Gaeleth is a world where mages fear to tread, and priests rule supreme. Five centuries of the Inquisition has made the world a dangerous place for practitioners of the arcane arts, an Inquisition spear-headed by the good and lawful God of Justice, Law, and Honor 1). Wizards live in fear, sorcerors live in hiding, and bards are quick to profess their faith as servants of the Goddess of Music, Love, and Luck 2).
Centuries of pogroms, crusades, and culling by the various churches of the Inquisition has left the common man fearful of magic. The power of the priests is unquestioned, and their influence is felt in every political house. The dragons have been wiped out – or as much as makes no difference in the world. The gnomes are virtually extinct. The elves are barely tolerated. Magical items are rare – and anyone caught with a magical item is brought before the Inquisition.
Though the churches claim great power within their spheres of influence, the outskirts of civilization are harsh and untamed. Nature is vicious, striking out at the unwary and the unwarned. The weather is chaotic and unpredictable, with blazing heat one day, and blinding snow the next. The waters of Gaeleth are treacherous, and only homage to the Goddess of the Seas, Winds, and Currents 3) affords sailors safe passage.
It has been half a millennium since the Storm Wars. An evil god 4) invaded the peaceful, druidic regions of the northern lands, and very nearly conquered all the world. Mages and priests battled one another so hard that the land shook, and the seas quavered. The evil god was slain by treachery, and his successor was even worse than he. The God of Blood, Violence, and Evil is insane, and still plots to destroy the world; his name 5) is used to terrify children at night, and adults during the day.
It has been seven years since the War of the Undead. A necromancer raised an army of undead that could, in turn, raise more undead. Four years of bloody conflict, coupled with earthquakes, volcanoes, and plague, have left their marks on the populace. The warriors are thinned out. The cemeteries are full of bodies, once again, and the priests are frightened – the Inquisition failed.
Current Campaign: 1300s Avard
The Master Plan (-9227 to -1357 Avard) - known only to the gods and select few historians
The Shaping Wars, (roughly -4212 Avard) - known to respected sages, dragons, and devoted students of history
The Karatikan Alliance, (-780 Avard) - known to most priests and lovers of history
The Storm Wars, (762-772 Avard) - generalities are known to most, with details known by historians, generals, and priests
The Inquisition, (867-present Avard) - common knowledge
The Princess Sword, (1021 Avard) - generalities are known to most, details known only to rumor-mongers
The War of the Undead, (1316-1320 Avard) - generalities known by all, details known by Rakorans and some upper-level priests in the rest of the world
The War of the Four Winds, (1329-1330 Avard) - known by all in the nation of Rakore
Pass Year | Avard Year | Event |
---|---|---|
-15 | -9227 | Sister Worlds War begins. |
0 | -9212 | Shadow Star's first pass. Old gods leave – save one, Galgiran. New gods awaken: Elinthar, Galanus, Xoriah, Hyark, Barith. Shield goes up. Prism Wars begin. |
86 | -9126 | Prism Wars end. Age of Survival begins. |
314 | -8898 | The goddess Rahne rises. |
998 | -8214 | The god Multheir rises. |
2122 | -7090 | The god Curiss emerges. |
4712 | -4500 | The goddess Samis emerges. The god Argunas is summoned. |
5000 | -4212 | Shadow Star's second pass. Shaping Wars begin. New gods emerge: Whalin, Olorin, K'Tath. Dragon God Milthel killed by God Slayer, along with the Earth God Tromth. |
5052 | -4160 | Shaping Wars end. Age of Peace begins. |
5792 | -3420 | The goddess Habrem rises. |
6010 | -3194 | The god Argunas (presumably) fades away. |
6413 | -2791 | The god Mikindim emerges. |
9238 | 0 | ArchiDruid Avard Karatikan comes to power. |
9282 | 44 | Karatikan calendar adopted. |
9798 | 202 | The god Infierne rises. |
9910 | 672 | Nathel elevates Dakis from antipaladin to god. |
10000 | 762 | “The Year of Blood.” Shadow Star's third pass. Nathelian forces invade the north. Storm Wars begin. The god Yatindar rises. Galanus passes portfolio to Curiss. |
10001 | 763 | The goddess Xoriah (supposedly) dies. Giran Howel found; slays the gods Hyark, Infierne, and Multheir. |
10003 | 765 | Giran Howel slays the god Nathel. The archon Nabrol takes Nathel's place as a god. The god Lul arises from mortality. |
10004 | 766 | The god Arpelos slips through the Shield. Arpelos disappears; some consider him dead. |
10006 | 772 | Storm Wars end. Archimage Vyrboth Liss slain by his son. Blood mage Refterdardes slays Avard Karatika; Lake Kiriath forms around Rhythis Keep. Age of Regret begins. |
10042 | 804 | Shisason acquires Kingdom of the Granite Dwarves. |
10100 | 867 | Prophets speak in One Voice. Inquisition begins. First crusade. Last dragon officially slain. Cashes created. |
10227 | 989 | Second crusade. Last dragon officially slain. |
10439 | 1201 | Third crusade. Ogre nation of Timaus razed by Crusaders. |
10503 | 1265 | Tyven razed by Lord Elistan and his undead hordes. |
10549 | 1311 | The god Galanus' Book of the Dead stolen. |
10554 | 1316 | Rakore founded. Fourth crusades organize. Kur Maeth invaded by Nabrol. Cashe hunts begin. War of the Undead begins. |
10556 | 1318 | Half of the continent of Nabrol destroyed. Crusaders invade Kur Maeth. |
10557 | 1319 | Lake Kiriath becomes Sea of Kiriath |
10558 | 1320 | Arpelos returns. War of the Undead ends. Giran Howel slays Nathel (again). Book of the Dead returns to Galanus. Shield drops; Maroth returns to the sky. Srik/Ogran war begins |
10559 | 1321 | Lok Magius founded in Rakore. |
10560 | 1322 | Nabrolian expedition to Rakore;fleet sunk by tomanths. |
10565 | 1327 | Spider Werkz founded in Rakore. Talon of Lul found in Vridara. The Iron Lord assaults the Faeleran. First encounter with Doom Rex in Rakore. |
10566 | 1328 | Search for Al Mudim begins. Castle Rezjommon rises. Dragon Nation of Wuron Sfa founded. Tulish destroyed by rogue Quitzara of Lul. False princess sword rises. Vridara and Toomaran Tribes unite; invade. New god Xynosalionisis arises. Dharveil released in the Choranil Desert. |
10567 | 1329 | Night of Assassins in Kashin, Rakore. War of the Four Winds in Rakore. Maotosh Sholin join Rakore. |
10568 | 1330 | Ogre Nations retreats and some parts even surrender; Rakore victorious. Dark Elven city of Thanerost 'found'. Nation of Tesan attempts to use local Tower; destroys itself, Boran, Shistason, the Sebre Druids, Loraxi, Fi Chani, Laekbon, and parts of Kirikorik. |
10569 | 1331 | Quest for the 8ths of Serendin begins (Campaign IX). |
For more modern histories, consult the campaigns Timeline.