Eras

Historical periods in Somara are broken up into Eras. The generally accepted method of referring to an era is by placing the letter 'e' in between the era and year for dates. For example, the 10th year of the 12th era would be 12e10, and so on.

The first eleven eras cover a time span of around 65,500 years.

Somara is currently in the Twelfth Era.

Background
A small group of reclusive scholars known as the Timekeepers live in a hidden enclave on Khegur Bhru. They observe the world and collectively decide when the eras advance, leaving each era to become wildly different in terms of length.

Dates in Somara are written with the following format: month, day, era, year. For example, if you wanted to write March 23rd of the 250th year of the 12th era, you would write: 3/23/12e250.

First Era - Dawn of Somara
The First Era began once the world was created by Valazar and lasted until Neket sealed the Elder Gods away, a period encompassing about 14,000 years.

Second Era - Dawn of Society
The Second Era, lasting 16,548 years, began with the spread of civilization across the world, and ended when the Kettle Wars broke out.

Third Era - Dawn of Peace
The Third Era covers the era of peace and prosperity that came with the signing of the Treaty of Haverstein, which ended the Kettle Wars. The Third Era ended with the eruption of Mt. Pek, and lasted 2,783 years.

Fourth Era - Shadow of Destruction
The Fourth Era began after Mt. Pek's eruption, and lasted for 6,285 years. It saw the rise of the Ivertian Empire from Maltou.

Fifth Era - The Iron Rule
During the Fifth Era, the Ivertian Empire expanded to cover all of Maltou, Ezelun, and some of the surrounding islands, becoming the largest nation in the history of Somara. It ended in 5e7251 when rebellions broke out and eventually caused the empire to crumble.

Sixth Era - Rebuilding of Society
After the fall of the Ivertian Empire, the Sixth Era begins, and several new nations begin to rise in power. The era lasts 2,380 years, and ends when the Dark World Crisis is declared.

Seventh Era - The Dark World Crisis
The Blood War is temporarily halted due to an alliance forged by Balzu, the Prince of Fiends, and they invade the Prime Material Plane. Darion Tessandro, an exiled aasimar, raises an army of allies to fight the fiends. The Battle of Lake Wyl, the single largest conflict ever to take place in Somara, is fought, and the invasion is stopped. Tessandro is named the Regent of Vikunel, and the Seventh Era ends when he dies, in 7e485.

Eighth Era - The Spread of Light
With the Dark World Crisis stopped, religion booms across Somara, especially the Church of Vikyn, which is established in Sanctuary Keep. Prosperity reigns for 4,625 years, until the Bloatwood Plague heralds the end of the Eighth Era.

Ninth Era - The Bloatwood Plague
In the Ninth Era, which lasted 8,624 years, the Bloatwood Plague, is introduced to Somara. A horrible disease, it causes a slow, painful death in those it infects. Cities are barricaded to prevent the spread, but up to 45% of the population eventually succumbs to the disease.

Tenth Era - Anduvian Expansion
In the Tenth Era (8,625 years), after the Bloatwood Plague ravages Somara, the Anduvian Empire (which was largely unaffected) begins conquering most of Maltou, Ezelun, and the Illithian Isle.

Eleventh Era - The Great Alliance
The Fauvian Council, a meeting between leaders of the Derdurian Kingdom, Ironblood Orcs, Allilean Domain, the Culean Triumvirate, and the Ni Fal Shogunate, an alliance is formed to halt the Anduvian expansion. The Pact of the Broken Calf (as the alliance is called) is able to push the Anduvians back to the Ekalih Isle. After 1,324 years, the Eleventh Era ends.

Twelfth Era
The Twelfth Era is the current era in Somara.