History

A Brief History of Kaledor

[??? - c. 30,000 BC] The Primal Aeon

• The time before recorded thought and understanding is known as The Primal Aeon. Little is known of the details of life from this time. Because so little has been discovered, the Primal Aeon is less of an official historical era, and more often used as a term to describe something old beyond comprehension.

[c. 30,000 BC - c. 10,000 BC] The Age of Revelations

• This era represents a highly romanticized segment containing the origins of civilization, culture, art, religion, and history itself. It is dubbed the Age of Revelations for two reasons. The first meaning represents the advancement and discoveries of the various civilized races. The second represents the parting of the veil between the different planes of existence, roundly recognized as the origins of magic.

[c. 10,000 BC - Year 0] The Dark Reign

• The Dark Reign is a period of history shrouded in rumors. Like its predecessor, this era's name has a double meaning. The period is renowned for the cruelty of the various dynasties that smothered the land in their power and petty feuds. However, the constant war and destruction also led to an anti-enlightenment, during which many of the greatest discoveries were lost, and the majority of recorded history is singularly concerned with the greatness of its rulers.

[Year 0] The Cataclysm

• The most widely known historical event is the Cataclysm. Nothing is known of what caused it, and its effects were so varied and widespread that it is believed that many are yet to be discovered. Just about every terrible event imaginable has been reported, from natural disasters of immense scale to lake sized portals spewing burning demons; from unnatural hordes of shambling corpses to tremendous behemoths rising from the oceans. Every civilization in Kaledor was laid low during the Cataclysm, and historians acknowledge that all have yet to return to their former glory.

[Year 0 - 467] The Age of Ashes

• After the Cataclysm the races of Kaledor died off in large numbers due to starvation, disease, and competition for scarce resources. Small societies were able to slowly form and set down shallow roots, but most social races returned to living as nomadic tribes.

[467 - 1001] The Era of Serenity

• For a time every civilization was so consumed with scraping together enough to live that there was relatively little conflict between them. There is little known about the Era of Serenity save that it was a time of recovery for many of Kaledor's inhabitants.

[1001 - 2207] The Time of Heroes

• Early in the year 1001, magic was rediscovered, or as some believe, reawakened. The process of its recovery was slow, with very few able to wield it. Those who could, however, became widely known for their supernatural capabilities. Along with heroes, however, came many villains, and as magic was reintroduced to the world, so too were many dangerous and unpredictable entities. Rule over Kaledor was tumultuous during this period, with war touching every part of the world.