--- #### **The Primordial Age (Pre-Dalereckoning)** - **Before -35,000 DR: Formation of Carceri** - Carceri is formed during the creation of the multiverse, embodying the concept of betrayal. - The gods use Carceri as a prison for rebellious entities, including titans, fallen celestials, and defeated primordials. - **The Dawn War:** - During the war between the **primordials** and the gods, Carceri becomes a key prison for primordial leaders who are defeated but too dangerous to destroy. - The **titans** are exiled to Carceri, where they remain bitter and vengeful, plotting against the gods who imprisoned them. --- #### **The Rise of Titans and Yugoloths (-30,000 DR to -10,000 DR)** - **-30,000 DR: Banishment of the Titans** - The titans, creations of the gods who later rebelled, are cast into Carceri. - They create strongholds within the plane, using their immense power to shape its layers and command the lesser beings trapped there. - **-20,000 DR: Yugoloths Claim Carceri** - The yugoloths, mercenary fiends of the Lower Planes, begin using Carceri as a neutral ground for their dealings. - They establish secretive strongholds and staging areas, avoiding the wrath of the imprisoned titans. --- #### **The Age of Mortal Interaction (-10,000 DR to -1,000 DR)** - **-10,000 DR: The Betrayer’s Passage** - A portal between Carceri and the Material Plane is discovered, allowing mortals to summon beings from the plane. - These mortals often seek power but are betrayed by the very entities they summon, reinforcing Carceri’s nature. - **-5,000 DR: Expansion of Titan Influence** - The titans consolidate power within Carceri, establishing vast dominions over its layers. - Some titans develop cult followings on the Material Plane, sending visions to mortals to act as their agents. - **-3,000 DR: Netherese Experiments** - Netherese wizards exploit Carceri as a source of forbidden knowledge, summoning spirits of betrayal and titans for guidance. - Many of these wizards meet their demise, as the entities of Carceri twist their bargains for personal gain. --- #### **The Time of Empires (-1,000 DR to 1358 DR)** - **-1,000 DR: The Fall of the Titan Kalakthos** - Kalakthos, a titan who nearly escaped Carceri, is betrayed by his own followers. - His punishment creates the **Abyssal Rift**, a massive scar on one of Carceri’s layers, which becomes a focal point for fiendish activity. - **500 DR: Rise of the Cult of Chains** - A mortal cult dedicated to Carceri’s imprisoned titans gains prominence. - They seek to free their masters by performing mass betrayals and sacrifices on the Material Plane, though their efforts fail. - **714 DR: Involvement in Myth Drannor’s Fall** - Fiends from Carceri are summoned during the siege of Myth Drannor. These entities exploit both sides of the conflict, further cementing Carceri’s reputation as a place of deceit and manipulation. --- #### **The Time of Troubles and Carceri’s Role (1358 DR)** - **1358 DR: The Time of Troubles** - During the chaos of the gods walking Faerûn, several minor deities and powerful entities are banished to Carceri. - Some imprisoned titans take advantage of the instability, attempting to escape, though they are thwarted by adventurers and celestial forces. - The yugoloths use the confusion to expand their influence, fortifying their positions within the plane. --- #### **The Spellplague and Carceri’s Influence (1385 DR to 1487 DR)** - **1385 DR: The Spellplague** - The collapse of the Weave disrupts Carceri’s barriers, creating temporary rifts that allow some imprisoned beings to escape. - These escapes lead to increased fiendish activity on the Material Plane, with several titans and powerful yugoloths wreaking havoc before being defeated. - **1390 DR: The Betrayal of Lord Valrok** - Lord Valrok, a mortal warlord who sought power in Carceri, is betrayed by the titan he served. - His death creates a planar anomaly, trapping his spirit within the plane as a cautionary tale for future summoners. --- #### **The Second Sundering and Modern Era (1484 DR to Present)** - **1484–1487 DR: The Second Sundering** - The restoration of the **Tablets of Fate** reinforces Carceri’s role as the ultimate prison. - Several entities, including rogue titans and lesser gods, are newly imprisoned during this period. - Mortal interactions with the plane increase as adventurers seek to exploit its hidden knowledge and treasures. - **1492 DR: Baldur’s Gate 3 and Carceri’s Influence** - Cults of betrayal and manipulation tied to Carceri emerge in Baldur’s Gate, seeking to summon entities trapped within the plane. - Adventurers thwart their plans, preserving the balance between Carceri and the Material Plane. - **Present Day:** - Carceri remains a place of isolation, despair, and treachery. - Adventurers venture into the plane to recover lost artifacts, negotiate with trapped titans, or prevent powerful entities from escaping into the multiverse. --- ### **Themes of Carceri’s Timeline** 1. **Betrayal and Confinement:** - The plane thrives on betrayal, both as a cause for imprisonment and as a constant threat within its layers. 2. **Eternal Struggle:** - The entities of Carceri are forever scheming, whether to escape, dominate their fellow prisoners, or manipulate mortals. 3. **Interplanar Influence:** - Despite its role as a prison, Carceri’s influence extends across the multiverse through the actions of mortals who interact with its denizens. 4. **Adventuring Opportunities:** - Carceri offers a wealth of challenges, from navigating its hostile layers to outwitting titans and yugoloths. ---