"[The Land]... is a sparkling emerald, which by divine providence must needs be added to the Emperor's jewels. With the will of almighty Atton, and the strength of the Emperor, it shall be."
- From the Chronomicon, the official recorded history of the Estonti Empire.
"They came in numbers like the stars to take our land from us. We fought then, as we fight now, as we will fight in times to come."
- From Tin-tan-ta, the oldest living Chenowee shaman.
For centuries, the Chenowee people lived in the fertile plains of Sensivinae, herding their bison. Clans would fight amongst themselves for the right to stay in a given area, or for a certain herd of bison. However, it was a time of relative peace.
Unbeknownst to the Chenowee, the nearby Estonti Empire had noticed the Chenowee lands. Small scouting parties travelled many leagues to the lands of the Chenowee, and returned with stories of fertile plains, lush forests, and cool, clear rives and lakes. Upon hearing these wonderful stories, the Emperor immediatley arranged for a colonization attempt.
The Kingsmen (a bastardization of the Chenowee word for Emperor) arrived by boat from the ocean, they arrived by foot from across the great desert. They cut down the forests, they cleared the plains. They built large cities with large temples to thier god. They enslaved or murdered the native Chenowee "savages". The time of peace had ended for the Chenowee.
Great battles were fought, and many men died. Eventually however, the sheer number of the Kingsmen began to take a toll upon the Chenowee, and one-by-one the Chenowee clans surrendered to the onslaught of the Kingsmen.
It has not been an easy victory for the Kingsmen. The Chenowee rarely, if ever, willingly submit to Kingsman law. Nor will they recognize the Kingsman royalty as thier sovereign lords. And woe be to the poorly gaurded Kingsmen caravan that crosses the Chenowee plains. In addition, families of Endraté have been discovered in the forests surrounding the Chenowee plains.
In order to help keep the Chenowee in line, the Kingsmen have instituted the policy of "fili-capi". Under the auspices of this policy, the Kingsmen take the first born child to each mated pair of Chenowee and raise it as if it were a Kingsman youth. The child is taught nothing of his or her true heritage.
The Endraté threat is still pending, and is being met with force of arms.
(This timeline uses the standard Estonti calendar system)
| 3rd day of the 12th year of our Emperor | The first pioneers from the Estonti Empire settle in what is to become The Grand Duchy of Twillingham and begin construction of the village of Dunadale. |
| 25th day of the 12th year of our Emperor | First notice of the pioneers by the Chenowee. The Chenowee are less than pleased with the wasteful habits of the pioneers in building their village. Staying at a distance, the Chenowee choose to monitor the newcomers. |
| 212th day of the 12th year of our Emperor | First notice of the Chenowee by the pioneers. A skirmish ensues, resulting in the death of 2 Chenowee warriors. |
| 342nd day of the 12th year of our Emperor | After various small battles, several Chenowee clans descend upon Dunadale, killing all the Estonti inhabitants and razing the village. |
| 51st day of the 13th year of our Emperor | In an act of enfiefment, Emperor Destrius of Estonti officially declares the new lands part of the Empire and grants them to Duke Edward Twillingham. This is the first mention of The Grand Duchy of Twillingham. |
| 52nd day of the 13th year of our Emperor | Under the watchful eye of Duke Twillingham, a military force is assembled and proceeds to the new Duchy, along with various and sundry guilds, to begin construction of the capital city of Innswich. |
| 101st day of the 13th year of our Emperor | The ruins of Dunadale are found by Duke Twillingham's military. Duke Twillingham edicts that all Chenowee "savages" are to be killed on sight for their offenses against the Empire. |
| 123rd day of the 13th year of our Emperor | Military forces are sent upriver to explore the Duchy and build military outposts. Construction on the city of Dunham begins. |
| 201st day of the 13th year of our Emperor | A large battle is fought between the Kingsmen (as the Chenowee call them) and the Chenowee in the areas surrounding Innswich. The Kingsmen emerge victorious. The Knights of Mercy's Hand ("Mercygaurd") elite military order is founded. |
| 263rd day of the 13th year of our Emperor | Sir William Wadsworth, a minor noble but close friend of the Emperor, petitions Duke Twillingham for lands in his Duchy. The petition is largely ignored. |
| 351st day of the 13th year of our Emperor | Another large battle between the Kingsmen and Chenowee in the areas surrounding Dunham. Again, the Kingsmen are victorious. |
| 31st day of the 14th year of our Emperor | Duke Twillingham, with some prodding from Emperor Destrius, grants Sir William Wadsworth a barony in The Grand Duchy of Twillingham. |
| 35th day of the 14th year of our Emperor | Baron Wadsworth and a small military contingent begin construction of Caerdale. Subsequently, the village of Portsmouth is founded. |
| 92nd day of the 14th year of our Emperor | The Chenowee launch an unsuccessful assault against Caerdale. It is not without Kingsman losses, however. Baron Wadsworth seeks aid from Duke Twillingham, but is largely denied. |
| 136th day of the 14th year of our Emperor | Duke Twillingham, with some prodding from Emperor Destrius, sends a small contingent of Mercygaurd to aid Baron Wadsworth. |
| 200th day of the 14th year of our Emperor | A wagon train carrying supplies from Innswich to Caerdale is slaughtered as it crosses the Chenowee plains. |
| 225th day of the 14th year of our Emperor | Duke Twillingham organizes the military in a march against the Chenowee. Two complete Chenowee clans are obliterated. |
| 342nd day of the 14th year of our Emperor | Chenowee leaders seek an audience with Duke Twillingham to discuss a peace between the two races. |
| 3rd day of the 15th year of our Emperor | A peace treaty is signed between the Kingsmen and Chenowee. However, not all Chenowee clans agree with the conditions. |
| 40th day of the 15th year of our Emperor | Another supply train is slaughtered deep in the Chenowee plains between Dunham and Caerdale. It was not proven to be a Chenowee attack, however. |
| 66th day of the 15th year of our Emperor | Duke Twillingham, in an effort to keep the Chenowee under control, implements the policy of "fili-capi" - the first born child to each mated pair of Chenowee shall be reared by the Estonti Empire as an Estonti youth with no knowledge of his or her true heritage. |
Listed below is a summary of the finer points of the peace treaty between the Kingsmen and the Chenowee as signed on the 3rd day of the 15th year of our Emperor by Duke Twillingham and the Chenowee Leaders:
Chenowee are granted second-class citizenship in The Grand Duchy of Twillingham, and subsequently the Estonti Empire, subject to the following conditions:
1. No Chenowee shall directly address any citizen of The Grand Duchy of Twillingham, and subsequently the Estonti Empire, of freeman status or higher, unless first addressed by the citizen. Failure to do so is an act of treason to be punished accordingly.
2. When addressed by a citizen of The Grand Duchy of Twillingham, and subsequently the Estonti Empire, all Chenowee shall hold their head down, gaze fixed upon the feet of the citizen who has addressed him or her, for the duration of the conversation. Failure to do so is an act of treason to be punished accordingly.
3. All Chenowee are bound to follow the commands given them by any citizen of The Grand Duchy of Twillingham, and subsequently the Estonti Empire, of noble status or higher. Failure to do so is an act of treason to be punished accordingly.
4. No Chenowee may ever own a business or land within the limits of any city or towne in The Grand Duchy of Twillingham, and subsequently the Estonti Empire. Failure to do so is an act of treason to be punished accordingly.
5. All Chenowee are free to roam the plains central to The Grand Duchy of Twillingham, unmolested, however subject to the stipulations above. Failure to do so is an act of treason to be punished accordingly.
Recently, Duke Twillingham has created an addendum to these policies, detailed below:
6. Fili-Capi: The first born child to each mated pair of Chenowee shall be reared by the Estonti Empire as an Estonti youth with no knowledge of his or her true heritage. Failure to do so is an act of treason to be punished accordingly.
