A History of Aethervale: The Last 500 Years

The modern calendar of Aethervale begins with the end of the Age of Ruin, a catastrophic period of wild magic and demonic incursions.

Era I: The Dawning Age (Years 1 - 150)

• 0-50 AW (After Wastes): The world was fractured. A legendary adventuring party known as The Vanguard of Dawn (a human paladin, a dwarven cleric, an elven ranger, and a halfling rogue) defeated the Abyssal Lord Mal'Ganis, pushing the demonic hordes back into the Mana Wastes. Their sacrifice established the magical wards that protect the major continents today.
• 50-150 AW: The rebuilding era. Dwarves solidified their hold on the North and South, establishing deep subterranean trade routes. Elves retreated to the eastern forests (Lemmion, Wyn_Dor, Olsa, Dorey) to heal nature.

Era II: The Arcanum Wars and The Rise of Kigum (Years 151 - 320)

• 180 AW: The discovery of concentrated Aether-crystals in the central continent led to a magical arms race.
• 210-225 AW - The War of Sunder: Rogue magi attempted to conquer the Eastern Continent. They were stopped by The Crimson Company, a second great generation of adventurers who utilized early gunpowder and anti-magic tactics. They founded the first true military academy in Kigum.
• 250 AW: Kigum establishes the Grand Arcane Bank (secretly founded by the Gold Dragon Aurelius), turning the city into the undisputed financial capital of the world.

Era III: The Industrial Awakening (Years 321 - 450)

• 330 AW: In the harsh North, Dwarven engineers in Steamfort combined Aether-crystals with steam power. The first Aether-Engines were born.
• 350-400 AW: Steamfort rapidly militarizes, building ironclad airships and steam-powered siege engines. They become the counterweight to Kigum's magical supremacy.
• 420 AW: The Giantfolk of the North-East, driven by sudden volcanic activity (secretly caused by Ignis-Kaan), launch devastating raids on the coastlines, forcing a temporary, uneasy truce between Steamfort and Kigum to repel them. This era was defined by the heroes known as The Ironclad Vanguard.

Era IV: The Cold War (Years 451 - Present [523 AW])

• Current State: The world is in a tense standoff. Kigum controls global trade and magical education; Steamfort controls industry, deep mining, and mechanized warfare.
• The Dwarves firmly control Dal-Dur (South) and the regions around Steamfort (North).
• The Elves of Lemmion, Wyn_Dor, Olsa, and Dorey remain fiercely isolationist, their borders guarded by ancient, seemingly immortal wardens who remember the Age of Ruin.
• A new generation of adventurers is beginning to rise, catching wind of the ancient draconic conspiracy that has manipulated the last five centuries.