(All dates follow the Delic timing method) 0 Jan1 Duchy of Karandos officially adopts the name of the Kingdom Of Delic. Thelior Khelidar is crowned King Khelidar the First of Delic 755 Jun 4 Yandros Khelidar, 60th King of Delic, is coronated as 1st Emperor of Delic by Pope Relance Thal. 757 Nov 15 Yandros Khelidar dies heirless. On his deathbed, he names Astan Cayneek, Elven First General of Delic as heir to the Imperial Throne. 757 Nov 20 Astan Cayneek coronated 2nd Emperor of Delic by Pope Relance Thal. Cayneek family now the Imperial family. 757 Dec 3 Four members of the Black Hand attempt to assasinate Astan Cayneek, but fail, killing Relance Thal, Cayneek's younger brother, Withshon, and Lord Mayor of Delic Duke Calidor Uvron. At the same time, Archdukes Rethan Yanos, Ade Gruen, Bened Davros, Galen Kiarr, Reave Thakar, Wulf Acear and Zein Rhynne massacre the Delician Imperial Garrisons in their duchies and subservient lands. Beginning of the Ascension Wars. 757 Dec 5 The Prelates of the Church gather to choose a new pope. The candidates named in the first meeting are Allanon Opere, Magister of Mystra, and Aodh Cel Vere, Abbot of the Relane Monastary in Delic. 757 Dec 7 Astan Cayneek names Tolas Dunsmore Lord Mayor of Delic. Cayneek sends orders to Imperial Legions to begin march to upstart duchies to quell uprising. 757 Dec 17 The "Marsonne Alliance" formed between the seven aforementioned Archdukes, numerous other dukes and smaller lords. About half of the Empire's lords declare they are no longer subjects of the Emperor Cayneek and join the Marsonne Alliance. 757 Dec 18 The Hellarene Empire declares its alliance with the Marsonne Alliance. Hellarene forces cross the ex-Delician, now Marsonne borders, and begin march to the Marsonne-Delic borders. 757 Dec 20 Marsonne forces take the small village of Rothere, and massacre the 400 villagers in the village, among them are 4 Knights of the Church and the village priest. 757 Dec 21 Allanon Opere withdraws his name from the candidacy for the papacy. Aodh Cel Vere is voted 47th Pope of the Church unanimously. Hellarene forces take positions behind Marsonne forces on the Marsonne-Delic border. 757 Dec 25 Word of the Rothere massacre reaches Delic. Astan Cayneek, the Imperial High Council, Pope Vere, and the seven remaining loyal archdukes gather for a midnight council. 757 Dec 26 Astan Cayneek delcares martial law in Delic. The pope demands an apology from the leaders of the Marsonne for the deaths of the churchmen in the Rothere massacre by the first of the new year. 757 Dec 28 Delician Imperial Legions take up fortified positions along the Marsonne-Delic border. Astan Cayneek calls the muster of his loyal lords. 758 Jan 01 The Marsonne Alliance publicly refuses to render an apology to the Church for the Rothere massacre. 758 Jan 02 Pope Vere declares the Marsonne Alliance excommunio. "In open defiance of their true lords, and in open defiance of the Church, we have no option but to declare the leaders and lands of the Marsonne excommunio, and to do everything in our powers to see that they return under the power of a dedicated leader." 758 Jan 03 The muster gathers. Some 675,000 troops of loyal lords are mustered into the ranks of the Imperial legions as irregulars. Cayneek stages his forces in two cities, Delic, the Imperial Capital for forces coming out of the east, and Chaleneau, the largest city near the Marsonne-Delic border. 758 Jan 15 The Elven nations of Asthere and Gelidas and the Dwarven nations of Karak-Ur and Rel-Tharene fall under the attacks of an unknown enemy. The Elven nation of Selailene is totally overrun in two days and destroyed. 758 Jan 18 Asthere, Gelidas, Karak-Ur and Rel-Tharene officially ask assistance from Delic, promising fealty should they survive the war. Although they hint at having knowledge of what is attacking them, they refuse to give details publicly. 758 Jan 27 The Imperial troops that had mustered in Delic arrive in Chaleneau. Cayneek remains in Delic to help gather assistance for the Elven and Dwarven nations. 758 Jan 31 Cayneek gathers Ryan Unere, Grandmaster of the Acadamy, Genere Trestan, Headmaster of the Imperial Arcana (Academy of Magic), and Allanon Opere in secret council in the Imperial Palace. 758 Feb 2 Mustered Imperial troops set out from Chaleneau to Marsonne-Delic border. 758 Feb 3 Cayneek announces formation of the adventuring company Justice, and mandates that: "In name and actions, the Justice will act with the authority of the throne until the Emperor so further declares." Ryan Unere is named as Lord Justicar of the Justice, Genere Trestan is named Caster of the Justice, and Allanon Opere is named Keeper of the Justice. Pope Vere places full command of the Knights of the Church under Astan Cayneek. Cayneek detaches 15,000 troops of the elite Imperial Guard to the Justice. Ryan Unere, given a free hand to choose any person to join the Justice, chooses close personal friends and powerful allies from the upper eschelons of Delician Intelligence, the Imperial Academy, the Church, the Imperial Arcana, and the Knights of the Church. Marsonne troops perform a nightime raid on the Castle Devereaux, not knowing that Delician troops had arrived there only three hours ago. Outnumbered 4 to 1, the Marsonne general in charge of the raid surrenders to the Delician general en masse. Half of the Marsonne force is lost. No casualties are incurred by the Delicians. The Marsonne general, named Trenet, is transported to Chaleneau. 758 Feb 4 The Justice and the troops under them leave Delic for Asthere. Cayneek accepts the fealty of Asthere, Gelidas, Karak-Ur and Rel-Tharene Cayneek arrives in Chaleneau (teleport), and questions Trenet. Trenet refuses to answer questions. Cayneek orders the full interrogation of Trenet. Hellarene forces move to border positions alongside Marsonne forces. 758 Feb 6 After 50 hours of brutal torture, Trenet breaks, and divulges information of the plans of the Marsonne Alliance to Astan Cayneek and the Imperial Council. After hearing Trenet's confessions, an enraged Cayneek orders Trenet to be hannged, flayed, drawn and quartered, and burned at the stake. Trenet's confessions (released at a much later date but placed here for clarity) 1. The leaders of the Marsonne Alliance and the Imperial family of Hellarene are high-ranking members of a cell of the Black Hand. 2. Super-natural aid is being lent to the Marsonne forces by the Gods of the Black Hand. 3. The problems in the Elven and Dwarven Kingdoms are somehow linked to this. The Elven armies of Asthere and Gelidas meet the Darkforces armed wing of the Black Hand in battle at Renan's Ford. The Elven forces prevent the Darkforces from crossing the river at the cost of some 65,000 lives. The Dwarven Nations report large incursions of drow in their lower tunnels. 758 Feb 7 All Imperial troops take final fortified positions. All told, some 1.7 million of the 2.2 million possible Delician Imperial troops are now on the Marsonne border. 758 Feb 8-20 A blizzard pins all forces in both theaters. The Justice begin a forced march through the blizzard, using magic to keep their troops alive. 758 Feb 16 The Justice and the troops under them arrive in Asthere. 758 Feb 21 Blizzard ends, havind dumped 4 ft of snow over the Empire and surrounding areas. The Black Hand gates Darkwalkers onto the surface of Delic (the planet). The Gods join in council.