Wraith History

General Notes

All points in chronological order.

^ = Dates are directly taken from Core books.

? = Dates approximated based on historical parallels mentioned in Core Books.

References available.

Pre-Sundering

The veil is thin to non-existent, and people pass between with little problem. Stories of Gilgamesh, Aeneas, Orpheus, Persephone abound and hold truth.

The Sundering

A great Rift opens between the Living and the Underworld separating them as two distinct worlds. Oblivion is first felt in the underworld as a force of destruction. The violence of the sundering birthed the Malfeans who burrowed beneath the shadowlands, their path forming into the labyrinth. The lady of fate appears from the rift of the sundering and foretells the coming of Charon and what he is to do.

Charon (1300 BC)?

From the dead of Mycenae comes Charon. He is greeted by the lady of fate and gifted his lantern and reed-boat. He spends the next age alone exploring the shadowlands, before coming to the Isle of sorrows. Charon teaches others to sail the river of death and becomes/is proclaimed ruler so that he may help ferry souls to the far shores.

The Ferrymen

In the early days of Charon, some chose to follow him and learn his ways. They became the first ferrymen and met at the Isle of sorrows to help teach those who need assistance how to ferry across to the Far shores. They swear an oath to protect and guide souls in their charge, to teach them, and to traverse the sunless sea towards the far shores. They also are given the rite to be tithed to for this service.

The Ferrymen are met with the first coming of specters, and ward themselves to protect their flocks. Several Ferrymen leave to carve their own byways to the Far shores so that others may follow in their light. They are called ‘The shining ones’.

Nhudri

The lady of fate appears to Charon a second time and bids him go into the labyrinth to confront Oblivion. He travels down the Veinous stair with scythe and lantern. He battles long and hard and returns with Nhudri the master smith. In his travels he sees oblivion growing and urges the ferrymen to redouble their efforts. The shining ones return and tell of the resting place that is the Far shores, and how it is the path to transcendence. Charon goes to see for himself and is gone for many years.

The Birth of Stygia (509 BC)^

In conjunction with the birth of a republic in Rome, Charon returns with seven signs from the far shores; by their authority he builds Stygia in the echo of Greece and Rome upon the Isle of sorrows. Charon establishes the Senate of seven from his most trusted lieutenants. The city’s purpose is to provide a waypoint for souls to gather on their way to the far shores. The senate receives emissaries from the Dark kingdoms of Ivory and Jade.

The Golden Age (300BC)?

Stygia is in its golden age, being both just and strong. Charon takes tithes: two coins, eyes, or hands. From these tithes the first soul-forged weapons are made, as well as the tools for the constructions of the roads. Roads connect the whole of the underworld stretching out in parallel to the extent of Rome itself.

The Lux Veritatis (59AD)?

Charon decrees that all the great works of humanity are to be collected and preserved wherever it is found, and that they be held in vaults beneath the senate for all to enjoy so that all art and history may be preserved for all time.

Renegades (200AD)?

Rome starts to crumble in its expansion, and rebellions are put down swiftly. As the peoples of those conquered cultures continue their war against Rome, they continue their anger against Stygia in death. Ferrymen are attacked as they safeguard souls to the city, and the innocents in their charge are ‘freed’ to become victims to specters. Charon forms the ‘Equitaes’ Calvary soldiers charged with the task of patrolling the byways and guarding the Ferrymen. They use black steeds that roam the fens of the river of the dead, horses native to the shadowlands.

The Fishers (300AD)^

As Rome falls into decrepitude, the Christians come to Stygia, and eschew the Ferrymen's guidance. Instead they set sail for their own ‘paradise’, a as of yet unknown portion of the far shores, across the sunless sea, rejecting Charon’s guidance.

The Great Maelstrom (476 AD)

Specters increase in number and ferocity, even spewing into the land of the Quick to wreak destruction. Tribes of men attack Rome, then die and continue their fight against Stygia, Equitaes, and Ferrymen alike take up arms to defend the city. Charon himself joins the battle at times. In 476AD Rome falls and a great clap of thunder rolls across the Shadowlands. Specters roll in to join with a discharge of chaos from the labyrinth. Charon leads the Ferrymen and Equitaes out to battle, but the city walls are breached and the city of Stygia is sacked and burned.

Aftermath

Charon takes the position of Emperor, and proclaims his senators Deathlords, giving them dominion over all wraiths based on the manor of their death. Charon bids the legions and the Equates to form a standing army to defend the city during the rebuilding efforts. The Ferrymen rebel against Charon for taking the title of emperor; those that do are exiled. Renegades start to build footholds along the river of the dead, causing frequent interference with the mortal world for tribute and sacrifice. With the Christian God gaining prominence in the lands of the Quick, the older shining one’s power began to wane. Storms continue to assault the city for decades after the maelstrom.

Order of the Sickle (800AD)?

Centuries after the maelstrom, the last of its specters are driven back or destroyed. Charon creates the Imperial Order of the Sickle as a reward for those Equitaes and Ferrymen who did not desert but stood nobly against Oblivion. All those who fought honorably on the walls and on the side of the republic are honored. The legions militia membership grows as many vie for an opportunity to join the order. The onyx tower is rebuilt and the great seawall is built around Stygia.

The Guilds (1000AD)?

Guilds are formed in sync with those in the mortal world to organize wraiths based on their abilities. They encourage wraiths to practice and hone their talents, grow and learn to use their Arcanoi in defense of the city, as well as to keep them in check, regulate their use and teach them how to use their powers responsibly.

Treaty of Paradise (1080AD)?

Fishers build their own temple on the shores of Stygia during the rebuilding within the walls. They demanded that Charon tithe to them, as the number of Christian dead increase, but are denied. Charon instead agrees that in exchange for the tithing of their relics to him (10%), he would grant them dominion over those wraiths who sought ‘paradise’.

The Guild Wars (1096AD)^

The guilds become jealous of the power held by the artificers. The guilds take up sides and a cold war is begun to bring about their downfall. While it starts innocently enough, some skirmishes get quickly out of hand.

The Hierarchy (1148AD)?

During the Crusades, Christian and Moor alike joined the dead, and help to work at restoring the great empire. The hierarchy is established in pattern of the Feudalistic society of the quick. The new structure places Charon and the Deathlords at its head, followed by the Knights and remaining Ferrymen. Below them on the hierarchy are the guilds, then all free-wraiths, and below them only serfs-slaves and thralls.