Timeline of Tyrus

One of the biggest contributors to the immersion of a fictional world is its history. It sets the stage and adds depth, color, and flavor to what would otherwise be a generic "cookie-cutter" world.

It is with great pleasure that we present a timeline of Tyrus, the backbone on which the rest of the campaign setting will be conceived. Read over this timeline and try to gain a sense of the story we're trying to tell. Allow this timeline to inspire you in your character creation, as well. How will your character fit into the world from what you know so far?

As always, if there are any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.

Timeline of Tyrus: Pre-Fall

Time of Creation (???-5000??PrF)

???->5000 PrF:
The mists begin to shift around the lifeless and barren shard soon to be known as Tyrus; there is no knowledge of what triggered the event

An inexplicable eruption of power, thereafter referred to as the Myll, erupts from the shifting Boundary Mists, enshrouding the entire shard of Tyrus in energy; several points in the Boundary Mists surrounding Tyrus grow thin

Four deities emerge from the swirling Mists: Kian, As'tasia, Quaess, and Memnok

The deities, enraptured with their new existence and intrigued by the world in which they've arrived, spend thousands of years wandering the Mists before returning to Tyrus; As'tasia approaches a slowly dying tribe of kobolds on a distant shard and promises them an eventual paradise in exchange for their servitude.

As'tasia and Quaess return to Tyrus and populate the shard with life; Quaess shapes the shard into a habitable world and As'tasia infuses it with the breath of life. Several deities emerge from the torrential Mists as energies are distorted and manipulated by the gods: Emera, Honosaad, Rayinala, and Ale'ighta. Kian and As'tasia assign these deities to rule over their current domains(Ale'ighta is at this point a neutral deity)

Quaess discovers As'tasia's adultery with Kian and a hundred-year battle ensues between the two deities, nearly returning Tyrus to the wasteland it once was. Quaess is eventually defeated, and he retreats underground. The chaotic energies released from their combat produces Loracha, and she is appointed protector of the wild and untamed life on the shard in light of the destruction caused by Quaess and Kian. Ale'ighta is spurned by Quaess soon after, and flees Tyrus in a heartbroken rage.

>5000PrF:
As'tasia returns to the oppressed kobolds, who have spent the last thousand years reshaping their dying culture to worship her power, to proclaim their promised paradise complete. She guides them safely through the Boundary Mists and leads them through the Myll in an endeavor to bring them to their new home. Half the pilgrims die immediately upon contact with the Myll. Three quarter of their number are twisted and mutated by its terrible energies. As'tasia is incapable of reversing the change. The beginning of the New Races are born: Human, Elf, Dwarf, and Orc.

Though technically now a minority, the "pure" kobolds spend several years attempting to integrate the confused and grief-stricken mutations
into their culture as a sub-class. This proves to be unsuccessful, as acts of violence between purebloods and corrupts become unavoidable. The New Races are driven from the kobold lands and scatter across Tyrus as refugees.

The kobold turn away from the gods of Tyrus and dedicate themselves to watching over the thin passageway in the Mists, so that no others may be ruined by the devastating energies of the Myll; trespassers on their lands are dealt with swiftly. Due to their decision to remain in the Passage, knowledge of the kobolds fades away into obscurity.

Time of the Tribes (>5000-1258PrF)

>5000(??)-1410PrF:
The New Races break off into nomad tribes and scatter across Tyrus, remaining unorganized hunter/gatherers for thousands of years; several secondary New Races are bred over the course of this time: Halfling, Gnome, Half-elf, and Orog. The current pantheon approaches the New Races with promises of power or protection, and are in turn worshipped as gods.

1410 PrF:
The secret love affair between Honosaad and Rayinala is exposed by the chaotic conception of Denntor, who terrorizes the tribes with devastating storms. Kian forbids any further creation of offspring between deities, and mandates that the two parents drive Denntor's madness away from Tyrus at every opportunity.

1406-1295 PrF:
Memnok returns to Tyrus with Ale'ighta and grows disgusted with the state of the shard. Wandering Tyrus as a travelling hermit, he begins to play the tribes against one another in an attempt to destroy what Kian and the others have accomplished.

The Tribal Wars begin, lasting more than a hundred years.

1295 PrF:
With nowhere for the spirits of the dead to go, the Myll absorbs and obliterates the souls of thousands as the wars rage. The release of this energy spawns two new deities: Kim'urne and Oughack. Kian creates the Eternal Glade for the wandering spirits, then appoints Kim'urne their escort to the heavenly plane. Memnok takes advantage of Kim'urne's greed to persuade him to bring the occasional soul to a plane of his own creation, known thereafter as the Pitch. It is here that Memnok appoints himself Lord and Ruler, and torments the souls for his own amusement. Kian learns of this conspiracy shortly before realizing that not all souls are worthy of heavenly paradise. He uses this treachery to his advantage, weighing the sins of the dead in accordance to what he has taught mortals to be right and wrong, then has them shuttled off to the appropriate plane.

1287 PrF:
The Tribal Wars begin to rage out of control, fueled by the manipulations of Memnok and Oughack. Kian finally intervenes on behalf of the mortals of Tyrus and engages Memnok directly in battle. The energies released from their combat produce four deities: Nyaos, Nysris, and Vesa.

Kian defeats Memnok and sends him fleeing back to the Pitch. The Soul Devourer promises an end to Kian and an end to Tyrus as he flees, and many of the newer deities follow him away from the shard into the Pitch.

1274-1258 PrF:
The Tribal Wars cool some, but do not fully end; tensions continue to remain high between societies.

1267-1258 PrF:
The Nerevard Dominion is established by tribes embittered by the wars. They swear off the Pantheon of Light due to their lack of involvement in the bulk of the wars and isolate themselves from the rest of Tyrus. Nerevard is considered "off limits" by the other tribes due to rumors and whispers that the dukedom has sworn devotion to Memnok and his brethren. The dukedom quickly begins to flourish, but at a cost: caustic smoke blots out the sky over Nerevard, and great smelting furnaces can be seen looming along their horizon. The effects of the pollution on the surrounding Myll produces a new deity: Lok

Time of Darkness(1258-1196PrF)

1258 PrF:
Kian, As'tasia, and Emera leave Tyrus. The lesser deities continue to rule over their domains, but are ordered not take an active role in human events until the three return. A perpetual darkness surrounds the shard with the departure of Emera, and Nyaos serves over her domain in her absence.

1258-1196 PrF:
Several other tribes begin to bond together out of mutual need or belief as they're abandoned by their three central deities: several large dwarven tribes come together to form the Cyd Empire and swear off the rest are Tyrus; they are approached by Quaess and his offer of protection as they retreat deep into the mountains away from the other tribes. Several tribes also come together in the west out of a need for survival due to the change in desert climate with the departure of Emera, thus laying the foundation for Yaavikan Dynasty.

Time of Division(1196-1148PrF)

1196 PrF:
Kian, As'tasia, and Emera return to Tyrus. The return of sunlight is accompanied by the appearance of the first Aasimar, who wanders Tyrus as a proclaimed "High Guardian." The Tribal Wars swiftly end with the Convention of Order; the High Guardian serves as a diplomat and negotiator between the warring factions and brings peace to Tyrus.

The High Guardian retreats into the savage and untamed eastern lands following the conclusion of the wars, promising "great change to Tyrus, a gift from the Gods." She and a few of the last unsettled tribes devoted to Kian and As'tasia settle in the Whispering Mountains, vanishing into its peaks; rumors from travellers who followed their voyage speak of a barrier of light blocking their path into the mountains, though a distant singing carried by the winds and the sound of steady construction can be heard from behind the mysterious barrier.

1190 PrF:
The kingdom of Tolderand is established following a union of several large elven tribes.

1181 PrF:
The Lyonan Commonwealth is established following a union of mixed sea-faring tribes; their presence is soon found all over Tyrus as their navy grows.

Time of Crimson Tears(1148-1128PrF)

1148-1142 PrF:
The Trade War is sparked by a misunderstanding between a Yaavikan merchant and a crew of Lyonan sailors; it quickly escalates to include Cyd and Tolderand as the two dukedoms choose sides in order to maintain their alliances and respective economies.

1142 PrF:
Lyona and Tolderand call upon the Nerevard for aid as the war begins to turn against them. Duke Inagar II, ruler of Nervard, dispatches a detachment of mages and Oughack clerics in response. The detachment eradicates both forces in the Lorsay Massacre.

Nerevard quickly begins to dominate the war with their mysterious magics. The other dukedoms scramble to discover the key to Nerevard's new power as the claim to land suddenly shifts and the Dominion's borders rapidly expand with each conquest.

1142-1130 PrF:
The Trade War ends as the four struggling dukedoms form an alliance against Nerevard. The Nerevard Defensive rattles the entire shard with war as the body count mounts.

1131 PrF:
Yaavik's spy network discovers the key to Nerevard's magics through experimentation with the Mists. They bring their unstable and untested knowledge of this power to the battlefield, and the Battle of Nagog slaughters thousands on both sides. Acres of land are ravaged by the abuse of the chaotic energies.

The barrier near the Whispering Mountains abruptly dissipates. A small army of Aasimar led by the High Guardian leave the east and march to the frontlines of the war.

1131-1129 PrF:
Nerevard is driven back by the Aasimar army from the east. The Nerevard Dominion spends several years trying to drive their war machine, but cannot withstand the collective force of a five army alliance. Their borders begin to shrink as their forces retreat from occupied lands.

1129 PrF:
The first Aasimar legion continues to push Nerevard back from the east, while a second legion arriving from the Whispering Mountains in the northeast drives their forces west. Tolderand and Lyona bottle them back in from the north. The Dominion is soon smaller than it was before the war.

In an act of desperation, Inagar II cries for Memnok's aid from his throne in Tith. The False King responds by ravaging the capital city for Inagar's failure. Thousands die as the Lords of the Pitch strike down fleeing faithful and decimate Inagar's diminished armies.

The Pantheon of Light once again emerges from the Mists to do battle with the Lords of the Pitch just as the High Guardian's forces arrive to depose Inagar II. The fate of Tyrus hangs in the balance as the battle on both fronts are diminished to two combatants: Kian against Memnok, and the High Guardian against Inagar. The High Guardian clashes with Inagar II in a tense battle, but Inagar proves to be no match for the Guardian's skill; the king falls to the Aasimar's yatagan. Kian once again overpowers Memnok in a battle that nearly levels Tith. Columns and mortar lay toppled at the deities' feet as Kian offers the fallen Memnok a choice: return to the Pitch or face destruction. Memnok accepts the offer, but not before dealing Kian one final blow: The False King snatches the High Guardian as he retreats to the Pitch and drags her off to whatever horrific fate was inspired by the god's defeat. Kian offers the other Lords an offer similar to the one offered to Memnok, despite his rage at the loss of his High Guardian. The deities retreat back into the Pitch after their master.

Time of Unity(1128-1115PrF)

1128 PrF:
The Aasimar regroup from the loss of the first High Guardian and help Nerevard rebuild. The people of Nerevard realize the error of their ways in trusting in the Dark Gods, and their devotions shift back to the Pantheon of Light.

The Second Convention of Order is held in Nervard, and the five dukedoms discuss talks of peace. An somewhat shaky accord is eventually reached.

The second High Guardian dispatches his faithful Aasimar across Tyrus as peacekeepers and messengers of the Pantheon of Light. Kian, As'tasia, and Emera are soon revered by much of Tyrus. The Order, led by the Aasimar, become a major political and spiritual force on the shard.

1127 PrF:
The High Guardian opens the borders to the east, announcing the Whispering Mountains to be the seat of power for a sixth kingdom, Valhaeda; a territory maintained and governed by the Order, the "Gift from the Gods" proclaimed before the wars. Valhaeda promises to be a symbol of justice and hope as Tyrus recovers from the war, and extends its aid openly to any cause that honors the Pantheon of Light.

1125-1115 PrF:
The Order maintains a heavy presence in Nerevard as they rebuild, directing its new government in establishing the struggling dukedom as a center of knowledge, magic, and peace in Tyrus.

1115 PrF:
The Cyd Empire reinstitute their isolationism soon after the Second Convention at Quaess' insistence; "Light can only hold back Darkness for so long, my children."

Time of Order(1115-9PrF)

1115-1093 PrF:
Valhaeda and Nerevard become the two major dukedoms in Tyrus as they work together to promote and facilitate peace and prosperity across the shard. Free trade and open commerce are established between the dukedoms, and with the exception of a few border skirmishes there are no major conflicts.

1115-1093 PrF:
The Order serve as peacekeepers in many of the towns and villages that run through the shard, with the exception of Cyd; the dwarves will have no part in the affairs of either the other dukedoms or the presence of the Order. The presence of Memnok and the other Lords of the Pitch are found on an occasional basis throughout Tyrus. The Order dispatches them with brutal efficiency.

1093-1082 PrF:
The Order's mandates from Valhaeda slowly begin to trickle throughout Tyrus to influence the other dukedoms. Concern arises within Yaavik, Lyona, and Tolderand as to whether the Order should be allowed to dictate how their dukedoms are governed.

1082 PrF:
Conflict arises between Lyona and Tolderand when a Tolderandian spy is discovered buying Lyonan secrets. War looms in central Tyrus. The Order intervenes before war can escalate and works out a diplomatic compromise that appeases both dukedoms. Order presence strengthens in both dukedoms due to the hostilities.

1078 PrF:
The Order completely reshapes Nerevard's political structure to better reflect the strong government influence in Valhaeda; an Order Guardian is also placed into power as a High Consultant to Nerevard's Duke Ermond. Debate begins to race through Nerevard as to the Order's suddenly questionable intentions.

1077 PrF:
A famine siezes Nerevard as crops wither and die just before the harvest season. The Order begins to deliver a wealth of rations from Valhaeda to accomodate the people of Nerevard during this crisis. The Order issues an Edict of Aid to Tolderand, Lyona, and Yaavik in light of Nerevard's plight, decreeing that an Order cleric be allowed to serve within their rulership so that Valhaeda be more aware of the problems plaguing the dukedoms.

1076-1010 PrF:
The three dukedoms reluctantly agree, and the majority of Tyrus sees a period of prosperity as the Order directs and influences the dukedoms in most of their political concerns. Aasimar and Order clerics begin to wander Tyrus in surprising numbers as they police the shard.

1010 PrF:
The Order attempts to extend their Edict of Aid to the Cyd Empire, dispatching an Aasimar diplomat to Dordruk to speak with Duke Ked. Cyd sends an emissary back to Valheada soon afterward with a basket containing the Order diplomat's severed head. Quaess demands that all Guardians be removed from Cyd, and many Aasimar are killed before the Order decrees a withdrawl from the dukedom

1009-9PrF:
Prosperity and relative peace is maintained throughout the shard for the next thousand years. The Pantheon is not seen among mortals during this period.

Time of Reason(9PrF-Present)

9 PrF:
Debate begins to spread througout Nerevard and Yaavik concerning the need of the Order or the Pantheon; the Pantheon's lack of involvement in the affairs of Tyrus have categorized them as myths rather than existing entities, despite the Order's insistence that they still watch over the shard.

8 PrF:
A new church mysteriously takes a foothold in Nerevard. Proclaiming themselves scholars of Vayd, these clerics end up being the largest proponents of a Movement of Reason: a way of life without the outdated ideals of dead gods.

5 PrF:
Philosophical debates, fueled by scholars of Reason, begin to become hot topics in Yaavik, Tolderand, and Lyona. The Order attempts to peacefully diffuse such topics, but are often dimissed with untrusting glances and sneers.

3 PrF:
A riot in Ytrewq signals a violent change in the Movement of Reason, as philosophers and townsfolk attack an Order temple. Two Aasimar and a dozen Order clerics are killed by the angry mob. The Tenth High Guardian orders a withdrawl from Yaavik. The Order temple is restructured as an open marketplace.

2 PrF:
At the behest of his Yaavikan subjects, Duke Uoso outlaws Order temples in his dukedom and shifts his focus towards science and commerce. Magic is dimissed as archaic and outdated in favor of new technology. Yaavik's prosperity grows as they promote their merchant class and expand their trade routes, quickly becoming the wealthiest dukedom on Tyrus.

Present:
Word of Yaavik's success quickly spreads to the other dukedoms. The Movement of Reason begins to take hold in Nerevardian and Lyonan communities. The Order empties their stronghold in Asemera of Guardians and clerics and dispatches them across the other three remaining loyal dukedoms in Tyrus in an attempt to quell this new philosophy.