Tribes Timeline (Expanded)
TRIBES Expanded Timeline
ca. 2832
Starsiege ends.
2845
Beginning of the Chase. Humans pursue defeated Cybrids to other star systems using new FTL technolgoy derived from Tharsis cache discoveries.
3245
Beginning of Cyberstorm corporate wars; discovery of the first interstellar transfer conduit, of "jumpgate."
3289
Discovery of the first "meta-jumpgate," allowing travel over far greater distances.
3291
Cyberstorm corporations battle for control of the meta-jumpgate.
3350
Explorers discover the meta-jumpgate is part of a colossal network of jumproutes. Beginning of the Diaspora, as humanity begins to spread throughout the galaxy. "Those Who Jumped," the first people travelling through the jumpgate, forsake the security of the Great Human Empire to journey to the unknown. These pioneers develop a nomadic tradition and find new pride in their ability to survive away from the trappings of civilization. The ever-shifting galactic frontier comes to be known as the wilderzone. The Diaspora continues to this day. Humans are not the only ones traveling this network however...
ca. 3400
Settlers being to refer to themselves as a "tribe," the Children of the Phoenix, claiming to follow the teachings of the renonwned warrior Harabec Weathers, hero of the Cybrid Wars. These teachings eventually find their way into written form as the Tenets of Harabec.
3450
A powerful force of Imperial Knights, the Blood Eagle, appear in tribe space to subdue the Children of the Phoenix for the Great Human Empire. The conflict fractures the Children as groups break away to form their own tribes. This event becomes known as the Splintering.
3455
The Starwolf tribe forms, supposedly from renegades of the Children of the Phoenix and Blood Eagle, although the tribe's true origin remains a mystery.
3480
Tribal culture is now a perpetual state of war. The Blood Eagle, far from their home bases for decades, bgin to consider themselves a "tribe." Finding Hercs and quantum weaponry too difficult to maintain without a heavy industrial base, they adopt the lighter powered armor favored by the tribes.
3500
The Blood Eagle break with the Empire and declare themselves an "independent tribe." At this time, the intensity of the conflict with the Children of Phoenix fades, but warfare is still a constant in tribal life.
3530
Formation of the Diamond Sword tribe under the tutelage of the Enlightened Master.
3610
During a conflict between the Starwolf and Blood Eagle on Ganges III, an ecocidal weapon is used, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides and reducing the planet to a lifeless husk. Each side denies using the weapon. The enmity between these two tribes deepens radically.
3641
After much political maneuvering, the Children of Phoenix host the First Firetruce. This intertribal celebration and festival will take place twice each century on a planet chosen by the Children. The collective tribes gather on these worlds to compete in martial games and trade stories and technology. Much diplomacy occurs, as well as much intrigue. The Tenets of Harabec, long known among the Tribes of Man, are modified to include a ban on ecocidal weaponry. Remembering the death of Ganges III, all the Tribes of Man agree to abide by this new Tenet.
3670
Using innovative strategies and striking with precision and economy, the Diamond Sword rapidly carve out a large holding for themselves. They become known as one of the Four Great Tribes, along with the Children, Starwolf, and Blood Eagle.
3691
Second Firetruce: The Children make little impact on the fractious feuding that has become customary among the tribes.
3700
The Empire begins to demand more influence in the wilderzone, but meets heavy resistance from the many tribes.
3741
Third Firetruce: Whispers of the Empire battling some "scourge" abound, as Imperial advances into tribal space falter and fade. It is a time of much prosperity among the tribes, and a lengthy period of the peace ensues. Many smaller tribes fall back in line with the Children of the Phoenix.
3770
The Blood Eagle initiate a stunning series of offensives, doubling their world count. No other tribe escapes unscathed. Bitter critics accuse the Blood Eagle of taking up the cause of the Empire once again.
3791
Fourth Firetruce: The Blood Eagle are forced to surrender a number of their gains from the previous twenty years in the face of a possible alliance between the Diamond Sword and Starwolf tribes. Realizing that such a war would be overly costly, the Blood Eagle leadership backs down. The Children are quite pleased with these turn of events.
3831
Hector Komarosu, Great Eagle of the Blood Eagle, is assassinated. The culprit is never caught or identified, but the Blood Eagle's age-old nemesis, the Starwolf, are blamed.
3841
Fifth Firetruce: The ultimate purpose of the Firetruces historically has been to try to reunite the tribes, but the harsh reality is that little progress is ever made toward unity, and splinter groups from larger tribes often take the opportunity to be recognized as independent tribes.
This year is no different, as the Blood Eagle leadership, still undecided, is unable to hold the allegiances of the Wolfsbane, Excelsior, and Shadow Stalker groups. Many skirmishes break out between Blood Eagle and Starwolf warriors. The Diamond Sword champion humiliates the chief of the Gorgon Killers. There is little peace at this "time of reconciliation."
3844
Illya Ajax Konovalev is named Great Eagle of the Blood Eagle. The Wolfsbane tribe rejoins the Blood Eagle, but the Excelsior and Shadow Stalker tribes choose to remain independent.
3903
Phoenix Prime Alexi Stefanos yl-Harabec, leader of the Children of the Phoenix, dies in his bed at the age of 106. His son, Renn Gistos yl-Harabec, is elevated to Phoenix Prime.
3904
Alexandre Knovalev, grandson of Illya Ajax, assumes the mantle of Great Eagle. In an effort to reconcile age-old differences with the Starwolf, he takes Freya Cloudchaser, daughter of a Starwolf chieftain, as his wife.
3905
Birth of Ulysses Konovalev to Alexandre and Freya.
3922
The Starslayer tribe settles on Theta Draconis IV after lengthy battle with Diamond Sword over possession of the planet.
3924
The union between Alexandre and Freya decays to the point where she leaves him to rejoin her pack. Ulysses Konovalev takes command of his father's Marathon Pennant to recapture her.
3925
Most of the Marathon Pennant dies in battle with the Starwolf Hepta Ourubis Pack. Ulysses Konovalev is not found among the survivors. An inconsolable Illya Ajax Konovalev vows to destroy the Starwolf once and for all. Freya goes into seclusion, reportedly numb with grief at the loss of her only son.
3928
The Blood Eagle Wolfslayer Pennant, including the elite Eviscerator and Deathbringer talons, begins an offensive against the Starwolf holdings in the Hepta Ourubis system.
3929
Starslayer tribe vanishes from Theta Draconis IV. No trace of the 100,000 tribesmen remains, and no clue sheds light on their disappearance.
3930
Blood Eagle forces prevail in the Hepta Ourubis system following use of ecocidal weapons on Hepta Ourubis II. Starwolf losses are high, as the entire Ourubis Pack, nearly 80,000 strong, is wiped out. The Starwolf are outraged that any tribe would resort to using ecocidal weapons, outlawed for centuries, and call for all tribes to aid them in destroying the Blood Eagle once and for all. The Blood Eagle vehemently deny the charge, claiming ecocidal weapons were used against the Marathon Pennant in '25.
Many Starwolf swear an Oath of Vengeance upon the Blood Eagle, declaring all-out war upon them. The Children of the Phoenix decline to enter battle but offer to act as judges and mediate the conflict.
3931
First attempt at mediation by the Children of the Phoenix between warring Starwolf and Blood Eagle factions results in the thirty-eight dead, over 200 wounded. The Children declare this outcome a "promising beginning."
3935
Pursuant to successful negotiations, the Blood Eagle declare the Wolfslayer Pennant dissolved and relocate the members elsewhere. They also withdraw any forces from Hepta Ourubis II, ceding possession of the planet to the Starwolf. Several tribal allies, including the Sons of Heracles and Gibraltar tribes, break their ties with the Blood Eagle. Other tribes, notable enemies of the Starwolf such as the Black Vulture tribe and aggressive tribes such as the Way of the Red Sun, now choose to ally with the Blood Eagle. Many subgroups of the Starwolf and Blood Eagle continue to battle one another. The Diamond Sword remain neutral.
3937
The Hell Lantern Flame of the Children of the Phoenix destroys Imperial outposts that infringe upon their holdings in the Kepler system.
3938
Two full packs of Starwolf attack Blood Eagle holdings on Deus Sanguinus in a massive frontal assault, reportedly coming in under a flag of truce. The Red Paladin Pennant is wiped out to the last man and woman. Alexandre Konovalev is now being described as either "determined" or "insande," depending upon whom you talk to. Attempts by the Children to mediate are summarily rejected by all sides.
3939
Imperials resettle worlds of Kepler II and VI and place garrisons on these worlds to protect inhabitants. The Hell Lanterns watch but do not attack.
The Children of Phoenix leadership rejects the militant demands for a tribal crusade by general Anton Malderi, self-proclaimed "Harbinger of Phoenix."
The Red Paladin Pennant is reconstituted by a group of Blood Eagle who claim to rededicate themselves to the ideals of honor and ancient chivalry.
The Children of the Phoenix decide to use the devastated world of Hepta Ourubis II for the next Firetruce. Both the Blood Eagle and Starwolf show little pleasure at this choice. The Starwolf have been working for years to repair the ecosystem. They now transfer a massive number of thralls from other holdings to speed the effort.
The Blood Eagle General known as "Fury" reconstitutes the Wolfslayer Pennant as a symbol of vengeance against the Starwolf. The Wolfslayers reportedly ignore the authority of the Great Eagle and answer solely to Fury. Initial victories over the Starwolf Old Ymir Pack show the new Wolfslayers to be even more ruthless than the old Pennant, and Fury proves she is a brilliant strategist. Many Blood Eagle flock to her banner.
The Starwolf attempt to form an alliance with the Diamond Sword against the Blood Eagle. Unsurprisingly, the Diamond Sword deny the petition and remain neutral.
3940
Rough census by the Children of the Phoenix shows that of the hundreds of smaller independent tribes, an "alarming number" have either allied with or agreed to non-aggression pacts with either the Starwolf or Blood Eagle. Already, the skirmishes have increased, and bloodfeuds grow more common. The Phoenix Prime is said to remark that "this path to unity would be a fearful one."
Even some Starwolf and Blood Eagle express reluctance to join in a total war. However, these voices remain a minority for now.
Backed by growing support, General Malderi again demands that the Children of Phoenix mount a crusade to force unity upon the Tribes of Man. Again his argument is rejected, but by a far more narrow margin.
After a series of inspired victories against the Starwolf settlements along the Tessellate Trailing, Alexandre Konovalev inexplicably withdraws his forces to Euralio VI and goes into seclusion. Fury argues that the Great Eagle is too hampered by grief and rage (and madness) to lead the tribe effectively. Blood Eagle sworn to the service of the Line of Konovalev are troubled, but remain loyal.
The Diamond Sword Triad meets on the world of Falcon's Crossroad to discuss the interpretation of a philosophical tract said to hold significant meaning for the tribe's future. Sworders appear unusually restless during the seven months of the debate, but say nothing to outsiders.
The Starwolf continue to shift their forces and reserves toward the war with the Blood Eagle. Heartened by Konovalev's sudden withdrawal, Starwolf Packs go on the offensive and strike far afield, deep into Blood Eagle holdings. Divided in their loyalties, the Blood Eagle muster poorly coordinated defenses against the wolves of space.
It is only one year from the next Firetruce, and the war between the Starwolf and the Blood Eagle threatens to drag all tribes into a maelstrom of war and destruction even as the Imperials begin to penetrate tribal systems. It is a time of great opportunity and a time of terrible reckoning.
References
Tribes Manual: Pages 22 - 27