Historical Outline of The Lands of the Inner Sea:
approx 650 years ago:
Chief Magnus enjoys great success in unifying the feuding orc tribes of the Eastern Shores into a nation.
634 years ago:
Magnus crowned first Emporer of the Imperium, dies shortlythereafter. Record of ceremony preserved in the Dreamchaser Diaries
approx 600 to 450 years ago:
Gradual absorbtion and conquest of other tribes and peoples around the inner sea into the Orcan Imperium. Scattered elven tribes fall to imperial legions. On command from the church of Grummsh, an emporer(sources do not agree which one) declares that elves shall henceforth be slaves. No surviving imperial records from this period.
417 years ago:
According to myth, 2 owls direct Cuthbert to Breezecoast, where he establishes his monastery and reflects for 17 years before deciding to seek his retribution.
approx 400 years ago:
First appearance of records written in Orcish script, instead of common or Dwarven. They record a census which includes refrence to elven slaves in a manner that specifies one in ten is to be killed. Elven oral tradition holds that this was due to the emporer of the time making an offer of marraige to the daughter of an influential noble clan only to be rejected, for the daughter was known to have a particular fondness for her elven pleasure-slave.
approx 350 years ago:
Many Imperial records exist, largely troop movements and supply route maps. Luff Lucre established as a prison colony. First records of humans serving in Imperial army. First uses of Air-Cav units.
approx 260 years ago:
After gaining credit for inventing the Grummot, Dwarmij builds tower in Fyflot, assumes new title of Imperial Grand-Sorceror. Holds it for nearly 140 years. There are rumors attributing his longevity to dragonblood, dark magics, vampirism and even the possibility that he was really a [i]polymorph[/i]ed elf.
250 years ago:
Imperium imposes tribute on Delimit, moves fleet into port in prepartaion to attack the lands along the Dwarven sea. However, the death of the emporer forces the fleet admiral to return to the capital with his force to protect his own political intrests. Dwarven war-ballads still celebrate their "war won by valor alone"
225 years ago:
Dwarmij begins unspeakable magical experimentation upon elven slaves who have arcane aptitudes. All of his subjects are branded, many still live today.
Humans granted rights to hold land, slaves and NCO ranks in imperial legions.
200 years ago:
Imperial fleet lays seige to and then conquers Yirth, despite the skill of the gem-lords' merecenary companies.
Fearful of the Imperium's naval might, the Chamber of Galleongate passes appeasement resolution,
offering one ship every year to the Imperium as tribute. Sasha, Count of Vodyonoi delivers a scathing speech condemning the Chamber for the cowardice of its actions.
175 years ago:
Duthokk the First Crowned Emporer of the Orcan Imperium. He inherits seemingly invincible legions and
navy. Duthokk then reigns over two of the most crushing defeats to the prestige of the Imperium.
173 years ago:
Imperial navy prevented from reaching outer sea by Auliculian flotilla under the command of King Wencless I(The Ruthless). Auliculia remains autonamous and free from tribute. Great statue of Wencless built in Amalgam, stands there to this day, gave rise to the quip that "Wencless the Ruthless was never defeated by man, orc or god, but was humbled by the pigeons."
Recent scholarship in Invar has uncovered evidence that Wencless was aided by Count Sasha and his personal guards aboard [i]The Kestral[/i].
170 years ago:
Goblin tribes sack Pannier, the Easternmost outpost of civilization, then retreat into the desert swiftly. Imperial policy of goblinoid extermination begins, Duthokk assures his generals that troops will be finished in time for the harvest.
160 years ago:
Hunting down of goblin tribes becomes Imperium's top priority. The human Suede Void sees combat with goblins.
Imperium completes construdtion of their garrison and shipyards at Revet, but Auliculian merchant marines and pirates from Galleongate prevent the Imperium from ever establishing a meaningful naval presence on the outer sea.
150 years ago:
Suede Void's revolt crushed when General Axetooth seizes Imperial throne and burns the Oxodrome to the ground. Suede's elven pleasure-slave and co-conspiritor Ieneliael Galanodel escapes. Decades later, the elves will name their country after her.
Axetooth promptly imposes harsh punishment on elves (random slaughter of one elvish son out of two) and curtials freedoms of growing human merchant class.
140 years ago:
Axetooth dies of consumption, is suceeded by his largely incompetant brother Squirmfang. Squirmfang ends the harsh punishments imposed by Axetooth, grants extended rights to humans. Ieleliael emerges from hiding in Luff Lucre with the Suede Pretender, and begins to encourage new revolts.
135 years ago
Scattered revolts occur throughout Imperium, most crushed, but it becomes painfully obvious that Squirmfang cannot deploy troops to handle all uprisings. He grants more rights and freedoms, but propaganda designed to undermine him is distributed by rival orc clans. His reforms are mistakenly beleived to be return to laws of Axetooth. This incites more revolts, and demoralizes Imperial troops, especially human NCOs.
130 years ago:
The Suede Pretender revealed to be a fake. Ieleniael beheaded on the steps of the emporer's palace. Breifly it appears that Imperium has stabilized. Then Fingolfin Liadon recovers Ieleniael's head from it's pike atop the Imperial palace and flees to Nowhere, where he gives a stirring speech (famous among elven bards) that rouses those who had merely fled to act instead, so that her death is not in vain and her spirit may live on in all elves of true heart who would no longer live as slaves.
Over the next several months Fingolfin then trains his ragtag group of volunteers into a mighty legion.
127 years ago
Liadon's legion holds off full might of imperial army for a seven month seige that ends when Squirmfang dies and the imperium withdraws. Victory of Liadon's legion draws volunteers from as far away as Urticatia, and inspires a new round of revolts throughout the Imperium.
125 years ago
Orcish succession gets very messy. There is more than one acting emporer for at least three different periods. Two emporers are executed by generals before their coronations are completed.
Rary escapes from Dwamij's tower in Fyflot, destroying it in process, begins to travel the world.
120 years-ago
Mordankainen 1/2 Elven Disjoins the Mithral Grummot outside of Tiro, rebels proceed to route demoralized imperial troops. Rebel army begins march to Hosanna, but Emporer DuThokk II surrenders to his serving-elf, who later becomes known as Fallopia. Treaty grants freedom to all Imperial slaves, and promises that the Imperium will defend the sovereign rights of elves to govern lands from the inner to outer sea between the Offal and Edge Mountains. A number of dirty jokes about the exact circumstances of the surrender begin to circulate, many are still told today.
115 years ago:
Liadon and Galanodel elf clans each refuse to accept a sovereign from the other clan. Fallopia becomes queen as a comprimise.
Erneroost allies itself with Galleongate to form the realm that will become known as Genua.
approx 110 years ago:
Due to the influx of refugees, Nowhere renamed Newholme. The Gem-lords of Yirth contribute generously to the construction needed to accomodate the newcomers.
Reformed Church of Grummsh officially schisms with the True Church of Grummsh.
[b]108 years ago: [/b]
On the same day that the king of Auliculia signs the treaty to recognize the elven borders, Fallopia's first daughter, Anastrianna, is born. Genua and Neonomina soon follow suit and sign similar treaties. Rumors that Fingolfin is not the father later prove to be unfounded.
[b]approx 100 years ago:[/b]
Genua builds Foldersfort atop the Edge Mountains to ensure that its Adamant mines are on their side of the border and not the elves'.
Guild representatives in Newholme appoint the first Syndics to a council that becomes the Neonominan Conglomerate.
Elven queen renamed Fallopia, as she bears a daughter each year.
Fingolfin saves the infant Anastrianna from a rampaging boar by befriending it.
[b]approx 90 years ago:[/b]
Elves begin construction of the Great Sylvan road between Chapel on the Outer Sea and Driftwood on the Inner Sea.
Beender the Greender forges his first Adamant blade in Foldersfort.
[b]83 years ago:[/b]
Orcish pirates attack the Elvish ship Uki-Mahn, slaying Fingolfin and kidnapping the young princess Anastrianna.
[b]approx 70 years ago:[/b]
Beender the Greender dies in Foldersfort, leaving behind many appentices.
Plot by members of True Church of Grummsh to assassinate leading members of the Elven Council exposed. The conspiritors are compelled to hard labor on the construction of The Great Sylvan Road. Inside a decade, enslavement of Orcs and Half-Orcs is made mandatory within Galanodelielanialondilandu.
First editions of Rary's Guidebooks appear.
[b]63 years ago:[/b]
The Conglomerate recognizes the Neonominan Wizard's Guild as a legitimate business, Tenser Twopanny becomes the first Syndic of the Brown Men, as they come to be called.
[b]approx 50 years ago:[/b]
Construction of The Great Sylvan Road completed, slavery of Orcs within the Elven realm remains compulsory.
Elves begin to dispute Genuan rights to mine Adamant on their side of the mountains. Poor maps, rough borders and rich Adamant deposits make this issue a sticking point until the present day.
[b]approx 40 years ago:[/b]
Seven schools and sages combine their efforts to establish the college of Archimedes in Invar.
[b]27 years ago:[/b]
King Wencless II of Auliculia orders his honor guard to be equipped with Foldersfort blades. Genua at first refuses to sell such weapons to a foreign power and tensions escalate between the two realms. Chamberlain Ormulu of Galleongate meets with Wencless and the king and diplomat avert a crisis by arranging a marraige between their future children.
[b]26 years ago:[/b]
Prince Andover of Auliculia born.
[b]22 years ago:[/b]
Tenser Twopeeny slays the last known red dragon near Siganid, then disappears. No syndic of the Brown men has since lived to finish out their term.
[b]11 years ago:[/b]
Auliculian sailors discover the island city-states of the Velar to the South of the outer sea.
[b]9 years ago:[/b]
Prince Andover comes of age, courts an elf maiden, and accidently gets his name attached to her new tail-piercing style. His first official act is to sign a treaty with the Velar, which inadvertantly angers their neighbors.
[b]7 years ago:[/b]
As Wencless's illness worsens, Andover gradually assumes control of the throne, but gives frequent speeches to the public to explain his actions, thus earning him the nickname Andover (and over again).
Caravans on the Great Sylvan road begin disappearing in the summer months.
[b]Previously This Year:[/b]
Thorngage Shipwrights in Luff Lucre begin machining screws for tax purposes.
Halfling clans in Luff Lucre begin to use clocks imported from Invar to synchronize work schedules.
Neonomina appoints first two Syndics from Orison.
Fallopia fails to arrange for King Andover to marry one of her daughters instead of Maria Ormulu, chooses the mysterious Marquis Echelle as her new consort.
Rumored assassination of Maria Ormulu by the elf Aust Galanodel proves to be a hoax designed to flush out the true assassin Aust is rewarded with the hand of an elven princess and membership in an order of Auliculian kinghthood.
Maria Ormulu marries Andover and becomes pregnant shortly afterwards. Strange prophecies about the future heir begin to circulate throughout the land.
Leonard Leomund defeated by Soulstealers in a spectacular wizards' duel in Chapel. He is sentenced to the Prison of Grass on charges of being a Genuan spy.
The Uki-Monn salvaged and restored by The Swollen Tide Trading Company of Luff Lucre. It then beats the fastest cutter of Galleongate in a race through the Maelstrom.
The Volen/Ront Pankrator school seizes control of Tiro, seeks to appoint a new Emporer, is opposed by members of the True Church of Grummsh.