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Copyright © 1988, 2000, 2001 Chris Gonnerman
Distributed under the Open Content License version 1.0

Revision 2001.0

History of Nevermore -- The Five Ages

The Prehistoric Age (or, the High Age) before c. -2993 AD

Humans advanced from being cavemen and primitive hunters to farming in this age. The Dwarves and Elves were in their prime then, with many settlements on what was then a single continent. The term "High Age" refers to this old civilization. This age ended with the First Sundering, a period seven years long marked by terrible storms and floods. At the end of the First Sundering the ocean level had risen permanently, forming the Cirema Channel and separating Thaima from Austeris (as the southern continent was then known). The higher water level also formed the Averan Gulf, flooding two older lakes and making an island of the Shandler Highlands, and also forming the salt marsh of Saviare.

The Ancient Age c.-2993 AD to c. -1785 AD

The Elves begin to decline, but hone their magic to new heights. Elven mages taught the Art to humans for the first time. Dwarven civilization is at its peak in this age. The first great human civilizations, the Thirty-Three City-States of Litain and the Empire of Pesra, develop during this age.

This age ends with the Second Sundering, a period said to have been seven years of earthquakes and terribly cold winters. The Strait of Darillon is formed by subsidence at this time, separating the continents of Sesilon and Austeris. This brought an end to the Pesran civilization, as the great city of Pesra itself sank beneath the waves. In the modern day the descendants of the ancient Pesrans are called AKesra;@ changes in their language over time led to this pronunciation.

The Age of Greatness c. -1785 AD to -249 AD

Mankind built many great civilizations in this age. Dwarven civilization begins to decline even as they become rich from trade with humans.

The Age of Darkness -249 AD to Year 1 AD

This age began with the appearance of the DarkSpawn... monsters unlike any ever seen before. Armies of the greater DarkSpawn (Ophidians, Formians, and Thri-Kreen) flooded into the world through the Dark Gates. All human nations fell. The dwarves unified under a single Great King and closed their stone gates. The elves barricaded their forest. Wandering elves remained with the humans, eventually being absorbed into the population.

The Dark Gates closed again, leaving vast armies of monsters to conquer and hold the world. Humans, driven to the mountainous regions or to islands, begin to form the Warbands... small armed groups that waged war against the DarkSpawn.

In Sesilon, the city of Gault closed its gates and held off the Formian warriors. Warbands began to congregate there, attacking the Formians and retreating again to the city to regroup. As the raids became more successful the Warbands of Gault became the First Army of Gault. Eventually the First Army drove the Formians into the Desert of Dispayre, in the process liberating and controlling the cities of Sesilon. This was the beginning of the Gaultic Empire.

The Alendrans quickly regained control, with Warbands from the various Austeran nations working together to drive the Thri-Kreen into the Plains of Pesra. Tai-Mansk tribes formed an "anvil" as the Alendrans became the "hammer" to destroy the Thri-Kreen armies. The Nations of Alendra became the Alendran Confederacy, under a single government, at this time.

On the continent of Thaima most Warbands swore allegiance to the old monarchies. Some, however, swore allegiance to the Celestial Church instead, forming the core of the Celestial Knights. The combined might of all the Warbands drove the Ophidians to the west.

Gault, having freed Sesilon and built an empire, looked now to the north, to Thaima. The Second Army of Gault was formed to cross to Thaima, battle the Ophidians, and expand the Empire.

The Second Army of Gault met the Celestial Knights, the Army of Parth, the fleets of the Merchant's Guild and the new Alendran Confederacy, the Elvish Army of Saihaim, and a great force of Nordac barbarians from the Coast Clans in a great battle at Castle Saviare where the Ophidians were defeated and, for the most part, killed. The Treaty of Saviare was then signed, banning the Gaultic Empire from expanding past Saviare and similarly banning the Celestial Knights from entering the Empire.

This event marks the end of the Age of Darkness.

The Modern Age (or, the Imperial Age) Year 1 AD to present

The modern age is considered to have begun in the year 1 AD (After Darkness). The current year (Game Time Base Year) is 375 AD.

 
Questions, Comments, or Complaints? Contact:
  Chris Gonnerman <chris.gonnerman@newcenturycomputers.net>
World of Nevermore: History Last Updated 08/21/2006