The **Age of Strife** marked a period of great upheaval, war, and political intrigue in Faerûn. Characterized by the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms, devastating magical conflicts, and the growing influence of both divine and arcane forces, this age culminated in the **Time of Troubles**, a pivotal event that reshaped the divine hierarchy and the world itself. --- ### **Chronology of Events** #### **-300 DR: The Rise of Regional Powers** - **Waterdeep**, **Cormyr**, and **Amn** solidified their roles as dominant political and trade centers in western Faerûn. - **Thay**, led by the **Red Wizards**, expanded its influence, becoming a center of necromancy and arcane power. - Human-dominated nations increasingly clashed with remnants of elder races such as elves and dwarves, leading to tensions over land and resources. --- #### **-100 DR: The Founding of Zhentil Keep** - The city of **Zhentil Keep**, located on the **Moonsea**, rose to prominence as a bastion of trade and militaristic ambition. - Over time, it became a stronghold for the secretive and ruthless organization known as the **Zhentarim**. - The **Zhentarim** sought to dominate trade routes and exert control over neighboring regions through both diplomacy and covert operations. --- #### **0 DR: The Dalereckoning Calendar Begins** - The elves and humans of **Cormanthyr** and the **Dalelands** established the **Dalereckoning** calendar, marking a new era of cooperation between the two races. - This event symbolized a temporary peace between humans and elves in the region, although tensions persisted elsewhere in Faerûn. --- #### **75 DR: The Fall of Myth Drannor** - The great elven city of **Myth Drannor**, a beacon of magic and culture, fell after a prolonged siege by **orc hordes**, **fiends**, and mercenaries. - The collapse marked the decline of elven influence in Faerûn and the loss of much magical knowledge preserved in Myth Drannor’s archives. --- #### **135 DR: The Rise of the Harpers** - The **Harpers**, a semi-secret organization dedicated to preserving balance and protecting the common folk, were founded by the bard **Dathlue Mistwinter**. - With support from powerful allies, including Chosen of Mystra and druids, the Harpers worked against tyrannical regimes and corrupt organizations like the Zhentarim. --- #### **211 DR: The First Unther-Mulhorand Conflict** - The ancient nations of **Unther** and **Mulhorand**, heavily influenced by their god-kings, engaged in a protracted war over territory and resources. - This conflict drained both nations, diminishing their influence in Faerûn. --- #### **320 DR: The Shoon Imperium** - The **Shoon Imperium**, a human empire centered in **Calimshan**, reached its zenith. - Known for its brutal rulers and reliance on arcane power, the Shoon Imperium clashed with northern kingdoms, leaving a legacy of conquest and intrigue. - The empire’s collapse led to the fragmentation of its territories into smaller kingdoms and city-states. --- #### **614 DR: The Spellplague Rumors** - Early tremors of instability in the **Weave** were felt as magical experiments and conflicts pushed the limits of arcane power. - Rumors of wild magic zones and minor magical disruptions began to spread, though they were not yet fully understood. --- #### **882 DR: The Rise of Manshoon** - **Manshoon**, a powerful wizard, founded the modern **Zhentarim**, transforming it into a shadowy network of spies, mercenaries, and arcane power. - Under Manshoon’s leadership, the Zhentarim became a major force in Faerûn, often clashing with the Harpers and other factions. --- #### **1030 DR: The Founding of Lantan** - The island nation of **Lantan** rose to prominence as a hub of technological and magical innovation. - The Lantanese developed **gunpowder** and other mechanical marvels, blending magic and engineering in unique ways. --- #### **1200 DR: The Reclamation of Myth Drannor Begins** - Efforts to reclaim the ruins of **Myth Drannor** began, led by elven High Mages and human adventurers. - These attempts met with limited success, as the city was still overrun by fiends, undead, and dangerous magical anomalies. --- #### **1300s DR: The Rise of Faerûn’s Major Powers** - Nations like **Waterdeep**, **Amn**, **Baldur’s Gate**, and **Calimshan** expanded their trade and political influence, becoming dominant forces in Faerûn. - The **Lords’ Alliance**, a coalition of city-states and kingdoms, was formed to combat mutual threats like orc invasions and Zhentarim plots. --- #### **1358 DR: The Time of Troubles** - The **Time of Troubles**, also known as the **Avatar Crisis**, was triggered when **Ao**, the Overgod, cast the gods into the mortal world as punishment for their arrogance and negligence. - Key Events: - **Myrkul**, the god of death, sought to seize the Tablets of Fate, causing chaos. - **Mystra**, the goddess of magic, was slain, temporarily destabilizing the **Weave**. - Mortals such as **Midnight** (later the new Mystra), **Kelemvor**, and **Cyric** ascended to divinity. - The Time of Troubles ended with the restoration of the gods to their divine realms, but its consequences forever changed the balance of power in Faerûn. --- #### **Key Artifacts of the Age of Strife** 1. **The Tablets of Fate** - **Description**: Divine artifacts created by Ao to define the roles and duties of the gods. - **Effects**: Dictated the cosmic order, but their theft during the Time of Troubles led to divine chaos. - **Location**: Shattered and scattered across the planes after the Avatar Crisis. 2. **The Ring of Winter** - **Description**: A powerful artifact capable of controlling cold and halting the aging process. - **Effects**: Grants immortality, summons frost-based creatures, and alters climates. - **Location**: Believed to be lost in the jungles of Chult. 3. **The Zhentarim Spyglass** - **Description**: A magical item used by Zhentarim agents to spy on enemies and relay information. - **Effects**: Allows the user to see and hear distant locations, bypassing mundane barriers. - **Location**: Hidden within Zhentarim strongholds. 4. **The Harp of Dathlue** - **Description**: An artifact belonging to the founder of the Harpers. - **Effects**: Amplifies bardic magic, inspires courage in allies, and disrupts dark enchantments. - **Location**: Preserved in secret Harper sanctuaries. 5. **The Staff of Power** - **Description**: A relic wielded by archmages of the Shoon Imperium. - **Effects**: Enhances destructive magic and creates barriers against divine powers. - **Location**: Lost in the ruins of Shoon strongholds. --- #### **Legacies of the Age of Strife** 1. **Political and Economic Powerhouses** - Major cities like **Waterdeep**, **Baldur’s Gate**, and **Amn** became centers of trade, diplomacy, and military strength. 2. **Rise of Organizations** - Groups like the **Zhentarim**, **Harpers**, and **Red Wizards** gained prominence, influencing politics and shaping the fate of Faerûn. 3. **Magical Turbulence** - The growing reliance on arcane power and the instability of the **Weave** foreshadowed future events like the **Spellplague**. 4. **Divine Realignments** - The Time of Troubles reshaped the pantheon, introducing new gods like **Mystra (Midnight)**, **Cyric**, and **Kelemvor**, while marking the decline of others. 5. **Enduring Conflicts** - Rivalries between factions such as the **Zhentarim** and **Harpers**, as well as between nations, persisted, laying the groundwork for future power struggles. ---