uh-oh, I think the world building exploded

[sparkindarkness]

I've complained before that my Virtue of Steel world setting is annoying because for every page of actually fiction there are 100 pages of world building

This got somewhat worse because 'Adracanta' (that dragony thing that still needs a title) is set in the same world setting.

This because much much much MUCH worse because I realised that several little drabbles I have lying around, as well as several abortive works (y'know the sort - you get one page and then it all kinds of fizzles - more characters than story) are also set in the same world setting.

It's annoying because I love the world setting. I love the lands, their history, their politics, I love the races and their politics and history. I love the deities and cultures and timelines and the mechanics. I love this world setting, I can merrily spend hours and hours writing crap I will NEVER USE just so I can have a detailed history of a country on a continent NONE of my stories have ever been near.

But I hate the stories. I HATES them precious! And the characters amuse me slightly but nothing they do interests me. I have deleted pages and pages of drek that made my eyes bleed and I just CANNOT WRITE a story for this setting! But it's my favourite setting! Argle argle argle *pout*

So I keep on world building in the hope that something will click. And I had the bright idea to try and come up with a timeline so I know where everything fits. I haven't got actual dates or time between each but I have a rough order of when various events happened.

And it kinda went big... The setting has eaten my brain and the time line is not even a quarter complete *headache* so I'm going to have to edit it 1 squillion times to get everything on there. Which I'm kinda looking forward to... more world building... less story. Argle.

ETA: Oh bloody hell the tabbing as been merrily screwed up



The Ancient Age - The rule of dragons

TIME Draconic rule of the land
Legend

TIME Legend Wars against the demons, the dragons drive back demonkind to a few blighted lands

TIME The dragons fall to their own corruption
Legend

The Elder Age - the rise of the Elves, Orthorokk and Dwarfs

TIME Elven Nation forms on the Sonnarelis continent
Sonnarelis

TIME Demons try to leave their lands, fought back by the Elves. The Elves seal the Sonnarelis rift, preventing demons from ever roaming in vast numbers again

TIME Nomadic Orcish tribes grow to dominate territory on the Inredis continent
Inredis

TIME The first proto-variety elves are born
Sonnarelis

TIME The first Anesgarei elves are born
Sonnarelis

TIME SonnarelisThe Demonking successfully escapes the rift, moving demons across the rift remains difficult

TIME Inredis Orthorok rulers of nomadic orcish tribes become psychically more dominantover the kinds of lesser orcs

TIME The first Inesgarei elves are born
Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis The Demonking forms a demonic nation, Pakasha but is constantly thrown back by the elves

TIME The Ortharok begin tailoring the offspring of orcs to fit various roles
Inredis

TIME Sonnarelis The Dwarfs of the Vault Mountains on Sonnarelis form a council to connect numerous small farming and shepherding communities

TIME Sonnarelis Pakasha marches to war, after years of battle the elves throw them back, and establish a guard on the demon kingdom

TIME Sonnarelis The first Yolesgarei elves are born


TIME Inredis The Orthorok begin to unite and establish nations. Permanent settlements are created

TIME Sonnarelis Philosophical strife between elven factions cause the elven empire to be split, forming Sildarya (dominated by High and Shadow elves) Sasashkya (dominated by Dark and Moon Elves) and Narisatya (Dominated by Wood, Moon and Elemental Elves)

TIME Sonnarelis Second Pakashan war, the new elven nations unite against the threat - prevents a budding war between the elven factions

TIME: Sonnarelis The Dwarfs begin excavating the Vault mountains on a large scale. The first Dwarven mine-cities begin to emerge. Metal working and mining become large scale occupations

TIME Sonnarelis The first roving bands of The Hungry form and begin preying on isolated elven communities, backlash from the elves is strong

TIME Inredis Nomadic human tribes begin forming small settlements on Inredis. Most are destroyed or enslaved by the Orthorok nations

TIME Sonnarelis Elves from Sildarya create a colony on Inredis. More follow

TIME Inredis A human leader, Loran successfully leads his people in a rebellion from a weakened and incompetent Orthorok overlord. They form their own nation Lonanton, in his honour

TIME Inredis Due to a political gaffe, Sildarya aids Narisatya in forming a colony on Inredis. Sasashkya soon creates its own colonies

TIME Sonnarelis The Hungry begin preying on dwarven communities. The dwarfs unite under a king and the nation of Kirkatoch is formed

TIME The first Sinesgarei elves are born
Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis Elves from Narisatya make contact with Kirkatoch. Misunderstandings abound. Both sides are mortally insulted.

TIME: Sonnarelis Elves from Sasashkya discover Kirkatoch, anger brews into violence, war follows

TIME Sonnarelis Sildarya tries to broker peace between Kirkatoch and Sasashkya. Fails dismally, sends own forces to war. Ensuing horrendous politics drag Narisatya into the fighting

TIME: Sonnarelis Long period of several pointless wars between Kirkatoch and various elven kingdoms

TIME Inredis Orthorok begin seafaring - make their own landfalls on Sonnarelis and establish small settlements

TIME Inredis Small human settlements begin to form on Inredis, some in the shadow of elven colonies.

TIME Inredis Lonanton grows to consume all the land of its former Orthorok oppressor. An orcish force sent by another Orthorok nation is repelled

TIME Inredis Orthorok nations grow into dominant empires that contend against one another and dominate most of Inredis.

TIME Sonnarelis Orthorok begin competing in earnest in colonising Sonnarelis. A settlement boom begins

TIME Sonnarelis Orcs reach Pakasha and are thrown back by the demonic forces


TIME Sonnarelis Pakasha begins to open borders to demonic worshippers of all races - the Demon kingdom gains non-demonic citizens

TIME Inredis Lonanton prospers as Orthorok eyes are turned to Sonnarelis. Careful trade begins between Lonanton and the Orthorok. As peace spreads, leadership moves away from the Warlords to the more scholarly Priest-Wizards - the Angrekareni.

TIME Sonnarelis Third Pakashan war. Elves and Dwarfs are forced to stand together and even co-operate with the orcs to throw back the demonic threat.

TIME Sonnarelis The Metantakan is signed, ending the conflict between elves and dwarfs. Both sides avoid each other


The Age of Strife

TIME Inredis Elven colonies on Inredis resist Orthorok expansion, battles begin over holy, magical and neighbouring land

TIME Orcish colonists invade Kirkatoch, easily repulsed by the dwarfs.
Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis Orcish settlers attempt to settle on the Sildarya island - open war breaks out.


TIME Inredis The Angrekareni rulers of Lonanton pursue a policy of appeasement to the Orthorok, paying modest tribute in exchange for being left alone

TIME Sasashkya begins a genocidal campaign against orcish settlers on Sonnarelis
Sonnarelis

TIME World Narisatya begins a campaign of environmental protection - destroying Orthorok encroaches into wilderness both on Sonnarelis and Inredis

TIME Inredis Sasashkya attacks orcish coastal settlements to prevent forces and supplies reaching Sonnarelis

TIME All out war breaks out between the elves and the Orcs.
Inredis

TIME The first Tiolesgarei elves are born. Dissent begins between the generations
Inredis

TIME Sonnarelis After numerous devastating defeats trying to attack Kirkatoch, the Orcs lay a long term siege of several of the country’s major cities. Dwarves move much of their population and even food production underground and to the walled cities

TIME Inredis With the Orthorok pouring their resources into the elven war, Lonanton grows large and mighty. They do not pick sides in the war and trade with both. Tribute to the orcs ends.

TIME The Orthorok empires formally ally - becoming one force against the elves.
Inredis

TIME Sasashkya and Sildarya forces break the siege on Kirkatoch.
Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis Inredis Sildarya offers nautical technology and charts to the dwarfs, and provides maps of Inredis and aid in settlement. Dwarfs settle in various mountain ranges in Inredis and quickly become embroiled in the war against the Orthorok there

TIME World War continues unabated for decades. The losses on all sides are staggering

TIME Sonnarelis Elves from all 3 nations ally to perform the Gara Mirelka. The leaders of the Orthorok empires, their chief followers and whole society are destroyed

TIME Inredis The Orthorok empires collapse entirely. The huge armies descend into insane, blood crazed berserkers that destroy everything around them throwing all of orcdom and beyond into chaos

TIME Inredis Sonnarelis The elves withdraw many of their forces from Inredis and begin exterminating every orc on Sonnarelis, driving the Sonnarelian orcs to extinction

TIME Inredis Marauding orc bands devastate and destroy some elven colonies on Inredis

TIME Inredis Lonanton, after centuries of relative peace and prosperity is assailed by waves of crazed berserker orcs from all sides. After decades of fierce fighting the nation slowly collapses, most of its people killed or reduced to barbarism. One northern province is cut off from the rest of the empire and begins a mass migration to safety

TIME Inredis Most fledgling human communities are scattered or destroyed in the wake of the orcish tide. Sildarya colonists grant passage on a few favoured tribes to sanctuary on Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis The Demon King offers sanctuary to numerous human refugees, substantially increasing Pakasha’s mortal population

TIME Inredis Many orcish breeds are extinct - including the Orthorok. Orcish civilisation can never rise again

TIME Sonnarelis Human settlers on Sonnarelis form the noble and knightly nation of Lyenaris, fiercely loyal to the elves with a strong martial and honour based culture. With elven patronage and support, it prospers.

TIME Sonnarelis Strife between elven generations flares to new heights, elven action is stalled by constant argument and accusations. The three nations draw away from each other

TIME Inredis The Dwarfs spread from mountain range to mountain range both on Sonnarelis and Inredis. Their secure mountain homes providing perfect bases to build new nations among the marauding orcs

TIME Inredis Elven Generation Civil war - resulting in numerous colonies becoming independent of the original Sonnarelian nations. Exodus of high generation elves from Sonnarelis, abandoning considerable territory. Low generation Inredis colonists largely move back to Sonnarelis.

TIME Sonnarelis Pakasha stirs but is put down before any war begins in earnest - hostilities in the Generation war quickly cease

TIME Sonnarelis Human tribe in northern Inredis makes the perilous ice crossing to Sonnarelis. Thousands die, more to the rampaging orcs that plague them. The stubborn,. hardy people form a new land in the frozen reaches of Sonnarelis, creating the land of Ithilen

TIME Inredis The survivors of the Lonanton Exodus reach the Skyfang mountains and can run no further. The people turn to the dragons to save them from orcs and Adracanta is born

TIME Sonnarelis Desperate humans take to the seas to escape the orcs. Most don’t survive, however some bands using old orc and elven ships manage to land on islands off the coast of Sonnarelis - Minios and Iosca.

TIME Inredis Orcish numbers are finally decimated through countless wars. The vast hordes of orcs are reduced to countless marauding bands.

The Age of Man


TIME Inredis Human nations begin to spring up across Inredis. Trade begins to flourish, new civilisations are born

TIME Sonnarelis Pacifistic nature-worshippers from Lyenaris escape the martial, honour-bound culture of their home and form the new nation of Anaeris beyond Lyenaris’ borders. Relations remain close between the 2 nations

TIME Sonnarelis Using technology salvaged from orcish and elven ruins on a large scale, a new age of naval exploration and trade begins. Iosca, having mastered the technology long before, turns to piracy

TIME Sonnarelis Fourth Pakashan war - though long and bloody, an alliance is quickly formed between the 3 elven nations, Kirkatoch and Lyenaris to push the demons back. Lyenaris acquits itself well and is honoured by their older neighbours

TIME Sonnarelis The High King of Kirkatoch dies in the Pakashan war. The clans debate fiercely on his successor, after years of isolation from Pakashan siege, the southern hold demands and claims independence while the clans war over the king creating Karnaktoch. Dwarf holds in Inredis become independent fiefs

TIME Inredis Pirate lord Tuscan of Iosca sails to Inredis with his vast wealth and followers, his settlement on the mouth of the Pedraken, creating the trading port of Tarsis

TIME Sonnarelis A new High King is announced, through charisma and diplomacy he convinces Karnaktoch to recognise his supremacy - but as little more than a figurehead

TIME Inredis Mystarn begins conquering neighbours in the south of the vast Pedraken valley

TIME Inredis Through intrigue and plotting, Sorisen begins to form an empire in the north of the vast Pedraken valley

TIME Sonnarelis Pirate Lord Aben of Iosca follows in his ancestor’s footsteps and sails to Sonnarelis with his vast wealth - establishing what will one day become Mirlen

TIME Sonnarelis The Minios islands are riven by civil war, at the end of which the survivors are exiled to the Sonnarelian mainland forming small fiefdoms in the large, empty lands west of Anaeris

TIME Inredis Mystarn and Sorisen overwhelm most of their neighbours in the Pedraken valley. Only Tarsis remains independent

TIME Sonnarelis Following the example of Minios exiles, Dishonoured Lyenaris nobles choose to set up their own fiefs west of Anaeris rather than endure their neighbours’ scorn

TIME Inredis Sorisen and Mystarn flourish, becoming the largest nations in the world. Their wealth flows through the independent city of Tarsis

TIME Inredis Worshippers of Kel-Sonnar gather from every nation to form their own holy land west of Anaeris, forming the nation of Formosa

TIME Sonnarelis The slowly expanding Pakashan border is halted by Mirlen in the south and Ilthilien in the north, there is sharp skirmishing on both borders. Mirlen receives considerable technological, magical and financial aid from the elves, dwarfs and Lyenarin

TIME Sonnarelis Tarsis forces the capitulation of the Ioscan pirates. The Ioscan islands become a dominion of Tarsis. Rebellious Ioscans flee the islands to settle in the empty western lands of Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis Religious squabbling causes the newly minted Formosa to break up into many smaller arguing factions.

TIME Inredis Sorisen and Mystarn, after years of tensions, go to war. Vast armies are raised. Tarsis profits immensely from supplying and trading with both vast empires

TIME Sonnarelis Raids, arguments and small wars rage between the many small lands of western Sonnarelis. Kingdoms rise and fall, some lasting less than a decade and borders change so fast they become impossible to map. The land becomes known as the “Patchwork Kingdoms” with only Anaeris being stable enough to map

TIME Sonnarelis Fifth Pakashan War, Mirlen leads a grand alliance to victory. Mirlen hailed as the “Wall” against Pakasha and demands tribute from other nations for being the first line of defence against Pakasha. For the first time, Tarsis brings aid from Inredis against Pakasha

TIME Sonnarelis Mirlen, taking full advantage of generosity of their neighbours, prospers, becoming a centre for innovation, magic and commerce. Mirlenan armies succeed in pushing back the borders of Pakasha several times

TIME Inredis Sorisen and Mystarn agree borders set by the Pedraken river. Both mighty nations continue sporadic fighting for the next few centuries.

TIME Sonnarelis Lord Postak leads his armies to great success in the Patchwork Kingdoms, carving out a new nation.

TIME Sonnarelis Lord Postak is revealed to be a vampire. Lyenaris invades and crushes his new kingdom.

TIME Sonnarelis Lyenaris forces a charter on the Patchwork Kingdoms, policing their squabbles to prevent their worst excesses. Several concessions are forced -including tribute to Mirlen

TIME Sonnarelis Priests of Kel-Sonnar enrage the populace of every land against hidden (and often tolerated) vampires. Many die or flee in the pogrom

TIME Sonnarelis Sixth Pakashan war. A resounding defeat for Pakasha. Mirlen easily held back the horde while Lyenaris rallied aid from all Sonnarelis and Inredis. Pakasha’s border is pushed back many miles in the aftermath

TIME Inredis Mystarn lays siege to Tarsis, quickly broken by Sorisen. Begins a long cycle of war across the Tarsis Plane

TIME Sonnarelis War of Coins. Tarsis merchants try to force accords on Mirlenan merchants. Mirlen responds with force

TIME Minios enjoys golden age in the absence of Ioscan privateers
Sonnarelis

TIME The Treaty of Silver is signed between Tarsis and Mirlen, favouring Mirlen.
Inredis

TIME The Unknown War - Pakasha devastates Ilthilien
Sonnarelis

TIME Mirlen begins decline into decadence, King adopts ascetic lifestyle in protest
Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis Vampires displaced from the pogrom flee north to devastated Ilthilien, their prowess prevents the kingdom being consumed by Pakasha

TIME Sonnarelis Seventh Pakashan War - War of Ashes. Decadent Mirlen is destroyed. Only Miniosan legions prevent Pakasha overrunning the Patchwork Kingdoms

TIME Sonnarelis Wizard kingdom of D'Minera formed in the highly magical lands of eastern Mirlen

TIME Sonnarelis The Formosan crusade marches north to devastated Mirlen, the holy warriors win many surprise victories

TIME Sonnarelis Pakasha is forced back to the old borders by a grand coalition of Sonnarelian and Inredis allies

TIME The heir to the throne of Mirlen abdicates, destroying the crown
Sonnarelis

TIME Formosan crusaders create the Theocracy of Akendora in central Mirlen
Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis Merchants from the sieged city of Amros create the nation of Myklos on the west coast of Mirlen

TIME Sonnarelis Minios begins conquest of southern Patchwork kingdoms. Lyenaris does not intervene

TIME Sonnarelis Vampire-lead Ithileskant rises from the ashes of Ilthilien, vast armies of the undead claim much of Ithilien’s land back from Pakasha

TIME Minios conquers half of Patchwork Kingdoms.
Sonnarelis

TIME Minios establishes outposts and beachheads on the Inredis coast.
Inredis

TIME Minios sends out its legions on all borders.
World

TIME War of Honour Lyenaris marches against Minios to protect Anaeris
Sonnarelis

TIME Tarsis launches naval campaign against Minios
Inredis

TIME Sonnarelis War of Honour ends. Anaeris is protected but most of the Patchwork Kingdoms become part of the Miniosan Empire

TIME Myklosian merchants encroach on many Tarsis monopolies
Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis Treaty of Iosca signed between Minios and Tarsis, most of Minios’ northern and central colonies on Inredis are lost or become Tarsisin trade posts

TIME Minios expansion stalls through political upheaval
Sonnarelis

TIME Sonnarelis Seventh Pakashan War. Akendora, Myklos and D’Minera come together quickly, rallied by the heir of Mirlen. A grand alliance is formed between both continents.

TIME Sonnarelis Inredis The Dying Ground - thousands of Inredis troops die in the war against Pakasha

TIME Sonnarelis Ithiliskant launches a campaign south against Pakasha, forcing the Demon king on the defensive and ending the Seventh Pakashan War

TIME Sonnarelis Treaty of the Wall is signed between D’Minera, Myklos and Akendora. Lyenaris pledges support

TIME Minios launches Imperial campaign from Inredis settlements
Inredis

TIME Sonnarelis Inredis Tarsis, Lyenaris and Kirkatoch deliver ultimatum to Minios to end Imperial ambition. Minios ruling bodies fall to paralysing squabbling, ceasing expansion