History

From Osterin

The History of Osterin

A note on the dates: for clarity, all dates are presented as originating from a single point. This point is known as the Collision, and so any dates before this are known as B.C. (before Collision), and any dates after are labelled A.C. (after Collision). To add to the confusion, the Collision itself was a process that took over a hundred years, but as there are no records from this time, nothing is lost. Also, due to the lack of a consistent calendar before the Collision, dates earlier than this are approximate.

• ~1,000,000-150,000 B.C. - See Mythology
• The two Islands were created about 190,000 B.C., and the Deity split itself into two around 175,000 B.C.
• Around 150,000 B.C., the first humans were created. Since the Deity had created the blueprints for humans already, the humans were created equal on both Islands.
• Over the next 100,000 years, each Island developed separately, unaware of each other's existence. The people of the Madness ended up with pale skin, due to living in largely forested areas, while those on the Goddess' Island developed darker skin due to their constant high temperatures and the plains that covered their Island which provided little shelter from the sun.
• Each Island developed their own language and culture. The Island of the Madness was more warlike, and their language reflected that, being simple and practical, based around symbols that represented the word. The Island of the Goddess, being more peaceful, dedicated their language to more abstract concepts, and it became logical and ordered.
• At around 50,000 B.C., the Madness altered the currents and the continental shift of the planet very slightly, very gradually. Over the next 50,000 years, it brought the two Islands closer and closer together. This went unnoticed by the Goddess until it was too late to do anything about it without catastrophic consequences.
• Somewhere around 500 B.C. to 0 A.C., the Collision occurred. The two Islands smashed up against each other over this five hundred year period. This was a catastrophic event, particularly for the people of the Goddess' Island, who were unused to any sort of disturbance.
• The Collision caused the Mountains where the two Islands collided.
• During the next 500 years, chaos took over the newly formed continent. Aftershocks still shook the earth, and the people of the Madness (soon to be called the Weserners, as their Island had ended up forming the western half of the new continent) waged war on the people they found past the Mountains to the East. Unprepared for war, the people of the East were overrun, and much of their knowledge was destroyed.
• 563 A.C. - The two cultures had come to understand each other, and managed to find peace. A common language was developed, combining elements of both languages. Most elements of culture, such as a calendar and forms of currency, came from the East. Aridia, relatively untouched by war, drew in on itself, communicating only with Darill to the north, and even then only rarely. Darill, the other region of the East, formed a prosperous trading agreement with the West.
• 1100 A.C. - The Goddess delivers her punishment to the Madness, imprisoning him, sealing him off from contact with his followers, and hiding him from the world on a small island off the coast of Attarnon. As a side effect, the power of the Madness became unstable, and it was around this time that the first Ratan was created.
• The man's name was Karlin Rattan, and he was a powerful Psychopath. When he was Consumed, he destroyed much of his city in the process. Many lives were lost. He was discovered later in the center of the destruction, mindless. He was sent to the scholars in Ganyan, the capital of Darill, for study.
• While he was the first, many others were Consumed in the following years, and many great cities in Attarnon were destroyed. Insen was the only city to escape destruction, as it banished all Madmen from it's walls in 1124 A.C. These Madmen crossed the Mountains and formed the country and city, both called Brochus. It was officially declared in 1158 A.C.
• The people of Attarnon soon learned that small villages were safest, as the destruction from Ratans would be limited.
• In 1162, the scholars in Ganyan had finished their study of the Ratans. It was discovered that they could still access their magic, but only when told to by another. They had no mind to form the request themselves. This quickly became common knowledge, and Ratans became a valuable trade resource. For nearly 500 years, they were kept and traded as slaves, making Brochus, which controlled most of the supply, very rich. Ganyan used the Ratans to build them a massive and beautiful city in 1678. In return for the Ratans from Brochus, Ganyan often exchanged knowledge in the form of books and notes detailing the results of their studies.
• In 1692, genetic manipulation was discovered in Ganyan, leading to the development of many of the biological machines that are still in use today, more than a thousand years later.
• In 1889, Insen became the capital of Attarnon. Citing human rights concerns, the new King, Renar, outlawed the use of Ratans. While his true motives were unknown, it is suspected that he coveted the wealth of Brochus.
• Lianti and the Mountains followed this law, and many Ratans were killed or smuggled through to Brochus, who refused to follow.
• By 1936, the use of Ratans had become socially unacceptable in the West.
• But Madmen are still being Consumed, and Ratans created. What to do with them?
• In 1945, Jarem Nebriah became advisor to King Delin, son of King Renar. Jarem was an Qui, a follower of the Goddess, though he kept this fact hidden. Jarem proposed a solution to the Ratan problem. He has the power to block the abilities of Madmen, and Join with their minds. When a Madman begins to be Consumed, he can be killed.
• The King agrees, and in 1950 Jarem formed a force dedicated to Joining with Madmen. He trained them in the ways of the Goddess, and they became Quis. It created more followers of the Goddess in the West than had ever previously been seen. However, most were not aware of what they were, and Jarem was reluctant to tell them. They build the Asylum, a training ground for Quis and Madmen, in 1966.
• The Quis sweep through Attarnon, and by 1978, all known Madmen in Attarnon are Joined. In this same year, Lianti enacts the law that makes wielding the power of the Madness punishable by death.
• In Brochus, the Ratan trade continues, and in 1979 construction begins of the Academy of Alston, which is built to house the vast knowledge that Brochus has accumulated. It is completed in 1981, and houses the world`s most complete library on magic by 1983. This Academy is only open to Madmen
• Jarem has now become direct advisor to the King, and has little difficulty in convincing the King to attack Brochus, in order to control the Madmen who live there. The King knows that the public will likely not support this war, so he instead speaks out against Alston`s policy of only admitting Madmen. Under the pretense of forcing Brochus to give equal admittance to Madmen and non-Madmen, war against Brochus is declared in 1984.
• The city of Brochus falls within the year, and the Quis turn their sights on Alston. Tren, the headmaster at Alston at the time, created powerful Wards around the Academy. He successfully prevented the attack, but ended up cutting Alston off from the world. The war ended in 1985.
• The Quis spent much of their time erasing any mention of Alston from the history books. In the following 526 years, they became entrenched in Attarnon society.