The Age of Heroes

322AF- The Sable Swords are founded by the exiled prince Sabbas who flees Phrygia after being framed for the murder of his father. The order begins as a band of his closest companions and expands into a mercenary band, traveling the known world in search of just causes and the truth of the murder of the king.

Balatonian noble Sobek Borodin practices necromancy in secret and raises an undead army to seize control of Solta. The army is destroyed at great cost to the city and Sobek killed. His descendants are avid monster hunters and have contributed many members to the Royal Kynigoi.

A witch's coven is uncovered in a town near Ironforge after numerous local children go missing. Several teams of monster hunters are sent in to root out the witches and most do not return. One young man named Duron Eubalus survived an encounter with the witches but was severely injured. Upon recovering he petitioned several local guard units and put the entire forest to the torch. Once the fires died down they ventured into the destroyed forest and found the ruins of the witches hut and a mountain of children's bones with no sign of the witches. Official records stated that they had been killed but Duron continues his investigation.

The Veiled Spire is constructed over a period of 100 years and is 200 yds high but with enchantments which make the tower seem much bigger inside. Magically altered dimensions make the building seem 5 times bigger inside. It is to serve as a center for magical study by all. The most powerful wizards from across the land join their powers to weave spells of warding and protection, so that the tower can not be destroyed and the magical energies released within will not escape. Most of the wizards who participate die, drained completely by the massive effort. Their bodies are entombed on site and are venerated as patrons of wizardry.

The mountain village of Cragspire is attacked when miners unwittingly open a cavern inhabited by monsters. The village militia delay the creatures long enough for a messenger to journey to the closest town for help. En route they encounter the wandering **Phrygian prince Aemir** who goes with his companions to the village and slays the creatures. Half of the townspeople died in the attack and the mines are sealed afterward. Descriptions of the creatures would later be matched with eyewitness accounts of demons during the invasion.

A sea dragon emerges from the ocean and destroys **Khazin** during the conquests of **King Kaelin**. The dragon departs without harming Androsian forces.

Errantry Wars – a series of conflicts between the various knightly orders of Akara sparked by various slights, perceived or otherwise, and at grand tournament. Knights of the different orders would seek each other out to duel in order to prove the superiority of their order. Many heroes rose and fell during this time and hundreds of knights were killed and maimed over the roughly 50 year period. The king of Andros called the heads of all orders to Phyrgia to settle the matter for good. He ordered Thanatos, the king’s champion of the Sable Swords to challenge every other champion to a duel. Thanatos was among the greatest warriors of his time and bested every other champion, solidifying the Sable Swords’ position as the first among the orders.

An overland trade route is established through the Jadestone mountains to Kussara and the Grimtide realms. Caravans heading to Zhuguo take the northern route by purchasing passage through Grimkeep, which is constantly fought for by the most powerful of the steppe tribes. They then carry on through the Gray Wastes and the Qemill Sultanates before crossing the mountains into Bagagat, the first of the kingdoms of Angko. Then they proceed into Zhuguo, most often going to the capital city of Kangar. The entire journey with a minimum of delays takes about 2 years for a round trip. A southern, shorter, and less profitable route does from Kussara and books passage across the Grimtide sea to the elven kingdom of Azan. A sea route is also established for a southern journey which leads to the southern Angko kingdoms, though the journey is hazardous due to sea monsters, pirates, and other such dangers. Southern Angko exports ivory, pearls, spices, cotton, textiles, and gemstones. Eastern Angko exports silk, spices, herbs, lacquerware, and metalwork. Northern Angko exports horses, furs, and precious stones such as opal.

Crossbows are introduced to Akara by mercenaries from Angko in the port of Phrygia. After witnessing their effectiveness and armor penetration several examples are procured and reverse engineered. They are used to great effect during the Warring States Era and eventually are also adopted by the other realms. Miniature, wrist-mounted versions are favored by monster hunters and cutthroats.

Phrygian King Bardas takes a Sotika elf woman as his 2nd wife. There are anti-elf riots in Masalia and Akara which are brutally crushed. Their son, Nicetas, is killed protecting Bardas from a Balatonian assassin’s arrow which begins the Warring States Period.

The Warring States Period begins.

**4th Great Hunt**- Over-hunting of deer in the Maw region depletes the prey of numerous monster species causing them to venture further into human lands where much devastation is wrought. Several great hunts are organized and many hunstmen are lost before the attacks are brought under control.

In a battle between Andros and Balatonia, a horde of slavering beasts descend on the battlefield in the midst of combat. Both sides are forced to call a truce in order to fight against the new threat. Badly bloodied the armies withdraw. It is discovered by monster hunters that a necromancer living in the forest sought to crush both armies as the noise was disturbing his studies. It takes a task force of several mages, Dievite priestesses, and monster hunters to kill him.

Sailors tell tales of islands to the south rich in pearls, gemstones, and dotted with ancient golden ruins. Many daring captains brave the treacherous journey to bring back treasure. Giant sea creatures dwell in the deep ocean waters and the island natives are fiercely territorial, utilizing a variety of exotic poisons harvested from local flora and fauna. Those who do return with treasure become fabulously wealthy.

A massive iron ship, belching smoke, is seen on the horizon off the coast of Dread Point. The few navy ships available were unable to keep pace with the vessel of unknown origin. (after sea people city destroyed.)

Record rains cause the Upper Niveron to flood. The surge of water floods the Hunter’s Eye and washes away small coastal settlements before the waters recede. The rush of water exposes ruins belonging to the ancient lost civilization of the Golden Men. Treasure hunters and scholars flock to the area, coming into conflict with the secretive Lunari elves. Many fortune seekers intrude into the forest but few return. Those that do tell tales of vast underground ruins, magical wonders, and deadly traps. Only a handful of the bravest and most clever make it deep enough into the ruins to find riches and magical knowledge.

A famous Latgali warrior priest of Perkunas is killed in battle against a terrible monster, reports described it as a giant centipede with the face of an old man. The creature caused great hardship and destruction before being felled with the priest's last breath. He is given a royal honor guard and taken back to his hometown of **Serenaya** at the foot of the Jadestone Mountains. It had been prophesied by the **Seers of Dali** that the hero would rise again for the **Last Day**, the day of final judgement of the mortal races in which they will either triumph against the forces of evil or be exterminated. City of Serenaya, to the east of the dwarfland gates and settled by dwarves and Latgali people, is destroyed by a volcanic eruption and avalanche that causes the entire city to be swallowed by the earth along with most of its populace. Eyewitness accounts say a massive hand rose from the void and clawed the remnants of the city into the darkness before the rift sealed itself. Unbeknownst to the humans this was a plot by the demons to deprive the mortals of a hero during the end times. The Seers foresaw a terrible disaster and secretly spirited the hero's body away to a secret tomb in the mountains, replacing it with the body of a brigand. The hero rises from the grave and becomes a member of the new heroes.

**Palace Civil War**- The Akaran royal family is shaken by a number of assassinations of royals and palace staff before it's discovered that Kalista Calathes,6th concubine to King Nearchus is maneuvering for her son to take the throne, using her wiles and cold blooded murder to align others to her cause and kill those who refuse to obey. Her son, Xenon is a formidable warrior who succeeds in striking down his own father and two princes in single combat before he is killed by Iseas, the son of the king's youngest concubine, the Talavan noblewoman Morta Bukelis. Iseas, though not the eldest surviving son, had proven himself in combat and was proclaimed the heir to the throne by those present and immediately captured Kalista and had her tried and executed along with her co-conspirators of whom there had been several dozen courtiers and extended family members. Iseas is the great grandfather of the young king.

King Rusin of Talava launches a campaign against the dwarves to the north of Vidutina. He aims to capture at least one of their great mountain strongholds and use it’s rich industrial and resource output to fund his campaigns against the other Akaran kingdoms. The dwarves barricade themselves in their subterranean halls and launch surprise attacks from hidden entrances on the besiegers. Winter arrives and the Talavans are forced into a costly retreat. Relations between Talava and the dwarves are not normalized for several decades.

Unification of Akara by **King Kailan the Conqueror**, beginning of the age of man. Humans assert dominance across the region and hunt down monsters.

The Dancing Maiden sets sail from Cetus in order to attempt to reach the western continent. The sailors reach land after many months, encountering a savage native culture that worships dark forces and practices human sacrifice. Only a handful of half-mad men make it back (based on conquistador story)

817AF A powerful earthquake strikes Vamaj, Stonyfield, and Bridgeton. Buildings are damaged and the people are unsettled. Tremors continue to rock the region almost every day for a year.