The offical DS time line has quite a bit of info on the green age. It used to be on Nyt's site, but that's down now. Is it up anywhere else guys?
Ok, figured out how to post to the forums again. I can only assume it's an internal firewall issue at this time which is not allowing the post and edit images to load. I have to click on a less than half an inch pixel in order to post, heh.
Anyways, here is the timeline. I will post to archives as well.
Official Timeline
Kings Age Calendar
Y 1. Ral's Fury
Y 2. Friend's Contemplation
Y 3. Desert Vengeance
Y 4. Priest's Slumber
Y 5. Wind's Defiance
Y 6. Dragon's Reverence
Y 7. Mountain's Agitation
Y 8. King's Fury
Y 9. Silt's Contemplation
Y 10. Enemy's Vengeance
Y 11. Guthay's Slumber
Y 12. Ral's Defiance
Y 13. Friend's Reverence
Y 14. Desert's Agitation
Y 15. Priest's Fury
Y 16. Wind's Contemplation
Y 17. Dragon's Vengeance
Y 18. Mountain's Slumber
Y 19. King's Defiance
Y 20. Silt's Reverence
Y 21. Enemy's Agitation
Y 22. Guthay's Fury
Y 23. Ral's Contemplation
Y 24. Friend's Vengeance
Y 25. Desert's Slumber
Y 26. Priest's Defiance
Y 27. Wind's Reverence
Y 28. Dragon's Agitation
Y 29. Mountain's Fury
Y 30. King's Contemplation
Y 31. Silt's Vengeance
Y 32. Enemy's Slumber
Y 33. Guthay's Defiance
Y 34. Ral's Reverence
Y 35. Friend's Agitation
Y 36. Desert's Fury
Y 37. Priest's Contemplation
Y 38. Wind's Vengeance
Y 39. Dragon's Slumber
Y 40. Mountain's Defiance
Y 41. King's Reverence
Y 42. Silt's Agitation
Y 43. Enemy's Fury
Y 44. Guthay's Contemplation
Y 45. Ral's Vengeance
Y 46. Friend's Slumber
Y 47. Desert's Defiance
Y 48. Priest's Reverence
Y 49. Wind's Agitation
Y 50. Dragon's Fury
Y 51. Mountain's Contemplation
Y 52. King's Vengeance
Y 53. Silt's Slumber
Y 54. Enemy's Defiance
Y 55. Guthay's Reverence
Y 56. Ral's Agitation
Y 57. Friend's Fury
Y 58. Desert's Contemplation
Y 59. Priest's Vengeance
Y 60. Wind's Slumber
Y 61. Dragon's Defiance
Y 62. Mountain's Reverence
Y 63. King's Agitation
Y 64. Silt's Fury
Y 65. Enemy's Contemplation
Y 66. Guthay's Vengeance
Y 67. Ral's Slumber
Y 68. Friend's Defiance
Y 69. Desert's Reverence
Y 70. Priest's Agitation
Y 71. Wind's Fury
Y 72. Dragon's Contemplation
Y 73. Mountain's Vengeance
Y 74. King's Slumber
Y 75. Silt's Defiance
Y 76. Enemy's Agitation
Y 77. Guthay's Fury
Timeline of Athas
1st World's Age (-14,630)
- Ral's Fury
Creation of the King's Age calendar by the nature-masters based on the rotation of Athas's two moons. Originally titled "World's Age." Original calendar uses "Ocean" instead of "Silt," and "Island" instead of "Desert."
4th World's Age (-14,322)
-Ocean's Slumber
Discovery of the nature-benders, corrupt nature-masters who experiment with life in immoral ways.
-King's Slumber
First appearance of elemental clerics on Athas.
-Enemy's Agitation
Evil elemental clerics form an alliance with the nature-benders.
7th World's Age (-14,091)
-Island's Agitation
War between the nature-masters and the nature-benders until Ral's Vengeance of this age. In the end, the nature-benders are defeated along with their cleric allies.
8th World's Age (-14,014)
-Ral's Defiance
Nature-masters of Ty'agi attempt to expand the lifeforce of the ocean and accidentally create the Brown Tide-which brings about the end of the Blue Age.
-Friend's Reverence
Surviving nature-masters create the Pristine Tower to destroy the Brown Tide. This action changes the sun from blue to yellow, destroying the halfling civilization and bringing about The Rebirth.
-Island's Agitation
The new races of The Rebirth - humans, gnomes, dwarves, elves, and others - appear across the face of Athas. Great cities such as Tyr, Bodach, and Guistenal are founded to house the new races. Last use of "Island" and "Ocean" on the World's Age Calendar. Beginning of the Green Age.
-King's Slumber
Ruler of the rhul-thraun, High Lord Rhan Thes-onel, leaves the Jagged Cliffs to locate any rhulisti remaining on Athas. He never returns.
-Guthay's Fury
First use of psionic powers by the races of The Rebirth.
9th King's Age (-13,937)
-Ral's Fury
"World's Age" changed to King's Age by the rules of various cities. Dates remain the same.
-Ral's Vengeance
First reported sighting of the Messenger by a Tyrian astronomer. The comet appears every 45 years until the 190th King's Age/Enemy's Slumber when the cycle is mysteriously broken.
11th King's Age (-13,783)
-Enemy's Fury
Birth of Rajaat the War-Bringer.
55th King's Age (-10,395)
-Ral's Reverence
The thri-kreen of Athas, a previously thought unintelligent race, migrate from the Crimson Savanna to the Tyr Region. Though short-lived and alien in appearance, the thri-kreen possess great wisdom and insight. The current king of Tyr welcomes them with open arms. They give no reason for the migration.
66th King's Age (-9,548)
-Wind's Defiance
Mareet, ruler of Saragar, is visited by a time-traveler from the future. He tells the king an appending doom to Athas before disappearing. Obsessed with the warning, Mareet orders his most powerful psionicists to breach the time stream and determine the nature of the warning. They are later joined by a third psionicist.
-Desert's Slumber
The psionicists breach the time barrier and learn of the impending Cleansing Wars, Rajaat, and defiling magic. Mareet wants to warn all of Athas, but the psionicists disagree and take control of their leader. The three use their formidable powers to shield Saragar from the rest of the world. The Mind Lords are born.
78th King's Age (-8,624)
-Friend's Slumber
Current ruler of Urik persecutes the kreen and orders the death of all their kind in the city. Many thri-kreen across the land leave the cities to live in the wild. Migration of thri-kreen from the west comes to a halt.
81st King's Age (-8,393)
-Silt's Agitation
Rajaat arrives at the base of the Jagged Cliffs where he conduits experiments with the powers of life for the next 200 years.
84th King's Age (-8,162)
-King's Defiance
After nearly two centuries of experiments Rajaat discovers the basics of magic, but is nearly killed in the process. After recovering he leaves the Jagged Cliffs and travels to the Pristine Tower to refine the magic process, creating defiling and preserving magic. The Time of Magic begins.
87th King's Age (-7,932)
-Ral's Slumber
An unknown disaster befalls the city of Celik, which casts it into ruins. Survivors blame the ordeal on the reckless use of psionics.
123rd King's Age (-5,159)
-Wind's Fury
The feral halfling scout Too'lane discovers the Last Tree atop a mountain in the Forest Ridge. This ancient living artifact's location is kept secret by the halflings.
125th King's Age (-5,005)
-Guthay's Reverence
After three eons of study, Rajaat emerges from the Pristine Tower to teach magic to the Rebirth races. He teaches preserving magic openly, and defiling magic in secret to those of "questionable" character. For the next 1,500 years Rajaat studies how magic interacts with the Rebirth races, and decides that humans have the most potential of all to suit his needs.
134th King's Age (-4,312)
-King's Agitation
Rajaat begins a jihad against the preservers of Athas for the next thousand years. Preservers across the land go into hiding while fighting a losing battle against the followers of Rajaat.
144th King's Age (-3,542)
-Priest's Contemplation
Rajaat sends all but a few of his students away. Using the power of the Pristine Tower and the mysterious Dark Lens Rajaat creates his Champions. Each Champion is ordered to eliminate one specific race from the face of Athas in an effort to bring about the return of the Blue Age. The Cleansing Wars begin.
147th King's Age (-3,311)
-King's Slumber
Sacha of Arala, 1st Champion of Rajaat eliminates the last of the kobolds from the face of Athas.
155th King's Age (-2,695)
-Ral's Defiance
Daskinor Goblin Death, 14th Champion of Rajaat exterminates the last goblin from the face of Athas.
-Ral's Slumber
Wyan of Bodach, 12th Champion of Rajaat obliterates the last pixie from the land.
156th King's Age (-2,618)
-Friend's Contemplation
Uyness of Waverly (later known as Abalach-Re), 5th Champion of Rajaat slaughters the last of the orcs from the face of Athas.
160th King's Age (-2,310)
-Guthay's Defiance
Kalak, 2nd Champion of Rajaat kills the last of the ogres of Athas.
-Ral's Reverence
Gallard (later known as Nibenay), 6th Champion of Rajaat massacres the last of Athas's gnomes.
Keltis, Lizard Man Executioner arrives at Saragar despite the powers of the Mind Lords. The Mind Lord's cleverness hides the entire population of lizard men from the Champion, and he soon leaves the Last Sea.
-Desert's Reverence
The First Sorcerer orders the defiler Qwith to explore the workings of the Inner Planes as a possible means of power.
-Wind's Fury
The great cities of Ebe, Waverly, and Arala are swallowed by the expanding Silt Sea, though later it recedes from Waverly. The nearby city of Bodach is spared, but becomes surrounded by silt.
-Mountain's Vengeance
The warlord Irikos, the left hand of Rajaat, sacks the city of Bodach-but is killed at the conclusion of the battle. His sword (a creation of Rajaat's), the Silencer, is lost for 2,000 years.
161st King's Age (-2,233)
-Ral's Fury
Infuriated at her lack of progress, Rajaat turns research of the Inner Planes over to Qwith's subordinates. Shortly after an accident of unknown origins opens a gate to the Inner Planes, and obsidian flows across the land for hundreds of miles in each direction until the gate is closed by the Seventh Tree. Thousands die in the disaster.
Those killed by obsidian rise as undead through a mysterious power from the Inner Planes. Rajaat's servants arise as the rulers of this land, becoming powerful thinking undead wizards and psionicists. The Dead Lands are born.
-Silt's Agitation
All life across the obsidian plain is obliterated except for the Seventh Tree, which becomes immune to defiling magic. Soon after the undead defiler Gretch discovers necromantic magic to replace the loss of defiling magic. Necromancer magic is born.
162nd King's Age (-2156)
-Friend's Reverence
Keltis (later known as Oronis), 10th Champion of Rajaat believes he exterminates the last of the lizard men. In reality several tribes survive, protected by the Mind Lords.
-Wind's Slumber
Tectuktitlay, 9th Champion of Rajaat destroys the last wemics on Athas.
163rd King's Age (-2,079)
-King's Vengeance
Myron of Yorum is replaced as Troll Scorcher by Manu of Deche, later known as Hamanu of Urik. He is given the sword the Scorcher, created by Rajaat, to complete his task.
164th King's Age (-2,002)
-Friend's Contemplation
Hamanu, replaced 4th Champion of Rajaat, kills Windreaver-the last troll of Athas and king of his people.
-Desert Vengeance
Rkard, the last dwarven king of Kemalok, is slain by Borys of Ebe in mortal combat-though Borys himself is gravely injured. The Champion's attendants spirit him from the battlefield leaving his sword, the Scourge, still buried in the dwarf's chest. Before he can retrieve the sword, Hamanu tells Borys of Rajaat's true plans for Athas.
Becoming aware that Rajaat intends to wipe out all races except the halflings, Borys leads the Champions in a rebellion against their master-from which they emerged victorious. Rajaat's halfling servants are banished to the Black as punishment for siding with the War-Bringer.
Despite their power, the children of Rajaat cannot destroy his mortal remains. Instead, Gallard separates the First Sorcerer's essence from his physical form, placing each in a separate location. Aided by the power of the Dark Lens, Gallard creates the Hollow, where he placed Rajaat's essence. Gallard then creates a cyst of enchanted stone called the Black Sphere in which he places Rajaat's substance. He then hides the Black Sphere in a location known only to him and Borys of Ebe.
Sacha and Wyan, who remained loyal to their master, attempted to breach the cyst before it is hidden away. Their plan is discovered and they are beheaded by Borys.
Through the use of the Dark Lens, Borys rewards the remaining Champions by beginning their transformations into sorcerer-kings. This process links each of them to living vortices, which allows them to grant their followers clerical spells.
The Champions realize that Rajaat's prison will not hold. Even segmented, Rajaat's power is supreme and he would one day be free. Hence, the Champions once again used the Dark Lens to transform Borys into the Dragon, whose power would keep Rajaat imprisoned for all time.
Borys's transformation causes him to become temporarily insane, beginning a century of rampages across the land. In the confusion, two dwarven knights named Jor'orsh and Sa'ram steal the Dark Lens. The remaining sorcerer-kings each claim a city of Athas and barricade it from the rampaging Dragon.
-Friend's Fury
Lead by Abalach-Re of Raam, the sorcerer-kings storm Guistenal and kill Dregoth, Ravager of Giants just before he is to become a 30th-level Dragon. The battle destroys the city, the land, and most of its population. Afterwards, Hamanu throws the Scorcher into the Silt Sea.
With the aid of his high templar Mon Adderath, Dregoth is returned to life as an undead dragon king. The surviving populace is gathered soon after, and construction of New Guistenal begins.
165th King's Age (-1,925)
-Wind's Defiance
Borys emerges from his insanity and learns Rajaat's prison is on the verge of collapse. Soon after he collects a levy of 1,000 slaves from each sorcerer-king, using their lifeforce to reseal the First Sorcerer's prison on a yearly basis.
167th King's Age (-1,771)
-Ral's Agitation
In an attempt to increase her power, Sielba, Queen of Yaramuke attacks Urik. Hamanu easily defeats her army and personally slays the sorcerer-queen. On the heels of victory, Urik's army sacks Yaramuke and burns the city to the ground. To appease the Dragon's wrath for killing a sorcerer-queen, Hamanu presents Borys with a levy of Yaramuke's riches-which pleases the beast and spares Urik.
-Silt's Defiance
Borys uses the booty gained from Yaramuke to build Ur Draxa, which becomes the greatest city on all of Athas. At the center of the city Borys places the Black Sphere for him and his city to protect.
-Enemy's Agitation
The sorcerer-kings call for a jihad against the druids of Athas. For the next three centuries the blood of druids across the land stains the sands red in what would be known as the Eradication.
168th King's Age (-1,694)
-Desert's Fury
After years of study Dregoth finally deciphers halfling records found in the caverns beneath Guistenal. The end result is the creation of the first generation dray, which Dregoth deems a failure and banishes to Kragmorta.
-Friend's Defiance
The thri-kreen prophet Ka'Cha begins the first of several journeys across the Tablelands to spread the word of peace and enlightenment to the thri-kreen, as well as other races.
-Guthay's Fury
After several more failures Dregoth succeeds in his experiments, and the second generation of dray are created in his own image. 170th King's Age (-1,540)
-Guthay's Slumber
Dregoth, Ravager of Giants, discovers the planar gate. After a decade of research, he uses the device to travel the Outer Planes of existence for the next 19 centuries.
-Wind's Slumber
After being nearly wiped from the face of Athas, the remaining druids of the land go into hiding for the next 1,000 years to a secret location in the Forest Ridge.
171st King's Age (-1,463)
-Silt's Reverence
Daskinor Goblin Death slips into insanity following this year's levy, and builds an army to slay the Dragon upon his return the following year. Borys learns of his plot, and not needing the levy to maintain Rajaat's prison never returns.
Keltis, Lizard Man Executioner, has an attack of conscience and denounces being a sorcerer-king. Over the next centuries he strives to become something more noble. Because of the actions of nearby Daskinor, Borys never returns to Kurn and both cities become isolated from the rest of Athas.
174th King's Age (-1,232)
-King's Contemplation
In an effort to increase his power, Kalid-Ma attempts to further his dragon metamorphosis to a power near that of Borys of Ebe. The attempt is successful, but his mind is destroyed in the process. The dragon that was Kalid-Ma destroys his city of Kalidnay and begins to move into the rest of the Tyr region. The creature is later slain by the combined efforts of Borys of Ebe, Kalak of Tyr, and Hamanu of Urik.
With the loss of Kalidnay, the levy to keep Rajaat imprisoned becomes a firm 1,000 slaves from the seven remaining sorcerer-kings.
177th King's Age (-1,001)
-Guthay's Reverence
A powerful Druid named Tehnik creates the four artifacts known as the Hearts of the Drake, and dies in the process.
179th King's Age (-857)
-Silt's Defiance
Tarandas of Raam, a powerful psionicist and teacher throughout the Tyr Region, disappears without a trace. Her students insist she has ventured beyond her mastery of the Way into realms unseen by lesser beings.
183rd King's Age (-539)
-Guthay's Fury
With the aid of a wizard named Besteren, Oronis (formerly known as Keltis) develops the preserver metamorphosis spell to counter Rajaat's vile magic. The spell nearly kills him, but in the end Oronis emerges as Athas's first avangion.
184th King's Age (-462)
-King's Fury
Oronis gives the preserver metamorphosis spell to a preserver/psionicist named Nerad, who becomes Athas's second avangion.
-Wind's Fury
After revealing himself to the Veiled Alliance of Tyr, Nerad is discovered by King Kalak-who in turn contacts the Dragon. Borys later kills Nerad south of Tyr. In his grief, Oronis hides all copies of the preserver metamorphosis spell.
187th King's Age (-231)
-Ral's Vengeance
The Silencer is uncovered by an elf named Rimmon in the ruins of Bodach, who uses its power to lead her bandit tribe against the city-state of Balic. She is easily defeated by Andropinis, but the Silencer is again lost.
189th King's Age (-77)
-Mountain's Slumber
The Obsidian Man is discovered in the mines of Urik. After returning the artifact to Urik, the sinister device activates and nearly kills Hamanu before he learns to control it with a golden circlet.
-King's Defiance
An unnamed psionicist discovers the presence of the psurlons, a powerful psionic race of worm-like creatures, on the Astral Plane. With their own world being destroyed a millennia before, a few psurlons migrate to Athas where the psionic nature of the world makes them potent enemies.
-Enemy's Agitation
The Scorcher is recovered from the belly of a silt horror by an ex-gladiator named Vorr. Soon after Vorr disappears in the Valley of Trevain.
-King's Agitation
Andropinis of Balic fails to come up with 1,000 slaves for the year's levy, presenting the Dragon with only 900. In his anger Borys levels a portion of the city and takes the remainder levy from among Andropinis' templars. For the next several years the sorcerer-king of Balic does extensive slave raids across the southern Tablelands to rebuild his slave population so this would never happen again.
190th King's Age
-Friend's Vengeance
A templar of Urik removes the golden circlet from the head of the Obsidian Man, which animates and kills him. The artifact is later traced through the streets of Urik, but disappears into the desert.
-Desert's Slumber
After years of investigation into the death of Nerad, a preserver/psionicist named Korgunard learns of Oronis of Kurn. Though reluctant to have another death on his hands, Oronis gives him the preserver metamorphosis spell-but does not allow him to retain a copy.
-Priest's Defiance (Free Year 1)
King Kalak of Tyr is slain by the Heartwood Spear through the combined efforts of Rikus, Agis, Neeva, Tithian, and Sadira. Tithian becomes the next king of Tyr and frees all slaves. Tyr adopts the Free Year calendar.
-Wind's Reverence (Free Year 2)
Hamanu of Urik send his army to capture the iron mines of Tyr from the upstart king. In response Rikus forms the Crimson Legion and defeats the approaching army while wielding the Scourge of Rkard and the Belt of Kings. Afterwards Rikus takes the Crimson Legion to sack Urik in search of the Book of Kemalok Kings, but is defeated by Hamanu himself. The Crimson Legion is destroyed, though a few survived. Rikus returns the Belt of Kings to Kled, but is told to keep the Scourge.
King Andropinis pays an extra 1,000 slaves to make up for Tyr's share of the levy.
Aided by the Veiled Alliance of Urik, Korgunard becomes Athas's third avangion.
-Dragon's Agitation (Free Year 3)
In an effort to protect Tyr from the Dragon, Sadira seeks out the Pristine Tower and its ancient magic. In return for her pledge to slay the Borys of Ebe the shadow giants of the Pristine Tower transform her into the Sun Wizard, giving her power akin to that of a sorcerer-king.
Avoiding Tyr, the Dragon attempts to take his yearly levy from the dwarven city of Kled. In the end he is driven off by Sadira and Rikus bearing his old sword the Scourge. During the battle Neeva gives birth to her mul son Rkard, named for the dwarven king who battled Borys 2,000 year ago.
For the next several years King Tithian of Tyr secretly supplies the Dragon with a levy of 1,000 slaves captured from outlying villages.
-Mountain's Fury (Free Year 4)
The ancient artifact the Psionatrix is activated by the Order, a powerful organization of psionic purists, nullifying psionics across The avangion Korgunard is slain while trying to convince members of the Order to deactivate the Psionatrix. One of the members, a halfling named Pakk, consumes the avangion's remains. Deep within the recesses of the Dragon's Crown, the Psionatrix is deactivated and several members of the Order are slain. The remains of the artifact mysteriously disappear.
-Silt's Vengeance (Free Year 6)
Lead by Queen Trinth, the Githyanki of the Astral Plane discover a way to safely breaches the Gray and invaded Athas from the Black Spine mountains. The githyanki's plans are foiled by a group of heroes that travel through the portal and kill the queen. With Trinth dead, the portal collapses.
-Enemy's Slumber (Free Year 7)
The comet known as the Messenger fails to appear at the prescribe time, and many across the Tablelands take it as a sign of a forthcoming doom.
-Ral's Reverence (Free Year 9)
Armed with information stolen from the dwarves of Kled, Tithian learns of the location of the hidden Dark Lens-with which he can become a sorcerer-king. Agis of Asticles catches up with him and reluctantly aids him in his quest. After the pair retrieve the Dark Lens, Tithian kills Agis.
-Friend's Agitation (Free Year 10)
Dregoth returns to New Guistenal from the Outer Planes with aspirations of becoming a god. Unsure of the condition of Athas he sends his templars to the surface to learn the state of the Tyr region, learning too late the events that lead to the death of several fellow Champions.
Albech-Re is killed on the Ivory Plain. The sorcerer-queen's body is completely consumed by a black ooze leaking from the broken tip. Rikus of Tyr breaks the Scourge of Rkard a second time, this time in the snout of the Dragon. The sword again issues forth a black ichor that completely consumes Borys of Ebe.
Tithian uses the Dark Lens to free Rajaat's substance from the Black Sphere, causing his essence to also be released from the Hollow. After 2,000 years of imprisonment the First Sorcerer is once again free. The result of escaping his prison destroys much of Ur Draxa in a grand explosion.
In the ruins of Ur Draxa Rajaat battles his former Champions. Rajaat imprisons Andropinis of Balic in the Black, then grabs the Dark Lens from Tectuktitlay of Draj and crushes the sorcerer-king's skull. The remaining Champions scatter while Sadira steals the Dark Lens and heads for the Ring of Fire.
Sadira of Tyr discovers that the key to Rajaat's defeat is his shadow, which gives him substance. Using the Dark Lens, the young Rkard casts a sun spell it magnifying its power ten-fold. The resulting brilliance obliterates Rajaat's shadow and sends his essence back to the Hollow, while his body is boiled away by the heat of the spell.
Having been in contact with the Dark Lens as Rkard cast his spell, Tithian becomes mystically connected to the Black and Rajaat's elemental nature. The result is Tithian becoming the Cerulean Storm. Sadira tosses the Dark Lens and the Scourge into the Ring of Fire, placing powerful wards around it so that no one can obtain the artifact and once again free the First Sorcerer.
As Rkard's spell lights up the sky, a great earthquake rocks the Tyr Region. The full force of the quake is centered west of the Tablelands beyond the Ringing Mountains. The resulting quake creates the Great Rift, a passage leading to the Crimson Savannah of the Kreen Empire.
-Desert's Fury (Free Year 11)
The Wanderer discovers the lost halflings, the rhul-thraun, of the Jagged Cliff.
-Priest's Contemplation (Free Year 12)
After leaving the Jagged Cliffs, the Wanderer travels north and learns of the Last Sea. There he discovers the bizarre land of the Mind Lords.
The Coruscation begins, the Day of Light prophesied by the dray when the blood of a thousand unbelievers runs in rivers at the feet of Dregoth. This sign is to bring about the coming of a new age where Dregoth is supreme.
-Friend's Agitation (Free Year 10)
Dregoth returns to New Guistenal from the Outer Planes with aspirations of becoming a god. Unsure of the condition of Athas he sends his templars to the surface to learn the state of the Tyr region, learning too late the events that lead to the death of several fellow Champions.
Albech-Re is killed on the Ivory Plain. The sorcerer-queen's body is completely consumed by a black ooze leaking from the broken tip. Rikus of Tyr breaks the Scourge of Rkard a second time, this time in the snout of the Dragon. The sword again issues forth a black ichor that completely consumes Borys of Ebe.
Tithian uses the Dark Lens to free Rajaat's substance from the Black Sphere, causing his essence to also be released from the Hollow. After 2,000 years of imprisonment the First Sorcerer is once again free. The result of escaping his prison destroys much of Ur Draxa in a grand explosion.
The underlined section is wrong- sorry to nit pic :D
Also, was it only 2000 years that Rajaat was imprisoned? I thougt it was longer!
The underlined section is wrong- sorry to nit pic :D
Not sure how since this is the official timeline from what was T$R at the time, from one of the official authors of the time Kevin Melka. That's the way I remember it anyways.
Also, was it only 2000 years that Rajaat was imprisoned? I thougt it was longer!
Newp.
Time flies when you're having fun and creating totalitarian socities I guess, heh.
179th King's Age (-857)-Silt's Defiance
Tarandas of Raam, a powerful psionicist and teacher throughout the Tyr Region, disappears without a trace. Her students insist she has ventured beyond her mastery of the Way into realms unseen by lesser beings.
I found this rather interesting. Is there any further info on Tarandas outside of the time line?
I found this rather interesting. Is there any further info on Tarandas outside of the time line?
The Will and the Way.
I found this rather interesting. Is there any further info on Tarandas outside of the time line?
I could have sworn she was in a few other accessories, but can't remember what at this current time.
I think something like Merchant House or one of the other module accessories.
Not sure how since this is the official timeline from what was T$R at the time, from one of the official authors of the time Kevin Melka. That's the way I remember it anyways.
IIRC all the SK's that were killed died in Ur Draxa at the hands of Rajaat, well except for the Dragon. Tec was killed by being smashed with the Dark Lens, Andro was sbent to the Black, at Albech-Re was killed too. If I am wrong then let me know, but I do not think that I am.
If you read over the section that I underlined again, you will see that the whole sentance does not make any sense
After I finish reading the series of books I am on right now, I will be reading all of my DS novels again!
The Will and the Way.
Hmmmm...from W&W
Tarandas of Raam
Psionics have been a part of Athasian society for thousands of years. It is almost certain that use of mental power predates the founding of most of the city-states of the Tyr region. The modern culture's understanding of psionics dates back almost 900 years to a woman known as Tarandas, the Gray Lady.
Tarandas was a member of the Raam's nobility who displayed potent psionic talents at a very early age. At that time, no formal psionic schools existed. All psionic learning was passed on by the efforts of individual
masters who often banded into orders to pursue their own goals. As a young woman, Tarandas quickly rose past the teachings of the masters her family hired and began to develop her own methods of accessing psionic power.
Over the course of her lifetime, Tarandas codified the six disciplines and created the basic structure of learning that is still used by instructors throughout the Tyr region. She rejected the various orders that monopolized psionic power, and she opened an academy where people could study the Way without the mystery and deceit that had been fostered by the orders, who sought to preserve their own power.
It is said that Tarandas ventured beyond mastery of the Way into realms unseen by lesser beings. She vanished 800 years ago, her fate unknown.
IIRC all the SK's that were killed died in Ur Draxa at the hands of Rajaat, well except for the Dragon. Tec was killed by being smashed with the Dark Lens, Andro was sbent to the Black, at Albech-Re was killed too. If I am wrong then let me know, but I do not think that I am.
Thou art wrong, please re-read Curelean Storm. ;)
Kalak, and Abalache-re are the two exceptions to what you posted.
Abalanche-re gets killed just like it is stated in the timeline.
If you read over the section that I underlined again, you will see that the whole sentance does not make any sense
Makes perfect sense to me.
/me shrugs
- Boulder and Iron Companies (2 dwarven army units) are led by Sadira into the desert where they meet Abalach-Re and her templars.
- The dwarves right away enter formation and unhook the bondles on their back: full body metal armor that they put on henceforth
- Sadira casts a protection pale over the remaining dwarves that prevents Abalach-Re's magic to affect the dwarves
- Abalach-Re casts a spell from the midst of her templar ranks, killing a few of them, sending a lightning bolt hurtling just below the surface towards the dwarves - bypassing Sadira's pale - where it fries an entire company in their metal armor
- The queen becomes invisible and Sadira has to cast the Glitterdust spell (in the novel it could be better called Glittergoo) on a spot she sees being defiled; she succeeds at revealing the position of the invisible queen
- Eventually, Sadira confronts the queen with a piece of the broken Scourge (which Rikus gave her): she stabs the queen in the back, in the process the piece starts spewing black goo which consumes her remains and opens up a crack into the Black where we see a snarling maw that sends out a sorcerous tongue to lash at Sadira, which she blasts with her magic
Like I said, as soon as I finish reading the last few Fred Saberhagen books I need to get though from his Lost Swords stories, I plan on diving into the DS novels again- even though this will mean putting reading Robert Jordan's book "Knife of Dreams" (already out), George RR Martin's "A Feast for Crows"(going to his book signing in Ann Arbor Nov 11th 7pm to buy it), and RA Salvator's new one "Promise of the Witch-King" (due out Oct 25th) on hold! And this will also push back my re-reading of all of Raymord E. Feists books too- do you see the sacrifices I am making!!! :D
What can I say- I love reading!
1) Do half-giants, muls and other halfbreeds exist?
2) Where can I find information about Bodach, Ebe and Waverly?
3) Is slavery a common thing?
4) Can the primary classes be used in the same way in the green age as in now?
5) Does that mean the ocean does not exist anymore?:
8th World's Age (-14,014)
-Ral's Defiance
Nature-masters of Ty'agi attempt to expand the lifeforce of the ocean and accidentally create the Brown Tide-which brings about the end of the Blue Age.
6) Did The Warbringer carry out any message about cleansing the world to bring back the blue age, before the Cleansing Wars began? And how long before the CW did he start training his Champions?
I'd love for you guys to either tell me where to find these information or to just...you know, tell me :D
hmpf.....magic is for sissies
1) Do half-giants, muls and other halfbreeds exist?
Muls would exist though probably very rare. Half-elves would certainly exist. Half-Giants are not in existance until after the time of magic as they were magically created.
2) Where can I find information about Bodach, Ebe and Waverly?
Goodluck, there isn't much
3) Is slavery a common thing?
Probably less so than in the present age, but it seems likely that slavery is still common at least in some societies.
4) Can the primary classes be used in the same way in the green age as in now?
Preservers and Defilers do not exist, any class based on arcane magic is right out. Elemental clerics are present, but paraelemental clerics are not. Of course you can still have a "Magma" cleric whose actual patron is fire, or a "Rain" cleric whose actual patron is water or air, or even a "Sun" cleric whose actual patron is fire or air, "Silt" cleric even in parenthesis are right out.
5) Does that mean the ocean does not exist anymore?:
8th World's Age (-14,014)
-Ral's Defiance
Nature-masters of Ty'agi attempt to expand the lifeforce of the ocean and accidentally create the Brown Tide-which brings about the end of the Blue Age.
No. the ocean does still exist in the green age. It is merely less expansive than is used to be. In the Blue age the entire world was covered by water except for a scattering of islands. This is a picture of Athas in the green age:
6) Did The Warbringer carry out any message about cleansing the world to bring back the blue age, before the Cleansing Wars began? And how long before the CW did he start training his Champions?
I'd love for you guys to either tell me where to find these information or to just...you know, tell me :D
hmpf.....magic is for sissies
3) Is slavery a common thing?
Trapped minds in obsidian orbs that empowered machinery and such were the slaves of the Green Age for the most part, if I remember correctly.There's info on that in Mind Lords of the Sea, I think.
I'll take a stab at answering your questions though I am sure that other people can tell you more.
Thank you Ruhl! You rule
6) Did The Warbringer carry out any message about cleansing the world to bring back the blue age, before the Cleansing Wars began? And how long before the CW did he start training his Champions?
hmpf.....magic is for sissies
If I may I have some more questions....
1) How did the Champions summon their armies for the CW, were they already kings?
2) Does it make any sense that in 1500 years from now the SKs would find out a way to become gods?
that's life in the arena, win some loose some.
The campaign is supposed to start at the same time as the CW. My idea was to let them start at 3rd lvl and let them advance to 6th-8th lvl, to give them the taste of the Green age. There's going to be a final adventure at that time and in the end of that they'll accidentally be flushed into the future, about 1500 yrs after the current date.
Heh, I was planning on something similar but they were going to be immortal (as in don't age, can still be killed, etc.) once they came to the Age of the SM's.
I had some complaining about this so I will probably change it up a bit once the next campaign starts up.
Heh, I was plaanning on something similar but they were going to be immortal (as in don't age, can still be killed, etc.) once they came to the Age of the SM's.
I was going to start the players off in the Green Age as you, right before the Cleansing Wars started. I was going to run some adventures and fast forward to the timeframe when the ogres were going to become extinct, with the PCs helping them fight off the Champion's forces.
It was going to be a no win scenario, they were going to die and then somehow get resurrected (they were going to have to figure this out during game play on why it happened) in the Age of the Sorcerer Monarchs and continue play from there, realizing their side had lost the war and realizing what had happened to Athas. They were going to be immortal, but in the since that they wouldn't age, but yet could still be killed, just not by old age.
I was going to start the players off in the Green Age as you, right before the Cleansing Wars started. I was going to run some adventures and fast forward to the timeframe when the ogres were going to become extinct, with the PCs helping them fight off the Champion's forces.
It was going to be a no win scenario, they were going to die and then somehow get resurrected (they were going to have to figure this out during game play on why it happened) in the Age of the Sorcerer Monarchs and continue play from there, realizing their side had lost the war and realizing what had happened to Athas. They were going to be immortal, but in the since that they wouldn't age, but yet could still be killed, just not by old age.
Yeah exactly! My original idea was the same but just that they would be flushed into the current time. One of my players thought it would be way cooler to play in the future where SKs aren't known and there would be some pregress in technoligy. I myself find it stupid, but what doesn't one do for his players. So now I'm trying to build up a belivable progress in 1500 years.... :headexplo
Yeah exactly! My original idea was the same but just that they would be flushed into the current time. One of my players thought it would be way cooler to play in the future where SKs aren't known and there would be some pregress in technoligy. I myself find it stupid, but what doesn't one do for his players. So now I'm trying to build up a belivable progress in 1500 years.... :headexplo
Luckily most of the players that I will have this time around want to play in DS, minus one, but he's willing to give it another chance because he likes gaming with me.
But yeah, at that point I would be like, you don't really want to play in DS and I might as well run something else or have someone else run something.
Luckily most of the players that I will have this time around want to play in DS, minus one, but he's willing to give it another chance because he likes gaming with me.
But yeah, at that point I would be like, you don't really want to play in DS and I might as well run something else or have someone else run something.
Nákvæmlega!! (Exactly!!)
The device exploded (due to the PCs of course) and scattered them in different locations in the Green Age. Not only did it blow them back thousands of years, but it also changed them physically to how the races were statistically and cosmetically during the Green Age.
They were in the Green Age for many months until they encountered Irikos who ended up crushing the party. Once the PCs were killed in the past they were returned to their charred bodies in the future/present only to discover that they had been gone for mere minutes from the time the Device exploded.
Lots can happen, things I would include that could generate campaign ideas…
- attempts by certain xenophobic halflings to return to the Blue Age, these eventually find a Pyreen they can use in the shape of Rajaat (c. -9,000). These halflings are shunned by the Rhul-thuan who exist in the mountains, although they managed to infiltrate some of the feral tribes and use them for breeding and as servants
- many Spirits of the Land sought power, by manifesting elemental powers they enticed sentient Rebirth creatures to work with them (Druids) or worship them (elemental priests) and a gradual ascent occurs as they become regarded as named Gods (this later breaks down as formal religion is destroyed by Rajaat and the Champions)
- as the human races expand I saw them moving into a stage where they resemble warring states (I had Hittite/Bronze Age ideas in mind – chariots, racing across the plains to the south of Saragar and the Last Sea etc.). With two main powers split between the Tyr region and the north (will have to look at the maps), this sees a relatively quick escalation in psionic power and metal technology throughout the Tablelands over a couple of thousand years (c. -12,000 to -10,000). The wars grew to include giant clans, dwarves and lizardmen. The unleashing of powerful elemental and psionic powers wounded the land and created the massive lava fields, this destroyed most of the combatants and the more aggressive dynasty to the north.
An age of peace resulted. However, this cut off Saragar from the Tyr region as the region became inhospitable.
- a more maritime campaign for elves, they take to the seas and explore the world from an early period, (partly to escape warring humans) (c. -11,000 onwards). They encounter the more savage kreen (far north of the Crimson Savanna) and the now ancient hatred was born as the kreen slaughtered and ate the first eleven colonists (c. -9,000)
- across the central sea, orcs, ogres and a few giants clans founded a homeland after the Rebirth and became lost to most of the races on the Tyrian continent. They expanded east and encountered an ancient race (similar to the modern Nikaal). These creatures practise a form of lifeshaping through saliva secretions (think various types of Yuan –ti). These creatures exist in a strict hierarchy, with lifeshaped forms of themselves used for specific tasks. They capture and experiment on many of the humanoids and giants to serve as slaves/fighting machines (the Nikaal like creatures existed in various factions). At some point the orcs, etc. revolt (coinciding with a meteor strike in the area leaving the older civilisation broken and ruined, crater like remains far to the east on the modern Athas map, ‘http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7117/athas/’ go to visions area). The orcs, etc. recover quicker and slowly rebuild their culture, although now somewhat darker and malign.
for the moment...
Bell
....one final question! Were the champions of Rajaat already rulers of the cities they are named with in the timeline, like Sacha og Arala, Wyan of Bodach, Borys of Ebe, ect. ......
No. They apparently just came from those cities. Before becoming Champions of Rajaat, they were the cream of Rajaat's defilers-in-training, the ones he hand picked from those he taught defiling too. And the defilers were the cream of the preservers that were being openly taught across the world. I'd expect there to be some possible preserver Arcane schools prior to the Cleansing Wars. Sometimes people forget that Rajaat developed magic, then taught preserving to the people openly for a while. From the best students (I'd figure most malleable to his cause), he took them and taught them defiling. From the best of those, he hand-picked his Champions, and charged them with their individual wars.
So, the Green Age would have... the Rebirth through the "Years before Psionics" (psionics didn't exist in the Blie Age, but was introduced in the Green Age), to the Githyanki/Githzerai and the Psionic Bomb (and birth of the Gith); then from that point up through the "Years Before Arcane Magic"; then a period of time between the introduction of arcane magic in the world (as preserver magic) to the start of the Cleansing Wars. Then there would be the era of the Cleansing Wars that extends up to the Age of the Sorcerer-Kings. These are vast periods of time -- don't forget that all of civilization had to basically be built from the time of the Rebirth up through a good portion of the beginning of the Green Age. A lot happened during the Green Age.
No. They apparently just came from those cities. Before becoming Champions of Rajaat, they were the cream of Rajaat's defilers-in-training, the ones he hand picked from those he taught defiling too. And the defilers were the cream of the preservers that were being openly taught across the world. I'd expect there to be some possible preserver Arcane schools prior to the Cleansing Wars. Sometimes people forget that Rajaat developed magic, then taught preserving to the people openly for a while. From the best students (I'd figure most malleable to his cause), he took them and taught them defiling. From the best of those, he hand-picked his Champions, and charged them with their individual wars.
So, the Green Age would have... the Rebirth through the "Years before Psionics" (psionics didn't exist in the Blie Age, but was introduced in the Green Age), to the Githyanki/Githzerai and the Psionic Bomb (and birth of the Gith); then from that point up through the "Years Before Arcane Magic"; then a period of time between the introduction of arcane magic in the world (as preserver magic) to the start of the Cleansing Wars. Then there would be the era of the Cleansing Wars that extends up to the Age of the Sorcerer-Kings. These are vast periods of time -- don't forget that all of civilization had to basically be built from the time of the Rebirth up through a good portion of the beginning of the Green Age. A lot happened during the Green Age.
Good, thanks a lot. It's all coming into place. It's been more than 2 years since my last Dark Sun campaign, and I just wanted to make a good comeback for my guys. And thanks to you guys, it's working out very nicely. I think I'll start the campaign in the weekend after next. And now I'm just making up how Bodach, Ebe and Waverly looked like, how big the population was and some cultures in each city. Thanks a lot for your help guys, you're the best!! :D
If I recall correctly, Bodach was a preserver stronghold.
Yep- though today it is kinda filled with undead.
Sorry to disapoint folks, but Bodach was said to have "magicians" that, along with the city's armies, "refused all offers of alliance with the warring defilers and preservers".
Hence one of the reasons Irikos sacked the city. Go Irikos!!!!
I was under the impression that it was one of the last preserver strongholds which was why the 'One Who Must Not Be Named' came back to sac the city-
Voldemort is in Athas now?
AFAIK, the Book of Artifacts and the Timeline of Athas are the only references as to the situation of ancient Bodach, and they make no reference as to the nature of the "magicians". Since this is DS, I'd say the magicians in question must have been a mix of preservers and defilers whose loyalties laid with the city and not with philosophical standings like Defiling Is Bad or Preservers Are The Enemies of Rajaat The Benefactor...
So you would recommend that the moral of the city was equality between defilers&preservers? That there was no beef between them. They were able to work together and that they would stand against Rajaat's people? I kinda figured that, and that this was a HUGE city, because of it's neutral politics, in which arcane spellcasters weren't seen as bad men....so everybody who wanted to live "peacefully" lived in Bodach. That's my idea. Waverly was the complete opposite, that preservers weren't welcome and they were just hanged or burned if spotted in or near the city. My idea of Ebe, is that it was the biggest city of them all. It had huge buildings and was really ahead of it's time, politicly and business wise. Rich and strong!! Maybe I just see it like that because Borys was the dragon...but on the other hand it would be kinda cool if it really was like that.
please excuse my english, if what I was writing is hard to understand....
AFAIK, the Book of Artifacts and the Timeline of Athas are the only references as to the situation of ancient Bodach, and they make no reference as to the nature of the "magicians". Since this is DS, I'd say the magicians in question must have been a mix of preservers and defilers whose loyalties laid with the city and not with philosophical standings like Defiling Is Bad or Preservers Are The Enemies of Rajaat The Benefactor...
Or they were a society that thrived on pulling quarters from people's ears, yanking rabbits out of hats, and performing at kids parties. :D
So you would recommend that the moral of the city was equality between defilers&preservers?
For all instances and purposes, yeah.
But in truth: no. What I'm saying is rather that before Rajaat meddled with people's affairs with the Preserver Jihad and Cleansing Wars, preservers and defilers lived in a relative truce since the beginning, the defilers thinking the preservers fools, and the preservers seeing the defilers as blind opportunists.
Bodach, as a city that did not involve itself throughout the wars Rajaat started, was, thus, still working on the same regime that cities lived on during the Time of Magic, i.e. preservers and defilers are no more extraordinary than psions, and preservers are not the enemy of the people, and defilers are not superior to everyone, and both parties are not mortal enemies, all things that Rajaat successfuly managed to tear apart everywhere else on Athas.
So I see Bodach as still having the high morals of pre-Cleansing Wars times.
Mmm, maybe I should post the web project on my Mutiply page...what do you think? Would people read it?
Lawkeeper Efkenu wrote this really good story on Bodach for his Bodach Web Project. I adopted the views of the protagonists in that story as my own views on preservers/defilers before the Age of the Sorcerer-Kings.
Mmm, maybe I should post the web project on my Mutiply page...what do you think? Would people read it?
I know I would.
Lawkeeper Efkenu wrote this really good story on Bodach for his Bodach Web Project. I adopted the views of the protagonists in that story as my own views on preservers/defilers before the Age of the Sorcerer-Kings.
Mmm, maybe I should post the web project on my Mutiply page...what do you think? Would people read it?
I actually have a copy of that myself from waaaaay back. It was a very good story. It was never completed if memory serves me right.
A short time ago, Kam was dishing out copies of the material IIRC- I believe I have a copy of the PDF and word doc.
Mmm, maybe I should post the web project on my Mutiply page...what do you think? Would people read it?
Hell yeah! I know I would!!
Lawkeeper Efkenu wrote this really good story on Bodach for his Bodach Web Project. I adopted the views of the protagonists in that story as my own views on preservers/defilers before the Age of the Sorcerer-Kings.
Mmm, maybe I should post the web project on my Mutiply page...what do you think? Would people read it?
where is this bodach web project. i am in the process of bringing back irokos, i need as much info as i can get!! i would definately read it
While Efkenu's views on the Champions, mainly their maneurisms, tactics, and interactions, were...let's say neither PP or RaFoaDK-like, I find those elements unpalatable. BUT, I suspect I would have liked his Irikos a lot more if he'd finished the other chapters.
Also, and this is my personal tastes, the story makes exessive use of the same words over and over again, especially the Left Hand of Rajaat... Apparently Efkenu didn't run his story to knowledgable people who could have removed the surnumeral uses of Left Hand of Rajaat and a few other catch phrases, replacing them with something less repetitive, or removed their need entirely.
Aside from those two elements I believe this story is very well worth it, and more than certainly worth adding to the mythos of Athas: its depiction of Time of Magic preservers and defilers, the political and legal system of Bodach, the description of the domain sytem of governments of the Green Age, the elaboration on the meorties of Bodach, the far reaching Great Pantheon (the near-universal religion of the end of the Green Age), and the intricate history of Bodach all make for very good material to assimilate.
That story paints such a great picture of Irikos. I really wish that it was completed.
Yeah it's a very good story, and it also gives a good picture on the political status in Bodach and Waverly. It gives me a super good advantage on how to start this campaign. Seems like there had been war more or less in the tablelands even long before the CW. Too bad there isn't more....really blows...but thanx that is great!!
Maybe someone with grasp how to do some good writing would be willing to take up the torch and continue the story! Only a thought....
Not sure about the grasp of good writing, but I am debating taking a shot at picking it up where it left off.
Would work nice with my idea of having some Green Age material on my site once I get one going again.
Still reading, but so far this is a damn good story!
Maybe now there will be more people who will consider meorties, Green Age religions, and Efkenu's thoughts on the Great Pantheon (vaguely mentionned in the Godshold entry in the Revised Boxed Set) in a more serious light.
On another note, is no one finding the interaction between Irikos and Wyan(?) strange? As in the author didn't correctly capture the interactions of Champions among themselves, but also the idea that one Champion calls another for help while carrying out Rajaat's orders...I'm a bit uncertain.
That part, to me, makes me think of most of the fan comments for Star Trek novels, which are that most authors don't properly capture the iconic characters from the series and their behaviors. Feels like that to me.
Not sure about the grasp of good writing, but I am debating taking a shot at picking it up where it left off.
Would work nice with my idea of having some Green Age material on my site once I get one going again.
Still reading, but so far this is a damn good story!
I am in the same boat- I like writing and I think I am okay, but am not sure if I am proficient enough to do it myself. I have been trying to write a book (the worlds highlights are somewhat detailed on the multiply site) and I have alot of notes and great ideas, but when it comes down to putting it to type, it never comes out like I wanted or I just do not get anywhere.
Looking for me....PIG!
Since you all seem to be massive experienced DMs, is there any kind of advice you can give me? I'm asking because I've never done that kind of thing, go back in time and make a campaign. Maybe I just worry too much, but I just want to make an exciting and interesting adventure, that my players will remember, so badly it's almost killing me. So I was thinking if there's anything I should worry about that is not pointed out in the DMG? Or maybe just some advice of your own experience....
To make things really memorable you could have them brush up against someone who's still around in the future. One of the Champions before they became a disciple of Rajaat would be ideal, but I'd only do this if they have a sense of the importance of people and events that shaped Athas.
Otherwise, adventuring in the Green Age would be really different depending on the time. The early Green Age would have been an age of expansion and adventure into the unknown, whereas by the late Green Age most of the planet would have been travelled. Psionics would rule as a source of power and would be incorporated into nearly every aspect of life, try to highlight the difference between then and the ruthless barbarity of modern Athas.
To make things really memorable you could have them brush up against someone who's still around in the future. One of the Champions before they became a disciple of Rajaat would be ideal, but I'd only do this if they have a sense of the importance of people and events that shaped Athas.
That's good, I thought I might do something in that direction. The campaign starts in Bodach, and I was thinking they might run into Wyan, in an encounter or business wise. Or at least one of the SKs would run into them...
Otherwise, adventuring in the Green Age would be really different depending on the time. The early Green Age would have been an age of expansion and adventure into the unknown, whereas by the late Green Age most of the planet would have been travelled. Psionics would rule as a source of power and would be incorporated into nearly every aspect of life, try to highlight the difference between then and the ruthless barbarity of modern Athas.
Yeah it's about 144th kings age....don't want to say too much one of them might see what I'm writing on this site. The starting time is a key to this....you know what I mean ;)
Say your prayers, reverend....
You must be getting tired of all these questions, but I wanted to ask you if the Veiled Alliance existed just before the Cleansing Wars? Would they have started to form an alliance when Rajaat started his jihad against the preservers? Now I'm curious, because I want there to be an existing alliance in my campaign. I doubt there wouldn't be one in that time because the evil forces of Rajaat were already showing how destructive their defiling magic is and try and fight them off and form an alliance against them.....anybody with me?
Say your prayers, reverend....
I'd say that the Veiled Alliance formed as a result of the Preserver Wars. However, not necessarily as a full organization immediately. It probably had a growing period to define itself in the multiple cultures around during the Green Age, and had some considerable setbacks due to the Cleansing Wars themselves.
I'd say that the Veiled Alliance formed as a result of the Preserver Wars. However, not necessarily as a full organization immediately. It probably had a growing period to define itself in the multiple cultures around during the Green Age, and had some considerable setbacks due to the Cleansing Wars themselves.
Yep, that's what I imagined. Not a fully organized alliance, but the concept surely the same. I want to say that the only solid refuge for this alliance is in Bodach, considering the story Penn told us about, Bodach being neutral and all.
I'd say that the Veiled Alliance formed as a result of the Preserver Wars. However, not necessarily as a full organization immediately. It probably had a growing period to define itself in the multiple cultures around during the Green Age, and had some considerable setbacks due to the Cleansing Wars themselves.
I'd say the Alliance as we know it is the remnant of an earlier organization and resistance movement that survived by infiltrating the cities of the newly minted sorcerer-monarchs.
The former organization and resistance movement would have been a product of the massive eradication effort against preservers everywhere during the Preserver Jihad. But do realize that the war versus preservers was mostly won, culminating in the last few conflicts against groups such as the Wind Mages and their fortress of Akarakle, when and where the last concentrations of organized resistance were annihilated.
I'd surmise that only the end of the Cleansing Wars (btw, the Preserver Jihad did continue during the CWs as referenced in several sources) and the shifting of the Champions' priorities to other venues allowed the preservers of old to survive as a group with a distinct philosophy and not just as defilers in the making.
I want to say that the only solid refuge for this alliance is in Bodach, considering the story Penn told us about, Bodach being neutral and all.
Looks like it at first glance, but the story that tells of these ideas specifically says that the preservers and defilers of ancient Bodach did not care about the politics of magic outside of their city, thus no alliance with the defiler warlords, Champions, or the resistance fighters of the Preserver Jihad.
The strict policy of neutrality was espoused at all levels of the governement and even espoused by the population in general.
So I would greatly doubt that Cleansing Wars Bodach would not have cracked down hard on politically opportunist preservers taking advantage of the city's neutrality to set up shop there and foment further conflict that would only serve to bring attention to the city.
:fight!:I'd say the Alliance as we know it is the remnant of an earlier organization and resistance movement that survived by infiltrating the cities of the newly minted sorcerer-monarchs.
The former organization and resistance movement would have been a product of the massive eradication effort against preservers everywhere during the Preserver Jihad. But do realize that the war versus preservers was mostly won, culminating in the last few conflicts against groups such as the Wind Mages and their fortress of Akarakle, when and where the last concentrations of organized resistance were annihilated.
I'd surmise that only the end of the Cleansing Wars (btw, the Preserver Jihad did continue during the CWs as referenced in several sources) and the shifting of the Champions' priorities to other venues allowed the preservers of old to survive as a group with a distinct philosophy and not just as defilers in the making.
More or less a rewording, and somewhat clarifying of what I said.
Looks like it at first glance, but the story that tells of these ideas specifically says that the preservers and defilers of ancient Bodach did not care about the politics of magic outside of their city, thus no alliance with the defiler warlords, Champions, or the resistance fighters of the Preserver Jihad.
The strict policy of neutrality was espoused at all levels of the governement and even espoused by the population in general.
So I would greatly doubt that Cleansing Wars Bodach would not have cracked down hard on politically opportunist preservers taking advantage of the city's neutrality to set up shop there and foment further conflict that would only serve to bring attention to the city.
Thank you, noted! So the idea of preservers, in this particular alliance, hiding in this city and giving orders from there would be crap? Since they're all neutral in Bodach....
--checked to make sure, and it is indeed only 400-500 years old.
-squid, although the VA specialists say the story of the VA's creation is a fake, I do like it and think its close, thematically, to how the VA was created, that it must have happened in modern times (i.e. the Age of the Sorcerer-Kings).
1) How did the Champions summon their armies for the CW, were they already kings?
No, they were not "kings" in the sense I think you mean. Just think about it. How did Hitler gain power in germany, before WWII, before he was made chancelor. How would powerful adventurers gain power/command in a (A)D&D game. Combine the two.
The champions spent along time building up allies and exascerbating or creating racial tensions. They likely manipulated the world through both politicing, social work/programs, and thier own raw power (when all else failed).
It's not that hard for charismatic leaders with a clear vison to attract some fanatical followers, esp when those leaders are effectivily immortal and have fantastic personal power behind them.
The champions were around for many generations before the cleansing wars really got going. It's very possible that they had virtually raised whole communities to be anti-non human fanatics. To use hitler as an analogy again, just look at the dominace he achived, the fanatacisim he inspired in a single generation, and he was a normal human. Now compaire that tow the champions who had been working on similar goals for ten times as long and had infinently more personal, tangible power.
It's amazing the combined non-human and alied human forces withstood the champions for as long as they did.
As for defilers and preservers getting along in Bodach, why not? This was the green age, defiling magic before the cleansing wars had no mjor effect on Athas' climate or ecology. Not that it functioned any different, but the world was in far better shape and could soak up alot of damage without much noticeable change. Sure it destrodyed plant life when it was used, but there was plenty more. As resources got fewer and fewer, and the atrocities of the defilers under the command of the champions got greater and more widely know, that is when people started really hating defilers (and all wizards).
I liken it to how modern environmental groups (and people active in them), still get along with/use (often with some complaiing but little more), people/products whose concern for the environment come dead last. If earth was some desert waste land, with few plants, and virtually no water, people who waste them or destroy them would be seen in a much harsher light than they are now.
Basically, times change. A little waste and excess are of little concern to most in times of plenty.
Everyone who was interested in reading the story and web project by Lawkeeper Efkenu, its now up for download on Grummore's site!
Wheres this site?
Damn now I want to DM sush a campaign.(Runs off to the draft boards)
If you really want to include something like the veiled alliance, then maybe there might have been some group of preservers who pondered deeply into the future and predicted the ruinous devastation of defiling and what it would eventually do to Athas. Maybe some of them were seers too.
That's exactly what I've been talking about. Just an alliance of preservers who see that defiling magic is bad n'kay. But also a resistance against Rajaat's followers and Rajaat himself (think starwars, Darth Vader is a Champion of the Emperor). There has to be a resistance maybe it's not big but it's there. I put it's headquarters in Raam...their last hope.
-Priest's Contemplation
Rajaat sends all but a few of his students away. Using the power of the
Pristine Tower and the mysterious Dark Lens Rajaat creates his Champions.
Each Champion is ordered to eliminate one specific race from the face of
Athas in an effort to bring about the return of the Blue Age. The Cleansing
Wars begin.
How do you guys think the status of the silt sea was in that time because it already swallowed Ebe, Arala and Waverly 1200 years later, would there be any silt?
160th King's Age (-2,310)
-Wind's Fury
The great cities of Ebe, Waverly, and Arala are swallowed by the expanding
Silt Sea, though later it recedes from Waverly. The nearby city of Bodach
is spared, but becomes surrounded by silt.