Lore

The Imarel Timeline - by T.A. Saunders ©2009 v1.5
Updates by S. Robles, B. Kellestine, D. Schneider.

Old Sam Thwarts the Cult of Khavos - Formation of the Shadow Hunters

1060 AC – Samuel Brookholte, now a paladin of Kaal the Flame-bringer and Aurethaen travel to Tashran on rumors of the Cult of Khavos stirring trouble there. It is here that Sam is given a shard of the ancient Moon Elf artifact known as Star of Bae-Lorh, that extends his natural life considerably and is told of a prophecy of a great Evil that brews in the south. The Cult is defeated in its plot to empower their master to return to his Abyssal plane of Xos, however with the mystery of this plot looming in the distance, Aurethaen and Samuel travel to the heart of Shar'Vaire power, the City of Anthalas.

1071 AC – The Grand Duchy of Brookshire continues to experience great growth, though due to the Dragons to the north and the near xenophobic Shadow Elves to the east, they have little room to expand on Shalzaar. As such, their diplomat Ko'rashae Ri begins negotiations with the Republic of Windsong, to establish the Windsong Accord, whereby settlers from the Grand Duchy of Brookshire will immigrate to the Republic's southern territory and build a settlement to be called Sundown. The treaty is ratified and preparations are made.

1079 AC – Settlers begin traveling across the treacherous Sea of Whispers by ship from Brookshire to the Singing Coast of Tal'Rah, where ground is broken for what will become the City of Sundown. Trouble brews to the north however as Ko battles with the Lords of Windsong over what rights the settlers have in the Republic. Little do the Lords of Windsong know that Ko has been dealing behind the scenes with an unnamed noble Shar'Vaire house that pledges military support for her if she secedes Sundown from the Windsong Republic, in return for allowing Shar'Vaire to freely use her harbor to land and supply their airships. Later that same year, the settler ship, the Primrose Jane is lost at sea.

1090 AC – Sundown officially breaks from the Windsong Accord and the Battle of Champion's Path is fought between Sundown Regulars, reinforced by the airships T'Vahr and Kalosa and the combined armies of Windsong, Tashran and Vale. The vessels in question are known to belong to the Shar'Vaire noble house of Kasayr and were flying their house colors, rather than the colors of Anthalas during the fighting, thereby announcing their actions as those not involving the Sovereignty. Despite having superior numbers, the Republic forces were dealt a crushing defeat at the hands of the Sundown forces, in large thanks to the two airships and a healthy supply of Witchfire weapons supplied by House Kasayr. With their secession secured, Ko begins establishing her reign in Sundown. Also in this year, Darechon Dur'lane is named Kal'aire Avenger.

1099 AC – Whispers across Shalzaar give way to rumors that Moon Elves that had hid underground during the War of Eternals have risen once more to claim their destroyed and abandoned cities. These elves, forever changed for their time underground, call themselves the Tallis-Vyss, or the Moon's Shadow in their own language. These Shadow Elves as they become known as to the Humans make very limited diplomatic ties with the Grand Duchy of Brookshire and shun all others, threatening death or worse to anybody else that impedes on their territory without permission. While xenophobic, this new clan of Elves generally keeps to themselves and does not seek blood of others, unless provoked.

1101 AC – Mourne Dur'lane is slain by his brother Surik, who has achieved immortality by slaying the Archfiend Razuuk on his Abyssal Plane. As a last-ditch effort to destroy Surik with him, Mourne activates a sorcerous contingency that detonates the ancestral Dur'lane castle of Stormhold. Darechon is named Regent of Anthalas, until his son Chance is old enough to take the throne, since Dare himself is not Magi, therefore cannot claim the title of sovereign. Unbeknownst to those who grieve for Mourne, he has ascended as the new Spirit of Vengeance, thereby becoming the foci of all Kal'aire power. With all the internal troubles in the sovereignty, the continued dealings of House Kasayr with the vampire, Ko go unnoticed.

1110 AC – A group of radical Shadow Elves and Humans who called themselves Zorah's Dawn, awaken one of the Five that Sleep; the ancient fiend Rok'tah the Devourer with the intention of destroying the City of Anthalas and threatening the very existence of the Shar'Vaire themselves. In the single greatest mobilization of forces in the history of Imarel, the Sovereignty of Anthalas, the Kingdom of Farwind, the Windsong Republic, the Freehold of Sundown and a Voraath battle hoard, comprising all eighteen Voraath tribes converge at Anthalas harbor to slay the ancient terror.

After a week of non stop fighting, Rok'tah is finally destroyed with immense casualties to the joined armies. Amongst the heroes slain, the Voraath Shaman Aurethaen and Admiral Xathan uth Braegon, who rammed the Dreadnaught Class Airship, H.M.S. Distant Thunder into the five hundred story monstrosity. Later in the year, Samuel Brookholte travels to the Freehold of Sundown upon rumors that the Prophecy of Evil that was foretold has begun to unfold.

1127 AC – Chance Reign Dur'lane I becomes sovereign of Anthalas. Upon his son taking the throne, Darechon leaves Anthalas to embark on adventures across the Multiverse by way of his personal Airship, The Phoenix (which is later renamed The Vindication). A gift from his son for his long military service to Anthalas and the Enforcers, Dare and his crew travel to many different realms in service to the Spirit of Vengeance.

1251 AC – The ambitious son of Xathan uth Braegon, Kirandar is voted onto the Farwind Council, though many suspect the warlock of intimidation and deception to gain the votes needed to secure a seat, as well as foul play of the former seat-holder, Kadiah J'Mys. An investigation into the matter proves inconclusive.

1257 AC – The city of Sundown has become a thriving port city and a veritable hive of corruption, with nearly every aspect of government controlled by Ko's vampires. Discovering the truth of this himself, Samuel Brookholte gathers to him all manner of mercenary, adventurer and holy warrior and forms a rebel group called the Shadow Hunters, in the rectory of the Temple of Kaal, in the Old City with the blessing of Arch-priest Giovanni Mason.

Using the church as a base of operations, the Shadow Hunters stage hit and run attacks on places of vampire activity in an attempt to disrupt their stranglehold on the city. Ko, unable to simply crush the temple for fear of a full scale revolt from the citizenry, opts to suffer the Shadow Hunters as a necessary growing pain to her success.