The Alorian Chronicle: a Timeline

ca. 1475 -1575 hc

Darksong and Aloria; The Early Years

1475hc (502mr)

• The Archduke of Boeruine is seduced by the Black Princess Tanya, who later gives birth to a boy with miss-matched eyes, whom she names Eric of the Dark Song.

1493hc (520mr)

• After having failed to assassinate his father to usurp both his bloodline and his throne, Darksong is forced to flee Anuire. His half-sister Astrea Boeruine (called 'the Stormhawk' by some) takes up orders as a Paladin, and sets to hunting him.

1494hc (521mr)

• While sidetracked fighting a Litch up in Thaele, Astrea forms the Company of the Silver Blade. Centered around a Timaveril Sword freed from the Litch's clutches, she is joined in this endevor by Skahild Rose, Grendel Todd, Mathew Morgan, and Devlin Flame.

1495hc (522mr)

• Darksong wanders the Adurian Wastes, pillaging and conquering as he goes. Uniting an alliance of the Kodos Nomads, the undead hoards of the Aduirean Wastes and the Demons of the Moonclaw Fortress, he attempts to return to his homeland to do more of the same. This plan ultimately fails, and his army breaks apart to bedevil Anuire for several years.

1498hc (525mr);  Year  0 for the Alorian Calander

• With the loyal remnants of his once great army Darksong conquers Alor's Vale in Cliff's Lament (Baruk-Azhik), and carves off corner provinces from Coerannys and the Chimaeron to form the kingdom of Aloria.

1500hc (527mr); 2 ar

• Deepshadow becomes independent from Coerannys. Their new regent is the ambitious Witch of Mistvale.

1503hc (530mr); 5 ar

• Darksong is reformed by the Circle of the Silver Blade. Changing his name to Eric Destante, he pays off the neigboring kingdoms of Baruk-Ahzik, Coeranys & the Awnsheighlin known as the Chimaera.

1504hc (531mr); 6 ar

• Erik Destante marries into Coerannys nobility.

Birth of the High Kingdom

1523hc (550mr); 25 ar

• Prince Adam Destante of Aloria rescued by Cassilda Todd and friends.  The two are married, cementing the alliance between the Destante & Todd Families. (Beginning of the 1st Campaign)
  

1524hc (551mr); 26 ar

• Aloria expands (Adam first becomes Duke of Coeranys and then takes his father's place as King of Aloria when his father decides to retire; the Chimaera falls and the Chimaeron is absorbed by the young kingdom). 
• Mikhiel Angondlier becomes Medoere's Champion & the Count of Ilien (forming the realm known as Mikhiel's Protectorate).

1525hc (552mr); 27 ar

• Elinie hosts the Sword & Crown.  The Gorgon invades during the event, but is forced to retreat when he looses an arm at the Battle of Mholien.  A plot to frame Rhobhe Manslayer of kidnapping the Prince of Avanil's daughter is thwarted, and the elf-lord is assassinated by the Mynaed during the confusion. 
• With the death of Halmod Roesone at the Battle of Mholien, his sister Leonie becomes the Black Baroness of Roesone.  Marrying Mikhiel Angondlier, they merge their kingdoms to form the new nation of Angstinwoe. 
• Because of the Gorgon's assault a number of realms gather around Adam and elect him High King (those who swear vassalage include Elinie, the Seilwode, Thurazor, the newly freed Markazor, Tuarhievel, Talinie, Aerenwe, Dhoesone & Katzengard).  Tholuk's faith becomes quite popular in the nascent High Kingdom (especially in the Goblin kingdoms of Doomstride, Thurazor & Markazor - thanks to the rule of the Todd Brothers & the Black Druid Skahild Rose).

The Great War

1530hc (557mr); 32 ar

• War for the Stonecrowns - Aelvinnwode Empire formed in the 5 Peaks by Rake. Rake and Darksong marry. The Warlock takes Puinol and murders Darksong (who is subsequently Raised by Skahild, but that doesn't help the fact that the Warlock has usurped his power).  Rake & Darksong abandon the Aelvinnwode, leaving it to their daughter Tallya the Nightingale.  His other daughter, the Mynaed, unites Tuornen & Alamae through her own political marriage to Alamae's king, and renames it Mynea after his unfortunate demise.  Skahild takes direct control of Markazor.  With the disappearances of Doomstride’s regent Traxum Todd, the rising goblin nation is crushed by the Gorgon.  Deneric Destante marries Fhaele Dhoesone and becomes the new duke of Dhoesone.

1531hc (558mr); 33 ar

• Nhoun, a lieutenant of the deceased Manslayer now serving the Mynaed, begins raiding from a Castle hidden in Boeruine.  The Crimson King of the Seilwode, Sleihheinn & his allies, put an end to the elf-lord and retrieve the artifact known as Doniel's Ring. 
• Rurik Rockhammer and the Temple of Moradin join High King Adam's court.
• The Eyeless One comes to serve Deneric Destante in Dhoesone as Court Wizard.
• The Protector's War begins with Osoerede's invasion of Aerenwe, who was at that time both a vassal of Aloria & a close ally of Angstinwoe.
• The Gorgon & Mur-Kilad invades Markazor.
• Mynea is invaded by a coalition of Avanil, Broesegnae & Taeghas.
• Ghoere battles the Spider.
• A band of Azrai renegades retreat to Brak-Nor Castle (in northern Mynea), after having stolen the Emperor's Crown from the Imperial Chamberlain.  High King Adam (with the aid of Rurik Rockhammer & the Todds Grendel and Tyberius) takes steps to recover the crown.
• Agents of the Gorgon secretly begin spreading chaos across Anuire.

1532hc (559mr); 34 ar

• A revolt by the Wolfe brothers in Nolien is put down brutally by Deneric, but Bards popularize their fight against tyranny.
• A border war between Thurazor & the Aelvinnwode starts up.  Not to be left out, Dhoesone invades its old ally under Deneric's guidance.  During the invasion King Thraktul Todd is assassinated.
• High King Adam turns from Osoerede to help Markazor throw off the Gorgon.  Meanwhile the Gorgon has turned his attention towards the Seilwode (possibly in part to Seihhienn's daring raid into Mur-Kilad).
• Boeruine takes this opportunity to bring Talinie back in line and invades.
• Haelyn's Aegis & the Jewel of Sarimie join High King Adam's religious court of spiritual advisors.
• Orthon Taine (of S.Anuirian Shipping) falls to the Mynaed's charm and joins her cause.
• A permissive alliance is initiated by Angstinwoe to better relations with Aloria during the Osoerede conflict.
• The Sutrin Hills is taken by Elinie while the Mynaed is distracted with Avanil.
• Monsters from the Spiderfell ravage Diemed. 
• In newly conquered provinces in northern Markazor the Gorgon finds himself at war with a mysterious army of undead.
• High King Adam invades Puinol, but fails to wrest the lone province from the Warlock.
• In hopes of another ally Adam pays homage to the Mhor.

1533hc (560mr); 35 ar

• As the Mynaed slowly conquers Avanil, Boeruine also joins in the fray, taking much of the brunt of Avanil's allies away to defend against his advances.  Even so, Elinie & Mhoried step up to aid the once great kingdom in its time of need.
• Rumor has it an ancient evil has awakened in the elvish ruins of Winterroot in the Abbuator.
• Deimed, suffering from raids and invasions (as well as diplomatic pressure) from such enemies as the Spider & Endier, swears vassalage to the Protector of Angstinwoe.  Mikhiel Angondlier then declares a "Just War" on the "assassin" Guilder Kalen of Endier.
• Mhoried asks for High King Adam's fealty, but as head of the High Kingdom, Adam must refuse.
• The Gorgon, still distracted by his unknown foe, is temporarily trapped by Adam's Warding of the Province.
• The Osoerede issue is finally solved as the last remnants are split up between Aloria, Aerenwe, and Angstinwoe.
• As the year rushes to a close, the Spider finally turns his attention south towards Angstinwoe.
• Endier & Avanil are finally crushed by their foes.
• The Hand of Azrai raises a great Temple Fortress deep in Marloer's Gap.

1534hc (561mr); 36 ar

• The State Crown of Anuire turns up in Elinie.  A small band led by Adam performs a lightening raid to 'liberate' it.  Diplomatic relations are strained and Elinie leaves the High Kingdom (Adam tries to smooth things out, at least to keep permissive treaties of free passage in place).
• Mynea finishes assimilating Avanil, just as Dhoesone finishes its conquest of Thurazor.
• Mikhiel Angondlier is rumored to have gained mastery of the Ioun Fist.  Awoken out of her reverie at the border wars, Skahild leads a daring raid across the troubled lands to break into Castle Angondlier and steal it while Mikhiel is distracted with other affairs.
• The Nightingale persuades her grandfather the Archduke of Boeruine to swear fealty to her.  With that border secure the Archduke turns on Taeghas to regain territory lost in recent battles.
• Aerenwe, having severed its ties with Aloria during the Osoerede War, swears vassalage to their brother in arms Angstinwoe.  Mikhiel's Protectorate now encompasses all the southern Anuirean Realms (all but the Spiderfell).
• Relations continue to improve with Baruk-Azhik and they become a vassal of Aloria.  Elinie too is wooed back into the fold.
• The Spider lays siege to the bowels of Angstinwoe, forcing Mikiel to lead an assault on the Barrow Mound.  Meanwhile the full force of the Protectorate's Armies are thrown into a determined invasion of the Spiderfell itself.  The Protector's raid proves successful, resulting in Mikhiel turning the Spider to stone and gaining possession of Brenna's Favor.

1535hc (562mr); 37 ar

• The Gorgon takes direct control of his hidden ally's forces, disgusted at their pathetic efforts.  The High Kingdom is stunned at the loss of Tuarhievel, as King Niall switches sides.
• The Gorgon invades the Seilwode, triggering the mobilization of the High Kingdom's long prepared forces.  After years of dancing around each other the High King takes the war into the Crown.
• Skahild again sneaks into Angstinwoe, this time to raid the Winterroot ruins for the Ioun Heart.
• Angstinwoe is persuaded to join the Alorian High Kingdom.
• Boeruine's revenge on Taghias takes a turn when the Mynaed steps into the act, turning the Archdukes little side-war on its head.
• A mixed alliance between Ghoere, Mhoried & Talinie strike out at Aerenwe.

1536hc (563mr); 38 ar

• Talinie is bought up piecemeal by the Aelvinnwode.
• The Archduke of Boeruine dies during the invasion of the Gorgon's Crown.  His heir is assassinated scant months later during an ill planned (and generally unnoticed) invasion of Dhoesone.
• The Battle of Marloer's Gap results in the destruction of the Army built by the Hand of Azrai at their hidden Temple Fortress. The Royal College of Sorcery appears to assist in closing the Temple itself.
• Both Ghoere & Mhoried comes to fight over the Spiderfell's scraps with Angstinwoe.  Both are repelled and Mikhiel claims the ancient wood for his Protectorate.  War between Angstinwoe & Ghoere begins.

1537hc (564mr); 39 ar

• The Banner of Roele is stolen from the capital by Brosengnae.
• The Boeruine Revolt takes the Nightingale by surprise.  In response she counters with a massive military move to assimilate the former vassal.
• Taghias is bought out by the Mynaed and is thus absorbed.

1538hc (565mr); 40 ar

• It is revealed that the Gorgon has the Chalice of the Dead, hidden at Kal-Satharak.  Skahild leads a raid to fetch it, and stumbles into the Gorgon, who is in turn turned to stone by her Court Wizard Rodel.  Though Rodel died later searching for the Chalice, it was successfully retrieved.

1539hc (566mr); 41 ar

• Boeruine Revolt ends as the last independent province is conquered.
• Monsters continue to fight in and about Ruinnach Tower, and a strange mist makes the pass impassable at times.  The Mynaed is hard put to keep the province in line.
• A number of skirmishes spring up between Dhoesone, Aerenwe and the Aelvinnwode as they seek passage in and around Markazor, fighting Skahild's forces rather than those of the Gorgon's.  The Markazorans will not soon forget Aerenwe's butchery in the Stone's End hills, or Dhoesone's theft of their justly conquered province of Sunder Falls.  With the fiasco that resulted on Aelvinnwode's armies laying siege to several Markazoran castles by mistake emboldening Mhoried's own invasion of the Goblin Theocracy, as much killing of each other was done as to the Gorgon.
• Angstinwoe finally conquers the last of Ghoere, bringing an end to the hated conflict.  His attention no longer divided he uses his magic to bring the walls of Kal-Satharak crashing down.

Return to Empire; Birth of the Principalities

1540hc (567mr); 42 ar

• Adam Destante is crowned Emperor Adam the First, and the Alorian Dynasty is founded.
• Brosegnae is absorbed by Mynea.

1541hc (568mr); 43 ar

• Whisked from his protected hole in Siedeath to an ambush in the Mynaed's realm, the Gorgon's remaining troops are put to the sword and he himself makes a last stand against the united forces of the Mynaed, the Nightingale,  Mikhiel Angondlier and Emperor Adam – to no avail.  Adam's forces in the Crown finish their conquest, and end the Gorgon's reign of terror.
• In celebration Adam hosts the Sword & Crown in the Imperial City.  The Principalities of Angstinwoe, Aelvinnwode & Mynea are formally recognized. New calendar (Alorian Reckoning) established. 
• With the Gorgon gone (like so many other regents on the loosing end of the war), his army scatters into bandit raiders and petty warbands that will harass the countryside of Anuire for many years to come.

1542hc (569mr); 44 ar

• Anuire spends the next few years rebuilding the damage caused by the war, settling disputes between the new realms and the old Aristocracy, and hunting down refugees of the Gorgon’s Alliance.

1545hc (572mr); 47 ar

• Morgan Accords established, clarifying the jumble of wartime agreements and feudal oaths. Six Autonomous kingdoms are recognized within the Empire, accepting the kingdoms of Aerenwe, Baruk-Azhik, Dhoesone, Markazor, Mieres & the Seilwode have a right to oversee their own affairs as long as they give proper fealty to their Emperor.
• The Temple of Azrai's Hand in Marloer's Gap is reactivated, but few take notice with so much happening elsewhere.

1546hc (573mr); 48 ar

• Emperor Adam establishes three more autonomous vassal-states (Grendelheim, Mur-Khilad & Tuarievel) out of the body of conquered territories. 
• Galred (of Roesone) becomes King of Stjordvik, and is consistently harassed by Deneric Destante, Regent of Dhosone.  At one point, Deneric is captured, and ransomed by Skahild, who later “persuades” the Emperor’s bastard brother to give Dhosone to the Order.  Michael Destante, eldest son of the Emperor & heir apparent, disappears while entangled in these affairs.
• The Temple of the Hand is shut down for the second time by a band of adventurers calling themselves "Redcap's Redcloaks".

1547hc (574mr); 49 ar

• Emperor Adam secludes himself from the Imperial Court, generating rumors that perhaps he is becoming an Awnsheighlin, like so many others of his family before him.  The Imperial Court becomes a hotbed of intrigues as the old Anuirian aristocracy and an influx of entrepreneurs contend for power with the New Order.
• Skahild establishes the Fifth Principality, uniting the entire Northern Border under her control - from Stordvik through Dhoesone and Tuarhievel to Markazor. With the Emperor in seclusion there is little anyone can do about it.

The Brother 's War;  The Shadow Rises

1548 hc (575mr); 50 ar

• Prince Alec Avan unites Mieres under the Dragon flag of Avanil, and marries Adam’s eldest daughter, cementing a connection between new dynasty and old.
• Adam I abdicates the throne in favor of his son Gavin “the Griffon” Destante, and retires from Alorian politics. Taking advantage of the visiting Albion Expeditionary Fleet, Adam & Cassilda leave with it when it sets sail for parts unknown. Gavin I takes the symbol of the Griffon rampant on a purple field as his coat of arms, becoming the personal arms of the Imperial House.

 1549 hc (576mr); 51 ar

• A plague of monsters boil up from the Shadow World, ravaging much of Anuire. Many people slip off into Shadow, not to be seen again – most notable disapearences include Skahild and Aramin.
• The Northern Border, only recently united under Skahild’s tyranny, nearly collapses without her draconian measures to keep it united. Deneric reappears as one of many contenders for control of the region. Raiders from the Rjurik Highlands take advantage of the confusion and begin pillaging the northern realms & all along the coast. Without the vision and madness of the Merry Prankster, the worship of Tholuk begins to slip back into obscurity.

1550 hc (577mr); 52 ar

• With the surge from out of Shadow, magic too seems to grow in strength. The gift (or curse) of magical aptitude manifests amongst many who previously could not make use of arcane magic - being blooded or of elvish decent no longer a requirement, many who had once only dreamed of becoming Wizards now seek to realize that desire. More often than not though they are rebuffed due to tradition and fear - those who strive to educate themselves with some success are deemed Sorcerers and are looked on with mistrust and fear, beings held suspect for drawing power from the same events that have released such uncertain times across the land.
  
• Skahild reapears with the missing Michael Destante, declairing him the true heir to Adam's crown. Michiel in turn declares Tholuk the one true god and that others are Heathen throwback pretenders. She spends much of her time mobilizing troups and making allies, arming them with strange new weapons and magics she found whilst abroad.
  
• The Mynaed declairs herself neutral in this conflict, and withdraws her support from the Empire. Rumors persist of unnatural goings-on within her lands, and that her troops are being kept quite buisy.
  
• The fog that has warded the Warlock's domain for the thast few years disipates as the the Gorgon's child takes advantage of the growing confusion.
  

 1551 hc (578mr);  53 ar

• Angstinwoe fragments with the assassination of Mihkiel Angondlier. Much of the domains are split up between his children, though not all. The Spider is freed in the confusion & returns to it's old haunts.
  
• Unable to take the Mynaed's depridations any further, Tuornen revolts. Taeline too breaks free from it's otherwise lax control from the Nightingale after that regent disapears during internal conflicts.
• Grendelheim finds itself besieged from both within and without. With the Red Baron and White Witch pressing his north and west borders and insurgents still loyal to the Gorgon and Azri struggling within, the aging Utgaard Grendel and his followers are streched thin, and have little aid to send in support to anyone - presuming he would pick a side at all.
• The Spider is not the only awnsheiglen believed long dead suddenly making a return appearence. The Chimaera and the Gorgon both are rumored to have cheated their presumed demises and returned to their ancient strongholds.

• The Gorgon's banner is again raised in Kal-Sathatharak, and his forces retake the Crown. Utgaard Grendel tries to rally the rest of Anuire, but finds them far too embroiled in the Civil War to take heed. Uniting what is left of his devistated tribe he retreats to the Bloodskull Barony, where he dies of his wounds.
  
• Michael becomes increasingly dependant on mercenary Rjurik & Orogs from the Bloodskull Barony to supplement the rather erratic Harlequin Templars and his  less than willing troops from the Northern Domains. Skahild finishes her transformation into the Awnsheighlin known as the Silver Princess, and unleashes her army of newly made Warforged on an unsuspecting Anuire.
  

• Word comes from the Adurian mainland that another war is going on just beyond Mieres, that mighty armies are storming ever northward. Rumors persist that the empires of Naized and Alitaene contest the remains of the Maesetian Peninsula with the vicious Kodos Nomads.
  

• The Gorgon, having consolidated his power in the North, unleashes the full might of his fury on Anuire, bringing a rather abrupt halt to the Brother's civil dispute. On a rampage the likes of which have not been seen in a generation the Gorgon stormed through the already devistated landscape to to break both Brother's armies and sack the Imperial City itself. Griff did his best to rally the remaining forces and drive the ancient Awnsheighlin out, but not before falling to the Black Prince's Timaveril blade. With the country in ruins and none left to contest his claim, Michael sits on the Iron Throne and proclames himself Emperor.
  

• Anuire becomes rife with raiding and banditry as the remains of the many armies wander the now lawless landscape. Minions of the Awnsheiglin steal forth under the cover of night to take what they wish, while those of the Blood who survived the Gorgon's scurging rebuild as best they may - some becoming little more than petty warlords themselves.
  

• Michael's rule is marked with his final transformation into the Awnsheighlin known now as the Crow King. Sealing himself up in the Capital with what remains of the Iron Leagons, he refuses to aid his beliegered vassals. His increasingly erratic reign makes it clear they're on their own.
  

• Rjurik come viking, harrying the western coast, while Naized Slavers strike undefended towns to the south. A few stay, finding land and regency ripe for the taking.
  

• The Naized Invasion of Anuire begins. In short order they conquer Deimed and work their way up into the Heartlands, seizing control of Anuire's breadbasket. Consolidating their power they move back south to lay seige to the Iron City, only to have Emperor Michael give it to them on a silver platter. Old King Crow swears vassalage to the Naida Emperor and the Anuirian Crown is subdigated to a forgien power. Though the Iron Throne is theirs, the country is not, and the Naida begin the long, ugly task of finishing what they started.
  

• An outbreak of plague spreads death across the land, and the world grows cold, feeling the Shadow World drawing ever closer. The Naida negotiate with Anuire's Awnsheighlin Regents, finding them as intractable to their will as the proud Anurian patritians that still cling to power. Only a handful of Realms hold out against the Naized Invaders, but their hatred and distrust of each other keep them isolated, and it seems only a matter of time before they finaly fall. Rumors persist, however, that a few decendants of the heroes of old may yet wander the land. Heirs of Adam and Roele may yet return to free the land!
  

Revised: 4/13/05