Savage Tide : Isle of Dread and Adhuza timeline
by David KeyserI have been hard at work on the Savage Tide AP conversion for Mystara, and it is time to get some feedback on a particularly complicated part...coming up with a coherent timeline for the Isle of Dread with inclusion of some prior works from Mystara fans.
My goal is slightly different than the work done on the GAZ forums for the Isle of Dread and the Thanegioth Archipelago, which is found under Gaz XF1...
While there the work is designed to expand on campaign setting material, my attempt here is to try and harmonize as much as possible the history of the Isle of Dread as presented in the Savage Tide with the history of the eastern Thanegioth Archipelago. So rather than create new material, I want to build a timeline that uses some fan material already created, with a somewhat minimalist approach so should someone pick up the Island Gazeteer work later, they have plenty of room to add more new material.
So I managed to go through the Pandius site and read every entry, and I mean every entry, for the eastern Thanegioth Archipelago. There was...quite a bit there, people have done all sorts of things with that island chain over the years.
I am going to present my proposed timeline in a series of stages, starting with just a bare-bones history that most should find unobjectionable. From there my posts will add on some layers of both Savage Tide material and fan material. What I would love to hear is if you have any suggestions for what to add in or what to take out. So I am going to actually list out many of the ideas I read in the 148 entries on Pandius for Thanegioth. I won't clutter it up with tons of links, but by all means if you are curious where this idea came from, I can point you to the relevant page on Pandius.
Oh, and in case you didn't know, Adhuza is the name of the kopru empire from the past, I didn't know that until earlier today.
So starting with the bare-bones, and note that the only entry from TSR products is the Nithians finding the Makai and Ierendi islands:
prehistory : Thanegioth may be more of a singular landmass at this time
~7800-7200 BC Y'hog Carnifex colonize the lands which will become Thanegioth. Troglodyte servitors work planations there.
~7200-7100 BC Carnifex abandon the troglodytes and plantations, some troglodytes depart for other lands, some remain.
~2500 BC Tangoro people migrate from Minaea to the Serpent Peninsula, passing by the Pearl Island and Thanegioth during this period.
2300 BC Adhuza, the kopru empire, is well established at this time and ascendent.
1700 BC Kopru Empire is in steep decline, Thanegioth is now an archipelago.
1000 BC Nithians discover Ierendi islands and Makai culture*, some Nithians may also discover Thanegioth Archipelago.
614-603 BC The great Thyatian, Kerendan and Hattian tribes flee Milenian aggression by embarking on ships heading north for Brun.
300 BC: During the exploration of the Sea of Dread, the sea-gnomes of Deepreach discover the Twaelar civilization in the southern area near Thanegioth.
700-800 AC A reliable sea-route from Brun to Davania is eventually charted, some mariners call it the Strait of Dread.
850 AC One expedition drifts off west from the Strait of Dread, but makes its way back, reporting a chain of islands rich in ivory, gold and gems.
900 AC Twaelar Merrow Empire established as they finish subjugating aquatic tribes in the seas surrounding the Thanegioth Archipelago.
965 AC Rory Barbarosa makes peaceful contact with the natives on the Isle of Dread, and maps the coastline.
970 AC Rory Barbarosa murdered before he can return to the archipelago, his maps and ship log are disregarded.
~1000 AC Barbarosa's map and ship log are rediscovered and interest in exploring the eastern Thanegioth Archipelago is kindled.
1016 AC The city-state of Kastelios establishes a trade treaty with Thyatis and begins opening its trade routes with Thyatis.
1016 AC A group of three small Thyatian war galleys establish a waystation on the westernmost island in the Thanegioth Archipelago.
1016 AC Major naval battle between Thyatis and Twaelar. Thyatis armada lands at village of Mora on the Isle of Dread for recovery and resupply. Thyatis establish a military base near Mora.
1017 AC Twaelar attack Ravenscarp and Mora, the Mora base is badly damaged. The Twaelar soon realize the costs of the war are too great so first an armistice is established and then a peace treaty is signed. Twaelar recognize the Thyatian claim to the Thanegioth Archipelago. A Twaelar consulate is established in Ravenscarp and the Mora base.
1017 AC Colonists from the city of Kastelios found a colony on the westernmost island of the Thanegioth Archipelago, Mykonos.
1017 AC Thyatis begins colonizing islands on the Thanegioth Archipelago.
1019 AC An Ochalean trade combine sets up a colony on a previously uncharted island between the Thanegioth Archipelago and Ochalea proper.
Everything 1016 AC and later comes from the Mystara Almanacs, I see what looks like perhaps an error in that both Kastelios and Thyatis first establish a settelment on the same island, the westernmost. Perhaps it makes more sense for Thyatis to build that first waystation on the easternmost island.
Ok, now to list some of the ideas that I didn't use(so far) but which I found on Pandius.
1) The Makai spent some time on the Thanegioth Archipelago before they came to the Ierendi Islands.
2) The Tanogoro colonized the Thanegioth Archipelago as part of their migration.
3) At least one Neathar tribe came to the Isle of Dread and were dominated by the kopru, that tribe worshiped Odin/Oloron and have some descendants on the central plateau.
4) Arachne Prime was tricked by Korotiku into sending her aranea to unexplored parts of Mystara around 2700 BC to colonize and expland. One of these sites was Thanegioth.
5) Slizzark the kopru achieves Immortality in 2740BC and is instrumental in establishing the rise of the kopru, however along with this is that after she departs as an Immortal the kopru empire soon collapses and declines.
6) The Tanogoro and the Oltec were both on the Thanegioth landmass around 2200 BC and dominated by the kopru.
7) The Nithian Firelord achieves dominance on the Thanegioth Archipelago along with his red dragon allies. Lots of details on the Firelord Saga and the Twins Campaign which uses this history as a basis for the campaign. Also includes elves who settled on one of the islands as the children of the swan.
8) Whatever Makai may have been on Thanegioth migrated to ierendi when a triton vs devilfish war broke out in 230BC. They probably fled Davania during the Great Rain of Fire.
9) Kerendans founded a colony on the archipelago briefly in 500 AC but it quickly collapsed.
10) To explain Belcadiz history, the Ispans colonize the easternmost island on the Isle of Dread sometime between 860 and 875 AC, and they still hold it in 1000AC. There are kara-kara orcs on the island surviving in the jungle.
11) The Belcadiz arrive in Thanegioth Archipelago around 1700 BC, colonize and eventually expand to other islands. They eventually meet the Tanogoro and Makai and help them overthrow the kopru around 1100 BC.
12) The chameleon men are on the island chain and fight the kopru.
13) A slaver organization from Jaibul raids the remote archipelago for slaves, taking any humanoids they can find.
14) A separate spider race from the aranea has control of one island, they are the Taranteans.
15) The Makai are descendants of Tanagoro seafarers who combined with Maukai (Neathar) natives on an island that they reached during their extensive sea voyages. After being driven out by the Maukai, they sailed west to the Thanegioth Archipelago and later to the Ierendi isles.
16) The kopru are creations of the Carnifex. They seized control of Thanegioth when the Carnifex withdrew.
17) The Norwegian module Crocodile Island.
18) Three separate origin stories for the rakasta on the Isle of Dread, including one where they were slaves in Emerond who fled north.
19) A group of colonists from Vestland arrive in Thanegioth in 245 AC.
20) That wizard Gargantua from the CM modules resurrected the dinosaurs on the Isle of Dread with kopru help.
I may add a few of these, but reconciling all of these ideas isn't going to work.
Next up, I add in the relevant Sasserine timeline events which apply to the Isle of Dread for the purposes of setting up the Savage Tide campaign to be run in 1021-1022 AC.
prehistory : Thanegioth may be more of a singular landmass at this time
~7800-7200 BC Y'hog Carnifex colonize the lands which will become Thanegioth. Troglodyte servitors work planations there.
~7200-7100 BC Carnifex abandon the troglodytes and plantations, some troglodytes depart for other lands, some remain.
~2500 BC Tangoro people migrate from Minaea to the Serpent Peninsula, passing by the Pearl Island and Thanegioth during this period.
2300 BC Adhuza, the kopru empire, is well established at this time and ascendent.
1700 BC Kopru Empire is in steep decline, Thanegioth is now an archipelago.
1000 BC Nithians discover Ierendi islands and Makai culture*, some Nithians may also discover Thanegioth Archipelago.
614-603 BC The great Thyatian, Kerendan and Hattian tribes flee Milenian aggression by embarking on ships heading north for Brun.
300 BC: During the exploration of the Sea of Dread, the sea-gnomes of Deepreach discover the Twaelar civilization in the southern area near Thanegioth.
700-800 AC A reliable sea-route from Brun to Davania is eventually charted, some mariners call it the Strait of Dread.
850 AC One expedition drifts off west from the Strait of Dread, but makes its way back, reporting a chain of islands rich in ivory, gold and gems.
900 AC Twaelar Merrow Empire established as they finish subjugating aquatic tribes in the seas surrounding the Thanegioth Archipelago.
965 AC Rory Barbarosa makes peaceful contact with the natives on the Isle of Dread, and maps the coastline.
970 AC Rory Barbarosa murdered before he can return to the archipelago, his maps and ship log are disregarded.
~1000 AC Barbarosa's map and ship log are rediscovered and interest in exploring the eastern Thanegioth Archipelago is kindled.
1016 AC The city-state of Kastelios establishes a trade treaty with Thyatis and begins opening its trade routes with Thyatis.
1016 AC A group of three small Thyatian war galleys establish a waystation on the westernmost island in the Thanegioth Archipelago.
1016 AC Major naval battle between Thyatis and Twaelar. Thyatis armada lands at village of Mora on the Isle of Dread for recovery and resupply. Thyatis establish a military base near Mora.
1017 AC Twaelar attack Ravenscarp and Mora, the Mora base is badly damaged. The Twaelar soon realize the costs of the war are too great so first an armistice is established and then a peace treaty is signed. Twaelar recognize the Thyatian claim to the Thanegioth Archipelago. A Twaelar consulate is established in Ravenscarp and the Mora base.
1017 AC Colonists from the city of Kastelios found a colony on the westernmost island of the Thanegioth Archipelago, Mykonos.
1017 AC Thyatis begins colonizing islands on the Thanegioth Archipelago.
1018 AC - The Vanderborens depart Sasserine on two ships to found a colony on the Isle of Dread.
1019 AC An Ochalean trade combine sets up a colony on a previously uncharted island between the Thanegioth Archipelago and Ochalea proper.
1019 AC - The Vanderborens conclude peaceful negotiations with the natives living on the peninsula and islands on the southeast corner of the Isle of Dread, and found the colony of Farshore on the small unoccupied island of Temute. They leave the colony to return to Sasserine to resupply, but lose one of their ships on the return journey. Further misfortunes increase the delay of their return.
1021-1022 AC - Beginning of the Savage Tide campaign...Vanderborens are murdered and their daughter Lavinia discovers the hidden colony and makes plans to return to reinforce the colony.
Two more events need to be added in order to bring the Isle of Dread in Mystara in line with Isle of Dread as presented in the Savage Tide.
First, the Thyatian base on Mora needs to be relocated to another island in the archipelago. Two, the Heldannic Knight colony needs a founding date. The HK colony is a substitute for the Scarlet Brotherhood colony which appears in Savage Tide.
The second one is easy, but there needs to be a good reason for the Thyatians to relocate. Fortunately just such a reason is provided in Dungeon Magazine #114, which is set on the Isle of Dread, though it is not part of the Savage Tide campaign.
prehistory : Thanegioth may be more of a singular landmass at this time
~7800-7200 BC Y'hog Carnifex colonize the lands which will become Thanegioth. Troglodyte servitors work planations there.
~7200-7100 BC Carnifex abandon the troglodytes and plantations, some troglodytes depart for other lands, some remain.
~2500 BC Tangoro people migrate from Minaea to the Serpent Peninsula, passing by the Pearl Island and Thanegioth during this period.
2300 BC Adhuza, the kopru empire, is well established at this time and ascendent.
1700 BC Kopru Empire is in steep decline, Thanegioth is now an archipelago.
1000 BC Nithians discover Ierendi islands and Makai culture*, some Nithians may also discover Thanegioth Archipelago.
614-603 BC The great Thyatian, Kerendan and Hattian tribes flee Milenian aggression by embarking on ships heading north for Brun.
300 BC: During the exploration of the Sea of Dread, the sea-gnomes of Deepreach discover the Twaelar civilization in the southern area near Thanegioth.
700-800 AC A reliable sea-route from Brun to Davania is eventually charted, some mariners call it the Strait of Dread.
850 AC One expedition drifts off west from the Strait of Dread, but makes its way back, reporting a chain of islands rich in ivory, gold and gems.
900 AC Twaelar Merrow Empire established as they finish subjugating aquatic tribes in the seas surrounding the Thanegioth Archipelago.
965 AC Rory Barbarosa makes peaceful contact with the natives on the Isle of Dread, and maps the coastline.
970 AC Rory Barbarosa murdered before he can return to the archipelago, his maps and ship log are disregarded.
~1000 AC Barbarosa's map and ship log are rediscovered and interest in exploring the eastern Thanegioth Archipelago is kindled.
1016 AC The city-state of Kastelios establishes a trade treaty with Thyatis and begins opening its trade routes with Thyatis.
1016 AC A group of three small Thyatian war galleys establish a waystation on the westernmost island in the Thanegioth Archipelago.
1016 AC Major naval battle between Thyatis and Twaelar. Thyatis armada lands at village of Mora on the Isle of Dread for recovery and resupply. Thyatis establish a military base near Mora.
1017 AC Twaelar attack Ravenscarp and Mora, the Mora base is badly damaged. The Twaelar soon realize the costs of the war are too great so first an armistice is established and then a peace treaty is signed. Twaelar recognize the Thyatian claim to the Thanegioth Archipelago. A Twaelar consulate is established in Ravenscarp and the Mora base.
1017 AC Colonists from the city of Kastelios found a colony on the westernmost island of the Thanegioth Archipelago, Mykonos.
1017 AC Thyatis begins colonizing islands on the Thanegioth Archipelago.
1017 AC A disturbing number of Thyatian officers go missing at the Mora base.
1018 AC A massive storm hits the Isle of Dread peninsula, and a great demon appears near Mora, unleashing its full fury on the Thyatian base. The demon does not manifest long, but causes great damage and loss of life. The Thyatian governor and highest ranking military officer agree to abandon the Mora base and relocate all Thyatian personnel to other islands further east on the chain. The Twaelar also relocate their consulate to a safer island under Thyatian control. [See Dungeon Magazine #114 for more details.]
1018 AC - The Vanderborens depart Sasserine on two ships to found a colony on the Isle of Dread.
1019 AC An Ochalean trade combine sets up a colony on a previously uncharted island between the Thanegioth Archipelago and Ochalea proper.
1019 AC - The Vanderborens conclude peaceful negotiations with the natives living on the peninsula and islands on the southeast corner of the Isle of Dread, and found the colony of Farshore on the small unoccupied island of Temute. They leave the colony to return to Sasserine to resupply, but lose one of their ships on the return journey. Further misfortunes increase the delay of their return.
1020 AC - Under the subtle influence of Thanatos, the Heldannic Knights establish a small colony on the jungle island due west of the Usi village.
1021-1022 AC - Beginning of the Savage Tide campaign...Vanderborens are murdered and their daughter Lavinia discovers the hidden colony and makes plans to return to reinforce the colony.
Exactly, while my timeline suggests Thanegioth being discovered in 850 or 965 AC, it is only the latest discovery as Thanegioth keeps being found by civilizations and forgotten again once they fall. And of the many who cross the sea between the two continents some inevitably end up in the archipelago but don't bother to do anything with the discovery and move on, while others end up stranded or slaves to the kopru.
So modifying the timeline based on your article.
prehistory : Thanegioth may be more of a singular landmass at this time
~7800-7200 BC Y'hog Carnifex colonize the lands which will become Thanegioth. Troglodyte servitors work planations there.
~7200-7100 BC Carnifex abandon the troglodytes and plantations, some troglodytes depart for other lands, some remain.
~3300 BC With the collapse of the Serpentine Empire, the kopru take over Thanegioth for themselves.
3050 BC Adhuza, the kopru nation, is strong enough to resist conquest by Blackmoor.
~2500 BC Tangoro people migrate from Minaea to the Serpent Peninsula, passing by the Pearl Island and Thanegioth during this period.
~2300 BC Adhuza, the kopru empire, is at the peak of its power.
1700 BC Kopru Empire is in steep decline, Thanegioth is now an archipelago.
1000 BC Nithians discover Ierendi islands and Makai culture*, some Nithians may also discover Thanegioth Archipelago.
614-603 BC The great Thyatian, Kerendan and Hattian tribes flee Milenian aggression by embarking on ships heading north for Brun.
300 BC: During the exploration of the Sea of Dread, the sea-gnomes of Deepreach discover the Twaelar civilization in the southern area near Thanegioth.
700-800 AC A reliable sea-route from Brun to Davania is eventually charted, some mariners call it the Strait of Dread.
850 AC One expedition drifts off west from the Strait of Dread, but makes its way back, reporting a chain of islands rich in ivory, gold and gems.
900 AC Twaelar Merrow Empire established as they finish subjugating aquatic tribes in the seas surrounding the Thanegioth Archipelago.
965 AC Rory Barbarosa makes peaceful contact with the natives on the Isle of Dread, and maps the coastline.
970 AC Rory Barbarosa murdered before he can return to the archipelago, his maps and ship log are disregarded.
~1000 AC Barbarosa's map and ship log are rediscovered and interest in exploring the eastern Thanegioth Archipelago is kindled.
1016 AC The city-state of Kastelios establishes a trade treaty with Thyatis and begins opening its trade routes with Thyatis.
1016 AC A group of three small Thyatian war galleys establish a waystation on the westernmost island in the Thanegioth Archipelago.
1016 AC Major naval battle between Thyatis and Twaelar. Thyatis armada lands at village of Mora on the Isle of Dread for recovery and resupply. Thyatis establish a military base near Mora.
1017 AC Twaelar attack Ravenscarp and Mora, the Mora base is badly damaged. The Twaelar soon realize the costs of the war are too great so first an armistice is established and then a peace treaty is signed. Twaelar recognize the Thyatian claim to the Thanegioth Archipelago. A Twaelar consulate is established in Ravenscarp and the Mora base.
1017 AC Colonists from the city of Kastelios found a colony on the westernmost island of the Thanegioth Archipelago, Mykonos.
1017 AC Thyatis begins colonizing islands on the Thanegioth Archipelago.
1017 AC A disturbing number of Thyatian officers go missing at the Mora base.
1018 AC A massive storm hits the Isle of Dread peninsula, and a great demon appears near Mora, unleashing its full fury on the Thyatian base. The demon does not manifest long, but causes great damage and loss of life. The Thyatian governor and highest ranking military officer agree to abandon the Mora base and relocate all Thyatian personnel to other islands further east on the chain. The Twaelar also relocate their consulate to a safer island under Thyatian control. [See Dungeon Magazine #114 for more details.]
1018 AC - The Vanderborens depart Sasserine on two ships to found a colony on the Isle of Dread.
1019 AC An Ochalean trade combine sets up a colony on a previously uncharted island between the Thanegioth Archipelago and Ochalea proper.
1019 AC - The Vanderborens conclude peaceful negotiations with the natives living on the peninsula and islands on the southeast corner of the Isle of Dread, and found the colony of Farshore on the small unoccupied island of Temute. They leave the colony to return to Sasserine to resupply, but lose one of their ships on the return journey. Further misfortunes increase the delay of their return.
1020 AC - Under the subtle influence of Thanatos, the Heldannic Knights establish a small colony on the jungle island due west of the Usi village.
1021-1022 AC - Beginning of the Savage Tide campaign...Vanderborens are murdered and their daughter Lavinia discovers the hidden colony and makes plans to return to reinforce the colony.