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Message: <blockquote data-quote="James Jacobs" data-source="post: 2902115" data-attributes="member: 23937">I'm assuming that the summon monster spells didn't get invented until there were enough things to summon. Before then, I suppose they could have summoned other aboleths... or maybe accidental creations of the Elder Evils?Anyway, this timeline's (the implied timeline of D&D apart from any campaign settings) one of the more common idle chit-chats that pops up now and then at Paizo. Here's how I've always assumed the timeline breaks down:1: Elder Evils era: infinite (Lords of Madness); the elemental planes already exist at this point, as do the outer planes, although "life" on these planes is little more than animate manifestations of elemental matter or law/chaos/good/evil. The obyriths are already dwelling on the Abyss, but haven't yet organized into anything more than forces of chaos. Opposing forces of law clash endlessly against the obyriths. The Material Plane exists at the core of the elemental planes, but nothing lives there yet.2: The aboleth race is created when Piscaethces (aka the Blood Queen) accidently brushes agaisnt the Material Plane on her unknowable journey through the Far Realm and dimensions beyond.3: Aboleth Empire. Aboleths create other forms of life on the Material Plane, and these creations quickly take on their own lives. The energies these ur-aboleths use to create life has a "ripple" effect on the other planes, and the mindless forces there begin to organize.4: Divinity manifests on the outer planes, perhaps sparked by faith on the Material Planes. The first gods (the Elder Gods) begin to populate the outer planes with life. The baernoloths form, infuse the obyriths with evil and sentience, and the obyriths begin to colonize the Abyss. They first encounter the Wind Dukes as personifications of law, and the ancient war between these two creatures begins.5: Mortal life discovers (invents?) divine magic, and with the aid of the gods are able to rebel against their aboleth creators. The aboleth empire is destroyed, and the few survivors retreat to the deep oceans to nurse their wounds and sulk.6: As the secrets of creation fade, life on the Material Plane begins to evolve into the way we look at it now. Certain races (elder elves/LeShay/dragons/etc.) are the last races to keep these secrets. Elder elves open gate to Far Realm. Draedens and other super powerful outsiders manifest, further fueling the conflict between order and entropy, law and chaos on the Outer Planes.7: Devils arise as mortal life develops the capacity to sin or blasphemy against the gods.8: Baernoloths create yugoloths. Obyriths (perhaps at due to baernoloth urging, or perhaps not) create the tanar'ri to aid in their battles against law (led by the Wind Dukes).9: War between the Wind Dukes and the obyriths spills into the Material Plane, a place where these forces can clash on a sort of "neutral ground" where neither one has a specific home-field advantage. The Queen of Chaos unites the obyriths (a few resist and go into hiding or are killed) and leads them against Wind Dukes. Miska the Wolf Spider is imprisoned and many of the obyrith lords are destroyed, leaving only those who managed to resist the Queen's call to arms. Eladrins assault the Abyss in and deliver the killing blow to the obyrith race, nearly destroying all that remain.10: Humanity and other "modern" races develop on the Material Plane.11: Illithids arrive from future Illithid Empire.12: Gith rebel against illithids.13: Tanar'ri and baatezu begin the Blood War, recreating the ancient Law Vs. Chaos battle of old.14: Known history of most D&D campaigns begins.Anyway... I'm sure I got a few things backwards there or forgot something, but that's more or less the way I see the prehistory of D&D playing out. Your Mileage May Vary.</blockquote>

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