The history of the Isles picks up somewhere after the gods sequestered themselves in the twin crescents, leaving the rest of the world to evolve on its own. The beginning of recorded history starts 10,500 years before written language (Mahlan) was invented, otherwise known as 10,500 BM.
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Dark Ages (10,500 BM)
The Dark Age precedes organized civilization. Humans have always been the predominant species in the Isles, but back then the mountains of Oros, Aldemere, and Beruna held populations of hill giants, Mountain Dwarves, and other diminutive species like Geckofolk and gnomes. None but the humans, dwarves, and giants' descendants (Orosians) were able to thrive. Among their squabbling tribes rose a few who organized and began writing the next era of the Isles' history…
Early Ages (10,500 - 5,000 BM)
In the Early Ages came the domestication of chickens, pigs, cattle, rice, and other basic advancements in civilization. Soon after, bricks of white clay, mining of metals, tools, wine, and other inventions arose in the then-unsettled An'mani Kingdom. Regional discoveries that were similar, such as the domestication of barley, oats, corn, and other staple foods occurred at similar times across the Isles in all of the other Kingdoms.
It was the domestication of horses in the steppes and scrubland of Okuna that allowed the Okunan humans to revolutionize mobility, economy, warfare, and society. They built roads and ploughs, established towns, and developed cities whose original infrastructure still stands today.
Meanwhile, in the unmade Kingdom of Oros, the discovery of copper and creation of wheeled wagons was a breakthrough. With new means for transporting goods, the Orosians' development increased tenfold. Early fishing vessels were crafted with reeds and waterproofed with bitumen, sails were invented, and oxen were shackled to carts to haul treasures across the hillsides.
The Realm of Beruna, full of human tribes and raiders, made their way across an ice bridge to Arcadia. Some initial settlers became the first Arcadians.
The unmade Kingdom of Arcadia made revolutionary organic medicines from herbs and local fauna, and began the process of taming the wild forest that sprawled across the realm. The earliest harnessing of natural forces to replace human labour took place as they built water wheels and mills, powered by the dozens of powerful rivers snaking across the landscape.
It was around the end of the Early Ages when Aether Elves hailing from Lunarcha (the Moon), crashed on the planet’s surface. Deep the mountains of the unmade Kingdom of Aldemere, many died adjusting to the new climate. With all of their technology destroyed and only the Aetherium remaining from their Silver Chariot, the elves began attempting to find a way home with magic.
Castle Age (5,000 BM - 0 AM)
The Castle Age saw the creation of a written language called Mahlan by the scholar Heiwei. Heiwei lived in the early cluster of towns that would become the An'mani Kingdom. His inspiration and muse was a woman who came to him in dreams: the Azure Princess. The earliest religion that was not based on pagan superstition (Paolu) formed around the Azure Liege.
Writing and religion gave rise to a more structured society. Where once-tribal villages largely kept to themselves, a feudal system was established. Lords who grew rich enough from trade were able to pay for men-at-arms and rally tribes together. Those who possessed military power grew into the first Princes, and eventually the first King took his place as the ruler of the Mani humans. His wife took the title “the Azure Queen”. They founded the An'mani Kingdom.
Much squabbling and in-fighting took place among the newly-founded Kingdom. Eventually Okuna made contact with An'mani. Their access to bronze mines and minerals scattered in the hotter regions of the continent made them an essential ally.
During the Castle Age, the Mani became fascinated with the stars and planets. Navigation at sea improved, and they discovered the fertile and relatively unsettled lands that are today known as the Kingdom of Arcadia. At that point, Arcadia was a realm of disjointed Lords without a central government.
The Mani attempted to colonize Arcadia, but the Arcadians who lived there were resistant to it. They had been trading with the humans of the Kingdom of Beruna via an ice bridge that appears between the realms during exceptionally cold winters for many years in peace. As a whole, the Arcadians were unappreciative of the zealous desire for rule that the Mani possessed. This led to stalwart ties between their nobility, laying the groundwork for the eventual formation of a Kingdom.
Technologically behind in some areas and advanced in others, the Mani and Arcadians fought each other and made peace in a repetitive cycle for hundreds of years before a third faction appeared: the Orosians.
It was nearing the end of the Castle Age when the warlike Orosians appeared seeking new territory. As tall, greyish-skinned humanoids descended from giants, they were feared by the native Mani and Arcadians so much that the two allied to fight back the early Orosian invaders.
The mixing and mingling of Mani and Arcadian cultures eventually resulted in the new Kingdom of Arcadia being born independent of its Mani allies in the south. Arcadia quickly developed military and naval tech out of necessity to defend itself from the Orosians, and the Kingdom of Beruna was founded before its unorganized tribes fell prey to the Orosian threat. War led to industry; industry led to profit; profit led to further advanced civilizations.
Age of Kings (1 AM - 700 AM)
The Age of Kings began with the Kingdom of Beruna’s creation, and the discovery of smelting steel. The Mani looked inward as a people. At this point, they were falling behind technologically. The focus abroad had destabilized their domestic control. Okuna and An'mani banded together and formed the The Azure Empire under the present Azure Empress.
The Mani organized, evolved, and became an influential worldly power via innovations borrowed from their Arcadian neighbors. They improved upon Arcadian steel smelting techniques and discovered something no other country had, resting deep within the mountain passes of their land: Magic.
Magic is a rare and powerful force in the Isles. Legend tells that the Azure Empress was the first to wield it. After forty days and forty nights spent meditating outside the Kona Monastery without food, water, or drawing breath, she unlocked the secrets of immortality and bound a sea serpent to the skies (or so the legend goes, regarding the birth of Sky Serpents in the Isles).
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The Azure Empress founded the first university to study magic and it spread through Arcadia soon after. Knowledge of magic was completely foreign to the Orosians, despite the Aether Elves living nearby in the unfounded Kingdom of Aldemere who finally made contact with Steel Dwarves for the first time.
Trading knowledge about the secrets of magic formed a tentative peace between the Orosians and the new Azure Empire. In turn, the Arcadians stood down, and all the Isles saw the first period of stability and peace in thousands of years.
Age of Magic (700 AM - 1,000 AM)
Upon trading for the secrets of magic, steel, and other valuable technologies, the Orosians founded the Kingdom of Aldemere as a companion to their established Kingdom of Oros. Oros was the birthplace of their people, and Aldemere its future – a place to commune with nature, seek answers to the universe, and harvest minerals from its previous nigh-useless mountain passes. Traditional Orosians favor the lowlands of Oros.
The Orosians made many discoveries in rapid succession. First, they found the world tree Aslaug. This sparked the founding of worship of the Weald, a nature-based religion. Second, they realized that the Steel Dwarves lived beneath them. Third, they made contact with the Aether Elves.
Today, the elves are ethereal beings of moonlight and magic. Having steeped in the magic radiating from the aetherium hull of their Silver Chariot for thousands of years, they have deviated greatly from their roots and are rumored to be the world’s foremost oracles, clairvoyants, and astronomers. They are out of touch with reality, and yearn only for a their mystical homeland among the stars (Lunarcha) rather than the primitive prison (Ilisara) they’ve been confined to.
Recently, the Arcadians have learned the innovation of burning coal for fuel from the Orosians. The Orosians who used it for oceanic travel are amazed by the steam engines the Arcadians have designed. The Azure Empress has given the gift of harnessing electricity to her allies. All seemed to point towards a bright and blazing future … until the onset of the Silver War.
The Silver War began when Queen Giselle, leader of Aldemere, installed an Orosian duke in the Bay of Beruna. The Bay was rumored to hold treasures from the frost giants of old. It was also a great source of oil. Incensed, King Lucio Rex of Arcadia sent his armies across the ice bridge to Beruna to retaliate.
The Discovery of the Twin Crescents
The Vestian Empire made contact with Arcadia due to the bravery of one Eragon Amberleaf. Under Imperator Ahellion, the Empire pledged the Vestian navy's support for Arcadia's homeland. Arcadia's interest in preserving Beruna's tribal peoples -- their ancestors -- proved the winning cause.
Orcs from Oros died in droves after one of Arcadia's businessmen, a mysterious rakashan named Kartha Raj, used the Silver Hand to decimate Arcadia's enemies.
The Vestian Empire quickly created an alliance with the Azure Empire and watched, waiting, for the aftermath of the Silver War. Veladriel's missionaries quickly fell upon the new lands and began to spread.
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