1622 High King Richard secedes from Vaticinism, creating the Church of Avalon, so that he may take a second wife. To placate the masses he also makes formal what has long been an unofficial part of Avalonian tradition - the belief that the Sidhe are also a part of Theus's creation.

1625 Aidan McCodrum is born on Torsay in the Hebrides.

1627 Eloise Brocquart is born in northern Montaigne.

1639 Rhuadh McCodrum dies at sunset, aged 77. According to his wishes, the McCodrum clan patriarch is laid out overnight on Burial Rock, attired in full dress and with his ceremonial Sidhe dagger clutched on his chest. The northern lights cover the sky all night. Come morning there is nothing on the rock save ice and snow.

1641 Aidan McCodrum begins working with a small group of Hebrideans and Inish, harassing the Montaigne invaders via minor acts of piracy.

1642 Birth of Geraint Penarfion, Abermarch, Camlann.

1644 Aidan McCodrum's piracy takes him to northern Montaigne where he meets Eloise Brocquart. The two fall in love and elope to the Hebrides to escape the wrath of her family. The Swordsman's Guild is founded.

1645 Aidan and Eloise are married on Torsay at the Winter Solstice, in spite of some disapproval by McCodrum family members.

1646 Aidan and Eloise's son is born at sunrise on their one year anniversary. In honour of Aidan's late father he is named Rhuadh.

1648 Elaine Cornwallis disappears on her wedding night, spirited away by the Druid Derwyddon.

1650 Inismohr rebels against Avalonian rule.

1651 The O'Bannon, legendary ruler of Inismohr, returns. Avalonian forces are driven back to the Inish Sea. Aidan and Eloise travel to the mainland for extended periods, leaving young Rhuadh with family members.

1653 On the night of the Winter Solstice, Aidan McCodrum is lost on Torsay in a freak ice storm from out of the south. At sunrise, when calm returns, McCodrum is found alive, but with his hair streaked with gray. He is clutching the Sidhe dagger which disappeared with his father's body.

1654 Queen Margaret of Avalon, the "Iron Queen", last of the du Lac rulers of Avalon, dies, leaving no heir to the throne. A period of turmoil and unrest begins. The Hebrides declare official secession from Avalon for the first time since the Invasion, uniting under the banner of the McIain, James Stewart.

1656 Elaine and Derwyddon reappear with the Graal and the Fair Host. An army quickly flocks to her side.

1657 Earl Madog Penarfion announces the betrothal of his youngest son, Geraint, to Moira, the daughter of Baron Gwilym Gryffudd of Bedegraine.

1658 The Battle of Carmadden puts an end to civil war in Avalon with Elaine's forces victorious but at a heavy cost. Earl Madog Penarfion dies on the battlefield. His eldest son, Caradoc, becomes the Earl. Many du Lac inheritors and collaborators of the occupation government flee to the north of Montaigne. Derwyddon raises the Sea Palace from the ocean spray in the fishing port of Carleon. Carleon is proclaimed the new capital of Avalon, transferring power from Luthon. Inismohr and the Hebrides swear allegiance to Elaine, creating the Triple Kingdoms. Avalonian buccaneers begin extended raiding campaigns against Castillian and Montaigne vessels. It is rumoured that a portion of their take goes to replenish the nation's depleted treasury. Some note that the vessels of the Vendel Guild seem to go unscathed.

1659 Salvador Aldana, King of Castille, orders the construction of an Armada to sail against Avalon. Elaine proclaims that all who take arms in the Avalonian Navy will attain the new rank of Gentleman Sailor, almost equivalent to the station of Knighthood. The Avalonian Navy, led by Sir Jeremiah Berek, defeats and sinks Aldana's Armada.

1660 Geraint Penarfion is enrolled at the Valroux Academie d'Escrime in Montaigne. Geraint Penarfion meets Frach von Vickstein at a winter fete hosted by Garon du Lac. A brawl and a friendship ensue. On Torsay the Winter Solstice is marked by a sky streaked blood red. The sea freezes overnight. Fishing is poor throughout the Hebrides for the next 3 years.

1661 Jerermy Cook of Wooton College writes The Rational Chemist, denouncing Alchemy and advocating Empiricism. He is excommunicated by the Inquisition, who demand his death.

1662 Eloise McCodrum leaves Torsay for the mainland on unstated business. She is never heard from again. A meteorite strikes the Vodaccean embassy in Charouse. Witnesses later claim that Geraint Penarfion and Frach von Vickstein were present at the scene, possibly in the company of the ambassador's daughter. Charges against the pair are later dismissed for lack of evidence. Aidan McCodrum leaves Torsay to search for his missing wife.

1663 Aidan McCodrum's body is returned to Torsay aboard The Foreign Lander. Amongst his inheritance, Rhuadh receives the Sidhe dagger which came from his grandfather and a substantial sum of money. Moira Gryffudd is abducted by the unseelie host. Rhuadh McCodrum leaves home and hires on with the crew of a merchant vessel.

1664 High King Salvador Aldana de Sandoval of Castille dies. Niklaus Trague completes repairs on the Stein, renaming it Freiburg. Introduction of the Guilder. Vendel merchants establish permanent trade links with Avalon by Royal Appointment. Geraint Penarfion assists the dysgwyr Dylan y Rhagweldwr in the expulsion of bandits camped at a sacred grove. Dylan lays a geas on Geraint: 'You must ne'er refuse the request of a lady.' Avalon begins to hire Eisen mercenary bands surplus from the War of the Cross. In this way, Elaine hopes to quickly raise a larger and more experienced army than she would be able to muster domestically.

1665 Countess Tabitha Cawdor hanged at Tyburn for the murder of her husband, Count William Cawdor. Rhuadh McCodrum is taken on by "Black Angus", Captain of the pirate vessel The Evening Mist, later rechristened The Fragrant Swan. 13 year old Salvador Bejarano de Sandoval, younger son to Salvador Aldana, is crowned King of Castille. Geraint Penarfion presents himself to his father's friend, Sir Lamorak, at Cam Dunn, professing his wish to become a Knight.

1666 Montaigne and Castille both invade western Eisen. Imperator Reifenstahl formally cedes lands to both countries at The Treaty of Weissburg. This marks the end of the War of the Cross. Emperor Leon of Montaigne declares himself to be a sorcerer. An enraged Inquisition musters and army and marches on Charouse where they are repelled by musketeers lead by a young captain named Montegue. In retaliation, Montaigne declares war on Castille and invades. The Heirophant journeys to Charouse in order to broker a peace. While there, however, he dies during an outbreak of the White Plague. With the Montaigne Cardinals missing since that summer, no successor can be chosen and the Inquisition effectively runs the Vaticine Church. Geraint Penarfion drinks from the Graal and is Knighted before Queen Elaine. He is assigned to work under Sir Lamorak.

1667 Imperator Reifenstahl hangs himself, leaving Eisen divided amongst the seven Eisenfursten. The Fragrant Swan goes to Davey Jones with Black Angus and all hands aboard. Two weeks later, Rhuadh McCodrum washes ashore near Pomitain. Montegue's forces successfully sieze control of Rancho Torres - the northwestern portion of Castille. Katharine Bridges starts working for Roderick Lipshaw as his envoy to Stormont Cole. Rhuadh McCodrum returns home to Torsay for the winter. He disappears the evening before his 21st birthday, returning home the next day only long enough to gather his belongings before setting off for Inismohr. For the first time the Selkie song is heard on Torsay during winter, an omen of goodwill regained. Fishing is expected to be good for the next few years. Sir Frach von Vickstein visits Avalon, spending Christmas at the Rose & Cross House in Carleon. On Hogmanay he is asked to answer an urgent request for aid by one of the Order's Patrons - Baron Douglas Colby of Strangore.

1668: January Ruadh McCodrum and Iris Romani arrive in Avalon aboard the Zephyr. Our story begins.