By Marco Dalmonte & Shawn Stanley

BC 6000: There is no true civilisation in the Outer World. Humans are tribal hunter-gatherers, living mostly in plains and light forests. They are divided into three great races: Neathar (light-skinned), Oltec (copper-skinned), and Tanagoro (black-skinned). Dwarves are barbaric mountain and foothill dwellers, mostly goatherds. Elves are sheltered, protected and nurtured by the forest-spirits they worship; they do not need to work or suffer. There are no monstrous humanoids on the world to threaten the demihumans. Halflings live in the rolling hills and forests of the southern continent, some distance from the elves, whom they respect greatly. (HW)

BC 5000: The childhood of the elves is over; the forest spirits stop sheltering them, forcing them to leave paradise and to seek their own futures. The first great elf civilisation, Evergrun, rises on the southern continent. (HW)

BC 4500: Beastmen - reincarnated souls of evil beings - appear in the upper Borean Valley, a frozen land north of Blackmoor. These beastmen are wild, chaotic creatures that do not breed true; whelps may have some or none of the traits of their parents, may be of different size and appearance. This is all brought about by the magic of Hel, who wants to introduce more confusion, dismay, and death into the world. (HW and GAZ10)

BC 4100: Neathar living near the Borean Valley establish the first contacts with Beastmen and begin to trade and barter after the initial diffidence of the humans and some minor skirmishes. In the following decades, intermarriage becomes quite common among some humans and a small number of Beastman tribes, and a new stock of people (children of Neathar and Beastmen) spreads in this area, living peaceably alongside the Beastmen and the Neathar. These people have purely human characteristics despite their parentage. Hel did not plan for this to happen but when she saw that it was starting to happen she decided to let it and watch the consequences.

BC 4000: The human Blackmoor civilisation begins a meteoric rise due to its great success in developing powerful sciences and technologies. It conquers and assimilates all surrounding human tribes and quickly grows very powerful. (HW)

BC 3500: The Blackmoor civilisation is flourishing. It conducts trade and intermittent war with the southern elves, at the other end of the world. (HW)

Blackmoor priests demand the extermination of the "unnatural" beastmen in the upper Borean Valley, and promote holy wars to hunt down and destroy those creatures. (HW)

By this time the elves of Evergrun who are curious about the world in which they live in migrate from Evergrun. Four clans, the ancestors of modern Shadow Elves, colonise the area near Blackmoor. Another clan, the Aquarendi settles near the sea further to the south of Blackmoor. Another clan, the Geffronell, settles in a forested area which would later become known as Wendar. (HW modified)

The elves who settle near Blackmoor are influenced by the Blackmoor culture as are the elves in Evergrun who keep in contact with them. They also try to influence the Aquarendi but they are rather more obstinate. There is no contact with the Geffronell as they left Evergrun slightly earlier than the other clans and did not keep contact with Evergrun. (HW modified)

The widespread Neathar race is beginning to undergo development; the language in individual areas changes rapidly into very different dialects, and the independent Neathar tribes no longer recognise a kinship or a common origin among themselves. (HW)

BC 3200: The Blackmoor crusades drive the Beastmen farther north, into the land called Hyborea; they adapt to the colder climate and survive. The humanoid race born from the Neathar-Beastmen crossbreed flees south-eastward instead, retreating to the inhospitable mountains and eluding the Blackmoorian pursuers. These mountains are the area which will become known as the Icereach Mountains. The Neathar-Beastmen crossbreeds inhabit the southern parts of these mountains just north of what will become known as the Denagothian Plateau. (HW modified)

BC 3100: The Aquarendi clan are finally sick of the continual pressure from the Blackmoor elves to embrace technology. The Aquarendi have tried to gain aid from Ordana but she is unhappy with all elves at the moment and how most they have turned from her path. The Aquarendi seek the guardianship of Manwara, an Immortal of the sea who is more open to their plight, and enter the warm waters to begin a new life. (PC3 modified)

BC 3000: In Blackmoor a nuclear device in the Beagle which had been tampered with by locals explodes in an event later called the Great Rain of Fire which wipes out the immediate area including the Blackmoor civilisation. The axis of the Known World is shifted causing the Blackmoor area to move closer to the north pole and the elvish civilisation moves closer to the south pole; the elves migrate to their colony of Grunland (which now begins centuries of volcanic upheaval that lead to its being renamed Vulcania). (HW modified)

Large areas around Blackmoor including much of the Gazetter area is darkened by clouds thrown up during the explosion. A nuclear winter scenario exists over much of this area. Ice activity is increased in mountainous and near-mountain areas and glacial activity is increased or initiated in such areas.

In the Geffronells' territory many elves suffer because of the Blackmoor catastrophe and the following nuclear winter. Some of them contract a rotting disease and die, others begin to loose their memories of the past and slowly isolate from their neighbours.

BC 2990: Nine elf-mages join together to prevent the utter annihilation of their folk and eventually create the Elvenstar, whose curing and protecting magical properties help the elves to survive the cataclysm. In the following years they travel north to a great plateau and with the use of their combined magics create a lush healthy forest in the southern edge, and migrate there with most of their clan, settling in what they call the Great Forest of Geffron, a more secluded and safe place to live than their former valley. In the ensuing years the nine elves train many apprentices in the magical arts to give their clan a better chance to stand against the savage creatures of the surrounding regions, unknowingly completing the Trial and Testimony needed to become immortal in the Sphere of Energy. Then they travel exstensively in the surrounding regions and finally find a lesser artifact of Energy, completing their Quest. At this time they realize they've stumbled on the path to immortality and search for an Immortal to sponsor them: but when they find out they have to compete against each other to attain immortality, they refuse, as they are so closely linked to each other to feel as one single person. Impressed by their show of friendship and honor, Thor agrees to sponsor them as a group, and after many battles they finally attain immortality in the Sphere of Energy.

BC 2800: A separatist branch of the southern elves, led by Ilsundal the Wise, decides to abandon Blackmoor technology and return to the nature-oriented magic of their ancestors. They begin a long migration northward in the hope of finding the lost colony of the Aquarendi elves that had settled near Blackmoor. (HW modified)

BC 2700: The growing tribes of Neathar-Beastmen crossbreeds spread south from their mountain homes colonising the northern parts of what will be known as the Denagothian plateau. They do not venture far enough south into the forested southern part of the plateau.

BC 2500: Over time the area affected by the nuclear winter scenario decreases and glacial activity decreases as the area warms up again. By this time these areas are becoming more habitable. (HW modified)

In Grunland, the elvish civilisation is losing its battle with the elements: it has forgotten most of its magic and its Blackmoor technology is failing. A second separatist group of southern elves begins the long march northward (HW) they are led by a wise elven sage named Genalleth and his young elf apprentice Enoreth.

BC 2400: A human culture, the Antalian tribes (descendants of the Neathar) are flourishing in the area later to be called Norwold. They are a blond, warlike culture with bronze weapons and armour. (HW)

BC 2300: By this time Ilsundal's expedition, after a long trek across western Davania, has crossed the Strait of Izonda to the Immortals' Arm, and headed east along the Savage Coast. Genalleth's expedition takes another route through the Addakian Sound. The two migrations do not meet up. (COM modified)

BC 2290: Genalleth dies during the trek across the Addakian Mountains. Enoreth replaces his beloved mentor as head of the expedition and heads northward.

BC 2200: Some elves break off from Ilsundal's migration and eventually find their way to the frozen valleys of Glantri, where they settle. A few from Enoreth's migration also reach Glantri and settle among their cousins a little bit later. (HW modified)

BC 2120: Enoreth's migration comes across a large forested area, which will later be known as Wendar. He decides to settle his people there. Enoreth calls the forest Genalleth after his mentor who died during the migration from Grunland.

BC 2100: The leader of the Den tribe of Neathar-Beastmen crossbreeds, Jotakk, decides to unite her tribe with the surrounding ones. She leads the warriors of her tribe in war against the nearest neighbour in order to "persuade" them to unite. The tribe of Den is situated in the area of badlands where Gereth Minar currently stands.

BC 2094: Jotakk succeeds in taking over the Kroj tribe.

BC 2091: Jotakk succeeds in taking over the Zo-lak tribe.

BC 2087: Jotakk takes over the Zeress tribe a particularly powerful tribe thus proving herself a capable warleader. Numerous other tribes surrounding the growing lands of the Den tribe give in an agree to join the larger tribe peacefully. Jotakk fashions herself as the ruler of a new kingdom and calls it Denagoth, which translates to the Land of the Den.

BC 2000: Antalian colonists migrate southward into the lands later to be called the Northern Reaches. (HW and GAZ7)

BC 2000-1750: An agricultural settlement flourishes along the river Nithia; it swiftly becomes the seat of a fast growing culture.

BC 1.950: The Shadow Elves travels back to the surface and they settle in Glantri again, but they do not meet any of the elves from Ilsundal's migration that have also settled in Glantri in BC 2.200, since they are separated by many hostile humanoids and some human tribes.

BC 1800: Genalleth elves discover the Geffronell clan living on the northern plateau and establish the first contacts with the long forgotten brethren. They soon discover the Geffronells have few vague memories of their origins and the pre-cataclysm period, and they don't remember about their homeland, Evergrun. Enoreth begins to conduct diplomatic missions to befriend the lost clan, who is at the moment very suspicious about foreigners.

In the Sylvan Realm, Ilsundal creates the first Tree of Life and becomes an Immortal.

BC 1725: King Loark raises Great Horde at Urzud (which is located at a fork in the Borea River according the map in GAZ10) and migrates eastward, continuing his Quest for a Blue Knife. (GAZ10) [Note: GAZ14 says that the Horde moves southwards, HW says that the Horde migrates southeastward with great hordes of hill goblins, trolls and giants especially begin moving southward into areas occupied by human settlers.]

Some elves move to the southern part of the plateau with the Geffronells' permission and settles in the western tip of the Great Forest of Geffron. They rename it Lothenar Forest after their leader; the two groups of elves get along well.

The elves remaining in what will later be known as Wendar claim the forested valley as their own territory and rename it Genalleth Valley.

Thanks to Enoreth's effort, the three groups are now linked by a solid and mutual friendship and they unite in one single elven nation, Enoreth becoming their leader.

BC 1724: Akkila-Khan believing he is working off better knowledge than Loark raises an appreciably smaller horde an moves southeastward from Urzud on his Quest for the Blue Knife.

BC 1723: Akkila-Khan comes across the northern edge of the Denagothian plateau and starts ravaging the Denagothians.

BC 1722: The Great Horde of King Loark cross the Icereach Range and ravages the Antalian culture of Norwold and learning Norse culture, and sending the Antalians there into a dark age; the Immortals Odin and Thor send intact communities of Antalians into the Hollow World. (The descendants of the outer-world Antalians eventually become the men of the Heldann Freeholds.) (HW)

Some Antalians cross the Mengul mountains and join with the Denagothians against Akkila-Khan.

BC 1721: Thanks to the efforts of the brave Denagothians and of the Antalians, Akkila Khan is forced to move on southward, entering the elves' territory. Using their superior magic and knowledge of the region, the elves drive Akkila's forces out of their land, and he ends up in Ethengar.

BC 1720: Akkila-Khan conquers the southern steppes of Ethengar (GAZ10)

BC 1711: The Great Horde reaches pre-Khanate Ethengar. Akkila-Khan allies with King Loark against Ethengarian nomads. (HW)

BC 1700: The elves of Glantri discover, in the area that will be later known as the Broken Lands, a strange artifact from the lost Blackmoor civilisation. They tinker with it, and the artifact explodes cataclysmically, sending impenetrable clouds into the sky, and spreading a strange rotting plague among the surviving elves.The elves shelter themselves in the deepest caves, finding an incredible series of caverns and beginning a years long migration. Some emerge in the Five Shires (the Gentle Folk), some arrive in the Hollow World (Icevale elves), some perish.(HW)

Again a nuclear winter scenario exists, this time over much of Glantri and areas immediately surrounding it. Glacial activity is increased or initiated in the mountains in the area affected.

In Genalleth the temperature decreases.

As a consequence of the humanoid invasion and the Broken Lands catastrophe, the Kingdom of Denagoth collapses when the last of the Denagoth Kings dies without heirs, and the warleaders struggle among themselves to gain power. Despite the end of the large Denagothian tribe, the fact that their language has become pervasive throughout the area and the sense of racial unity that the Neathar-Beatsmen crossbreeds have, they still think of themselves as Denagothians and the entire plateau on which they live as Denagoth - although they still enjoy warring amongst each other and now against the Antalian tribes that have joined them on the plateau.

Due to the Broken Lands catastrophe, a great area of the Geffron Forest is turned into a vast plain, when trees wither and die because of the radioactive rains; the area will then become known as the Avien Plains.

In Genalleth and on the Denagothian plateau, many elves and humans contract a strange disease that afflicts their minds as well as their bodies, draining physical strength and memories at a very fast rate. Fortunately, thanks to the help of the Geffronell elves, who use the Elvenstar to cure the disease, the three elven groups don't suffer too much casualties. Unfortunately, because of the radioactive disease they contracted, the elves have lost their earlier memories and even though the effect has been stopped thanks to the Elvenstar, they have forgotten the name of their former leader (Genalleth) and their ancestry (their memories date back to BC 1900). They only know that they now live in Brun, that their leader is Enoreth and that they have named their land Genalleth, but they don't remember anything more about the past 500 years. (This way, the name of the leader of the second expedition from Grunland was forgotten.)

The Korrigans, creators of the Elvenstar, become known and worshipped by elves of the Enoreth migration as well, becoming the Immortal patrons of all the elves of the region.

BC 1690: Leaders from the now disunited Denagoth clans declare a truce and petition the Lothenar and Geffronell elves for help to fight the rotting disease that is now decimating their tribes. After much negotiating especially by Enoreth, the elves agree to use the Elvenstar to help the Denagothians, who in return swear not to invade the southern part of the plateau.

BC 1688: Enoreth dies of old age and is buried in a sacred tomb, Enoreth Shrine, in the Great Forest of Geffron, near the southern border of the plateau. Unable to find a charismatic figure to lead their clans, the elves agree to choose separately their own leaders and to let their "kingdom" fall; they remain in friendly terms with each other, anyway.

BC 1680: After Enoreth's death, relations between elves and Denagothians become strained.

BC 1000: The humans of the Northern Reaches area are conquered and enslaved by the Nithian Empire. (HW) Some human tribes attempting to avoid their fate migrate northward and westward: eventually, some of them cross the Mengul Mountains and reach Genalleth, where they settle.

The Nithian Empire not liking the colder climates does not extend its grasp to these regions.

BC 900: The humans of Genalleth establish relationships with the Genalleth elves and gradually they become friends; intermarriages occur a few decades after, sanctioning the peaceful attitude of both races.

BC 500: The Nithian Empire, having incurred Immortal dislike, abruptly ends: the Immortals use magic to ensure that almost all trace of the Empire is wiped from the face of Mystara, including the Antalians of Genalleth. (HW)

AC 0: General Zendrolion Tatriokanitas assassinates King Lucinius and declares himself Emperor of Thyatis.

In the years since the fall of the self styled Denagoth Kingdom many tribes have risen and fallen in prominance amongst the Denagothians although nothing of consequence was borne out by any such minor kingdom. During this time Denagothians have spread throughout much of the Mengul Mountains and to those areas immediatly surrounding the mountains. Also, with the passing of centuries, the Denagothians have forgotten what the Geffronell elves have done for them after the Broken Lands catastrophe, and they are making more and more raids into their forest, earning their enmity and distrust.

AC 100: Wendar, son of an elven adventurer and a human female with elven heritage, is born in Genalleth in the village of Gethenar. He astounds the chirurgeon of the village in that he is not still born as has been the norm with such births.

AC 117: Wendar, who has been adventuring since a young age manages to kill a huge green dragon in her lair that has been terrorising the area for some time. Wendar is lucky in this encounter in that the dragon was recovering from a disagreement with another dragon. Despite this the battle was tough.

AC 120: Wendar and a group of local adventurers take it upon themselves to patrol their homeland area and protect it from monsters.

AC 122: Adventurers from Sylvair join with Wendar and his group and expand their area of surveillance around Sylvair.

AC 125: People from surrounding villages also join up to the scheme set up by Wendar. People start referring to them as the Wendarian League.

AC 162: Wendar dies.

AC 163: The village of Gethenar changes its name to Wendar in honour of what Wendar did for the people of the area.

AC 210: Sylidair (an elf) is born from elven parents in the town of Sylvair

AC 250: Although the Wendarian League has still been active since Wendar's passing it has started to decline in numbers.

AC 400: By this time the Wendarian League has broken apart as separate villages start to look after their own security.

AC 533: Nebunar is born in a Neathar-Beastman (Denagothian) tribe, the Essur, in the tundra plains on the northern part of the plateau: he's the only child of the Essurs' chieftain.

AC 563: Nebunar leads his clan (the Essur) southward, conquering and enslaving the human tribes he finds along his path, until he reaches the Great Forest of Geffron. There, after destroying a few elven settlements, he builds Drax Tallen and declares himself King of Essuria: his kingdom encompasses the whole south-eastern tip of the Denagoth Plateau. Nebunar does not venture too far into the elves' territory.

AC 568: Idris' cult begins to spread throughout Essuria and Denagoth. Nebunar (who is a follower of Idris) allows this to occur although he decides not to take an active part in the process - instead he does nothing to stop it, and this cult attracts many other followers among Nebunar's entourage as well.

AC 593: Nebunar acquires the Blackstick thanks to the help of Idris' High Priest and begins his studies to acquire the full mastery of its powers.

AC 595: Nebunar dies and the Blackstick is entombed with him; his son Dallovan succeeds him on Essuria's throne.

AC 613: Essuria expands its borders conquering the Avien tribes that live in the region called the Plains of Avien: the westernmost border is now the Lothenar Forest (not included).

AC 628: Dallovan dies after 30 years of strong and fair rulership: his son Naga ascends to the throne.

AC 648: Naga tries to conquer the town of Wendar and the neighbouring elven communities and marches south. After some minor victories, his armies are defeated by the joint forces of elves and humans, on the shores of the river later to be known as Naga River, where the Essurian King meets his demise.

There is talk of restarting the Wendarian League at this time but petty rulers from some of the towns make sure that the idea does not come to fruition - they fear to lose the control they have over their villages.

AC 648-658: Civil War in Essuria. A bitter feudal war erupts in Essuria amog the various clan leaders at the death of Naga, plunging the realm into one of its darkest periods. At the end of the war Naga's cousin, Ranyn (member of the Essur clan) rises to power after obtaining the loyalty of many clanleaders and slaughtering all the others who refused to acknoweldge him as the rightful heir to the throne. In the meantime, many of the subjected tribes manage to break free from Essuria's yoke and become indepedent once again: Essuria loses control over the Plains of Avien. Ranyn is crowned fourth King of Essuria.

AC 668: Ranyn manages to conquer again the Avien Tribes.

AC 678: Ranyn establishes a small keep a few miles north-east of Naga River to guard the southern access to Essuria: the village of Geron is built.

AC 688: Ranyn dies: his son Gereth ascends to the throne.

In Genalleth, Sylidair decides to create a special unit of loyal elves to defend his homeland from the menacing Essurian forces that have begun to occasionally raid the forest from the town of Geron. He bands up with some friends and creates the Defenders of Genalleth, an unofficial squad composed of elves only; then they begin to partol the forest and the countryside and they rise in number in the following years.

AC 698-718: The Great War. A warlord from the tribe of Den named Henadin unites the northern tribes and marches south to conquer Essuria and reestablish the once powerful Kingdom of Denagoth. The war ravages across the plateau for 20 years, during which famine, massacres and diseases claim nearly half of the entire Essurian population. In a desperate effort to resist Henadin's powerful army, Gereth uses Idris' priests to rally humanoid tribes into his army: the backup forces of orcs, hobgoblins and gnolls that join the Essurian army prove vital to the campaign. At the end of the war Henadin is killed and his disbanded armies retreat northward. Gereth builds a great tower along the northern border of Essuria as a strategic military keep to control the northern tribes' movements and as a monument to Essuria's might: he names the tower after himself.

AC 724: Bensarian is born from human parents in the small hamlet of Kevar.

AC 726: Bensarian's family is killed during an orcish raid. An elf passing nearby discovers the little Bensarian under the charred ruins of his house and decides to bring the baby back with him to his clan stronghold. Bensarian is thus adopted by the clan of elves and grows up adopting their customs and learning their traditions.

AC 733: Gereth dies during a raid in the Plains of Avien to repress a minor unrest among those tribes: his son Minar ascends to the throne.

AC 738: A few Denagothian clans unite again and raid the northern provinces of Essuria, destroying the Tower of Gereth after a long siege. Essuria's army counterattacks and repels the invaders, re-establishing the former northern border. Minar rebuilds his father's tower and renames it Gereth-Minar.

AC 748: Minar tries to invade the Wendar region, but like his predecessor Naga he is promptly repelled by the joint forces of Genalleth and Geffronell elves and the humans living in Genalleth. The elves in particular use their better knowledge of the area and their superior magics to best the Essurian warbands and to affirm their predominance in this part of the region.

AC 753: Bensarian, now a wise man, starts to travel throughout Genalleth and then up in the Great Forest of Geffron, learning the customs and history of the elves living in the region and befriending every single clan.

AC 758: Minar dies: his son Landru ascends to the throne.

AC 763: Bensarian has discovered a big hole in the history of the elves living in the area and he offers them his help to discover their real roots and the secrets of their ancestors. The elves are positively surprised by the dedication and the friendship showed by the sage, and knowing this will not be an easy nor short task, they offer him to extend his lifespan in exchange.

AC 768: The Unhuman Treaty. Landru signs a treaty with the humanoid population living in Essuria and in the surrounding mountains that gives them the right to raid and sack the elven settlements in Lothenar and Geffron Forest, as well as in Genalleth, in exchange for their help in case of war. Lothenar and Geffronell elves begin to suffer greatly from these vicious and malevolent humanoids in the following decades, while Landru is able to conquer a big part of their lands.

The people (Denagothians) of Essuria do not know why Landru has done this as many distust the humanoids. This is because over time the common Denagothian has forgotten his heritage from the Beastmen. Nebunar relearnt this fact from Idris and since then it has been a well guarded secret amongst the rulers of Essuria. Landru sings this treaty as much for aid in time of war as out of kinship with the humanoids.

AC 773: Landru calls upon the army to conquer the now thriving town of Wendar and the surrounding region, and thanks to the humanoids' help and the elves' temporary weakness he manages to get past the Mengul Mountains. Unfortunately, the humanoids disband just past the mountains and scatter to the four winds to raid the countryside without an organized strategy, so Landru and his army are defeated by the elves and the humans. The elven leader of the Defenders of Genalleth, Sylidair, personally kills the Essurian King during the final battle.

AC 774: Landru's brother, Beldan, ascends to the throne. The first thing he does is to abolish the Unhuman Treaty, and then he begins a personal crusade against orcs, ogres and other humanoids to avenge his brother's death (which he blames on them). He doesn't listen to the whispered promises and lies of the Idris' priests and ignores their advices on the humanoid affair: he is now on a personal quest for revenge. He also wants a scapegoat to explain the Essurian leaders' incapacity to conquer Genalleth and to unite the population.

AC 778: The High Priest of Idris, displeased with Beldan's actions, warns him of his misdeeds: the King merely laughs at such words and continues in his crusade, backed up by most of the population and much to the elves' joy. The High Priest then begins to spin a web of political intrigues and bribery to cause the king's downfall.

AC 783-788: Time of Terror. Beldan escapes some assassination attempts but is unable to find the real culprits. The King becomes more and more paranoid as the years follow and the assassination attempts increase, until he begins to put to death every single person that is in any way related to his would-be assassins. Common citizens and cleanleaders alike fall victims to Beldan's obsession and the population begins to despise its ruler: the High Priest remains untouched by the King's Purge, but some minor Idris priests do not.

AC 788: Beldan is suddenly attacked by an angry mob while traveling through the streets of Drax Tallen and he's literally torn to pieces under the eyes of his guards, who don't move a single finger to help him.

AC 789: The High Priest and the various clanleaders agree to elect Naren, a lesser member of Essur clan, as the new King of Essuria. He is nothing more than a puppet controlled by the High Priest and some of the most powerful clanleaders, but he doesn't realize it. The crusade against the humanoids is declared finished by the King and peaceful trading and diplomatical relationships are established between Essuria and Wendar: this is part of the High Priest's plan to infiltrate Idris' followers in the Genalleth Valley, in order to spread there the cult. The High Priest begins also to regain the humanoids' trust and alliance with vaious subtle manipulations and royal decrees.

AC 793: Halvan, Naren's brother, begins his studies of magical arts under Bensarian's guidance.