History and Lore

## Brief History and Timeline of Arcazin

**Birth and Development of the Gods -***7 Million Years Ago*Shaping of the World's lands and designation of domains

**Creation of Mortals -***3.2 Million Years Ago*Primitive mortals blink into the sun's light and spend millenia adapting and evolving, the Prime Elves create the first empire

(*Gods at Work: Talmir)*

**Age of the Prime Elves' Empire - Lasted 1765 Arcazin Years (AY)**The first of mortalkind to establish a true sense of civilization, the Prime Elves ascended from primitive lifestyle and sought the wonders of magics to enhance their growing intelligence.  The Prime Elves empire was ended by Vaath after Vexis betrayed his sister and corrupted the first elves.  In Present day, the expansive desert known as 'Vaath's Crater' was where the Prime Elves' civilization was once located.

(*Gods at Work: Vexis*)

**Age of Silence - Lasted 2392 AY**

The Gods have minimal interaction with the mortals (with the exception of Phineas)

(*Gods at Work: Phineas)*

#### **Age of Dragons - Lasted 1456 AY**

With the absence of the Gods the Dragons of Arcazin took it upon themselves to take their place. Benevolent, Neutral, Malevolent the Dragons guided and mislead mortals. The end of this age was brought by a human of the title 'Drakros', which translated from Draconis to modern common means 'Dragon Knight'. Vaath whispered his word and teachings to this man so that he could bring mortalkind back to the gods. The 'Drakros' was able to cause the dissolvement of the dragons' regime and is annaled as 'Dragon's Bane'. 1899-1918 AY

#### **Age of the Benign - Lasted 1918 AY**

Peace and prosperity is bestowed to the secular races of Arcazin, all coming into their own as individualized settlements.

(*Gods at Work: Ulrich)*

#### **Ur's Outburst - Lasted 333 AY**

Ur becomes displeased with the complacent nature of mortal kind and summons a mountain from the dark abyss of the night sky to strike like a dagger into Arcazin. For 333 years, Arcazin is plunged into a chaotic storm of the elements. The sky went dark, the lands became cold, and various animals became nothing. Chronicles say that the darkness could've lasted longer but Io tricked Ur in to the gaping wound of Arcazin the God of Naught created. (This giant underwater crater is located in the Malimal Ocean, dozens of colossal whirlpools pinpoint its location.)

*(Gods at Work: Ur)*

#### **Age of the Feuds - Lasted 547 AY**

Event from 284 AY to 531 AY. 7 mortals, who either existed at the beginning of this age or came to an awareness from generations of stories passed down, shared a self-entitled notion that they could be better gods. Through Cunning, Pride, Ambition, Passion, Potential, Desire, and Resolve, these mortals consolidated their abilities to find the way to godliness. For the first 80 years, they were shockingly successful in winning over the followers of ancient deities. It wasn't until 364 AY that the neutral Gods of the Arcazin Pantheon came together to attempt to stop the subjugation of mortals wrought from the would-be-divines. To the original Pantheon, they are of everlasting material and the mortals are only shoddily mirroring their will. When the battle of the Gods started, the original Pantheon made a point of minimizing the damage to the lost mortals (with the exception of Urrngrakh, Hinra, Raverous, Vexis, Rillian, and Ur). In the final fight, recorded as 'Arcazin's Ignorance', there was one defrocked and repressed God\* of the ancient pantheon who sided with the mortal-bred divines early on in their uprising (\*This fallen god has been long forgotten to the mortals for millenia as its existence was obliterated by the pantheon for its nature of corrupting the code and creed of the divine, as well as being one of the most chaotic and destructive.) When the mortal-born "Gods" were edging their way to eclipsing the original Pantheon's power, this forgotten god broke through his dusty partitioned walls and fortuitously corrupted the mortal-born deities' source of power; The God Shard, so much so that they fought eradicly with each other, devouring their heirarchy of Cunning, Pride, Ambition, Passion, Potential, Desire, and Resolve; ultimately eroding their power to nothing. Historians of this age write "'He awaits no resurrection, his wake is everlasting, even when a trillion passings of the sun have transpired, he awaits no forgiveness nor admiration. His rebirth is random and always holds the potential to corrupt a system. His God-given name is lost, and is only known through rough translations as 'Segfult'." - 1024 mages worked together to transcribe and unlock the secrets of an acient tome of this forgotten god. All are dead and forgotten.

*(Gods at Work: Segfult)*

#### **Age of Primae's Blossoming - Lasted 2082 AY**

Majority of the races of Primae establish understandings of economy, society, religious practices, history, tradition, civilization, etc. Unlike the age of the benign, Mortalkind are wiser, more intelligent, and less naive with their futures.

*(Gods at Work: Vilaq)*

#### **Magronaer - Syylvai Conflict - Lasted 423 AY**

In 4 AY of this Era, the Dwarven and Elven kingdoms escalated their differences and broke out into war (It is written that the spawn of Mehtu'fn and Aurelia's children squabbled, and the parent Gods stood back to let their spawn express themselves). The Elven Order of Tranquility and the dwarven Magkern-Confederacy came at odds. During the end of Primae's Blossoming the continent-wide landgrab brought the dwarves and elves to the first racial war. The two cultures varied so greatly, one being one with nature and the other carving it for their own purposes, that ignorance and self-entitlement clouded the chance for agreement. It is unclear whether the 'straw that broke the camello's back' rests on the shoulders of the dwarves or the elves, but many of the denizens of Primae were dragged into this conflict. While the dwarves used earth and fire to craft their mighty technologically advanced weapons of warfare, the elves were able to counter with their unorthodox methods of guerrilla tactics, intuitive magical talent, and their relationship with the beasts of the wilds. The northern sect of the Order of Tranquility, being more religious yet advantageous of the elven order, played both sides of the war, trying to appease Aurelia and Metuh'fn. The war raged on back and forth, up until 412 AY of the age. The Blessed Master of Treeshade (general of spymasters) Thoredas sent out his spies for intel and wound up finding a horrid invention; only described as 'Magick Henraediktonn'. The collosal construct made of composite alloys and metals was charged with thousands of dwarven runes that, by design, would first drain then obliterate all spiritual and magical connection to Arcazin. Victims of this siege weapon would eventually lose touch with the world they were apart of by forgetting what physical grounding and mortal-bond they had with the planet. When the elves discovered this ender-of-magic, they sent their major arcane-forces to destroy it. The dwarves anticipated the elves play and moved their dwarves north. The dwarves, however, did not anticipate the instability of their invention nor the audacity of the elves. Blessed Master of Treeshade, Thoredas, led his elite unite of spymasters straight to the technological abomination the dwarves created and encircled it. They prayed with religious fervor to the Goddess Aurelia to annul the power of this monstrocity. The dwarves responded with axes, crossbows and fire. Their inner circle of Elders gave summons to Mehtu'fn in response, yet the God of Nature did not respond. The dwarves mercilessly attacked and hacked away at the praying circle of 300 Treeshade elves, but the more elves they cut down, the more unstable the Henraediktonn became. It wasn't until Thoredas stood up whilst his soldiers continued their prayers and uttered the words "End this profanation, now!" that the Henraediktonn cannon exploded in a rainbow of fire, imploding into itself. The surviving elves and dwarves only remember an array of colors and found themselves on the opposing corners of the continent. The main fight caim to a close at 414 and treaties were negotiated and accepted by 423 AY.

*(Gods at Work: Mehtu'fn, Hinra, Aurelia)*

#### **Orckind's Rise - Lasted 249 AY**

The end of the Magronaer-Syylvai Conflict resulted in the two races to fall from being the super-powers they once were. With the dwarven and elven kingdoms still reeling from the costliness of their war, the primitive cultures of orcs, ogres, trolls, kobolds, and goblins scavenged the war torn lands of the former superpowers. Through much trial and error the Orckind successfully reverse-engineered some dwarven technologies and scribed Elven texts of spells and society. This age was a period of isolationism for Orckind as their societies thrived on the gathering of knowledge and enlightment. It is important to note that their quest for knowledge did not completely translate to civility. Rival clans would zealously sack and pillage each other's habrogs (orcish for town) for artifacts of technologic or arcane influence.

*(Gods at Work: Rillian)*

## **Calendars have been created and implemented by many cultures.**

### ***The Age of Ripening - 0 AC to 527 AC***

#### **The Hiss of Raverous - 0 AC to 50 AC**

Raverous noticed the higher status of mind within the clans of Orckind and became excited with anticipation. In the mind of the God of Depravity, these mortals could become apex vessels of his will. A budding yet low rank Orc warrior known as Gren Dire-Feast caught the many eyes of Raverous. Gren was a cunning and ruthless individual; talented in deception, ruthlessness, and cruelty. He single-handledly planned and executed the demise of 14 predecessors in line for the rank of Rargatrr (Chieftan, in common) of his clan. When Gren ultimately became Rargatrr of the clan, Raverous (who felt Gren earned his blessing), remotely whispered his savagery and deviance into the orc's mind. Gren's ears unknowingly heard the god's will, and immediately began a brutal campaign of conquest and death. Within the span of 2 years, he was able to unite the clans through is brutality and ferocity. Gren carried his war party east, unto the human territories for the hope of expansion of his domain. The bordering hamlets and townships of humanity fell easily under the might of Gren's armies. For 20 years the 'Rargatrr the Rancor' continued his march for the coasts of Malimal and the disorganized militias of humanity were cut down in swaths. The humans rallied under the banner of the known adventurer Derral Markuven and prepared their borders for a stand against the onslaught of Orckind. Derral's leadership was able to keep Orckind from advancing for 6 years, but the inexperienced and tired militias of humankind were wavering in their defense. Vaath, God of Consequence was eager to step in and reset the balance of mortality, but Ulrich begged for a chance to stop the slaughter. Ulrich appeared before the armies of the orcs in there grand assault against the final stronghold of the region, in his preferred manifestation: a man in traveled robes with no sandals or shoes, slightly crooked back, yet carrying proud facial features and a 4 ft long beard. He solemnly requested the ceasefire of humanity. Gren laughed maniacally and then motioned a battalion of archers to open fire on the god. Hundreds of arrows pierced into the flesh of Ulrich, but he did not collapse. He stood still as he became a pincushion. Again he requested that Orckind retreat back, to give up the conquest and find the light. Gren defiantly dismounted his war-basilisk and marched toward the God of Mercy (some say the shadow of Raverous was in the Rargatrr's wake.) Gren violently grabbed Ulrich by the shoulders, hefted him above his head, then forcibly dropped the god onto his extended knee. No sound came from what should have been a grievous wound. Bent and contorted, Ulrich gazed upon his aggressor and said 'There is still time, you can turn back. I will forgive you.' Gren snarled angrily, threw Ulrich to the ground and took his hooked broadsword and raised it above his head. Ulrich whispered 'Let it go, you have done enough, you know this.' The orc's growl was followed by a violent swing to the god's head. Gren was surprised to find that the powerful swing of his sword ended up softly resting on the brow of Ulrich, who was still with his back on the ground. "I understand you brother. Please, it will be better for you if you stop this madness. Redefine and rebuild yourselves. Your brethren needs you." Gren hesitated for a moment, but Raverous' familiar blackened hissings paraded through the orcs mind. He swung the hooked end of his blade straight to Ulrich's temple, only to find the boot of Vaath stepping on his blade. A meek voice from Ulrich's dissipating form gasps 'I am..so sorry..' and phases into the form of a dead orc. Gren snarls and growls, black and red mist emanating from his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. "You have undone the balance." said Vaath. Gren's reply came with a horrid shriek, spewing red and black mist and the sounds of dozens of Arcazin's predators, roaring in unison "YOU HAVE NO PLACE HERE!! THIS IS MY ERA!!". Unblinking and unmoved, Vaath replied dryly, "And so short-lived." and unsheathed his blades. With weapons in hand, Vaath continued, "I will uphold Ulrich's request. You have a choice: Retreat..now, or face your consequence." Gren's body stared voraciously at the slain orc, then back to Vaath, back to the slain orc, and finally back to Vaath. A hateful growl that would make Urrngrakh proud escaped the possessed Gren, red and black mist jettisoned out of the Rargatrr to the sky. After Raverous' essence left Gren's body, he found himself on his knees, surrounded by Derral Markuven and his militia. The orc motioned his army to continue their assault, but they were dumbfounded. Gren's influence was lost. Derral, touched by Ulrich's compassion, offered a hand down to the fallen orc. The orc reached up with his right hand for Derral's, while grabbing a hunting knife out of his boot, and plunged it into Derral's chest. Derral fell to his knees, blood soaking through his leather armor. The militia acted without hesitation and flung spear, rock, bolt, arrow, knife, and axe at the Rancor. Gren's rugged and hardened skin didn't allow the weapons to penetrate vital organs, but the wounds were great enough where he was incapacitated and dying. After being tied up and hung upside down on a hangman's gallow, Gren bled for 24 hours until his death. After these events, the humans of the east chronicled this war so heavily that is not lost on the current citizens of the Stihl Empire.

**Birth of the Rakuul Judicature - 51 AC to 213 AC**

Tribes of humanity migrated throughout Primae as they are an extremely adaptable and advantageous species. Some of the more adventrous tribes travelled to the southern most parts of the continent to claim their space in this diverse region. Lush grasslands, forested acres, humid jungles and dry savannahs spanned the land with borders of cold mountain and unforgiving ocean. The fertile lands yielded by the graces of Aeslyn, Utri, and Voelker stood willingly for the taking of humankind. The brutal nature of the southern expanse carved the nature of the tribes and spurred the foundation of the flourishing sovereignty. The individual who inspired and united the southern tribes of humanity, Tu'sera Juk'mari Rakuul, came from humble beginnings. Her father Lash'ka Zin Rakuul was a carpenter of mediocre talents. Her mother, Vishe Son'e Haresh Mekla, was a successful and artistic gardener and shaper of the land. Tu'sera was blessed with a high level of intuitive comprehension and her parents energetically involved her with their trades, teaching her their finesse. In her early teenage years, Tu'sera, with the encouragment of her father, accompanied Vishe to the estate of an overly wealthy and predacious hunter of exotic tastes. With the family in need of the extra coin (Lash'ka was an idealist with a horrible gambling addiction), Vishe willingly took the contract and requested her daughter's help. While the women were toiling the acres of the land during an awfully hot and humid day, Tu'sera heard a whisper wtihin her mind: 'Do not forgive them.'. She continued her work, disregarding the voice she thought she heard in the brush to the left of her. Again, a calm yet cacophonous voice bellows in her mind: 'You must be the resolve. It isn't hate. It isn't vengeance. You know what this is...". As Tu'sera attempted to shake off the voice in of her head, the hunter, whose name is chronicled as Kraszin Shi'bagk, had been leering at Tu'sera and Vishe. Kraszin and his troupe were devout followers of Rillian, the God of Avarice, lusting for self-fulfilling desires, and they began to lurk towards their 'laborers'. The compromised positions of Tu'sera and Vishe toiling the fields were taken advantage of by the men that employed them and they pounced upon the women. Vishe was pinned by three of the men as Kraszin forcefully grabbed Tu'sera by her hair. He yanked her head in the direction of her mother to witness the troupe tearing her mother's clothes off and grasp at her body. Once again the voice echoed in her head; 'They have made their choice...'. One of the troupe set himself on top of Vishe with deliberate and rapacious intent. The voice in Tu'sera's head spoke with intensified fervor, "They made their choice, Tu'sera!! Move!!!..NOW!!!!" In an instant her pupils contracted to tiny dots as her hand raised upward and backward to Kraszin's throat with unprecedented force. A grip, squeeze, and judicious pull rallied forth a torrential shower of blood. Kraszin's sloshing gurgles of surprise took only a short moment to gain the attention of his troupe. The defiling wretch positioned on Vishe turned his head to see Kraszin's neck spewing blood out of the gaping hole where his throat once was. The remaining two cronies gazed in shock at the girl, holding bloodied flesh in her hand. The men heard a hateful voice emanate from Tu'sera. Her voice at that moment was of a different state of existence (and not the same as the voice in her head). With eyes alight with godly flame, Tu'sera gaited towards the remaing troupe and spoke with a resonating rage: "Your atrocities wrought from your decisions of pruience will no longer plague this land. Your kind will see diligence, judgment, and punishment. Fear your flaws and shortcormings." The three men ran for their lives, and ran well, but were quickly confronted by Voelker who stood in their path. He enticed their ears, long-windedly explaining the code of conduct of mortals. As he dragged on his lessons, Tu'sera snuck upon them with a carpenter's cudgel in hand, and she dashed the brains out of the transgressors one by one. As she stood over the slain men, Tu'sera's eyes reverted back to their regular innocent gaze. The events of that day inspired Tu'sera to create a doctrine of laws, taking the teachings of Vaath, Voelker, and Urrngrakh to create 'Rakuul's Law'. She was able to win the hearts and minds of the people of her village, and through out the course of her life she gained more and more political power and backing of the people. At the age of 94, her last year of life, Tu'sera's vision and government was in rule of over half of the land that is the current standing Rakuul Judicature. After Tu'sera's passing, her four children, and eventually their children, expanded the kingdom's borders and solidified the Rakuul Judicature.

**Gnomorran Independence - 214 AC to 234 AC**

After co-existing with the dwarves for so long, the gnomes of Myndynagaer decided to make their own destinies and traversed out of the mountains and claim lands of their own.

**Gnomorran Pentinence - 235 AC to 303 AC**

After many years of creating a more-or-less functioning society, the bitter cold winters, dangerous northern predators, and overall lack of proper government, the elders of the Gnomes requested to be apart of the Dwarven Kingdoms again. The King of Myndynagaer accepted. The Gnomarran Commonwealth was born.

**Rise of the Stihl Empire - 304 AC to 372 AC**

The lands of Stihl primarily consist of expansive forests and temperate climates with an impressive range of mountains dotted with villages all about the country-side.  For centuries humans primarily roamed and settled in this region, though it was not uncommon for the peoples of Myndynagaer to explore south and make contact with the humans.  There were also occurrences, though rare, when elves of Ov'Ladarethen would venture southward for exploration or trade.  301 years after the events of the 'Hiss of Raverous', the lands orckind ransacked had not been reclaimed much less ventured to. In 302, the Age of Ripening, a guard-for-hire with a hint of self-righteousness by the name of Moran Stihler Craenus banded together a group of like-minded mercenaries to take back the lands his countrymen lost years prior.  With aggressive influence and zeal, Moran had a militia spurring slightly over 1,000 men procured over 1 and a half years.  Being a natural tactician, Moran strategized specific fertile lands of the west to be reclaimed first, and commissioned the surrounding villagers to build watchtowers and forts (in return for their labor, he offered safety and security).  His ambition and promise of protection he convinced the simple farming communities to work for a greater purpose; the safety of their people and land.   Five years passed and Moran was able to restore and fortify the northwestern regions of Stihl, strengthening trade and commerce.  Moran implemented a taxation system, but not before explaining in detail to the numerous town leaders how the system worked and what the benefits would come from it.  He continued his campaign to reclaim and secure the country and by 361 AoR,  Moran had a colossal following of like-minded mortals behind him.  It was difficult to find a western area of Stihl that did not have a fort or tower within a dozen miles.  In his old age, Moran began to fall to disease and his mind was leaving him, but not before regretting having no kin of his own.  A youthful ranger of great promise joined Moran's cause in 358 AoR and his name was Arutus Daraten; a descendant of Derral Markuven, a bold leader of a prosperous farming and hunting community who shared the zeal of Moran.  Arutus seethed virtue and honor and put his fellow people before him at all times.  On Moran's deathbed, he gave Arutus his sword and bestowed upon him the charge of continuing the campaign to secure Stihl's borders and save the lands from future threats. To ensure true prosperity and safety Arutus set forth a plan to create an infrastructure for a unified society, as watchtowers are only useful if there is a loyal man set upon it.  Arutus sent messengers throughout the lands requesting the brightest and most innovative men to answer his call.  Men of all different walks of life, from cobblers to masons to hunters and farmers, Arutus’ request for aid was met with enthusiasm.  Arutus and his trusted friends interviewed each individual on what they thought would be necessary for a long living kingdom for the people.  The replies were various and many, but ideas such as sanitation, a government that works based off the desires of the people, domestic resource trading, conscription, and maintaining slavery were things Arutus and his followers highlighted.  After a few months of deliberation between Arutus and his followers they drafted the Mandate of Stihl, where the first laws were inked on parchment.  Arutus sent messengers once more to rally leaders of towns big and small to Arutus’ home of Whisper’s Harvest to sign the Mandate and become men of the Stihl nation.  Most town leaders eagerly signed the Mandate, but there will always be some that wish to maintain their independence, and there definitely were townships that refused to meet in Whisper’s Harvest.  Arutus, at this point, was wildly passionate and believed deeply in the Mandate being the best salvation for prosperity and safety became confused and hurt by those that refused to join.  His love and compassion for his fellow humans was so strong that it would occasionally skew his morality. To Arutus, without joining the new nation of Stihl there could be no safety or future for those that did not sign the Mandate. He spent some months garnering able bodied men to create a large military force.  If the surrounding towns of men could not see the folly of not signing the Mandate, then Arutus would shove their faces into it.  He campaigned throughout the lands with his armies, marching from township to township offering, what was eventually dubbed, the ‘Gracious Ultimatum’: Either the township joins the nation of Stihl and will maintain being “free people” or they will be enslaved and used to bolster Stihl’s workforce.  In the end, whatever the choice, they will be safe.  This was Arutus’ logic and some townships would concede and sign the Mandate, some would try to flee to only be captured and stripped of their status of being a free person, and some townships fought back.  Arutus’ military might could not be matched by the individual townships and all who opposed the Stihl army fell.  It is said that after every battle Arutus would shed tears while he and his men buried the people they killed in battle, as Arutus would always try to defeat the opposition with as little bloodshed as possible, but this was not always avoidable.. By 370 AoR Stihl had grown in considerable size, from Adinasum in the north, to Fircrux in the south, to Hasty Rot Shore in the east and Caengidros in the west.  While Arutus was uniting the lands his followers fleshed out how their new government would be ran.  To ensure the needs of such a large nation they devised four different assemblies, called Consilates, who would take on specific roles of the nation.  It was also determined that a sole leader, the Imperatus, would be necessary to keep the different consilates unified and like-minded for the needs of Stihl.  When Arutus returned from his campaign his followers presented the new government structure.  He requested that the structure be implemented immediately and his followers suggested that he take the role of Imperatus.  Arutus declined and demanded the people of Stihl to vote for their new leader.  The request of a vote was a noble, but unnecessary gesture, as no one chose to run against Arutus, and he was unanimously elected to Imperatus in 372 AoR. Immediately after being crowned Arutus decreed that Stihl was not just a nation, but an empire to be feared and respected.  And so the Stihl Empire was born.

**Formation of the Da'Ran Republic - 408 AC to 418 AC**

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