History of Verdansia

Within this tome is the recorded history of the six distinct ages that are known to us today. The ages described here are the culmination of lore that makes up the world of Verdansia.

## **The Demiurge**

Considered to be the beginning of everything, a time before the gods and before the elders. Though not much is known about this time. So what's stated here is merely a legend past from times of old and transcribed on this very tome.

Throughout every story and tale, there comes something that must happen to start it off, and that is a beginning. For Verdansia it all started from a creature of sorts. It was called by an array of names but became commonly known as The Lumen. In itself was everything that could be and would be, but soon it realized something. That by itself it was nothing more than just pure potential floating around in a lonely desolate plane waiting to be given life. It soon became plagued with this sickening feeling of loneliness, so it decided it would bring change to this barren existence. Doing so it asked itself "What am I, and what could I become?".

The Lumen went forth and scattered sparks of itself throughout the vast expanse of space. Crafting the very foundation of the world we would thrive in, and for the many planes that exist now, but in the midst of this it became wracked with great exhaustion and was unable to keep itself together. This sudden strain it put itself through was weakening it, so with the last of its strength, it ejected a splinter of itself far into the desolation of space. Hoping this fragment of itself would go on to mature and find its own purpose in the now expanding world around it, and in doing so it felt completed. That it was done with its role of creator. The consequences took hold and it released energies of unknown magnitude. This flux of power exploded and cascaded throughout the space around it. The surge of chaotic and unbridled energy though wasn't all destructive, notably, the pantheon of gods that we know to this day sprung forth from this. Many of which went on to make more in their liking. Though something more sinister had brewed from the chaos that transpired. The emotions that it felt from being so isolated materialized into eleven creatures, and they would go on to be called the Elders of Caligo. In their wake, they would go on to cause untold suffering and strife.

With this everything was set in motion to blossom into the world we have now.

## **Age of the First World**

Most commonly known by this name because from what we know of it is so little and the world we now live in is nothing like what it was before. Most of the information gathered of this era was from the diggings of old lore and the knowledge gifted to us by the gods.

### **The Primordials**

These Elemental Titans known as Primordials were god-like beings made of chaotic elemental energies. Before any life had even laid eyes on Verdansia it was the Primordials who slumbered beneath the ground and across the vast empty lands. Till they were awoken by Asgoraths arrival.

### **The Arrival of The Elders**

The Elders of Caligo ravaged through space, believing everything must return back to the darkness it all started from. Though they never considered each other in terms such as friends but instead as equals with connected interests. Nonetheless, they made their way through the endless scape of space in search of their first light to snuff out. To then come upon the young world of Verdansia.

Though they found the lands ravaged by Primordials as they wreaked havoc throughout the lands. Finding that a battle had already ensued, with the might of the Primordials against one creature named Asgorath. She disagreed with the destruction and chaos the Primordials brought to the world. But whilst she was distracted the Elders ambushed her and broke her into three vastly different creatures; creating the three draconic gods that we know to this day. Those three would go on to take the names of Bahamut, Tiamat, and Sardior, but in this shattering Sardior was left gravely wounded. Although on the other hand, Tiamat grasped her surroundings and swiftly struck out at the Elders in retaliation, as a shook Bahamut took an unconscious Sardior to safety. Soaring through the sky with the hasted speed he fled, swearing he would return to her aid. Only to later return to his sister fallen before him and the Elders loaming around her, so he retreated back to their den to look over Sardior's wounds. Tiamat was imprisoned and kept living in eternal hell, to be tortured and broken. Everything was going perfectly according to their designs.

They enslaved the Primordials and went on to forge their vast empire, enthralling the Primordials to etch their history into stone, and build a monument in their name. This monument would be called The Halls of Zenith, built underneath The Mezreander Range.

#### **A Unexpected Messenger**

Merely gazing upon the destruction that the Elders brought upon others inflicted horrific thoughts of what was come to. But one Elder found that all they did was cause suffering and strife to everything they touched. They thought to themselves that there must be more to this, that their meaning couldn’t be so linear and bent on destruction. So they fled, fleeing from their siblings, and went in search of someone or something that could help them free Verdansia of its soon-to-be coffin. But fleeing their siblings wouldn't be such an easy task, swiftly they were caught on by their siblings, and in the fray, they were wounded deeply, nonetheless, they escaped. An untold amount of time passed before they came upon anything, finding only desolate space as they traveled. Reflecting upon what they had done and what they stood for, thinking that this could be their atonement for everything. Then in the distance a flash of light contrasted against the dark space in front of them, it was the gods. Quickly making their way toward them they told them of this world, the dangers it was in, and what would happen if they didn't stop their siblings. The gods trusting this unknown messenger followed them to Verdansia.

This Elder would eventually become known as The Messenger and be the advisor to a mortal whose name is unknown but would later become the Raven Queen.

### The Warped War

Whilst the Messenger fled in search of help the Primordials faced the Elders in an attempt of freeing themselves from their twisted captors. They rose up from the depths seeking revolution and a war started that would scar the land to this very day. From both sides, primordial bodies fell as enthralled Primordials fought against their own kin. But unexpectedly Bahamut and Sardior allied with the Primordials and hunted down the Elders with frenzied tenacity. The war came to an end when the leader of the uprising and Lord of Fire, Rhegnir, plunged his infernal sword into the heart of Zelodos. Banishing him to the Astral Sea to forever float alone, eventually succumbing to his wounds. The Elders after seeing their sibling fall in battle decided to flee into distant unknown realms.

The Primordials claimed the world as their own and dwelled deep beneath its surface. Whilst Bahamut and Sardior mourned their sister's disappearance, separating themselves from the Primordials and rested for years to come.

### Arrival of the Pantheon

Following the Messengers' words, the gods came to a world ruled by Primordials. They saw the havoc that had consumed the world and the scars that had been left behind. So they decided to take a diplomatic approach of sorts. They tried to negotiate with them peacefully and come to an agreement to live in tandem. Though whilst they negotiated they also created the first four races. The Elves for their intellect, the dwarves for their craftsmen-like nature, the humans for their adaptability, and then the Firbolg for their preservation of the natural world. These races would be granted Divine Magics from the gods to protect themselves from harm in their own way. But the arrival of the gods made the Primordials scared and anxious about what could become another repeat of the wars they just went through. Though this time they didn't want to wait around for the gods to scheme, so they struck out in retaliation and in fear of what could be the destruction of their people.

### The Divine Fissure

Negotiations quickly became useless as the Primordials struck out in a fearful frenzy. These sunk entire ecosystems in destruction within mere minutes. The very creations that the gods had nurtured into life were in peril. But unbeknownst to anyone was that a deal had been struck between Asmodeus and Tharizdun, and after many years of breaking the mind; Tiamat was ready. She was let loose across the Material Plane; fueled by untold years of isolation. Entire continents were reduced to mere archipelagos, and the gods saw this newfound threat and were taken aback as carnage filled the world. They watched as everything was destroyed before them. The gods themselves became split between two groups. First was the Cardinal Deities, the ones who wanted to still negotiate with the Primordials and give them their own land whilst saving their creations in the fray. Then there were the Forsaken Ones, those who wanted nothing more than to slaughter the Primordials for what they did but were told otherwise, told instead to forgive them. Some even became susceptible to the corrupting words of the Elders and lost themselves to madness.

Bahamut and Sardior were distraught at what their sister had become, trying to reason with her to no avail. They knew what they had to do, so they worked with the Cardinal Deities to strike down their sister. Yet they didn't have what it took to kill her, and in the moment of hesitation, she escaped through a tear and fled to the Hells. Sardior still baring wounds from before she would hibernate for the years to come, but before she would undergo this she made six distinct gem dragons to take place in her stand. This created the Shards of Sar.

#### The Forming of the Elemental Planes

To stop the primordials from being caught in the crossfire, the Cardinal Deities thrusted the elemental lords through rifts in the Material Plane. This resulted in the primordials being sent to unknown and distant realms that they knew nothing of, but it was a place for a new beginning. So they established domains for themselves and the people they reigned over out of their respective elements.

#### The Cardinal Deities vs The Forsaken Ones

Now only the Forsaken Ones were left. The Cardinal Deities saw what their siblings had become, but for the sake of this world and their creations, they had to be dealt with. Much of the world was being destroyed in the battle, so the Cardinal Deities sought to create a haven for their creations. With this idea in mind, they created the continent of Klyndraniir and swore an oath to protect this continent no matter the cost, and with this oath, an obelisk was created to show their dedication to it. With their creations safeguarded, they went forth and met their siblings in the fray of battle.

The Forsaken Ones would be defeated and sealed away in distant planes. This was to ensure they could never bring harm to the Material Plane or its inhabitants ever again. Great losses were dealt, but this was a victory for the Cardinal Deities.

#### The Rune Wardens

Worrying the gods could be felled if more wars were to occur, a young boy named Medwin decided he wanted to prevent the people from relying completely on the Divine Magics granted to them by the Gods. Medwin went on and worked diligently to find a different source of power that he could harness to use against forces like the Primordials and the Forsaken Gods. After many years and countless sleepless nights, he discovered that dormant energy lay all around the world and that with the right circumstances, it can be used. Using rocks and different materials he carved runes and invented glyphs. These runes would assist him in tapping into this dormant energy and allow him to create the first spells, and in doing so he created the first Arcane Magics. The first of these people who wielded this magic was called Rune Wardens.

The Runewardens would go on to prove a crucial asset in the war against the Forsaken Ones. One instance, in particular, was the assistance they gave Ioun in her battle of defeating and sealing away Tharizdun in a distant realm, this would later become known as the Maelstrom. Though before they could seal him he ripped a tear in the veil between planes and spilled forth the atrocities he had been cultivating. It was the abyss, a plane of untold horrors and monstrosities. This attracted the attention of every god and mortal, giving time for Tharizdun's siblings to flee and scheme their return.

* Medwin would go forth to make a tower called Scarvian Spire, and with this, he would have an area where he could further research the arcane arts and have a place for his collection of the many discoveries he would find.

#### The First Light

With the Cardinal Deities victory, Nehveros, The City of Silver, was founded. A bastion of hope for all of the races to prosper and be safeguarded. The continent was then named Klyndraniir.

## The Time of Amelioration

After the devastation and calamity that occurred, a time of peace settled amongst the people of Nehveros. Though this would be short-lived as this time of peace turned into a time of exploration. Without the worries of staying huddled up inside their dilapidated cabins, the people gathered their strength and set out on expeditions in the pursuit of new lands. Much would be discovered that would bring upon change to the world. Thankfully much of it was for the better, but some would shake the very foundation of Verdansia once again.

### Fathoms of the Realms

With wanderlust taking hold in the hearts of people, the races of Klyndraniir came together and began constructing vast ships to fill its harbors. The art of cartography would be founded and taught to helmsmen all over. With these tools in hand, adventurers set course, and the dream of discovering the world was born. The many continents of Verdansia would be discovered and so aptly named, as these said lands would be discovered many of the races that sought these lands would find settlements and start life anew.

### Mortal Ambitions

From the far corners of the realms came high scholars and mages, all connected by a common ambition. This desire drove many mages into developing new spells and amassing knowledge among each other. Kingdoms with the assistance of magi were said to rise to power in mere days, some even taking to the skies with the aid of the arcane. Many great savants of the arcane world would go on to change the world in magnificent ways, but a very select group of mages sought other means of discovering newfound magics, a very sinister and forgotten magic. To desire such knowledge was deranged, and it wasn’t so easily obtained. One would have to delve into the Halls of Zenith, a long-forgotten monument from the days of the First World. Coming upon this accursed place they discovered who the elders were, even sympathizing with them. So they schemed under the watchful eyes of the gods and began experimenting with ways of freeing their new masters.

### Skrel'gorn

Deep within the accursed chambers of Der Caurak lay a creature; the years of imprisonment ate away at its mind, and slowly it lost itself. Skrel’gorn would become more like a walking calamity than any living creature, merely a husk of its former self. All in the pursuit of its masters’ desires. Legends spoke of its corrupted form and how life withered with every step it took. The world would cower in Skrel’gorn’s wake. Even the gods staggered with inaction as they again saw the lengths the Forsaken Ones would go to decimate everything they had held dear to them.

### Seelie Origins

Through the many years, there were tiny instances where mischievous fey created gateways to their domain and lured unsuspecting adventures. However, as this continued it drew the curious attention of the many kingdoms with reports of such missing people. So a scheme was devised. The following events would create the first document case of a portal to the Feywild being constructed. Though such foolishness would be met with consequences. Immediately they were bombarded with intense surges of wild magic that ran free throughout this newly discovered plane, more so was the emergence of a figure. A maiden of unfathomable beauty, her luminous hair sparkled as she walked and her aura brought a calm in the room. This was Tillia, the Queen of the Fae.

Her appearance wouldn’t go unnoticed by the gods, however, she drew no ill intent with her, and she would go forth to attempt a unification of the two planes. Creating safe havens where great beacons would be constructed and connect the two planes. These newfound settlements created unique communities that shared religions and knowledge, and as a whole, they advanced the people of both realms. Additionally, it served as a form of shield for the denizens of the two worlds. In any case, if either plane would be besieged they would be having to fight on two fronts whilst the Material Plane and Feywild denizens would fight alongside each other.

## The Desolation

Discovering the vast realms of the world was a sight to behold, though however beautiful it was, things aren't always so peaceful in Verdansia. The world is filled with double-edged swords. More often than not things can’t be obtained for free, there is always a price to be paid. With the many wonders that were discovered, there were also horrors that would be unearthed. For many years it was plotted, some even speculate the Forsaken Ones wanted Skrel’gorn to be discovered, and he wasn’t a horror that could just be ignored. Skrel’gorn would bring about a calamity so monstrous that it created the age we know now as The Desolation.

### The Hundred-Year War

In the unfolding events that would come to light, the world would become scarred like never before. For one hundred years a war was waged on every front, and it took the combined forces of the denizens of creation and those from the Feywild to fend off the encroaching darkness that the Forsaken Ones would herald. The chains that once bound the many horrors that incited fear in the hearts of mortals were once again set loose upon the world.

### The Splintering

In the midst of destruction, the Forsaken Ones through gritted teeth came to the excruciating reality that they would lose a war of endurance, and this infuriated them. Although they had the numbers, their spawns of desolation were merely untrained monsters lashing out at the first creature they saw. However, just when they thought they would have to retreat and scheme again, they were given an otherworldly gift. A boom of knowledge one could say. This was a domain that held the very planes together, and in this domain harbored a weakness. This sacred realm was called Mor'drasil. The true nature of this domain was unknown to most, but beneath earth and stone, many secrets would be revealed. Coming to find out that the leylines that dwelled beneath the ground were roots of Mor'drasil, each connecting all of the planes to itself. Coming to their senses with this revelation in mind, together the Forsaken Ones and the Elders conspired to bring an end to this alliance between planes.

The war to transpire would overshadow anything in the coming ages, and to this day, the number of souls lost to the calamity would never truly be known. Every creature from god to mortal put their life on the line for their dream of a peaceful world. However, it wouldn’t be enough. Whilst the Cardinals battled off the spawns of desolation, the Elders invoked an eldritch ritual to snap the root of Mor’drasil that connected the Material Plane to its roots, this would bring ruin to everything that the Cardinals had worked for. Though nothing could be done, they were too late and occupied to stop them. Entire civilizations were ripped from the Feywild and Material Plane as the anchors that connected them snapped. The Splintering would fracture the Material Plane and create a whole new realm known as the Shadowfell. Throughout everything they did, every soul slain, they lost. Even with Medwin and Ioun going on to create a rite to banish the Forsaken Ones and the Elders to their prisons, they had failed.

## The Reclamation

Stuffy Stuff goes here and it's about the gods, mortals, and denizens of both the Shadowfell and Feywild fighting the forsaken gods to reclaim their world before it is destroyed.

## Post-Reclamation

yep yep, modern day, think like the coming of a new age and the mysteries / adventures that will proceed and further any information to the timeline page, this is the end.