The Modern History of the Sophronian Tribe

Added some more general details, in orange.

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11,750 – the Sundering.

11,580 – Sophronia leads the tribe.

11,570 – Sophronia’s speech.

11,550 – Orcs, Soph d. Head South under Alala

11,470 – Desdeme

11,420 – Settle in Tandalas (live there, unknown leaders)

11,130 – Kairos goes south

11,110 – Settle at Aurora Fields

11,090 – Gaia

11,040 – Settle at Truoor

11,020 – Alicia – beginning of Serphelorian Army.

11,000 Arr King’s Hollow

10,930 – Xylonia

10,880 – Arr Elverground

11000 - 10875 b.S. Still travelling
Move south after dispute over grazing rights at Aurora fields.

circa 11000 Elsreth founded
Elsreth founded by woman leaving tribe to settle.

10665 -10540 b.S. The Patriarchal Years, tribe splits again
Twin sons Talos and Eldon leaders of the tribe.

There are many disputes among the women and those who disagree leave and go west or north continuing their nomadic and tribal ways. The tribe splits into southerners who settle and northerners who stay fiercely matriarchal and somewhat nomadic.

Eventually those who go west find acceptance in the Eyelian people and villages forming there and mingle with them. It is reported that some of those Sophronians also become griffon riders for the Eyelian army. Those who go north remain as nomadic groups, each small band governing itself. Some eventually settle into villages, some of which still exist.

ca. 10540 b.S. Sophronia (town) founded
Eldon settles and founds the village Sophronia, named after the first leader of the tribe, who lived many years ago.

Not long after, they meet the Darian. Become friendly as with hobbits. Protect, merge together to an extent.

ca. 10535 b.S. Founding of Hawkes' Perch
Talos moves a little farther south and finds a wonderful valley he calls Hawke's Perch. Together both brothers cooperate and live peacefully with each other. One is interested in building an empire, the other is only interested in the land and cultivating it.

-ca. 10330 b.S. Growth and Trade
Eldon's son Etain continues to build and open trade with other villages in the surrounding area especially to the east where a small gathering of villages is forming (now called Marcogg). Etain dies with the trade routes firmly established between these villages and even with the elves that live in the Zeiphyrian Forest.

10330 b.S. Peace treaty between Avennorians and Sophronians
Under the leadership of Thorgeir of the Avennorians and Etain of the Sophronians these two kingdoms sign a trade treaty. This treaty includes a clause stipulating that the Avennorians will help the Sophronians in the finishing of their capital, and that the two states will found Chrondra together.

It is likely that the Avennorians, who gave few concessions where the Darian were concerned, saw this treaty as a way to gain some control over the fierce warrior tribe of the Sophronians. The Avennorians, while imperialistic, were never very good at war, so they may have seen a trade agreement as a more favourable battlefield through which to attempt to control the Sophronians, at the very least ensuring that they (the Sophronians) would not attack them (the Avennorians), and in the best case, providing a means through which to control the heavily militarised Sophronians to their own ends.

-ca. 10220 b.S. The Fortification of Sophronia
His son Ames continues on building relations and also builds the first walls and fortifications for the village. He also explores and founds a small village called Tarranoar on the Gulf of Mayara, which should once develop to an important central base for human sea operations during SW II. Ames has no son but a daughter. (END OF PATRIACHAL YEARS)

-ca. 10150 b.S. Sophronia finished
Sophronia is expanded past its fortifications and becomes a large, vibrant city with the help of the Avennorians. At around this time those Sophronians who have settled in Sophronia, or one of the southern villages or towns, begin to call themselves ‘Serphelorians’, meaning ‘from the city’, to distinguish themselves from their peers who remain nomadic.

ca. 10.000 b.S. Nisheton Prospers
Nisheton becomes a larger community and begins to attract fishers and farmers as settlers. Various travelers see opportunities in the town and remain to begin businesses.

ca. 10000bS Chrondra constructed
As part of the deal with which they made the peace treaty in 10330 b.S., the Avennorians offered to build a town on the borders of their and the Serphelorians’ lands to symbolise their lasting commitment to each other (the Avennorians being much better at building much more spectacular and long-lasting towns than the previously nomadic Serphelorians). This would be a town where both tribes could live peacefully together with the benefits of the Avennorians not having to worry about the Serphelorians militarily speaking, and the Serphelorians getting to live with the benefits of Avennorian comforts (we all know how Avennorians like their luxury!). The offer was accepted to seal the peace deal. It was 330 years before the work was started due to Avs helping with Sophronia first. As the site chosen by both parties as the most suitable was on the border between the two kingdoms, but just inside what was traditionally Sophronian lands, so it was known as a part of the Serphelorian kingdom although both tribes had equal membership in the ruling council there, at least initially. Many inhabitiants of Chrondra begin to think of themselves as Serphelorian, regardless of their original tribe, although some cling to their original Avennorian heritage and pass this identity own to their children.

10000 – 9500. b.S. Settlements on the Elverground, and north of Sophronia and Chrondra.

ca. 9.800 b.S. Chrondra ruled by Avennorians.
Over the first two hundred years the council gradually becoms dominated by Avennorian representatives. This is due to the percieved superiority of the Avennorians in politics. (percieved by both parties – it is agreed that Avennorians are better at the boring politics stuff, and Serphelorians are better at the figthing and protecting the weak) As such, Serphelorian representatives with the necessary skills - or who are willing to relinquish their more important (to them) roles in the army etc - difficult to find. As members retire from the council, the new members are recruited from Chrondra’s elite, who are mostly Avennorian anyway. They sort of try to get Serphelorians on the council, but the people with the skills are nearly all originally Avennorian because they have that kind of mind. (Serphelorians are not – that’s why they had to keep moving from place to place in the history already written – because they are not very good at coming up with solutions to disputes, and would rather fight or just leave.) So within a fairly short time (200 years) all the members of the council are Avennorians who take their cues from the Avennorian King in Ciosa.

9500 – 9000 b.S . WotC and Years of Cleansing
During this time Sophronia and the village of Hawke’s Perch are destroyed. Refugees flee to Chrondra which, while not unscathed, is mostly passed over. At this time contact is lost between Chrondra and Ciosa. The ruling council of Chrondra are all killed in the violence except one person, an ex-Avennorian man. Councillor of Chrondra becomes an hereditary position from this man. Due to Avennorian influences and Serphelorian history after Talos and Eldon, men are preferred as inheritors.

All other southern settlements wiped out.

8900 b.S First new settlements built
People from Chrondra go out to found new settlements on the Elverground, north side of Gulf of Maraya, or north to Rimm’ ring.. Most of the founders of these settlements are full- or half-blooded Avennorians, meaning most of the ruling class are originally Avennorian. Many remember their heritage, but nearly all consider themselves Serphelorian anyway.

8600 - 6000 b.S. War with Eyelia.
Settlers make it as far west as the Thaehelvil River. Meet Eyelians. Both groups trying to spread; Eyelians lay claim to Rim’ Ring (Gryphs from here); Sophronians claim it as their roaming-lands as they travelled through it. Both groups try to work it out, but the difference in their culture (Eyelian think Serphs rude because they are loud and brash; Serphs think Eyelians rude because quiet (seen as cold) and slow (seen as obstructive) leads to war.

Rim’ ring, western Elverground constantly fought over. Many different solutions are tried by various different leaders of each tribe; varying degrees of success. Occasional cease-fires, occasionally more terrible battles, but generally constant skirmishing as both sides try to hold their lines. This continues until 6000b.S. when there is a peace treaty; broken by one of the first stupid Queens in 3000b.S., 3000 yrs later. Then continues until the Serphelorian kindom falls in 400ish b.S. Now a.S. there is still a rivalry between their armies, though much more friendly now, esp. since they are charged with protecting Eyelians (katmoh).

8108 b.S. Quesvath born.
Soon to be an important figure in Serphelorian politics, Quesvath is born to Korran, the Councillor of Chondra and his wife. Korran dies of a fever soon after. Quesvath’s mother accedes to the Councillorship.

8069 b.S. Quesvath accedes to Councillorship
Quesvath’s mother dies. Quesvath, by now an avid proponent of traditonal Sophronian ways, accedes to Councillorship at the age of 39. She has a dream to unite the disparate nomadic and settled people of her tribe, so over the next years she travels the lands speaking to all the leaders she can find and gaining their support to unite into a proper Kingdom under her leadership.

8066 - ~3000 b.S. Golden Age of Serpheloria

8066 b.S. Quesvath crowns herself Jakat of Serpheloria.
For the occasion of her coronation the first proper map of Serpheloria is drawn up. Quesvath’s realm stretches from Elsreth in the north to Chrondra in the south, and from the east cost to the Rimmerins Ring. The Ring is disputed territory with the Eyelians – nomadic bands of Serphelorian roam here as do Eyelians. Fighting has been going on between nomadic groups and villages of Eyelians for some time now. All those living in her Kingdom of Serpheloria are now called Serphelorians, as opposed to the previous distinction of Serphelorians in the south, and nomadic Sophronians to the north.

8065 b.S. Rebuilding of Sophronia
Quesvath orders the rebuilding of Sophronia in what she thinks is the traditional style. It is finished in 8053, at which time Quesvath makes it her capital from whence she governs her realm.

8021 b.S. Jakat Ruth is crowned
Quesvath dies at the grand old age of 81. Having had no children, she passes the inheritance to her great friend Salreia’s daughter Ruth, whom she has groomed to carry on her works. Ruth is as proud and ambitious as her predecessor and does much good for her people, improving towns and villages. Other Jakats follow.

ca. 6000 - 3000b.S. Peace with Eyelia
A peace treaty is negotiated with the united clans of Eyelia. Allows the Serphelorians to stay united without having to wage wars, and develop more. Cha plantations started here.

The Rimerins Ring is to be officially Eyelian territory, but nomads can wander here but not for more then half the year. Begins an uneasy truce but slowly works when neither side re-initiates hostilities. No real trade between the two nations though.

Flares up again when a Queen decides it should be officially Serphelorian territory, tries to take it.

ca. 5000b.S Tarranoar founded

ca. 3000 - 500b.S Serpheloria deteriorates
A succession of weak leaders sets in motion a slow disintegration of the Serphelorian Kingdom. Over this time Elsreth, as well as many other towns in the northern two-thirds of the Kingdom declare themselves to be town-states, independent from the sovereign.

1649 b.S. Mir'Dark, the "Endless Night"
All towns have high fatalities; the Serphelorians understand this year as Jeyriall (one of the Serphelorians’ favoured two Gods) having abandoned them.

1645 b.S. Rekj Swanhild crowned in Ciosa
Rekj sends emissaries to Chrondra – contact and some trade is re-established.

ca. 1200 -1150 b.S. "Migard’s Folly" – the Serphelorian Civil War
The Jakat Migard (b. 1228 – d.1150, r. 1200-1150) tries to unite Serpheloria again. He travels around the Serphelorian kingdom with a large phalanx of soldiers – mostly men – and holds talks with the leaders of various city-states. Unfortunately, Migard’s ideas are highly offensive to the mainly matriarchal towns and nomads; he tries to convince them to unite for progress, but his vision of progress is settling in cities and giving up the old matriarchal, martial and nomadic ways, which he sees as little better than barbarism. Eventually one leader, Quinolgia of Islia, is insulted beyond her endurance and attacks the party, harrying them off her lands. Migard takes insult at this and gathers reinforcements from the southern cities and attacks back, trying to subdue the town-states. The nomads join in to break the seige, lay traps etc, work out on the land harrying troops. Other town-states who are offended help the cause. This begins a fifty-year long war between the north and the south which ends only with Migard’s death and the ascension of Migard’s much more sensible younger cousin and heir, Tibor.

ca. 1190 b.S. Elsreth becomes part of Eyelia
Elsreth, not wanting to be caught up in the fighting, defects to become part of Eyelia. The Eyelians pledge forces to hold it in case there are reprisals. This leads to members of all clans relocating to live there, although the reprisals never come as the Serphelorians are too busy fighting amongst themselves.

1200-1150 b.S. Settlement of Carmalad
Serphelorians escaping the civil war found Carmalad, which is intended to be a city-state independent of Serpheloria. Some contact is kept with the nomadic Serphelorians by those who settle there, but over time this too fades, allowing Carmalad to eventually become part of Caltharia.

1067 b.S. Quaelhoirhim Elves move out on to the Elverground
Some members of the Quaelhoirhim move out of the Zeiphyrian forest and begin to make their homes in the Elverground area. In this process Serphelorians become friendly with the elves. Around this time Saloh is built and trade is established between the two races. The Serphelorians become regular and welcomed visitors to Saloh.

806 b.S. Battle of Annihilation at the Zeiphyrian Forests
Serphelorians join their allies the elves against the humans from the north. They suffer huge losses. During this time the town of Sophronia is ruined again in the battles. The capital and the army moves back to Chrondra.

804 b.S. to 800 b.S. The Attack on the Tethinrhim Ria
Serphelorians fight the Avennorians with the elves.

800 b.S. Avennorians Abandon the War
Serphelorians continue to fight Erpheronians with elves; become valued spies in the North for elven tribes.

760 b.S. The Ylfferhim declare their Independence
The Ylfferhim elves declare their independence from the Quaelhoirhim and pull out of the war. This comes as a blow to the Serphelorians fighting with the Quaelhoirhim, but they fight on.

749 b.S. The Demise of the Avennorians
Erpheronia takes over Avennoria. This makes Serpheloria very nervous so they redouble their efforts for their allies the elves, hoping to avoid the Avennorians’ fate.

729 b.S. The Deciding of the Blood
The Serphelorians are relieved, and most people who can go to watch the contest. Peace is won for all sides. Contact with elves diminishes as both races concentrate on re-establishing themselves after their awful losses in the war.

550 b.S. Night of the Hand
Contact with elves is minimal again now. The Serphelorians’ weak and frightened Jakat leads the Serphelorians to officially blame the elves for the murder and desecration on the Isle of Hope, due to fear of and pressure from Avennoria and its now ruling Erpheronia. The general population still feels warmly toward the elves, despite the fact that they are hardly seen now, so this decision is not well received amongst the people. The Serphelorian army is sent to the north to fight the elves, though the Quaelhoirhim object as does much of the populace. Some of the army go north, but many defect, blending into towns and bands of nomads along the way so only a small force reaches the north. Most of the population hates the monarch for her weakness; the Serphelorian kingdom fractures even more. Other than that, SWII is not a big one for the Serphelorians.

535 b.S. Jakat Kaira the Last
In this year the last Serphelorian Jakat, Kaira, accedes to the throne. She is a strong Jakat, and very Avennorian in her techniques. She unites the people - some say against their will! - although she is unable to reclaim Elsreth and does not dispute the Eyelians’ claim to the Rimmerins Ring. The map of the kingdoms is drawn five years before her death by murder, as despite her sucesses she is not at all well liked.

505 – 502 b.S. Elverground Suffers a Three Year Drought

477 b.S. Serpheloria Perishes
After the murder the succession is thrown into doubt, leading to internal wars between factions. Eyelia, with the help of Serphelorians from Elsreth persuades the northern states to join it, as well as some other western southern pieces like Brinsley; Avennoria takes over the rulership of the south by virtue of Avennorian-sympathetic male scions. Serpheloria survives only in a few nomadic bands now confined to a much smaller area, and Islia, Klandonia and Hog, three town states near each other. These remnants all undertake to train every person in arms as a means to stay independent and matriarchal. Only Hog has found a way to thrive until the current time – the other two cities are now little more than villages with memories of a grand past.

298 to 292 b.S. SWIII begins
Rumours of trouble with monsters in the north (invasion of Darkfriends, beginning of SWIII) reach the now peaceful remains of Serpheloria. Some go north as mercenaries and join the Battle of Four Swords in Enthronia.

288 b.S. The Defeat of Hourelin at the Silvermarshes
Caeorphynn comes through Serpheloria and rallies her troops here. The Serphelorians join the allied human, dwarven and elven forces to retake Carmalad from the Darkfriends, having heard of the war through those who went north as mercenaries and came back telling of horrors about to take over the world.

0b.S Santhros Crowned
Those who remain of Serpheloria
Possible reason for joining santharian kingdom so easily – Seyella’s will and Sophronia's prophecy.

60 a.S. The Sandstorm
The whole Elverground region is subjected to a two and a half year drought, called “the Sandstorm” due to the devastation wreaked on the area.

ca. 1000a.S Last of the Nomads
At around this time, the last of the nomadic bands are seen. They no longer roam here, mainly due to the increasing number of settlements punctuating “their” lands. Many who don’t wish to settle go south to join the Shendar, hire themselves out as mercenaries or join up with the Black Butterfly Rovers.