Lore

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

Kirindar’s Betrayal - War of Shadows Ends

1288 AC – In a stunning move, Kirandar uth Braegon has the other Farwind Council members murdered in an attempt to usurp control of the Kingdom and return it to monarchy rule. This is but a step to a greater plan however, as Kirandar also secures access into the archives of the Great Library in an effort to secure ancient Asyndi rites that will allow him to secure immortality. Unknown to Kirandar however, one of the Council Members, Averena T'Saal utters the Black Prayer of Vengeance moments before her death. In reciting this prayer, she attracts the attention of the Spirit of Vengeance who directs Kal'aire Avenger Darechon Dur'lane to return to Imarel to deal with the usurper, Kirandar.

1290 AC – Kirandar uth Braegon, who has now completed all but one step to his ascension to immortality awaits the birth of his son that he might sacrifice him to the Lords of Chaos. However, he does not count on the betrayal of his apprentice Sara Chaser, who grants the Avenger, Darechon Dur'lane access to the heavily protected Chateau Illuminous. It is here the warlock fights Dare, with the Avenger emerging victorious. Kirandar's son, Kithanis is born mere days after his death. This mother, Omranna, fearful of reprisal from Kirandar's allies flees Farwind, leaving the babe in care of Kirandar's former Chancellor, Rue.

Also in this year on the continent of Shalzaar, the Shalzaarian Border War begins. Shalzaarian Dragons, growing discontent with Humans and Shadow Elves encroaching upon the land near the Dragon Enclave go on the offensive and take the cities of Davenshire and Hastenworth.

1299 AC – A former Sundown Elite Guardsman by the name of Dhamizad T'anas joins the Shadow Hunters upon meeting the paladin of Kaal, Samuel Brookholte. Dhamizad provides a great deal of logistics information to the rebel group that provides them with the means to out-maneuver the city guard gain and access to sensitive information pertaining to the Elders' whereabouts at any given time in the city, including Ko herself. After a near successful attack on Venywn Saul, Governor of Sundown and one of the Elders of Ko's Coven, it was determined that Dhamizad was now public enemy #1 and has to be dealt with before anymore vital attacks occur

To this end, Ko places the task to her favored Child, Nevi'sasha to arrange the notorious Shadow Hunter's doom. Meanwhile, the Shalzaarian Border War continues with the Human city of Lyrewood being taken, however the draconic offensive is stopped at the Elvish city-state of Am-Orah at heavy cost to the joined armies of the Kingdom of Vyss and the Grand Duchy of Brookshire.

1319 AC – A group of treasure hunters recovers an ancient Shar'Vaire spell-book with the knowledge to invoke one of the sorcerous plagues used during the War of the Eternals. Unlearned in Asyndi magic these Humans attempt to discern the nature of the spell, only to end up unleashing it on the city of Tashran. The plague, named the Crimson Hatred, causes Humans and Elves to go into a rabid state of blood-lust, turning on one another with insatiable violence.

The plague is contracted through the blood and spreads quickly, killing nearly a quarter of the city's population in a week. The plague spreads to Sundown, where preparations are made to intercept plague bearers. Dhamizad T'anas, who had been helping organize the effort is ambushed by Nevi's personal vampire assassins and captured during a moment of mayhem where several dozen plague-bearers rushed a fortified line outside the city. With so many dead from the plague itself, Dhamizad is presumed dead, after weeks of searching.

The Crimson Hatred is eventually stopped with assistance from the Kingdom of Farwind. Amongst the Quar'Vess sent to help with this plague, is the archmage, Kithanis uth Braegon. In Shalzaar the Shalzaarian Border War has deteriorated into a bloody stalemate, with little ground gained or lost by either side.

1320 AC – Upon hearing a rumor that Dhamizad T'anas might still be alive through the Shadow Hunters in Sundown, Kithanis uth Braegon decides that he must help his friend and in doing so, also help the citizenry of Sundown become liberated from Ko's vampire regime. To this end, Kithanis buys an abandoned wharf-side manor and converts it into a tavern he would call the Whispering Raven. The tavern is a front to being a safe house for the Shadow Hunters and a base of operations from which the downfall of Ko is planned.

The heroes that become involved in this cause are many and are successful in both recovering Dhamizad and later this same year orchestrating a civil war with the help of the Windsong Republic, the Kingdom of Farwind, the Sovereignty of Anthalas and unexpected assistance from ancient Ishaela and the Sivanoshei. Sundown is freed, though at great loss of life. However, another evil looms in the background; with the death of Ko, it is discovered that the Cult of Khavos has been quietly rooting themselves in Sundown under her protection for purposes unknown. Also this year, Sundown finally joins the Republic of Windsong, as it was always intended.

1321 AC – This year was marked with the death of the proclaimed First Son of Sundown, Dhamizad T'anas, who sacrificed himself through a blood ritual that would allow fellow Shadow Hunter and friend, Dathon Edmiston a chance to escape his doom in the caverns of Mithrys. Unfortunately, Dathon would perish himself, near the end of this same year in Am-Orah at the hands of a Shambling Horror. The beginning of this year also saw the death of Viviana of Kithanis uth Braegon; her death being the result of an elaborate ploy of revenge against the Sundown Civil War Joint Commander, who is widely known for having ordered the death of her sire, Ko. Retribution was swift and Nevi'sasha Stormwillow was destroyed by an all out military strike on her stronghold in the Tashrani Desert.

The end result of this was the complete destruction of vampire control over Sundown, without any viable leaders left (or at least, those willing to take up Ko's mantle within the city). Liberated, the city's first free elections for Governor of Sundown were held, with Kithanis uth Braegon being elected to the position after a very close race with his principal opponent, Marisoa Sundancer. Later this year, the Shalzaarian Border Wars would also be renamed the War of Shadows, for the great deal of deception that was discovered in bringing it about to begin with by the hands of none other than Queen Aryiseema herself. After a series of events involving several forays into the cursed Land of Miroa and then Am-Orah, by heroes from the City of Sundown, the core command of the secret Xannti/Kiris Miran alliance was shaken enough with the eventual destruction of the Dragon Emperor, Thanaxiscar that it had forced an end to the war.

The most significant of these events to spiral from the conclusion of the War of Shadows was the re-emergence of Tashalasheeri, who had arrived in Miroa to stop Thanaxiscar from disturbing the frozen prison of her Dracothar son, Aryxiar. After vanquishing Thanaxiscar, Tashalasheeri took reign over the Xannti Dragons as their new Empress, though to what end remains unclear. Many fear this is the beginning of the End of Ages, that will seen the Queen of Dragons fly once more against the Old Gods.