13 Major Events
13.0.1 The Age of Dragons (1AoD)
By 1 AoD (Age of Dragons), dragons—both chromatic and metallic—had risen to dominance. The chromatic dragons established tyrannical kingdoms driven by greed, while noble metallic dragons sought to protect and guide mortals. Their immense forms darkened the skies as they battled for supremacy.
In 20 AoD, a cleric named Vutra Rax rose to power, favored by Xalara. His ambitions led him to lichdom by 75 AoD, becoming Vutra Rax the Undying. As his power grew, so did Xalara’s influence, dragging OnceWas deeper into darkness.
13.0.2 The Arrival of Elves (50 AoD)
During the Age of Dragons, mortal races lived in fear. Chromatic dragons, embodiments of greed and malice, established tyrannical kingdoms driven by their insatiable lust for power. From their lofty perches atop citadels of stone and flame, they looked down upon the mortals as mere subjects to be dominated.
During this time of draconic tyranny, hidden portals began to stir within the deepest recesses of OnceWas. These ancient gateways, long dormant and obscured by the verdant canopies of the Eldertree Forest, began to shimmer with ethereal light. Through these portals emerged the elves—a race steeped in mysticism, grace, and ageless wisdom. Led by Queen Genevieve, whose silver hair shimmered like moonlight and whose eyes held the wisdom of centuries, they came forth with a purpose that echoed through the ages.
The elves' arrival was not merely a chance emergence from distant lands or realms unknown. It was a deliberate choice—a response to the growing darkness that choked the life from OnceWas. Legends spoke of the Eldertree Forest as a sacred place where the boundaries between worlds were thin, where ancient magics whispered through the rustling leaves, beckoning those who sought balance and harmony amidst chaos.
Queen Genevieve, guided by visions of a world where mortals and nature flourished in symbiosis, established Silvandor deep within the heart of Eldertree Forest. The city, adorned with silver spires that gleamed in the dappled sunlight filtering through the ancient trees, became a sanctuary of elven culture and arcane knowledge. Here, amidst the tranquil beauty of nature and the harmonious melodies of the forest spirits, the elves cultivated their arcane arts and embraced a way of life that honored the natural world.
The elves' presence in OnceWas signaled a turning point for mortal-kind. To humans, who had long suffered under the draconic yoke, the arrival of the elves was nothing short of miraculous. It brought hope—a glimmer of light amidst the encroaching darkness. The elves' graceful demeanor and reverence for nature stood in stark contrast to the savage rule of the chromatic dragons. Where dragons demanded tribute and fear, the elves offered wisdom and guidance, teaching mortals to coexist with the land rather than dominate it.
As Queen Genevieve and her people ventured beyond the boundaries of Silvandor, they forged alliances with mortal races who yearned for freedom from draconic oppression. Together, elves and mortals stood against the tide of despair, their unity bolstered by the ancient magic that permeated the Eldertree Forest. Through their combined efforts, they began to reclaim OnceWas from the clutches of darkness, laying the foundation for a new era where hope and resilience would shape the destiny of their world.
13.0.3 The War of the Dragons (200 AoD)
By 200 AoD, the gods intervened. On Lonely Hill, the god Gaoth confronted Xalara, unleashing a bolt of lightning that shattered her form, scattering her essence. Vutra Rax was banished to the Wastelands, leaving lasting scars from the War of Dragons.
In the ancient times of OnceWas, dragons ruled the skies and giants roamed the land. The Age of Dragons began with chromatic dragons, driven by greed and malice, establishing oppressive kingdoms over mortals. Xalara, emerging from their ambitions, embodied darkness unlike the benevolent gods who arose to protect.
As Xalara's influence spread, her dragons enforced her will, plunging OnceWas into fear and chaos. This sparked the War of Dragons, pitting chromatic and metallic dragons against each other for dominance. Amidst this strife, Vutra Rax, a ruthless cleric favored by Xalara, rose to power and achieved lichdom through dark rituals.
The gods intervened alongside the metallic dragons and their mortal allies, engaging in epic battles against Vutra Rax and the chromatic dragons. The elves, arriving through ancient portals, joined the fray to assist in the battle.
The turning point occurred on Lonely Hill, where Gaoth, wielding storms and fury, confronted Xalara in a titanic duel. His thunderous strike shattered Xalara, staining the land with her dark essence. Vutra Rax was banished to the Bad Lands, his dark ambitions undone.
With Xalara vanquished, the tide of battle turned decisively. The War of Dragons left indelible scars upon OnceWas. Though diminished in number, the metallic dragons emerged as revered legends among mortals and elves, their heroic sacrifices immortalized in tales of valor and resilience.
In the centuries following the war, human warlords ascended to prominence, each driven by ambition to carve out their own realms amidst OnceWas' shifting landscapes. They amassed armies, forged alliances, and waged battles that reshaped the political and geographical boundaries of the world. The era of dragon dominance gave way to an age of human ambition and territorial strife.
13.0.4 The Divine Pact (250 AoD)
After the war, the gods established an accord to refrain from direct interference in mortal affairs, fearing mutual destruction. Instead, they chose to operate through mortals, granting divine magic to their followers to subtly guide history.
The Legacy of the War of Dragons
The War of Dragons forever changed OnceWas. The metallic dragons became revered legends, their sacrifices immortalized in tales of valor, while human warlords rose, carving out realms and igniting a new age.
13.0.5 The Coming of the Witch (300 AoD)
In 300 AoD, a child named Isoma Ixal was born, destined to change the world of magic and bring darkness. Her sharp intellect and talent for the arcane set her apart. By her twenties, she surpassed her mentors in black magic and demonic mastery. Rumors of her power spread, attracting the attention of both mortals and immortals alike.
By 350 AoD, Isoma’s insatiable thirst for knowledge transformed her into a being of immense power. She discovered the secrets of the rare Mother Tree tree, rumored to grant longevity. Armed with this knowledge, Isoma extended her life, becoming a formidable force of dark magic.
In 400 AoD, she penned the Soulbound Grimoires—three tomes filled with dark lore and spells capable of summoning demon lords. Fragments of her soul were woven into the pages; to kill her, one would need to destroy all three books. As chaos ensued, Isoma manipulated the political landscape, deepening her influence and reveling in the discord.
13.0.6 The Arrival of Ixalor (975 AoD)
In 975 AoD, Isoma gave birth to Ixalor, a half-elf destined to inherit her legacy of darkness. His mixed heritage endowed him with unique abilities, allowing him to navigate both elven and human worlds with ease. Together, they tainted Silvandor, prompting the council of elders to banish them to prevent further corruption. Isoma vowed vengeance against those who cast her out.
Mother and son became outcasts, their hearts hardened by betrayal. As they wandered the desolate lands, Isoma taught Ixalor the dark arts, deepening their bond and nurturing his hunger for power. This time away from Silvandor forged Ixalor into a formidable figure; he absorbed her dark knowledge, reveling in the chaos they would unleash.
With the favor of Mairon, the god of Death, whispering dark promises, Ixalor felt a connection to death and darkness that fueled his ambitions.
13.0.7 The Age of Man (1000 AoM)
In 1000 AoM (Age of Man), Feall was born amidst rising human fiefdoms. By 1020 AoM, he emerged as a powerful warlord, advised by Ixalor. Feall's armies spread like wildfire, and by 1100 AoM, he was declared the Great King, marking an age of enlightenment where great cities rose, and a common language began to unify diverse cultures.
13.0.8 The Fall of Drell’s Mine (1090 AoM)
The city of keys, perched atop Lonely Hill, looms over the landscape—a place of both mystery and tragedy. Carved by the swift currents of the Lagithil River, the hill itself is a natural marvel, split in half by the water's relentless force. Legend holds that it was here where Gaoth struck the fatal blow to Xalara, ending a war that had ravaged the lands for generations. But the hill is not merely a site of ancient battles; it is a nexus of magical energy, where ley lines converge and pulse with unearthly power. The air hums with raw, untamed magic, its presence both a blessing and a curse.
Five hundred years ago, before the rise of Realm's End, this was the domain of Drell, a mighty dwarf lord. His keep sat proudly atop the hill, guarding the entrance to the vast mines below, where veins of precious metals and enchanted stones ran deep into the earth. Drell's Mine was a place of incredible wealth, attracting dwarves, adventurers, and mercenaries alike. But beneath the surface, greed festered. It was said that Drell’s riches, accumulated over centuries of mining, drew the attention of Xalara, the goddess of Greed, who sought the gold and the power of the High Point for herself. Her desire for more—the magic, the wealth, the control—consumed her, and she cursed the mine.
As the curse spread, the dwarves of Drell's keep turned on each other, driven by paranoia, madness, and betrayal. What was once a prosperous and thriving community crumbled into chaos as brother slew brother, each one hoping to claim the mine’s treasures for themselves. The halls of the keep ran red with blood as the greed that Xalara had invoked twisted the minds of Drell’s people. In the end, there was nothing left but ruin, the echo of war and destruction vibrating through the bones of the earth.
In the aftermath, the great wizard Gishigan the Great—known then for his power and mastery over the arcane—arrived from the north. He saw the devastation wrought by the curse and took swift action. Using his formidable knowledge of ancient magic, Gishigan placed powerful wards and deterrents around the mines, sealing them off from the world forever. He knew that the power beneath the hill was too dangerous to be left unchecked, and so, with the incantations of the old world, he trapped the mines in a web of magic that no mortal or immortal could unravel.
Over the centuries, the mines were forgotten, and the ruins of Drell's keep fell silent. The city of Realm's End rose atop them, its streets and buildings built over the remains of a once-great dwarven stronghold. Yet, the secrets of Drell’s Mine still linger deep beneath the city, buried in the roots of the ley lines. The magic remains potent, waiting to be rediscovered, and some say that even today, strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena are linked to the ancient mine. The city thrives above, unaware of the dark power still stirring beneath, and the mystery of Drell’s fall lingers, a haunting tale that many would rather forget—but none can truly escape.
13.0.9 The Rise of Ixalor (1250 AoM)
Madness began to encroach upon Feall's mind, possibly instigated by Ixalor's influence. By 1250 AoM, Ixalor had usurped control as regent, and the once-great king succumbed to fate in 1260 AoM, leaving a power vacuum that plunged the Great Kingdom into chaos. Ixalor seized this opportunity, rallying an army of orcs and humanoids to invade territories once held by humans.
13.0.10 Ixalor Betrays the Elves (1285 AoM)
The memory of man is short. As time passed, the heroic acts of the Elves began to fade from the minds of mortals. The very races the elves had saved, particularly the humans, became increasingly focused on their own ambitions. The memory of the elves' sacrifice grew dim as the years turned into decades, and the once-blazing light of hope dimmed into the distant glow of forgotten history. The elven presence, once revered, became something distant, their wisdom seen as a thing of the past. The nature of mankind’s fleeting memory proved to be a curse, as the past was quickly buried beneath the demands of the present.
It was in this forgetful age that Ixalor rose to power as the regent of the Great Kingdom. A man driven by ambition and hunger for control, he quickly ascended to the throne, his eyes set on power that would extend far beyond what had been granted to his predecessors. Ixalor and his court were no longer the grateful allies of the elves, who had helped liberate them from the clutches of the dragons. Over time, the elven bonds of friendship were lost, replaced by greed and distrust. Ixalor viewed the elves not as the saviors they once were, but as obstacles standing in the way of his own dreams of dominion.
Ixalor, driven by the same desire for power that had fueled the dragons before him, saw the elves’ vast knowledge, magic, and connection to the land as tools to further his own ambitions. He began to turn the people of OnceWas against their former allies, spinning lies that painted the elves as secretive, distant, and even dangerous. He spread fear, manipulating the memory of the elves' arrival into something monstrous—twisting the elves' grace and wisdom into traits of arrogance and elitism. In the court of King Feall, the memory of the elves became little more than a forgotten legend, eclipsed by the weight of human ambition.
In time, Ixalor and his armies betrayed the elves, luring them into a false sense of security. The elves, ever trusting, believed in the promises of peace and cooperation that Ixalor had once shared, but these were lies. At the moment when they least expected it, Ixalor’s forces struck. The elves were betrayed, their allies turned against them, as the very mortals they had helped now sought to subjugate them, believing the elves to be a threat to their burgeoning empire.
In 1280 AoM, Ixalor uncovered tales of Malthar, the demon of Lycanthropy—once imprisoned by Yavanna, the goddess of life. Malthar had been held captive by the ancient relic known as the Light of Yavanna, binding the demon in torment. Driven by his thirst for power, Ixalor became fixated on freeing Malthar, believing the demon lord’s strength would serve his ambitions.
His journey led him to the sanctuary where the relic was kept, protected by ancient wards. Utilizing dark knowledge from Isoma, he navigated the traps designed to deter intruders. After a harrowing quest, Ixalor reached the chamber housing the Light of Yavanna and unleashed dark magic, shattering the relic.
Malthar broke free with a roar that shook existence. As the dust settled, Ixalor stood tall, and Malthar, in reverence, knelt before him, swearing allegiance.
13.0.11 The Great War (1300 AoM)
In 1300 AoM, a rebellion ignited against Ixalor, marking the beginning of the Great War. Various nations united against the tyrant. By 1310 AoM, Ixalor retreated north, establishing the Empire of Ix and consolidating his power.
13.0.12 The Imprisonment of Ixalor (1350 AoM)
In the opulent halls of Ixalor's palace, where arcane symbols shimmered in the air and the walls hummed with latent magical power, an eerie silence fell over the assembled Ragged Rooks. Gishigan, the venerable sage with eyes that held the weight of centuries, stood at the forefront alongside Halfhag, whose Soultrap pulsed ominously in his grasp. Desinor, a druid whose mastery of elemental forces was renowned, and Tovenaar, a shadowy magic user whose mere presence seemed to distort reality, completed their formidable quartet.
Ixalor stood defiantly before them, draped in dark robes that seemed to absorb the very light. He surveyed his adversaries with smoldering intensity. His eyes burning with a twisted determination. The confrontation that unfolded in those grand halls would shape the fate of OnceWas.
The tension in the air crackled as spells were exchanged with thunderous force, arcane energies colliding in dazzling displays of light and shadow. Ixalor's voice echoed with abysmal incantations, summoning forth demons from the Abyss itself. The monstrous creatures materialized with roars that shook the palace's foundations, their forms a grotesque blend of flesh and dark magic.
Halfhag, sensing the scales tipping against the Alliance, raised the Soultrap high above his head. The relic, a conduit of ancient and forbidden magic, hummed ominously as he chanted words of binding that reverberated through the chamber. With a surge of mystical energy, tendrils of power shot forth from the Soultrap, ensnaring Ixalor in their ethereal grasp.
Ixalor's defiance turned to desperation as the Soultrap's bindings tightened around him, enveloping his mind and body in a suffocating embrace. Darkness seeped into his very essence as he was drawn inexorably into the chaotic depths of the Void Beyond. There, amidst swirling shadows and eerie whispers that echoed his doubts and fears, Ixalor struggled against the imprisoning magic.
Within the shifting and surreal landscapes of the Void Beyond, Ixalor's mind struggled to maintain coherence amidst the maelstrom of chaotic energies. Twisted and alien creatures slithered and writhed around him. The Void Beyond threatened to consume him entirely, its alien landscapes twisting his perception and tormenting his thoughts. Dark, tentacled aberrations sensed his presence, their hunger driving them ever closer with each moment.
Ixalor sensed a looming sentience—a hive mind of unimaginable power that lurked within the shadows of the Void. Initially filled with terror at its presence, Ixalor soon realized that this entity, far from being an adversary, saw his chaotic essence as a source of potential. It sought to assimilate Ixalor's consciousness into its collective, granting him insights and abilities that transcended mortal comprehension.
As the hive mind merged with Ixalor's consciousness, a profound transformation began to unfold. The chaotic energies that had once threatened to consume him now coursed through his being, granting him newfound clarity and purpose amidst the surreal landscapes of the Void Beyond. With this enlightenment came a revelation—a plan that spanned across the boundaries of existence itself.
The gates that separated the Void Beyond from OnceWas became his focus. It was a mystical barrier that had long held back the chaotic and ancient horrors of the Void Beyond from spilling into OnceWas. Ixalor could see that it was weakened - cracked under the strain of Halfhag's spell.
Ixalor envisioned a grand design of revenge and dominion, manipulating the vulnerable rift between realms. Through the cracks he would whisper secrets into the ears of power-hungry mortals. He struck bargains with shadowy beings in OnceWas, and sowed seeds of discord and destruction across realm he once sought to rule through tyranny.
Slowly but surely, the barriers began to fray, and dark and malevolent entities, twisted manifestations of primordial chaos, began to slip through the widening crack. Their forms were grotesque and alien, vanguards of an impending catastrophe. Across OnceWas, seers and scholars alike sensed an encroaching calamity. Visions of impending doom haunted their dreams, and whispers of the return of ancient evil spread like wildfire among the populace.
In response, a disparate band of adventurers will emerge. These fated souls joining together by prophecy and courage, determined to uncover the truth behind the gathering darkness. Their journey will take them through treacherous rifts between realms, ancient ruins forgotten by time, and shadowy domains where eldritch aberrations lurk in the darkness. Guided by prophecies and cryptic warnings, they will need to piece together the puzzle of Ixalor's resurgence and find a way to stop the impending threat he poses to their world.
13.0.13 The First Plague (1550 AoM)
The first plague that swept through the countryside of Dunmar left devastation in its wake, emptying villages, hamlets, farms, and cottages of their inhabitants. Survivors sought refuge in more secure locations, abandoning buildings and ruins that remained untouched for over a century.
In the aftermath, as the memory of the plague faded and hope rekindled, people cautiously began to repopulate the region. They used the remnants of old forts and homes to rebuild their villages, striving to reclaim what had been lost to disease and despair.
13.0.14 The War of the Southern Sea (1635 AoM)
The War of the Southern Sea was ignited when Corsairia, a formidable naval power, launched a bold offensive against Dunmar. King Aradun, driven by the defense of his realm and the honor of his people, led his fleet into battle against the Corsairian aggressors. In his absence, he entrusted his brother, Lord Eldred, with stewardship over Lion's Roost.
During the prolonged conflict at sea, Lord Eldred wielded his newfound authority with ruthless efficiency. He exploited his position to enrich himself and his allies, imposing heavy taxes and harsh penalties on the populace. Whispers of corruption and oppression quickly spread throughout Dunmar, tarnishing Eldred's reputation and fueling discontent among the common folk.
Upon King Aradun's triumphant return from the Southern Sea, instead of a hero's welcome, he was met with confrontation and unrest. Eldred, having consolidated power and raised soldiers loyal to him, defied his brother's rightful authority. The kingdom, already weary from war and suffering under Eldred's tyranny, stood on the brink of internal conflict.
Aradun faced his brother in a decisive battle for the soul of the kingdom. The clash was fierce and costly, pitting loyalists against each other in a struggle for power and redemption. Emerging victorious, King Aradun upheld the principles of justice and the welfare of his people above all else. He decreed Eldred's exile from Lion's Roost, casting out his brother and Eldred’s loyalists to atone for betraying the realm and its ideals. Eldred, stripped of his power and status, fled to the Village of Ravencrest, where he sought refuge and contemplated his future.
The War of the Southern Sea and its aftermath left scars on Dunmar, reminding its people of the high costs of ambition and the sacrifices required to safeguard peace and prosperity. It was a chapter in history that underscored the challenges of leadership and the enduring impact of personal and political choices in shaping the destiny of nations.
13.0.15 The Second Plague (1648 AoM)
Dunmar was plunged into turmoil once again as the second plague struck the land. Unlike its predecessor, this plague took on a more sinister form: lycanthropy, the curse of the werewolf, spread like wildfire across the countryside.
The outbreak of lycanthropy unleashed fear and paranoia among the people of OnceWas. In their desperation to find someone or something to blame, fingers pointed toward the practitioners of arcanum—wizards and wielders of magic. Misinformation and superstition took hold, fueling a wave of distrust and scorn toward those who wielded mystical powers.
Wizards, once revered for their knowledge and abilities, became targets of suspicion and persecution. Accusations of dark rituals and malevolent sorcery spread like wildfire, further fanning the flames of fear. In villages and towns across OnceWas, mobs formed, seeking to purge their communities of anyone suspected of practicing magic.
The once-great halls of learning and magical academies fell silent as their occupants fled or faced persecution. Libraries were ransacked, ancient tomes destroyed, and arcane artifacts buried or hidden away to escape the wrath of the fearful and vengeful.