Introduction
The story of Jhordunne goes back millions of years, to its creation by Enae. She and her children crafted the World and filled it with both wondrous and fearsome creatures. They sculpted the landscape, raising mountains and filling oceans and seas. Rivers were cut through the land. Much of the land was covered in lush vegetation. And, most importantly, the seeds were planted for the various races that would one day populate Jhordunne .
Jhordunne has seen many Ages over its existence. Some were brief, lasting a few thousand years. Others spanned more than a million. The land has continuously changed, often fueled by magic and the twisting effects of the Aetherial Wind. Entire species of creatures have appeared and disappeared. Civilizations have risen and fallen, from nomadic tribes to entire empires, most now long forgotten by those who live today. The dominate race has been surpassed by the next, from the reptilian Ch’kari to the present reign of Humans.
Through it all, however, one thing has remained constant: Jhordunne’s history is shaped by the dangerous world it is, a world tainted by the Aetherial Wind and by the corrupting influence of Tai Shalvar.
The Forgotten Age (1500000 DE)
In the early days, the world was still hot and steamy, warmed by the heat of its creation. Jungles covered much of Jhordunne’s surface. Fearsome, gigantic beasts roamed lands and swam its oceans, including the Primeval Beasts, the progenitors of many species alive today. The predecessors of the Ch’kari, Humans, Dwarves, and Ogres were nothing more than primitive animals. The First Races, those directly created during the Creation, populated the world. In the secluded parts of Azerion, far away from the Sauranids (as they would be called) the Fey, an otherworldly race, held court. In the mountains, the Nephilim built their sky cities. The Dragons ruled the air and desolate places.
The Age of the Ch’kari (540000 DE)
For over a million years, such was Jhordunne. In time, however, a group of reptilian creatures evolved into the Ch’kari, a sentient race. The Ch’kari worshipped the Sauranids as gods. Dragons, on the other hand, were seen as demons, given their propensity for eating both the Sauranids and Ch’kari. The Ch’kari, an inquisitive species, discovered the workings of magic. This allowed them to spread across Jhordunne, building massive cities dedicated to Sauranid worship. With magic, though, came the taint of Tai Shalvar. It whispered in the dark and turned many Ch’kari against their brethren. Strife and suffering came to the lizard folk.
The Age of Ice (54000 DE)
The Ch’kari ruled Jhordunne for five-hundred thousand years, until the unimaginable happened: Jhordunne began to cool. Ice sheets formed at the poles and grew rapidly. Within tens of thousands of years, massive glaciers covered about 40% of the planet’s surface. Many creatures were able to adapt, but large numbers went extinct, including the Sauranids. The Ch’kari retreated to the last jungles, in what is now Ankre Ssaln. The primitive ancestors of the humans, ogres, and dwarves became hunter-gatherers in central Aerdyn, with some living on the ice sheets to the north.
The Age of Expansion (14000 DE)
After nearly forty-thousand years, Jhordunne warms and the ice sheets recede. Stone-age humans move into the now ice-free areas, spreading rapidly across central Aerdyn and into the north and west. Dwarves and ogres migrate to eastern Aerdyn and eventually make their way to Kh’drûin, finding it lush and full of resources.
Many dwarves settle in the mountains. Eventually they encounter the Nephilim. Nephilim teach the dwarves to craft metal and to work stone and to mine. Also teach magic. Dwarves begin to work copper and quickly discover bronze.
Ch’kari awaken and find the world changed. Jungles are largely gone. Limited to equatorial areas, like the Nashalan jungles. Sauranids all extinct. Only small reptiles remain.
Tens of thousands of elves suddenly appear on Anker Ssaln. They have no memory of from where they came, nor of their past. They do, however, know a great many crafts and are masters at several. This includes making glass as strong as steel, from which they make armor plates and weapons, and making tough, but light, leather armor, to which they can affix the glass plates. They are master archers and artists. Their lifespan seems to be close to one thousand years long and they immune to disease.
Encounter the Fey, who, for unknown reasons, view the elves as kindred. Allow the elves to settle in Toriath, the Fey’s home territory. Treat them as servants. The Fey teach the elves magic. Also begin to corrupt those who are easily susceptible. Elves eventually combine the Fey language with their own, giving their words magical power, when used correctly. Close proximity to Fey gives immortality.
Elves have spread across central and eastern Toriath. Magnificent cities and fortresses built. More and more elves corrupted by Fey and Tai Shalvar, who whispers to them through cracks in the Aetheric Veil.
Fey demand more and more. When they demand elven children, the elves rebel, driving the Fey further into the wild and secluded parts of Jhordunne. Fey retaliate. Using their magic, the reduce elven lifespans to a few hundred and make them susceptible to illness. Additionally, they curse the elves with a madness that worsens as the elf ages. The elves call this The Withering.
The Age of Dragons (10000 DE)
The Dragons, seeing the riches and numbers of the dwarves, human, and ogre, enslave many of all three races in the east of Aerdyn. Dragon worship becomes a religion. Villages and tribes comprised of different races appear. Continues for hundreds of years, until Asarion, an ogre warrior, leads an uprising in one of the villages. Kill the dragon that controlled the village. Dragons retaliate, all across Aerdyn, killing thousands. With the help of the Nephilim, slay or drive off many dragons; many are thrown into the abyss through dwarven and Nephilim magic. Dragons, defeated, enter another slumber, deep beneath the ground.
The Age of the Elders (9000 DE)
Dwarves rapidly advance socially and technologically. Build cities in, under, and near the mountains. Construct vast mines. Amass great riches. Build tunnels to connect cities, where possible. On good terms with Nephilim. Trade with Ogres, when the Ogres are not hostile. Frequent trade with humans. Teach humans their crafts. Though humans never reach the skill of the dwarves, they make quality items.
Dwarves discover iron and steel. Learn the working of Arkhstein. Closely guarded secret. Teaching it to an outsider is subject to death.
Wytchestone showers across the globe lead to the creation of Skrzzak. As they grow in power, Skrzzak swarms eventually make their way into dwarven tunnel, often bring Yrchs with them. This leads to the loss of many dwarven outposts, mines, and some cities. Other cities are abandoned, as the spawn of Corruption increase their presence in the tunnels and mines. Dwarven empire disintegrates.
The Wytchestone showers seemed to have other effects. Halflings appeared in the jungles along the equator of Aerdyn. While they do not bear the taint of Tai Shalvar, they are cannibals and have rather sharp, pointed teeth, which is quite unsettling. Human advancement sped up considerably, but they seem more susceptible to Corruption.
The worst, however, was the effect on the ogres. A massive chunk of Wytchestone crashed into their tribal range, leading to a devastating shockwave and fires, followed by wave after wave of corruptive energy. The land for hundreds of miles in all direction was turned to wasteland. Many ogres were mutated; the lucky ones were killed, outright. The wasting continued for centuries After, much of eastern Aerdyn was either lifeless desert or scrubby grassland. Yrchs and goblins roamed the plains. Monsters of all sorts infested the lands. The ogres became homeless nomads, constantly in search of food and shelter.
A number of elves, especially the corrupted, are against the rebellion. They are driven to the north. Eventually become the Siabara.
Elves continue east, driving off or killing any Fey they encounter. Settle all across Sai Torgoth. Those on the coasts become master shipbuilders.
During this relatively peaceful time, kingdoms form. There was intrigue in the courts and the occasional battle between various factions, but open warfare was avoided. In time, however, several Elven Lords felt they could rule better then elders and enacted a coup. In the wars that followed, the elven kingdoms fell apart and their great cities turned to ruins.
Without the Fey Daemon Gods to worship, many turn the elders, also known as the Undying, since they seem to have retained their immortality.
Those loyal to the elders turned to the ocean and fled with an fleet of ships, eventually finding land. The elves named this place Tar Oche, or “The True People”.
In the great city of Tar Oche, elven wizards increased their craft to legendary levels. Through hubris and madness, they attempted to create life. The result was the hideously twisted Yrchs, which would become the bane of the civilized races The Yrchs managed to escape Tar Oche and spread across Jhordunne, like a plague. It is believed one of the Vile Princes provided assistance. The magics used drove all of the wizards involved utterly insane. They, in turn, destroyed much of Tar Oche, causing the city to be swallowed by the land.
Many Elves flee to Aerdyn. Settle in the forests in what is now Aelfheim – Home of the Elves – in the Dragonspine Empire.
The Age of Legends (5000 DE)
Elves teach magic to men and help create the Centathic Empire, ushering in an age of Magic
Centath wizards attempt too powerful of spells. Cause mass death and destruction, similar to the destruction of Tar Oche. Empire shattered.
The Age of Darkness (2000 DE)
Dark age that follows destruction of Centathic Empire. Age of small kingdoms and lawlessness. Much fighting. Increased incursions of fell races into Western Aerdyn.
The Age of the Dragonspine (1 YD – 2217YD)
Eissteine kills Great Dragon. Fashions Drak Bane axe from its spine. Unites Western nations into Dragonspine Empire over 40 years of warfare and political manuevering. Empire has been in existence now for 2200 years. Beginning to crumble, with Corruption eating it from within.