The measuring of time in the Land
After the First Great War against Karom, common people across the land used that event as a reference point when marking time. For example, they would refer to something occurring “three years after the War.” This common usage eventually became so prevalent that it overshadowed all other methods of measuring the years, and abbreviations reflecting this also gained acceptance. Year 0 referred to the year in which Karom was defeated, “AW” referred to events occurring after the War, and “PW” referred to pre-War events. For example, 600 AW occurred 600 years after the war, while 200 PW refers to 200 years before the war.
Overview
Naeldor is a land in flux. For the good races of the land, the majority of the last decade has been a time of unity against a common enemy, the evil deity Karom. Karom is now gone forever, and the people of Naeldor are rediscovering differences previously ignored. Likewise, diverse evil powers that were overshadowed by Karom now compete with one another to fill the vacuum that his demise has created.
Karom's first appearance on the surface of Naeldor dates back ages. More than 1000 years ago, the evil deity had been cast from the heavens and banished to the surface world. Some legends say this was done to punish the races of Naeldor for some horrible indiscretion; others say it was done to punish Karom, without thought to the effect on the people of Naeldor.
Whatever the reason for his appearance, Karom brought a horrible war to Naeldor, revenge against the other gods and conquest his only goals. After a brutal war with thousands of deaths, Karom was defeated with the magic of the sword Sentinel, wielded by the elven warrior-mage Yeblin Daoshin. As with demons and devils, however, deities can only be permanently slain on their home plane of existence. Thus, Karom was not truly killed, but the magic of Sentinel did banish his essence from reforming for an unusually long period of time.
1000 years after his defeat, when the races had all but forgotten him, Karom returned to once again spread evil across the face of Naeldor. He was defeated again, but this time without Sentinel. While most of Naeldor rejoiced, scholarly mages suspected that he would return once again, and in a shorter period of time since Sentinel had not been used to banish him this time.
Karom did return, only one year later, and slowly began rebuilding his forces, a process that ultimately would take a few years. The great wizard Tyric realized that a permanent solution was needed to deal with the eternal menace once and for all. Tyric, with the aid of Gedoron Supris of the Council of Twelve, located Sentinel, which had been long lost. Tyric also crafted a magic helm called Elvhelm, with the assistance of the dwarves of Rockland. This helm, when worn by a decedent of Yeblin Daoshin while wielding Sentinel, possessed the power to kill Karom forever.
Another horrible war followed, with terrible losses on both sides. Ultimately, Karom was slain, once and for all, by the elf Delbo Raoshin, wielding Sentinel and wearing Elvhem, and with the Council of Twelve at his side. Karom's army crumbled following Karom's death, and the good people of Naeldor rejoiced.
Karom's defeat, however, resulted in many greedy and evil powers rushing to fill the power vacuum created by Karom's death. Even so-called "peaceful" nations have discovered that they have conflict with one another, now that their common enemy is no more. One crisis after another has arisen since Karom's final fall, leading historians to dub the current age "The Age of Chaos." The people of Naeldor have have repelled Drow masses from the Underdark, defeated invading forces from across the sea, averted a sickness from a powerful artifact, avoided war between nations, and prevented a cult from restoring a long-destroyed evil deity even older than Karom.
It is now seven years after Karom's final defeat, and Naeldor continues to adjust to a new age.
TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
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SPECIFIC EVENTS