(Old) Timeline

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This page is a record of all notable events, ages, and eras of the Age of Arcana universe. It is meant for the purpose of cross-referencing, for the sake of speed and accuracy. It is set to the world standard of time, which is itself based off of the Cra'awrios Calendar.

This article is largely a mix of in-world knowledge and out-of-world knowledge. Where most articles are written with only knowledge known inside the universe itself, this article is meant to be used as a cross-reference for technical purposes. Thus, many events are known only out-of-universe. These will be marked with a † at beginning and end. (ALT 0134) Currently marked up to Ethereal Era, more to be marked later.

## Eras

Overview of the various eras, the largest category of time in the study of world history.

### Creation Eras

1. Nascent Era - 4,998,346,167 BC to 4,346,545,571 BC - The birth of Vennar itself, the very creation of the world. (This entire era is out-of-universe knowledge.)†
2. Ethereal Era - 4,346,545,570 BC to 3,694,744,974 - The era of celestials and infernals, starting from their creation and ending with their banishment. It is near the end of this era the primordials were created as well.

### Mortal/Modern Eras

1. Vigilant Era - 3,694,744,973 BC to 985,803 BC - Begins with the creation of the dwarves, and extends over their defense of the passageways against the infernals and, to a lesser extent, celestials who attempted to cross back into the world, and ending with the creation of the elves. By an immense margin the longest era of them all.
2. Alvoran Era - 985,802 BC to 565,647 BC - The era of the elves, stretching from their creation to the Primordial War. Most of known ancient history takes place within this era.
3. Primordial War - The war between dragon and primordial begins, and the era ends with the death of Vennar and the birth of the orcs.
4. Forgotten Era - 565,646 BC to 277,351 BC - The period of time after the Primordial War before written history, and of which little evidence remains. Largely the exodus era of primordials, and the the beginning of the dragon's current solitary outlook.
5. Era of the Magi - 277,350 BC to 1 BC - The birth of magic, and the first scraps of written history as mortal kind claws its way back into intelligent and civilized thought. Ends with the first contact of the three landmasses.
6. Age of Arcana - PC 1 to Present Day - The current era, and the start of the world calendar. Currently an era of mass magical usage, technological and social advancement, rediscovery of ancient history, and war.

## †Nascent Era

* †Vennar is created, or is formed in the vastness of space through chance. At first simply a molten sphere of hollow rock around the central star. Later cools and forms into a solid crust and mantle.†
* †Whatever beings may have created Vennar remain, ensuring the young world forms properly.†
* †The Well of Ud is formed, the heart of Vennar itself. The ley-lines pour forth from the well, and return to it. Creation itself is powered by the well, and eventually magic in the Era of the Magi.†

Little else is known of this era, as it is the very first era of the world, long before even the demons are born.

## Ethereal Era

* †Vennar's mind awakens, though far from sentience. It is similar to the first thoughts of an infant still within the womb.† - 4,346,545,570 BC
* †In Vennar's fetal mind, the first wisps of thought and consciousness form into the ethereals† - The First Gods, the very primogenitors of Celestial and Infernal. - 4,346,545,570 BC
* The first celestials and infernals take form, †from both the increasingly complex ideas of the growing Vennar†, and the scheming of the First Gods.
* The Ethereal War rages across and through-out Vennar's physical being, †causing the world-mind immense pain and terror†, and even further bloodshed among her first children. The war rages on for hundreds of millions of years as Vennar grows.
* †Vennar achieves sentient thought, and forms a consciousness within herself. She looks upon herself and despairs at the destruction her children have wrought.†
* The primordials are formed, †formed of the first constructive whims of Vennar†. The primordials wage their own war against the ethereals, and begin to heal the damage done †to their creator.†
* The ethereals are ultimately banished from the material plane altogether, into the astral sea and what would eventually become the celestial and infernal planes.

## Vigilant Era

* The first dwarves are born, creations or offspring of the primordials themselves. They are charged with the defense of the remaining passageways between the astral sea and Vennar. They guard against the return of the ethereals for over three and a half billion years. - 3,694,744,973 BC
* Most of the process of healing Vennar takes place. The primordials work under the guidance of their creator, and create wonders themselves. They raise the land, they birth the oceans, and they shape mountains, valleys, and deserts. Rivers of water and rivers of molten rock are both as plentiful as the other.
* Titans, giants, and other similar races are born or created, assisting the primordials in their work.
* The dwarves, despite the stagnancy of culture and ideology placed upon them by the will of Vennar, take to worshiping the world mind herself, and their primordial creators. Lacking will and faith as a force, this has no effect beyond the society of the dwarves.
* Countless battles take place within the deepest depths of the world as the ethereals fight to re-enter the material plane. The dwarves build fortresses rivaling the size of modern cities, and beat back the ethereal threat wherever it arises.
* Within this era, Vengehar is formed as the first of the three major landmasses.
* The dozen continents that will eventually form Cra'awrios are raised up from the oceans by the primordials, wholly separate and unique.
* The first surface plant life is born in the depths of the oceans at the whim of the primordials, and Vennar guides its progression. By the end of the era, most of the world's surface is covered in intensely thick, durable vegetation.
* The first animals spring forth from primordial whim, and propagate across the world nearly as evenly as the vegetation itself. After some experimentation with more failure than success on the part of the primordials, a balance is struck between hungry animal and wild vegetation, with predators forming shortly after through consequential evolution.
* The first surface expeditions of the dwarves occur, and a few colonies are founded. Most dwarven colonies remain subterranean with heavily guarded entrances to the surface, due to most of them opening up to barren wastelands unfit for mortal life.
* Also during this era, the Celestial Plane is created, built, or discovered, with the celestials fleeing to this plane to avoid the wrath of the primordials and world mind. A society is built within the plane, and few celestials wish to return to the perceived insanity of the world of their birth.

## Alvoran Era

* The primordials most responsible for the natural world convene and create guardians and guides for their creations. The elves are born of these primordials, and take their assigned place with ease. For hundreds of thousands of years, the elves guide and protect the natural world, in all its forms - Forest, jungle, plain, desert, tundra, and everything between. - 985,802 BC
* Dragons enter the world through the very passages the dwarves defended, from the astral sea itself. Though at first mistaken for ethereal beasts, they treat with the dwarves and their primordial masters, and eventually Vennar herself. They are permitted a place within the world, and claim a place above the beasts of the land and sky.
* The first humans are born of beast, the first species come to being purely through the whim of the natural world, and not the whim of the primordials. Though this causes a stir in the ranks of the primordials themselves, Vennar is fascinated and ensures the propagation of this strange species across her surface. - 589,573 BC
* The first meeting between sentient species occurs when human hunters cross paths with the elves. Across the world, these meetings cause mixed reactions, with war and peace in equal measure. Elves view humans as simple beasts that can speak, and humans see elves as something akin to alien. Eventually, relations are soothed and the two species see each other almost as equals.
* Humans and dwarves meet, as humans delve deeper through cave and caldera for shelter. The two species react rather amicably to the other, though the meetings are not without strained relations. Largely, due to the lack shared territory, the species see little reason for hostilities and settle their own lands and treat when convenient.
* Dwarves and elves meet, due in large part to human influence. Relations are deeply strained due only to conflicting views of origins, with the elves believing themselves to be guides and guardians to the world, and the dwarves believing the same. Hostilities rise due to conflict in pride, and the two species largely decide to go their separate ways before too much blood is spilled.
* A human primordial dies, the first of the primordials to fall. Though this spreads a wave of shock and fear through the ranks of the primordials themselves, the corpse of the primordial becomes a tree of immense size, beauty, and power. This tree is named a World Tree, becoming a sacred site to both humans and elves. Elves realize with the birth of this world tree that humanity is as much a part of the world as they are, and the two species really, truly begin to treat each other as equals.
* The roots of the world tree spread to the dwarven strongholds beneath the earth, and the dwarves discover non-fungal plant life for the first time. Dwarves treat with humans for food, and an agricultural/mineral trade is started.
* The dwarves begin their first attempts at amicable relations with the elves for a stronger agricultural trade, though relations remain strained due to their previous meetings.
* Dragons and humans meet, and relations are good. The dragons view the comparably tiny species similarly to how they view their own newborns, and humans are awed by the might and majest and, largely, kindness of the massive dragons.
* Dragons are introduced to elves and dwarves by humanity, with the latter greeting the great creatures with a reverence befitting friends of their ancestors. Elven and dragon relations are somewhat mixed, but the two species are largely amiable with one another due to the dragons' deference to the elves as guides and guardians to the natural world.
* Halflings are created through the whim of Vennar herself, brought up from the earth of human lands. They are considered a helper race, bearing striking similarities to humanity, and are dubbed "little cousins" by humanity at large. They are without a primordial, sending further shock and suspicion through the primordial ranks.
* Gnomes are created, the first of their species marching through the deep places of the world to the dwarven strongholds, demanding a place to work. The dwarves put them to such, and the naturally curious and inventive creatures begin churning out new research and inventions.
* With the lack of gnomish or halfling primordials, the primordials themselves have accepted their discontinuation.
* Dragons meet halflings, and their greatest leaders work to create the kobolds as servants. The primordials are outraged by this, though Vennar gives no say either way. The first fights break out between dragon and primordial, though they are largely tied in force. Peace is won, but not without blood.
* Firbolgs are created by the elven primordials, and though this is treated as a heresy by many, others are intrigued. Firbolgs help their elven cousins and serve their primordial creators. Again, Vennar says nothing on the matter.
* The first discussion of stagnancy among the lesser species takes place between the great dragons. Though time, relations, and change have progressed, culture and understanding among the dwarves, elves, humans, and their helper races have all remained unchanged. Humans still use little more than stone and wood, elves nothing more than their ancient song and affinity for the natural world, and dwarves have yet to move on from their subterranean depths en masse, nor progressed from the bare minimum of technological level needed to defend against the ethereal forces.
* In an act of unknowable strength of power and will, Vennar creates a barrier around herself, sealing off the material plane from the astral sea, and with it the passageways defended by the dwarves are sealed as well. In the last, closing days of the sealing of the planes, a massive surge from the infernal planes pushes through the few remaining passageways and no more than a dozen dwarven strongholds are overrun and fall to the might of the infernals. Weakened and exhausted, this invasion slips beneath the notice of the world mind.
* With the closing of the passageways, the dwarves' purpose is fulfilled. Most of the dwarves remain where they are, but immigration to the upper colonies increases exponentially.
* As the infernals consolidate power within the fallen strongholds of the dwarves, their power grows within the material plane. Infernal influence begins to seep out of the depths of the world, and corrupts the minds of mortals. This influence spreads further as the infernals invade further across the depths, and more dwarven strongholds fall.
* Vennar is challenged by Seiberonov, the First Dragon. The two argue over the World Mind’s treatment of her children, and the stagnancy taking place. Seiberonov is struck down by Vennar, the first visible show of force and silencing from the World Mind. Primordials, though concerned, largely support this decision. Some dragons are outraged, most are terrified. Mortals as a whole barely register what has occurred, but a sense of unease is felt by all.
* A mass immigration takes place as the deepest dwarven strongholds fall, dwarves escaping after generations to the upper strongholds with legends of horror in the depths. The journey from the deepest strongholds take place over three or four generations, and little more than myth remains as the refugees finally reach the near-surface colonies. Though deeply concerned, dwarves simply shore up their defenses against the depths, and go on living.
* Dragons begin to form alliances with the mortal races. Humans ally with dragon kind nearly entirely, seeing common ground with this outsider species only just accepted as equals among the older beings of the world. Elves are split neatly down the center, half of their kind allying with the dragons, while the rest - those later known as High Elves - maintaining allegiance to their primordial creators. Dwarves stand almost as one with the primordials, due in no small part to the isolation their deep-dwelling status conveys to them. The helper races - halflings, gnomes, and firbolgs - stand mostly with their elder cousins.
* Clashes between dragon and primordial become almost commonplace. Dragons breed to maintain and increase their numbers, while primordials are left to creating their forces, yet are largely consigned to the numbers with which they began, unable to breed among themselves. Dragons push their advantage, spacing out the conflicts so they replenish their numbers while the primordials are left with a waning population.

## Primordial War

* The Second Dragon declares war on the primordials and the world mind, leading their allies in a rebellion against the stagnancy and tyranny of the creators.
* The first battles of the war are horrific, resulting in the deaths of uncountable billions. The once vibrant and ever-growing expanse of Vennar’s surface becomes a blasted, war-torn landscape of pain and death.
* As the war carries on, an endless stream of refugees escapes to the farthest corners they can reach. Millions escape to the depths of the world, fleeing past the upper colonies of the dwarves and into the waiting, corrupting arms of the infernals. These refugees are not heard from again for many hundreds of thousands of years.
* The landmass that would become known as Makhavireth is formed, as the body of a titan falls in to the shallow ocean, sending the land beneath upwards and forming a massive crater. The body of its dragon killer, clutched in hand, falls with it, forming the western continent and vast Orschtenvein mountain range.
* A young half elven man rises in influence among the dragons and their allies, and leads mortal armies against the primordials. It is atop the back of a great dragon that he is finally slain, and his death viewed as martyrdom, inspiring his allies rather than breaking them as the primordials had hoped.
* Vennar begins to act more wrathful and cruel in her effort to bring about the end of the war, startling even her primordial children. In time, primordials begin to switch sides and join the dragons in their war against her, bringing many of their children with them.
* The massive veins of archonsteel begin to form through-out the world, formed from the blood of dragons and the bones of titans. Archonsteel would become, much later, the most precious of metals.
* At the end of all things, Vennar is struck down, and her consciousness shattered. Dragons and mortals alike rise up and banish their enemies, sending the greatest of the primordials away, out of the material plane and through cracks in the barrier separating it from the astral plane. Allied primordials remain and assist in the rebuilding of the world. Heroes had risen on both sides of the war, and their legends would echo through-out history.

#### Three acts of Vennar

As Vennar was dealt the killing blow, she poured all her mind and power into three final acts: A curse, a gift, and a creation. These final acts would reverberate through-out history as the final whims of a dying world.

* †With her dying breath, Vennar lays a curse upon the dragons of the world, forever to be known as the murderers of the creator of all things. With a rising realization amongst mortal kind, even those who had once been allies begin to hunt the dragons down. With a heavy heart, the dragons escape into isolation, hiding from the mortal world they had sacrificed everything for.†
* As Vennar died, what will she had left she gifted to her children - All mortal races, in some way, were gifted the power of will. Magic, faith, understanding, and change. With the death of the world mind, stagnation shattered, and the minds of the mortal races were open to new possibilities and the forces of creation itself.
* Finally, Vennar's shattered consciousness coalesced upon the world in the form of a single species - the orcs. Born of the world itself, the orcs were gifted an understanding of the land around them deeper than any of the other mortal species. They held, also, a deep and unbridled hatred of those who had struck down the world mind, as if they had struck the orcs themselves a savage blow to be repaid in full.

## Forgotten Era

* Those primordials forced to flee from the material plane during the war wander the astral sea for countless ages, before their very being fails them. Their corpses drift for nearly as long as they had wandered, and clash and mold together. Eventually, this amalgamation of primordial corpse-stuff creates what is to be known as the elemental chaos, and the four elemental planes.
* It is during this era that most dragon hunting takes place, and their vast numbers are decimated, even when compared to the drop in numbers of the primordial war.