan, Cleve warrior queen. Both die in the battle. The Order of Ashcloaks is founded in Dwarfson's honor.

**890 AE or -305D**: The Grey Order is founded at Greyhold Fortress in Netheren, dedicated to wiping out the fiends wherever they should rise. The organization is formed primarily of veterans from the countless battles against the fiendish hordes. They maintain communications within the Adamantium and strike quickly wherever fiends appear, quickly erecting fortresses everywhere and receiving tithes and supplies from all lands.

**940 AE or -255D**: The dwarven Exemplar Beladin creates the first golem to battle the fiendish hordes terrorizing the Underways. The dwarves begin to retake lost hewnholds and reclaim parts of the Underways.

**947 AE or -248D**: Beladin disappears along with the secret to creating golems, and the dwarven kingdoms continue their descent into oblivion.

**992 AE or -203D**: The Grey Order gathers the forces of humanity and confront Vemon at the colossal Battle of the Silent Steppes in the northern reaches of the Adamantium. Vemon is ultimately destroyed by the Rangers of the Grey, and the fiendish forces routed. Though fiends are still large in their numbers and still battle mankind, they are no longer directed by Vemon's power and become scattered. The covenants ensuring the powers and rights of the Grey Order date from this year.

* The prophet Sibylla is born in the Drahanim lands. The exact year of her birth is hotly contested by scholars.

**1000 AE or -195D**: Slowly, the last of the fiendish hordes are defeated. They are forced into the Far Steppes, east of Netheren, and into the Underways. For the dwarves, the war continues underground, but for humanity, the battle is believed to be over. After centuries of fighting, the once mighty Adamantium is now weak.

## Post-Scourge

**1008 AE or -187D**: Sibylla marries Thetsoll, a Drahanim chieftain.

**1009 AE or -186D**: Sibylla preaches of a new god, whom she calls the Watcher. The more she says, the more her following grows. Thetsoll uses her teachings to unite the Drahanim clans under his authority.

**1011 AE or -184D**: The Adamantium's influence recedes in northern Morgaea as the City of Adamantium rebuilds.

* The Welserine claim the fortress of Genedara.

**1015 AE or -180D**: A massive horde of Drahanim led by the warlord Thetsoll and Sibylla cross the Narrow Sea to invade the Adamantium. Their advance is helped by natural disasters and slave rebellions.

* The Adamantium abandons the island of Westenia to focus on mainland troubles. The island remains largely uninhabited for ages.

**1024 AE or -171D**: East of the City of Adamantium, the Battle of Valarius Fields is fought between the Drahanim and the Adamantium. Thetsoll is victorious. At that battle the elven slave Febrion takes Thetsoll's side and leads other elves in the fight against their Adamantine oppressors. He later converts and is made a disciple, only to have his writings suppressed following the Second Crusade.

**1025 AE or -170D**: In exchange for a truce and promise of lands, Thetsoll makes a secret pact with Archon Janerius of the Adamantium. He betrays Sibylla in Khecaster, one of their strongholds, and allows her to be taken to the City of Adamantium for execution. While Sibylla burns at the stake, Archon Janerius takes pity on her and stabs her through the heart. Disciple Marcolt, loyal to Sibylla, collects her ashes and carries them back north to the White Spine.

**1030 AE or -165D**: After the death of Sibylla, the barbarian army disperses. Thetsoll is granted the lands of northern Morgaea. He keeps the Nordish Valley for himself, while dividing what will become Maudet, the nation of Anderlay, and the Freemarks between his three sons.

* The land between the Narrow Sea and the White Spine is given to the freed elves by Thetsoll as a homeland and is called the Sylvandale. The Long Walk begins as elves from across the Adamantium begin traveling to the Sylvandale, largely on foot, and are preyed upon by disease and robbers, causing massive chaos.

**1035 AE or -160D**: A cult devoted to Sibylla's teachings spreads rapidly in the north, but is largely disorganized and is very unpopular with the temples of the High Pantheon. However, Archon Janerius converts the Adamantium to Sibyllism, beginning the Transfiguration, and reveals Thetsoll's treachery. The Drahanim abandon Thetsoll, and northern Morgaea collapses into anarchy. Back in the lands of the barbarians, groups which are claiming to be the Disciples of Sibylla are formed, and the new religion begins to grow, referred to collectively as "the cults of the Watcher."

**1040 AE or -155D**: The Lyriane in present-day Maudet unite in a moment known as the Grand Unification.

**1060 AE or -135D**: The Drahanim in the Nordish Valley fall into a long series of internal wars as various warlords attempt to replace Thetsoll.

**1065 AE or -130D**: The Holy Tome is created by Sibylla's disciples, collecting her story and her teachings. Numerous versions of the Holy Tome are written over time, with different interpretations of what Sibylla taught about the Watcher, each prevalent in different regions.

**1070 AE or -125D**: Archon Janerius dies in his sleep. Many in the western and northern provinces of the Adamantium push for secession, fearing his successor, Archon Orentius, will restore the Deceivers and their clergy.

**1075 AE or -120D**: Rebellion begins in the west as the Ghalleni attempt to split off from the Adamantium. The resulting campaigns to stop the rebellion distract the Adamantium from its attempts to reconquer the Freemarks and allows the north to gather its strength. Many of the western cities in the Freemarks intervene on the behalf of the Ghalleni.

**1095 AE or -100D**: The Vigilants of Sibylla are founded around this time. The loose association of Sibyllan hard-liners hunt heretics and mages in the name of the Watcher.

**1151 AE or -53D**: After several losses that culminated in the disastrous Battle of Tammeryn, the Adamantium finally abandons the west.

**1151 AE or -44D**: The Kingdom of Ghallen is formed.

**1155 AE or -40D**: By order of High King Threestone the dwarves of Ondrathum seal the Underways that lead to the remaining kingdoms of Nar-Lodahr, Bhorndan, and Dighagh in a desperate bid to survive.

**1159 AE or -36D**: Castiana Volantus, mother of Caecillius Volantus, is named gothi of the tribes of the Lyriane.

**1165 AE or -30D**: The city-state of Venadrad expands and becomes a nation.

**1170 AE or -25D**: As the borders of the Adamantium recede, Numidius becomes one of their lone outposts within a distant and violent frontier. The city is surrounded by the Kingdom of Lyriane, the barbarian Freemarks, the Drahanim, as well as the new elven homeland of the Sylvandale. Despite its isolation, the city fought off many invading armies and did not fall until the slaves within the city finally rebelled, executing their Adamantine rulers in an orgy of violence. Possession of the fortress city remained contested for centuries to come, but it would never again rejoin the Adamantium. No longer under Adamantine rule, the city changed its name to Blackwall, and became part of the Freemarks.

**1180 AE or -15D**: The last of the Underlands are sealed, cutting off Nar-Lodahr which is presumed lost to the horde. The dwarves of Nar-Lodahr survive, however, and never forgive the dwarves of Ondrathum for their decision.

**1184 AE or** **-11D:** The cults of the Watcher spread quickly, resulting in the commencement of construction of the first great temple in Ducailles, which becomes the center of worship for the new faith. One of its most fervent followers is the young king of Maudet, Caecilius Volantus. Volantus begins a series of holy wars in the name of the Watcher, quickly proving himself to be one of the greatest generals in history.

**1192 AE or** **-3D:** Having conquered several neighboring city-states and forcing others to submit to his overlordship, Caecilius Volantus is crowned emperor of the new Maudesian Empire in Ducailles. His ambitions to spread farther south into the Freemarks are confounded by constant pressures from the Sylvandale to the west.

* The Ministry is formed by Emperor Volantus as he formalizes the Watcher's cult as an official religion. The emperor commands that missionaries be sent forth into the other lands, thus spreading the Ministry's teachings.

First Age >