Brief Broadview History and Technological Levels of Tys

A Dearth of Knowledge

Note, the current information is based upon archaeological and anthropological findings by the time of 612 PR, the latest current start date of the setting in Epoch 3. 

The Velassian Empire, the oldest known empire, has extremely little information known about it and those that could possibly have told of it, the older Aelthi of nations such as Syldania and Cymrie, have both died and oddly had no memory of the empire when they were alive. Along with this, no records of a long-reaching empire have been kept. Even the younger kind of Duerthi seemingly have no records nor memory of an empire that their old kingdoms existed alongside. Divination, indeed, seems to have been blocked off from scrying before that date. One explanation for this may be a great aeth-based disruption in the skines of fate that was purely coincidental. Seemingly supporting this theory, this was the time that great geographical changes occurred with the Great Astral Rain of the -20,000s that formed the unnatural Fangs of Skalovia, the beginnings of the archipelagos of Grush and Liresku, and the smatterings of other star stuff that fell all across the planet. This was also the beginning of the murmurs of the Worms, that ancient enemy of the kinds. These along with other events may have caused a sort of tear or essentially created a magic-based static for this time. A second theory is possibly great willful sabotage of the skines, destruction of records, and enormous magical tinkering of memory itself. This theory is supported by the specific absence of old Velassian records of any manner along with the absence of memories by the old kinds.  Along with this, the relatively recent arrival of the Drathi and their strange snow-white skin and use of previously unknown blood magic points toward this second theory. The Drathi too have a strange lack of memory of where they came from, just that the old Velassian empire was coming back and were dangerous. It has been theorized by the miniscule few believe them that the Drathi are possible outcasts from a greater unknown empire built by the Velassians that fled long ago.

However, the Velassian Empire is not the only forgotten kind, for the predecessors of the green-skinned urkain have also been forgotten. That forgotten kind actually does have images of them built upon archaeological findings and may have uttered the Twin Gods Dhaegoth and Vhaegoth into existence.

One more lost record is that of the Leviathans, the precursors of the dragons.

?-(-20,000 ON) Forgotten Twilight (GURPS TL ???????)
The technology level of this time is unknown. However, very old artifacts, seemingly the only remaining things of the ancient Velassians, may point to this time as being extremely prolific in magic. Magical orbs, wands, staffs, wards, and equipment that are fully made of and run on magic were found in the world and assumed to be from this time. Older tribes and smaller kingdoms may have been based on ownership of these. These artifacts were also the starting point of the development of aeth use.
The beginning of the Gromdalian calendar begins at year 0 during this time. The calendar used is the Lothrian calendar.

(-20,000 ON)-(-14,000) Epoch of Bronze GURPS TL 1
Dwarves and Elves close off their borders, either digging deep into their mountain lairs or hiding within their magical forests. The kinds are left with essentially the detritus of the old Velassian empire.

(-14,000)-(-8,000)Epoch of Iron GURPS TL2+1

The dwarves and elves venture from their closed homes and begin trade with humans. Magic and divine power are able to substitute for advancements.

(-8,000 ON)-(0 ON) Epoch of Steel GURPS TL3+1
Feudal kingdoms will be prominent for most of the era and then transition to Absolute kingdoms and the beginnings of Harmonism, Materielism, and Equitianism show up during this time. The Pentaphany, the pantheon of the five gods (Sothe, Liestra, Alar, Prythe, and Astres), gains prominence and spreads across most of Velas and the southern half of Xatla except for Zeth. Drathi is established in -1532 ON. Magic and divine power are able to substitute for advancements still. 

Armor and non-gunpowder weapons analogous to those existing in 1500s on earth exist.

Gunpowder is in its extremely early stages and the use of magic and divine power along with proto-magitek in the form of runes causes a stagnation in its research and use. Until Uhlion the Broken discovers its secrets via unknown means and uses a changing team of researchers and inventors to bring it to pragmatic use by -40 PR. These secrets mysteriously spread to other nations but investment and adoption will not occur for decades until the Skalovian revolution shows its power. However, even then those armies armed with it are supported by old standbys like clerics, paladins, and mages along with so it is still considered to the majority as a niche tool that worked for the Skalovians for decades by a majority of peoples on Tys.

Essentially, the age of technology jumps to 1815

(0 ON - Now PR) Epoch of Flame

Epoch 1 TL5

Epoch 2 TL6

Epoch 3 TL7