I've had a goodly number of readers ask for some kind of chronology
regarding events in the Wulf universe. Mind you, I had no chronology in mind
when I started writing, other than that I intended to start Wulf's story a
few years prior to the events in The Demon Crown.
On the other hand, it's always nice to have a handle on things (so to speak),
so I've put together the following rough outline of major events in Wulf’s
life. I’m working on a detailed Thystran history as well, which I will add
to this when it’s ready. I reserve the right to change all this at any time,
and anyone who tries to hold me to ANYTHING that's written below is crusing
for a bruising. Canny observers will note that I've changed a few details
to come into line with current stories.
This chronology uses the Imperial Calendar, by which it is Imperial Year 4459
at the time of Armada. For the moment, I use Julian equivalents of Thystran
months (i.e. January, February, etc.). More details of the calendar will be
posted in the future.
4421
Wulf born, probably in Godshome, the White Empire. His early years are uncertain.
He was either abandoned or an orphan and the identity of his parents' remains
unknown.
4426-4431
Wulf earns a living of sorts as a pickpocket, beggar, street urchin, and anything
else he can manage.
4432
Wulf is arrested by city guard, but taken in by the sorcerers of the Imperial
Academy of Magic. He is enrolled as a student.
4432-4436
Wulf studies magic, only to find he has small talent for it. He is expelled
from the Academy after a "minor" explosion, the result of his unauthorized experimentation,
destroys a section of the West wing.
4437-4441
Wulf's "lost years," in which he hones the trade of a freelance, making his
living as a thief, mercenary, bodyguard, and all-around rogue-for-hire. Lots
of unchronicled stories, I think :)
4441
Wandering in The Wild, looking for a legendary "lost caravan," Wulf is captured
by the Wolfen slaver, Akumi and, guess what, they become involved romantically.
She helps him to escape from his master and, along with the human slave-woman
Yashi, they make their way out of Wolfen Lands. On the way across the Wolf Peaks,
they encounter Temerus and Iniktiss, competing "Lords of the Peaks," who have
dwelled in their hidden empire since before the Cataclysm. (You'll have to wait
for that story).
4442-4447
More lost eyars and wandering. More untold stories. Yup. Wulf aids a band of
adventurers searching for a legendary weapon, then ends up as a thief in Godshome,
his old home-town, but pressure from the authorities makes him consider other
options.
4448
In an attempt to get out of Godshome, Wulf volunteers for the Imperial Army,
only to find that he's to be shipped out to aid in the invasion of the Veldt
Lands. The Veldt expedition ends in disaster, with Wulf the sole survivor. Aided
by the Sholanti warrioress Ushandra, Wulf sets out for civilization in the guise
of a lion-man in order to avoid attention from the locals.
4449
Still in lion-man form and known as Chuma, Wulf is captured and sold as a slave
to the Xeshite Countess Xylara. He helps her thwart a palace coup by her brother
Thorvaz, returns to human form and once more sets out on his way home.
4450
A mixed force of orcs, humans, daemons and dark elves invades the Elven Islands.
Wulf is captured by the dark elf Duchess Thae'Lynn N'Quy, escapes, and helps
the Silver Lady defeat the invasion.
4451
Wulf finally makes it to Stoneburg, which is to be his base of operations for
several years.
4452
Wulf journeys to Vosgraad to speak with the family of his dwarf-friend, the
late Sigurd, who died in the battle on the Veldt. On the way, he meets Livia
the Sorceress, they defeat the vampire-lord Thazar, then have wild sex under
a waterfall. In Vosgraad, Wulf is stuck with the dwarf Udo as a traveling companion,
and is almost killed by nightshades, shapechanging creatures in the employ of
the demon assassin, Ilvraxx the Besieger.
A renegade elvish sorcerer, the Stormking, emerges, and begins to whip up sentiment
against the Silver Lady.
4453
The Stormking is defeated and flees elven lands with his followers. He continues
to prosecute his war from his base at Brightwater Castle, threatening the Silver
Lady and her children.
4454
March:
Wulf is contacted by elven representatives and asked to escort Princess Theanna
to a distant fortress in order to protect her from the Stormking. On the way
to meet her, Wulf meets and strikes up a relationship with the Kaitian warrioress
Li Shu.
April:
Sailing on the Xeshite luxury liner, Princess Xura, Wulf prevents several
attempts on Theanna's life, and meets up with the ratling Squitter. The Xura
is wrecked by the Stormking's magic. Theanna and Li are captured, but Wulf and
Squitter are rescued by the pirate captain Saquod. Wulf is forced to "service"
Saquod's wife and daughter, but is befriended by the orcish mate Skrall.
June:
The Stormking prepares for his master stroke against the Silver Lady. Theanna
pretends to go along with his schemes, but secretly plots against him. The Lady
Lothaera, assigned to keep Theanna under the Stormking's control, instead falls
in love with her. Li is "tamed" by the wolfen Tanu, but also only feigns cooperation.
Li and Theanna become lovers, and plan to fight the Stormking from inside.
July:
Wulf contacts Livia, then joins with the Stormking's invasion armada, hoping
to rescue Li and Theanna. The armada sails, but Theanna calls on all loyal elves
to fight the Stormking. Wulf and Livia help frustrate the Stormking's battle
plans. Admiral Nae'mitz and the Sea Griffon fleet defeat the rebels, and Theanna
kills the Stormking after it is revealed that he is actually a dark elf sent
by Lady Thae'lynn. A handful of rebel elves escape, and eventually make their
way south to offer themselves in Thae'lynn's service.
Lothaera dies defending Theanna. Li, Theanna, Squitter, Tanu, Skrall and the
wizard Shardinn all join together in a corsair crew and sail off in the Stormking's
flagship, Conqueror in search of plunder and adventure. Wulf returns
to Stoneburg with Livia.
Later in the year, Livia and the demoness Narisha are brought together by a
failed seduction spell originally cast by the dark elf Daedora.
4455
May:
Wulf is contacted by Narisha, who seduces him, then hires him to retrieve the
Demon Crown, which has been stolen by one of her father's enemies. To aid him,
she gives Wulf the sword Lawbringer, an ancient holy blade thought lost centuries
previously. Livia becomes involved in the plot, giving magical aid, and the
three of them share some intimacies before Wulf departs.
July:
Wulf retrieves the Demon Crown and is handsomely paid. He buys the mercenary
cutter Skate. He, Livia and Narisha decide that they are all still in
love, and they sail off, with crew including the dwarf Udo and the bad luck-plagued
thief Stef. Daedora occasionally joins them for sex, conversation, and news
of the outside world.
4455-58
The Skate has various adventures that are yet to be chronicled.
4459
January:
Duchess Thae'lynn seizes control of all dark elf houses. Daedora's parents are
murdered, and she barely escapes with her life. Thae'lynn sends the renegade
elven noblewoman Vanaetha to seduce the elven Lord Marshal Feanor, who then
calls upon all elves to rise up in a crusade to expunge non-elves from Thystra.
Distraught by Theanna's disappearance and by the ongoing tragedies of her people,
the Silver Lady remains passive, and Feanor's crusade is approved.
February:
Xesh is quickly and easily conquered by the elves. The humans flee in to the
jungles, where they fight a guerilla war under the leadership of Lady Xylara.
Vaenetha gains control of the dragons Dhruul and Iskhana, and uses them to persuade
Feanor to use the ancient artifact known as the Dragon's Eye. With the Eye,
Feanor resurrects the ancient liche Ezikhan, as well as several undead dragons.
Daedora finds haven on the Skate. Wulf and his companions decide to
try to help the free peoples fight Thae'lynn. Wulf resumes his guise as Chuma
the lion-man, while Narisha, Daedora and Livia sail to Xesh, where they hope
to help drive out the elves.
April:
Wulf meets the expatriate elf Jae and his sidekick, the ogre Violent Bahb, and
makes his way south to join Thae'lynn's army.
Feanor's army sails north to invade Litharna.
May:
The Skate sails to Xesh. Daedora and Narisha help capture the elf sorceress
Maeth, only to discover that an ancient goddess is stirring in the jungle, and
that she has chosen them as her avatars.
June:
Daedora, Narisha, Livia and several Skate crew members begin a trek inland
hoping to find the jarreks and form an alliance. The three avatars grow closer,
and are united spiritually, physically and sexually.
Feanor splits his army. A large force of undead, under one of Ezikhan's necromantic
subordinates, marches north through the Firwood while, on the other side of
the Orksbleuth Mountains, Feanor and Ezikhan lead the main body of elvish troops
north along the Pinewood Road. Litharnan Fieldmarshal VanLeuter moves to intercept
them, unaware of the large undead force marching toward his rear.
July:
Feanor's army meets the Litharnans in the Battle of
the Pinewoods. The Litharnans are defeated, and although a good portion
of the army is able to escape, thousands are killed, though Fieldmarshal VanLeuter
miraculously escapes. The elvish army continues to march north.
The crew of the Skate meet up with Lady Xylara and her rebels. The avatar-women
help close the Dragon's Eye, defeat the necromancer Breann, and aid Xylara in
uniting humans and jarreks against the elves. The elven commander Theamon, surrenders
and asks that his people be allowed to stay as citizens of Xesh. Chosen as Heirarch
of Xesh, Xylara agrees, and a new nation is born.
The destruction of the Dragon's Eye robs Feanor's army of its undead dragons,
and severely depletes Ezikhan's powers. Ezikhan departs Feanor's wing of the
army and rejoins the undead, marching north through the Firwood, on the other
side of the Orksbleuth Mountains. They meet up with representatives of the local
vampire lords, who throw in their lot with Ezikhan and reinforce his army. Feanor's
wing, now composed entirely of elves and free of undead troops, continues its
march.
August:
Wulf and his companions make their way to Arwensland, and join Thae'lynn's army.
Skate departs Xesh, searching for the Conqueror and determined
to enlist Theanna's aid in the coming conflict.
Feanor and Ezikhan's armies meet that of the Litharnan Prince Otto the Shrewd
in the Battle of Anvil Plain. The Litharnans are utterly defeated and flee north
with little order or discipline.
September:
Wulf is given command of a small unit. They are then mobilized and ordered to
Council Spire, where the great horde is assembling. Wulf meets the elven spy
Tanelin and together they rescue the Tandu Marshal Herula, who is revealed to
be a secret ally.
The Litharnans flee in disorder, falling back on their settled heartland. Marshal
Van Leuter fights his way through conquered territory and reunites with his
countrymen, taking charge and turning the route into an ordered retreat.
The Skate finally tracks down the Conqueror in Necrotia. Livia,
Narisha, Daedora and company help Skrall's crew fight the Shadow N'agon, Baron
Khamani. They take away a rich haul of enchanted weapons, and prepare to sail
for Litharna, intending to help fight Feanor.
October:
Narisha's father, Cammon the Flayer, gets wind of the dark elves' schemes and
summons an enclave of household leaders to the demon-city of Exile to discuss
the matter.
Ezikhan and Feanor's armies, now fully reunited and reinforced by the Lords
of Chaos, march north, determined to take Vosgraad and end the war. The Litharnans,
once more under the command of Marshal Van Leuter, continue to fall back, harrassing
the enemy as they advance.
The crew of the Skate arrive in Litharna. Skrall and Squitter both call
upon family and allies to aid the Litharnans. An army of orcs and ratlings marches
to join with Marshal Van Leuter. Meanwhile, advisors prevail upon the White
Emperor to send forces to aid his fellow humans, and several units of Imperial
knights head toward the west and battle. The dwarves of Clan Hillcleaver also
arrive.
November:
Wulf sails north with Thae'lynn's armada, intent on invading the Elven homeland.
Mazzor and his daemonic forces come with them, opening dimensional gates along
the way.
Bloody battle is joined near Vosgraad, ending in total defeat for the elves
and their allies. Ezikhan, Dhruul, Iskhana, Feanor and Venaetha are all slain,
along with several heroes on the Litharnan side. In council, the alliance decides
to sail south to save the Silver Lady from Thae'lynn and her armies.
Thae'lynn's army ravages the southern coastal regions of the Elven homelands.
Mazzor opens more daemongates. Wulf and his regiment split off and move ahead
of the dark elves, intent on warning the Silver Lady and somehow helping her
fight off the invasion.
The demon enclave at last decides to take action, fearful that the dark elves'
dimensional meddling will summon up the creatures that forced the Only People
to come to Thystra in the first place. An armada of demon forces moves against
the Darkhold.
December:
Wulf and his companions successfully warn the Silver Lady of the oncoming
threat. Wulf is reunited with Li Shu, with predictable results. Wulf and the
elven armies delay the orc/dark elf/demon horde's onslaught long enough for
Livia to free the elder dragons, who help finally defeat the invaders. Thae'lynn
escapes from the carnage -- and is, in fact, the sole survivor of the disaster
-- only to be captured by the demons who have taken over her homeland.
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