World History
The rich and interwoven history of Aetherius is perhaps best delineated by a series of world-changing events, each marking the beginning of a great span of years collectively known as an Age.
| ooc: | The game is currently set in the Age of Mortality, which began in 2012 with the conclusion of the Hammer of the Gods event. |
|---|
| Historical Events | Historical Figures | Wonders of the World |
First Age: The Age of Humanity (1 AH - 850 AH)
See the main article at First Age.
Originating with the cult of the first God, Avasyu, this Age charts the first known rise of great human civilisations. Language, culture and knowledge grows rapidly as the ancient city of Caanae is founded, followed closely by the city of Stavenn to the south. Other Gods reveal Themselves to humanity, driving religious and cultural conflict, and it is in this time that the Generation War and the War of Avarice are fought.
Second Age: The Age of Awakening (1 AA - 1400 AA)
See the main article at Second Age.
The shattering of the one Moon into three distinct new moons marks the beginning of this Age, a cataclysmic event that unleashes magick for the first time upon the world of Aetherius.
During this time the city of Caanae fell into ruin, while the newer cities of Kinsarmar and Antioch are founded. The effects of magick upon the human populations cause powerful new abilities to be discovered, and also causes a series of rapid, adaptive mutations that eventually result in distinct new species: the scorpion-like akrabi, the elven sylayan, the wolfish lycaean, the reptilian kohdon, the aquatic lamira, the sturdy dwarves and the crafty gnomes.
Third Age: The Age of Desperation (1493 AA/1 AD - 679 AD)
See the main article at Third Age.
The destructive invasion by the Demons begins the Age of Desperation, the malignant beings having been summoned by Stavenn ritualists following the discovery of dark Magickal energies.
This Age also witnesses the creation of the Spring of Life in the ruins of Caanae, and the rediscovery of a lost temple that houses an ancient weapon of immeasurable power - the fabled Hammer of the Gods. The return of Demons, specifically the Demon Gods, began the Godsdeath War in the year 678 AD and led into the Age of Mortality.
Fourth Age: The Age of Mortality (1 AM/679 AD - Present)
See the main article at Fourth Age.
Aetherius began the Age of Mortality shortly after their entire Pantheon of Gods died at the hands of Azaoz and the Demon Gods, but first there was a war between the Horde, the undead, and the demons that had to end. Aetherians picked their sides, drew up alliances, broke said alliances, and fought many long, hard battles before the Hammer of the Gods was unveiled and used to eradicate the demon army once and for all.
When the time of mourning and healing passed, mortals were once again ready to organize themselves around certain beliefs or ideals, and so cults and sects began forming across the lands. Mages and Diabolists discovered new skills, the Blue Knuckle Inn opened near the Coliseum and began attracting mercenaries, and a former prisoner of the Eastern Horde escaped and helped Aetherius destroy important Horde strongholds.
A sudden terrential downpour revealed the village of Khous, plagued by the undead, and Aetherius would continue to deal with the threat of the undead when Lhortae and Silantor tried to seize control of the mysterious Death's Door. The barrier between the Prime Material Plane and the Underworld was destroyed and the power of Legion rocked the world.
The Living Mountain awoke in this Age, and a new entity, Urzog, the Scourge King, formed and joined the Horde in their longstanding war against the mortal races. The Magma Vents underneath the volcano in Yhumara Lake were opened up and travel was permitted to the Core of the World. The Tenth Monolith was built in Kinsarmar, and the Nexus that once swallowed up Eloweth and Nemesis returned and uncovered memories of the late Gods.
Urzog's Horde army gained an advantage when he successfully invaded the settlement of Skegdald near the Ithaquan Council. Xuli, an ascendari attached to the Sect of Storms, died at the hands of a young entity who would be reborn as Vespasien, the diabolus, who aligned herself with the Sect of the Leechwood.
The Mirror of Flesh, once destroyed by the Legion, was reformed and sparked a conflict between no less than five different factions, ultimately ending with the victory of Oassaosh, the Imp Lord. In that same year, the Diabolists gained new skills of Ritualism and Nightfall, and a strange creature named Gurmi began to inhabit Lake Taigaer in the city of Kinsarmar, spreading filth and corruption.
The Age of Mortality may have been kicked off by one of history's most significant events, the death of its Gods, but the discovery of leylines and the subsequent destruction of the Empire of Stavenn would soon rival it in terms of importance.