Special Feature: Thyatian Timeline

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Timeline of Thyatian History, continued

Alphatian Era

BC 300: League bases on the Isle of Dawn begin to take on the appearance of full-scale colonies as the Alphatians slide into decadence. Some Thyatian raiders penetrate far across the Isle of Dawn, even sacking settlements on its eastern coasts. Alphatian subjects seem to almost welcome the arrival of the bold Thyatians, doing little to stop their raids and encouraging them to smite the Alphatians, who are ruling over the area harshly and have become widely hated. Alphatian reprisals against these raids are particularly bloody and indiscriminate, when they occur. About half the time the Alphatians are too absorbed in their decadence to respond at all. But when they do they often lash out at their own subject populations for their "craven support of disreputable barbarian brigands." Alphatian naval reprisals are typically feeble, as their mercenary fleets are a poor match against the superior Thyatian ships and naval tactics.
BC 297: Dislike for the Thyatian King rises as he expropriates a larger and larger portion of the treasury to enrich himself and his cronies. Several prominent Elders organize a conspiracy, and with the help of legionary officers, depose him. Conclave of Elders is re-organized as an aristocratic Senate, purged of the King's cronies (who are exiled to the Isle of Dawn). Senate, with some input from the Assembly, selects Consuls and other administrators (Magistrates) to govern Thyatis. The League is re-organized along similar lines, with some input from the other cities.
BC 268: Thyatian raiders from a town near where Dawnpoint would later be built capture a particularly rich Alphatian merchant convoy, resulting in a large haul of Spider Silk, gems, gold, and other booty.
BC 252: A daring Consul of Thyatis decides to launch a strike against the Alphatian continent itself. Eagret and Aasla are both sacked as a result, with the Thyatian raiding fleet returning to port the following year, laden with booty. Following this Korotiku decides to transport some of the Thyatian pirates to the Hollow World. Around this time, the victory at Tel Akbir in 523, which had been matter of epic songs for nearly two centuries with drastically changed events (due to the removal of memories of Nithian culture), is collected in the form of an epic poem by the poet and prophet Tiresias.
BC 250: The "Corsair Consul" leads a new expedition against Alphatia, sailing forth from Thyatis City. It is never heard of again. The Thyatians assume the Alphatians used their magic to destroy the fleet in vengeance over the plundering of Aasla and Eagret. The truth is that Korotiku transported them to the Hollow World, along with several of the Thyatian pirate-settlements on the Isle of Dawn, as part of his project to create a piratical culture. He has come to the conclusion that eventually the Alphatians will be stirred to action against the Thyatians and he wants to preserve their pirate-culture before it is too late. Korotiku believes the raid against Eagret and Aasla will spur the Alphatians and possibly even reverse their decline into decadence, and that the Thyatians will likely not survive as a result. In Alphatia, as a result of the "Great Raid", Eagret is rebuilt as a naval base. The Thyatians consider the Alphatian navy laughably inept, sailing circles around it in almost every encounter. But the Alphatians improve their fleet over the following decades, and as the base at Eagret grows they are better able to patrol their home waters at least, and nothing like the "Great Raid" of Aasla and Eagret ever succeeds again.
BC 240 - BC 192: Traldar and Alaysian coastal settlements pay annual tribute to the League of Thyatis in exchange for putting a halt to the raids. Thyatian corsairs clash with Northmen Viking raiders on the open sea during this period. Superior Thyatian ships and tactics generally overcome the still-backwards Northmen in most encounters. Alaysian nomads and Kerendans continue their practice of mutual raids along the frontier, through the pass at Biazzan. Thyatian reavers turn their attentions against the Alphatians to an even greater degree, and the economy of that Empire begins to suffer greatly from the raids. Whole stretches of the Isle of Dawn are depopulated, as many subject races take the opportunity and the weakening of the Alphatian grip over them to flee into the wilderness, where they subsist as bandits.
BC 200: Alphatians discover that the Altan Tepes Mountains held by the Tribes are rich in gold, and decide to conquer them in order to eliminate Thyatian raiders and gain access to the wealth of the Altan Tepes. Alphatians begin to mobilize fleets and mercenaries at Eagret and Draco to invade Thyatis, but are hampered by the inefficiency and corruption of their government. Thyatis City's population is approximately 200,000.
BC 192: Alphatian armies invade Brun in order to conquer the Thyatians, Kerendans, and Hattians and exploit the rich gold mines of the area. Alphatian fleets sail around the Isle of Dawn while they send troops (including Thothian auxiliaries) across the island to destroy the Thyatian enclaves there. The fleets are then to board the troops into transports and ship them to disembarkation points in Thyatis. They are successful on the Isle of Dawn, quickly crushing the enclaves through the use of wave attacks and magic. But the Alphatian fleets are badly battered at sea by the Thyatian naval forces (DotE DMSB, p. 4, "The Coming of the Alphatians," states, "The Alphatian's non-magical naval forces were no match for the Thyatian pirates"). They withdraw back to the neck of the Isle of Dawn and embark many soldiers, and sail for Brun. This fleet is met by a combined force from all of the Thyatian League's cities, and almost completely destroyed. However, while the League fleet is away, Alphatian wizards summon hordes of monsters through gates and the like directly into Thyatis' cities. Brutal street fighting breaks out in all of them. Most are conquered quickly as the Alphatians move in more troops via skyships, though several prominent Alphatian Wizards are slain in the fighting. The League Fleet then withdraws back to Vanya's Girdle, and manages to briefly relieve Thyatis City (where the garrison had holed up in The City's fortress-like Acropolis, at the time a structure built on what would later become Emperor's Hill. The rest of the city had been occupied and partially destroyed). Remnants of the Alphatian fleet and invasion force then sailed across the Sea of Dread, landing in the Tel Akbir peninsula. They vent their rage over the previous defeats they suffered at the Thyatian's hands by utterly ravaging the region, destroying the Thyatian settlements there completely and slaughtering the population. They then march inland, supported by more mages and monsters, overrunning each surviving Thyatian city and town in turn, though not destroying these completely. Much of the Thyatian population flees into the countryside to continue to resist. The Alphatian army soon arrives at the walls of Thyatis City, where an epic final battle takes place. The League forces fight bravely, managing to dispatch several Alphatian sorcerers and decimate the remaining Alphatian troops. Alphatian magics quickly pierce the walls, however, and hordes of monsters and mercenaries swarm into the city, plundering and despoiling it. The sack goes on for over a week, producing a horrible slaughter, filling the streets with corpses. The Alphatians recover the booty plundered from Eagret and Aasla, and ship it back to Alphatia along with numerous prominent Thyatian captives, amid great ceremony. The Thyatian leaders are executed by magic in Sundsvall as a public spectacle meant to demonstrate Alphatian superiority.
BC 190: Alphatians hire more troops and send more mages to put down the resistance in the countryside of Thyatis, and a vicious guerrilla war is fought, with unparalleled bloodletting by both sides. The Alphatians finally subdue most of the open opposition to their authority, though by almost completely depopulating many regions. For two centuries the Tribes will be subjugated by Alphatia, working in mining conditions similar to that of AC 1000 Esterhold. They gradually recover some of their numbers, and the Thyatian cities are rebuilt to some extent as slave-cities and centers of Alphatian administration in the region.
BC 180: Alaysian nomads move into the depopulated eastern peninsula, founding the city of Tel Akbir. Minrothad elves absorb the Kerendan colony on Terentias. Alphatians adopt Thyatian shipbuilding and seafaring methods, revitalizing their navy. Alphatian decline is in the middle of a "dead cat bounce" phase - having been spurred to action in the wake of the "Great Raid" against Aasla and Eagret, and is now enjoying renewed economic vitality due to eliminating Thyatian piracy and gaining access to the wealth of the Altan Tepes Mountains.
BC 160: Alaysian nomads occupy the pass at Biazzan, resettling the town as an Alaysian community. Thyatians begin to turn towards the Immortals for solace, and as a result begin to develop a high degree of clerical expertise.
BC 150: Thyatians begin to organize into resistance cells with the goal of eventually overthrowing Alphatian rule. This resistance movement later evolves into the Ordo Magna. Thyatis City's population has recovered to approximately 40,000. It is still full of ruined structures, but most of the rubble has been cleared from the streets and the inhabited areas. It becomes the main shipment point for the transport of Thyatis' resources and tribute to Alphatia. First pit combats initiated by the Alphatians, who are getting tired of being assassinated and hope to distract the Thyatians. Alphatia's decline resumes as its nobility becomes even more dissolute and decadent than before, no longer facing serious competition to spur them to vigorous efforts.
BC 100: Alphatian occupation begins to relax some as they become less vigilant in maintaining their Empire and more self-absorbed. Civic life revives in Thyatian cities. Some Thyatians begin to gain status other than as slaves (as Servants, or in the Gentry as tradesmen and provisioners, and even as aristocrats for those who learn magic). Though Thyatis is one of the smaller areas subjugated to Alphatia, it is one of the more productive and even prosperous. Thyatis City's population reaches 75,000. First real gladiatorial arenas built in Thyatis. Lazy, dissolute Alphatian rulers begin to appoint Thyatians to administer parts of the region for them, so that they can concentrate on their debauches. Thyatians are able to use this to embezzle funds earmarked for shipment as tribute to Alphatia, enriching themselves at the Empire's expense.
BC 49: Lucinius Trenzantenbium is born, a distant descendant of Polytius Nobilissimus Trenzantenbium (via the daughter of one of Polytius' sons). His parents imbue him with knowledge of Thyatis' independent past, and of the greatness of his ancestors.
BC 41: Zendrolion Tatriokanitas is born in Kerendas.
BC 37: Lucinius Trenzantenbium is discovered to have an especially strong talent for magic. He is apprenticed to an Alphatian Wizard. Lucinius' master is a fairly conscientious mage, who never takes Zzonga, though absorbed in his researches rather than interested in administering the Empire. He does have some sympathy for the Thyatians, and grows fond of young Lucinius.
BC 30: Lucinius Trenzantenbium learns the arcane arts quickly. He also manages to convince his sympathetic master of the worthiness of the Thyatian cause. He gains his first supporter, and is taught everything the Alphatian wizard he is apprenticed to knows, not only about magic but about the inner workings of Alphatia itself. Zendrolion Tatriokanitas begins to learn the arts of combat, apprenticed to a gladiator in Kerendas.
BC 26: Lucinius Trenzantenbium moves to Kerendas City where he befriends the young warrior, Zendrolion Tatriokanitas. Over the following years the two engage in many escapades together, exploring old ruins, being recruited into intrigues and cabals, venturing into the depths of the Dymrak Forest, and other activities. Both rapidly gain experience in their chosen crafts, and gather a group of supporters and followers around each other.
BC 20: After performing a mission on behalf of the local Alphatian governor (locating a lost Zzonga shipment for him), Lucinius Trenzantenbium is given an administrative position and Zendrolion Tatriokanitas is appointed Commander of Mercenaries in Kerendas City. Emperor Kerothar IV orders tribute allotments raised throughout the Alphatian Empire.
BC 12: Lucinius Trenzantenbium becomes Governor of Kerendas after the "unfortunate" demise of the previous governor in a "laboratory accident." He and Zendrolion begin to plan for and prepare an uprising against the Alphatians. Lucinius' old tutor helps by making sure most of the Alphatian wizards in the area become Zzonga addicts. He also ingratiates himself to them, encouraging them to hire specific people or buy certain "choice" slaves for their household staffs of servants and concubines. These are almost all members of the Ordo Magna.
BC 10: Emperor Kerothar IV orders the tribute due to Alphatia from throughout the Empire doubled, so that he can create a glorious millennial celebration. Widespread disaffection from the Empire and muttering against these harsh exactions ensues. Lucinius Trenzantenbium begins corresponding with the Kings of Ochalea and the Pearl Islands, and learns they are as dissatisfied with the oppressive Alphatian regime as Thyatis is. They are soon recruited into his conspiracy.
BC 2: Lucinius Trenzantenbium, a Thyatian trained in the Alphatian's magical arts, unleashes his plot to overthrow the occupiers. Many Alphatian Wizards in Thyatis are assassinated as a result of the infiltration of their households by the members of the Ordo Magna. Lucinius duels the greatest surviving Alphatian mage in full view of the others, a wretch that his former teacher has insured would be doped on Zzonga and unable to concentrate on his spells. Lucinius wins easily and declares himself King of Thyatis, expelling the Alphatian mages so they can report this occurrence to Sundsvall. His former teacher goes with them. Lucinius and Zendrolion sends out as many messenger-ships and diplomatic envoys as possible to all the areas subjugated by Alphatia, telling them of the glorious revolution in Thyatis. War breaks out between Thyatis and Alphatia. The Alphatians send a reprisal fleet to Thyatis to depose Lucinius and restore their rule over the region, transshipping a large army as well. Crack squadrons from Thyatis City engage the Alphatian fleet, and Thyatian units among the Alphatian armada switch sides during the battle, resulting in a major defeat for the Alphatian forces, smashing the first Alphatian punitive expedition. Meanwhile, Zendrolion organizes an army in Thyatis, calling mustering mighty Kerendan cavalry, ferocious Hattian footmen, Vyalian elves, and hiring mercenaries from Rockhome, all supported by special units of high-level Clerics. These quickly dealt with the Alphatian garrison forces in the region. The Alphatians then sent another army, a huge force of ships and soldiers supported by wizards, and including a force of skyships. These were gradually worn down by Zendrolion's army, fighting a holding action and maneuvering to baffle the Alphatians while Lucinius used his knowledge of the Alphatian Wizards to pick them off one by one. This he did using ritual magics he had developed, able to strike at them from a distance - magics unknown to even the Alphatians. Ochalea and the Pearl Islands then rose in revolt, allying with the Thyatian rebels. Eventually this spread into a general revolt against Alphatian rule throughout their empire.
BC 1: Rumor spreads throughout Alphatia (spread in part by Lucinius' old tutor) that the Thyatians have been using a poison in their assassinations that only Zzonga can counteract. Alphatian wizards and commanders drug themselves into a stupor, crippling their war effort. Thyatian fleets land troops on the Isle of Dawn, quickly overrunning much of it with the help of the Ochaleans and Pearl Islanders. Raiding forces strike deep into Alphatian waters, hitting their naval bases on the continent itself. Zendrolion gathered his forces in East Portage in preparation for an invasion of Haven. At this point the Grand Council of Alphatia deposes Kerothar IV and selects a youthful, energetic wizard, untainted by Zzonga, to replace him. This man takes the name Alphas, ruling Alphatia as Alphas VI, and is none other than Lucinius' former tutor, who had used the Thyatian revolt to maneuver himself into power in Alphatia.
AC 0: Alphatia and Thyatis have been ravaged by war. Alphas VI calls for an armistice with Thyatis, Ochalea, and the Pearl Islands to discuss peace terms. The treaty establishes those nations independence from Alphatia, relinquishing its control over them and ceding the Isle of Dawn as a buffer zone. Alphas VI then finishes beggaring Alphatia by hiring skilled mercenaries (some even from Thyatis!) to crush the other revolts that are wracking the Alphatian Empire [See James Ruhland's site for a discussion of Alphas VI's motives. � - Ed.]. Thothia on the Isle of Dawn remains a part of the Alphatian Empire, and as a result Thyatian troops withdrawing from the Isle stop on the western half and hold it. Alphas VI soon moves troops into the eastern portion to hold it for Alphatia, but faces resistance to Alphatian authority everywhere but Thothia. Lucinius and Zendrolion hatch a plot even more twisted than the one that led Thyatis to liberty. They believe that only a strong, unified Empire can insure that the liberty they just won can be maintained in the face of a still large and powerful Alphatia. Lucinius and Zendrolion decide to invite the Kings of the Pearl Islands and Ochalea to Thyatis City to sign a treaty of alliance, but they plan on murdering them. In order for the ruse to succeed, Lucinius agrees to allow Zendrolion to "assassinate" him as well, and to concoct the story of the three King's "madness" as an excuse. Lucinius then plans to rise again as a lich. This goes almost too well, the trusting Kings of Ochalea and the Pearl Islands are slain by General Zendrolion along with Lucinius. Zendrolion is then crowned Emperor of Thyatis, ruling over Ochalea, the Pearl Islands, and the western half of the Isle of Dawn as well as Thyatis, Hattias, and Kerendas. He hires dwarves to build his palace and construct a ring of strong fortifications around Thyatis City (these walls still stand today). Thyatis City's population burgeons as an Imperial capital, quickly reaching 200,000 and continuing to grow thereafter. Lucinius becomes a lich, and uses Impersonate spells to appear as a mere advisor of Emperor Zendrolion.

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