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Warning: Some of the facts in this historical account may divulge details about Cythera that you may want to discover on your own. This record of history is general knowledge among many educated citizens of Cythera. While a newcomer would not know all of this from the beginning, it is still an interesting read.

A Brief History Of Cythera

by Master Anisa

910 AT

Introduction

This work serves as both a brief history of Cythera as well as a guidepost to future generations to my greater collections of works on Cythera and its history. May it serve both the student and the casual reader well.

Pre-Cytheric Times

Before the arrival of our peoples on these shores, we lived on an island called Thera in the Inner Seas. Much of this part of history is better suited to myth and legend than historical account, but I shall try to detail what is known.

Of the night of the Exodus and destruction of Thera there can be no doubt, but the legend of the White Bull appearing before the Priests is certainly no more than that - a legend. Nonetheless, our people fled from the island, escaping its destruction. What exactly happened that night, during the storms that followed the destruction, we can never know for sure. Cast ashore on an unknown land, we soon discovered that we were somewhere else (for a lack of a better term). None of the stars we knew appeared in the night sky, and even the Moon had changed, smaller, and was joined by a second, even smaller body in the sky. (As it would turn out, even the length of a year was changed, though how much shorter we have never been able to work out exactly)

Even worse, however, was the loss of our gods. Our priests soon discovered that they, like the rest of us, were cut off from the world we knew. Still, life must go on, and so it went with us, and we began exploring and building a small village at the spot of our landing.

5 A.T. - Founding of Cademia

In our fifth year of exile, we finally had built enough of a city to give it a name - Cademia. Though the world was alien, we were still able to flourish, still lead, by tradition alone, by the former priests. This also begins our first great age, the Age of Tyrants

Age of Tyrants

With a new land and no divine basis for leadership, a young member of the small priest class rose to power, rallying and inspiring our people. Thus, upon the founding of Cademia, the first Tyrant was granted absolute power. In the next years, peace ruled and people continued on living, a new life, but one still much like our original.

79 A.T. - Death of First Tyrant

Between the shorter year, and something in the land that caused greater longevity, in 79 AT the First Tyrant, at and age of approximately 100 years, finally passed away. This much beloved leader was replaced by his regent, who became the Second Tyrant of Cademia.

113 A.T. - Founding of Catamarca

Our second city started as a vacation palace for the Second Tyrant, but soon became a fortified stronghold. It was in this timeframe that the Castle of the Tyrant was built in Cademia, for the Second Tyrant was not quite the benevolent leader that the First Tyrant was, for suspicion and paranoia soon grew.

Some have postulated that this was not entirely unexpected, for it was in this time frame that Magic as we now know it was being discovered. What was once the realm of priests (long since forgotten), soon the ability to perform acts of power were being discovered among commoners. None knew exactly why some had the ability and others were passed over, but stories of miracles became more common, and some of the gifted began to meet and explore their powers in an organized fashion.

134 A.T. - Fortification of Odemia

Odemia was originally a small hunting colony, founded at the edge of the northern forests, around the time of the founding of Cademia. In the years that followed, it became a major source of supplies for Cademia, so in 134 A.T., the Second Tyrant built walls around the city, the fortified it against possible enemies.

152 A.T. - Exile of Mages

It was this attempt to organize the gifted power workers that became the final straw for the Second Tyrant, and in 152, fearing being overthrown by these people (and feeding on the insecurities of the common person), the Second Tyrant exiled all possessing magical powers. If any such persons were found east of the Titan's Spine Mountains, they would be put to death. Though some sought hiding in Odemia or Catamarca, most fled over the mountains, beyond the powers of the Tyrant.

153 A.T. - Founding of Pnyx

The exiles passed beyond the mountains, eventually settling where the River Tirynth met the Sea in the west, and formed the town of Pnyx. Pynx would soon be the location of the Magesterium, a place of learning and study of the powers of Magic. It's existance soon became know in the East, and any remaining people with the powers of Magic soon joined their fellows in exile in Pnyx.

160 A.T. - Death of Second Tyrant

In 160, the Second Tyrant passed away, and was immediately replaced by his regent, who was even more rutheless than his predecessor, and the reign of terror continued.

184 A.T. - Founding of Abydos

While the Second Tyrant oppressed peoples east of the Mountains, in the West, settlers from Pnyx formed an ill-fated second colony, south along the coast from Pnyx. This town was to be know as Abydos.

192 A.T. - Destruction of Abydos

After a number of years, Abydos began to flourish, but suddenly one day communication was lost with the town. After a few weeks, an expidition sent from Pnyx arrived at Abydos, only to discover the town destroyed, as if a giant wave had swept in from the Sea, destroying the town, and erasing all traces of life. What exactly happened to the town lead by the Mage Tavara is still a mystery to this day, and none willing seek out the acursed town.

194-204 A.T. - Cult of Scylla

Meanwhile, back in Cademia, oppressed people turned to any source of hope, and in 194, found one. A mysterious priest began to preach about the powers of Scylla, those hideous sea monsters that plague the coast, preventing any forms of maritime travel. However, the Cult was destroyed by the Tyrant in 204, fearing any form of insurrection (though rumors of its continued existance for some years after that have been heard, but we can place no truth on these).

Age of the LandKing

216 A.T. - Alaric Appears

It was in 216 that everything changed in Cythera, with the appearance of the mysterious Alaric. His origins are still unknown (though this author is beginning an indepth search into this, and one day hopes to write a discourse on this matter). Alaric walked into the court of the Third Tyrant, though none of the guards remembered seeing him come in. The Tyrant immediately called for his guards, but none were forthcoming. The stranger simply said "The rule of Tyrants is over" and in a blinding flash of light, the Tyrant and all his family and supporters collapsed dead. He then called all the pages in the palace to spread the word through out the city and dispatched runner to spread the word that a new age of freedom and democracy would begin. He told them that his job was done and that they must choose a form of government that was fair to rich and poor alike, and once that it was determined, he would return.

219 A.T. - Return of the Mages

The next three years brought chaos, suddenly being bereft of government. There were conflicts with remaining troops loyal to those minor warlords that tried to take over in the power vaccuum, but eventually six individuals would arrise and gain the support of people and work out the form of government that exists to this date. These six became the founders of the six major house (Nicander, Strymon, Comana, Attis, Dodona, and Atussa).

Alaric reappeared before these six, and agreed that their solution was fair and workable, and furthermore he would ensure it would not be subverted. To make sure that this government would survive and flourish, Alaric brought the Mages from Pnyx back, charging them with the duty to ensure it would survive.

303 A.T. - Founding of Kosha

In 303, members of House Comana established a new colony south of Cademia called Kosha. This colony was unique in that it was established solely by supporters of House Comana, and the position of Judge of Kosha was one more of tradition only.

Afterward

While it may seem to the reader that there are gaps missing between 303 and 910 (the date of this writing), in fact, as much as a historian would hate to admit, not much has happened. Life under Alaric has been peaceful and rich. The system of govenerment based on popular support of Houses, with magical support to enforce the will of the people and solve disputes has worked amazingly well. However, were something to happen to Alaric, one can only speculate on the chaos that would ensue. Though few have ever seen Alaric, ruling mysteriously from LandKing Hall (it is said that if one seeks out LandKing Hall, one will be unable to find it unless Alaric wishes), just his continued existance keeps the populace happy and content. Many believe him to be more than man, for surely no mortal man can live for over 700 years!

Hopefully this state can continue for long into the future - while it makes the job of a historian boring, we will gladly accept that to avoid the chaos of our early years.