Nate Mangion

A Timeline of the Ancient Inner Sea

Added 2016-05-06 08:11:02 +0000 UTC

Elyden is a large world of many cultures and civilisations, some neighbours, and some divided by many thousands of miles. Though those around the Inner Sea share at least a modicum of history - shared ancestry, languages with common roots, linked histories - those on the other side of Elyden are barely known to them. Such distant lands - far Meniscea and the island-continent of Bror, as well as most of the continent of Sammaea - are a world unto themselves, and wholly alien to the civilised lands around the Inner Sea.

The Inner Sea, however, is a different story. The history of Elyden is one of layers and ages. This, the Fifth Age of Life is over five millennia old, and is but one age. Records have been known to go back even further: tantalising clues into the lives of ancient mortals.

Despite the clues buried in sands and ruins, we know little of such times. Archaeology, divination and other methods have given us snippets of knowledge, however. We know that humans were not as widespread as they are today and other mortal races (the Two-and-Twenty tribes) were present in hitherto untold numbers. Empires, sprawling and under the aegis of scions and otherworlders were common. We do not know the causes, but there was a great war that spanned continents and eons. In that war were empires toppled and races obliterated. Humans, their instincts for survival greater than those of the other races, were first to emerge from the ashes and rebuild. We live in the world born from that death.

Not all that the ancients had built was lost, however, for the artifice of the Demiurges and their scions remained, superior to what even the technarcanists of today can manufacture. In most cases these marvels of the ancients are ruined, though a few have been found in working order, and it is thought that many of the technological breakthroughs of the Fifth Age lie in rediscovered techniques and technologies of the ancients.

It is with these gifts that the modern age was slowly built from the ashes of ancient war, and though few know the full truth behind our origins, there remains a collective memory of sorts - an echo of forgotten empires and cities that lingers even as the modern age moves inexorably towards its own end.

In these days of fading some turn to the fading of past age for answers, or perhaps solace. Perhaps knowing that others before us experienced the ending of an age gives us strength, or maybe hope, if not a perverse delight in the suffering of others. Regardless, there are those who have taken it upon themselves to record the history of this age.

What follows is an abridged timeline of the early years of the Fifth Age, noting major events of note within what would later become the Korachani empire, the Republic of Almagest, the Reformed Sarastroan empire and the Secular Republic of Parthis.

(note: the present year is 4005 RM; Reign of Malichar)

c. -1500 - -1000 RM: following the fading of the Fourth Age the mortal races begin to emerge from isolation, in small groups at first. Fourth Age empires, such as the Svathi Domains, are extinct, the only memory their scorched ruins that stand nameless over an uncaring land. Familial groups begin to encounter each other. In some areas they remain separate, whilst in others they join together in larger (albeit still small) groups. These groups, regardless of their size, tend to explore the ruins of past civilisations. Some settle these regions whereas others remain nomadic, wandering the lands they encounter. Over time these disparate groups will consolidate and breed together, spreading and eventually giving rise to the ancestral races from which modern humans are descended - the achshi (populating extant Vârr, Rhamia and Ahrishen), the areshi nomads (who would clash with the achshi), the dheans and dhamateans (populating what would later become Ba’ath and Lidea), the lascar (who would populate the eastern coast of the Gulf of Skaros, giving their name to Laaskha), the nathi (whose ancestors would expand to Narthel, Lyridia, Sarastro and Venthir), the svathi (who would scatter and settle the Haréshk, Zion, and Ba’ath), amongst many others. It is during this time that most city-states and demesnes remaining from the Fourth Age disappear, either falling to vice and corruption, or becoming assimilated by the new cultures.
-1280 RM: in Ithoia, the Dhamas, wealthy from trade with Dhea, erect the city of Dhamatea. It is one of the first known major cities from the Fifth Age and the name becomes synonymous with the region.
c. -1200 RM: In the plains of Hamshen, Vagash subjugates surrounding tribes, becoming a major power in the region.
c. -1125 RM: the Achshi people beat the marauding tribes south of their settled lands. The city of Fascia can be traced to this time.
c. -1100 RM: the city of Amnath is home to as many as 15,000 people; one of the largest cities of the day. Kheri nomads move east from Haagen into Anubia, where their descendants remain to this day.
-1019 RM: King Sathep I unites Shaos Kher, funding Saostana, which would later become Sarastro.
c. -1000 RM: by this time many of the emerging cultures have consolidated and become nations and empires - the classical empires of antiquity from which modern nations are descended. It is a time of rediscovery and repopulation. Cities begin to grow rapidly as do their parent empires: Amnath, Dhamatea, Arsheesh, Asibaia, Azor, Conth, Haagen, Hara, Olnnad, Opham, and many others. Largest amongst them were Sammon, which dominated northern Sammaea; Nath, which covered extant Venthir and Nárthel; Saostana; and Korachan, which would never solidify into a single culture, but rather thrive as disparate city-states.
-615 RM: In Saostana, the Simulaeids raise their patron deity Sathahan to true divinity, leading to uprisings.
c. –600 RM: Nath emerges as the dominant state in the Vagash region, this golden age lasts until -400 RM.
–593 - –589 RM: civil war in Amnath, which leaves it sundered into 9 separate nations. Thousands of slaves escape to the north and south.
–579 RM: civil war in Saostana culminates in the rise of the Shananid Dynasty.
By c. -500 RM the Korchani people have mastered the production of steel, putting them at a distinct advantage over their neighbours, many of which were still in a neolithic state. With the gift of steel, the Korachani people slowly abandon their old god, Libor and gravitate towards a dichotomous religion, worshipping light and dark, life and death. They soon cover the entirety of the Korachani peninsula, where the tribes consolidated, becoming seven distinct regions. Soon the caste of Cheiroahin (Atramental users) rises to power in Korachan.
c. -400 RM: coins first minted in Bithyn, Almagest.
c. -250 RM: coins first minted in Korachan.
c. –200 RM: the Almagest, an astronomical treatise, is written, in part from knowledge taken from stargazer ruins of the Desolation of Astudan / People of Tahmal move south-east, merging with Saostanan people, out of which the Saoshyants would rise / Nath dissolves into warring states, which would eventually give rise to Venath.
–106 RM: Palace of the governor is built in Khadon, one of the seven city-states of Korachan. It will later become the Bastion of Steel.
–41 RM: Malichar is born in Korachan.
–33 RM: In Sarastro, the Saoshyants gain backing of most city-states, becoming its unquestioned rulers. The capital is moved to Solonia.
–23 RM: The merchant Malichar is shipwrecked in the island of Maleth in the middle of the Inner Sea, where he ultimately finds the Scripture of Shadow. Using the scripture, he changes the path of his life. He leaves as a prisoner and makes port in Vaalk where he is sold as a gladiator.
–13 RM: The Solon laws appear in Sarastro.
–7 RM: Malichar kills a beast in the ring and earns his freedom. He leaves a free man, but not before slaying his captors and owners. He makes sail for Korachan where he begins his unification.
–6 RM: Malichar finds the sword Tartaruch, which he wields for the rest of his life.
–6 - 1 RM: Malichar unites the city-states of Korachan. The reign of Malichar and the Korachani empire begins. Trade pacts made with Azazem.
–5 RM: Malichar finds the shield Aegis in Bachan, wields it until the creation of the Iron Angel in 341 RM, at which point he gives it to her.
–3 RM: King Ahrishen I dies in Aresh and the nation is renamed Ahrishen in his honour / Hetepheres, last of the Nathi sphinxes, travels to Teigirs.
–2 RM: Malichar leads the seven City-states against the Cheiroahin, deposing them, exiling what remained of them to the north-west.
–1 RM: A powerful personality cult forms around the sphinx Hetepheres in Teira.
0 – 100 RM: Rise of the Venathi empire from the ruin of the Nath state in what is now Venthir.

1 RM: so-called Age of Steel begins, lasts until death of the Undying Machine, in 4008 RM.
1-5 RM: Worship of the old Deities of Life and Death is abolished in the Korachani empire in favour of The Undying Machine, which is an enigmatic figure and centre of a growing mystery cult. The prevalent sorcerer-caste of Cheiroahin is persecuted, driven to the north-and-west, where they settle in Skaros.
1-82 RM: Unification Wars in Korachan; where the proverbial seven nations were acquired.
3 RM: the Iron Guard is created to protect the Korachani empire.
4 RM: Malichar appoints the tyrant of Balaam as general of the armies sent in to attack Laaskha. Artalscelli becoming a part of the empire.
5 RM: worshippers of the old Korachani god Libor are abolished by Malichar, who is known as the Archpotentate. Worship of the Undying Machine spreads.
6 RM: land of Pyrea granted to Levantine nomads by Ahrishen.
7 RM: Laaskhan attacks on Korachani trade caravans increase, leading to outright war.
7 – 14 RM: the Archpotentate Malichar gains followers, who become known as the Chosen of Malichar.
8 RM: Hetepheres and her followers are ejected from the city of Teira and resettle the ruins of Enaath, becoming known as Hetepheropolis.
11 RM: Azazem becomes a puppet of Korachan, though remains independent.
15 RM: Laaskha is conquered by the Korachani empire. The Tyrant of Balaam is proclaimed lord and steward of Laaskha and appoints the assassins of the Mantis caste as his personal guards.
17-19 RM: Korachani siege of Vaalk.
18 RM: Hetepheropolis becomes one of the largest cities in Venath and allies with Teira.
19 RM: Vaalk falls to Korachani armies on eve of year 20 RM
21 RM: The Order of the Arbiters is founded by Malichar.
22 RM: Skaros is attacked by Korachan.
22-500 RM: Scourge of Icons, where Korachani Iconoclasts persecuted the faithful of deities and powers both within and without the empire during the Unification Wars.
23 RM: the battle of the Skaros Gulf lasts three nights. The Skarosian fleet is all but destroyed. Three months later, Skaros falls, becoming the Fourth of the Inner Sea tribes to be conquered by Malichar.
26-30 RM: the Tyrant of Balaam defects, rallying great support. There is war in the Empire for five years, but after his death, Laaskha quickly returns to Imperial rule. The war is referred to as the Balaamite Heresies.
30 RM: Karakhas is discovered by Imperial explorers.
33 RM: Carceri is rediscovered by Korachani explorers.
c. 50 RM: The Order of the Arbiters is well-established, becoming the major elite policing force in the newly emergant Korachani empire. Worship of Hetepheres spreads throughout Venath and eastern Naareth.
50 – 70 RM: Imperial migrants settle Karakhas. Territorial conflicts with natives are common.
c. 50 – 200 RM: birth-defects increase in the growing Korachani empire as use of the Atramenta increases.
57 RM: Hetepheres disappears, leading to the birth of the religion of the sphinx in Venath.
64 RM: Venath as a nation first appears.
c. 70 - 90 RM: Korachan attacks coastal settlements in the Propontis as it begins taking Pelasgosi city-states.
c. 76 RM: Sagittaria formally separates from Tahab after a series of wars, becoming a free republic.
79 RM: the Arch-cardinal Arrekan is excommunicated from the Church of the Machine, becomes known as Arrekan the Betrayer.
81 - 84 RM: Korachani blockade of the Nártheli Strait leads to thge siege of Nárthel and Lyridia. In 84 RM the Nártheli militocracy is defeated in Kliros. Nárthel is occupied and assimilated by the Korachani Empire. Malichar Disappears after his victory at Nárthel.
c. 84-133 RM: Malichar wanders throughout Kharkharadontis, thought dead by his Empire. He falls dead after fighting a powerful otherworlder and is resurrected by a tribe of beast-men who come to regard him as a saviour, despite his hollow existence.
84 - 339 RM: the period before Malichar’s return to Korachan becomes known as the Reign of the Empty Throne.
85 RM: Council of Seven convenes to resolve problems faced by Malichar’s disappearance. No resolution is passed
86 RM: Korachan settles southern Lyridia, forming the state of Lyridia Dhai.
96 RM: the Kyoni Fraternity of the Inquisition is founded in Deochan, Korachan.
c. 100 RM – Worship of Khar’illæ spreads from Karakhas to other land around the Inner Sea. The Lady Aegis begins uniting the Eleven Kingdoms of Malan. The Korachani empire assimilates the Pelasgosi Religion of Mitra, abolishing her worship as a deity, her name becoming synonymous with an already-existing Korachanis saint.
c. 100 – 500 RM: Korachani exocrines and missionaries penetrate Vârr.
101 RM: the Cataclysm of Khamid disrupts the Dark Sea, destroying many coastal settlements, leading to a change in terrain and climate and destroying much of southern Khamid. Southern Tamar is devastated by the Cataclysm, most of its settlements destroyed by a tsunami.
c. 110 RM: the borders of Lyridia Dhai expand east, absorbing the old Lyridian capital of Vepar.
112 RM: Venath attacks Sarastro and Nárthel.
121 RM: After a series of wars, the Venathi empire defeats resistance in what is now Naareth, subjugating the majority of its people. It now controls Sarastro, Tarati and Nareth. Karakhas falls under Korachani rule.
127 – 132 RM: Nárthel is attacked by the Venathi empire. The following five years of intense war with the Korachani empire end with Nárthel falling to Venthir.
c. 130 RM: uprisings in central Nártheli cities
132 RM: The Venathi empire reaches its largest ever size, encompassing most of what is now Nárthel, Venthir, Sarastro and Naareth.
133-205 RM: the Throne Wars in Korachan. Challengers and usurpers try to take the Korachani throne, claiming their divinity. The Empire fragments, with faith in the Machine and Malichar low. Conquered and vassal states attempt to break free of Imperial rule. Wars break out, but the Empire largely manages to control affairs.
134-212 RM: Malichar wanders the deserts of Kharkharadontis in a twilight state between life and death. He is visited by the Otherworlder Abezethibou, who challenges him. Malichar prevails.
137 RM: the Otherworlder Archon ascends the imperial throne in Korachan.
138 RM: in Pelasgos the city of Peona is taken by Korachan, renamed Malicharichan.
139 – 151 RM: Anthropeidos crusade in Nárthel where non humans - otherworlders, halfbloods and other mortal races - are hunted. The Halfblood Cambion is martyred in the Battle of Two Worlds and becomes a patron saint (later deity) to many halfbloods acrtoss the Inner Sea.
c. 140 RM: Without Malichar, and the Church of the Machine not yet fully formed, worship of Khar’illæ continues to grow throughout the Korachani empire, challenging and surpassing that of the Undying Machine in many places – notably Vaalk and Karakhas. Hetepheres amasses many followers and rises to power in the city of Malissia.
140 RM: Maleth, Malichar’s son, deposes Archon from the Korachani Throne, and claims it.
151 RM: Labaisingh the Strong is killed in battle in Char Mâthi, fighting the champion Fichim. His death precurses the end of the Venathi empire.
155 – 158 RM: War between Hara and Ahrishen.
157 RM: Following unrest and war, Sarastro breaks free from the dwindling Venathi empire.
158 RM: Korachan reclaims Nárthel, moving its borders as far east as the Halolan.
159 RM: Venathi colonies in Tarati are abandoned following the fragmentation of its empire.
151–162 RM: Naareth declares war on Venthir, achieving independence the next year.
174 RM: the Exarchs of Zion fully open their border to imperial traffic and trade.
176 RM: Sathep the Risen emerges in Sarastro, and remains a prominent figure.
194 RM: the sphinx Hetepheres reappears in a fragmented Venath, uniting it struggling people.
196 RM – 367 RM: the Schism Wars in Korachan cause a rift in different denominations of the Church of the Machine.
200 RM: city of Venath is abandoned, the capital of Venthir is moved by Hetepheres to Hetepheropolis.
c. 200 RM: The Korachani genocide of Algol Haren’s native population culminates with its people enslaved by Atramentists in the region.
203 RM: Order of the Throne Wardens originates from the Throne Wars in Korachan to maintain vigil over the Empty Throne.
c. 210 - 212 RM: first Korachani colonists travel north of Propontis, settling Rhamia.
212 RM: A Korachani delegation arrives in Mirador and discusses the terms of the Exarchs surrendering of their nation to Korachan. Following the Siege of Ethra, the city becomes the capital of imperial Zion. The day after Zion is handed over to Korachan, Malichar finds the Undying Machines’ tomb in the Pit of Daekyn and frees him, fulfilling the words of the Scripture of Shadow. The Undying Machine bestows upon him renewed life and kills him, sending him to the Otherworld.
214 RM: Electricity first implemented in Makhara
216 RM: Korachan gains control of the Daarken gulf and the sea of Tiama.
216-219 RM: Lyridia tries to leave the Empire, leading to a three year war in which the nations south and western settlements are all but destroyed, leaving the land wounded and infertile. The remaining few cities re-abdicate, but the nation never truly recovers from the blow.
219-221 RM: Civil unrest in Empire lessens after news of Lyridia spreads throughout the Imperial cities, colonies and dependencies. New unity leads to war against Sarastro.
222 RM: Siege of Sarastro begins, but the nation is a fortress and extremely well-defended. Siege drags on for decades, as Empire loses interest in war yet is too proud to back down.
225 RM: Civil war in Pelasgos as ancestral kings rise against the ruling administrators and church; the Papal Wars.
226 RM: Sathep the Risen allies himself with Korachan against Sarastro.
228 RM: Papal wars come to an end with the Korachani empire taking control, at a great cost to Pelasgosi nobility, in what becomes known the Killing of the Lines.
231 RM: Malichar is reborn as an otherworlder travels from the pit of Daekyn where he returns, to Porpyhr where he liberates the secrets of Nyarloth. First true Imperial victory during the Siege of Sarastro, culminating with the occupation of the city of Carula and the sacking of its library
232 RM – the Venthiri Asanate meet with Hetepheres to discuss the Korachani war with Sarastro. She denies their request to send reinforcements there.
233 RM: Venthir aids Sarastro in war against Korachan, despite Hetephereses commands.
c. 245 RM: Imperial explorers and exocrines begin encroaching on the Citadel Mounts and Ba’ath.
264 RM: imperial ships open fire against Dolyst in the Citadel Mounts, beginning the war that would end in imperial occupation of the nation.
302 – 304 RM: Balaamite Heresies.
309 RM: in the Citadel mounts, Dolyst surrenders to Korachani armies, which negin pillaging the farmlands of the Uhlsaat plains.
318 RM: Hetepheres slays all her generals, effectively initiating a dictatorship over Venthir.
331 RM: Malichar returns to Daekyn and implements the first of the secrets of the 17th Demiurge to sustain Rachanael, creating the so-called Leaden Throne.
337 RM: Korachan largely withdraws from war with Sarastro.
339 RM: Malichar attacks Sarastro with a band of faithful, doing in one night what the Imperial war machine could not do in 10 decades. He appoints Sathep the Risen as his proxy in Sarastro. The Reign of the Empty Throne ends. The newly returned Malichar is a different being, more powerful, yet bearing a weight that was not there before. He is now an Otherworlder.