#### **The Primordial Age (Pre-Dalereckoning)** - **Before -35,000 DR: Formation of The Abyss** - The Abyss forms as part of the multiverse’s creation, emerging as a rift in the planar structure. - It is theorized to have been born from the essence of chaos and evil that escaped the creation of other planes. - **The Dawn War:** - During the war between the gods and primordials, the Abyss becomes a refuge for chaotic primordial forces. - **Tharizdun**, a primordial or dark deity, allegedly creates the Abyss by corrupting a shard of pure evil and casting it into the cosmos. - The gods seal Tharizdun and prevent the Abyss from spreading further, though it continues to grow, layer by layer. --- #### **The Rise of Demons (-30,000 DR to -20,000 DR)** - **-30,000 DR: Birth of the Demons** - The chaotic energies of the Abyss give rise to the first demons, manifestations of pure chaos and evil. - **Demogorgon**, **Orcus**, and other demon lords emerge, shaping their respective layers and consolidating power. - **-25,000 DR: The Blood War Begins** - The Abyss and its demons come into conflict with the devils of **Baator**, marking the start of the **Blood War**, an eternal battle between chaotic evil and lawful evil. - The first battles rage on the Abyss’s upper layers, particularly the **Plain of Infinite Portals** (the first layer). - **-20,000 DR: Demon Lords Ascend** - Demon lords solidify their control over specific layers of the Abyss, becoming its rulers and generals in the Blood War. - Alliances and betrayals between demon lords become common, shaping the plane’s chaotic hierarchy. --- #### **The Age of Mortal Influence (-10,000 DR to -1,000 DR)** - **-10,000 DR: Mortal Summoning Begins** - Mortals discover ways to summon demons, exploiting their destructive power in wars and magical experiments. - Demon summoning leads to widespread corruption and chaos on the Material Plane. - **-7,000 DR: Cults of Chaos Rise** - Cults dedicated to demon lords emerge on Toril, spreading their worship through promises of power and destruction. - Demogorgon, Graz’zt, and Orcus attract the largest followings, influencing mortal politics and conflicts. - **-5,000 DR: Fall of the Giant Empires** - Demons infiltrate the giant empires, sowing discord and corruption. - Their influence accelerates the decline of these civilizations, ensuring chaos reigns. --- #### **The Age of Chaos (-1,000 DR to 1358 DR)** - **-1,000 DR: The First Demon Invasions** - Planar rifts to the Abyss appear on Toril, allowing hordes of demons to invade. - Mortal heroes and divine intervention seal these rifts, but not before entire regions are devastated. - **500 DR: Rise of the Demon Cults** - Cults dedicated to Orcus and Graz’zt spread across the Sword Coast and the Heartlands. - These cults establish strongholds, summoning demons to bolster their power. - **714 DR: The Siege of Myth Drannor** - Demons play a key role in the fall of Myth Drannor, summoned by necromancers and fiendish cultists. - Many of the city’s artifacts and treasures fall into the hands of demon lords, strengthening their dominion. --- #### **The Time of Troubles and Abyssal Turmoil (1358 DR)** - **1358 DR: The Time of Troubles** - During the gods’ descent to Faerûn, several demon lords exploit the chaos to expand their influence on the Material Plane. - Orcus temporarily seizes artifacts of immense power, though adventurers thwart his plans. - Mortal summoners open new rifts to the Abyss, unleashing demonic incursions that devastate several regions. --- #### **The Spellplague and Abyssal Expansion (1385 DR to 1487 DR)** - **1385 DR: The Spellplague** - The collapse of the Weave destabilizes the Abyss, creating temporary portals across the planes. - Demons flood into Toril, particularly in regions like Chult and the Underdark, causing widespread chaos. - **1390 DR: Orcus’s Rise to Power** - Orcus, wielding the **Wand of Orcus**, launches a campaign to dominate the Abyss, challenging Demogorgon and Graz’zt. - Though his plans fail, the Abyss’s layers become even more fractured, with shifting alliances and territories. - **1479 DR: Demon Invasions of Neverwinter** - Demonic rifts open near Neverwinter, with cultists of Demogorgon attempting to summon their master. - Adventurers close the rifts, though the region remains scarred by Abyssal corruption. --- #### **The Second Sundering and Modern Era (1484 DR to Present)** - **1484–1487 DR: The Second Sundering** - The **Tablets of Fate** are restored, rebalancing the planes and stabilizing the Abyss’s chaotic growth. - Demon lords intensify their efforts to corrupt mortal realms, leading to a surge in demonic activity. - **1492 DR: Baldur’s Gate 3 and Abyssal Influence** - Cults of Demogorgon, Graz’zt, and Baphomet manipulate mortal factions, seeking to open permanent rifts to the Abyss. - Adventurers thwart their schemes, though the influence of the Abyss continues to grow. - **Present Day:** - The Abyss remains a realm of endless chaos and destruction, with demon lords vying for power and mortals foolishly seeking to exploit its energies. - Adventurers frequently confront Abyssal incursions, recover corrupted artifacts, or close planar rifts to prevent widespread devastation. --- ### **Themes of The Abyss’ Timeline** 1. **Chaos and Destruction:** - The Abyss is the ultimate force of unbridled chaos, constantly seeking to disrupt and destroy the multiverse’s order. 2. **The Blood War:** - The eternal conflict between demons and devils defines much of the Abyss’s history and its relationship with other planes. 3. **Mortal Corruption:** - The Abyss thrives on the greed, ambition, and hubris of mortals, spreading its influence through cults and summoning rituals. 4. **Adventuring Opportunities:** - The Abyss offers challenges such as battling demon lords, navigating its treacherous layers, and sealing rifts to prevent invasions. ---