Here is my first draft of the Romverse Timeline. At this point I was mostly focused on the Early eras. I'll return to it to cover the more recent heroic age. Romverse Timeline – Main Historical Points Prehistory -Elder alien life-forms either evolve on Earth, or colonize it from space during the pre-cambrian age. Few remnants of these earliest civilizations survive to this day, save for a ruined city in the Antarctic and other ruined cities deep within the bowels of the Earth and the deepest oceans. -Circa 2 Millions years B.C.E., the Serpentfolk civilization builds its empire on the Island-continent of Lemuria. The Extinction of the dinosaurs and the rise of mammal life causes them to draw inwards, embracing an isolationism supported by their advanced technomagic. -The Preservers visit Earth and tamper with the DNA of the earliest Hominids. An unexpected solar flare after their departure caused a mutation within the altered Hominids, destabilizing their DNA. The proto-humans began assimilating the DNA of other animal life on Earth, altering to become more animal-like with each new generation. Approximately 100,000 years before the start of the Bronze Age, Humanity had entirely evolved into the various species of Anthros populating the Earth. But super-abilities would be rare among Anthro-kind until 1924. -During the earliest period of the Bronze Age, various Anthroids come across ancient Preserver relics and locations that, collectively, allowed for the Anthros to rapidly develop their own technomagical civilization on the island-continent of Atlantis, quickly rivaling the declining Lemurian empire. A series of wars between the two powers ended with the destruction and sinking of both islands, collapsing both civilizations. -The power of the Serpentfolk was utterly destroyed, and most of the survivors simply assimilated into larger Anthro society, eventually intermingling with them, though other communities of “Purebloods” retreated underground or into netherworlds. One group altered their bodies to survive underwater, remaining in their sunken city. Anthro civilization itself endured through centuries of barbarism and savagery, nearly regressing back into animalistic behavior until 12,000 years ago, when a group of tribes got together to build a massive temple structure, marking the resurrection of Anthro-kind as an species of builders, as well as the invocation of the first deities. This led to the first high cultures independent of Preserver meddling in the Indus Valley, Ancient Egypt, Minoa, Sumeria and the first Dynasty of China, also leading to the arrival (creation?) of new deities. The Age of Gods and Heroes -These early civilizations were shaped as much by their new patron deities as by environmental and cultural factors. The gods descended to Earth from time to time, often intermingling with mortals, the fruits of these relations becoming many of the great heroes of legend. Others were empowered by divine might, chosen as champions of other forces, or delved into the secrets of Atlantean and Lemurian sorcery. -In Ancient Egypt, the prince Heru-Ra, champion of the sun god, championed the cause of Light until betrayed and murdered by the sorceror Tan-Aktor, leader of the Cult of Apophis the Nightbringer. Their Ka, or life-force, were bound together in an internal struggle, doomed to reincarnate and battle over and over the centuries. His power of Light also becomes passed on to a new champion decades later, who would become known as Pharos, the first Lightbearer. -In the Mediterranean, the Olympians quarreled among themselves as much as they guided the rise of the Greek civilizations such as the Spartans and Athenians. The destruction of Troy lead to an end of these games, as Zeus reinforced his authority before uniting the Pantheon as the patrons of the Roman Empire centuries later. -In Northern Europe, the Celtic gods and the Norse gods shaped the local civilizations, but also weakened the dimensional barriers between Earth and Faerie, allowing the Fae to visit Earth in these regions, becoming the elves and sprites and wood nymphs of Myth. -In Asia, a similar weakening of the dimensional barriers allows for various spirits and demons to start spilling into the region, such as the Yokai of Japan. A group of monks and mystics built the hidden city of Shamballah, in the Valley of Peace, hidden within the Himalayas. -The Age of Heroes comes to an end with the collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations, following a wave of invasions from the “Sea People”, the last remnants of the Atlantean empire, consisting of Anthros of Fish and Sea Mammal types. The invaders are ultimately pushed back, retreating to their underwater kingdom, while the Europeans slowly rebuild, though with more interference from the deities. -This lead to then Archmage of Earth Simon Magus to forge the Pact, calling upon ancient eldritch forces, an alliance of various Mages, both from the Cabal and its rivals, and even the intervention of the Celestials of the Angelic Council, to craft a massive magical weaving of such power it created a near-impassible barrier around Earth's dimension, keeping gods and other entities from outside from entering without mortal permission. The sole exception to this were the Celestials themselves, who would enforce the Pact. The ancient gods had little choice but to largely withdraw from the world, retreating to their own realms, some leaving behind touchstones, relics, talismans and rituals that would allow mortals to summon them. Others simply fled, leaving their worshippers behind. The Dark Ages -The Archmage Merlin conspired to bring about the birth of Arthur Pendragon, using him as the focal point of the Kingdom of Canterlot, intending to use him to unify the world under a single magical kingdom. This was sabotaged by the machinations of Arthur's half-sister Morgana LeFey and their bastard son Mordred. -With the fall of Rome and the destruction of the Library of Alexandria, the Cabal shattered into rival factions that engaged in conflicts that influenced history. The Fae wizard Garravin was the most powerful Cabalist of this era, nearly claiming the title of Archmage for his own. This period saw the rise of the Knights Templars (publicly intended to protect Pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem, but secretly existing as an order of hunters of demons, monsters and dark mages), as well as the Society of Assassins (secretly a tool of the Djinns of the Bronze City against the Cabal and the Templars) The Renaissance and Enlightenment -The Cabal reorganized as a cohesive group, even as the Templars and Assassins retreated into the shadows. The rise of John Dee to the rank of Archmage is believed to be one cause of Great Britain's eventual rise to prominance. -In 1719, the Hell-Fire Club, a union of debauched libertines is founded to lure high government officials to drunken revels. This was secretly a front for Infernal agents seeking to corrupt the Government of England with demonic influences. The Victorian Age -This age sees the rise of the Mad Scientists, as a new age of discovery and experimentation leads to the awakening of multiple “Uber-cognitives”, individuals with an uncanny level of intelligence and imagination, capable of bending Science to their whims. The Pulp Age -In 1924, a dimensional tear over Freedom City releases the rocket-pod containing an infant Centurion, and unleashes a burst of outerdimensional energies that wash over the world, causing a new wave of genetic mutations, which would lead to the rise of a growing population of Superbeings. This also weakened the magical weave of the Pact, which would make it easier for gods and other supernatural beings to be summoned to Earth, even accidentally. The Golden Age -Centurion makes his first public appearance stopping a bank robbery in Freedom City. This inspires other “Mystery Men” to start operating more publicly. -In Germany, a new political organization arises: The Kommission für die Legislatur aller Untertiere auf der Erde (Commission for the Legislation of all “Underanimals” of the Earth), or K.L.A.U.E. For short. A political party that subscribed to ideas of species hierarchy and social darwinism, believing that predators naturally belonged at the top of the social order and rejecting any form of species intermingling. Lead by Wilhelm Anktor, they rapidly took control of a Germany still in turmoil, uniting it under their iron rule. Then, via a mix of Mad Science and Dark Sorceries, create the world's first real team of Superbeings, the “UberRaubtier” (Super-Predators). This leads to World War II. -A group of American superheroes unite as the Liberty League, under the leadership of Centurion, as a response to the UberRaubtier. At the same time, the USSR launched Project October Reborn, drafting and creating their own Superhero team to fight on the Eastern front. -After the War, the investigations of the House on Un-American Activities Committy forces the disbanding of the Liberty League and other super-teams, due to lack of cooperation with Government Investigations. The Silver Age -The Martian Invasion: In 1951, the Confederacy of Allied Worlds sends a diplomatic mission to Earth in response to both the USA and USSR developing atomic weapons. An accidental killing due to a panicking soldier causes an Interstellar Incident. The government of Mars decides to take the opportunity to invade Earth, presenting the CAW with a fait accompli. A first wave of invasion devastates Los Angeles, Freedom City and other cities, before succumbing to an unforseen complication - the common cold. Both the US and USSR governments begin crash program of science-weaponry and space research in retaliation. The fallout from the Martian weapons and continued atomic testing also begins to awaken long-dormant prehistoric creatures, mutate normal creatures who begin growing to enormous sizes, as well as trigger more Paranormal mutations among the next generation of Anthros. -The first Freedom League is formed to battle the forces of Hades, invading from the attacked ruins of Freedom City (using the now death-aspected area as a dimensional weakspot). These heroes decide to remain united as a team, and inspire the formation of more superhero teams. -The Atomic Wars: for the following Decade, Earth finds itself assailed by various alien threats, such as the shapeshifting Grue, who began infiltration missions onto Earth to subvert its governments. A few rogue alien warlords also began attacking Earth, seeing a chance to establish themselves as petty tyrants while the CAW was still arguing about what to do about the planet. These efforts are stopped by various heroes and superheroes, as well as the newly formed American Elite Government Intervention Service. -The Coalition of Allied Worlds finally returns to the Solar System, its starfleet stopping a second Martian invasion wave and enforcing an armistice, as well as putting Earth under a Non-Intervention isolation treaty, enforced by groups such as the CAW space rangers, the Star Knights, and the Green Lantern Corps. -The Cold War: in the wake of the isolationism and new global peace, the US and USSR turn their attention back towards each other, fully engaging in a conflict of political influence through proxy states and organizations such as the American U.S.H.E.R. (United States Headquarters for Emergency Response) and the Soviet Red Directorate. The Bronze Age -In 1982, the United Nations bans both National Super-Teams and strategic nuclear weapons, and unveils the International Super-Teams, a large collective super-team intended to enforce both bans. -The US government publicly disband their National Super-Teams, but also created the Paranormal Registration Agency for the legal oversight of Supers, as well as to act as a government liaison with various independent Super-Teams. The USSR, China and other world governments soon follow suit. The Iron Age -Many new Supers begin rebelling against Government oversight and start to operate as Vigilantes. -The organization Citizens for Order, Decency and Ethics (CODE) is founded in Freedom City as a reaction to a growing tide in Vigilantism. The organization calls for greater regulation of costumed and masked heroes. -Andrea Atom and Prince Mentac marks the end of the original Atom Family's adventuring career. -Franklin Moore is elected mayor of Freedom City on a platform of "Zero Tolerance" for crime and vigilantism, including costumed vigilantes. His first act in office is to outlaw costumed heroes with the Moore Act. This act is by other newly elected civic governments also allied with CODE, and leads to a reduction in active costumed heroes. But this also leads to more extreme vigilante activity. -The rise in Vigilantism peaks with the formation of the team calling itself the Justicar, but soon publicly known as the Psychotic Seven: Aquarius, The Red Lion, Jack Union, Jane Union, Manhatten Project, Moss Pit and Hecate. (I might change the membership of this group, though) -The Freedom League reforms to stop the Psychotic Seven from attacking Washington D.C. -Some time later, the Terminus Invasion in Freedom City happens, with many heroes being seriously injured, killed or lost during the battle, with even Centurion giving his life to defeat Omega to turn back the invaders. -Mayor O'Connor officially repeals the Moore Act, making costumed heroes legal again. The Modern Age -The Freedom League establishes strong working ties with the I.S.T. and begins to establish satellite teams worldwide. The new Crime Syndicate also forms during this time; after a few tense early encounters between heroes and villains, negotiations between both factions lead to the formation of the Unspoken Accords, establishing the limits resticting super-fights, to prevent further deaths. Villains and Vigilantes who choose not to adhere to these restrictions are labled "Rogue" and seen as valid targets by both sides. -Claremont Academy re-establishes itself as a school for superheroes.