Historical Timeline ofthe city of Specularumas researched byAgathokles

The Taymoran AgeBC 2500 At this time, thefuture site of the Duke'scastle in Specularum isoccupied by a Fomorianhomestead.BC 2250 The Sheyalliaelves reach Taymora. Thelocal Necromancer Kingsoffer them the lands to theeast of their nation,provided that they helpopening new trade routes.Elven mercenarycompanies, armed withTaymoran bronzeweaponry, invade thegiant-held forests andmountains, chasing thegiants from the region.The Giant-kin homesteadbecomes a river fortmanned by elves andTaymoran humans.BC 2100 Fomorian slavesare put at work,transforming the woodenfort into a stone fortress.BC 1750 Taymor sinksunder the waves. The fewsurvivors reach the newcoast, immediately to thesouth of the future site ofSpecularum. Theearthquakes that destroyTaymor also bring the fallof the Fomorian-builtfortress, and theformation of Mirror Bay.

Around BC2500, the site had marked differences to itsmodern-day geography. There was no natural harbour, amuch wider river with no islands river and only one largehillock.

A Fomorian homestead was built on the hill overlooking riverbanks. However, in BC 2250 Sheyallia elves and Taymoranhumans fought a campaign against the Giant-kin taking overthe homestead and turning it into a river fort. Four hundredyears later Formorian slaves are put to work transformingthe wooden fort into a stone fortress.

The Taymoran cataclysm of BC 1750 brings changes to theregion as the seismic effects of the earthqyakes that destroyTaymora reach the area. The Formorian-built fortress falls,smaller hillocks appear as the land rises and falls narrowingthe river, forming islands, and a natural harbour (later knownas Mirror Bay) is created.

BC 2500 - BC 1750: The Taymoran Age

Lecture notes from a presentation given at the Scriveners’Guildhall in Specularum by Allanov Palmerius(adventurer, archaeologist and scribe) based on earlierresearch by Agathokles and other sages.

A HISTORY of SPECULARUM

The Traldar AgeBC 1500 The Nithian-ledTraldar people uses theremains of the Fomorianfortress to build a massivetomb after the death oftheir first prince, Khmin. Afortified village, Os-Khmin(Throne of Khmin) is alsofounded nearby (on thesite of the modern ChurchDistrict).BC 1400 A series of harshwinters, plagues, andattacks from nativemonsters has destroyedthe Nithian aristocracyand turned the Traldarback to the stone age. TheHutaakans take over thevillage, and a Hutaakanpriest settles in theabandoned fortified area.By this time, the tomb ofKhmin has fallen intodisrepair, and only its tophalf emerges from theground.BC 1100 The village ofMarilenev is now a firmlyestablished walled town,ruled by a dynasty ofTraldar kings under thesupervision of Hutaakanpriests.BC 1000 The Hutaakanpriests seal the temple ofPflarr and leave Marilenev,fearing the destructionbrought by the Beastmaninvasion. King Milen andhis advisors, warned byHalav of Lavv of theimpending invasion,choose to flee rather thanfight. Marilenev losesthree quarters itspopulation, though it isnot reached by the

Around BC1500 the Nithian-led Traldar use the remains ofthe Fomorian-built fortress to construct a massive tomb afterthe death of Khimn, their first prince. Additionally, a fortifiedvillage, Os-Khimn, is constructed on what will be the site ofthe modern Church District of Specularum.

A hundred years later, the Traldar revert to the stone agefollowing the destruction of the Nithian aristocracy throughharshwinters, plagues and monster attacks. Hutaakans arriveand take over the village, with a Hutaakan priest settling inthe fortified area,. On the Hill, the tomb of Khim has falleninto disrepair and only its top half emerges from the hillock.

Within 300 years the village of Mailenev (as it is now known)is a firmly established walled town , ruled by a dynasty ofTraldar kings under the supervision of Hutaakan priests.

In BC 1000, however, the Hutaakans leave the Traldar landsfearing a destructive attack by a Beastman army. Milen, thecurrent Traldar king, unwilling to fight the invaders, leavingonly a quarter of Marilenev’s population behind as he leadshis people on migration across the Sea of Dread.

The feared Beastman invasion does not materialise,but theremaining villagers struggle to maintain their community overthe next two centuries.

BC 1750 - BC 1100: The Traldar Age

Beastman army, which isdefeated eight years lateron the river Volaga.

The Dark AgeBC 800 Vandar tribesmenfrom the Hin lands reachMarilenev, settling the siteStronghold district. TheTraldar kings welcomethem to help repopulatethe town.BC 500 The fusion ofVandars and Traldars hasbrought to a new people,the Traladarans. Thepeople of Marilenev startstrading with other villagesupriver and on the coast.

The Banate of MarilenevAC 1 The population ofMarilenev rises, and thetown is now the majortrade center of Traladara.Its princes (Ban) conquerthe area that is now theEstate of Marilenev. TheBanate of Marilenev isfounded, under theIvanovich dynasty.AC 301-356 BogdanIvanovich, Ban ofMarilenev, claims the titleof King of Traladara. Hemanages to bring underhis heel several clans, butthe kingdom dissolves atIvanovich's death.AC 400 Thyatianmissionary clerics reachMarilenev and othermajor towns in Traladara.A first Thyatian shrine isestablished in the Churchdistrict, on the site of themodern Cathedral ofKarameikos. The

At the beginning of the 8th century BC, Vandar tribesmen reachthe Marilenev area and settle in the area that will become themodern day Stronghold District. The Vandar share their skillswith the local Traldar, using their knowledge of agricultureto help develop farmlands which produce crops not only tosupport Marilenev, but also over time as commodities to tradewith other local settlements. Developing their maritimeskillsm the Traldar and Vandar establish a fishing communityon the banks of the river.

The repopulation of the area over the subsequent centuriessees Marilenev thriving as an area of trade with othersettlements upriver and along the coast. A regular trademarket takes place in an area to the west of the bay, betweenthe town and its farmlands.

Visiting Minrothaddan traders begin a long productiverelationship with Marilenev. They establish a temporarycampsite near the shore.

The successful merger of the Traldar and Vandar results in astronger race, the Traladara who rise in power as well as trade.

BC 800 - BC 1: The Dark Age

Cathedral of Traladara isbuilt only a few years later.Meanwhile, theMerchants' Guild, theLeathersellers' Guild andthe Skinners' Guild areformed to regulate tradewith the northern lands.

The Traladaran Warsand the Duchy ofMarilenevAC 410 Merchants fromNew Alphatia bringlycanthropy andvampirism to Traladara. Atthe same time, thedescendants of theTaymoran Nosferaturesurface. Marilenevsuffers greatly from bothplagues.AC 412-417 The Bans ofMarilenev lead variousleagues of Traladaran city-states in the FirstTraladaran War against theKingdom of Darokin. Amodernization effortleads to adoption ofThyatian customs. TheBanate of Marilenevbecomes the Duchy ofMarilenev.AC 444-450 Religiousconflicts within theChurch of Traladara andpolitical manipulation bythe Harbortown envoysleads to the SecondTraladaran War, whichpits Marilenev againstHalag. The Dukes ofMarilenev wins thank toHarbortown's support.Marilenev becomes the

The Banate of Marileenev

In the first century AC, Marilenev’s population continues togrow and prospers as the major trade centre of Traladara. TheIvanovich dynasty founds the Banate of Marilenev. Over timethe Banatre builds a palace on the Hill, demolishing whatremains above ground of the former Nithian tomb. Duringthe next 200 years the walled boundaries of Marilenev areextended gradually encompassing a larger area.

In the year AC400, Thyatian missionary clerics reachMarilenev and other settlements in Traladara. A first Thyatianshrine is established in what will become the Church Districtof modern Specularum. Within a few years, the Great Churchof Traladara is built in Marilenev to serve it growing populace.

Over the next 500 years Marilenev remains central in the riseand fall of the fortunes of Traladara. It sees the rise and fallof the Traladaran League, four local wars,and the arrival ofvampirism and lycanthropy to the area. The Banate becomesthe Duchy of Marilenev following a modernization effort thatadopts Thyatian customs. Marilenev’s economy isstrengthened with the chartering of many merchant Guildswithin the town which aid in regulating trade.

AC 1 - AC 611: Banate of Marilenev, Traladaran Wars, Duchy of Marilenev

primary coastal town ofTraladara, expanding itsinfluence on Dmitrov,Vidrin and Sulescu.AC 474-493 DukeDemara of Halavos isacknowledged as King ofTraladara by thenorthern barons. TheDuke of Marilenev refusesto acknowledge theclaimant, who allies withDarokin, leading to theThird and FourthTraladaran War. Oncemore, the league ofsouthern lords emergesvictorious, weakeningHalavos and Halag andstrengthening Marilenev.The Moneychangers'Guild and the Armorers'Guild are also charteredat the end of the war.AC 494 The Scriveners'Guild is chartered.AC 500-530 The Duchy ofMarilenev reaches theheight of its power.During this time, arilenevis the capitol of theTraladaran League, aformal association ofTraladaran lords whoassemble in the Diet ofMarilenev to takedecisions on foreignaffairs.The Bakers' Guild is alsochartered at this time,leading other tradesmento form their own guildsin the VI century.AC 590-600 A series ofsuccessive droughtsthreatens the farmers inwhat is now the North

The end of the 6th century AC sees The Great Drought, alengthy period of successive droughts affecting the farmersof the town’s North End. The final collapse of the TraladaranLeague results in the loss of much of the Duchy’s politicalpower, and this leads to the rise of the trade guilds led by theRadu family in overthrowing the current Duke andestablishing the City-State of Marilenev, an oligarchic republicin AC612.

To combat the impact of further droughts, Petros Radu hasan irrigation channel dug in AC613 to ensure water is availableto the local farmers.

The Stronghold District is fortified by Iija Radu in AC675. Hecampaigns to have modern fortifications extended to thewhole town, and this project is financed by the Town Councilin AC681.

By the start of the 8th century a large part of the eastern halfof North End has transformed from farmland to an areasupporting the maritime industry that is key to the city-state’ssea-borne trade. Fifty years later a large part of the ruralpopulation has settled within Marilenev’s walls.

Marilenev’s continued prominence encourages traders andother visitors from beyond Traladara to come to the city.Initially temporary camps are set up outside the northern wall.In AC802 Dwarves build the first permanent blocks in whatwill soon become known as The Foreign Quarter.

AC 612 - AC 899: The Free City of Marilenev

End. The legend of theWeary Water Diviner tellsof a man who vowed notto rest or drink until awell could be found, anddied of exhaustion anddehydration during thistime.AC 600 The TraladaranLeague is finally dissolveddue to dissensionbetween the clans andthe disappearance of theDarokin threat.

The Free City ofMarilenevAC 612 The failure ofthe Traladaran Leagueleaves the Duchy ofMarilenev deprived ofmuch of its politicalpower. The trade guilds,led by the Radu family,oust Duke AlexandrMarilenev and replacethe ducal governmentwith an oligarchicrepublic, the City-Stateof Marilenev. TheMarilenev family, led byAlexandr's sons, remainsin control of the Estate ofMarilenev, but is reducedin rank to being equal tothe other great families,which in turn base theirpower on trade.The Town Council (orPriorate) is formed toreplace the Duke'sauthority.AC 613 To preventfurther droughts fromaffecting the localfarmers, Guildmaster

Radu has an irrigationchannel dug to provide asteady supply of water tothe North End.AC 681 As the VampireWars rage acrossTraladara, the TownCouncil of Marilenevfinances the constructionof the city walls. TheBricklayers' Guild ischartered in return forsupport in the buildingproject.A few years later, thereduced trade with thenorth sends the Skinnersand Leathersellers into acrisis. The Dyers andTailors, up to this timejunior members of thoseguilds, secede and formtheir own associations.The Mariners' Guild is alsoformed as sea tradeboosts, and theApothecaries' Guildbecomes a major guild asimports of spices anddrugs from Minrothad andThyatis increase.AC 728 An allianceincluding Marilenev,Vidrin and Selenicadefeats the Black Count ofthe Moor.AC 750 Favourablepolicies by the towncouncil of Marilenev andthe threat of war cause alarge part of the ruralpopulation of Marilenevto settle within the wallsof the city-state.AC 802 Year of Infamy inthe Highlands. Some

Dwarven survivors settlein Marilenev. SyrklistDwarves compete withthe Traladaranmoneychangers andjewellers. Due to thecrowding of the city,Dwarves build the firstblocks of the ForeignQuarter.AC 860 At the height ofthe Selenican expansion,House Hallonicacentralizes its embassyand trade agencies inMarilenev, constructingthe Hallonica Building, atthe time the most modernand prominent building inthe city.

The ThyatianOccupationAC 900 The Emperor ofThyatis, Gabrionius IV,sends his legions inTraladara, and installs agovernor in Marilenev,which is renamedSpecularum. Garrisonsare sent to theborderlands, with thegoal of setting upspearheads for acampaign against theDarokinian successorstates. Selenican merchanthouses are forced toretreat from Specularum.The Hallonica building issold to Samuil Torenescu(father of EmmetTorenescu). ManyThyatians andMinrothaddans settle inthe former Darokinian

district.AC 902 GovernorGeneral FlavianOsteropoulos charters theGoldsmiths' Guild,sapping the strength ofthe Moneychangers'Guild. As a reaction toanti-guild decrees andpolicies by GovernorOsteropulos, someTraladaran merchants andguilders form a self-defense group, which willbecome the seed of theVeiled Society.AC 903 GovernorOsteropoulos chartersthe Bowyers' Guild toreduce the influence ofthe warlike Armorers'Guild.AC 906 In one of hislast decrees beforereturning to Thyatis,Governor Osteropoulosreduces the Armorers'Guild to minor guildstatus, and forms theCutlers' Guild.AC 908 The newGovernor, CurtiusQuadratus, launches amilitary campaign topacify the rebelliouswestern and northernfiefs. The riversidefarmers near Specularum,left with little defences,face attacks from bandits.Grypas Rullianus, aThyatian noble warrioralso known as the"Knight of the Griffon",helps the local farmersturn the tide.

In AC900 Gabrionius IV, Emperor of Thyatis, sends his legionsinto Traladara and installs a Governor in Marilenev, which isrenamed Specularum. The successive Thyatian governorsembark on a building programme as the urban areas expandand the population rises. A new stronghold for the Governoris built on the summit of the Hill surrounding the remains ofthe old Marilenev ducal palace. The harbour defences aremaximised with the construction of the Sea Gate at it’s mouth.The Thyatians take control of the Church District (the site ofthe village of Os-Khimn from BC1500) and level many of thebuildings there and erecting their own temples. In AC929,with much of the former farmland area reduced in the NorthEnd, Petros Radu’s irrigation channel is filled in. ArrivingThyatian aristocracy build their new residences on the westside of the Hill beneath the new seat of power. OtherThyatians and government offices are installed in the newBricktop district that once housed slave camps for theconstruction teams that built the original fortifications on theHill. Outside the wall, the Foreign Quarter expands, and afree trade encampment is also initiated.

AC 900 - AC 969: Thyatian Occupation

AC 919 Elena Hessenberg,a Hattian colonist andexplorer as well as a longtime resident ofSpecularum, is namedGovernor General of theProvince of Traladara.AC 926 Governor GeneralIulius Bassus charters theInnkeepers', Vintners' andFishmongers' Guilds.AC 929 As the North Endis now a residential area,the irrigation channel isfilled to provide space forthe Lesser MerchantDistrict and Westron Alley.AC 932 Grypas Rullianusdies and is interred nearMirror Bay.

The Grand Duchy ofKarameikosAC 970 Stefan KarameikosIII trades the Duchy ofMachetos to EmperorThincol for the GrandDuchy of Traladara andindependence.AC 971 The Radu,Torenescu and Marilenevclans rise against the newgovernment, but fail. Theclan Marilenev is almostdestroyed. Thyatian exileand political philosopherFabritius Luscinia dies inone of the many battles ofthe short lived revolution,as does Ivan Marilenev, thechief of the Marilenev clan.AC 972 The Hightower isbuilt to provide a rallypoint for the PhorsisGuard against Traladaraninsurrections, as well as toserve as a lighthouse.

In AC970, having traded his family lands to Emperor Thincolin exchange for independent leadership of Traladara, StefanKarameikos III arrives in Specularum with his followers. Aftera short-lived rebellion by the Traladaran power faction, thenew Grand Duke establishes his rule. One outcome of therebellion is the separation of the area known as The Nest fromthe Old Quarter, the former heart of old Marilenev. Stefancommences thebuilding of roads across the Duchy andinstalling a military prescence. In AC972, the Hightower, acombination lighthouse and guard station is constructed, aswell as the Great Church of Karameikos (which is completedin time for the wedding of Duke Stefan to Lady OliviaProthemian).

Stefan’s building projects include the construction of a newouter defensive wall which serves to provide a level ofprotection for the Foreign Quarter, gaining positive responsefrom those non-natives. The new wall also allows theconstruction of a South End “extension” residential area toprovide more homes for the growing number of inhabitants.

In 1000 AC Specularum is a large busy trading centre andadministrative heart of the Grand Duchy. At the last accuratecensus, 15 years ago, the city had a population of about50,000. It is certainly greater now - a recent estimate by theScriveners' Guild suggests it is now around 62,000.

Specularum is ruled by the nation's leader, Duke StefanKarameikos III; although day-to-day activities are handled bythe Townmaster, Lord Lucas Tormandros and other membersof the Town Council (also known as the Priorate). Additionalpolitical power lies in the Merchants' Guild, in the Church,and in wealthy families such as the Vorloi, Radu and Torenscuclans.

Although large, the city is a crowded, noisy, dirty place. Itsmain roads are of paved stone, and in the area around thestronghold they are brick. The back streets are mostly earthen,narrow, twisting, unlit and unsafe. Sanitation consists of asmall trench cut into the centre of the street that drains intosewers. These sewers are not truly public works projects, butrather the buried ruins of previous settlements.

AC 973 Duke Stefan opensup trade relations with theKingdom of Ierendi.Ierendian merchantsswarm into Specularum,and many immigrants,temporary or permanent,settle in the ForeignQuarter. Also, theDarokinian HouseHallonica buys back theHallonica Building in theForeign Quarter from theTorenescu clan, and opensan official branch inSpecularum.AC 980 Duke Stefancharters the Loggers's andHunters' Guilds.AC 987 Duke Stefanconsolidates relations withthe Emirates of Ylaruam.Mustapha ibn Ibrahim, anexpert hazar adventurerand diplomat, is sent bythe Caliph as anambassador. Mustapha'sactivity leads many hazarmerchants and craftsmento settle in Specularum.AC 991 The wizardKrollan, a counsellor ofDuke Stefan, is murdered.AC 996 Baron DesmondKelvin I dies in a duel withthe Ylari ambassador,Mustapha ibn Ibrahim. Hisson, Desmond II, isconfirmed Baron of Kelvin.The ambassador ispromptly recalled andreplaced with Abdallah ibnHamid, an experiencedAlasiyan warrior ofnomadic background.

The majority of buildings are one- or two-storey constructionsmade of brick or wood; the better ones are made of stone.Many newer buildings are made of stone along the groundfloor and of wood and plaster for the second and third floors(if present). Some buildings stand three or more stories tall- those that do are the result of new design and methods, orof a need to extend upwards when lateral expansion isconstrained by other properties.

The transition between neighbourhoods is gradual, notsharp. When travelling from the rich Hill area to the affluentBricktop neighbourhood, all the traveller notices is thedwellings slowly become less costly, slowly become smaller.Continuing on to the Merchant district, the traveller willslowly see more and more businesses along the street, untilthey crowd out residences altogether.

AC 970 - present: The Grand Duchy of Karameikos