Historical Record of Terra

While the following is an overview of the world's history, it is this scholar's duty to admit their Surface Dwelling Gen origin and thus knowledge bias associated with. Research and archeological studies happen all the time as well as anthropological studies and interviews, so further events and opinions may be added as more facts are found.


The Foundation Era

1NE: The mass rifts and volcanoes of the Rift of Rebirth settle. The continents still drift, fueled by magic but over the century slowly calm.

150NE: Tribes across the globe start to reconnect as the last devastating earthquakes and tsunamis become less prevalent. Myth states this coincides with the birth of the long-lived Moraloka Saraki.

The Expansion of Casimir, an Empire Born : 332-358 NE
The Shade Piotr Casimir, conquering warlord, brings the other warlords to heel as the first Emperor of Ket. Piotr Casimir’s ruthlessness paired with a keen intellect and access to ancient artifacts recovered from Rebirth unites the Ketski people over an almost 30 year campaign. He claims the holy site of B’Gath’s emergence as the Imperial capital in reverence for the Teacher. The cavern is expanded over his 80 year rule and decorated with the remains of those who fell in service or opposition of the young Empire. Over the centuries the Imperial cavern grows to become the Necropolis of Ash, so named from the fields of ash Casimir’s armies left behind in their expansion and culling of the surface world.

The birth of Clan Naar: 406NE:
For as long as anyone can remember there have been tribes and mounted peoples who populated the great plain of the Gyges. At times a Kurultai might be called and the clans would come together and then would break after a time. In 406 a Kurultai was called. Like before the clans expected a target or some kind of proposition, expected pageantry, and then after a campaign or some adventure would break apart to return to their traditional lands. Munduk and his son Monoli made a gambit for power. They did not want to go on some campaign, they wanted to show strength at home, and secure their ultimate authority. Invoking the name of the Forge Father and claiming direct descent from him they sought to force the clans to bend the knee to this new Clan Naar. Single combat, treachery, and monumental luck led to this upstart Clans securing the bent or broken knees of all clans by the end of the now year long Kurultai. Munduk would never rule the Great Horde himself, for upon getting all the clans to pledge to Clan Naar, he seceded to his son as leader, starting the tradition of living succession. Until The Great Horde’s final defeat at the hands of the Monarchy of Titus in 1227 NE at the battle of Oskar’s Damm, a member of Clan Naar had led the Horde.

The Thundering of Dragons: 451 NE:
A great Gathering of the dragons of Terra. Gathered over the Storm Isles the conflagration gathered to discuss the nature of their kind and their power over mortals. The counsel carried on for three months. What was meant to be a unification of the dragons under one leader or common direction led to infighting that would create a schism 2 years later. The Thundering is monumental as it solidified the solitary culture of dragons and their fierce independence. From this Counsel Two names emerged Argo’lest the Coral Dragon and Divero the Emerald Dragon, both names that would be burnt into history. From this day, the Storm Isles have never been colonized due to constant tropical storms and rift activity although both the Dawn Empire and the Gulahack Alliance have contesting claims from about 1390NE onwards.

The Dawning and Foundation of Ellasi: 453 NE
The first Anointed Emperor, a male Dryad named Gyan Zin claims the Saraki name for his family after communing with the Moraloka famously. The vision of global expansion and aetheric harmony apparently granted to the Anointed Gyan Saraki is part of the driving force behind the Sei super-power.

The Era of Fire

Fall of Regaset: 565 NE:
In the spring of 565 Regaset set off to take new lands in its name and to expand its holding up beyond the west coast of Gyges. In the great desert east of Regaset’s domain few saw a single figure walking the long lonely road and flew down seeking an easy meal. Below the flying monstrosity was the not-yet-deified Champion of the Sun. Aurelius had gained fame and fortune up to this point and came to this desert on a pilgrimage to get to know the sun better. In seeking the favour of the sun, Aurelius readied for battle upon seeing the Iron Dragon. The arid plains of northern Lorelai were scarred by their battle but ended with Aurelius breaking their spear into the chest of Regaset and the Iron Dragon flying off wounded, leaving the annals of history.

Summit of Horis: 566 NE:
A polymath and self-taught arcane master named Horis completed his walking tour of Cottus, a one man investigation of the continent’s legend and lore. From within ruins of the before times Horis theorized there to be a connected field of magic below the earth and that by building nexi of power he believed he could harness the energy to grant him limitless power. At the dawn of the first day of the new year on 566 NE he started a ritual on the borders of Rebirth to try and harness the power. The ritual backfired and tore magical anomalies both in the nexi but also himself. Each newly formed anomaly spewed horrifying magical creatures. The Brothers of Anno Stellar apparently hunt and destroy these anomalies and the abominations they create. It is not known how many anomalies were created in the ritual and if Anno Stellar have destroyed them all or not.

The Scourging of Lakepoint: 732 NE:
At the peak of the Great Hordes might, with them controlling most of the open northern plains under a series of client states and sympathetic warlords they, under the leadership of Olrik of Clan Naar, pushed beyond there the plains and into the lake and river lands. Under the greatest Kurultai yet amassed for conquest Olrik set his sites on the rich trade cities in the great lake regions. Taking the cities of the greater lake with little issue Olrik expected little resistance lower down expecting them to yield without contest. The City of Lakepoint offered no such concession and due to his great trade power and navy prepared to sit in perpetual siege if needed. Lakepoint had the wealth to build strong walls and the trade to bring in all the food they would need. For months the horde held the siege but were unable to break the city. Eventually with massed assaults and high casualties the horde overran the city and in anger to the defiance of the city pillaged and burned the town to ash, salting the fields so that nothing would ever grow there again. The Scourging of Lakepoint was the catalyst for the formation of the Greater Eastern Pact and the Campaigns of Hector Desloup and his daughter Simone Desloup. Simone would go on to press her claims of rulership and form the Desloup Royal Dynasty arm the Bull’s Throat River in northern Gyges.

The Cartographer's Era
So called as many country borders were being better defined and bear resemblance to what we know today. Also called The Era of Definition.

Foundation of the Kamouraska: 758 NE:
Simone Desloup, following in her father’s footsteps, fought Olrik of Clan Naar and his descendants. Due to her charisma and her natural magical talents, particularly in Augmentation, she was able to rally many local leaders and bands to fight the incursions of the hordes and to at times push into the wide open planes to take the fight to the aggressor. At 39 along the Bull’s Throat River she pressed her family's claim and declared her fortress the capital of the kingdom Kamouraska. Kamouraska, along one of the main rivers into the continent, had a strong focus on preserving trade and had a fleet to allow for fast response to conflict. During the later years of her life Queen Simone focused on expanding the quick response to a tradition of mounted mages and the constitutions of a great enchanters academy. Even after her death while Kamouraska might be a small kingdom she still produced many magical relics that held a surprising amount of power allowing her greater influence than most her size. Kamouraska has adopted the Desloup crest of silver wolf on green field as their banner.

Foundation of the Cyriland Kingdom: 805 NE:
Cyril Landspyle was a prince in the many castle principalities of the east coast. The principalities had long supplied troops to the Greater Eastern Pact and used this pact to maintain peace within the fortress archipelago. Cyril was not satisfied with being one of many princes but wanted a kingdom all his own. Believing that Kinfolk of Keee posed an existential threat to minor powers, Cyril systematically excised members from the Greater Eastern Pact or married off family to eventually secure a strong force. Cyriland’s approached war best fought at range; well-trained archers should be protected by a line of pikes or heavy infantry. The immovable front line should provide cover for a devastating rain of fire. Expatiation was slow but would eventually extend west to Great Bull Lake and south towards Airigat. Cyriland's national motif is blue with white lines.

The Allied Clans : 824 NE
Clan Ailura, fed up with their young ones constantly being pulled from their treetop villages to serve the Sky King Agreve, reach out to neighbouring Clan Rios and the mobile Clan Kekee for assistance. While not the strongest of the kinfolk, these clans pride themselves on their creative, ingenuity and craftiness. With the tactical brilliance and foresight of the Clan Kekee’s Oracle Priests paired with the impressive woodworking of Clan Rios, Clan Ailura began the slow process of taking back their forest and then disrupting the Sky King’s supply lines by liberating Clan Llanura. This fledgling alliance laid the groundwork for the Kinfolk of Briareus to push off the shackles of the dragon’s rule over the next 200 years.

War of the Sky King: 1102-1106 NE:
The Sky King Agreve, self-declared ruler of the southern continent Briareus, sends out wyverns riders to extend their reach across a larger domain into both Cottus and Gyges. In an expedition meant to create tribute relationships Agreve’s favoured Pawn Wing Commander Stirion was killed, leading to an all out invasion. The war was brutal on the peoples of the lowlands and many captives were taken. Land holdings were not the main concern of the invading army, plunder and captives were. Only in the autumn of the third year of this conflict did a battered Greater Eastern Pact, with the aid of the Aetheric Academy, turn the tide of the conflict. It is said many great artifacts were used in this time to remove the air superiority of Agreve’s forces. Leaving dejected to civil conflict back home with the rising Gulahack Alliance, Agreve swore revenge. These assaults were also the turning point for The Berra Cinqumvirate to accept the protection of the Dawn Empire. Great watchtowers were grown along The Cinqumvirate’s southern coast to watch for activity from Agreve’s Lahars across the sea.

The Era of Migration

The Pact War : 1214-1215 NE:
In the spring of 1214 with the Cyriland king on a diplomatic mission to the Gulahack Alliance, the Harron Family having massed support among smaller factions within the Greater Eastern Pact sought to launch a quick war to dislodge Cyriland control of the pact. Long boats and river boats were used to destabilize and harry the slow foot armies of the Cyriland while a confederation force marched on the capital. The siege was long and drawn out allowing the then King Cyril the 5th to return. During the conflict, with many families changing and rechanging sides, the kingdom of Kamouraska quietly left the pact and promoted the independence of the Dominion of Halif sowing the seeds for the malcontent province to change to a protectorate. The end of the war saw the house of Harron in exile into the center of the continent and the Pact resolved, its former members distrustful of one another.

Arrival of Anno Stellar: 1291 NE:
The monastic order, with the help of the Kinfolk, arrived in numbers on the shores of Gyges in many ships. They took to taking care of local communities near their landing site, slowly expanding inland once they had sufficient brothers. By 1312 a fortress monastery was built in the Appalia Mountains and the Order has maintained their holy work from this base of operations ever since.

Necroilit Plague : 1302 NE:
In the summer of 1302 a black cloud of scarabs and grasshoppers spread out from the Storm Isles. These winged bringers of death carried with them a plague that killed 1 in four they landed on and ate the grain of those who did not die. Those infected had their veins stand out and blacken as their blood thickened and slowed to the point that they dried up and died mummified in place. It is said that even Marish has no cure for the plague and that hard work from an attending doctor is the only way to have a chance of fighting the infection. Near impervious to fire and magic it was later found to be the work of a cabal of Spirit and Primal mages. Motivations remain vague as the cabal members regularly killed themselves when captured. It is suggested that in the confusion hives deep underground were built. While over the years the plague will flare up and hives be found, the queen or home hive remains a mystery. These hives have many of the mummified victims preserved there within and when the hive is attacked it releases its victims in waves to disrupt attacks as the living cabal members make their escape. One cabal member captured in 1642 by Anno Stellar was found to be over 300 years old.

Voyage of Admiral Yunnan: 1371 NE:
A Fae and noted noble from a merchant family Yunnan made his name bringing mercantile supremacy of the Dawn Empire to the islands of the far east. As an act of devotion to Kaykenna, the daughter of the Anointed Emperor Kiambuong, Admiral Yunnan offered to wager his fortune on going beyond the chaos of the Storm Isles and finding land for the empire. It took 38 days to cross to the Angelus region of Gyges but it was the start. Yunnan solidified his devotion by founding the city of Kayken in her name. Kayken would be the point from which the Sei would expand across Gyges.

Contest of Storm: 1390NE :
Contestation over the ownership of the Storm Isles begins as the Sei navy encounters Gulahack and the trailing pavilions of Keee on their centennial migration.

The Era of Reform

Dawn-Titus War :1415-1432 NE:
The growing power of the Monarchy of Titus came to a head with the overseas empire of the Sei for the south western coast of Gyges.  the armies of Titus had more advanced equipment and brought many wonders of war engineering and cunning while the Sei had the tactically brilliant Moki Family offering leadership.  Spanning nearly 20 years, the war drove great innovation in technology, tactics, and in diplomatic turns.  In 1426 Titus drew borders and exchanged captives.  In the years that followed small border conflicts would start up over trade ports.  1430-1432 saw the final throes of war with decisive but costly wins for the forces of Titus leading to a favourable final treaty if not what they wanted.  For over a generation the Monarchy had to recover from the fiscal cost of the war leading to internal conflict over monetary reform to centralize the economy.

Viceroy of Frobisher Established:  1440NE:
The Viceroy of Frobisher was established in 1440 NE in the wake of the Dawn-Titus war.  With growing limitations on their own continental holdings and looking for new avenues of expansion, a group of adventurers under Marinus Frobisher set out to find new lands in 1438 NE.  The initial voyage was rough and coming to rest on the shores of Cottus these adventurers believed there was nothing worth finding and sailors debated mutiny. As the leader of the expedition Marinus Frobisher decided to confront his sailors to get them back on track, and if he could not inspire courage, he would at the very least inspire respect.   While he gave an impassioned speech, he grabbed some of the stone and threw it on the ground.  The spark of the raw and dirty iron ore caught the attention of the men.  Seeing his opportunity Frobisher promised his men wealth if they could extract more from the land, knowing how much Titus needed iron for its industry and war machines.  On their return the iron was found to be of an exceptional quality and many wealthy merchants offered to fund multiple expeditions to harvest the ore.  After 2 years of voyages Frobisher was granted a royal charter and established a full colony to mine full time.  Over the years they came into conflict with the local Caveborn and Draugr.  The new colonial masters rapidly established themselves and started large mines and manufactories to refine the ore into a usable ingot for trade and transport.  Much of the labour would be performed by those locals or by those the Monarchy of Titus saw as criminal as the harsh cold and grey was seen as good punishment for criminality.  This practice of using criminals would not change until Alexandrina passed laws for workers rights some 3 centuries later.

The Masked Society: 1400-1440 NE:
For generations prior to 1400NE, the Ketski people have made their way over to the east coast of Gyges as a part of Saffron Caravan or other maritime trade organizations.  Initially the common preference was to integrate into already established society and enjoy the luxuries of civilization and to bring refinement with them.  From Lakepoint to the Cyriland courts of Machairdeen, Ketski helped as trend setters and political advisors.  In 1400 a gathering of well-placed Ketski formed what would be called the Masked Society, a secretive and exclusive group loyal to the Necropolis of Ash and wishing to spread its influence in Gyges in formal terms.  Investment in magical artifacts, trade deals, and the rigging of elections are all attributed to the Society at this time.  Some have even gone so far as to accuse the Society of fabricating Anti-Ketski plots to stoke tension and division within the coastal governments of northern Gyges. By 1440 the Masked Society had worked their way into having many districts in large cities or entire regions across Gyges being designated as Ketski-only neighborhoods or exclusive protectorates.  This created a trading port empire for the Ketski along the north coast giving them a strong base of operations to settle and expand with formal settlements.  There are conflicting reports about the The Masked Society after the formation of a formal Ketski colonial government.  Some say they integrated into the colonial government while others claim the group drifted into the shadows and into retirement.

Butler’s Revolt: 1462-1464 NE:  
Count Rickard Butler, angered by the economic dominance and expansion of the Ket Empire in Gyges, rallies some of his local supporters against the Empire.  After claims on his family’s land had been made by the colonial government with no other power willing to help defend his land or his rights to that land Count Rickard chose to fight the claims.  With a conventional war with the expanding empire being unwinnable Butler’s Revolt encompassed a large swath of anti-Ketski sentiment and smaller displaced claimants.  Taking to the woods and the borderlands to reach out and strike at the empire.  The revolt saw the introduction of powerful mages as tools of war.  Both rituals and combat magic were used as weapons to level the playing field.  The death and destruction caused by this use of magic was horrifying and caused many to discuss the ethics of magic in warfare.  In 1464 many of the leaders of the revolt were captured or killed in raids.   Rickard Butler was never caught and a sizable bounty was placed on the disgraced count.  It is said that his inner circle of mages followed him to plot revenge against the Ket Empire.

The Reign of the Lycan Kings: 1464-1478 NE:
While Rickard Butler revolted, The Ket Empire saw increased conscription and harsh crackdowns on anti-Imperial sentiments at home to avoid a similar uprising.  During this period one Roussiean Desair --along with his sisters Vergini and Soséphine-- struck out into the more open part of the Empire and the borderlands near the Stal’noy mountains.  From there it is said that the triplets made a terrible deal with a dark power and were granted the gift or curse of Lycanthropy with each the progenitor of their own lineage.  For the following 14 years their power grew and expanded into the outlying parts of the Empire.  Many people, who were dissatisfied with the oppression of the Empire and their treatment of non-Ketski, joined with the Lycan Kings as they saw it as their way of bettering their life.  For their part the siblings were fairly light rulers and besides the levies of troops they needed to fight the Empire, they largely left the people to govern themselves so long as they all knew they were equals.  In 1478NE Immanuel Roset led the Imperial High Guard on a campaign against the Desairs and using a blessed silver blade slew Roussiean.  His sister Soséphine was later captured and tried and executed for her involvement.  Only Vergini would escape and went to ground.  While her lands would quickly be reintegrated into the Empire, the taste of equality had been gained by some within the Empire and would follow them for years thereafter.

The Divinity of Liamspeare: 1480-1520 NE:  
Under the purview of Cyrrus, the previous Master of Augmentation, Augment magic was believed to be accessible only through sacrifice and suffering. Cyrrus’ followers had held yearly sacrifices to gain access to this form of magic since time immemorial. Then something changed. Cyrrus demanded more. Sacrifices became monthly, then daily, with roving hordes of priests claiming the vulnerable and the isolated as their own for bloody trade with their god. Liamspeare, a young priest from Kamouraska, rejected this notion and began preaching against the blood lust of Cyrrus. He claimed that the power of Augment could be attained without bloodshed and was determined to prove it. Using his charisma, innovation, and a wide array of disguises, Liamspeare built a growing movement among mortals the world over to stand up and overthrow Cyrrus, cutting down his generals one by one.

The nature of the Quartet is Balance, and as such the other three could not act against Cyrrus directly, despite the pain they saw the Master of Augmentation wreak upon the world. Watching the efforts of Liamspeare’s rebellion, the remaining three revealed themselves to the Surface Dweller priest in dreams over the years, granting his forces seemingly preternatural advantages if they followed his advice. In the summer of 1520 NE, the rebellion reached a turning point with the Gathering of the Quartet. Unbeknownst to Cyrrus, Liamspeare had been given the location of the meeting as well as the tools to dispose of Cyrrus. In what was a sudden and bloody attack, the remaining three withdrew to protect themselves, as Liamspeare threw off his disguise and slit Cyrrus’ throat with a manacite blade infused with the other magics of the World. The blade shattered upon breaking free of divine flesh and its dust scattered to the four corners of the earth.

As for Liamspeare, he felt the void he had created as the mastery of Augment magic began to retreat from his body to join the growing pool of silvery blood seeping from Cyrrus’ quickly decaying body. Strands of silver light poured from the world over as other mages described a similar feeling of loss. The remaining three, purportedly feeling the imbalance Cyrrus’ death had caused, quickly thrust Liamspeare into the pool of blood and pulled Cyrrus’ stained cloak around the mortal. Liamspeare claims that he never desired to replace Cyrrus within the Quartet and insists, with a coy smile, that he had denied the honour at first wanting instead to continue to live out his remaining days in the mortal realms. Seized and transformed by the greater energies of the world, Liamspeare has not aged from that day and has spent the following decades travelling the world “fixing the imbalance he had caused”.

The Overthrowing of Mikolaj, a Republic is Formed : 1492 NE
In the autumn of 1492NE, Emperor Mikolaj the Murderer (formerly the Opulent) was dragged from the Imperial chambers and paraded through the streets of Ash to the surface. From there, the Emperor of 37 years was relieved of his shoes and forced to walk to the province of Rebirth by a company of the Imperial High Guard to pay for his crimes against the Ket Empire, soon-to-be renamed Ketskian Republic.

His crime: feeding off of and killing Ketski children. To the family-valuing Ketski, harming children is seen as heinous, especially when those children are taken from Ketski noble houses. While the Ket Empire’s history is laden with bloodshed of adults and children alike, with many surface cullings of Gen in the early days of the Empire’s formation on Cottus, Mikolaj’s preferences upset the Senate and noble families more than Mikolaj’s excessive spending on decorative architecture.

Having begun with slaves drawn from other races, before turning his sights on the children of his own household servants a decade into his reign, the Emperor’s feeding habits were a guarded secret known only to his First Minister Elena Aulane, and Valet Edmond Von Crastin who procured His Imperial Majesty’s options. After years of keeping the Emperor’s secret, First Minister Aulane had had enough when the Emperor’s sights turned on her own granddaughter, after having the girl play violin for the Imperial House during a soiree.  Renouncing her title and coercing Edmond Von Crastin to do the same, Elena Aulane led the Senate into a fervour with her testimony.

Mikolaj’s own brother, Jakub Casimir, led the High Guard to arrest his brother and effectively end his family’s Imperial reign vowing never to turn a blind eye to the people’s suffering again. In the aftermath of the trial, which also saw Elena exiled and Edmond serving hard labour in exchange for their families maintaining their position of honour, the newly named Ketskian Republic was formed, and the Bloody Empire sought diplomatic relations rather than mere influences with the other kingdoms of the world.

First Airigat War: 1532 - 1542 NE:
The Airigat Magocracy had slowly grown in power in southern Gyges since being cut off and subsequently leaving from the Dawn Empire. Many of the Magus had aspirations for empire and sought to expand north. Magical agriculture had sustained the Airigat Union to this point but within the chaos of the Cyrrus crisis and the apotheosis of Liamspeare much of the infrastructure they relied on was damaged or outright destroyed. While efforts were made to rebuild, members of the ruling Magus counsel recognized the perfect opportunity to push into the continent while there was still much rebuilding. Airigat fielded full armies of simple magical combatants. Supplemented with heavy cavalry, a wave of magic and fire would devastate a line while Heavy lancers would sweep through what remained. The first war ended with the Magocracy pushing into fertile fields and capturing the resources they wanted. Overextended they collided with the Cyriland Kingdom and called a truce rather than fight a fresh foe.

The Era of Esileia


Foundation of the Viceroy of Clarke 1578 NE:
One of the first major projects of Queen Esileia was expansion. To do this she offered charters to merchant companies or adventures willing to settle land in her name. Adela Clarke, the daughter of a war hero and actress was not one for the quiet court life she could expect following her father’s success in war. A natural love for action and a fearless spirit had gotten her in far more trouble than her parents knew what to do with. At 20 hearing of the Queen’s offer she gathered what money she could beg, borrow, and win from gambling, and charted an expedition on rented ships. To get the ships Adela had to agree to a coastal surveying mission only and to not make landfall. While crossing the oceans Adela was able to convince the members of her crew that it was better to make a name for themselves than merely following the wishes of some investor unwilling to come on this voyage themselves. Shortly after spotting the coast Adela’s crew “marooned” themselves on land and went to work building a colony. The investor, a prominent member of the court was devastated at the loss of his ship but became furious to find out 2 years later that the ship was “beached” and that contrary to her orders Adela Clarke had started the settlement of New Esileia. Outraged the investor demanded that Adela be brought on charges for disobeying him and was brought before the Queen. Queen Esileia , impressed with the exploits of young Adela, decided to grant her a charter and make her Viceroy for her actions. Under Viceroy Clarke expansion inwards would continue and the cultivation of tea for export and opium for medicinal use. At her death at 85 Adela Clarke left a legacy of expansion and exploits to fill volumes of stories.

Death of Queen Esileia: 1603 NE:
Queen Esileia of the Monarchy of Titus had, at the time of her death, held the throne for 48 years, having taken the throne at 30 years of age. Under her reign, the Empire had seen a golden age of advancements in the sciences, culture, and landholdings. Queen Esileia was singularly focused upon her empire and her citizens. Loved by her citizens she had the political capital for both many necessary reforms and support for military conflict. Along with conquest, Queen Esileia expanded her holdings via democratic means and marriage alliances. Being larger than life and the moving force of the Monarchy’s success, Esileia left metaphorically large shoes to fill for her heirs. The vacuum of charisma and gravitas following her death would lead to internal conflict and civil war within the monarchy.

The Titus Succession Crisis: 1605-1607 NE:
Following the death of Queen Esileia, her eldest son Jeffery assumed the throne. While the oldest and a gifted orator, Jeffery seemed to lack tactical acumen and respect for the armed forces leading to political division with his younger sister Princess Liza. As a response, many saw Jeffery as elitist, living a life disconnected from his people and taking the family name for granted. Princess Liza, on the other hand, held a position within the military and was well-loved within the armed forces as the right hand of her mother and conquering hero. Directly involved with many conflicts Princess Liza garnered a name for herself as the people’s hero and as a warrior among many, famously staying with the rear guard during the retreat at the battle of Greypoint, insisting that she would be the last to leave the battlefield. In 1605 led by veterans who had served under her, a movement was started to have Princess Liza replace her brother. While Princess Liza never endorsed such a position for herself, her brother worried about a popular uprising and had her assassinated. The assassin was shortly captured and executed but not before revealing their orders. In outrage, the military declared that King Jeffery was a traitor to the Monarchy and the memory of Queen Esileia. The civil war of two years ended with the army eventually placing Liza’s son Prince Franz on the throne and passing more reforms toward military modernization and military autonomy.

The Era of Bouwbenvil

Bouwbenvil Incident: 1637 NE:
The caveborn Sergei Bouwbenvil became very well placed and influential as the Monarchy recovered from its civil war. As both a price speculator as well as an investor Sergei Bouwbenvil built his family a strong economic position focusing on owning a portion of each of the steps in production and transportation of goods from raw materials to finished goods. To avoid causing waves or drawing the attention of the tax collectors, the Bouwbenvil trading model involved both cross-border trade and trading in small necessary low-value goods. After 12 years of trade, investment, and supply control the family had amassed a fortune without becoming political targets or the target of larger guilds such as the Saffron Caravan.

In 1636 elder statesmen from within the Monarchy of Titus, seeking to pay back debts incurred by the war that had not been paid back, sought to find new ways of taxing the family. Instead of setting a tariff on common trade goods, something King Franz knew would hurt his subject, a tax was proposed on profits. Part of this proposition was an incremental tax program where greater degrees of profit would net greater levels of taxation. By taxing profits, small companies and decentralized guilds would be able to pay small amounts but larger organizations such as Bouwbenvil would pay massive amounts and help pay down debt. Not wanting to be forced to pay for the debts of the state, the Bouwbenvil started to buy large, seemingly worthless assets at exceptionally high rates to drop profits. Eventually everything from rosebuds, lumber, and eventually mountains of unrefined iron ore would be purchased and stockpiled until these new taxes could be revoked. This blatant avoidance of taxation led to political pressure being put on the family who in turn started a bobble in the iron market. By buying up the iron to hoard and trading charcoal from the lumber as an offset, the publicly traded iron supplies for the entire Monarchy and the various independent states surrounding it were ground to a halt.

Iron prices rose dramatically as supply remained constant and demand rose to near infinite levels due to Bouwbenvil. Steel production ground to a near halt as the value of iron in 1636 surpassed that of refining it into steel. As the market reacted to demand the supply increased and common citizens started to stockpile iron themselves hoping to sell it again at higher rates to Bouwbenvil or to each other. Iron futures markets rose in response leading to increased demand and futures trading leading to lower classes taking out loans from banks to trade futures. In 1637 as iron trading fever reached its apex Sergei Bouwbenvil lost in the courts his change to taxation laws. As the ruling council sought to have Sergei Bouwbenvil arrested and tried for sabotage of the national economy the Bouwbenvil family liquidated their entire supply of iron. The liquidation was coordinated and worked as though planned as a response to the potential loss of the case. The rapid sale created a rush on currency supplies and caused defaults on debt. As a result, the Bouwbenvil family ended up holding a lion’s share of national resources and other valuable goods that they in turn fled the Monarchy with. The Bouwbenvil clan live functionally in exile of the Monarchy as a family with the wealth to rival many world powers. While devastating on many industries the recovery processes would strengthen the Monarchy in the long run.

The Halifasian Riots: 1640 NE:
Merchants in Halif and in the surrounding area seeking greater independence for the market and from the tariffs of empires around them, sacked and burned the trading houses of rival companies and exiled any company unwilling to sign a declaration of market freedom. The riots branched into the political and the civil realms when the rioters targeted the diplomatic residences in the capital city of Rosegarden and the home of the lord magistrate of Halif. A week long civil conflict followed and it was determined that Halif as a governing body would seek greater market liberation, at the cost of political support from external nations. Halif would only keep Kamouraska as an ally.

The Break of Halif: 1641 NE:
The Dominion of Halif formally leaves the protection of the Monarchy of Titus and anarchy reigns for several decades. The small settlement of Elswin -so named for its original family- is eventually established as a market town and adventurers’ hub. The capital city of Rosegarden is renamed Port Ember.

The Era of Conflict

The Year of Five Pretenders: 1660 NE:
Since 1492 the Ketskian Republic has been ruled by vote and the voice of their governing council. This governing council has occasionally seen certain personalities rise up and seek to take their place at the head. At times this has even led to certain noble families declaring themselves to be so great as to rival the council itself. Often when this happens a pretender declares themselves fit for sole rulership of the Republic and return to their former Imperial structure. This follows with a civil war in which almost always ends with the pretender captured and executed or exiled, and the house being disgraced until amends are made. In a few rare cases, the pretender is able to outlast a short war and gain influence or sway, at which point they sign an armistice and take a greater place then they had before. In 1660 five pretenders declared for rulership of the Republic, leaving the government and army stretched thin to hold back the pretenders. Eventually the houses of Mourass and Lalumiere were tied up in negotiations allowing the Republic to rally and defeat the Servenovs, the Medini, and the Ruv pretenders. In the war and chaos a few of these family members of the defeated houses escaped and are said to be planning to return stronger and as rightful rulers.

Second Airigat War: 1683 NE:
A much shorter and far bloodier war than the first the second Airigat war was the Magocracy put all its cards on the table and sought to take out the Cyriland Kingdom and solidify itself as the dominant force on the continent. The Siege of Orleans held as the focal point of the war. While new magical treats were deployed across the field and casualties mounted. The Cyriland king was killed by a magically induced pox along with much of the royal family. The nation was forced to rally around a Cousin working as regent to find the manpower to hold back the attacks. Aid from both the Ketskian Republic and the Titus Empire were required to withstand the assault. The Siege of Orleans would eventually lead to a Cyriland victory but at such high cost that the Cyriland kingdom became a protectorate of the Ketskian Republic.

The Mont Royal Crisis: 1690 NE:
A meeting between the Monarchy of Titus and the northern reaches of Gyges led to many small independent states allying themselves with the greater power and bending the knee for favourable terms or for ruling houses to be recognized and invited to the court of the Titus nobility. The exchange of privileges and effective negotiation of the empire lead many localized powers to turn on their better interest in favour of a larger payout and avoidance of military conflict. The absence of Kamouraska at the negotiations was seen as notable as they had long held their old lands, refusing to be subjugated with Royal Consorts being sought among their own population. Seeing this lack of cooperation as a possible hindrance to greater integration into the Monarchy, smaller players in the region, supported by particularists within the Ketskian Republic declared Queen Rita the Second illegitimate and unfit to rule her holdings, seeking to replace her with a puppet who would be willing to bend to the Republic and her will. Kamouraska closed all her borders and cut all maritime trade along the Bull’s Throat River as a response, preparing for retaliation.

The Subjugation Wars: 1691-1698 NE:
The following spring the kingdom of Kamouraska closed her borders to minor kingdoms and larger empires alike, both acting to bring war to the kingdom. At first war was waged one force at a time and focused, pushed back by fast response cavalry casters or river boats able to quickly respond to incursions to the sovereign lands of Kamouraska. The end of the first year of fighting was distinctly in the favour of the defending kingdom who had held both its ground and its demand for neutrality, going so far as to refuse to chase fleeing enemies outside its border lands.

The second year saw the incursions of mercenary forces and of campaigning lordlings looking to make a name for themselves to be able to return the hero having subjugated the last hold out. These campaigns had better effect as some Titus Troops with professional training were able to pose a greater threat, if only slightly. Greater focus was needed from within the kingdom and the opening of some of the magical stores to push back.

By the fourth year a coalition force led by a Ketski religious zealot, Lipnits, sought to end the conflict in order to punish this lesser nation for resisting its betters. A particular sect of Sangin followers had taken a radical view of the notion of family and the role of servitude and subjugation. While domestically this led to good citizenship and national cooperation, the foreign view of this group is that all peoples should have this same deference for their betters. Raising a large force of their own and coordinating with others the following spring, Lipnits’ offensive saw Kamouraska pressed on all sides, her mage riders and ships unable to be everywhere at once. Ollanius Sicarius, a commander within the defensive army rose to prominence at the Battle of the Témiscouata succeeding to command in a harrowing raid before pulling off a maneuver in which he surrounded the over-extended zealots, capturing their leader, Lipnits himself.

For the remainder of the war Ollanius would continue to win near impossible victory after victory. With forces exhausted and the kingdom no nearer to surrender than when the war started Queen Rita the Second was confirmed as the rightful ruler and foreign invasions stopped.

Ketskian Republican Crisis: 1701NE:
In 1701 A pretender, Maximillia Juilin, suspected to be funded by Bouwbenvil funds, rose with a large working class backing. Unlike most pretenders that sought power by military means she started her campaign to hold a general election to have her elected the sole ruler of the Republic. Maximillia Juilin, while of noble birth, was seen by many as newly noble as her family had gained power and land in only the last 100 years with trade and investment in the fledgling overseas nations. The Juilin family had long spent their earnings overseas to improve the lives of their peasant peoples and innovate at home with factories and hiring of guilds to work exclusively for them. This led to their people being well off and particularly loyal. This young nobility also benefited from a more down to earth approach to wealth and while they would show it, they also favoured more simple designs that showed vibrant color or dress without the costly work that most of the other houses would get. Maximillia Juilin’s campaign gained wider popularity and many provinces saw popular demonstrations and uprising of those who saw this as a way to make up for age-old grievances against the system, particularly with the non-Ketski population. As Maximillia Juilin declared the election date for the first day of 1702NE a block of Republican guards arrested her and took her back to be tried. Before she could be tried, a staunch supporter of the Lipnits’ sect executed Maximillia in her cell before she could be put on trial. The public outcry stoked tensions and calls for the dismantling of the Republic from many corners of Terra only to be calmed in recent decades by the careful attention and diplomacy of the long serving speaker of the house, Edgar Von Richter.

The Age of Ascension, the Modern Era

The Ascension of Wilhelm: 1777 NE
Wilhelm Ascends and takes the throne of the Monarchy of Titus. Many oracles believe this to be the beginning of the Age of Ascension as new veins of manacite begin to crop up around Terra.

The Shift in Titus : 1778 NE
The Titan King Wilhelm marries Alexandrina, a peasant Caveborn passionate about workers’ rights, much to his nobility’s dismay. The newly made queen immediately sets to work on several civil reforms despite multiple pregnancies in the following years.

The People’s Protection Act: 1780 NE
Queen Drina’s pet project on the improvement of workers’ rights and the living conditions in the colonies of Titus becomes official law with the signing of the People’s Protection Act. While indentured servitude is still permitted, it is codified as a business arrangement being subject to some of the same protections afforded in the PPA, thus outlawing kidnapping or the sale of minors for slavery.

The Reformation of Frobisher: 1781 NE
The Viceroy of Frobisher permits the creation of a local parliament following mass reforms in worker’s rights.

The Burning Death : 1782 NE
A mysterious fever spreads through the land and kills many toddlers throughout Terra, including the Crown Princess Hildegarde (1779-1782) of the Monarchy of Titus. The children of Airigat suspiciously survived mostly unscathed although they still had losses among the peasantry.

Clockforged Autonomy Act : 1789 NE
Queen Drina, with the full blessing of Wilhelm, takes on the Clockmakers Guild by negotiating the Clockforged Autonomy Act of 1789. This act ensures that created Clockforged within the Monarchy are apprenticed to a trade within 6 months of activation, recognized as both Living and Sentient creatures under the law along with the penalties and protections that entails, and are to be paid, tried and employed as adult Gen after 2 active years as they are considered to have reached mental maturity and are fully calibrated at this point. The CfAA also laid the groundwork for Clockforged to vote like other adult citizens once 2 years of age, however this part of the Act has not been pursued widely among the outlying provinces.

The Flight of Keee : 1791-1792 NE
Gulahack and Keee’s latest Centennial migration passed without much issue save an attack from the Sky Kingdom of Agreve as they passed between Cottus and Briareus. The forces that control the moving island quickly fled north-east towards the Storm Isles before turning south for port, leading to several lost pavilions and structural damage in the main temple. Agreve’s forces were driven back by seemingly unnatural storms only to be met by the navy of the Dawn Empire as they returned home.

A New Adventure : 1795 NE
1795 NE marks the beginning of the first full season of Ascended Terra and the influence players may have from their place in Elswin, Halif and its surrounding lands.