TIMELINE DETAILSClouded Moon1500 Evacuation Given the stresses of a massive plague threatening to wipe out all sentient species, the few quarantined remnants of the Sylvan clans set out for other land. The remaining members of twenty four clans set out, all in all numbering 800 people, for an unknown destination rumored to lie somewhere to the West. The Sylvan were the last to leave, being independent-minded hunters deeply rooted in the forest floor, and loathing the open seas as they do. With each clan to a vessel, twenty four vessels of different sizes set out, and only eighteen made the journey. They arrived at late summer on the eastern shore of the western continent at what is now the Ruins of Kelt'aar, located on the western shore somewhere midline of the continent. The Clans, as a group, began preparing for winter immediately. They built the town that makes up the ruins. They say that the spirits of those who did not survive the winter still drift among the forest glades of Kelt'aar, but some from all eighteen clans survived. 1495-1410 Exploration During this time, the town of Kelt'aar grew and became an established town, living off of the land and the sea, while volunteers from each of the now 18 clans set out on a journey of exploration to find a permamnent more forested home. Some groups never returned, but five of the groups returned with tales of a great and majestic forest far to the South East . 1408 Sojourn All eighteen Sylvan clans left Kelt'aar for the majestic forests, which had been named Myrk'ilshin. The journey was long, hard, and slow. 1350 Establishment of Spire The Sylvan clans, on reaching Myrk'ilshin, immediately began building the town of S'pire, not too far inside the wall of trees provided by the great forest. 1300 Diaspora Now well established, S'pire became a good base for ventures of the clans to new territories. Some made for the mountains, others journeyed to the rolling densely forested hills to the south. For the most part, the Sylvan Clans were now set to resume their normal societal structure, but 5 of the clans had come to enjoy the organization and structure of a larger society, and remained behind in S'pire. These five clans unified their government and began the establishment of a more agrarian society. The remaining 13 clans left S'pire to resume a traditional life closer to the forests. Two clans disappeared through Blackstone Pass, and were not heard from again until the passing of many seasons. Here are some of the surviving clans and their translations, along with living individuals on the isles known to have that heritage, and a rough idea of their location. Shining Moon1250 Sha'rok During the time from 1250 up until first human contact in 1050, Sylvans lived in isolation and peace in the forest. Clans became established in their new locations and made them home, each with ways specifically adapted to that part of the forest. The Magic Arts were restored and rekindled as sacred places became established through the passing of a priestess. During the Ceremomy of Lodak Telei (Mystic night) aound 1150 the priestess Sylva'sha (nine souls) gave her spirit into a glassy oval orb which became known as the Sha'rok. The power of life emanated from the slow dark pulse within the stone, and in its brightness, the trees of that clan grew tall beyond measure. They became the clan of the Spiar'dundin. 1050 The Visitors Spire became more firmly established as a fortress city and began sending out explorers. Some of these exploreres must have made contact with other races and told of the Sylvans in the deep forests. Spire received its first visitors, led by the human explorer Alcon Laverford. Some formal relations were established and some trade routes opened. Some human settlers began to migrate toward the forests from the central plains. Some sylvan clans expressed interest and curiosity on hearing of the humans, while others, most likely those with a heritage of interacting with humans on the eastern continent, were wary. 950 Battle of the Woods A large group of human settlers moved south into what is now Mittle and began to settle there. Human notions settling, being that of cutting down and clearing away trees, led to outrage among the neighboring Sylvan. In the ensuing skirmish to save the trees, many Sylvan lives were lost against the superior shields and blades of the humans. The Sylvan were forced to retreat and give up the territory to the new settlement. However, the retreating sylvans took back with them many ideas about shields and swords that they had seen the humans use. The shields were good at stopping arrows, and the swords very good at close range combat. The thin forests of Mittle did not provide enough cover to allow the Sylvan to use the trees to their advantage. Mittle never grew into a large fortress, but did become a large settlement where the Dwarves, Sylvan, and Thoom all came to trade their wares. Waning Moon665 First Unification War Balmord the Red, with ambitions to unify all the human kingdoms and conquer the other races. Construction of the city Hyrios, still the second largest city on the Western Continent. Thus began The First Unification War. 640 First Dwarf-Sylvan War Battle is over harvesting of trees and clearcutting, initially. Sylvans lose. Mining and Industrial camp of Garath established at northern edge of Myrkil'Shin just where the mountains bend to the West. The mountain is a volcanic one, semi-active, the sylvans call it Pyridon. In the caves of Pyridon is rumored to be an immense Pit that the dwarves use as a source of energy for their forging operations. 590 Dwarves steal Sha'rok The Giver of Life is taken away and used as a key element to enchant Dwarven blades inside the Garath complex. 588-565 Subversion of Gal'toth The Sylvan trick and capture Dwarven leader Gal'toth, overseer of Garath. Hold him ransom for Sha'rok. Dwarves do not surrender. The conflict ends as the dwarves hurl Sha'rok down the Pit of Pyridon. The volcano immediately erupts. Garath and the entire mining community is destroyed and left in ruins as the mountain swells. The Sylvan execute Gal'toth and capture his soul in yet another stone, which they then call the Gal'rok. It burns with anger and drives to insanity all who are forced to gaze into its depths. 490 Stealth of Gal'rok The Xantha'kol clan, upon hearing of the Stone of Gal'rok, emerges from Blackstone Pass, steals the stone under the cover of night, and rushes it away again through the pass. The clan had been presumed lost after its initial passage through the pass during the Diaspora. A representative army from numerous other clans set out to recover it. They head off to the mountains. But instead of discovering the Xantha'kol, the er'Manos - the Dwarves - in all their splendor. er'Manos translates "evil rich." They witnessed entrances to vast caverns out of which came jewels and gold beyond imagination. And at the heart of the Sword of the World Moutnains, the Dwarven city of Makcha'tin. And around it, miles and miles of desolation - completely void of trees. Looking from high in the rocks, they saw there a great Temple around which dark clouds swirled continually, glowing underneath with sparks of white and amber. The team returned to the forests at once, not understanding what they had seen and mistaking the forges for a dark, mystical force at work. 440 Sylvan invasion of Makcha'tin In an effort to rid their newly found neighbors of this dark force, the Sylvans invaded. Many casualties on both sides, and a persistent hatred now established. The forges, however, did not fall. The Sylvan return to the forests in anger toward the Fyr'ilshin - the fire of the forest. 420 Fyr'ilshin Desolation In an act of retaliation,the Dwarves set fire to the sparsely populated and sparsely wooded areas west of the Blackstone Pass. What little forest that was there succombed to the expanding Desert to the west, leaving an eerie, charred landscape full of burned trees, rock, sand, and drifting spirits of the Sylvan who died in that catastrophe. This dry desert region is now known as Fyr'ilshin. 349 Second Unification War
326 Humans invade S'pire. and other Sylvan Territory - loss of outer provinces - the Sylvan War
324 Peace Treaty with Humans
290 War of Rememberance - Sylvans regain lost regions
117 Yellow Pustulance
2 Sylvans join Alliance
1 Battle of Tears
5 Dwarves fall to Ascendancy
8 Sylvan War of Independence. Defeat by Ascendancy. Two Protectorates Established.
132 Dwarves discover portal
180 Dwarves discover Ghorak Zo homeworld |