The Modern Age

Relative: -2954 to present
OC: 2082 to present
The last three millennia have been bloody by anyone's standards. With the collapse of the Thri-Kreen empire, the last vestige of the Chiten Empire, a huge power vacuum appeared in the known spheres. Over the next two millennia, several races would ply for control, and the baton would be passed several times. All of the contenders planned to run an empire as large and as strong as the Syllix or the Thri-Kreen, but of these contenders only the elves have even come close.

Most historians consider the ascent of the Illithids to be the beginning of the modern age. Many less informed people think the Illithids were the first space faring race. Obviously this is not the case, but the mistake is an honest one. Most of the existing star charts and records currently in use date from the age of the Illithids.

Destruction of the Oortlings
Relative: -2954
OC: 2082
The Illithids, now firmly in control of the known spheres, made it a practice of stamping out any potential opposition to their rule. The most noted example of this was in Realmspace, where the Oortling civilization was completely destroyed. It is possible, in fact likely, that some of the Oortlings escaped the slaughter, considering their extensive travels. In Realmspace however, the Oortlings are a pathetic shadow of what they once were, barley being able to think for themselves.

Height of Illithid Influence
Relative: -2900
OC: 2136
The rampant expansion of the Illithids, which brought them into conflict with the human Al'Malamut, was cut short by the arrival of a new contender, the Beholders. During the next century, the Beholders and the Illithids would continuously battle one another for control over anything that wasn't nailed down. The Al'Malamut and the elves of Evermeet quickly sidestepped the situation and let the two races battle it out.

Defeat of the Illithids
Relative: -2802
OC: 2234
The last major Illithid fleet was defeated by the Beholders at Toralikis (Toril). This event, combined with a freakish disease that destroyed Illithid brain pools, made the Beholders the dominant race in space. Ironically, their control would last for only a decade, when internal strife drove the race into disarray. These civil wars continue to this day.

Athasspace: Emergence of the Defilers.
Relative: -2145
OC: 2891
This would be a minor point, were it not for the effect it would eventually bring. Athas was at the time a typical earth world inhabited by humans and demi-humans. It was always a warm, dry world, but a thriving one just the same. At about this time, a new form of magic appeared that drew power directly from the prime material plane, as opposed to the energy planes. It was stronger and easier to access, but harder to control. When these mages, called Defilers, began to seize control of Athas, a few rebels took to the stars to find help. Spelljamming was at best a novelty, but it was available at the time. Sadly, a small number of the Defiler mages spread to the other spheres, causing havoc wherever they went.

Today, some of these Defiler mages still travel the known spheres as liches, and are generally best left alone.

Collapse of the Al'Malamut Empire.
Relative: -2000
OC: 2746
The Al'Malamut, which had enjoyed a relatively peaceful existence for 1400 years, was quickly decimated in a series of revolts by the member worlds. Explanations vary as to why the worlds revolted, but many historians blame the collapse on a combination of internal revolts, and the fact that by this point there was no controlling group in known space, which allowed incursions into the Al'Malamut to go unchecked. It is known that they fought a bloody war with the Illithids over Garlandspace, which weakened their economy to the breaking point. In short, the Al'Malamut were simply unable to deal with the constant incursions from outside, and the unrest from within. The empire basically imploded.

Athasspace: The closing of the sphere.
Relative: -1136
OC: 3900
In an event that was probably for the best, some of the Defiler kings, who had seized control of portions of Athas, sealed the crystal sphere from the inside. It would appear that this was done to prevent people from escaping, including opposing Defilers. At any rate, entrance to the sphere by normal means was terminated. The sphere has remained impenetrable to this day. Defilers and their followers can still be found in some isolated corners of the known spheres, but in the grand scheme of things they are not a threat.

There is reportedly a way to enter the sphere, and star charts of Athaspace did at one time exist, but none of them have been confirmed as authentic.

The arrival of the Neogi
Relative: -1098
OC: 3862
After the fall of the Beholders, there had not been a truly alien race running about. The neogi ended this, on no uncertain terms. The neogi were not an unknown race; they had been a Syllix client race like many others. However, after they freed themselves from the Syllix, they remained quiet for a long time, and nobody gave them much thought. There were other "spider" client races, which were often wiped out because of their bad temper, so the neogi were often written off as a "left over." Apparently, the neogi had decided it was time to enslave the entire universe, literally.

Their first strike was in Realmspace, on what is now Garden. Of the 600 people living there, about 200 were killed, and another 200 taken prisoner. Few people gave the incident much thought, but within thirty years it became clear that the neogi were here to stay, and that they were an enemy.

Solaris: Start of the Magic Wars
Relative: -1018
OC: 4018
Solaris, one of the spheres of the Penticate, had a relatively active spelljamming society, but this changed when the order of the Nimar (a group of very powerful mages) suffered a schism. With the two opposing factions battling with one another, the planet of Cartania was plunged into a state of total war, and eventually the entire sphere was pulled into the fray.

Even though the wars started as a conflict between opposing factions of the Nimar and their personal armies, the entire population was drawn in, as the various kingdoms joined the conflict for their own gain. Solaris quickly became a sphere filled with pirates, warring navies, and marauding space creatures. Those people who travelled there were probably looking for easy loot as pirates or mercenaries.

The Years of Blight (The First Unhuman War)
Relative: -1000 to -902
OC: 4036 to 4128
Technically, this period can be included with the First Unhuman War, but is distinct enough to warrant specific attention. During this period, the various humanoid races begin to travel around the known spheres making their living at raping, pillaging, and looting. Most of the attacks were isolated, but they were consistent enough that any nation with a spelljamming fleet had a standing guard ready to engage them.

The humanoids worked in all of the spheres of the old Chiten Empire. The only noteworthy exception was Solaris, where the increased local spelljamming activity brought on by the Magic Wars made it too difficult to slip in and out without a problem. Of all the races in the spheres to take action against the humanoids, only the elves had an organized plan for dealing with them.

Charter of the Imperial Elven Navy.
Relative: -998
OC: 4038
Based at Evermeet on Toril, the various elven nations of the known spheres devised a long-range plan for dealing with the humanoids. The various spacefleets of the elves would maintain constant patrols around important worlds, and deal with the humanoids whenever they arrived. This became the basis for the Imperial Elven Navy, which exists to this day. It started out as an highly organized militia force as opposed to a unified navy, however. That would come later.

Arrival of new races.
Relative: -980
OC: 4056
With the onset of the years of blight, several new spacefaring races begin to appear. Among them were the Grommam, Hadozee, and Giff.

Arrival of the Gnomes
Relative: -921
OC: 4115
At about this time, Krynnish Gnomes begin to travel the known spheres, eager to assist against the humanoids. Their ships were described as "badly designed" and an "insult to engineers everywhere." Collectively, most people wished they had stayed on Krynn.

The Battle of Greela.
Relative: -902
OC: 4134
In response to the increasingly organized humanoid fleets, the elves begin to take the offensive. At first the battles were isolated and short, but very bloody. The first true fleet to fleet battle between the Imperial Elven Navy and the humanoids was in Greyspace, near Greela, an elven stronghold. The Battle of Greela is considered the start of the First Unhuman War by most historians, even though the conflict had been in progress for over a century by the time the battle took place.

Within two years of Greela, humanoid and elf fleet to fleet battles, and battles between ground troops became very common in most of the known spheres.

Creation of the Batship
Relative: -900
OC: 4136
Little is known about the Batship, but one thing that is known is that it was created at about this time, in a crystal sphere far beyond the Trulian Ring. Many sages believe that the wizard who created it is still alive, and attempting to find a way to stop it.

Greyspace: The Destruction of Borka
Relative: -876
OC: 4060
Most of the decisive battles of the First Unhuman War were fought in Greyspace and Realmspace. Borka, in Greyspace, was one of the humanoid's major command centers, and when the elves couldn't gather the troops to conquer it, they destroyed it. A temporal planar rift was created below the surface of the planet, which tore in apart. This was the beginning of the end for the humanoids, who were never able to recover from this defeat.

Radolespace: End of the First Unhuman War (Battle of Armistice)
Relative: -872
OC: 4064
After the destruction of Borka, the elves fought a series of quick campaigns to trap the humanoids on the surfaces of planets. Sadly, they did tear some other planets apart. The last major fleet to fleet battle was above the ice planet of Armistice in Radolespace, which ended in a decisive victory for the elves. In the treaty that followed, the humanoids were forced to the planet's surface, and their ships destroyed.

This event left the elves the dominant race in the known spheres, a position they have held until very recently. The elven navy remained intact as a barrier against any invaders. At first, the navy sought to protect all free races, but as time wore on they became more concerned with elven interests at the expense of any others.

The Insectare War
Relative: -868 to -862
OC: 4168 to 4174
After a brief lull, conflict resumed when the Insectare tried to seize control of the elven navy, and the worlds it protected. It was later determined that the insectare were planted by the Neogi. During the Unhuman War, the neogi had been silent, apparently allowing one of the major groups to be victorious. Since the elves won, the neogi sought to eliminate their only remaining rival. The plot, thought well planned, was foiled. The elven navy eventually purged itself by killing not only every insectare in its ranks, but any elf who freely associated with them. Over 10000 elves were killed, the few remaining insectare went into hiding, and the neogi were on the run.

Solaris: Close of the Magic Wars
Relative: -852
OC: 4184
Cartania's Magic Wars, which had raged without a pause for almost two hundred years, came to an abrupt end when the last of the Black Nimar were banished to the icy moon of Dirax. This should have set things back to normal, but the various kingdoms had decided they had had their fill of magic and the Nimar, and chased them to the farthest reaches of the planet. A year later, the few remaining Nimar somehow summoned the Spelljammer (how they did this has never been explained), which *landed* in a wide bay (Farbay) and carried them off, never to return. Shortly thereafter, Cartania was sealed inside a magical bubble which prevented any spelljamming vessel from entering or leaving.

This act effectively ended spelljamming in Solaris, even though ships still visited the other worlds of the sphere. With the main world inaccessible, no one, including the elves, considered Solaris to be worth the effort, and the sphere became a backwater.

The Rama'tal'ain.
Relative: -743
OC: 4295
This year heralded the arrival of a potential new menace, the Rama'tal'ain. The Rama'tal'ain are described as short, vaguely humanoid creatures with oddly shaped limbs. Without provocation, this (somewhat) humanoid race began to conquer every world in their home sphere, including the planet Trabarax. Trabarax is the home world of the Tabaxi, a feline humanoid race. The invaders were reportedly cruel beyond measure, and eventually many of the native Tabaxi were forced to flee into space. The Rama'tal'ain have not proven to be a major threat in the grand scheme of things, but they have the potential. Most major spelljamming groups keep an eye on them, just in case.

Realmspace: The Birth of Elminster.
Relative: -521
OC: 4517
During the spring of this year, the man who would eventually be known as Elminster of Shadowdale, perhaps the most powerful mage alive, was born. During the first 50 years of his life, he made his mark as a famed adventurer-wizard. Today, he is known for his knowledge of nearly everything related to the Realms, including spelljamming. A personality cult has developed around this colorful man in the last century.

Solaris: Breaking of Cartania's bubble shield.
Relative: -475
OC: 4563
After the departure of the Nimar, Cartania was encased in a large magical bubble that prevented any spelljamming ships from Reaching the planet. This magical bubble appears to have drawn its power from specific points on the planet. During this year, a major earthquake apparently destroyed one of these "terminals," and since the Nimar were no longer around to mend the shield, the gap began to grow. After twenty years, the shell was essentially gone, and within a decade spelljamming had resumed on a low scale. It would steadily increase during the next century.

Krynnspace: The Cataclysm
Relative: -364
OC: 4674
The Cataclysm is one of the most horrible, and best-documented disasters in the Radiant Triangle. Growing conflicts between the gods of Krynn, and various powerful individuals on the planet resulted in a series of magic storms that nearly ripped the planet apart. Spelljamming (what little there was) came to a very abrupt stop. Kyrnnish gnomes would return to space about a century later, but not in great numbers.

First major dealings with the Dohwar
Relative: -345
OC: 4693
The Dohwar claim to have originated in Heardspace, and shortly after entering space they made a living as freight haulers. It would not be long before they began to peddle goods wherever they could find a buyer. Their business terms tend to be somewhat shady, and their goods questionable. The Dohwar concentrate on goods that the Arcane do not normally deal with, but the Arcane still find them a nuisance, and would like to see them back in Heardspace, permanently.

Cult of Ptah forced underground.
Relative: -300 aprox
OC: 4723
The Cult of Ptah, famous for their barge ships, was scattered around the known spheres at about this time, and lost any vestige of the organized group that it once was.

Many historians have called the Cult the "Ghost of the Al'Malamut Empire." For a long time the Cult used to talk about the glory of the old empire, and often promised to rebuild it. If they had any serious plans of doing so, they were crushed due to a combination of in-fighting and external opposition.

Today the cult is becomming a major player again. Since abandoning the Al'Malamut credo (after a revolt in Holy Creche), the cult has ben turning its attention to missionary work and scholarship. They may have an alterior motive, but if they do they have not revealed it yet.

Realmspace: First dealings with the K'r'r'r
Relative: -212
OC: 4826
In the vicinity of The Garden, a group of travellers encountered what came to be known as the K'r'r'r Unity Fleets. The strange, spider-like creatures were verbally aggressive, with talk of sending all groundlings back where they belong. This hostile reception did not involve any blows. To date, the K'r'r'r are a minor threat wherever they occur, and from time to time they have threatened some small worlds.

Plague of the Clockwork Horrors.
Relative: -205
OC: 4833
During this year, some of the worlds on the known spheres were plagued by Clockwork Horrors. Even worlds that had no active spelljamming were effected, so how they managed to reach so many worlds has never been adequately explained.

One historian has suggested that the Clockwork Horrors were originally designed by either the Juna or the "First Ancestors" as a teraforming tool, and that they were programmed to periodically "reset" various worlds. The behavior of the mechanical creatures lends some credibility to this theory, but it is unlikely that this will ever be proven. At any rate, the plague was short, but highly destructive.

Realmspace: Arrival of the Batship.
Relative: -200
OC: 4838
The Batship, for reasons that have never been fully explained, settled in Realmspace at about this time. It is known to have traveled through Krynspace at one point, apparently before settling. At first, the strange ship was seen in the vicinity of Garden, but soon moved closer to the sun. Today, it travels a random path between Toril, Anadia, and Colair, apparently resting in the Tears of Selune.

The Batship has proven to be a major hazard for anyone it encounters. It attacks other ships without provocation, and such attacks are usually fatal for the target ship. The elves have attempted to stop the craft from time to time, but to no avail.

Solaris: The First Elven Civil War
Relative: -187
OC: 4851
The Imperial Navy has never dealt with Solaris in a professional manner. This year saw the uncovering of a plot to bind the elven nations of the sphere closer to the navy. For several years, the elves had been becoming more isolationist in outlook, so this plot was not well received! The war was short, but costly to the navy, who lost whatever ground-based support they might have had in the sphere.

Spiralspace: Founding of Bral
Relative: -152
OC: 4886
The city of Bral, now known as the Rock of Bral, became an incorporated stronghold during this year, by Barron Cozar, a notorious pirate. At first the city was simply a pirates hold. Spiralspace, having direct currents to all the worlds of the Radiant Triangle, and Solaris in the Pentiacate, was an ideal place for pirates to work. Other beings had used to asteroid before, but the humans who founded Bral were the first to attempt a serious settlement.

Today, Bral is a busy commercial sight, with space travellers from all over passing through on a regular basis. Bral has also been profiting from the conflict between humanoid and elf on the spheres main world, Spiral.

Krynnspace: The battle of Krynn
Relative: -142
OC: 4896
This battle is famous for who fought in it: The Spelljammer and a Neogi flotilla. It has been suggested that the Neogi were planning to conquer Krynn, or at least a large portion of it, but the Spelljammer intervened. The battle was furious, and the Spelljammer was eventually destroyed. However, the Neogi were badly decimated as a result of the fight, and were unable to launch their planned assault.

As an aside, the Spelljammer was sighted a year later in Greyspace, proving that the great ship does somehow "regenerate."

Arcane in the Radiant Triangle
Relative: -80
OC: 4958
By the year, the Arcane had several establishments and business operations in the Radiant Triangle. Since they had a firm commercial hold on the Pentiacate, they decided to expand. Despite their aggressive marketing tactics, only individuals took interest in spelljamming, and no large nations: the ones who would make high yield, bulk orders. The only notable exception to this was Shou Lung on Toril, who would have an active spelljamming fleet within the decade.

First contact with the Dracon
Relative: -60
OC: 4978
The Dracon, or dragon centaurs, first appeared in remote sections of the known spheres at about this time. In the time that followed, they became more common. Presently, most major spaceports have a "dracon town," with goods and services catering to the race.

Solaris: The Second Elven Civil War
Relative: -56 to -21
OC: 4942-4947
In a set of plots and schemes more devious than the first, the Imperial Navy tried again to subjugate the elven nations of Solaris. They also tried to undermine the human kingdom of Muldravia, which was becoming a potential threat. Again the navy was discovered, and the situation was quite volatile. The human Muldravians were dragged into the conflict, and quickly proved themselves a power to be reckoned with. In the end, the elves had managed to undermine their own power base, leaving the human Muldravian Empire as the dominant spelljamming power in the sphere.

First verified contact with the Scro.
Relative: -54
OC: 4984
In a number of spheres, human and demi human travellers noted the appearance of the orc-like Scro. The Scro claim to be the "next rulers" of space, the successor to the old humanoid fleets. So far they have not succeeded in this goal, but they have proven themselves to be very dangerous, and travellers would be wise to avoid them.

First confirmed sightings of Mindspiders
Relative: -50
OC: 4988
The Neogi, who had been very quiet for several decades, made their presence known again by revealing their newest ship: the Mindspider. These small, lithe ships proved to be very dangerous, even more so than the Deathspiders, which had for long been the mainstay of the neogi Alliance.

Today, the Mindspider is one of the most feared ships in space, and the most common reaction is to either attack them on sight, or flee. There are rumors of a new, dual-helmed neogi ship, but to date no one has confirmed this.

Start of the Vodani Wars
Relative: -11
OC: 5027
In an unprecedented series of events, spelljamming powers from all of the Radiant Triangle joined together to battle the Vodani Empire. The Vodani controlled some twelve spheres just outside the Triangle, and they wanted to conquer it. Plain and simple. At first the Vodani wars were very limited in scope, but as they progressed they became more intense.

Realmspace: Pirate Bloodjack
Relative: -10
OC: 5028
With everyone busy with the Vodani, one human pirate, known only as Bloodjack, began his now legendary career in the worlds of Realmspace. His flagship is reported to be a heavily armored hammership that could go one-to-one with an Armada. Several ships operate under Bloodjack's banner, and he is now one of the most notorious crime lords in Realmspace. Supposedly, he is at odds with Clive of Garden, but all indications are that the two have an "understanding."

Bloodjack is not all together evil, but he is dangerous. One should avoid him if possible. If that isn't possible, then speak very carefully.

Close of the Vodani Wars
Relative: -9
OC: 5029
In a battle of epic proportions, a united fleet consisting of ships from all over the Radiant Triangle, and several from the Pentiacate, defeated the Vodani fleet above their capital city. The Vodani empire, which spanned 12 spheres at its height, broke into five major parts, with regional warlords plying for the vacant office of emperor. Also, despite the victory of the Elves and their allies, the power of the Elves was noticeably shaken, and they are now in decline.

The Neogi also proved their worthlessness, by turning tail on the allies at the last minute.

The Geonomicon
Relative: -8
OC: 5030
After the Vodani wars, it was discovered that most "definitive" works on space were out of date. The Geonomicon was commissioned by the Seekers in an attempt to change this. Since its release, the work has proven highly influential, though somewhat flawed. The Seekers are currently discussing a new edition of the work.

Krynnspace: The War of the Lance
Relative: -7
OC: 5031
The War of the Lance is highly documented, and brought major changes to Krynn. In terms of spelljamming, however, it served to interrupt space travel in Krynnspace yet again. Space travel continued, but most ships from Krynn were used for various aspects of the war efforts, such as laying siege to flying citadels or as troop transports.

When the wars ended, most space travel fizzled out. It continues on a low level, but at present spelljamming is a novelty in Krynnspace.

Telden Moore
Relative: -4
OC: 5035
According the Krynnish records, during the spring of this year a renegade Squid ship crashed into Telden Moore's farm on Krynn, destroying most of it. This marked the start of one of the biggest hunts in recent history, as *everyone* tried to get a hold of Telden and his magical cloak, which turned out to be an ultimate helm. Telden himself would eventually wander the known spheres for almost two years, searching for The Spelljammer.

Start of the Second Unhuman War
Relative: -3
OC: 5036
The reasons for renewed conflict between the elves and the humanoids has yet to be fully explained. All that is known is that the old rivals are once again bent on destroying one another. How this will turn out remains to be seen. The humanoids have yet to demonstrate a focused plan for their conquest, and the elves, still strained from the Vodani wars, are not the great force they used to be.

Collectively, the conflict with the humanoids tends to be localized, and has has no lasting effect on space travel.

The Battle of the Broken Sphere
Relative: -3
OC: 5036
The drama of "The Cloakmaster," Telden Moore, ended very abruptly and very violently in the winter of this year. Over three-hundred ships fought each other near a fissure in the Broken Sphere, in the Trulian Ring. The prize? The Spelljammer itself, which was itself involved in the battle. Telden Moore had found the great ship, but everyone in the universe was trying to claim it. In the end, two thirds of the ships were destroyed, and the Spelljammer itself was reportedly destroyed. However, psionic and magical investigation found no wreckage of any kind. Also, the broken sphere began to re-close less than an hour after the Spelljammer vanished.

Sadly, the hostilities of the Second Unhuman War resumed about six months later.

Realmspace: the Avatars
Relative: -1
OC: 5038
During this year, Avatars, or gods in humanoid form, actively walked about the Realms, often causing trouble. Some have labeled this the "Time of Troubles." The increased activity by deities in Realmspace caused a temporary drop in spelljamming activity, but all indicators are that things will soon return to normal.

First Edition of the Spharea Temporae
Relative: 0
OC: 5039
At the first writing of this work, the overall picture wasn't good. Conflicts related the the Second Unhuman War increased, especially since the elves were loosing ground. The Illithids are preparing to make a come back, especially in Theiaspace, where they have been openly attacking human and demi human settlements. In Terraspace, several kingdoms are ready to go to war as a result of a conflict called the "Venecian Schism."

Start of the Arcane War.
Relative: 2
OC: 5041
There is evidence to suggest that the conflict between the humanoids and the elves was set into motion by the Grand Arcane Trading House, which in this year started actively shutting down spelljammer operations and conducting acts of vandalism and sabotage. One of the most notible instinces of this was in Greyspace, where the GATH was linked to the destruction of the famous library of Greyhawk.

The causes for the war appear to be rooted in differences of trading methods and supplied goods between the GATH and the various independent arcane trading houses. The actual conflict is being carried out through others, however.

The Destruction of Omnispace.
Relative: 3
OC: 5042
It what was later proven to be the most devistating business deal in history, the sphere of Omnispace was consumed in an expanding planer gate into the Elemental Plane of Fire. Records are largely incomplete, but what is known is that one of the ruling Magi arranged for the GATH to install planer gates to the various planets of the sphere. The GATH apparently used these gates to destroy the sphere. The motivation appears to have been purely economical: Omnispace was a stop on several spelljamming routes, and the GATH wanted to end spelljamming all together.

One should note that about six months before the catastrophy, Sphereworld, the fourth planet of the Omnispace system, vanished into empty space.

The Return of the Spelljammer.
Relative: 3
OC: 5042
Apparently, the disturbance in the planer fabric caused by the destruction of Omnispace was sufficient to allow the Spelljammer to return to the Prime Material Plane. Evidence suggests that the craft was trapped in another plane, and was unable to escape until this time.

The craft was seen in Omnispace during the conflagration, and it is assumed that it escaped with some survivors from Omnispace.

Solaris: The Destruction of Playard Four.
Relative: 4
OC: 5043
The Playards are cluster worlds located in Solaris, and have been a stage for conflict for several centuries. During the year, the elven navy used a very powerful magical matrix called "Mosaic" to transform one of the playards as a demonstration of their strength. Everyone who was on Playard Four at the time perished.

The elves promptly demanded the allegiance of every spelljamming power in Solaris, but they did not receive it. This incident escellated the conflict in that sphere, with all of the human powers, and many of the humanoid powers, taking sides against the elves.

There is evidence to suggest that the arcane of the Grand Arcane Trading House were partially responsible for the use of Mosaic, while other maintain that this was a testemony to the return of the Black Nimar.