Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Zardnaar Nov 28, 2005 23:18:02	A couple of questions about the DS product line and history of the world. 1. The whole Rajaat/Cleansing war storyline. I remember reading the Prism Pentad but I don't remember it mentioning the Cleansing Wars or much about the green age. When did TSR start developing this storyline or has my memory failed me? Its been a while since I read the Prism Pentad. City by the Silt Sea seems to be the 1st TSR product that mentions the Cleansing Wars or the Green Age that I recall. 2. What sort of Knowledge:History check would be required for some of the history of Athas? Heres some of my numbers (pre prism pentad). I'm not sure how commen the knowledge of the events of the Prism Pentad are in Athas. DC 10 It is rumored that Athas was was fertile and green DC 15 Ruins of the ancients dot the Tyr region with names like Bodach and Yaramuke. Some are more recent than others. The Silt Sea was once water DC 20 Yaramuke, Kalidnay, and Giustanel were once ruled by Sorceror Kings. Bodach dates from an earlier age. Magic ruined the world in ancient wars. DC 25 The Silt sea was once known as the Sunrise Sea. The ancient war was known as the Cleansing War. The Warbringers champions and defilers lead the destruction of Athas and ended the green age. DC 30 The warbringers name was Rajaat and his champions names were Borys etc. The champions goal was to eliminate non human races. DC 35 Rajaat wanted to return Athas to the Halfings by killing everyone else. His champions turned on him and became the Sorceror Kings. DC 40 Rajaat is still imprisoned in the Black. The Dragon is actually Borys who used the Dark Lens to turn the Champions into Dragon Kings
#2 master_ivan Nov 29, 2005 9:41:54	Athas' 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.
#3 Zardnaar Dec 05, 2005 2:55:21	How "official" is that timeline as it seems to contradict TSR source material?
#4 master_ivan Dec 05, 2005 6:03:08	How "official" is that timeline as it seems to contradict TSR source material? This is THE official timeline http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/DStimeline.rtf
#5 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Dec 05, 2005 8:25:26	How "official" is that timeline as it seems to contradict TSR source material? Bear in mind that most of the DS materials tends to conflict, at least in part, with the DS materials.
#6 Zardnaar Dec 05, 2005 21:49:34	Yeah I figured there were afew contradictions as I've noticed this in DS sourcebooks as well. What would a Knowledge:History check involve though if one wanted to know specifics about Athas history? DC 25 to have heard of Rajaat, DC 15? The SKs tried to hide the past.
#7 figmentofyourimagination Dec 05, 2005 22:14:38	Bear in mind that most of the DS materials tends to conflict, at least in part, with the DS materials. Because DS2 and DS2r used the Wanderer to convey information in their sourcebooks, I always took any contradictions to be purposeful in-game. After all, with near complete illiteracy the oral histories are more likely to diverge from the Truth faster. Look at the game of Telephone or many real world mythologies. I kind of thought of the Wanderer as Athas's version of Herodotus. If the folks at TSR had a timeline for the development team, I'd trust that they used that as the basis from which to spin histories of varying accuracy for each product. If the above timeline is such a timeline, that's one of the most valuable things I've ever run across for DSDMs!
#8 ruhl-than_sage Dec 05, 2005 23:19:22	Did anybody else just read that?!? I could of sworn somebod just posted... no? I quess it was just a figment of my imagination.
#9 Pennarin Dec 05, 2005 23:44:31	Did anybody else just read that?!? I could of sworn somebod just posted... no? I quess it was just a figment of my imagination. Aroo? Do you mean a wizo deleted a post near-instantaneously?
#10 flip Dec 06, 2005 9:23:57	Sorry penn, but it looks like you win the oblivious award. I do pretty much the same thing as the poster above ... Everything we know about Athas' history has been delivered in character. Which means that nothing is really authoritative. This fits, when you consider the way that the Sorcerer Kings have opressed their people -- no written histories at all, and the oral tradition will only get you so far. It's been two thousand years since the Cleansing Wars ended. Think about that stretch of time in our own world. Imagine how little we know even *with* written histories. Now imagine several extremly powerful beings -- with the ability to invade your mind -- actively determined to supress knowledge of a certain time period. The book of Kemalok Kings was such a valuable find precidesly because it was a 2000 year old book describing the history of the world. Basically, a simple Knowledge(History) check should NOT be enough to open up a character's knoweldge of the cleansing wars. It's a major game event. And in that case, there's still a lot of misinformation floating around. Contradictions? Those are the least of it. You've got several thousand years of propganda, followed by another two thousand years of coverup to deal with. Character's shouldn't know which end is up, when it coms to ancient history ....
#11 Pennarin Dec 06, 2005 9:28:02	Sorry penn, but it looks like you win the oblivious award. Your post is a bit confusing flip... Are you telling me I'm right about deletion of post by wizo, or are you telling Zardinaar or one of the others that history has been tampered with?
#12 ruhl-than_sage Dec 06, 2005 9:51:56	In order to know any real details about the history of previous ages you need to have the skill Knowledge (Ancient History). Knowledge history merely covers the history of the Brown Age, so Knowledge (History) checks would look more like this. DC 10: The many of the ruins around the tablelands used to be prosperous city-states with their own SKs, but fell into ruin through the SK's petty conflicts. DC 15: House Shom rose to prominance eight centuries ago from relative obscurity. DC 20: The Ruins of Kalidney were once a city-state of great wealth. The cities ruler Kalid-Ma lost his mind, however and began a destructive rampage. The several of the other SKs joined forces to kill the mad SK about 300 years ago. DC 25: The ruins of Guistenal, used to be a vibrant port city ruled by the powerful SK Dregoth. The other SKs, fearing his power, banned together to destroy him and his city was laid to ruins in the process. DC 30: The modern schools of psionics date back to 900 years ago and a woman named Tandas the Greylady, from Raam. She developed the modern disciplines and started the first psionic academies, but disappeared 800 years ago in search of other realms of exsistance.
#13 Pennarin Dec 06, 2005 10:41:00	DC 20: The Ruins of Kalidney were once a city-state of great wealth. The cities ruler Kalid-Ma lost his mind, however and began a destructive rampage. The several of the other SKs joined forces to kill the mad SK about 300 years ago. There's an old preserver VA member that has been investigating the ruins of Kalidnay for years now, and his suppositions about the cataclysm that befell the city do not go this far. To read more about his ideas, read the Kalidnay entry at the end of Veiled Alliance.
#14 nytcrawlr Dec 06, 2005 10:47:16	In order to know any real details about the history of previous ages you need to have the skill Knowledge (Ancient History). Knowledge history merely covers the history of the Brown Age, so Knowledge (History) checks would look more like this. Maybe I'm just overly strict, but I wouldn't allow the information you are writing with such low DCs, if at all. To me, PCs shouldn't be finding out any information remotely close to what you presented till they get into double digit levels, and then maybe start finding out about Ancient History stuff close or once they are within Epic.
#15 Sysane Dec 06, 2005 10:55:41	Maybe I'm just overly strict, but I wouldn't allow the information you are writing with such low DCs, if at all. To me, PCs shouldn't be finding out any information remotely close to what you presented till they get into double digit levels, and then maybe start finding out about Ancient History stuff close or once they are within Epic. Or not until they meet someone who is keen to Athas' true history like Katal the Mover in the ruins of Guistenal.
#16 nytcrawlr Dec 06, 2005 11:04:13	Or not until they meet someone who is keen to Athas' true history like Katal the Mover in the ruins of Guistenal. That three.
#17 huntercc Dec 06, 2005 16:05:54	Did anybody else just read that?!? I could of sworn somebod just posted... no? I quess it was just a figment of my imagination. Here's a hint Penn... re-read Sage's post, then re-read the entire post above his... :D
#18 zombiegleemax Dec 06, 2005 16:11:35	The way i run it is that the only history you can learn make with a knowledge history check is local (to the city state/s or area/s you are familiar with). Any thing older than 2 to 3 hundred years I would require a spell or a psionic power to get accurate information simply because the truth could be very distorted and may have been distorted intentionally. Ancient history should only be gained through epic or near epic adventures or through and epic character they may have as a source.
#19 Pennarin Dec 06, 2005 17:03:48	Here's a hint Penn... re-read Sage's post, then re-read the entire post above his... Rhaaaaa....bleeeee.... I indeed earned the oblivious award.
#20 Zardnaar Dec 06, 2005 21:57:03	Don't think you have to be epic to find out about some of Athas history. I suppose its up to the DM to reveal bits of the planets past. personally all my PCs have come across is some Halfling ruins which had a sort of hologram of a white tower and water covering the globe. They've also found a single sheet of copper in ancient Dwarven detailing something along the lines of. "Kemalok still stands, although the forces of Borys the Champion are nearing our outpost. I hope or deaths shall gain time for the refug......" They recovered that from the ruins of a hilltop fort revealed by a standstorm between Altaruk and South Ledopolis. Pity the ruins had a Gaj in them. How about this- lower DC checks result in distorted information (if any)? DC 10 It is rumored that Athas was was fertile and green DC 15 Ruins of the ancients dot the Tyr region with names like Bodach and Yaramuke. Some are more recent than others. DC 20 Yaramuke, Kalidnay, and Giustanel were once ruled by Sorceror Kings. Bodach dates from an earlier age. Magic ruined the world in ancient wars. The Silt Sea may have once contained water- imagine that. DC 25 Defilers ravaged the world in ancient wars. DC 30. The wars were known as the Cleansing Wars. Several races were wiped out. Armies were lead by champions. It seems several ruins are from an earlier age and are made from living material DC 35 Trolls, Pixies, Gnomes, Orc etc no longer exist in modern Athas. The Champions names were Borys, Keltis etc who obliterated whole cities. Halflings were once civilised. DC 40 The Champions served a being called Rajaat, also known as the warbringer. etc. Higher checks result in more information.
#21 ruhl-than_sage Dec 06, 2005 23:09:33	Its all up to the individual DM as to what sorts of knowledge are acessible or not and I think it would matter where the character was and what race they were as well. History from oral traditions can remain quite accurate in matters that are close to the interests of the holders of the history. Nobles who are usually able to read and write would of course have access to much greater historical information especially about their own City-State. Dwarves as a race would have much greater historical knowledge, because of their much longer lifespans, especially about their own history. For instance a dwarf from Kled would alomost certainly know about the ruins of Kemelok even without any ranks in Knowledge (History) and many dwarves might even know the name of the Dragon. A member of a merchant house with Knowledge (History) would likely have much more exensive knowledge of the history of the houses particularly their own and their direct competators.
#22 figmentofyourimagination Dec 08, 2005 3:11:08	DC 35 Trolls, Pixies, Gnomes, Orc etc no longer exist in modern Athas. The Champions names were Borys, Keltis etc who obliterated whole cities. Halflings were once civilised. That just strikes me as odd. Races which haven't existed in millennia, especially in a history-poor world, would mean nothing in name only. If you want that kind of information available with a mere DC35, try: "DC 35 Athas once housed a diverse number of races, including beings known as Trolls, Pixies, Gnomes, Orcs, et cetera. The Champions name's were Borys, Keltis, et cetera--and it is they who obliterated whole cities. Halflings were once civilised."
#23 Zardnaar Dec 08, 2005 3:22:57	Even though Athas is a history poor world there are ruins and undead remains of the exterminated races. Also records get found as well and in a D&D universe any curious wizard/priest could ask the right questions with divination spells. Also necromancers have more than one way to get results. DC 35 or 40 will rule out 99.99% or more of the worlds population. The people capable of making that type of checks would probably have the resources to find out info if they could be bothered. Only around 15% of 10th level characters who have dedicated 13 ranks in ancient history and have 20 intelligence could make a DC 35 check. Thats assuming they have the inclination to do so or can be bothered.
#24 crusadercitadel Feb 27, 2008 23:39:12	Athas' Official Timeline -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. Has anyone ever updated this timeline to cover the Athas.org supplements?
#25 Mulhull Feb 28, 2008 18:22:09	1. The whole Rajaat/Cleansing war storyline. I remember reading the Prism Pentad but I don't remember it mentioning the Cleansing Wars or much about the green age. When did TSR start developing this storyline or has my memory failed me? Its been a while since I read the Prism Pentad. City by the Silt Sea seems to be the 1st TSR product that mentions the Cleansing Wars or the Green Age that I recall.>> Rajaat is first mentioned in the novels in the Crimson Legion novel by Troy Denning, and the first game product to mention him is the City state of Tyr book. City by the silt sea first mentions what his plan was in Green age/cleansing wars. DC 25 The Silt sea was once known as the Sunrise Sea. The ancient war was known as the Cleansing War. The Warbringers champions and defilers lead the destruction of Athas and ended the green age. How much do you know about Athas history? I never read anything that said the Silt Sea was once called the Sunrise Sea. Did you read that on Brian's home made Dark Sun maps? Those weren't made by TSR/WOTC, but by him, it's fan material. DC 30 The warbringers name was Rajaat and his champions names were Borys DC 40 Rajaat is still imprisoned in the Black. The Dragon is actually Borys who used the Dark Lens to turn the Champions into Dragon Kings He was imprisoned in the Hollow beneath black for 2000 years and is now trapped there again. I don't think Borys did anything to them with the lens (except on the timeline) but they used the defiler metamorphosis spell to become dragons.
#26 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Feb 28, 2008 22:28:23	How much do you know about Athas history? I never read anything that said the Silt Sea was once called the Sunrise Sea. Did you read that on Brian's home made Dark Sun maps? Those weren't made by TSR/WOTC, but by him, it's fan material. Ironic, considering what you are replying to was posted before Brian's maps were made. Might want to swallow that one. I believe it is referenced in the official timeline, I almost want to say another source as well, if not City by the Silt Sea, then maybe Valley of Dust and Fire, or Earth, Air, Fire, Water. Could also have been the Wanderer's Chronicle, or the Windriders of the Jagged Cliffs... I am fairly certain that it's in a pretty big book. He was imprisoned in the Hollow beneath black for 2000 years and is now trapped there again. I don't think Borys did anything to them with the lens (except on the timeline) but they used the defiler metamorphosis spell to become dragons. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on that one. There are quite a few people with radically different opinions on what happened.
#27 Zardnaar Feb 28, 2008 23:05:53	Ironic, considering what you are replying to was posted before Brian's maps were made. Might want to swallow that one. I believe it is referenced in the official timeline, I almost want to say another source as well, if not City by the Silt Sea, then maybe Valley of Dust and Fire, or Earth, Air, Fire, Water. Could also have been the Wanderer's Chronicle, or the Windriders of the Jagged Cliffs... I am fairly certain that it's in a pretty big book. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on that one. There are quite a few people with radically different opinions on what happened. I think the revised boxed set referred to it as the sunrise sea.
#28 Pennarin Feb 29, 2008 0:28:18	Valley of Dust and Fire, Wanderer's Chronicle, or the Windriders of the Jagged Cliffs. Probably all of the above. Valley, for sure, in the short tale describing the land that existed before the valley was created.