Timeline Circa 400 BPC

The world of Myrex Mundus is one of conflict and strife, which is clear to those who study its history, and much has been lost to the ashes of the ages. However, the recorded events that still remain have been gathered and summarized here, in chronological form.

Following the event known as the Planebreak, the peoples of the world began to use that cataclysm as a good punctuating point for the calendar. In a system of measurement known as the Broken Plane calendar, which is abbreviated as BPC, the people of the world catalogue and measure history based on how many years pass between the Planebreak and the event in question.

For simplicity sake, the broken plane calendar is almost identical to the old Mundane Calendar, which was popular across Mundus before the Planebreak. The two calendars have the same number of days in a year, but certain months have been reordered to compensate for changes in the world's climate. Because of this, the eras separated by significant events have been given names that describe them. Current historians recognize four epochs, which are the Dark Epoch, the Astyrian Epoch, and the Cilarian Epoch, and the Modern Epoch. An epoch is named when it ends, and until that point, it is simply referred to as 'modern'.

## The Dark Epoch

Few dates have survived from this era of history, which is characterized by tribalism and unsophisticated behavior from almost all existing species on Mundus besides the Elves and their nation within the Dawning Woods. Anatornis was whole at this point, a single world where the gods lived upon the outer continents and the mortals lived upon the center land, which was, of course, called Mundus.

During the Dark Epoch, gods walked amongst mortals and little was known about magic or the other mystical arts. Eventually, though, the gods withdrew, though the worship of such powerful beings remained even after their retreat. The contention between followers of different gods became a constant source of strife upon the center-most continent, and the gods did little to stifle the bloodshed.

The Dark Epoch drew to an end with the passing of the Great Corruptor, a falling star which flew over the continent of Mundus and crashed into the southern Ethereal Sea. This event marked the beginning of the rise of the Astyrian Empire.

## The Astyrian Epoch

Different accounts are maintained by different groups regarding the foundation of the nation of humans that would conquer all of Mundus. The two accounts that most historians agree are the most feasible are recounted below.

The first account, which survives through historical writings from the time, alleges Astyr was a boy born in the wake of the fall of the Great Corruptor. Unique from an early age, he came to lead his human tribe before the age of fifteen, and then went about uniting humanity in the name of vengeance against the elves for wrongs inflicted during the long centuries of the Dark Epoch. Astyr died during this great crusade against the elves, but after the humans won the conflict, his advisors and generals founded the empire in his honor.

The second account, which was recovered through unknown means by the Order Aporios while they served as champions of Cilariel, claims that Astryd was a girl born because of the fall of the Great Corruptor. Through mysterious circumstances, Astryd and her brother, Astyr, were born without parents, conceived of raw magic let off by the star as it fell. The two were found and raised by a human clan, though the clan was almost destroyed by orcs before the twins reached the age of twelve. Thanks to Astryd's magical abilities and uncanny intuition, the tribe was saved, and the twins, who came to the conclusion that humans were doomed if they continued to follow the path of wandering clansmen. The two set out to unite the human clans into a single nation which could face the threats of the world without faltering. However, Astryd, the mastermind, was female, and the deeply masculine culture of the time meant that many would not take her seriously. Because of this, her twin brother, Astyr, became the face of their new nation, while Astryd ran things from the shadows and would lead the soldiers into battle with her face hidden behind a mask. After the empire had been truly established, the eternal elven queen reached out to her, wishing to orchestrate a war to humble her own people. The Vengeance Crusade was the result, and while many died on both sides, the elves were truly humbled by the indomitable might of humanity. Still, at the final battle, Astryd and Astyr were betrayed by their generals, and both were killed. The generals then used their deaths as an excuse to usurp the empire's throne and slaughter the elves to the point of nigh extinction.

While many now believe the second account, certain parts of it are rather fantastical and nonsensical, which leads a number of established historians to debate its authenticity.

Following the establishment of the Astyrian empire, there are many events with concrete dates, which are recorded below.

### 43 AE

The Sacred Conclave of Astyria is established to govern the spirituality of humanity.

### 50 AE

The first King of Astyria after Astyr, who's name has been lost, dies and is succeeded by his son, Fergus, who immediately reignites the campaign to claim Mundus for humanity. His army breaks into six groups, with the Commander of each group wielding one of the fabled legendary blades called the Hands of Salvation.

### 60 AE

Due to the dangers of the primordial land, along with other species, such as dwarves and orcs, the six armies make little progress, but they do manage to establish a few new villages across Mundus. The most notable of these settlements is Memoria, which is established on the most north western coast of the continent. Named in memory for all those lost during the Vengeance Crusade, as well as those who were killed trying to expand humanity's borders, the city is a regular pilgrimage for many priests and shamans, as it is proof that humanity can, indeed, grow.

Memoria establishes contact with the dwarven fortress nearby, reviving trade with the Dwarven Empire. Thanks to the resources they receive from their trade, and the relative safety of their location, Memoria begins to become increasingly self sufficient and isolated from the other humans. In time, though it is unclear exactly when, Memoria even begins worshiping a different pantheon of gods.

### 85 AE

The Korskan Clan of humans, who have thus far managed to retain their mountain holdings and remain separate from Astyria, is forced to finally depart the mountains because of the increasingly frequent orc attacks. The survivors continue to maintain their staunch independence, though, and settle a bit north, in a large valley within the Cold Peaks. After entrenching themselves, they establish their new settlement of Korskar in the heart of the valley. After some time, they make connections with the nearby Dwarven Empire, and begin trading. With few resources to spare, the Korskan Humans barter their labor and combat prowess to the dwarves with specialized contracts, essentially selling themselves into carefully outlined servitude for months on end in trade for a constant stream of resources from the children of the stone.

### 122 AE

The number of humans in Korskar has swollen far beyond the numbers of the original clan. Humans from Astyria, outcast Dwarves from the Empire, and anyone else who wishes to sell their services have gathered in and around the humble settlement, and many different factions have arisen in their midst. These factions have begun to argue and fight each other for resources and contrcts, so the chieftain of the Korskan, Albrecht Verrich, gathers the most notable and powerful leaders of these new factions and establishes them as the Mercenary Houses of Verrich. The leaders of each house are each granted control of some of the land in the valley surrounding Korskar, and are charged with maintaining those territories, on the condition that the new Houses answer to the chieftain, and abdicate to his judgement when conflicts arise between houses. Many agree to this pact, but more than a few resist this subservience. A conflict erupts in the valley, but after a series of swift and brutal battles, Albrecht's tribesmen subjugate and exile the dissenters.

### 155 AE

The elderly Albrecht Verrich of Korskar dies in battle against a warhorde of Orcoids on the outskirts of the Dagger Tooth Mountains. Traditionally, according to Korskan tradition, his son would have taken over his position. However, many of the Houses resist this tradition, claiming that the Korskan Clan had been given their time to lead the Houses. A short conflict occurs, but it is resolved by Albrecht's heir choosing to abdicate his claim to whoever the Houses elect.

This choice finally cements the Mercenary Houses of Verrich as a sovereign body over the valley of Korskar, and from that point forward, the Mercenary Lord of Verrich is chosen by general consensus from among the heads of the Houses.

### 173 AE

During this year, the first recorded encounters with demons occur. They emerge from within the depths of the Forest of Eld, an ancient woodland south of central Astyria, and attack the nearby human holdings mercilessly. Human survivors are chased all the way back to Cilaris, but the advance of the demons is halted there. The impervious walls of the settlement rebuff the twisted attackers, and, once the army is routed, the Astyrian forces give chase, following the demons all the way back to the forest that they came from.

Unfortunately, the demons are intelligent, and the coming Battle of Eld is a disastrous, pyrrhic, victory, in which the humans lose most of their forces. Three of the six legendary Hands of Salvation are either lost or destroyed, but eventually the humans manage to push to what has come to be known as the Eldian Gate. Several of the remaining survivors lose themselves to madness by simply standing in the presence of the waygate, and so it is that the human army is finally routed by the last few demons. Humanity retreats from the forest with as much dignity as they can, but once they return to safety outside, they witness a bright white glow emanating out from the normally shadowy woods. The demons never renew their assault, though any parties that venture into the dark woodland never return, either.

The Sacred Conclave of Heartwynn begins to preach that the demonic invasion was the work of the heretics within Memoria, and that the bright flash within the forest was Heartwynn's gods intervening to right the wrongdoing. The resentment deepens to the point where pogroms against those sporting any symbolism of Memoria or its pantheon become common. Though the King and his counselors do take steps to mitigate the violence, their measures are petty ones, and change very little.

### 187 AE

One of the remaining three Hands of Salvation is stolen from the Order of Horrad's inner sanctum. The Conclave whips the people into a frenzy, pinning the theft upon Memoria. A massive riot overtakes the city, in which neighbors turn against neighbors, accusing each other of involvement with the sister city. Many are killed before the guard are able to gain control and institute martial law.

### 188 - 190 AE

Spurred on by the beliefs of the Conclave and the people, King Marond Hulfrin, current king of the Astyrian Dynasty, organizes a disciplinary task force to march to Memoria and punish the denizens of the city. He calls upon the Sacred Conclave, as well as his most elite guard, who are normally reserved for protecting the highest Orders of Heartwynn, to provide soldiers for the war effort, as the regular army has still not properly recuperated from the demonic invasion. Unsatisfied with the number of forces that he gathers, Marond goes so far as to legitimize the Houses of Verrich, offering them recognition and coin in trade for their service in the war. A fair number of the Houses respond to this offer, almost doubling the size of Astyria's task force.

The army sets out at a brisk pace, and arrives at the Quiet Coast by the end of the year. However, that is as far as they manage before the come under attack. A sizable force of Memorian humans ambush the army, striking from the hills on all sides of the road. The ambushers are eventually forced back, but the losses they inflict are substantial. Among the dead is Marond's only son.

The King, utterly blinded by rage, marches upon Memoria. He drives his men like dogs, marching at a pace that would kill most ordinary humans. His Astyrian soldiers manage to fulfill his wishes, empowered by the clerics of the conclave, but the mercenaries of Verrich are left far behind the main force. After a solid day of absence from the ones who hired them, the mercenaries simply turn around and go home.

Marond arrives at Memoria with a much smaller and exhausted force, but despite the loss of the mercenaries, they still outnumber of the defenders of the city. Due to their superior numbers, the attackers manage to break past the city's walls, setting the buildings within aflame. The Fall of Sanity, as it comes to be called, follows, where the denizens of the town are gathered up and, one by one, thrown from the great walls of the city. Any who survive the fall are subjected to a process that has been lost to time, which is called 'Erasure', in which someone has their soul scoured of any and all individuality, leaving behind a mindless and obedient husk. Once this happens, they are chained and loaded into carts, then sent back to Heartwynn. The King and his elite guard stay behind to ensure the city is reduced to ashes.

That choice proves fatal for the king, though. The Dwarves arrive to support their allies, but are unfortunately too late. Filled with rage, their impressive army takes vengeance upon the King and his men, who are vastly outnumbered by a fresh force with better equipment and training. Those who surrender are sent back to Heartwynn carrying Marond's head. This is the end of the first Astyrian Dynasty.

The erased Memorians are pressed into labor upon their return to Heartwynn. They become a new class of humans, the slaves, with no real sense of self. They are treated with little dignity, and while they are only capable of basic tasks, they do those tasks unquestioningly due to their erased souls. Going forward, during a certain time of year, the slave masters force all slave offspring who have reached the age of five to undergo the erasure process, ensuring the continuation of the slave class.

### 191 AE

Following the death of Marond, the Kingdom, which had thus far been united under a single lineage, shatters, as the royal Hulfrin bloodline has no proper heir, since the only remaining child of the former King is a female. A number of claimants to the crown appear, spouting any manner of ties to the King. The cities of Heartwynn, Cilaris, and Clirev are all the decided territories of the three most notable candidates. When none of the three show any intention of backing down, they all split from each other, calling themselves the true ruler and denouncing the others as pretenders. The Sovereign Princess Vilora Hulfrin, of Heartwynn, The Grand Duke Gerrard Kaloran, of Cilaris, and High Forgemaster Korrick Belestan, of Clirev. There are minor skirmishes along the borders of the three new segments of the former kingdom, but due to the losses suffered during the attack against Memoria, none of the three groups really have the forces or resources to try and attack the others' heavily defended cities. Most conflicts are fought using soldiers hired from Verrich, but before long, even the coin begins to run dry, and the mercenaries stop fighting.

In the following decades, the three states maintain something of a peace. The Memorian survivors along the Quiet Coast resettle their ruined city, rebuilding with the aid of the dwarves. After the reconstruction concludes, they declare themselves independent from Astyria, creating the Pantheonic Theocracy of Memoria. They are led by the Circle of High Seers, a group consisting of a representative from each of the gods of the Memorian Pantheon. Most notably, they also incorporate the revered dwarven ancestor, Okardin the Wise, into their pantheon, as he was the first High King to have diplomatic contact with the humans, according to the dwarven records. At the same time, they officially recognize the Circle of Ash, as well as the Circle of Thorns, as agreeable religions, despite their practitioners being based in the distant Black Forest and Eldian Forest, respectively.

### 224 AE

The elderly Grand Duke Kaloran passes away in his sleep. While he has no descendants that are connected by blood, his adopted daughter, Adrea Kaloran, is named as his successor.

The forces of Heartwynn seek to capitalize on the moment of weakness brought on by the loss of the Grand Duke. With all the might they can muster, they crash down upon Cilaris, but in a twist of fate, the walls of the city are able to hold. Adrea reveals that she bears one of the Hands of Salvation that was lost during the demonic invasion, and that she reclaimed it from the Forest of Eld with her own hands. Using the power of the blade and the stalwart strength of her soldiers, she pushes the soldiers of Heartwynn back to the Astyrian Woods, where she breaks off her assault and returns home. Weeks later, Heartwynn renews its assault, this time with the Sanctum Master of the Order of Horrad leading the charge, one of the sacred blades in hand.

A climactic battle follows, with the outnumbered defenders refusing to give ground against the attackers. Adrea meets the leader of the enemy army on the field of battle, and in a catastrophic clash, the two bearers of the Hands of Salvation cross blades. The result is the loss of Adrea's eye, but with a wild surge of magic from deep within her being, she empowers her Hand of Salvation, and when the Sanctum Master parries, the Knight's blade gives way to the Duchess's. The sacrosanct weapon is destroyed, and the Master of Horrad is slain. After the display, the attackers lose most of their moral, routing back toward Heartwynn. Barely pausing to address her injuries, Adrea gives chase. When her forces arrive at Heartwynn, she unleashes another blast of chaotic magic. A massive bridge of frost surges across the gap, overtaking many of the ferries that were carrying retreating soldiers, and completely covering the open gate in a solid layer of ice. The true cost for this spell was the backlash, though, as Adrea's hand becomes a black and gnarled, like a claw, as the very life is leeched from it by the hungry magic. As she takes the throne of Heartwynn for her own, she is dubbed Adrea Frostclaw. She takes Vilora Hulfrin's first-born daughter as her bride to solidify her claim to the thrown, and allows the Queen to retain her title of Queen-Mother, though she does oust the queen's puppet husband.

This begins the Adric Dynasty, though Adrea allows the name of the Kingdom to remain the same, as a continued homage to the unifier of humanity.

### 225 MC - 234 MC

Adrea launches a campaign to subjugate the upstart Forgemaster of Clirev, the venerable Korrick Belestan. The distance between the two states is larger this time, so the conflict is a bit more difficult. The resources that Clirev has access to makes it difficult for Adrea to overpower them, and the martial hierarchy that Korrick has established leads to fine strategists leading the armies.

After a long and arduous conflict, Adrea manages to lay siege to the city of Clirev. However, the defenders are able to break the siege, and this pattern continues for almost three whole years. Frustrated with this, Adrea finally challenges the elderly Korrick to a duel, with both of their titles and honor on the line. The Forgemaster accepts, as Adrea expected, and before the gates of Clirev, presided over by two dozen clerics of various gods, the duel is fought. Despite his age, Korrick puts up an impressive fight, but the strength of youth wins out, and Adrea claims victory. Still, rather than executing the old man, in a gesture of good will, she helps him to his feet. Together, they forge a pact that allows Clirev to maintain its sovereignty as a separate state, rather than being folded back into the Astyrian Kingdom, in honor of the resilience displayed during the war. Korrick is elevated to the position of Forgeking, and a trade contract is established between the new nation and its neighbor. As a symbol of good will, Adrea even presents Korrick with her Hand of Salvation, properly backing up the pact between the two.

After nine long years on the front, Adrea returns to Heartwynn. She is assassinated that evening, in her own bed.

The Queen-mother immediately claims sovereignty from her daughter, claiming that without an heir, she is in the best position to represent the Queen.

Adrea's brother, Ander, who was not adopted in the same way as Adrea, comes under attack by assassins, who apparently seek his head as the last living blood relative of the dead King. He flees to Clirev, seeking sanctuary, but instead, Korrick rallies his armies and marches to Heartwynn, dragging Ander along with as a figurehead. The old man proclaims that the Queen-mother was the assassin of the king, and calls for her head.

### 236 MC

Korrick's agents sneak into Heartwynn with merchant caravans, weeks before the army even begins its approach. When Clirev's army begins crossing the lake, the agents sabotage defensive fixtures on the city walls, allowing the attackers to approach without much resistance. They go so far as to sacrifice their lives to throw the gates open from within, allowing the soldiers to enter the city. The fighting is intense, but the new plate armor that the smiths of Clirev had mastered proves to be much too strong for most of the weapons wielded by Heartwynn's soldiers. On the steps of the palace, the advance is stopped by the Order of Horrad, who's leader is wielding the last of Heartwynn's Hands of Salvation. He clashes with Korrick, and unfortunately, after an extended duel, the blades shatter upon each other, their immutable power creating a shockwave of magic that kills both of the weapons' wielders. As the invaders advance, some of Korrick's men gather up the shards of both blades, and take them back to Clirev with them after the battle.

Ander confronts Vilora in the heart of the palace, but whatever happens within is a mystery. What we know, however, is that Ander later emerges from the palace, bloody from battle, with very few of his men remaining. Rumors appear from those who survived, stating that the Vilora had become one with the shadows, that she had become a beast with seven reptilian heads, or that she had summoned a great demon to defeat her attackers. Whatever the case, Vilora is never seen again, and Ander takes the throne, taking up his estranged sister's surname of Frostclaw, and continuing the Adric Dynasty.

Thus ends the line of royal line of Hulfrin. However, some do claim that the bloodline may have survived, through some illegitimate offspring, though these rumors are only substantiated much, much later.

After the battle, a tense peace overtakes the continent of Mundus, with each of the sovereign states coexisting in some way. Clirev and Astyria both seem to ignore the existence of Memoria, despite several diplomatic efforts from the country.

### 260 AE

A plague known as the Crimson Pox sweeps through Greydust, on the edge of the Shifting Mountains. Fearing the contamination of their other cities, the Astyrians cut off all contact with the coastal settlement. After the town succumbs to the plague, the Astyrians attempt to resettle it, only for the disease to appear again. This happens two more times before they decide that the city is lost and abandon the Shifting Mountains in their entirety. Some wandering humans do take up residence in the ruins, and a small community forms. They do well enough for themselves, but the town is mostly used as a waypoint for anyone who is venturing into the dangerous and mysterious lands south of the settlement.

### 342 AE

Ferra Thornheart, the current High Seer of Tira, seeks to make peace with Astyria by inviting the King and the venerable Order of Horrad to participate in the tournament of Tira as guests of honor. Zacharius the Echt attends on behalf of the Order, while the King sends his daughter, Lilis, in his stead.

The events surrounding the tournament were shrouded in mystery for years, but, after careful research into the incident, the Order Aporios uncovered the truth. Sir Zacharius attends with the intention of inciting a renewed war, and, to that end, assassinates Ferra Thornheart during the finals of the tournament. He then attempts to assassinate Princess Lilis, but she is saved by Alvira Aporios, the eventual founder of the Order Aporios. However, Zacharius's allies utilize a large spell to send the spectators and civilians in the area into a savage berserker rage. Those effected tear each other to pieces, and, as some of the few survivors, Alvira and her companions take the blame for the tragedy. After faking their own deaths, her group disappears, along with the princess, and begin slowly making their way back toward Astyria.

The King of Astyria, Arneit Frostclaw, believes his daughter killed by those who had invited her there, while Memoria's seers believe that one of their own was slain by her guests of honor. War is inevitable.

### 343 AE

War breaks out at the beginning of the year. Memoria is the first to attack, crossing Clirev's wastelands and burning several villages on the Astyrian border. Astyria responds by moving a great number of its troops to the border and requesting aid from Clirev. Clirev provides weapons and armor to its ally but asserts its need to stay out of the conflict, citing some sort of internal issue within their own country.

In a surprising move, the Memorians also go to war with the dwarves, managing to take hold of several dwarven holds within the Cold Peaks, utilizing the element of surprise, magic, and their own dwarven citizens to devastating effect. They begin mining operations to fuel their war efforts on both fronts.

During the conflict, the orcish cunning chieftain of the Deadgrin clan, Grullak Bloodhowler, defeats the other warlords in the area, allowing him to claim dominion over the mountains leading to the Cold Peaks. However, in a surprising move, Grullak manages to make a diplomatic treaty with the dwarves, which ends the border skrimishes between them and the orcs for the first time in history and allieviates any worries he may have had about his northern borders.

Spurred on by this, the Deadgrin Clan smashes down upon the Astyria's Southern Fortress, and the bastion falls within the month. After occupying the fortress, the invaders prepare to march toward Astyr's Crossing. Astyria is forced to split its impressive army in half, leaving some to defend their northern border and sending the rest to defend their south. Lucius Frostclaw, the second son of King Arneit, is dispatched to the south with the soldiers, given command of a vast army despite his relative inexperience.

### 344 AE

The forces led by Lucius Frostclaw manage to arrive at Cilaris before the invaders can launch their assault. In a massive battle outside the city's walls, the young son of Arneit displays his tactical ability by preying upon the greatest weakness of the invaders: their lack of unity. Despite being outnumbered and having no mages in their midst, the forces of Astyria manage to route the orcs. The legendary defenses of the city remain unbeaten. Lucius quickly rallies his forces and gives chase, bearing down upon the Southern Fortress.

King Arneit establishes contact with the Circle of High Seers in Memoria, seeking to find a way to end hostilities between the two countries so that they may be able to deal with the other threats on their borders. The Seers are cautious but agree to the request. The King sends his eldest son, Dragos, as a sign of good faith, and the council responds by dispatching their Speaker and High Seer for the Ferryman, Welan Orastle, to handle the negotiations. The talks are held within the Northern Fortress, upon the legendary Wall of Clirev.

However, during the talks, a seemingly Memorian intruder infiltrates Heartwynn and manages to assassinate King Arneit. According to the King's attendant, the King names Lucius as his successor as he dies, acting against tradition by passing over the eldest son. The news of Arneit's death arrives in the midst of the peace talks between Welan and Dragos, and, enraged by the apparent betrayal, Dragos kills Welan on the spot, along with his honorguard.

Dragos declares that the matter of succession must be some sort of trick, and so he declares himself the rightful King of Astyria and has his basecamp on the border of Clirev built up into a fortress that he can use to oversee the Kingdom and its defense.

In the meantime, Lucius also receives word about the death of his father. He accepts the mantle of King and rejects his brothers claim. He makes the newly recaptured Southern Fortress his base of operations and declares that once the southern invaders are dealt with, his brother will be next, declaring him to be nothing more than a pretender and criminal.

The widowed Queen of Astyria, Lariah, continues to maintain her position in Heartwynn, handling the mundane matters of the Kingdom and keeping the argument between the brothers from devolving into a civil war. Aided by her remaining daughter, Andreena, she barely manages to keep the peace of the Kingdom. However, the military is held by her two sons, so Lariah holds no real power. Only the Royal Guard still remain loyal to her, with almost every other House backing one of the two brothers.

The continent remains in a stalemate for a time. Memoria struggles to fend off the dwarves and the Astyrians, though they stubbornly hold their ground. Astyria struggles to deal a crushing blow to Memoria or the southern invaders.

### 346 AE

Alvira and her companions finally reveal themselves at the Southern Fortress, turning Lilis over to her brother for safe keeping. Driven by some unknown purpose, they then make their way to Heartwynn to converse with the widowed Queen. At her request, and aided by a man named Cain Vostilli, they reveal a plot by Cain's father, Telhav, who is the leader of the Sacred Conclave. The priest plans to wrest control of Astyria from the fractured royal family, but he is driven off by Alvira, Cain, and their companions, who save Heartwynn from the threat before it is too late. As a reward for her service, the Queen allows Alvira to establish her own noble Order, which comes to be known as the Order Aporios. Alvira is the first matriarch of the order, and her first task is to hunt down and stop Telhav before his threat grows again.

Alvira takes the Order north to Dragos's Watch, where the eldest son of Arneit continues to fight the Memorians. There, they work with Dragos to hunt down Telhav, only to uncover the resting place of the phoenix god, Velisera. The awakened god goes on a rampage, but the combined forces of Dragos and Alvira manage to defeat her before the destruction becomes too widespread. Her egg is sealed away once again, so that she may never awaken again.

Despite their victory over Velisera, the Order ultimately fails their goal. Using the distraction of the phoenix, Telhav and his followers slip back into Heartwynn and manage to assassinate the Queen using a recovered Hand of Salvation, Plaguewhisper. They take the city hostage, killing any who they see as a threat, though some of the soldiers do manage to escape from the city and retreat to Cilaris.

### 347 AE

The Order Aporios and Dragos rush to Cilaris in order to unite with the survivors from Heartwynn, but upon their arrival, they recieve word that Lucius's forces within the Southern Fortress had been overwhelmed by a renewed orcish assault. Rather than trying to retake Heartwynn, the Order organizes the survivors and works with Dragos to prepare for the coming orcish attack.

When the invaders arrive, the defenders realize how the Southern Fortress fell so quickly: The orcs had bolstered their numbers with goblins, dark elves, dragons, and giants. A truly massive battle follows, but, as they have many times before, the walls and defenders of Cilaris hold strong, defeating the attackers and saving the city. Following the battle, the Order Aporios unites with Dragos's elite soldiers, the Order Draconis, to rush to Heartwynn while Dragos remains in Cilaris to defend against any further attacks.

Little is known of what truly happened within Heartwynn. The Orders Aporios and Draconis fight bravely against Telhav and his lackeys, but something goes wrong during the battle. Some great spell worked by Telhav goes awry and ignites the ley lines, the ancient veins of magical energy that surge beneath Mundus. The first High Sorcerer of the Order Aporios, Amalia Ajora, sacrifices herself to buy time for her allies to escape, and while they do manage to get many of the hostages to safety, many more are caught in the following explosion.

The world is ripped asunder, Mundus is torn apart by catastrophic torrents of energy as the ley lines burst, sending their magical energy upward into the skies. Many die in the following cataclysm, but many of those within the vicinity of Heartwynn instead become temporally displaced. No one is exactly certain why, but instead of dying, hundreds of thousands of those who would have died near the capital of Astyria are instead frozen, left to float in the ocean that appears following the destruction of the main part of the continent. These people, who eventually come to be known as lost ones, continue to pop up from time to time, even to this very day. Certain rituals can be used to free a lost one from their stasis, though the knowledge required to do so is held by few.

During the cataclysm, the goddess of magic and knowledge, Cilariel, revealed herself from within her temple outside of Cilaris. Using her divine power, she split the storm of energy that would have engulfed the city, saving those who had fought so hard to defend it from the orcs and their allies. Only because of her did the city survive.

## The Cilarian Epoch

The Cilarian Epoch is characterized by the involvement of the goddess Cilariel in the affairs of mortal creatures. After revealing herself to protect Cilaris during the Planebreak, Cilariel remained in the city and regularly interacted with her followers there. Her actions were mode more notable because of the fact that following the Planebreak, the other gods that were worshiped by the mortals of Mundus fell silent, and their powers became difficult for their followers to call upon. Cilariel, on the other hand, faced no such issue, and this has led many scholars to postulate that Cilariel might have had some sort of hand in the Planebreak.

Much of the history of the Cilarian Epoch is lost, as many of the history books were kept within Keeper's Rest, Cilariel's Great Library, and those records are no longer available. Recorded here is what is known.

### 0 CE

The remainder of the year in which the Planebreak occurred is chaotic. The High Elves emerge from within Cyesha, the Astyrian humans chase the marauding orcish survivors into the far east, and the Order Aporios is reestablished by Hydra Aporios. Few details survive from this time, as many were more preoccupied with surviving than recording what had happened. What is known is that Cilariel creates the ritual to free lost ones from their temporal prisons and teaches this knowledge to the Order Aporios. She tasks the Order with trying to recover as many of these lost souls as possible, and grants them many gifts and blessings to aid in that goal.

### 2 CE

Despite the best efforts of the surviving members of the Astyrian government, the empire finally shatters. Various cities across the nation claim their own sovereignty and become new nations. However, because of the influence of Cilaris, as well as its military might, no one risks going to war. Instead, under the guidance of Cilariel, the various nation states work out tenuous borders without blood being shed.

Also in this year, Redwatch Keep, a fortress in the passage between Viz'tar and the Wastes, is completed by the dwarves and the humans who chased the orcs east. The goal of the fortress is to lock the orcs away in the desolate, sun-beaten regions north of the fortress to avoid them ever becoming an issue again. The humans leave a force of volunteers behind, and then begin the long trek back to Astyria.

### 5 CE

The Young High Elves set out from Cyesha with an army of living wood golems. The high elves and wood elves make landfall upon the shores of outside the Black Forest and immediately launch attacks against the dark elves living inside the woods. There is a long and bloody conflict, and while details are scarce, there are no true victors. The dark elves are forced to flee to their old island home of Tala'ril, while the high elves and wood elves retreat back to Cyesha.

Later this year, Alvira Aporios and Cain Vostilli are recovered from the Sea of Lost Souls and freed from their stasis. After being informed of what had happened to the world, Cain joins the Order Aporios to aid them in their humanitarian efforts, but Alvira decides to retire and start a family.

### 10 CE

Tensions between the Sacred Conclave at Rivercrest and the Cilarian government in Cilaris worsen each year, and so Cilariel ask for Alvira, as a retired hero of great renown, to travel to the northern city and negotiate on Cilaris's behalf. Alvira agrees and sets out, but is unfortunately ambushed and assassinated on the road to Rivercrest. Allegedly, these assassins were sent by the High Cleric of the Sacred Conclave, who blamed Alvira for the Planebreak and the silence of the gods that came from it.

Almost immediately afterward, the High Cleric is murdered in his own house, along with his whole family, by a Yuan-Ti. This is seen as strange, as the yuan-ti are an isolated people with little care for events outside their own nation, and, whats more, they were all believed dead when the mountains they called home were blasted to the bottom of the ocean during the Planebreak. Because of this assassination, the already despised reptilian humanoids are treated with even more scrutiny in the following years.

Despite the assassination of the High Cleric, Matriarch Hydra Aporios, the adopted daughter of the hero Alvira, still cannot be dissuaded from exacting retribution upon the Sacred Conclave for the death of her mother. She takes the greatest knights of her Order and travels north to Rivercrest. The following battle is quick and decisive, with some reports claiming that the Order does not suffer a single loss during the fighting. Yet other reports claim that a great silver dragon is spotted during the battle, and it slaughters the defending soldiers upon the walls with ease. It is difficult to say which is fact and which is hyperbole, but the defenders are overwhelmed easily, whatever the case may be. The ranking members of the Conclave are executed personally by the Matriarch, and their bodies are crucified upon the broken gates.

The Order returns home to Cilaris in victory, but they are met at the gates by Cilariel herself. The goddess personally chastises Matriarch Hydra and banishes the Order from the city, disavowing her barbarous actions. The Order, having lost everything besides its manpower, begins wandering, searching for a place to build a new home. During their journey, they continue to help those who need it, and they free Lost Ones whenever they find them.

### 13 CE

In this year, the Dwarven Civil War begins. The old Dwarven Emperor dies in his home, which proves to be the spark that ignites the tension that had been building since before the Planebreak. The throne is swiftly seized by a usurper named Zorik Grimbeard. However, not long after his ascent, a brother of the former Emperor named Baelrin rises in rebellion, seeking to restore the original imperial bloodline which dates all the way back to the first dwarven emperor, Okardin. The war would not end for some time.

### 19 CE

The relations between the various Astyrian nation states degrades over the years, until they are at risk of outright war. Seeking to avert this conflict, Cilariel herself departs from Cilaris and travels to each of the many cities spread across the countryside. At each city, she meets with its leaders, and, either using a display of might or through diplomacy, she brings each of them into her fold. Within three months, Cilariel unites all of the Astyrian nation states into a single, mighty, nation once more. She christens this new nation as Cilaric and reigns as its immortal goddess and queen, using all of her knowledge and power to ensure a fair and just government is maintained.

### 22 CE

After more than a decade of wandering, the Order Aporios finally settles upon an island north of Clirev and east of Memoria. They name this island Aporion, and the fortress that they build upon it they name Garrivac. Then, Hydra splits the Order into chapters, and each chapter goes somewhere else in the world, both to recruit, but also to continue their work of saving the Lost Ones. Certain nations allow the Chapters to build bases within their territory, but others treat them with more caution, either barring them entirely or forcing them to operate as errants with no solid holdings.

### 34 CE

Verrich makes first contact with the bestali and reptilli of Viz'tar. These people bear animal souls, but resemble humanoids, and, more importantly, they hate each other. The mercenaries leap at the opportunity to make money, and so they rally their Houses and march to war aside the bestali. Together, the two factions crush the reptilli easily, forcing them back mile by mile until only a handful of holdings remain. Then, the bestali turn on their mercenary allies, slaughtering many of them and forcing the rest to retreat from the great swamp. Alone, the bestali are not able to finish the reptilli, but neither do they give chase to the fleeing mercenaries. The reason for their change of heart is unknown, as the leaders of the mercenary warparty were some of the first to fall.

The reptilli turn inward, fostering their own culture and advancing their own people with little regard for the world outside their new borders. Meanwhile, the unified bestali fall apart, devolving into small roaming clans with little unity between them.

### 37 CE

Redwatch Keep is assaulted by a massive warband of orcs. While the fortress manages to hold out for months, the lack of any support from their dwarven allies leaves the humans without many options. Eventually, the fortress falls, but the survivors organize themselves into hunting groups which decide to wander the wastes, hunting and killing orcs whenever possible to try and keep their numbers down. Eventually, over time, these hunting groups become caravans, and then, even later, proper clans, with their own beliefs, ideals, and cultures.

### 44 CE

Clirev reestablishes contact with humanity and begins trading resources to Cilaric

### 47 CE

By this year, Memoria has degraded from a proper, unified, nation into a collection of territories vying for power over each other. Internal strife before the Planebreak lead to a slow process that culminates now, when the different Temples that Govern Memoria split the land up and turn to self governance. The Circle of High Seers still holds the power to command the nation, but the nation itself devolves into rival states that struggle to coexist.

### 49 CE

A faction of dwarves that seeks to end the civil war grows in influence and power. However, when their leader is murdered during a meeting to try and negotiate peace as a third party, that faction departs from their ancestral home in the mountains and establishes a new nation in the eastern Wild Lands, which comes to be called Wildaz. These dwarves go through the process of adapting to a new land, as the Wild Lands are known to be much different from the high mountains of the Cold Peaks.

### 65 CE

At the beginning of the 65th year of the Cilarian Epoch, the ancient volcano known as Deepmount erupts in Clirev, spewing ash and fire that reaches all the way to Cilaris. Ash blots out the sun completely in the Wastes, Okazak, the Twilight Woods, and, obviously, Clirev.

Cilariel rallies her soldiers and marches to Clirev. Once there, her soldiers occupy the land, as the government is in shambles following the eruption, while she travels, alone, to Deepmount. It is unknown what occurs at the volcano, but witnesses report that it almost seems as though the ash and flame spewed from the mountain is sucked back towards it, and, within a day, the sky is clear once more.

Oddly enough, Cilariel does not pull her troops back from Clirev, and, instead, chooses to annex it as a new part of her nation. The clirites are in no position to oppose her will, and are left with no option but to obey.

### 78 CE

The dwarven rebels finally claim the imperial capital of Dorkaz, and though the usurper escapes the city during the aftermath, his power largely removed. He gathers what loyalists he can and leaves the Cold Peaks, traveling west to the mountains across the Divide. Here, Zorik Grimbeard and his allies create the new dwarven nation of Zoria, based out of their capital of Zorkand. While no official peace treaty is signed, the dwarves of the three nations never truly go to war with each other again.

### 90 CE

A woman named Octaria Revis appears in Rivercrest. She claims to be a Listener, one capable of hearing the gods despite their silence, and using her abilities, she takes control of the remnants of the old Sacred Conclave. With the priests at her back, she is able to conquer Rivercrest, presenting herself as a direct threat to Cilariel and her government of Cilaric. Octaria's rebellion expands outward, claiming almost the entire northern third of the Astyrian region.

Cilariel rallies her soldiers and marches to the border, though she does not attack immediately. Her forces build entrenchments along the edge of Octaria's new territory, hoping to stop her advance before pushing onward.

Octaria's soldiers continue to apply pressure to Cilariel's along the border, but Octaria herself returns to Rivercrest.

### 94 CE

Octaria restructures her rebellion into a proper nation, with herself as its emperor. Having recieved enlightenment from the gods, she writes her 32 divine theses, which serves as the basis for a new interpretation of the old Astyrian belief. Still, the Sacred Conclave touts these new theses, claiming them to be truer to the old faith than the Astyrian Principals that have evolved under Cilariel. Furthermore, the Conclave declares Octaria to be the reincarnation of the great Astyr, who they now worship as a god. She becomes Astyr Revis, the first Emperor of the Holy Nation of Revis, and, with a backing of priests and zealots, she marches south again, to meet Cilariel.

### 96 CE

After almost a year of skirmshes and guerilla warfare, Astyr Revis finally reveals herself and the bulk of her army, laying siege to Cilariel's main fortress of Northwatch. The goddess herself sallies out from her defenses to break the siege, and her most elite soldiers clash against Revis's zealots. Astyr Revis and Cilariel meet face to face, upon the field of battle, and despite Cilariel's divinity and command over magic, the two are evenly matched.

Cilarian forces begin forcing back the zealots of Revis, but at a decisive moment, the Knights of the Order Aporios enter the battle, led by Matriarch Hydra herself. Surprisingly, the knights reinforce the soldiers of Revis, and Hydra attacks Cilariel herself. Between Astyr Revis and the veteran Matriarch, the goddess of magic is sorely outmatched, and, in a moment that will live on forever in the minds of all those present, Matriarch Hydra severs Cilariel's left hand. A burst of magic explodes outward, throwing both armies from their feet. The goddess of magic uses this chance to make a hasty retreat.

While Revis stands victorious over the forces of the goddess, she is also gravely wounded from her battle. She retreats back to her capital, where she remains bedridden for many days and nights. Apparently, during this time, her and Hydra become fast friends.

Cilariel manages to escape all the way to Cilaris, but her influence has been greatly diminished by her defeat. Cilaric begins to fracture, many cities rising in rebellion and trying to claim territory of their own, as Revis has done.

### 100 CE

By year 100 in the Cilarian Epoch, Cilaric has collapsed. Many new nations spring up, going to war with each other over land and resources. Because of the disasterous defeat against Revis, the soldiers of Cilaris are unable to contend with all these new nations, and so Cilariel pulls her loyalists back to her capital. She appoints a Speaker to lead the nation in her stead, then disappears into Keeper's Rest.

### 113 CE

The Wood Elves request freedom from the High Elves, but are denied. Despite their most ernest petitions, the few living High Elves still claim that they need the Wood Elves as guardians, and cannot let them find their own paths.

### 137 CE

Astyr Revis the First dies and is succeeded by her son, Kalin, who is also a listener. Upon his coronation, Kalin becomes Astyr Revis of the Fourth Thesis, as the Conclave believes him to be the incarnation of one of the divine teachings records by Astyr Revis I before her ascention.

Matriarch Hydra attends the funeral of the first Emperor of Revis, and then takes up an advisatory role to help guide the young Astyr Revis II during his reign.

### 142 CE

Matriarch Hydra returns to Aporion, claiming that she has taught the emperor everything that she can.

### 145 CE

Astyr Revis II launches an invasion of the southern Astyrian regions, trying to expand his borders so that they may equal the glory of old Astyria. He pushes far, but is eventually stopped at the city of Middenar. The clever king of the city tricks Astyr into negotiating with him, then assassinates him during the meeting. Immediately following the assassination, his army launches a brutal surprise attack against the invaders, forcing them to retreat far. In the end, this campaign causes Revis to give more ground than it gained, and the nation of Nalhrym forms from rebels who appear as the soldiers are pulled from the city to fend off Middenar's soldiers.

### 153 CE

After years of uncertain rule by the Sacred Conclave, a girl by the name of Oria is crowned as the second reincarnation of Astyr Revis, called Astyr Revis III. Oria is young, only sixteen upon her coronation, but she is also charismatic, smart, and, more importantly, she is a listener. She devotes her efforts toward strengthening the infestructure of her nation, and reinforces her southern border to avoid invaders. She rebuilds the ruined fortress of Northwatch, and also forms an alliance with Clirev in the north. Through this alliance, she strengthens her military with training and matrials from the hardy northern folk, while giving excess food to them through a shipping route.

### 159 CE

Over the last couple of decades, slavery has become more and more popular upon Mundus. This finally reaches a breaking point when it is discovered that some slavers have begun using Cilariel's own ritual to free lost ones from their stasis before selling them into servitude. Cilariel takes action herself and investigates the leak, only to find that her very own Speaker had sold her secrets to the slavers of Larrak in trade for their help in weakening the southern nations of Sonentr and Calys.

Great storms of magic sweep the land as the wrath of the goddess incarnates itself. Cilariel kills her Speaker in a rage, then causes horrible hurricanes to sweep the ocean. These destroy many slave ships, but also many innocent ones as well. Following this event, she disappears into Keeper's Rest, sealing the ancient library in the process, and is never seen again. So ends the Cilarian Epoch.

## The Modern Epoch

The Modern Epoch has been unnotable for the most part, at least, compared to ancient times. No gods walk the land, and no nation has enough power to launch any significant campaigns to expand their borders or conquer their neighbors. The modern times are characterized by petty squabbles and dangerous lands. Listed below are only the most notable of the events that occur during the modern years, which begin in 160 BPC.

### 4 ME

A high elf by the name of Ashius allows the wood elves to access the sacred genesis flame found beneath the roots of Cyesha. He aids them in going through the ritual of rebirth, a high elven rite, and in doing so, grants them their freedom. Wood elves who emerge from the Genesis flame find that they are no longer wooden golems, but truly living and breathing creatures in their own right. Almost all of the wood elves go through this process before they are stopped. Enraged at his generosity, the high elven elder council banishes Ashius from the Silver Tree, but the wood elves, now living creatures with the freedom to choose their own destinies, depart with him, scattering to the wind.

### 28 ME

A wood elf named Marillianni Waystrider publishes her book titled *Mary's Guide to the New World*, in which she details her travels and the things she learned on her travels. From information on little understood species, to alternative perspectives on parts of history, the book is heavily scrutinized by scholars of all kinds. Still, though, the book is wildly popular among the noble class, which causes great demand to rise that sellers cannot match. Marillianni's wanderlust makes it difficult to aquire genuine reproductions, after all, and with every trip, she pens new versions with revisions and updates. Instead of waiting, many nobles take to commissioning reprintings from other scholars, but these reprintings lead to discrepencies and mistranslations.

### 34 ME

After a short civil war, the Council of High Seers reconsolidates their power. The rivals of the victorious temples are ousted, and their allies are established as proper temples, if they were not already. Memoria formaly adopts the teachings of the Godly Circles, in which all things are linked. This civil war, along with these new teachings, do much for the unity of the states, though they are still not exactly unified.

### 63 ME

The humans of Calys expand out into the Wild Lands, establishing a fortress called Estgard on the edge of the western reaches of the Forgotten Wood.

### 78 ME

The southern Astyrian nation of Sonentr breaks in half as rebels sieze its centralmost city, called Ledanris. These rebels claim all of the northern territories of Sonentr and name their new nation Mydat.

### 101 ME

A succession dispute arrises in Revis when Astyr Revis VI dies. His two children are twins, Alerick of the Sixth Thesis, and Miurie of the Ninth Thesis. Despite Alerick's claim as the technical first born, even if only by a few minutes, Miurie's kind and thoughtful nature makes her an ideal leader for the nation. In the end, the Sacred Conclave coronates Miurie instead of Alerick, and she becomes Astyr Revis VII of the Ninth Thesis. Alerick storms out of Rivercrest with whatever followers he can gather, infuriated and vowing revenge.

### 102 ME

Alerick flees south to Silverbrook, the southernmost city of Revis, and takes control of the city. His sister leads her forces south and puts down his rebellion easily, but Alerick escapes, fleeing further south into the nation of Nalhrym. He attempts to rally a following there, but the King of the nation forces him out of the capital.

Alerick then takes his loyal followers east, to the other side of Nalhrym, and establishes the city of Styrheim on a large island off the coast. Nalhrym move to stop him, but in some miracle, he manages to beat back their forces. This eventually equals out until the land of Nalhrym is split, with the original nation to the west, and Alerick's new nation of Astrym to the east. This conflict continues into the modern day.

### 134 ME

The dwarves of Wildaz launch their largest effort ever to subjugate the lands of Viz'tar. This war is very violent and decently long.

### 156 ME

A dwarven expeditionary force manages to map all of Viz'tar, though they suffer numerous casualities during their effort.

Also in this year, Ashmount, a dragon-infested volcano in the Cold Peaks, erupts, devastating the surrounding area. The dwarves of Okazak pull back from the mountain, leaving it to the dragons.

### 170 ME

The Wildaz dwarves are finally forced to give up on conquering Viz'tar. Despite slaughtering several bestalis clans in their entirety, the wily beastfolk just prove too resilient and cunning in their natural habitat for the dwarves to overcome them. They pull back to the fortress of Eskar and the nearby town of Esrund. Occassionally, dwarven raiding parties venture into the swamp looking for resources or treasure, but such ventures are truly dangerous.

### 179 ME

Human exiles from Calys resettle the ancient city of Greydust, which was lost to the ages after the Planebreak. The frozen desert of the Shifting Mountains makes it difficult for these exiles to thrive, but they irk out an existance hunting the rare animals native to the area, as well as the dragons that now call Glacius and its surrounding region home.

### 183 ME

High Thane Walrid Darksail is coronated in Zorkand.

### 193 ME

The Dark Elves of Tala'ril launch a full fledged invasion of Wildaz, conquering the Stormspire, Zarn, and Dalkar with set of carefully organized surprise attacks. They push north but are harried by dwarven boar and bear riders within the great forests of the dwarven lands. Eventually, though, the Dark Elves lay siege to Wyrvak itself. Even the fabled Wyvern Riders of Wildaz are not enough to break the siege, but the dwarven fortress city is strong, and it holds fast despite the siege.

### 195 ME

With Wyrvak under siege, the desperate hill dwarves send five of their wyvern riders in search of aid. Three of the riders go north, one to Zoria, one to Okazak, and one to Memoria. The remaining two go east, one to the reptilli of Viz'tar, and one to the mercenaries of Verrich.

The first to return and report is the rider dispatched to Zorkand. The Zorian Mountain dwarves turned him away, saying that the Wildaz dwarves did not aid them in their war against Okazak, so they would not aid their besieged cousins now.

The second to return and report is the rider dispatched to Dorkaz. Similarly to the Zorians, the dwarves of Okazak turned the messenger away, claiming that because the Wildaz dwarves did not help them destroy the Zorians, they are oathbreakers who deserve to die.

The next to return is the one dispatched to Memoria. The Memorians were embroiled in another civil dispute and could not send aid for fear of weakening their own positions in the dispute.

The next to return is the messanger from Verrich. He managed to contract two houses to aid them, but because of the difficulty of crossing through Viz'tar, they would have to travel by sea. These mercenaries had vowed to cut off the Dark Elven supply lines and liberate the three occupied settlements in the south.

Nothing is heard from the rider dispatched to the reptilli, and the commanders of Wyrvak's defense assume the worst.

### 196 ME

Salvation comes at last as three Drakons and the entirety of their reptilli followers emerge from the east, guided to Wyrvak by the wyvern rider who had gone to Viz'tar. Legions of Gekkots and Anguins slam into the Dark Elves from behind, with the three Drakons rain death from the skies. The dark elves quickly retreat, only to find their lifeline to Tala'ril severed by the mercenaries from Verrich. The embittered dwarves of Wyrvak capture many of the elves and make examples of them, creating bloody displays as masterfully as their ancestors worked metal and stone.

The Drakons had come on the promise of territory. The swamps of Viz'tar were their home, but over the centuries, the tiny bit of land that they were afforded there had become stifling. The King of Wyrvak, Gorrik Fangbreaker, honors the promise that his messenger had made, granting land to each of the Drakons. To the eldest, he gives the mountains of the southern Cold Peaks, which seperates his nation from Viz'tar and Verrich. To the two others, he gives the hills of mourn, which seperate his land from Zoria to the north. Forevermore, the dwarves would avoid those lands, and the families of those Drakon's would be their honored allies.

### 200 ME

King Gorrik abdicates the throne after he finishes the groundwork required to return Wildaz to its former glory from before the war. The old dwarf allows his daughter, Janiva Fangbreaker, succeed him.

### 209 ME

Forgeking Calavitch Blackeye is coronated in Clirev.

### 222 ME

Astyr Revis X of the Fourth Incarnation is coronated in Revis. Her reign begins well, as she establishes two new cities and makes a trade agreement with her southern neighbors, all within her first year.

### 223 ME

Emperor Dolin Okazak is coronated in Okazak.

### 234 ME

Astyr Revis X is injured during a hunting accident within the Dragonspine mountains. She is rushed back to Rivercrest, but the time it takes to arrive there causes the wound to worsen. It is all the clerics can do to save her life, and she is left crippled, bound either to her throne or to her bed. The emperor becomes forlorn, and the state of her rule begins to worsen, year by year.

### 239 ME

Late in the year, the dark elf Cynan Redshore is elected to the position of Mercenary Lord of Verrich after his predecessor is slain during a contract. This is the first time a nonhuman has ever been elected to the position.

### 240 ME

The Archfey of the Shadowood is assassinated by mercenaries of the Greyscar Company, on the orders of an unknown employer. Chaos overtakes the forest as the various fey factions begin vying against each other for control of the forest's major landmarks. At the same time, humans from Clirev, Memoria, and Revis take advantage of the chaos to begin colonizing the previously untamed wilderness. Without the Archfey's protection, the humans dispatch any defenders they come across quite handily.

### 242 ME

In an event that comes to be known as the Crimson Night, the entire world hears a clandestine speech from a man named Lucius Shadowclaw. Shortly after, his vampiric servants reveal themselves in cities across the world in a massive string of assassination attempts. It seems that Lucius's goal is to destroy the civilized world by assassinating as many heads of state as he can. His forces greatly destabilize the world, but ultimately fail most of their attempts.

The most high profile assassination is that of Empress Astyr Revis X, who has no heir. Following her death, the Clerical Council of Revis steps in to rule the nation while they search for a suitable candidate to replace their lost leader. Many years pass without progress.

Months later, Lucius Shadowclaw is defeated by a band of mercenaries from Verrich, and his goal of world destabilization is put to an end. In the wake of his defeat, several messengers appear in nations across the world, with words of warning about an incoming demonic invasion. Most countries dismiss these warnings as madness, but some nations do begin bolstering their armies.

### 243 ME

Erana Calystar, the exiled Princess of Calys, returns to her nation to reclaim her throne. After a brutally efficient civil war, she claims the title of Queen, before promptly going to war with her surrounding neighbors.

### 245 ME

Still without an Emperor, the Clerical Council decides to deal with civil unrest by relying heavily upon the influence of the eldest Caelari within their country, who is known by the name Valaren. With the Caelari's influence and guidance, the Clerical Council leads their nation to war with the southern nations of Astyria, aiming to conquer land and earn glory to further placate their restless people.

Queen Erana brings her soldiers to the border of Cilaris, threatening the home the Goddess of Magic. However, in a surprising turn of events, the leaders of the city decide to cede their independence to Calys in a negotiation, ending the conflict swiftly. With the magical expertise of Cilaris to reinforce her armies, Erana quickly conquers the nation of Mydat, as well, though the island city of Guaren retains its independence.

### 247 ME

The nations of Nalhrym and Astrym are finally fully subjugated by the might of Revis. As the holy empire prepares its soldiers to march south, Malhor and Calys strike a hasty treaty, in which Malhor will retain its freedom from Calys, and in trade, they will hold back the encroachers from the north. Calys also promises to provide material support for the defense effort.

### 249 ME

Following a string of defeats along the border with Sonentr, Calys finally agrees to a peace treaty with its southern neighbor. After several long years of constant war, the nation can finally rest. However, in a strange move, Erana does not downsize her military, and instead continues to increase her nation's stockpile of weapons and armor. This means that the tensions between Calys and its neighbors never really stabilize.