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Spurred on by some discussion about how I could "Golarionize" the adventure path, I've been playing with what I could piece together from the Talingarde timeline as well as merging it with Golarion's timeline.
I've also been giving some thought to where to place Talingarde, and who to replace with what.
My initial thoughts are to have Talingard a little further west from the Mordant Spire, and north west of Hermea. Since I'm not a geography master, especially as it relates to proper weather patterns and the like, I'm keeping things a little vague since I don't think the AP will call for more than a general idea of where the island is in relation to the rest of the world.
I'm thinking of Aath-Aryn and Maath-Aryn as corrupted names of ancient Azlanti ruins. The Ireans would be Azlanti/Ulfen/Elven bloodline human tribes, with the half-elves that bred true being the more "civilized" clans that eventually had the main claim to nobility.
Being a little closer to Arcadia, I'm thinking just knowing that some Erutaki having found their way to Talingarde isn't too much of a stretch in the setting, as well as the obvious Ulfen sailors and the like.
I'm picturing the Irean loosing power when the Chelaxians came to settle the island.
Aroden was the big primary faith, with Iomedae and Asmodeus also respected and worshiped. Originally I thought that Sarenrae, with her celestial nature and history of antagonism with Asmodeus, as well as being a sun goddess, would be the natural stand in for Mitra, but dogma-wise, Iomedae fits really well, and the more I started piecing the history together, it makes a lot more sense to substitute her, unless something changes later in the AP regarding Mitra's faith.
Here is the timeline I pieced together:
2632 AR Elves return to Golarion, and some begin to explore lost elven ruins on the isles eventually known as Talingarde
Elves intermingle with Ulfen and Azlanti refugees. This bloodline, especially with much of the elven heritage strained, becomes the Irean tribesmen that dominate many of the isles.
Pockets of humans with stronger elven bloodlines become half-elven communities and are often seen as the nobility of various minor kingdoms or clans.
3832 AR Iomedae passes the Test of the Starstone and becomes a goddess. Her worship eventually rivals her master Aroden on Talingarde and surpasses the traditional worship of Asmodeus as the harsh enforcer of law.
4305 AR King Haliad III of Cheliax launches the Wars of Expansion to broaden the empire’s northern borders by claiming land in Molthune and Varisia. This struggle lasts more than a century and spans the reign of five Chelish monarchs, eventually becoming known as the Everwar.
4140 AR Chelaxian explorers claim Talingarde as an vassal state to Cheliax. With little support from Cheliax and a great deal of resistance from the native Iraen tribes, the nation is not stable for centuries. Many of the "noble" half-elven houses are brought into the Chelaxian fold.
4412 AR Accarius the IV conquers Casrhalla, founds Farholde
4512 AR Knights of the Alerion formed when a paladin of Iomedae is visited by Saint Lymirin, a priestess of Iomedae in life that now appears with the head and wings of an eagle.
4576 AR First Hellknight Order, the Order of the Rack, founded in Westcrown.
4606 AR Aroden dies, leaving the Empire of Cheliax without a divine mandate. Cheliax gradually slides toward civil war.
4608 AR Hellknights from Cheliax are granted Castle Brand to establish their native order of Hellknights, the Order of the Brand, to help maintain order in Talingarde.
4632 AR Wars of Succession in Talingarde, Markadian I becomes King of Talingarde, Order of the Brand wiped out
4634 AR Markadian I raids the Horn of Abbadon
4678 AR The Victor dies in Talingarde
4684 AR Markadian II is killed by his brother
4685 AR Markadian IV The Zealous, comes to power in Talingarde. Asmodean purges begin.
4696 AR Markadian IV dies, Markadian V comes to power
4712 AR Current Year
Now this sets Talingarde up as historically having its upheavals around the time that places like Andoran and Galt were breaking away, which makes sense, even though Talingarde is more like Korvosa than those other nations, in that it was largely independent and only paid lip service to Cheliax.
I approve of this project! Well done, Jared. I'll even try to contribute a little when I have a bit more time.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
I approve of this project! Well done, Jared. I'll even try to contribute a little when I have a bit more time.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
Thanks. My GM OCD kicked in when I read the comment about Branderscar being Castle Brand. I actually did most of this work way too late at night after I got home from running my Rogue Trader game when I had to work the next day . . . ;)