The Eras Of Darksun

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Zardnaar

Jun 25, 2007 3:34:49
I thought I would share my thoughts on the timeframes I would set my Darksun games in. I've broadly put them in 3 Eras. In efect I'm trying to retcon several source materials into the DS timeline including Paizos version and Rise and Fall of a Dragon King which as far as I know was the last material printed interms of how far the timeline went. I'm thinking of writing out some more detailed events if people here like my ideas. If not oh well.

1. The Classic Era
100 Years Before the Verdant Passage. More or less similar to the material presented in the original boxed set. Kalak is just starting building his Pyramid, the Dragon is still alive. For people who prefer classic st boxe set games but without the Prism Pentad events getting in the way. Pure raw brutal Athas.

2.The New Era. FY 16
Dregoths ritual has failed and the events of Rise and Fall of a Dragon King have just happened. You can either ignore the novel or shoehorn it in. Kreen scouts have been in the hinterlands for several years and they're ready to invade. Imperial Kreen manage to open a small sionie gate so they can avoid the forest ridge and gain easy access to the Tyr region. Hamanu has become the Dragon of Urik although perhaps his 1000 year cleansing was only in his head and he reappears after a year or so- perhaps in time to combat the Kreen invasion. In the interim Pavek is the de facto king Urik although he doesn't want it and becomes regent. Hamanus templars reciece spells normally though. Preservers have a slightly easier time of it compared to the classic setting.

3. The Future- FY 1000
In my future timeline Athas has changed slightly for the better. Each city has a sorceror king again and Sadira is the Queen of Tyr. Using her powers and Kalaks pyramid she has siphoned off the power of Tyr storms and has increased rainfall in the Ringing Mountains near Tyr and Urik. For the first time in centuries water flows under the elven bridge and the River Agis drains into the Silt Sea near Alturak. Perhaps the Kreen are ready for anotrher invasion after a civil war or perhaps a bio plague form Thamasku wiped out the empire in the last invasion and the now resistan survivors have regained enough power to try again.
#2

zombiegleemax

Jun 26, 2007 15:56:04
Zaard, very interesting, I like it, it makes sense. I like to have time travel only to the future say the 1000 years time period. I and my fellow gamers really prefer the Main timeline for the most part. our DM is working on a Generations version, where characters are replaced by their offsprnig to continue quests unfullfilled. keep up the good work. btw its 122 degrees here and feels just like Athas in the springtime hahaha Scott T.
#3

Zardnaar

Jun 26, 2007 18:02:06
Zaard, very interesting, I like it, it makes sense. I like to have time travel only to the future say the 1000 years time period. I and my fellow gamers really prefer the Main timeline for the most part. our DM is working on a Generations version, where characters are replaced by their offsprnig to continue quests unfullfilled. keep up the good work. btw its 122 degrees here and feels just like Athas in the springtime hahaha Scott T.

I hate you. For the last week we;ve had a cold snap with snow. Its also been wet and then it freezes so the roads turn to ice. The high the other day was 5 degrees centigrade. Wish I was on Athas.
#4

flindbar

Jun 27, 2007 5:37:31
Not much fun here either and we've had two months rainfall in two days. Lots of floods and burst rivers etc.
#5

j0lt

Jun 27, 2007 7:51:07
You want heat? Try Japan! The humidity level is so high that you sweat while standing in the shade, and it's not even 30 degrees yet! (86 for you americans with your farenheit nonsense)
#6

darthcestual

Jun 27, 2007 18:38:28
I went the opposite way with my eras. I wanted to explore the distant past of Athas and see what events took place that lead up to its current state.

The Age of Wonder-Athas was young and only the gods bestowed magic to their followers. There are few cities, but they are all prosperous and have many centers of learning.

The Golden Age-The discovery of Arcane magic and that gold acts like a magical capacitor, roughly speaking, burn up 1 gp per level to power spells. Arcane magic becomes part of everyday life, and much of the population moves away from their religions and divine magic.

The Age of Dragons-Magical experimentation has created a new creature, the dragon. About the size of a housecat, they are created to replace gold as a source of arcane power. They become the trendy new familiars that all arcane wizards use for powering their spells. Soon, there is a population boom of dragons and many are exterminated with just as many being released into the wild. Domestic dragons become tightly regulated, with rumors of wild dragons getting larger to wolf and even horse sizes, and more intelligent.

The Silver Age- A plague of cannabalistic undead has erupted and it seems only by using silver can they be truly slain. As roughly 1 sp can kill a "vrykolak", silver becomes in demand for weapons as well as the adventurers to slay them. During this time, many people leave the large cities as the vrykolak seem to be drawn to the population centers, for food. (think zombies meet Blade) :P

Age of Chaos-Intelligent and powerful dragons have hoarded gold in secret for centuries, and en masse they all drew power from their hoardes to become gods themselves. The true gods of Athas rose up and battled their would-be usurpers until both sides were decimated. Neither side survived. The ensuing chaos racked the planet and toppled it's wonderous cities. The survivors spread into the wilderness to eek out an existance.

The Age of Ice- With the death of the gods, Athas plunges into an ice age. Glaciers, snow, and ice cover the planet. Small communities dot the world, but most are nomadic peoples following what game and resources they can find.

At this point the ice melts into the Blue Age, with people settling mountaintops that are now islands, and they become halflings because of the small habitable areas. There was more I think, but I can't find my original notes from like 10 years ago, heh.
#7

brun01

Jun 28, 2007 12:49:33
Gods? Magic as a mundane thing? You sure you're talking about Athas here?
#8

Zardnaar

Jun 28, 2007 16:19:26
Gods? Magic as a mundane thing? You sure you're talking about Athas here?

His idea was set before the blue age even
#9

darthcestual

Jun 28, 2007 17:30:44
Like I said, I wanted to explore the events that shaped Athas into it's current state: no gods, scarce metals and resources, and all of it was orchestrated by my immortal villian Carlyle, who even now is the "advisor" to Dregoth.
#10

Razor767

Jun 28, 2007 18:45:05
It's an interesting idea. I'd often pondered if Athas had always been cut off from the gods or if something happened. I also like the notion of something... anything... predating halflings.
#11

zombiegleemax

Jun 28, 2007 18:52:43
There is no future for Dark Sun.

In a few decades, everyone's going to be eaten by the Kreen.
#12

Razor767

Jun 28, 2007 19:01:56
I heard that Raid works well on the Kreen.
#13

zombiegleemax

Jun 30, 2007 16:12:13
I hate you. For the last week we;ve had a cold snap with snow. Its also been wet and then it freezes so the roads turn to ice. The high the other day was 5 degrees centigrade. Wish I was on Athas.

hahaha it feels like Athas here. I caught a scorpion and a big lizard today, i dont know how they live in this.