Over the next several million years, the proto-DNA they planted evolved into new, unique life forms. Although the basic proteins planted by the alien civilization were engineered, the DNA itself evolved independently and naturally. Each species is completely natural, although they do share a few basic characteristics destined by the engineered proteins: all the evolved species are bipedal (or at least upright-walking) with mouths capable of audible speech, ensuring that if ever the species met they would have a chance of communicating with each other.
As they evolved, most of the species conceptualized the precursor alien civilization that came before them. Some of the planets were left with physical ruins of the previous civilization, on other planets the species simply divined their presence through supernatural means. Every species gave its own name for the alien civilization--the "Elders" or the "Ancients". Some of the species, especially the more scientific cultures, identified them merely as an extremely advanced space-faring alien race. Other species, however, viewed them as gods and constructed elaborate mythologies around them. The most spiritual Ar-Turan cultures, for example, claim still to be in contact with the "Ancients" who are destined to return. Just to what extent the aliens shaped their worlds and their evolution, as well as the aliens' purpose, is of great interest to scholars from all of the species.
The most important event of recent history was the discovery of a long-buried ancient artifact on the hostile planet Tor-Prai (its toxic atmosphere dangerous to almost all life forms) in the Ar-Turan System fifteen cycles ago (or 34 Cycles after the Universal Year). Having secured permission to construct a research base in a treaty signed four cycles earlier with the planet's Praiaran claimants, Iersian researchers discovered the enormous artifact during their first systematic scan of Tor-Prai's surface. After being brought to the surface, the artifact immediately released a powerful psionic signal that traveled to Iersia, Ar-Turo, and Deladarvin (and Amuliadarvin) and was received only by telepaths. In between the artifact's discovery and mysterious destruction (along with the Iersian base on Tor-Prai), its telepathic messages sent shock waves through the societies of the five species. Follow the Prophecies link below for more information.
The preliminary incursion of a mysterious external life form (referred to by the five species as the "Outsiders") into the three star systems is also increasing tensions. Although up to this point the "Outsiders" have only been detected a handful of times, and they have yet to make contact or remain for very long, recently some groups among the five species have begun to blame them for the destruction of the Tor-Prai base and the ancient artifact. Thsier militarists have used this crisis to successfully urge for increased government spending on the military. More peace-minded groups have instead called for the creation of the an interstellar alliance among the five species. The Iersian government has already once issued a call for the formation of such a group, but it faltered with little support from the other species. However, the concept of a League of Allied Worlds has gained widespread support from the official governments after the destruction of the Tor-Prai base. Splinter groups among the five species (mainly xenophobes, pro-military nationalists, and traditionalists) have already begun to raise opposition (sometimes violent) against the formation of the League. No one knows how strong this opposition is or how far it will go.
approx. 3.5 million cycles ago:
arrival of the ancient alien civilization
approx. 3.2 million cycles ago:
asteroid collisions transplant microbial life from Deladarvin to Ul-Vilyeth
approx. 3,1 million cycles ago
proteins form into unique DNA on all the life-bearing planets
approx. 7,500 cycles ago:
the "Sundering" of Ar-Turan cultures
496 cycles ago:
Bakorians and Thsier make peace; end of the "Cleansing" wars
131 cycles ago:
establishment of the Thsier-Bakorian Alliance; joint government of Iersia
117 cycles ago:
the "First Encounter" between the Darvin and the Ulvi
61 cycles ago:
the Praiarans of Ar-Turo achieve limited space flight
49 cycles ago:
Thsier-Bakorian Alliance develops the first stardrive (proposed "Universal
Year")
40 cycles ago:
Iersia's first diplomatic mission to Deladarvin
33 cycles ago:
Iersia's first diplomatic mission to Ul-Vilyeth
28 cycles ago:
the Praiarans achieve intrasystem space flight, reach Tor-Prai, and claim
it for their own
27 cycles ago:
Iersia's first diplomatic mission to Ar-Turo
24 cycles ago:
Iersian-Darvin Treaty; the Darvin gain stardrive technology
19 cycles ago:
Treaty of Tor-Prai: Iersians get one base on Tor-Prai, Praiarans
get stardrive technology
18 cycles ago:
Praiaran-Bryiaran Perpetual Alliance; Bryiarans share in Praiaran space
technology
15 cycles ago:
Iersian researchers on Tor-Prai discover a long-lost ancient artifact that
projects a series
of shocking prophetic messages into the minds of telepaths among the five
species
12 cycles ago:
the Karbrunai make a surprising technological leap and achieve limited
space flight
10 cycles ago
first incursion of the Terdalis System by an external alien species, the
"Outsiders"
8 cycles ago:
first incursion of the Trinji System by the "Outsiders"
5 cycles ago:
Iersian scholars release a comparitive study of the telepathic prophecies
from the artifact;
Prophecy riots first break out among the Ar-Turans and Bakorians
4 cycles ago:
the Iersians first call for the formation of a cooperative League of Allied
Worlds; it is
rejected by the Turonai, Karbrunai, Praiarans, and Ulvi separatists
2 cycles ago:
Iersian base on Tor-Prai is mysteriously destroyed, and Falakor
and the artifact with it;
Praiarans and Karbrunai blame each other, and other Ar-Turans blame the
Kumonarai
1 cycle ago:
Iersians and Darvin jointly issue a second call for creating the League
of Allied Worlds;
splinter groups among the Thsier, Bakorians, Ulvi, and Ar-Turans begin
opposition
The first possible date for beginning a Legacy campaign is 49
cycles after the Universal Year (or "Year 49 Universal").
Prophecies: Follow this link
for more detailed information about the artifact of Falakor and
its mysterious prognostications.