Backdrop:
In a world parallel to our own, magic and science are one, giving birth to marvel after marvel over the ages. The name of this world... is Artemis. Lush, dangerous and of many mysteries, it is a world governed by the Emperor of The Clouds, the Hero of the last great conflict, Greyshard; a Dragon who has ruled the races for more than a thousand years in relative peace.
Timeline Prior to the Series:
Around 4,000 YBS (Years Before Series): The Great Veil is lifted, revealing the race of Dragons to the Mortal World. Dragon Empress Leia seeks to rule over the mortal races, claiming the titanic dragons to be superior. Thus begins the 200 Years of Blood. Dwarves, Humans and Elves fight against the Dragons and their servants, the Orcs and Goblins. The Kings of the Human Lands all but perish, save for two: Redbeard and Bluebeard. The Elven High Priest is killed at the wars end.
Around 3,800 YBS: Empress Leia fights the Stewardess of the Dwarves, Sheila of the Forge, to a standstill atop The Mithril Tower, destroying it in the process. Empress Leia, humiliated by the standstill, agrees to a truce for two thousand years, retreating to the Dragon's Valley, ending the 200 Years of Blood. Thus, begins the Great Stillness. The population of all races is greatly decimated from metal, Sorcery and Dragonfire. The estimate population reduction is around 70 percent.
Around 2,800 YBS: Empress Leia dies of old age. The Great Stillness goes on as magic slowly dies. Dragon-hate is still widespread, and the Orcs move beyond the sea after thousands of years of servitude. The Elven Kingdom of "The Whispering Wind" (Al-Sun-Thes) declare war on the Human Republic of Staghorn. Soon, the Elves and Humans both bring racial differences as almost every Kingdom and Republic has a hand in battle. The war lasts 20 years and there is no clear winner due to strategic cities captured by both sides but tensions begin to set in with the other races of Elven treachery. The Dwarves, in an attempt to hold the peace, build a tomb for Empress Leia. Emperor Valk takes command of the Dragon Empire, once a trusted General in the army.
Around 2,500 YBS: The Great Stillness continues. The races continue their differences as small wars between smaller Kingdoms happen now and again throughout Artemis. The Dragon who would be Emperor of the Clouds, Greyshard, is born. The to-be-Empress, Staia, is born to Emperor Valk and Empress Heln.
Around 2,000 YBS: The Orcs return; at the head of them the Council of the Fields, who have unified the previously-warring Orcish tribes. They wage war with their former masters, the Dragons. A majority of the human nations band together with the Orcs to destroy the dragon empire as Dragon-hate reaches a boil.
Around 1,900 YBS: Emperor Valk and Empress Heln are killed in combat by the descendant and heir-apparent of the Bluebeards and Redbeards: Bolshack of the Stone. The Dragon Empire splinters and Staia, heir to the Empire, disappears. Bolshack performs the taboo of drinking the Blood of the Emperor, making him insane. He disappears as the Council of the Fields takes full rule of the land. The Great Stillness goes on. Dragons are exiled to where the Orcs went.
Around 1,500 YBS: The Great Stillness ends and the Age of the Black Mark begins. Developments in technology come rapidly as magically-sensitive creatures die at an equally-fast race. The Council of Fields is made null as Lord Protector Broll of the Orcs usurps power and unleashes a sickening plague on all the races, save for those who swear subservience. The Dragons are called to help, but are now fearful. Greyshard and his wife, Staia, agree to help the other races restore order, killing Broll. Within a few years, the Black Mark ceases, but chaos still reigns. The Council of Fields is brought together with the Priesthood of the Elves and the Houses of Men. The Dwarven King is given a seat on the congregation.
Around 1,400 YBS: Greyshard, now a hero to all, is given position as Emperor by the council, after a hundred years of peace. Staia becomes Empress, restored to her royal stature. The races begin a long march of peace as orcs, humans, goblins, elves, dwarves and dragons move towards a better future. Technology advances. The races work together to restore the dwindling magic.
Around 1,000 YBS: After 400 years, magic begins to grow again. Heir to the Empire, Sheila, is born. Staia, Empress of the Dragons, passes on after revealing she has fought the Black Mark for 500 years. Her strength is used up in the birth of her daughter.
Around 500 YBS: Magic and technology advance rapidly as airships take flight of all shapes and sizes. The City Above The Clouds rises for the first time as Royal Palace to the Emperor Greyshard and his daughter.
Around 300 YBS: Elvish eccentric Calstos discovers Blood Magic to the community of science and magicka. It is treated with great distrust.
0 YBS: The Heir to the Empire, Sheila, is killed, setting the plot in motion. Leon Tzar, pudgy assistant to a magician, wakes up from his nap.
In a world parallel to our own, magic and science are one, giving birth to marvel after marvel over the ages. The name of this world... is Artemis. Lush, dangerous and of many mysteries, it is a world governed by the Emperor of The Clouds, the Hero of the last great conflict, Greyshard; a Dragon who has ruled the races for more than a thousand years in relative peace.
Timeline Prior to the Series:
Around 4,000 YBS (Years Before Series): The Great Veil is lifted, revealing the race of Dragons to the Mortal World. Dragon Empress Leia seeks to rule over the mortal races, claiming the titanic dragons to be superior. Thus begins the 200 Years of Blood. Dwarves, Humans and Elves fight against the Dragons and their servants, the Orcs and Goblins. The Kings of the Human Lands all but perish, save for two: Redbeard and Bluebeard. The Elven High Priest is killed at the wars end.
Around 3,800 YBS: Empress Leia fights the Stewardess of the Dwarves, Sheila of the Forge, to a standstill atop The Mithril Tower, destroying it in the process. Empress Leia, humiliated by the standstill, agrees to a truce for two thousand years, retreating to the Dragon's Valley, ending the 200 Years of Blood. Thus, begins the Great Stillness. The population of all races is greatly decimated from metal, Sorcery and Dragonfire. The estimate population reduction is around 70 percent.
Around 2,800 YBS: Empress Leia dies of old age. The Great Stillness goes on as magic slowly dies. Dragon-hate is still widespread, and the Orcs move beyond the sea after thousands of years of servitude. The Elven Kingdom of "The Whispering Wind" (Al-Sun-Thes) declare war on the Human Republic of Staghorn. Soon, the Elves and Humans both bring racial differences as almost every Kingdom and Republic has a hand in battle. The war lasts 20 years and there is no clear winner due to strategic cities captured by both sides but tensions begin to set in with the other races of Elven treachery. The Dwarves, in an attempt to hold the peace, build a tomb for Empress Leia. Emperor Valk takes command of the Dragon Empire, once a trusted General in the army.
Around 2,500 YBS: The Great Stillness continues. The races continue their differences as small wars between smaller Kingdoms happen now and again throughout Artemis. The Dragon who would be Emperor of the Clouds, Greyshard, is born. The to-be-Empress, Staia, is born to Emperor Valk and Empress Heln.
Around 2,000 YBS: The Orcs return; at the head of them the Council of the Fields, who have unified the previously-warring Orcish tribes. They wage war with their former masters, the Dragons. A majority of the human nations band together with the Orcs to destroy the dragon empire as Dragon-hate reaches a boil.
Around 1,900 YBS: Emperor Valk and Empress Heln are killed in combat by the descendant and heir-apparent of the Bluebeards and Redbeards: Bolshack of the Stone. The Dragon Empire splinters and Staia, heir to the Empire, disappears. Bolshack performs the taboo of drinking the Blood of the Emperor, making him insane. He disappears as the Council of the Fields takes full rule of the land. The Great Stillness goes on. Dragons are exiled to where the Orcs went.
Around 1,500 YBS: The Great Stillness ends and the Age of the Black Mark begins. Developments in technology come rapidly as magically-sensitive creatures die at an equally-fast race. The Council of Fields is made null as Lord Protector Broll of the Orcs usurps power and unleashes a sickening plague on all the races, save for those who swear subservience. The Dragons are called to help, but are now fearful. Greyshard and his wife, Staia, agree to help the other races restore order, killing Broll. Within a few years, the Black Mark ceases, but chaos still reigns. The Council of Fields is brought together with the Priesthood of the Elves and the Houses of Men. The Dwarven King is given a seat on the congregation.
Around 1,400 YBS: Greyshard, now a hero to all, is given position as Emperor by the council, after a hundred years of peace. Staia becomes Empress, restored to her royal stature. The races begin a long march of peace as orcs, humans, goblins, elves, dwarves and dragons move towards a better future. Technology advances. The races work together to restore the dwindling magic.
Around 1,000 YBS: After 400 years, magic begins to grow again. Heir to the Empire, Sheila, is born. Staia, Empress of the Dragons, passes on after revealing she has fought the Black Mark for 500 years. Her strength is used up in the birth of her daughter.
Around 500 YBS: Magic and technology advance rapidly as airships take flight of all shapes and sizes. The City Above The Clouds rises for the first time as Royal Palace to the Emperor Greyshard and his daughter.
Around 300 YBS: Elvish eccentric Calstos discovers Blood Magic to the community of science and magicka. It is treated with great distrust.
0 YBS: The Heir to the Empire, Sheila, is killed, setting the plot in motion. Leon Tzar, pudgy assistant to a magician, wakes up from his nap.