Benevis History

Go here for Benevis culture. For a visual timeline of Riigan history, go here. The following page describes the largest power in the respective areas at the time. Some gaps and overlaps occur, and many ancient dates are estimates.

Mythology

According to the Red Temple, before Riiga there existed only a void inhabited by Forganad, the god of balance. He divided his being in two, giving birth to Nikina, the god of creation, and Garukavar, the god of destruction. Nikina created Ilertav, who then sculpted Riiga, and then Leuvana, who brought life and knowledge to humans. Leuvana also created the Manamorians, but when their civilisations failed, she created humans and made them much weaker than the Manamorians, to reduce the chance for corruption and war. Ilertav and Leuvana gave birth to more Viyar over time, and the Viyar in turn gave birth to Hireos during the reign of humans.

The Leisatru believe north Baracsa was once inhabited by giant lizards called the Whetigs. They wielded the power of lightning and the sea, and shaped much of the land, bringing growth and fertility until they began to fight against one another. In a stroke of divine punishment, a star fell from the heavens and wiped out all but a few of the Whetigs, who some say survive to the present day. If anyone comes close to discovering their whereabouts, they will use storms to drive the people away.

Prehistory

The Red Temple teaches that the region of Umbener was originally inhabited by the Manamorians, who lived in this land 5000 to 500,000 years ago. They vanished due to an unknown calamity long before humans emerged.

Later, small groups of people called the Heder emerged from the mountainous forests and for centuries they lived in peace, worshipping the very land they lived on. Nikina liked these people and protected them from afar, not making himself known until much later.

As time went on, the surrounding land became filled with various tribes who partook in human sacrifices and performed rituals worshipping evil stars and monsters. These people didn't care for the land and warred constantly with one another, growing mainly through the constant abduction of daughters from nearby tribes. The Heder were all but wiped out. The few that survived fled to the island of Nor and barely managed to get by in the colder, more hostile environment.

A massive volcanic eruption known as Dangrut destroyed half the people, regarded as punishment dealt by Nikina.

Not long after Dangrut erupted, the Umber people emerged from Simber and started to spread their more powerful bronze-wielding culture and Leisatru religion throughout Umbener, replacing most and eventually all of the more primitive cultures. Eventually the Umberians spread to the Heder of Nor during the Grey Era. King Arngos is said to be the first perfect son born from a Heder woman and Sur Vastin man, and is the very man Nikina chose to reveal himself to.

Umberian People

Simber to Umbener.

• 2800BD Founded the town of Genona.
  • The Umberian cuneiform writing system is developed, allowing them to record history.
• 2600BD Goldstone city is founded.
  • Earliest records of the Leisatru religion.
• 2400BD Built the Moon Stones. Umberians migrate into Umbener.
• 1700BD Horses introduced from Baturun travellers.
• 1500BD Feirdus volcano erupts.

2800BD - 1300BD

Ruins from this era include stone henges and barrows.

Sur Vastin People

Simber to Umbener and Nor.

• 1600BD Invented papyrus in the new city of Redpalm.
• 1400BD Karithians invade the area.
• 1100BD Raided by the Evexan Hoqomer.
• 950BD Migrate into Nor, driven out of Simber.
• 900BD Built the White Temple in Goldstone.
• 850BD Naval warfare between Sur Vastin and Qeyu Hoqomer.
• 700BD Some Sur Vastin travel to Leulan.

1600BD - 800BD

Ruins from this era include the first temples and barrows.

Nor Vastin Kingdom

Nor.

• 850BD King Arngos founds city of Arngos.
• 800BD King Arngos visited by Nikina, founds the Red Temple religion and has the Red Temple built.
• 750BD Red Temple religion replaces Leisatru.
  • Hireos Renin starts his rule as god-king with the approval of Nikina.
  • Magimancy is introduced as Nikina grants magic ability to his priests.
• 700BD Tension between Vesdorian Kingdom and Nor Vastin as their religions clash.
• 650BD Steel in Nor Vastin.
• 450BD Burning Seas War between two hoqons, Vesdoria, and Nor Vastin.
  • Renin slays the last winged king of Vesdoria, ending their reign. He dies shortly after, also ending Nor Vastin.

Arngos, the first king of Nor, not only founds the first city in the region, but is the first known man to meet Nikina, leading to the founding of the Red Temple religion and the construction of the famous Red Temple.

Renin, the first god-king of Nor, is one of the most famous Hireos. He slew the last winged king of Vesdoria but died shortly after. He is known to be one of the greatest and most divine warrior kings in history.

850BD - 450BD

Ruins from this era include the first chapels.

Vesdorian Kingdom

Umbener.

• 750BD Clan of winged warriors emerge under a ruler called Alophiel, who is made their first winged king. They soon take over Umbener.
  • Liogons are introduced by the Vesdorians.
• 700BD Tension between Vesdorian Kingdom and Nor Vastin as their religions clash.
• 650BD City of Lyte is founded by Vesdorians.
• 600BD Vesdorians build Vesdor Castle.
• 450BD Burning Seas War between two hoqons, Vesdoria, and Nor Vastin.
  • Renin the Great slays the last winged king of Vesdoria, ending their reign.

750BD - 450BD

Ruins from this era include hill forts and some sky temples.

Granlia and Regylia Kingdoms

Nor.

• 400BD Granlia Kingdom founded in Nor.
• 300BD Regylia Kingdom founded in south Nor. Eventually takes over all of Nor.
• 250BD Various other minor kingdoms exist as Regylia shrinks again.
  • The earliest mentions of Feliss are from this time and area.

400BD - 250BD

Ruins from this era include early stone castles.

The Six Kingdoms

Nor.

• 200BD Nor contains kingdoms of Elecia, Solusia, Granlia, Umberia, Regylia, and Curia.
• 150BD Tensions increase between the six kingdoms as they all struggle for land and power.
• 100BD The War of the Ten Kings.
• 0BD The war is abruptly ended as civilisation in Nor is destroyed by The Darkness. The Xelkenar known as Veriviet was slain by the high priest Shaurdoril of Wolgommen during the Darkness.

Shaurdoril of Wolgommen was a high priest of the ancient city of Arngos, and is credited as the man responsible for the death of the Xelevikenar called Veriviet GvoranShun.

400BD - 150BD.

Ruins from this era include stone castles and watchtowers.

Vastion People

Nor.

• 100AL Start reforming civilisation based around the Red Temple, which survived the Darkness.
  • Nicolas Carson is born, revolutionising mathematics and magic.
  • Magiturgy becomes established through the founding of the Carson Institute.
• 150AL The Red Temple begins to divide as high priests debate theological issues.
• 200AL Alatian travellers arrive from Huirnon and bring their religion. Society is divided between the two religions for a time until the high Alatian priest Rapturian is executed for war crimes.
• 250AL People focus on exploration on technology in competition with their neighbours.
• 300AL The Age of Exploration. Ships developed in this time are larger and can sail further than any others in history. They discover the Qarar Empire in Qarbak and the Asshor Kingdom in Remdor.

Nicolas Carson was no ruler, but was arguably one of the greatest inventors and scientists in history. He revolutionised mathematics and magic, later founding educational institutes called the Carson Institute for both science and magic, and invented many new things. Many would attempt to follow in his footsteps.

100AL - 350AL

Ruins from this era include stone castles and hidden Rapturian temples.

Vastin People

Nor until Umbener and Simber.

• 400AL Trade with foreign empires brings about new age.
  • Liogons are rediscovered.
• 412AL Erindur and his knights capture Etlas and found the order of Venquis.
• 450AL People have expanded back into Umbener after the Qeyu all but abandon it after The Scald plague a century ago.

400AL - 450AL

Ruins from this era include stone castles and chapels.

Benevis Empire

Nor.

• 500AL Halartus Benevarus founds the Benevis Empire as their first god-emperor. He is later assassinated.
  • Halartus Benevarus popularises the use of leoknights.

Emperor Halartus Benevarus was the first Hireos god-emperor of the area, uniting Nor, Umbener, and Simber in an area today known as Benevis after him. Though his empire was very short-lived, his securing of all this land laid the foundations for some of the most prosperous and advanced kingdoms in the world. He is found dead and did not live past a hundred, unlike most Hireos rulers.

~500AL

Modern Benevis People

Nor, Umbener, and Simber. Built the Silver Hall.

• 550AL In the wake of Emperor Benevarus's death, various kingdoms form. Some of his descendants are god-kings and still have lineages today.
• 650AL Scholars work to preserve and translate foreign texts, (resulting in most of the information you find on this website).
• 700AL Vastin settlers reach Suribia and try to expand their kingdom there after defeating the Urkadian Tlarate.
  • Various kingdoms replace the settled forces in Remdor.
• 950AL Age of Discovery. Benevis ships are the first to circumnavigate Riiga.
• 1000AL The Pale Sleep hits Umbener, so far killing around 500,000 people.
  • Karithians begin to invade the Simber area.

550AL onwards