The history of the Eclipse universe is rich and vast, filled with strife and wonder. Much still waits to be learned about what shaped this galaxy, but below you can read a timeline of the most dramatic and influential occurrences in known history.
BDAT (or) AOL - Before the Dark Age of Technology or simply the Age of Legends.
DAT - Dark age of Technology unknown time period speculated that it lasted in excess of 50,000 years
BGA - Before golden age (usually the war with the machines is denoted with this) approximately 1,500 years ago.
AOE or GA - Age of enlightenment (tribe/meurlain) Golden age (imperial) 500 years of peace.
GW - Great war (approximately 1,000 years of continuous conflict)
AGW - After great war (common era.)
The Age of Legends
No hard facts from this age still exist-only stories. It is said that in this age, the Krell built the Webways. Is it also thought that during this age the machines became sentient and began their campaign against all life. Most technology known as ArcheoTech comes from this age.
The Dark age of Technology
Little is known about the Dark Age. It was a time when all living beings were the subjects of cruel, uncaring thinking Machines. While these Machines sat in weird grotesque mathematical contemplation, experimenting with unnatural forces and unholy energies, mankind was cruelly used as menial labor or worse. It is surmised that the world of Eclipse was moved and or constructed some time during this age if not before. During this era the gates were supposedly stable and easy to traverse with little or no danger of Ephris or Warp entities. Up until the war, the Humans and Tribes were separate and ignorant of each other's existence.
35 BGA? Jerich Al’Eld is born into slavery. It is speculated that Al'Eld is a title that was taken or bestowed on the young boy once the holy war began.
30.BGA Saijin Meurlai appears on the planet Ogun seemingly from out of no where.
20. BGA Jerich Al’Eld begins his holy war against the evil of the Machines. He is only 15 years old.
18.BGA Saijin and several thousand followers simply disappear from Ogun.
15. BGA By this point the 10 warlords of legend have joined in the holy war with the Al'Eld. The armies of mankind exact a heavy toll on the Machines and many Machines are re-appropriated to other parts of space. The Tribe worlds are called upon for slave warriors who are then fitted with explosive control collars and given basic weaponry. This is the first time in recorded History of a meeting between the Tribes and Humanity. Despite huge numbers the Tribal warriors prove to be useless against AL'Eld's forces as they lay down their weaponry when confronted with living adversaries. The Machines suffer a massive loss. All of the slaves are destroyed. This was known as the Battle of Tears.
14.BGA Tribe members on the planet Vohu, in response to the Battle of Tears, start the resistance army known as the Holy Army of Kenshu. Legend says the Generals of this army were actually Avatars of the Gods. Vohu is the first world taken by the Tribes from the Machines.
10.BGA During a massive Dahhak uprising, the world Known as Dagan is taken from the Machines. Six weeks later the Machines unleash atomics on the planet and billions die. During the same year, the Army of Kenshu retaliates and the forge world of Praxis is destroyed utterly by a terrorist attack that starts a chain reaction in the planet's fission reactors. This blow massively cripples the Machines production of Assault Drones.
9.BGA On the planet Patala, Saijin and his followers reappear on the plains of Tulku, taking the Leader of the Machines and his army by surprise. The battle is said to have involved massive unknown energies and the skies were covered in lightning and beams of light. Although massively outnumbered, Saijin and his followers force the machines back and caused them to retreat. The Meurlain suffered heavy losses and many who witnessed the battle were struck blind. Despite this, the Machines would never return to Patala.
8.BGA The Machines begin a campaign of Genocide against all living beings. Entire slave populations are wiped out and billions die in a matter of days. Unknown to one another, the armies of Mankind and the Tribes fight tirelessly against the Machines and exact a heavy toll by destroying many of the Machines factories and communications relay stations.
5.BGA On the run and unable to continue to build new Machines, the Robot King X11 falls back to it's last Forge world. By this time most of Tranquility, the Outlands and the Fringe are liberated. Only the Sea of Light remains controlled by the Machines.
1.BGA The final year of conflict. The Machines are pushed to one final planet; the hive world of Akier. On the eve of the final battle, the Machines make a final desperate attempt to stop Al'Eld, by detonating an ancient weapon from the Age of Legends within the Web Ways. Their intent was to catch Al'Eld and his companions unaware and annihilate them, but the Lady of Paths had a vision of this treachery and expelled her friends from the Web at the last moment before it could kill them.
The weapon killed all beings within the Web and destabilized the structure of the Gates. This made it nearly impossible for the Army of Mankind to move upon the final stronghold of the Machines. Natalia Severis, the Lady of Paths, had faith that she could open the gate way to allow the army through. The strain of opening the destabilized gateway and the evil that was seeping through the cracks was more than she could bear, and after the army moved through intact, she collapsed dead in Jerich’s arms.
The sacrifice of the Lady of Paths drives the warlords’ armies into a frenzy; the Machines are decimated. The Machine leader, X11, is brought low and broken by Jerich Al'Elds bare hands. The few survivors are driven into the Epherium, never to return.
The Golden Age or The Age of Enlightenment
0GA - The Warlords name Jerich Al'Eld Emperor of the free peoples, and at his coronation he visibly ascends and is recognized as a living god. The Imperial Church is established and the Great Crusade begins. Later that year, each warlord is recognized and given a planet to govern in the name of the Emperor.
1GA - The true extent of the treachery of the Machines weapon is felt when Imperials realize they are losing the ability to open webgates. The Church declares that this is an ancient and terrible curse. Fortunately, the Empire encounters the Meurlain, and had they not forged an alliance with them the worlds of the Imperium would quickly have become isolated.
5GA - The Imperium and Meurlain sweep across the Galaxy destroying all remnants of the Machines. Late in the year they encounter the planet Vohu and the first peaceful meeting with the Tribes is held.
6GA - Emperor Al'Eld weds the sister of Natalia Severis, Sabriel Al'Eld becomes the first Empress of Mankind.
10GA - Except for Incursion by Warp creatures conflict is unknown throughout the galaxy. The Machines are gone and the Golden Age blossoms and knowledge and thinking is shared amongst the peoples of the galaxy. The Empress gives birth to a son; he is named Nickolai Al'Eld.
45GA - In a very public address the Emperor tells his subjects that he is returning to the arms of Eheih. Within days of the broadcast the Emperor quietly passes. His son Nickolai is crowned and during his coronation he is seen to glow and it is declared that he, like his father, has ascended to godhood and he is bound and masked as his father was before him. This sets the precedent for every Emperor or Empress since.
50GA - 535GA - Most of the records from this age are lost, what is know is that prosperity reigned, it is an age of plenty. Populations grow and science and thinking are advanced. Emperors come and go, Tribes live and trade with no aggression. The Fringe, despite its remoteness, prospers as a wilderness to be explored and cataloged.
536GA - The reason for the conflict is lost in antiquity, but in the year 536 battles erupted across the galaxy, Tribe members fought Tribe members and Humanity turned in upon itself. People who had never even seen a weapon were picking up arms and marching to war.
537GA - The Emperor calls for a meeting of the Warlords and Interhuman conflict ceases. The Households' sovereignty is recognized and Humanity rallies under the banner of The Emperor Pollox. Mankind begins to reassert its dominance in the galaxy. The Forlorn Hope, an ancient War machine supposedly built by one of the original Imperial Warlords, is dusted off and become the symbol of the war effort.
The Great War or The Age of Conflict
Many records from this age are sketchy at best. Near a millennium of conflict devastated most societies and cultures, whole worlds and possibly even cultures were lost forever.
1GW- 132GW - Weapons and field technology make significant advances as the war rages on. The escalation of field technology expands the conflict making battles and sieges longer and more drawn out. The common "Threshold Field" is cheap and easy to manufacture, this results in the development of "fighting" schools to counter the increase in technology. The sword becomes the most common weapon in the galaxy. In the year 127 the first of Phase or Vibro swords are brought into production. The war churns on.
132GW-357GW - The Machines secret of atomic weaponry is discovered by the Kshathra, many worlds burn, billions die. The Empire swiftly attains this technology through covert means and retaliates. The Meurlain discover The Negate Field, it is quickly brought into service and subsequently stolen and the technology spreads throughout the galaxy. The Tribes are unhappy with this outcome and what they feel was a premature use of the Machine's atomic technology. They turn their back on the Kshathra. The Dahhak take advantage of this and seize the Kshathran held worlds and force the race into slavery.
400GW - Supplies run so low that for 8 months there is no conflict. Late in the year, Crystal Harmonics technology is discovered by the Dahhak and stolen almost immediately. Now anything can be run on a common crystal battery and the machine of war moves forward.
457GW. The Forlorn Hope is brought back into service. Gate sieges become the newest warfare tactic. Viral weaponry is developed. It is discovered that most viruses will cross species. Multiple shot energy blasters begin to appear that resemble today's HEL guns, prior to this most weapons were single fire only.
532GW. The Free Fringe city-planet of Taranis is imperiled by a planet killing comet. For recognition of the Emperor's sovereignty Imperial scientists offer to build a new weapon to assist the people of Taranis. The High King of Taranis agrees. The new untested weapon is a gigantic Mass Driver (also known as a Rail Gun). The Imperials rush to build the weapon with the aid of the top scientists of Taranis. They finish the Mass Driver just before the the window of opportunity closes and they fire a huge atomic payload at the killer comet. The weapon fires and strikes true, and despite the cheers of the masses the comet then veers into Taranis's only moon cracking it in half and raining debris all over the world. The once great city is reduced to ruins in a matter of days.
550 - 690GW. The 140 Years of Blood. The worst fighting in the history of the war, the conflict continues to ripple across the galaxy , anyone and everyone who can fight is sent to war. Every known world records some amount of conflict. It is unknown what happened but in the year 578 the once Lush world of Absalom is lost, all life on that planet becomes twisted and corrupt. The Imperials blame and experimental weapon created by the Tribes, the Tribes accuse the Imperials of experimenting on their own people. The planet is declared a Death World and the Imperials begin using it as a prison planet. No one sent there ever returns.
721GW. Captain Hail and Stargrind Company board the Forlorn Hope for a Seige on the planet Vairya. The Forlorn Hope never arrives.
732GW. The Forlorn Hope ,Captain Hail and members of Stargrind appear on the world of Spentha. It has been 12 years since they have disappeared. They tell tales of strange planets and wild alien creatures.
822 - 835GW. Horrible disease runs rampant, a Galactic Epidemic threatens all life in the galaxy. It is estimated that on some worlds over 60% of the population is lost due to the Plague called Adam. There is little conflict for the next several years as Quarantine becomes the Status Quo.
The Nasu, in a unprecedented act of kindness, find a treatment and offer it to the galaxy if they will declare peace. Both sides agree and the treatment is shared. The peace negotiations devolve into conflict. War continues.
850GW. The Gunsel school of fighting is developed. Imperials gain a toehold and push forward. The new school allows the Imperial forces to ignore the common threshold field and battle lines which were entrenched for nearly a millennium rapidly alter. The Tribes loose several worlds in a matter of weeks.
903GW - In an act of desperation the Dahhak "sacrifice" 275 Kshathra slave warriors to the Maw of Sundrav (a gateway that opens to a Black Hole.) in hopes of placating the God of Destruction and turning the tide of the war. 19 hours later the 275 return. The result was an uprising called the Night of the Betrayer. The leader of the uprising, a Kshathra named Keresaspa, vows that he will destroy all of the Dahhak and when he is finished that he will herald the end of time. It is unknown if he meant the time as slaves or the end of all. Regardless, after taking Vairya in just one night he simply stopped moving, he had become a statue. He stands to this very day in the temple in Vairya City and is afforded a status only exceed by Jemshid amongst the Kshathra.
917GW - The Free- Fringe factions declare neutrality and remove themselves from any further conflict. These Fringers set up colonies in the farthest reaches of the galaxy and become isolationists.
962GW - The first reports of Mutations start to arise in the Imperium.
966GW - The Imperial Church declares Mutations to be a taint of the Epherium and begins a system of programs to weed out this taint, thousands bearing mutations flee into the wilderness of the Fringe.
990GW - On the contested planet of Vohu, (also known as Haven) in a section of the city known as the Tantive Neighborhood, the Tribe forces surrender to the Imperial forces. The neighborhood is converted into a P.O.W. camp. Later that year the Meurlain publicly accuse the Imperials of gross misconduct and war crimes committed on the prisoners.
995GW - Despite the atrocities on Vohu the Tribes, weary of conflict, and, without resources to continue the fight, petition the Imperials for peace. The Tribal council meets with the heads of the Households and the Emperor himself on the Floating Vagabond and lay out what will be known as the Treaty of Tantive . The Tribes are given worlds to inhabit in the Outland sectors of the Galaxy and are "Banished." Some critics consider this a death sentence as most of the Outlands are as harsh or harsher than the Fringe wolrds.
995-1000GW - The Imperials expand to encompass all of the Sea of Light and begin to rebuild the Empire to its once former glory.
Common era
1-139AGW - The Imperials continue to prosper and develop, the Meurlain stay quiet and reflective, the Tribes try and scratch out a existence in the Outlands and suprisingly do very well despite harsh conditions. Populations grow, they will never reach the billions of billions that existed before the war but they continue to grow none the less.
The Fringe experiences a bloom of new mutations, some even begin to manifest "powers," the Imperium is very quick to decry these abominations and actively hunts them on worlds where they maintain an influence.
140AGW - The future Empress Gheviere Al'Eld is born in October of that year.
149. AGW Emperor Augustus Al'Eld ascends to heaven and his 9 year old daughter is crowned Empress of Mankind.
154AGW - Web Guides discover a single "web" strand leading directly into the center of the galaxy with a full gate termination point. The Meurlain concluded that such a thing simply could not exist. "Everyone knows," they reasoned, "the center of the galaxy is too dense with stars and nebula to allow a Web Gate access anywhere within the core."
Scouting parties were dispatched and returned with stories and pictures of a planet ripe with flora, fauna and resources but strangely devoid of sentient life. Soon after they presented their findings, an emissary from the Tribes appeared at the Gate on the Imperial Capital world of Akeir. He came with a laurel and outstretched hand, bringing news and peace from the Tribes.
The Tribes had also become aware of this strange planet and discovered in their religious scriptures a reference naming this the "Place of Beginning;" the origin planet of life itself. Their holy texts also said that the rediscovery of this place was a turning point for all life; not just Tribe but human as well, and the texts stressed that its mysteries should shared by all. "It is the boon and benefit of all who make the pilgrimage and can endure its hardships, for it was said they shall become truly enlightened."
The Empire was of course distrustful, but the Meurlain counseled that the emissary had noble and right intent about him. It was agreed that a conclave would be held and the leaders of men would speak with the leaders of the Tribes before any further explorations of the planet were made.
156AGW - Sporadic scouting parties are sent to the Phantom world, little was discovered as the gate is seemingly random in its openings and destinations, the next year sees several corporations try and move to exploit the planet but the Tribes and Imperials are quick to stop this. An Imperial party returns with a cache of recovered Archeotech, one piece is an ancient antimatter gun inscribed with the words Eclipse Project. base # 19 . This discovery earns the planet's nickname: Eclipse.
The F.T.U.( Free Trade Union) a neutral corporation presents a Treaty to the powers that be for the exploration and colonization of the planet Eclipse.
157AGW - The Leaders of the Galaxy agree to meet and sign the treaty of Eclipse. They set the often contested world of Voho (Haven) as a neutral zone for this treaty.
Mere days before the signing Imperial forces uncover a plot by a terrorist known as The Good Man (Jack Farson) to kill the Empress and an intense armed conflict errupts on Haven between the Imperials and Terrorist forces. The treaty is secretly moved to Eclipse itself in the newly built Gate Town. Reps from almost every culture and race are present. In a social and political coup the Taranis gang leader and mob boss Rama Gundersun (known to some as "The Maul") presents the FTU with one million credits and the forces necessary to back a spot in the treaty.
158AGW - The war against the terrorist forces on Haven ebbs then dramatically escalates as a new Tribe terrorist cell calling their self the Children of Sorrow begin to attack any human element in Tribal space. Sorrow unleashes several horrors on the Galaxy, one is the Huge mechanized walking tank that destroys half of Haven city, the other is a series of Viral bombs that kill thousands in Tribe space. A manifesto emerges stating that any Tribe members dealing with Humanity are traitors and should be treated as such.
The Imperials up the game and declare a "Third Levy," pulling in all military reserves to combat the well armed and highly trained forces of the "Children of Sorrow."
Rama Gundersun, now being called King Rama by all of the former gang leaders of Taranis, commits 100,000 troops to the war effort on Haven. This move causes many political ripples and starts an almost panic amongst some of the Imperial Generals. The Grand Army of the Fringe proves itself to be highly efficient in the close quarters urban warfare style of combat common on Haven and are reported to out perform the Imperial troops by 75% or better. Sorrow soon pulls up roots and makes a break for the Gate. Reports indicate that the woman known as Sorrow escaped with a small contingent of Aeshma warriors and disappeared through the gate.
159AGW - to Present Day.
Conflict erupts among Imperials as it comes to light that the house Juntach is building an Army of Synthetic warriors. At the same time an unknown culture known as the Ahramni attack and hold the planet of Tokpela in Imperial space for the better part of a month, these new "Invaders" use unknown technology and are reported to have ripped apart any cyborg they caught during their occupation. During this time somehow they reportedly locked the gate out of the webways and ran unchecked through Tokpela City looting and then leaving with close to 1,000 hostages.