Timeline of Etheria

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There are as many different versions of history as there are Empires who have shaped it. What seems like a minor happening to one observer is a truly momentous event to another! Below are the histories of the various races and empires of Etheria

Historical Overview

High Elves

Dwarfs

Dark Dwarfs

Sylvan Elves

Lysean Empire (Humans)

Selentine Empire (Humans)

Agars (Humans)

Borderlands (Humans)

Orcs & Goblins

Gnolls

Undead (Lord Bane)

Creatures of Chaos (Lord Sartek)

Plague-Carriers (Lord Anthrax)

Lord Famine

When examining the history of Etheria, it is important to remember that there are 3 distinct calendars in use. High Elven Time is the most ancient; it dates from the founding of Ehlariel, Citadel of Ice, by Queen Ehlanna I. The next calendar to emerge was the Dwarven Calendar; this fell into disuse in the time of King Korin VI, when he took the Oath of Friendship to the Elves and abandoned his calendar in favor of theirs. Lastly, there is the human calendar which dates from the founding of the Lysean Empire by Emperor Lyseas I.

For simplicity's sake, these histories use High Elven Time, since it is the most encompassing of the three.

The table below compares all 3 calendars:

CALENDAR DATES FROM YEAR (HET)

High Elven Time (HET) The founding of Ehlariel, the Citadel of Ice. 0 (HET)

Dwarven Calendar (DC) The founding of Drak-Dum, the first Dwarven Citadel. 848 (HET)

Lysean Calendar (LF) The founding of the Lysean Empire 1037 (HET)

OverView

0 The High Elves found Ehlariel, the Citadel of Ice, and recorded history begins.

321 The High Elves found Lunariel, the Citadel of the Moon.

c. 730 Tribes of barbaric humans begin migrating into Etheria from the south-east. They travel generally northwards, leaving small colonies everywhere they go.

c. 800 The human tribes pass through Agaria and move on to the Plains of Ar where the inclement weather finally seems to keep them from moving too far.

848 The Dwarf King Khamarin founds the first Dwarf Citadel of Drak-Dum.

930 The Great High Elven Civil War begins. It ends with the exile of Prince Mordaine to what is now called the Sundered Isle.

944 After the Civil War, the High Elves migrate to various parts of Etheria, becoming known as the Gray Elves and teh Dark Elves.

970 The human tribe K'Malbec, the tribe of the Whale, settle down and build the city of Malbec, on Etheria's southern coast.

1032 The Sundering. This was the most profound event in Etherian history. The exiled High Elven Prince Mordaine attempts a powerful spell which goes awry and releases the four Dark Horsemen into the world.

1033 Malbec is swamped by tidal waves in the Sundering. Lead by the warrior, Lyseas, the humans from Malbec move inland and found the city of Lysea which will become the centre of the Southern Lysean Empire.

1034 Dwarfs begin exploring the tunnels opened up by the sundering, eventually founding the 13 Great Citadels.

1040 The Dark Horseman of War, Lord Sartek, establishes his home in a mountain in the desolate Lands of War.

1043 The Dark Horseman of Death, Lord Bane, founds the Citadel of Bone, Mortuus, in the Realms of Death.

1068 Lord Sartek, the Dark Horseman of War, creates the first Minotaurs. Over the following years he will corrupt many other creatures into hybrids and monsters.

1290 Lord Anthrax, the Dark Horseman of Plague, attacks and eventually defeats the Dwarfs in Khaz Barak by introducing a virulent disease amongst them.

1321 A group of Dwarfs migrate west across the Northern Tundra. Eventually they become known as the Dark Dwarfs.

1413 The Lysean Empire reaches it peak. It encompasses all of Lysea, Colis Tarn, The Borderlands, The Trarg, Selentia and the western edge of the Forest of Agaria. Over the next 900 years it would gradually begin to decline.

1850 Gnolls overrun Drak-Dum. Even though they try many times, the Dwarfs will never recapture it.

2010 Lord Bane captures his 4 servants, the Deathbringers, when a group of High Elven Mages enter his lands. These will become the first 4 vampires.

2332 Orcs march down through the Borderlands and Colis Tarn, burning everything in their wake. They finally raze the city of Lysea, toppling the 1000 year old Empire.

2595 The Dwarf King Korin IV swears the Oath of Allegiance to the High Elves after he is rescued by a High Elven ship.

2812 The Dwarfs break their oath and make an unsuccessful attack upon Lunarion.

2813 The High Elves and the Gray Elves begin the systematic destruction of most of the Dwarfs on the mainland of Etheria.

2971 The High Elven Moonking, King Elendor, begins a series of wars that will eventually weaken his nation.

3058 Lord Bane and the 4 Deathbringers finish a series of experiments which have created many new and powerful forms of undead.

High Elves

0 The Years of Glory. Ehlanna the Ice Queen establishes Ehlariel, the Citadel of Ice, on a frozen lake in the Northern Tundra. Over the next 3 centuries, her kingdom expands from the Mountains of Ragnar in the west, to the White Mountains in the east.

314 Queen Ehlanna's son, Lunarion, begins building a huge fleet in the port city of Osterlin, to extend his mother's power into the Sea of Winds..

319 Lunarion sets sail and discovers an island which he names after himself. Elves flock to the island on his ships, and work begins on a new citadel.

321 Lunariel, the Citadel of the Moon, is completed and Lunarion proclaims himself the first Moon King.

383 Queen Ehlanna and King Lunarion die at sea in a storm. They are succeeded by Lunarion's grandchildren who become Queen Ehlanna II and King Keldurin the Scholar. At the behest of their new monarchs, the Elven nations enter a long period of mourning, which seems to change the outward-looking nature of their race.

400 - 900 The Years of Mourning. The focus of the Elves changes over these 5 centuries. They spend their time in contemplation of magic and philosophy, ignoring the rest of the world. They unlock many arcane secrets, and discover many truths about the universe. All thoughts of exploration and expansion are forgotten.

914 The Orc Cheiftain, Gornak Elfeater, overruns the Citadel of Ylarie near the White Mountains. The Elves are totally unprepared for this are are completely overwhelmed. Not a single Elf survives.

915 Gornak Elfeater conquers 2 more citadels, Obaran and Sylvallyn. As he begins a slow and destructive march towards Ehlariel, the Citadel of Ice, the Elves are shocked from their stupor by sudden war.

916-921 The Years of Awakening. Elven society mobilises for war. Keldurin's grandson, Prince Inarion, forms a makeshift army. Poets and scholars alike take up the sword to defend their homelands, but are hopelessly outmatched by the sheer number and ferocity of the Orc Horde. Finally, the grandson of Queen Ehlanna II, Prince Mordaine, organizes the Elven Mages into a magical defence of their nations. They call down a great storm from the icy north, which buries the Orc Horde under tons of snow and ice. The invasion of Gornak Elfeater is halted, and the few survivors limp back to their holes in the White Mountains.

922 The Years of Strife. King Keldurin the Scholar dies in mysterious circumstances, and not even Prince Mordaine's great magic can reveal his murderer. The first White Council is called to decide the fate of the 2 Elven Nations. Prince Mordaine and his cousin Prince Inarion have many heated arguments. Mordaine wants to found a magical college which will unlock powerful secrets to prevent another such invasion by Orcs. Ehlanna II and Inarion foresee the danger in this and forbid it. Inarion believes that an elite and powerful army, combined with the magic they already possess, will be more than sufficient to quell any future threats. Much to Mordaine's disgust, Inarion is chosen as the next Moon King - Keldurin's successor.

923 The order of the Moonguard of Lunarion is founded by King Inarion.Mordaine disappears. It is assumed that he has been killed in one of his many experiments. Not everyone mourns his passing, only his personal servants and guards, and some of the other mages with whom he studied.

924 King Inarion travels to the Citadel of Ice, Ehlariel, where he helps Queen Ehlanna II to found the order of the Iceguard.

928 Mordaine reappears, though where he has been travelling, he will not say. He has changed, though for better or worse, none can tell.

929 Mordaine calls a second White Council to announce a discovery he has made in his travels. The council is held in Lunariel, the Citadel of the Moon. Many Elven lords arrive to hear Mordaine's news.Prince Mordaine tells them he has discovered a new form of magic - a way to summon creatures from another Plane of Existence. He makes an offer to the Council: in exchange for complete sovereignty over the 2 Elven Nations, he will summon creatures to protect and expand their borders.Queen Ehlanna II and King Inarion are completely opposed to this, but many of the Lords - particularly those on the edges of the Empire, who felt Gornak Elfeater's wrath 2 decades past - support Mordaine. A bitter argument ensues, and after 3 weeks, the Council is still deadlocked. Then Queen Ehlanna II is found murdered. The Iceguard arrest Mordaine. The Moonguard discover evidence linking Mordaine to King Keldurin's death 7 years earlier. Mordaine is put on trial and found guilty.Inarion's daughter becomes Queen Ehlanna III.

930 - 942 Supporters of Prince Mordaine break him free. Thus begins the Great Civil War. For 12 years it rages backwards and forwards across Lunarion and the Northern Tundra. Many Elves are killed. Finally Prince Mordaine is captured by the Moonguard. Rather than execute his cousin, Inarion sends him and his followers into exile.

943 The Years of the Seven Fleets. The supporters of Mordaine, many of them mages, leave the Isle of Lunarion in 4 great fleets. Mordaine himself is last to go. The remaining mages cast spells to scatter the 4 fleets all over the Sea of Winds. Mordaine's fleet is blown for many months until it reaches an island in the South Seas. Of the other fleets: 2 land on the coast of Khazdhul, and the other lands on Isle of Dawn, building a city in the dark forest of Yrm. Henceforth, they are all known as the Dark Elves.

944-950 Many of the Elves of Lunarion and the Northern Tundra become uncomfortable with the memories of their homelands. They bid farewell to their King and Queen and set sail in 3 large fleets. The first lands on the Isle of Dawn and establishes the City of Solhaven. The second sails south-east and lands in the Forest of Silvermyr. The last fleet is doomed. They sail through the Dragon's Mouth into the Sea of Storms and land in the woods of Agaria, where most of them are slain by a creature they have never encountered before - Man. A few survivors make their way back to Silvermyr. . Henceforth, these are all known as the Gray Elves, while those remaining behind in the Northern Lands become known as the High Elves.

956 Seeing the 2 Elven Nations torn asunder is too much for King Inarion. He grows ill and dies. His son Ghalad succeeds him as Moon King.

960 - 1020 The Years of Rebuilding. The Elves are now split into 7 Nations. This is a quiet time when their ruined cities are rebuilt. On his remote island, Mordaine continues to research his new magic.

1022 The Years of Testing. The Dark Elves, having consolidated their new homes, begin sending fleets to harass the coasts of Lunarion. They are continually beaten back by the Moonguard.

1024 The Dark Elves attempt to invade Lunarion in force. Strange demons accompany them this time, summoned to aid them by Mordaine on his far-away island. This time it requires the combined might of the Moonguard, the Iceguard and the Mages to stop them. Even so - the losses amongst the High Elves are heavy.

1030 A dark cloud descends over Mordaine's Island. He begins a spell the like of which will never be seen again - to summon the 4 mightiest Demon Lords from another plane - to finally lay waste to the hated High Elves. The spell takes 2 whole years to cast.

1032 The Year of Sundering. The greatest catastrophe in the history of Etheria occurs - The Sundering. Mordaine summons the Demon Lords. They appear as Four Dark Horsemen named War, Death, Famine and Plague. Mordaine immediately loses control of them and is slain. The resulting backlash of magical energy shakes the whole world. The continents move, coasts are either flooded or swamped by tidal waves. The very mountains tremble and many of them collapse in rubble. The Four Horsemen flee to edges of the world. The remaining Dark Elves on Mordaine's Island rename it The Sundered Isle and migrate to the Doomwood on the mainland of southern Lysea.

1040 - 1320 The Years of Sorrow. Having almost obliterated the entire world, the Elves become introspective once more. Even the Dark Elves appear shaken by what they have done. Ever so slowly, the great Citadels are rebuilt, but the Elves are fewer now, and some citadels, particularly on the coasts of the Northern Tundra, are left in flooded ruins.

1321 The Years of the Dwarfs. The High Elves of Ehlariel, the Citadel of Ice, have their first encounter with Dwarfs migrating east to west across the Northern Tundra. The first encounters are friendly, but due to a foul plot by the Dark Elves, the Elf-Dwarf relationship quickly degenerates into war.

1322 - 1329 The war continues with the migrating Dwarfs. Eventually the Dwarfs abandona war which they seem destined to lose and bypass the Elven Citadels, travelling far to the north through the coldest parts of the Tundra.

1330 - 1900 The Years of Peace. Apart from some minor skirmishes with the Dark Elves. Everything remains peaceful for almost 6 centuries.

1456 King Ghalad is slain in a skirmish against Dark Elf raiders. He is succeeded by hisgrandson Elcor. King Elcor is a fierce warrior and soon the Dark Elf raids dwindle in number.

1913 The Years of Death. One of the Dark Horsemen, summoned by Mordaine almost nine centuries earlier, appears at the gates of Ehlariel, the Citadel of Ice. He states his name as Lord Bane, and demands the surrender of the High Elves. Queen Ehlanna III, now ancient and wise, refuses him. He strikes her down with a spell and leaves.Ehlanna was childless. Her niece Belan succeeds her and changes her name to Ehlanna IV in her honor.On the night of her coronation, Belan awakes from a terrible nightmare. All she can remember is Lord Bane, Ehlanna III, and a strange blue flame.

1914-1918 Lord Bane resurrects the bones of Gornak Elfeater's Orc Horde exactly 1,000 years after the defeat of the Elves in Ylarie. He attacks the outlying Elven Citadels with a host of Undead. The Iceguard defend valiantly in a long and bloody war, calling upon the Moonguard to lend aid. All appears lost until a young Elven mage, named Thyatis, manages to gather the mages and push back the Undead with powerful spells.Although the Undead Orc Horde contains legions of the creatures who attacked the High Elves a millennium ago, Gornak himself is not to be seen.

1920 Thyatis is proclaimed the first High Mage. He begins building the Tower of High Sorcery where he hopes to continue his study and also to train a whole new breed of High Elven mage. Both King Elcor and Queen Ehlanna IV are watchful in case Thyatis becomes another Mordaine, but their fears eventually prove unfounded.

2010 Almost a century after the war against the Undead hordes, Thyatis leads a group of 4 High Elven Mages (Delermat, Frellen, Greymene and Ehyrynth) north, deep into the Tundra, to spy out rumors that Lord Bane is at large once more. Lord Bane captures the expedition and takes them to his mighty Citadel of Bone - Mortuus. After witnessing Lord Bane locked in a strange magical embrace with one of the other Mages, Thyatis escapes, but the others are tortured by Lord Bane and eventually corrupted into becoming his servants.Every night thereafter, Thyatis is plagued with evil dreams where he sees Lord Bane consuming his 4 companions with a cold blue fire.

2012 Fearing another vicious strike by the Lord of Undead, this time accompanied by his dangerous new servants, Thyatis locks himself in the top Tower of High Sorcery to begin work on a spell to defeat Lord Bane.

2016 Nobody has seen Thyatis for 4 years, when Lord Bane launches a new assault, crushing the northernmost Citadels of the High Elves in mere months. King Elcor arrives in Ehlariel, the Citadel of Ice, with a large contingent of Moonguard. Backed by a ferocious storm which makes it difficult for the defenders but seems not to bother the Undead at all, Lord Bane finally reaches the walls of Ehlariel, though his 4 newest servants are not with him. King Elcor is slain by Lord Bane himself. When all seems lost, Thyatis appears on top of the Tower and casts a spell of fire. It consumes him entirely then lances down towards Lord Bane, consuming him also. Most of the attackers either vanish or collapse. Lord Bane is not destroyed, but he is severely weakened for many centuries.Elcor's grandson, Elencos, succeeds him as Moon King, naming himself King Lunarion II, in hope that the name will bring good fortune to his people once more.

2017 - 2600 The Years of Trade. This was a peaceful time when diplomatic relations were opened up with the fast-growing human empires of Selentia and Lysea. Many ships are built, and the sight of these mighty High Elven vessels in foreign ports becomes a common, yet still wondrous, thing. Relations with the Dwarfs are still cool, but a few tokens are exchanged in a show of goodwill.

2594 An Elven ship saves the crew of a sinking Dwarf Vessel. The Dwarf King, Korin IV, happens to be on board, and is eternally grateful. The Council of the Oath is organized where the High Elves will meet and discuss peace with the Dwarfs.

2595 The Council of the Oath is held in Lunariel. King Korin IV swears eternal peace between Elf and Dwarf. Not all Korin's advisors agree. Having seen the Elven City of the Moon, they wish to conquer it!

2600 - 2800 Peace continues. Trade is now struck up with the Dwarfs. A few Dark Elf raids occur, but are quickly beaten back. The Dwarf King Korin IV is succeeded by his son Korin V in 2790

2812 The Years of the Broken Oath. The Dwarf King Korin V is assassinated. A new King, Menios I, usurps his throne. He sends an envoy to Lunariel, but it is really a force of warriors intent on slaying the Elven royal families. The High Elven mages warn them of the attack and the Dwarfs are ambushed. King Lunarion II, ancient now, is slain. His grandson Elendor succeeds him and begins the War of the Broken Oath.

2813 - 2904 For almost a century, the High Elves (with the aid of their Sylvan cousins) systematically destroy most of the Dwarf Settlements on the mainland, occasionally wiping out a human village as well. Finally the Dwarf King Menios I is slain and King Elendor ends the war. He has become known as King Elendor the Grim.

2918 The Years of Wounding. King Elendor's Moonguard uncover a secret society which sympathises with the Dark Elves. Elendor has all the members executed. One turns out to be Queen Ehlanna IV's Grandson. The Queen is overcome with grief and dies. She is succeeded by her Granddaughter who becomes Queen Ehlanna V. King Elendor swears vengeance upon the Dark Elves.

2920 - 2970 All trade with the Humans gradually ceases as King Elendor slowly mobilises his country for war.

2971 - 3034 Elendor wages a costly and bitter war against the Dark Elves of Khuzdhul. Ultimately he is beaten back from their shores.

3035 - 3118 King Elendor mobilises for war once more. Queen Ehlanna V counsels him against it this time. He ignores her advice.

3119 - 3164 Once again King Elendor is beaten back. His armies now number only a quarter of what they were two centuries before.

3165 - 3203 King Elendor mobilises for war once more. Queen Ehlanna V counsels him against it once more. He still ignores her advice.

3204 King Elendor begins a new campaign in Khazdhul.

3206 Seeing his chance, the Dark Horseman, War, marches through the Northern Tundra towards Ehlaniel, the Citadel of Ice. Queen Ehlanna V calls for Elendor to return to aid her. He refuses.

3207 The High Elven Mages defect from King Elendor and return to Ehlaniel, where they just manage to save the city from the Dark Horseman, War.

3208 Without the help of his wizards, Elendor gets his supply line cut and his whole army gets slain. Not one survivor returns to Lunariel to tell the tale. Elendor's line is wiped out - all his male kin were in Khazdhul with him. Queen Ehlanna V's son, Elmaryn travels to Lunariel to become the new Moon King.

3209 - 3800 The Years of Healing. The nations of Elves rest and lick their wounds. Some small amount of trade is re-opened with the humans, but very little.

Dwarves

848 King Khamarin founds the citadel of Drak-Dum, the Dragon Fortress. Dwarves had been mining here for many centuries already, but Khamarin was the first leader to unite all their separate clans.

849 - 1031 Continued excavation of Drak-Dum. The Dwarven artisans grow in skill, carving exquisite chambers ever deeper into the earth.

1032 The Sundering. Much of Drak-Dum collapses and is forever lost. New passages and rifts are opened up under all of Etheria. One such passage leads east from Drak-Dum.

1034 The Citadel of Khaz-Tarn is founded on the eastern edge of the Giantreach Mountains. A new creature is encountered - the Griffon. In years to follow, Khaz Tarn would become famous for its animal trainers who capture Griffon eggs and the train the creatures to become fierce and loyal mounts.

1035 A large expedition of Dwarfs, sets out to explore the long damp tunnel which stretches under Ilean Bay as far as the Isle of Zhur and the Mountains of Agaria.

1101 The Citadel of Zhur is founded on the Isle of Zhur. The island is rich in metals.

1114 The Citadel of Khorinbar is founded by Lord Khorin - an ancestor of the future King Korin VI who took the Oath of Allegiance to the High Elves.

1117 Bolo the Inventor, a well-respected Dwarf from Khorinbar, invents flashpowder - an explosive mix of sulfur, saltpetre and charcoal. Over the next few years, he goes on to invent the Mortar, the Cannon and the Gun.Flashpowder is also used to speed up excavation.

1126 The Citadel of Khaz Elenak is founded. Its throne-room is built behind the great waterfall of the River Elenak as it plunges from the Mountains of Agaria. It is said that this is the most impressive piece of Dwarven architecture ever, better than even the throne-rooms of Drak-Dum and Khamar (which will be built in 121 years time).

1130 Dwarven expeditions encounter Orcs and Goblins as the tunnels in which they are exploring finally reach the great north-south range which they name Barak-Dumyr (The Wall).

1132 A human named Lyseas approaches the Dwarfs in Drak-Dum and asks them to join his growing Empire. King Khamarin refuses. Later in that same year, the stranger returns and tries to cast a spell over the King. He is hurled from the front gate, which is solidly locked behind him.

1133 - 1246 Dwarfs are involved in constant war against the Orcs and Goblins they encounter in the tunnels. The Dwarfs are sturdy warriors however, and gradually expand south to the Mountains of Plague and north as far as the Shieldrim Mountains. A hero emerges from the Dwarven ranks - Lord Duergrim - he is fierce and unstoppable in battle. The victories over the Orcs began a period of unrivalled expansion for the Dwarfs.

1247 As his dying act, King Khamarin, now ancient and a veteran of a century of fighting against the Orcs, founds the Citadel of Khamar in the very centre of the Mountains of Barak-Dumyr.

1260 Foundation of Khaz Agar. The founder, Lord Jeldrin, strangely enough, named this citadel after a tribe of primitive humans living in the nearby forests - The Agars. He began to trade with the Agars almost immediately.

1269 Foundation of Dhar-Khosis, the great Dwarven port city.

1271 Foundation of Khaz Argoth.

1275 Foundation of Khalil.

1278 Foundation of Duernoth, the northernmost citadel in the Shieldrim Mountains. This citadel is founded by Lord Duergrim, the hero of the Orc-Dwarf wars from one century earlier.

1283 Foundation of Khaz Dred - famed for its brilliant diamonds.

1286 Foundation of Khaz Barak, the southernmost citadel in Barak Dumyr. This was the last of the great 13 citadels founded by the Dwarfs. They considered 13 a lucky number. Unfortunately for them, Khaz Barak caught the attention of Lord Anthrax, the Dark Horseman of Plague. He began plans to eradicate the Dwarfs who he suddenly felt were a threat.

1290 - 1320 Lord Anthrax, the Dark Horseman of Plague, sends Plague-Carriers into Khaz-Barak with a deadly new disease. It is extremely virulent amongst Dwarfs and two thirds of them are slain as it rampages throughout all 13 citadels. Worse still, the disease lingers, and two thirds of all Dwarven children are still killed by it. Since this time, the Dwarfs have been a dying race.

1321 Seeking to outrun the disease, a large group of Dwarfs gather in Duernoth and set off across the Northern Tundra. They are not heard from for many centuries. Eventually they come to be known as the Dark Dwarfs.

1342 The great hero, King Duergrim of Duernoth, leaves his son on the throne and travels east into the Orclands of Kor, seeking new conquests. He is never seen again.

1350 - 1700 This was a sad time for all Dwarfs. Their initial triumph at establishing the 13 Citadels had been replaced by a profound melancholy. Always taciturn and gruff, the Dwarfs who survived the Great Plague became even more so.

1762 A horde of strange creatures arrive at the gates of Drak-Dum. They call themselves Gnolls. They demand the immediate surrender of Drak-Dum. The Dwarfs fire on them with their cannons and the creatures flee.

1763 - 1850 The Siege of Drak-Dum. The Gnolls lay siege to Drak-Dum, which amuses the Dwarfs greatly. They have a network of tunnels leading to Khaz Tarn, Zhur and beyond, and fail to see how a siege can be in the least bit effective. They are surprised in 1771 however, when the Gnolls appear in their tunnels and start attacking them from below. The Gnolls had spent the last 8 years excavating!The battle goes on for almost nine decades, but eventually the Dwarfs are forced to give ground and retreat to Khaz Tarn.

1850 - 2112 King Korin II of Khamar repeatedly sends expeditions to try and recapture Drak-Dum. To his horror, he finds that the Gnolls are now using flashpowder as well. Not only this, but they have invented many terrible new weapons such as flame-throwers and grenades. In 2112, King Korin II is finally killed by poison gas in what came to be known as "The Last Battle". Since 2112, no Dwarf has ever returned to Drak-Dum.

2237 The Orcs of Kor, lead by the Warlord Gargan the Filthy, invade the citadel of Khalil in force.

2239 Khalil falls before Gargan's horde.

2242 The Dwarfs of Khaz Argoth and Duernoth amass a force to push the Orcs from Khalil. The war starts well, but the Dwarfs are soon stalled against the terrifying number of Orcs who have inhabited the rich halls of Khalil. In the midst of a battle, two months into the war, a strange ghostly dwarf appears and slays Gargan the Filthy. Many Dwarfs believe it is the spirit of King Duergrim returned to lend aid. The spirit appears many more times over the next year, and soon the Dwarfs have reclaimed the ciradel of Khalil.

2300 - 2500 The Dwarfs open up lines of trade with many of the cultures of Etheria. Even the Elves are seen to occasionally trade with them. Many groups of Dwarfs move from their ancient citadels to live and trade in human cities.

2594 An Elven ship saves the crew of a sinking Dwarf Vessel. The Dwarf King of Khamar, Korin IV, happens to be on board, and is eternally grateful. The Council of the Oath is organized where the High Elves will meet and discuss peace with the Dwarfs.

2595 The Council of the Oath is held in Lunariel. King Korin IV swears eternal peace between Elf and Dwarf. Not all Korin's advisors agree. Having seen the Elven City of the Moon with its magnificent gem-studded towers, they wish to conquer it!

2600 - 2800 Trade is now struck up with the High Elves. The Dwarf King Korin IV is succeeded by his son Korin V in 2790.

2812 While taking his yearly bath, the Dwarf King Korin V is assassinated. A new King, Menios I, usurps his throne. He sends an envoy to the High Elves in Lunariel, but it is really a force of warriors intent on slaying the Elven royal families. The High Elven mages warn their leaders of the attack and the Dwarfs are ambushed. The Moon King Lunarion II, ancient now, is slain. His grandson Elendor succeeds him and begins the War of the Broken Oath. A long bitter and bloody struggle against the Dwarfs.

2813 - 2904 For almost a century, the High Elves (with the aid of their Sylvan cousins) systematically destroy half of the Dwarven Citadels on the mainland, occasionally wiping out a human village as well. Finally the Dwarf King Menios I is slain in the Battle of Khorinbar and King Elendor ends the war. Four more of the great Citadels, Khaz Tarn, Zhur, Khalil and Khorinbar, are left deserted and Orcs, Goblins and Gnolls move in to inhabit them. Duernoth is saved only by the timely appearance of a ghostly Dwarf who many claim to be the spirit of King Duergrim.

2905 - 3600 This is a very quiet time for the Dwarfs. They hold out against many Orcish invasions from Kor, managing not to give significant ground to their enemies. Their armies have been depleted however, and they are slow to rebuild.

3719 A new threat surfaces. Warped and mutated creatures invade Duernoth from the north. Once again, the ghostly Dwarf appears in time to save his kinsfolk.

3720 The Dwarfs now set a watch upon the Realms of War in the north as well as the Orclands of Kor in the east.

3746 The Dwarfs hear rumours that trouble is brewing in the northern lands, but no invasion occurs to confirm their fears.

Lysean People

c. 730 Tribes of Aryan Barbarians begin migrating into Etheria from the south-east. They travel generally northwards, leaving small colonies everywhere they go.

c. 810 Three of the Aryan tribes settle in the southern reaches of Etheria. They are still nomadic at this stage. They are: The K'Malbec - The Tribe of the Whale The K'Tarn - The Tribe of the Bear The K'Oulis - The Tribe of the SkullThe K'Malbec roam the lands west of the Giantreach Mountains, while the other two tribes remain in the east, south of the Sserine Jungle. The K'Tarn and the K'Oulis, a warlike tribe of cannibals, are often at war.

903 The K'Malbec meet the Giants who frequent the southern reaches of the Lysean Peninsula. They trade with the Giants and learn much from them.

970 The K'Malbec, the Tribe of the Whale, settle down and build the city of Malbec, on the north-western coast the Lysean Peninsula.

1032 The Sundering. The exiled High Elven Prince Mordaine attempts a powerful spell which goes awry and releases the four Dark Horsemen into the world. Terrible tides and storms lash the coast of the nearby Lysean Peninsula.

1033 Malbec is swamped by tidal waves from the Sundering. Lead by the warrior, Lyseas, the humans from Malbec move inland and found the city of Lysea.

1039 The humans of Lysea have their first contact with the Dark Elves who escaped the Sundering and journeyed to the Doomwood. It is a peaceful contact and the humans trade food for weapons and knowledge to the desperate Dark Elves.

c. 1050 The region east of the Giantreach Mountains, inhabited by the K'Oulis and the K'Tarn, becomes known as K'Oulis Tarn. In later years, the Lyseans contract the name to Colis Tarn.

1061 - 1070 Strange tattered-looking creatures emerge from the Sserine Jungle and attack a tribe of K'Oulis. The warlike K'Oulis quickly overwhelm them and then, as is their ritual, eat the bodies. The K'Oulis become diseased. This terrible scene is repeated many times throughout Colis Tarn, with Lord Anthrax, the Dark Horseman of Plague, sending these Plague-Carriers to their deaths, until very few tribes of K'Oulis are left in good health.

1071 - 1090 The diseased K'Oulis degenerate until their skin turns sickly red and the sunlight hurts their eyes. Their warrior skills also decline, so that in desperation they must now eat not only the bodies of their victims, but also the bodies of any other dead things they might dig up.The K'Tarn - the Tribe of the Bear - who have been unaffected by the disease, come to fear the night and the ravening packs of K'Oulis who roam Colis Tarn looking for fresh meat.

1091 - 1120 Still terrified, the K'Tarn gradually cease ther nomadic lifestyle and begin to build villages surrounded by stockades.The K'Oulis come to be known as Ghouls.

1122 The Warrior Lyseas who lead his people from Malbec to form the city of Lysea is now 109. He calls his great-great-grandson (also called Lyseas) to his deathbed and tells him of a great vision that he has for his people - that they should expand throughout Etheria, carving out a mighty Empire.

1125 - 1130 The young Lyseas travels to the Doomwood to study with the Dark Elves. He is received coolly at first, but in his short stay manages to learn a small amount of magic.

1131 Lyseas travels south into the Storm Hills to meet with the Giants. He casts a Spell of Charming upon their leader, and in only three days manages to annex the whole Giant's Kingdom!

1132 Lyseas approaches the Dwarfs of Drak-Dum and tries to persuade them to join him. They gruffly turn him away. Later in that same year he approaches them again and casts the Spell of Charming. The Dwarfs resist the spell and literally throw Lyseas from their front gate, locking it behind him.

1133 - 1136 Lyseas gathers an army and marches over the Giantreach mountains into Colis Tarn. The K'Tarn are glad to see anyone who will help them fight the Ghouls, and willingly submit to Lyseas' rule. With his improved weapons and aid from the Giants, Lyseas pushes that Ghouls back to the eastern end of Colis Tarn.

1137 Lyseas names himself Emperor Lyseas I. He carries a crown which was a gift from the Dark Elves of the Doomwood. It glows with a magical aura.

1141 - 1151 The Ten Years War. Lyseas I tries to push his way through the Sserine Jungle but is halted by the local Goblin population who are expert at guerilla tactics. Eventually the Lyseans are pushed back.

1152 Lyseas I founds Arcus, the Southern gateway city to the Sserine Jungle. From here he plans to move northwards and conquer the Goblins. Later in the same year, Lyseas is slain by a Goblin arrow fired from the jungle's edge and coated in poison. He is succeeded by his son Lyseas II.

1155 - 1185 Lyseas II proves to be a great thinker. Rather than eradicate the Goblins completely, he begins construction of a road through the jungle, building fortified outposts every 4 or 5 miles. Unfortunately, he dies just before it is completed.

1188 The road through the Sserine Jungle is completed by Emperor Lyseas III. He founds the citadel of Artum on the northern border. For the most part, the Goblins seem to leave travelers in the jungle alone, but the occasional raids are unavoidable. The road is officially opened and it is named the "Great Lysean Way".

1201 - 1239 Lyseas IV succeeds his father. He begins a crusade into the Borderlands, slaying whole tribes of Orcs and Goblins, to extend Lysea's boundaries even further. In 1227 he founds the citadel of Gallia.

1240 - 1268 Lyseas V ascends the throne. He becomes known as Lyseas the Mad. All conquests in the north are forgotten. He squanders a good deal of the Imperial funds on a magnificent palace in Lysea, then he spends more on elaborate dinners and parties. In 1267 he has a Dark Elf ambassador beheaded for failing to attend a banquet. In 1268 he is assassinated by a black fletched arrow. In the brief ensuing period of chaos, a new family grabs the Lysean throne - the Quintine family - and Emperor Quintus I is crowned.

1269 - 1310 Quintus I turns the Imperial gaze back upon the northlands. He crosses the Mountains of Agaria with an army of 5,000 giants and 2,000 elephants. Almost immediately, he encounters Aryan Barbarians. The first tribe, the K'Trarg - the "Tribe of the Boar" - prove to be wild and difficult to subdue. Quintus' advance stalls almost immediately.

1311 - 1338 Quintus II becomes emperor. Seeking magical aid from the Dark Elves, he manages to conquer the K'Trarg. The victory has its cost however; Quintus becomes little more than a puppet for the Dark Elven King Garranoth. In fact, ever since this time, the Quintine family have always been associated stongly with the Dark Elves of the Doomwood.

1339 - 1381 Quintus III ascends the throne. Conquests continue in the northlands, with the K'Selen - "The Tribe of the Demon" -falling under Imperial control. This tribe had spread out along the coast. They were a very superstitious folk, and once they saw the Dark Elves who marched with the Imperial army, they soon surrendered, believing them to be Demons and Gods.

1382 - 1413 Quintus IV succeeds his father. He is little more than a Dark Elven puppet. He allows many Dark Elves to go and live among the K'Selen, who worship them like Gods. He also begins an ill-fated campaign to conquer the Forest of Agaria. The forest seems to be home to a number of vicious warlike Aryan tribes. The K'Elenak inhabit the western reaches of the forest and prove to be deadly bowmen, taking a heavy toll of the Imperial forces.Even with the aid of the Dark Elves, Quintus IV only manages to push as far as the Elenak River, before having to retreat. The Lysean Empire had reached its peak. It would not grow any larger.

1414 - 1448 Quintus V becomes emperor. He is traditionally known as Quintus the Weak. He had been raised and groomed by the Dark Elf King Garranoth. Quintus V would take no action unless his Dark Elven masters agreed. In 34 years he achieved absolutely nothing except 4 failed attempts to conquer the K'Elenak tribe in the Forest of Agaria.

1449 Disgusted by the Dark Elven influence on their Emperor, the Cerberine family stage a short but effective coup in Lysea. Quintus the Weak is thrown from a palace window, and his Dark Elven allies are herded from the city of Lysea and kept at arm's length for some time.Cerberus I ascends the throne.Gradually, over this period, all the Dark Elves are removed from the Empire, including those amongst K'Selen Tribe.

1450 - 1478 Cerberus I stabilizes the Empire. He concentrates on establishing a new and fair justice system. In 1478 he is murdered by a deranged follower of the Quintine family.

1479 - 1723 The Cerberine family remains in power. Eight Emperors ascend the throne. No new conquests occur - quite the opposite in fact. Without the aid of the Dark Elves, the Lyseans are gradually pushed from the Agarian forest by the vicious K'Elenak tribe. The Cerberines have produced a more stable Empire, but they would more correctly be classed as lawyers than conquerors.It is often said that the Lysenes started a Kingdom, the Quintines started an Empire, but the Cerberines started a Civilzation.

1724 The Year of the Six Emperors. Civil war erupts in Lysea once again. The Quintine family, the Lysene Family and the Cerberine Family begin assassinating each another with reckless abandon. It all starts when Cerberus IX is stabbed on his throne. A succession of Emperors from the three ruling houses follow - each one is murdered. Finally one of the Lysene family manages to kill all of his rivals and is crowned Emperor Lyseas VI.

1725 - 1760 Even though the Dark Elves supported the Quintines in the civil war, they make peace with the Lysenes and ask to be allowed back into the Empire. Lyseas VI agrees, but ensures they do not have the same influence they once did.

1761 The Dark Elf ambassador to Lysea, Prince Kenjaroth, asks for his people to be once again allowed access to the K'Selen Tribe in the northern provinces of the Empire. Lyseas VI forbids it.The following day, the Emperor is found dead from heart failure.His son Lyseas VII ascends the throne and quite wisely agrees to Dark Elven request.

1762 Groups of strange creatures move south from the Borderlands into Colis Tarn. They have the bodies of a human and the heads of a dog. They appear to be looking for something and make no hostile moves against the Empire.Later in that same year, they lay siege to the Dwarven Fortress of Drak-Dum. By the time Lyseas VII receives final reports, he realizes that there are hundreds of thousands of these creatures (called Gnolls) siegeing the Dwarven Citadel. Eventually they capture Drak-Dum and disappear into its tunnels.

1763 - 1898 Four Lysene Emperors serve their time on the throne. In the reign of Lyseas X, a new movement becomes known in the northern provinces; it is called "The Dark Path". Members are only found amongst the K'Selen tribes. They are often accused of murder and witchcraft. Lyseas X quite rightly suspects the Dark Elves are behind it all.All members of The Dark Path who are discovered, are put to death.

1899 A respected K'Selen merchant in Lysea assassinates the Emperor, Lyseas X. During interrogation the merchant admits to being a follower of The Dark Path. He is sentenced to death by stoning.Moments after his execution, a demon bursts from his body and rampages through the city, killing hundreds of innocent people, including the new Emperor Lyseas XI, whose reign lasted only 5 hours.In the ensuing chaos, the Quintine family grab the throne.

1900 - 1925 Quintus VIII becomes Emperor. As his first acts, he legalizes The Dark Path and allows Dark Elves back into the cities. This causes an immense amount of civil unrest.

1926 - 2010 Quintus IX succeeds his grandfather. He is traditionally known as Quintus of the Nine Lives. He rules for 84 years, during a period where the population is growing unhappy with their systems of justice and government.Quintus IX survives no less than 24 assassination attempts, and finally succumbs to old age.

2013 Quintus X ascends the throne and, one year later, is killed by a peasant throwing a rock. The civilians rise up and place another Cerberine Emperor on the throne, Cerberus XII. As was to be expected, he starts to remove the Dark Elves from the Empire.

2014 King Garranoth of the Dark Elves visits the city of Lysea. He rides up to the magnificent palace with his entire enourage, casts a spell, which lays waste to the whole palace complex, and escapes from the city. Cerberus XII is killed in the fiery explosion.

2015 - 2050 Cerberus XIII succeeds his father and builds a new palace. He also continues to oust the Dark Elves from society, though somewhat more violently than any of his predecessors. He passes a simple law - you must report any Dark Elf you see to your local militia, who will execute him.Cerberus XIII also proclaims The Dark Path to be illegal. By the end of his reign, the only remnant of the Dark Elves is the occasional follower of the Dark Path who is discovered amongst the K'Selen.

2051 - 2219 Six Cerberine Emperors rule. As is usual, while Cerberine Emperors are on the throne, it is a relatively quiet time.

2220 The Gnolls pour from their fortress of Drak-Dum and swarm throughout the Lysean Peninsula. As usual, the army has declined in standard under the peaceful Cerberine rule. Before they know it, the Lyseans are fighting for their very existence.Cerberus XIX is killed in a huge battle for the city of Lysea. The magical crown of the Lysean Emperors is lost in the battle.The Gnolls slay many Giants in the Storm Hills. The remaining Giants leave their posts in the Empire to return and free their homelands.

2221 The ruling house changes once again. Lyseas XII rallies his people to take back the city of Lysea.

2256 Lyseas XIII ascends the throne. He tries to rebuild the Empire, but only sees it gradually crumble around him.Relations deteriorate with the K'Selen and the K'Trarg in the north.

2278 Lyseas XIV becomes Emperor. For a few years he manages to stabilize things. Twenty two years into his reign, he leaves for the Doomwood to seek aid from the Dark Elves, but never returns.

2279 - 2300 Lyseas XV becomes Emperor. The K'Selen revolt, and shortly afterwards so do the K'Trarg.The Lyseans are pushed back south of the Mountains of Agaria.

2301-2332 Lyseas XVI succeeds to the throne. He is commonly known as Lyseas the Impotent - the last Emperor of the Lysean Empire, before it fell to being the Kingdom of Lysea.Unfortunately, Lyseas XVI could not produce an heir. Having consulted sages and priests, he discovered that the Orc Shamans of Kor possessed a magical horn that could return his potency. In 2326, Lyseas sends a group of ten thieves thousands of miles to the Plains of Kor where they steal the horn and return home with it.The Orc Shamans crack some thick skulls together and organize a force to return the horn - the First Orcish Holy War. 2327 - The Borderlands are crushed by the Orcs. 2328 - The Orcs raze Artum. 2329 - The Orcs raze Arcus. 2331 - Much of Colis Tarn is left in ruins. 2332 - Lysea is razed.Having recaptured the horn, the Orcs turn around and leave the 1000 year-old Empire in ruins.

2333 - 2560 The Lyseans rebuild some of their magnificent city, but at least half of it becomes infested with Gnolls who seem to have tunneled into it from below.

2561 A new leader proclaims himself King Julius I, attempting to establish Lysea as a power once more. Malbec allies itself with Julius, but neither the Giants nor the folk of Colis Tarn are interested.

2562 - 3045 The Julian house rules the new Kingdom of Lysea. It is a shaky reign at best - after five centuries the capitol city of Lysea is still plagued by Gnolls!

3046 - 3498 The Augustine house stages a minor coup and takes control of the Kingdom. No expansion of the borders is evident, though friendly relations are begun once again with Colis Tarn.

3499 - 3792 The Claudian house ascends the throne when the Augustine house fails to produce an heir. They rule unchallenged for almost 300 years.

3793 - 3800 A man appears in Lysea calling himself Lyseas - claiming to be a direct descendant of the Lysene House of the ancient Empire. He possesses a magical crown which he claims to be the crown of the Lysean Emperors. He stirs up trouble in Lysea and manages to oust the King, proclaiming himself Emperor Lyseas XVII.

Agar People

c. 800 Tribes of Aryan Barbarians begin migrating through the lands of Agaria from the south, travelling around the Bay of Storms through Alfland to the Plains of Ar.

c.870 The Five tribes of Aryan Barbarians settle in the lands of Agaria, leaving the rest to continue their relentless journey. They are constantly at war with one another. The tribes are: K'Elenak - The Tribe of the Oak K'Irin - The Tribe of the Unicorn K'Eira - The Tribe of the Axe K'Bar - The Tribe of the Golden Crown K'Ildan - The Tribe of the Weasel

c. 900 The Tribes, who come to be known collectively as Agars, scratch out some rough borders to mark their lands. The K'Elenak inhabit the forests to the west where they worship their sacred Oak Trees. The K'Irin seek a fertile piece of land between the two forks of the Barton River where it is rumoured that Unicorns have lived since the world began. The K'Eira move north into the rugged Troll Country. The K'Bar (the most numerous of the 5 tribes) occupy the land in the very center of Agaria. Lastly, the K'Ildan sneak off to hide somewhere in the south.

950 Elves, fleeing their homelands of Lunarion and the Northern Tundra, land in the Forests of Agaria. Most are killed by the savage K'Elenak and K'Bar. The few who escape are cut down as they travel north through the lands of the K'Eira.

c. 960 The K'Elenak tribe (with the help of a prototype taken from the Elves) invent the Longbow. This makes them dangerous indeed, and few members of any other tribe will venture into the western woods.

1032 The Sundering. Of all the peoples in Etheria, the Agars are effected least by the Sundering. It opens up many rifts in the ground near the treacherous K'Ildan tribe in which they find gold.

1035 The K'Ildan Tribe begin to trade gold to some of the other tribes, particularly the K'Bar.

1260 The K'Irin tribe encounter the Dwarfs in the Mountains of Agaria. Unusually (for a tribe of Agars) the contact is peaceful and the two groups begin trading.

1382 The Lysean Empire begins a campaign to conquer Agaria. They are forced from the western reaches of the forest by the vicious K'Elenak bowmen.

1414 - 1448 The Lysean Empire make 4 more disastrous attempts to conquer the western fringes of the Forest of Agaria.

1450 - 1470 Marthos the Explorer sets out on a long journey from the lands of the K'Irin. He travels south through the Borderlands and Lysean Empire, discovering much about civilization, government & trade. When he finally returns to Agaria (at age 43) he begins to teach his fellow tribesmen much of what he has learned. Gradually the K'Irin cease their nomadic lifestyle and begin to build villages.

1477 Marthos becomes the first King of the K'Irin. He commissions a great castle to be built and enlists the aid of the Dwarfs of Khaz Agar. The Dwarfs view it as a challenge, never having undertaken such a task, and work diligently for the next120 years - for very little reward.

1597 The great citadel of the K'Irin is completed. It is named Marthos in honor of the great leader who commissioned it.

1600 - 2100 This is a relatively quiet time in Agaria. Many skirmishes occur along the borders of the 5 Realms, but result in little land changing hands. The other 4 Agarian tribes copy the K'Irin and settle down to build citadels of their own. None of these are constructed by the Dwarfs however, and are only poor imitations of Marthos. The language of the Agars undergoes some radical changes in this period, as the tribes settle into small villages. They eventually name their Realms: K'Irin -> Cirin -> Siria K'Elenak -> Elenac -> Elenia K'Eira -> Ceira -> Theira K'Bar -> Barcia -> Bartonia K'Ildan -> Cildan -> Gildor

BorderLands

c. -4000 Orc and Goblin tribes migrate west over the mountains and begin roaming the area which will eventually become known as the Borderlands.

Undead

1032 The Sundering. The Dark Elven Mage Mordaine summons the Four Horsemen, Death, Plague, War and Famine. He loses control. Firstly Plague reaches out and touches Mordaine weakening him, then War knocks Mordaine to the floor with one mighty blow. Finally Famine casts his gaze upon Mordaine; the Mage's body withers and dies. Death watches all of this through empty eye sockets, and when the other three have finished their sport, he approaches the shattered body.Death places a hand on either side of Mordaine's skull. Blue flames leap from Mordaine's eyes, growing to cover his entire head. The flames travel up Death's arms and finally encompass his own skull in a blindingly cold fire. When the flames subside, Death has eyes - Mordaine's eyes. He releases the Dark Elf's skull and the entire body immediately crumbles to dust.

1033 - 1042 Death leaves the Sundered Isle, wandering the lands of Etheria, looking for a place where he can rest and gather his strength. He assumes the name Lord Bane as he travels, leaving a trail of destruction behind him.

1043 Lord Bane passes through the Northern Tundra and reaches a barren land which eventually becomes known as the Realms of Death. He begins work on the mighty Citadel of Bone, Mortuus.

1913 Lord Bane travels to Ehlariel, the Citadel of Ice and demands the surrender of the High Elves. Queen Ehlanna III refuses him. He strikes her down with a spell and leaves.

1914 - 1918 Lord Bane resurrects the bones of Gornak Elfeater's Orc Horde exactly 1,000 years after the defeat of the Elves in Ylarie. Gornak himself proves to be a particularly powerful Undead Creature and Lord Bane loses control of him. Gornak begins to wander the northern wastes and is not seen for some time...Meanwhile, Lord Bane attacks the outlying Elven Citadels with a host of Undead, gradually but steadily cutting his way forward towards Ehlariel. Just when it seems victory is assured, some trickery by an Elven Mage named Thyatis manages to destroy the horde and cost the Lord of Undead ultimate victory.

1920 Gornak stops wandering the northern reaches and settles in an area of gentle hills - almost completely surrounded by ice drifts. He names the place after his ancient clan - Graww.

1954 Lord Bane, having learnt the whereabouts of the rogue undead creature, Gornak, decides to set out and destroy him. At the last moment, a voice inside his skull (faintly reminiscent of Queen Ehalnna III) cautions him to stay at peace with this ceature.

2010 Lord Bane captures 5 powerful High Elf Mages in the Realms of Death:Frellen - A Mage who had mastered the Spells of Misdirection.Delermat - A Mage who had studied Spells of Alteration.Greymene - Who was unparalleled in casting the Spells of Summoning.Ehyrynth - A female Mage who was given to casting spells of Divination.The last one turns out to be Thyatis who had defeated Bane 92 years earlier. The Lord of Undead begins a ritual to corrupt them all, embracing them with his cold blue fire, and investing some of his own corrupt life-force in their frail bodies, but Thyatis escapes.

2016 Lord Bane decides to try and recapture Thyatis. He raises an army of Undead Beasts from the Ice around the Citadel of Mortuus and marches south. His corruption of the 4 Mages is not yet complete, he has invested them with some of his life-force, but not enough yet to fully control them. He leaves them locked in his citadel.The northernmost citadels of the High Elves fall in mere months. Once again though, Ehlariel proves a stumbling block. Thyatis appears on top of the Tower of High Sorcery and when Lord Bane tries to capture him, the Mage casts a spell of fire that consumes them both. Thyatis is slain, but Lord Bane survives, albeit barely. He flees back to Realms of Death to slowly gather his strength once more.

2017 Lord Bane reaches the Citadel of Mortuus and draws back a little of his life-force from the 4 Mages to aid in his healing.

2019 While Lord Bane is weakened and drawing back some of his life- essence from the 4 captives, Gornak is visited with an image of a Elven female. She calls herself Ehlanna and tells the undead Orc that he must bide his time and build an army - for his destiny is to confront Bane and gain dominion over all of the northern reaches. Like any good Orc, undead or not, Gornak grows excitied at the idea of a war...

2201 The corruption of the 4 Mages is finally complete - they are now all undead themselves. Lord Bane retakes his life-force from them to fully recover from the wounds he suffered almost 2 centuries earlier. Lord Bane now begins teaching the Mages the ways of the Necromancer.

2314 Two humans come to the Realms of Death - the first ever to do so. They are both Shaman-Priests from one of the many warlike Agarian tribes. Both are looking for solitude in which to continue their studies and contemplation. They are brothers known as Ghared and Jhardel.

2331 As Ghared and Jhardel are moving from east to west across the wastes, a terrible beast appears from nowhere and strikes Ghared down (this is Gornak - though neither brother has seen an undead Orc before). Jhardel moves to attack feeling confident that he can defeat this strange creature quickly and easily. Suddenly a sense of peace comes over him and he closes his eyes. Upon re-opening them he finds himself alone. Sure that he has had a visitation from one of the Gods the young shaman takes it as a sign and, mourning the loss of his brother, continues his trek.

2332 Gornak returns to his home with the young shaman Ghared. He hangs the young man upside down upon a dead tree he begins a series of bizarre rituals. Ghared is never removed from the tree for 20 years - not even to eat or drink

2339 Jhardel finally settles in the north-west corner of the Realms by a strange red river. After years of wondering why the Gods would take the life of his beloved brother, he renounces his faith. He decides to devote his life to the study of the area and names it Gharedlun, after his lost brother.

2351 Gornak stands before Ghared, now old and haggard, and stares at him as he hangs upside down from the dead tree that has become his home. As the undead Orc stares the tree begins to smoke. A yellow flame appears at the base of the tree. Slowly the tree becomes engulfed in the blaze as does the human. Although the tree is burnt to ash the man is untouched except for his skin which has become blacker than night. Rising from the ground he moves to Gornak and kneels before him and swears allegiance.At that exact moment, Jhardel wakes from a strange dream, terrified. He looks at his hands and sees them as black, burnt, and ruined. He blinks in fright and looks back at his hands to find them normal once again.

2398 Jhardel has made his small area of the Realms flourish. It is a haven for flora and fauna alike. The strange red river continues to flow from the north, but Jhardel has failed to discover anything significant about it. He is pleased. It is about this time that Jhardel notices that he has stopped aging. He wonders if the stream could have something to do with it...

2488 Gornak and his lieutenant, Ghared, travel to Kor where they track down a clan of Orcs which is distantly related to Gornak's old clan - Clan Graww. Gornak is pleased to see their standard is very similar to that which was his own. Gornak beats the leaders of tribe into submission and quickly takes control. Messengers are sent to other Orc clans to suggest partnerships and a new home - Graww.

2586 Lord Bane names his 4 servants the Deathbringers, and sends them away to all corners of Etheria. Their mission is to seek out forces which will aid the Lord of Undead in his upcoming conquests. The one who returns with the most powerful forces is promised dominion over the other three.

2917 Frellen returns to Mortuus, the first of the four. He brings a Zombie and a Ghoul. The Zombie is a new form of Undead - stronger than a skeleton. The Ghoul is a member of a strange race of creatures he encountered and charmed in the lands of Colis Tarn. Over the next 20 years, Frellen creates thousands more Zombies, while hundreds of Ghouls flock to the lands around the Citadel of Mortuus.

2987 Greymene returns to Mortuus, the second of the four. He brings a Wight and a Wraith, two new types of Undead which he has had to summon rather than create. Greymene sets to work immediately, creating more.

2995 Delermat returns to Mortuus, the third of the four. He is alone. At first, Lord Bane is furious. Delermat asks for a skeleton brought before him and turns it into the first Lich. It is a difficult process and drains the creator, but it works.

3058 Ehyrynth appears, revealing that she never left the Citadel of Mortuus. When Lord Bane demands an explanation, she merely smiles at him. It is a delicious smile and reveals the change in her teeth. The upper canines sweep down in twin points - strong and dagger sharp. She is the first Vampire.Death raises her above the other three and names her Ehyrynth, Queen of Vampires.

3067 Graww's population reaches 50,000. All around the citadel, the land becomes blackened and wasted as smoke from the citadel darken the sky.

3104 Graww's population reaches 100,000. Gornak and Ghared perform experiments on some of the Orcs who have come to join them. They produce a whole host of gibbering monstrosities, but have two notable successes: Red Orcs - a large, extremely powerful red-skinned Orc; and Wights - Ghared discovers the secret of creating Wights as did the Deathbringer Greymene 150 years earlier. Gornak establishes a cult of Wights who he sets up as Guardians of Graww.

3107 Lord Bane gives permission for Ehyrynth to change the other 3 Deathbringers into vampires. This gives Ehyrynth a hold over them, but the Lord of Undead knows that his hold is stronger.

3151 Lord Bane gives each of the Deathbringers their own lands in which to build a citadel and further their studies.Delermat gets the area known as Gryvene.Frellen gets the lands called Retryan.Ehyrenth gets the choice plot of Hrael.Greymene gets Partpayet in the centre of a frozen lake.

3173 Gornak orders other cities to be set up in positions that can prove defensive to Graww. His followers now number more than 500,000.Construction begins on the citadels of Harg, Taml & Nurg.

3207 Having narrowly been defeated by the High Elves, Lord Sartek, the Dark Horseman of War, visits Lord Bane in Mortuus to propose an alliance. Bane agrees provided that he commands the force. Sartek refuses and storms off back to the Realms of War.

3209 Lord Bane hears of the defeat of the Moonking Elendor's army in Khuzdhul and prepares to move an army of undead into the Northern Tundra while the High Elves are still weakened. The preparations take over a year.

3210 As Lord Bane moves his army out of the confines of Mortuus, Gornak gathers his army of Orcs & Wights and approaches the citadel. A vast battle takes place in which no side can claim victory. Bane is now in no position to attack the High Elves and returns to Mortuus to build his forces once again. Gornak's force similarly must flee back to Graww. Many of the surviving undead flee from the battle-site as Bane's hold over them is weakened. Under the leadership of various Liches & Wights, they break up into small groups.

3258 Jhardel finds three ghouls drinking from the red stream that runs through his lands. At first he tries to chase them from his home but is surprised to find them intelligent and articulate. He invites them to become inhabitants and spends much time in their company. Soon other undead follow.

3267 Many of the animal inhabitants of Jhardel's lands, Gharedlun, that have died become undead. They seem to continue with the same peaceful nature that they had in life.

3375 Jhardel realises that many animals appear to be arriving at Gharedlun at a point in their life where death is imminent. Happily he takes them into his lands.

3591 Jhardel - now almost 1400 years old - builds a float and moors it in the river just outside his home. When it is complete he lays down upon it. The three original ghouls come and stand watching as their human friend finally passes away. Silently they continue watching for five days until Jhardel rises from the dead to join them.

3745 Lord Sartek, the Dark Horseman of War, travels to Mortuus and once again offers to ally with Lord Bane. This time Bane accepts his offer and they begin planning their conquest.