The History of Ariel
The Book Of Foundations – Before The Tear (B.T.)
The Book of Foundations tells of the creation of the plane of Ariel, the mortal plane. It is unknown when the Book of Foundations was created, who wrote it, or how it was compiled. There are pages that have been found since After the Tear, scattered across Ariel and peppered throughout time. Many have been proven to be forgeries, while others surface only to again disappear for decades or centuries at a time. The length of the Book of Foundations is unknown so it is difficult to surmise if and when someone would have the complete collection, or if such a collection is possible. It is agreed upon, particularly from the few verified pages that have surfaced, that it includes the part each god had played in the creation of Ariel; what is of great curiosity is if there are mentions of any other gods from the beginning that are unknown today.
The Golden Age – Before the Tear (B.T.)
There are two eras in Ariel, Before the Tear (B.T.) and After the Tear (A.T.); this is how the calendar is recorded and the two time-frames starkly contrast one another. No one knows how long the Golden Age lasted. What is known about the Golden Age is there was a vast empire ruled by Alexander and it ushered in a time of unity and prosperity. It is commonly accepted that during this time no person within the empire wanted for food as it was given to every citizen without personal cost, and temples to every god were openly and equally worshipped across the landscape. Any other knowledge about the Golden Age lacks concrete verification or high degree of certainty. There have been no direct records to illuminate a broader picture of what it meant to be in Alexander’s empire, or even who Alexander was as a person or a ruler. It is widely believed Alexander was an elf, one of the first races in Ariel, but in recent decades stories and context have been relooked through an historical lense that casts serious doubt on these claims. What has remained is the romanticized idea of what this time was like and how it differs from Ariel since The Tear. It is the pedestal, the fable that all rulers compare themselves against with tales passed down from generation to generation, parent to child.
The Tear
There are two eras in Ariel, Before the Tear (B.T.) and After the Tear (A.T.); this is how the calendar is recorded and the two time-frames starkly contrast one another. Marking the end of the Golden Age, The Tear is more enigmatic and mythical than the empire of Alexander and the Golden Age itself. There are no records that agree on what The Tear was, how it began, when it was, or if it has even concluded. A source of contention amongst scholars all over Ariel, there is no evidence to substantially support one theory or another. What is agreed upon is that it was likely magical or divine in origin, and upset the balance of Ariel as a plane. This shift caused the end of the Golden Age, of Alexander’s empire and rule, and began what is referred to as the Dark Age.
The Dark Age – Approximately 1 A.T.- 500 A.T.
The first 500 years after the fall of the Golden Age were a time of darkness, metaphorically and perhaps even literally. Whereas all people were once unified, the vacuum of power and shift from the Tear had a great effect and the world as it was known crumbled into obscurity. Lawlessness ruled supreme as infrastructure fell apart, armies vied for control of fiefdoms and cities, and common people dispersed across all landscapes. Entire crop yields would be lost, commerce and trade became hazardous and difficult, and life focused on survival with the pursuit of luxuries and recreation nearly entirely falling to the wayside. The old gave way to be scavenged to make use for the new and lead to the loss of entire libraries and past knowledge, new systems of connection, and divisions of divine worship. Warlords reigned supreme, with many rumoured to be demi-gods that were either benevolent or cruel. This was the most tumultuous time Ariel has, or possibly will, ever see and is the reason why no truly significant evidence of the Golden Age, or the Tear, exists.
The Age Of Reason – Approximately 500 A.T. – 1100 A.T.
The divisions and reign of the warlords of the first 500 years After the Tear came to an unceremonious end and bled into what is now called the Age of Reason. Settlements, City-states, and other smaller powers solidified and over the next 500-600 years gave rise to new ideologies, technologies, and intermingling of the races. Boundaries somewhat solidified, new laws also came into being in each area to best suit the people that lived there, a reflection of their ideologies and ruling styles. Unknown ancient wisdom again came to light, leading to a greater awareness of foreign lands and peoples that fell into legend. Progress was the key, the cost varying in willingness and tolerance.
The Age Of Heroes/The Age Of Blood – Approximately 1100 A.T. – 1700 A.T.
Commonly known as the Age of Heroes, or the Age of Blood, this next half millennia saw yet another upheaval of balance and power across Ariel. Likeminded powers banded together and formed alliances. These alliances would have lasting effects rippling throughout the centuries for powerful bloodlines of rulers, expansion of borders, and a surge in the worship of gods associated with each nation. This led to great renown for some families and individuals, for the first time mere mortals reaching heights of prestige previously unheard of. The rise of skirmishes and short wars led to a consistent spilling of blood, shifts in power, and rise of heroes. The term for the age, Heroes or Blood, is heavily influenced by the history surrounding the writer.
The Age Of Nations – Approximately 1700 A.T. – Current
The Age of Nations is also known as the Modern Age. The constant raids, skirmishes, and wars gave way to the fall of smaller states and the creation of powerful kingdoms, empires, and nations. As trade and commerce expanded so did technologies and political discourse. Three hundred years since the Age of Heroes/Blood have created fairly concrete political borders and treaties that are synonymous with them. Stability has been greatly cemented in this period, for better or worse, and standing armies and institutions have flourished. Many say the height of this age has not yet been reached, but without a doubt it is the greatest time of prosperity, and magic, since the Golden Age.
Authored by: Jared Hindle Fantasy Alive Lore Team 2022 Copyright © Endless Adventures Ontario