History
Timeline
Fall of Symbaroum
The civilization of Symbaroum crumbles into oblivion. Its corruption and magical excess doom it. The elves plant Davokar to contain the blight.
Rise of Lindaros
The clans of Davokar unite under a High Chieftain to battle the Spider King. The city-state of Lindaros is founded.
Fall of Lindaros
The population of Lindaros is wiped out by a virulent disease. The city is abandoned and cursed.
Dark Lords Conquer Berendoria
The Dark Lords conquer the border city of Berendoria. The shadow of war falls across Alberetor.
The Great War Begins
Alberetor strikes back against the Dark Lords. The Great War begins in earnest.
King Ynedar Falls
King Ynedar is killed. Korinthia is crowned the Queen of Alberetor.
Prios Declared One God
The sun god Prios is declared to be the One and the provider of Alberetor's laws.
Korinthia Captured
Korinthia is taken captive by the Dark Lords. The kingdom teeters on the edge of collapse.
Kadizar Falls
The barbarian settlement of Kadizar surrenders and becomes Korinthia's foothold in the new land.
The War Ends
The Queen is rescued and the stronghold of the Dark Lords is stormed. The war is over.
Duchies Established
The duchies of the new realm are established, from the Ravens in the east to the River Eblis in the west.
Yndaros Founded
The Queen arrives. The new realm and the capital city are given their names.
Cathedral of Martyrs
The Cathedral of Martyrs in Yndaros is inaugurated.
Genocide of Clan Jezora
The clan Jezora is slaughtered and its chieftain executed in the Triumph Plaza.
Eighth Duchy Founded
The eighth duchy is established and its main town of Sevona founded.
Thistle Hold Founded
Thistle Hold is built at the edge of Davokar.
First Father Ascends
First Father ascends to the High Seat of the Sun Church.
Battle of Karvosti
The Battle of Karvosti results in an agreement allowing the Sun Church to restore the temple ruin on the plateau.
Crafter Guilds Mandated
The Queen dictates that all crafters must be organized into guilds.
Present Day
Ambria at the height of its power. Davokar stirs. The forest is waking.
Full History
The history of this world is measured in collapses. Each civilization built higher than the last, and each fell harder.
Roughly a thousand years ago, the civilization of Symbar Symbar Legendary capital of the fallen Symbaroum empire. Never found. Every treasure hunter's ultimate prize. Symbar Legendary capital of the fallen Symbaroum empire. Never found. Every treasure hunter's ultimate prize. Aroaleta Ancient Huldra whose poetry and warnings about corruption are still quoted centuries later. Symbar Legendary capital of the fallen Symbaroum empire. Never found. Every treasure hunter's ultimate prize. Odaban Ruin city deep in Davokar. One of the most significant Symbaroum ruins ever discovered. Symbar Legendary capital of the fallen Symbaroum empire. Never found. Every treasure hunter's ultimate prize.
History in the Symbaroum setting is not past. It is unfinished, and your characters are standing inside it.
About five hundred years ago, the barbarian clans of Davokar Davokar The endless ancient forest north of Ambria. Divided into Bright, Wild, and Dark Davokar. Grave of the Symbaroum empire. High Chieftain Leader of the united barbarian clans at Karvosti. Lindaros Ancient barbarian city-state that once stood where Yndaros is now. Destroyed by plague ~300 years ago. Lindaros Ancient barbarian city-state that once stood where Yndaros is now. Destroyed by plague ~300 years ago.
THE RETURN OF THE QUEEN
The Great War, the hungry hordes of the Dark Lords — a nightmare that lasted for two decades and which left little to hearten those who finally woke up.
Tens of thousands had died. The maimed and broken were beyond count. The land was ravaged by death magic. There was famine and infertility. And even though the young Queen had been rescued from the claws of the enemy, she had returned a shadow of her former self — with a lifeless mask covering her once radiant sunshine smile.
Twenty-one years have passed since the Dark Lords Dark Lords Necromantic overlords who commanded undead legions. Destroyed Alberetor before being defeated by Queen Korinthia.
During the past couple of centuries the region up north had been controlled by warring barbarian clans, and before that by the prosperous city-state of Lindaros Lindaros Ancient barbarian city-state that once stood where Yndaros is now. Destroyed by plague ~300 years ago. Lindaros Ancient barbarian city-state that once stood where Yndaros is now. Destroyed by plague ~300 years ago.
THE FOUNDING OF AMBRIA
No more than a couple of months after the decisive battle against the Dark Lords Dark Lords Necromantic overlords who commanded undead legions. Destroyed Alberetor before being defeated by Queen Korinthia. Lindaros Ancient barbarian city-state that once stood where Yndaros is now. Destroyed by plague ~300 years ago. Davokar The endless ancient forest north of Ambria. Divided into Bright, Wild, and Dark Davokar. Grave of the Symbaroum empire. Lindaros Ancient barbarian city-state that once stood where Yndaros is now. Destroyed by plague ~300 years ago. Alberetor The dead kingdom south of the Titans. Former Ambrian homeland, devastated by the Great War against the Dark Lords.
The Queen did not join the refugees until seven years after the war's end. When she did, she declared that her new realm would be called Ambria Ambria The young kingdom built by Alberetorian refugees north of the Titans. Seven duchies, twenty-one years old, expanding relentlessly. Yndaros Capital of Ambria. ~100,000 people. Built atop the ruins of ancient Lindaros on the shores of Lake Doudram.
Three years later the Queen's armies also managed to overwhelm the barbarian warlord Haloban and his clan warriors — a triumph giving Korinthia and her people the opportunity to start exploring and harvesting the ample riches of Davokar Davokar The endless ancient forest north of Ambria. Divided into Bright, Wild, and Dark Davokar. Grave of the Symbaroum empire.
Much has happened over a short period of time, so there has been no room for subtleties. Disobedient barbarians have been killed, banished or imprisoned. The obedient ones have been used for labor under slave-like conditions. If anyone bothered to keep count of how many people have died in the process of building Ambria, the final tally would be in the thousands. But no one does.
THE PROMISED LAND
The Cathedral of Martyrs was inaugurated in Year 8. Year 11 saw the establishment of the eighth territory, Prios Prios The Sun God. The One. Giver of Laws. Dominant deity of Ambria. His light may be fading. Ambria The young kingdom built by Alberetorian refugees north of the Titans. Seven duchies, twenty-one years old, expanding relentlessly. Lasifor Nightpitch Mayor of Thistle Hold. Controls the frontier economy. Allied with whoever serves his interests. Thistle Hold Frontier town at Davokar's edge. Gateway for treasure hunters, mystics, and fools. The site is named after it. Queen Korinthia Ruler of Ambria. Wears a porcelain mask to hide scars from Dark Lord captivity. Built a nation from refugee columns in twenty-one years. Ambrians Civilized human refugees from Alberetor. Hierarchical, expansionist, devoted to Prios. Davokar The endless ancient forest north of Ambria. Divided into Bright, Wild, and Dark Davokar. Grave of the Symbaroum empire.
The Explorer's License Explorer's License Required permit to enter Davokar legally. Costs 5 thaler from Thistle Hold authorities. Jeseebegai First Father of the Sun Church. Most powerful religious figure in Ambria. Knows Prios's light may be fading. Templars Knights of the Dying Sun. Armed wing of the Church of Prios. Holy warriors who hunt corruption. Karvosti Sacred cliff-top meeting place of the barbarian clans. Where the High Chieftain and witches hold council. Ordo Magica The wizard order. Studies, regulates, and licenses magic within Ambria. Internal politics are deadly. Yndaros Capital of Ambria. ~100,000 people. Built atop the ruins of ancient Lindaros on the shores of Lake Doudram.
Now it is Year 21. The calendar begins on Korinthia’s birthday at midsummer, preceded by a five-day festival called the Scattering of the Eternal Night. The seven-day week runs from Earthsday to Prios Prios The Sun God. The One. Giver of Laws. Dominant deity of Ambria. His light may be fading. Great War The devastating conflict that destroyed Alberetor, lasting two decades.
History in Symbar Symbar Legendary capital of the fallen Symbaroum empire. Never found. Every treasure hunter's ultimate prize.
