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.
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