History

People in this world tell time a few different ways.

Since the destruction of the ruined southern empire, or Year Since Catastrophe. This is a measure you'll find in the Trade Republic, as they have charted their development as a nation in the wake of that disaster. This year is 453 SC.

Since the last Underking was last crowned. That might sound redundant, but Underkings are sometimes subject to vote of no confidence, and may return to prominence at a later date. This year is the Twenty-Fifth Year of Wreng Irongrip I.

Since the founding of the ruined empire. This measure is only observed in the Regency, and only by the highly educated. Additionally, this measure is impossible to verify due to the destruction of so much lore from that time. This year is 2214 Imperial Foundation.

Some historical dates: A note on demihuman lifespans: Humans, halflings and most half-elves could live to 100 if they tried hard or cheated. Dwarves can live to 200 without trying too hard. Elves can live to 300 if they really try. While you will find extremely old specimens of all races, most people will die - from accident, diseases, curses, lingering grudges - before this time. Elves can be the longest-lived things on the planet, but they tend to occupy dangerous environments - deep woods, the Feywild, the intrigue-ridden halls of magical study. These lifespan numbers are neither averages or maxima, just possibilities.
 * ~10-15 years ago. The Axe of Truth are active in the Regency, the Magistocracy and the Republic.
 * ~400 years ago. The empire to the south is destroyed. The Regency establishes the "unbroken succession" of imperial regents soon after. It is unknown when goblins began to appear in the ruins, but they did not predate this event. Exact dates are uncertain on this date, due in part to the catastrophe, which is thought to have had "wiped the name of the people from the face of the world."
 * ~600 years ago. A nation of the elvish peoples is defeated by the southern empire. Geography makes annexation unlikely, but the lingering effects of magical warfare and the cultural sting of being beaten by humans causes some elves to migrate elsewhere. Humans aid the remaining elves in rebuilding their society, which becomes the Magistocracy.
 * ~850 years ago. A people known as Orcs disappear from the continent. They had been previously known as fierce fighters who formed clans based on common cause rather than bloodline or race. It is unknown where they had lived on the continent, but stories of them range from sea to sea.
 * ~over 2000 years ago. The southern empire is formed from a number of local kingdoms.