This thread is to collect my notes on the definite timeline. I'm not including times and dates reference with 'several' here, or making much if anything in the way of estimates. It'll venture back into pre-mending times, with everything referenced from Kaladesh's Release as the present. If you want to add to the list with anything I've missed, make sure to post it in this format. I will not be accepting "Nah, this happened here." Quotes from the source or nothing. There is some 'give or take' here, still, but not from guesstimates.
Basically, I want this to be the 'Anchor' point for other timeline discussion.
20,000 to 30,000 years earlier
Nicol Bolas is born.*
"Says the thirty-thousand-year-old dragon."
Over 6,000 years earlier
On Zendikar: The events of The Lithomancer occur, the Eldrazi are imprisoned on Zendikar. It takes 40 years to build the Hedron prison.
Today, we look back in time, more than 6,000 years ago, to a plane whose name is lost to history.
It took forty years of near-constant work.
Over 1,280 years earlier
On Tarkir: Sarkhan Vol appears and saves Ugin from Bolas.2
Although Sarkhan doesn’t know it yet, when he stepped through the gate, he traveled back in time 1,280 years, into Tarkir’s past.
Several years have passed since Sarkhan Vol saved Ugin from death at the hands of Nicol Bolas.
1,000 years earlier
On Zendikar: The events of Stirring from Slumber occur, and Nahiri goes looking for Sorin.
Over a thousand years ago, one woman stood between her world and the brink of destruction.
On Innistrad: The past segment of Stone and Blood occurs, and Nahiri is sealed in the Helvault.6
One thousand years ago.
Then the Helvault claimed her, and she vanished into a darkness vast and total.
200 years earlier
On Dominaria: Liliana Vess is born.7
Anyways, aren't you like two hundred or something?"
"Ah, but two hundred going on twenty-nine."
Between 200 years and 40 years earlier
The Mending Occurs. Liliana was at least 16 years old when she ascended, likely older. The Mending occurred after that. Nissa, however, was not a pre-mending planeswalker when she ascended 40 years ago (see below), so the Mending occurred between these two known events.
112 years earlier
On Ravnica: Teysa Karlov is born.3
"I am one hundred and twelve years old," the Grand Envoy seethed.
50 years earlier
On Kaladesh: The first Aetherborn appears.8
"Empathic resonance" is what they called it when my kind first crawled out of early aether refineries fifty years ago.
It was the Akhara, the same courtyard Chandra had cut across when making her failed delivery only a few weeks ago.
12 years earlier
On Kaladesh: Chandra’s Origin: Fire Logic ends with Chandra’s Ignition.10
Twelve years after she watched her parents die, Chandra Nalaar returned home to Kaladesh.
6 years, 6 months earlier
On Ravnica: Tezzeret recruits Jace for the Infinite Consortium.1
He remembered the day it began, three years ago and more.
Between 6.5 and 3.5 years earlier
On Regatha: Jace and Chandra battle over the Dragon Scroll. This has to take place while Jace still works for the Consortium in good standing. (Fuel for the Fire)
4 years earlier
On Ravnica: Jace and Liliana work for the Infinite Consortium just prior to them leaving.7
She was fairly certain they would still have her wanted posters up from four years ago, when she and Jace had worked for Tezzeret's criminal Consortium.
3 years, 6 months earlier
On Ravnica: Jace and Kallist switch minds as Jace loses control of his power in a panic.5
And the one time she'd seen him lose control, he'd ended up putting himself under a mental lockout that took half a year and the death of a friend to snap him out of.
3 years earlier
On Ravnica: Kallist’s death restores Jace’s mind to his body.1
For the first time in half a year, Kallist stood face to face with Jace Beleren, the man who had once been his best friend.
On Kamigawa: Jace defeats Tezzeret during the ending of Agents of Artifice.10
"Two years? Impossible, Ajani. Tezzeret died...three years ago, I think? Betrayed by his comrades. Nashi's village, those that survived, they killed him. A dragon bargained for the corpse."
"About a year ago, there was a gorgon assassin operating on Ravnica. A planeswalking gorgon, with a grudge against the Azorius. I stopped her, but...irritated her."
On Innistrad: The Helvault is destroyed by Liliana Vess. Avacyn, Griselbrand and Nahiri are freed.6
One year ago
Nahiri slammed into a surface on her hands and knees, her endless fall over at last.
Between 1 year and 5 months earlier.
On Tarkir: Sorin arrives on Tarkir and is told by Ugin to find Nahiri. 6 months earlier
On Kamigawa: Ajani arrives on Kamigawa to meet with Tamiyo, where he meets Nashi and learns his story.10
On Kaladesh: The Inventor’s Fair is scheduled.7 The Consuls reroute power from an alleged Renegade Neighborhood for the Inventor’s Fair.10
Six months ago," Baan continued, "the Consulate scheduled an Inventors' Fair in the capital city of Ghirapur. It is to begin on the morning following.
"Six months ago, this whole block still had power."
5 months earlier
On Kamigawa: Ajani relates his loss of Elspeth to Nashi as he prepares to leave for Kaladesh.10
Five Months Earlier
Our friends found him in a place called Kaladesh.
On Innistrad: Tamiyo returns to continue her studies of the changing conditions on Innistrad.10
Tamiyo had left last week, telling them to take care of Ajani while she watched somebody else's moon.
4 months earlier (approximate)
On Zendikar: The Gatewatch is formed and defeats Ulamog and Kozilek. (no exact reference)
On Innistrad: Jace arrives on Innistrad seeking Liliana’s help finding Sorin. (no exact reference)
3 months earlier
On Innistrad: The Promised End occurs. Emrakul is sealed into the Moon.7
With the aid of Tamiyo, a soratami scholar of Kamigawa, they defeated the eldritch titan Emrakul, sealing the entity within Innistrad's silver moon.
Three months have passed.
At fourteen, he was a year older than Jace, a head taller, and built like a loading dock.
Jace is 15 when he realizes Alhammarett was decieving him and he is a planeswalker. A few weeks later he sparks and lands on Ravnica, meeting Emmara Tandris.
He’d spent two years as the sphinx’s apprentice, learning the full abilities—and limitations—of his own mind. At fifteen, he was taller, and smarter, and more powerful than he had been before.
He found the paper several times over the next few weeks.
Finally, he saw the true shape of the last two years, saw the perilous edge he’d been dangling from all this time.
Alara Unbroken
Sarkhan spends two years on Jund prior to the events of the Novel.
In the two years sarkhan had spent on the plane of Jund, he had seen dozens of dragons.
Elspeth arrives on Bant two years before the novel as well.
“Well, it’s been over two years since I found Bant, and I haven’t planeswalked at all since then.”
The Quest for Karn
Elspeth encounters Phyrexia for the first time.
“I was eight years old and I saw people ripped apart … slowly.
Godsend Part I
Elspeth in on Theros for several months prior to the beginning of the plot.
She’d been back on Theros for several months, and the more Elspeth learned from visiting temples,...
This looks pretty good, in your mind how close is it to being done? It seems to be missing a lot of stuff from origins and Theros, and stuff relating to Ob Nixilis, Garruk, Guildpact, among other things. It might be helpful to have a list of events that haven't been placed in the timeline yet. This would help in organization and might make it easier for others to dig up sources for timing if they know what events still need to be placed in the timeline.
I don't know if you want to go down this road, as it may become too chaotic, but you might also be able to at least place some events in between others. For example, Garruk's getting cursed happened some time in between 1 and 3 years earlier. This happened after Liliana received the Chain Veil, which was some time after Agents of Artifice, 3 years ago, but before the point 1 year ago when the Helvault was shattered. Same thing for Elspeth's tragic betrayal, which was some time between 2 years earlier, when The Quest for Karn occurs, and 6 months earlier, when Ajani arrives on Kamigawa. I don't have any specific quotes for these, but logically they have to occur between those points at the very least, because of changes in characters (no chain veil vs. chain veil) and characters present (Elspeth on Mirrodin, so still alive, then Ajani saying that Elspeth is dead, so not still alive).
I dunno, I'd like to help out because this is interesting and seems fun. I'd be up for compiling a list of events that need to be placed and seeing how many of them can be placed via source quotes or the relative placement method.
This looks pretty good, in your mind how close is it to being done? It seems to be missing a lot of stuff from origins and Theros, and stuff relating to Ob Nixilis, Garruk, Guildpact, among other things. It might be helpful to have a list of events that haven't been placed in the timeline yet. This would help in organization and might make it easier for others to dig up sources for timing if they know what events still need to be placed in the timeline.
I don't know if you want to go down this road, as it may become too chaotic, but you might also be able to at least place some events in between others. For example, Garruk's getting cursed happened some time in between 1 and 3 years earlier. This happened after Liliana received the Chain Veil, which was some time after Agents of Artifice, 3 years ago, but before the point 1 year ago when the Helvault was shattered. Same thing for Elspeth's tragic betrayal, which was some time between 2 years earlier, when The Quest for Karn occurs, and 6 months earlier, when Ajani arrives on Kamigawa. I don't have any specific quotes for these, but logically they have to occur between those points at the very least, because of changes in characters (no chain veil vs. chain veil) and characters present (Elspeth on Mirrodin, so still alive, then Ajani saying that Elspeth is dead, so not still alive).
I dunno, I'd like to help out because this is interesting and seems fun. I'd be up for compiling a list of events that need to be placed and seeing how many of them can be placed via source quotes or the relative placement method.
I apologize, I didn't see this until more recently. I've added a few notes for Tarkir and Theros, and I've updated the document a little bit to add in a few more approximate dates (as in, we know what range they take place in now).
No worries. Maybe over break I could help contribute if you are open to that sort of thing. I feel like there are probably a lot of opportunities to place events between others that I could help tease out.
No worries. Maybe over break I could help contribute if you are open to that sort of thing. I feel like there are probably a lot of opportunities to place events between others that I could help tease out.
Sure, if people want to start adding to it, I'm happy to take it. For instance, we know Enter the Eldrazi happens before Scars of Mirrodin but after Agents of Artifice because Bolas is rebuilding Tezzeret's body.
This is well done, thank you! Makes everything within the past few years seem so much crazier, since it's all happening so close to one another hahaha
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Not sure if there is a 100% chance of finding it, but if Tesya's age is stated in the Guildpact Novel that would give us an estimate on when the first Guildpact was broken
Fantastic work! I'll make sure to bookmark this page for reference when my own project finally gets to the Post-Mending days!
One question though: because of the two reference in "A Gaze Blank and Pitiless" and "Stone and Blood" ("The doubts had started last year, when Avacyn had mysteriously disappeared" and "One year ago - Nahiri slammed into a surface on her hands and knees, her endless fall over at last.") you only have a very short time for Avacyn to actually be gone. Would it be possible to interpret that first quote as "the doubts had started last year, during the period in which Avacyn had mysteriously disappeared" and to move the actual disappearance further back in time? Or are there more references backing up a short disappearance of Avacyn?
It could be. Avacyn's disappearance timeframe is squishy. Obviously, when people say 'Last Year', and don't specify a month, it could mean almost anywhere in a two year time span, depending on when in the year the person making the statement is and when the previous year the event happened. I don't see a reason why the sealing couldn't have happened closer to Alara (which would have to be before Zendikar but not by much, putting it at around 3 years ago).
There reason I ask is, in the IDW comics Dack Fayden visits Innistrad, where people are saying things like "Avacyn, why have you forsaken us?", heavily hinting that Avacyn is already imprisoned at that point. But later in that comic series Dack meets Malfegor, and Malfegor dies in Alara Unbroken. Since Alara Unbroken features the re-powering of Bolas it has to take place after Agents of Artifice, and since Sarkhan Vol is made Bolas' minion in that novel it has to take place before Zendikar block. You've got the end of AoA and Zendikar both at 3 years ago, so that would place Alara Unbroken at that spot as well, the IDW comics even earlier, and possibly Avacyn's disappearance earlier still.
The timeline of the Dack comics has always bothered me for just this reason. I think it's fair to say Avacyn was in the Helvault 1.5, but could have been imprisoned earlier. Sorin showing up in the Dack comic make it seem to take place during Dark Ascension.
Basically, I want this to be the 'Anchor' point for other timeline discussion.
Reference
Nicol Bolas is born.*
Over 6,000 years earlier
On Zendikar: The events of The Lithomancer occur, the Eldrazi are imprisoned on Zendikar. It takes 40 years to build the Hedron prison.
Over 1,280 years earlier
On Tarkir: Sarkhan Vol appears and saves Ugin from Bolas.2 Several years later, the Khanfall occurs.
1,000 years earlier
On Zendikar: The events of Stirring from Slumber occur, and Nahiri goes looking for Sorin. On Innistrad: The past segment of Stone and Blood occurs, and Nahiri is sealed in the Helvault.6
200 years earlier
On Dominaria: Liliana Vess is born.7
Between 200 years and 40 years earlier
The Mending Occurs. Liliana was at least 16 years old when she ascended, likely older. The Mending occurred after that. Nissa, however, was not a pre-mending planeswalker when she ascended 40 years ago (see below), so the Mending occurred between these two known events.
112 years earlier
On Ravnica: Teysa Karlov is born.3
50 years earlier
On Kaladesh: The first Aetherborn appears.8
40 years earlier
On Zendikar: The events of Nissa’s Origin: Home occurs.7
23 years earlier
On Kaladesh: Chandra Nalaar is born.9
13-14 years earlier
Tezzeret usurps control of the Infinite Consortium. Dubiously canonical, give the source is Test of Metal.
12 years, 1 month earlier
On Kaladesh: Chandra’s Origin: Fire Logic begins.9
12 years earlier
On Kaladesh: Chandra’s Origin: Fire Logic ends with Chandra’s Ignition.10
6 years, 6 months earlier
On Ravnica: Tezzeret recruits Jace for the Infinite Consortium.1
Between 6.5 and 3.5 years earlier
On Regatha: Jace and Chandra battle over the Dragon Scroll. This has to take place while Jace still works for the Consortium in good standing. (Fuel for the Fire)
4 years earlier
On Ravnica: Jace and Liliana work for the Infinite Consortium just prior to them leaving.7
3 years, 6 months earlier
On Ravnica: Jace and Kallist switch minds as Jace loses control of his power in a panic.5
3 years earlier
On Ravnica: Kallist’s death restores Jace’s mind to his body.1 On Kamigawa: Jace defeats Tezzeret during the ending of Agents of Artifice.10 On Shandalar: Liliana Vess comes into possession of the Chain Veil and curses Garruk Wildspeaker. (The Hunter and the Veil, The Veil's Curse)
On Zendikar: Jace, Chandra, and Sarkhan Vol are manipulated by Bolas into opening the Eye of Ugin (Journey to the Eye, Awakenings, Enter the Eldrazi).
2 years earlier
On Mirrodin: The events of The Quest for Karn occur.10 On Zendikar: The ending of In the Teeth of Akoum occurs. The Eldrazi are freed.6
1 year, 6 months earlier
On Innistrad: Tamiyo spends a few months studying Innistrad’s Moon.10 Also On Innistrad: Griselbrand seals Avacyn into the Helvault.4
Between 2 years and 5 months earlier
On Theros: Xenagos ascends as a god, but is struck down by Elspeth, who is herself struck down by Heliod.
1 year earlier
On Ravnica: The Gorgon and the Guildpact occurs.7 On Innistrad: The Helvault is destroyed by Liliana Vess. Avacyn, Griselbrand and Nahiri are freed.6
Between 1 year and 5 months earlier.
On Tarkir: Sorin arrives on Tarkir and is told by Ugin to find Nahiri.
6 months earlier
On Kamigawa: Ajani arrives on Kamigawa to meet with Tamiyo, where he meets Nashi and learns his story.10
On Kaladesh: The Inventor’s Fair is scheduled.7 The Consuls reroute power from an alleged Renegade Neighborhood for the Inventor’s Fair.10 5 months earlier
On Kamigawa: Ajani relates his loss of Elspeth to Nashi as he prepares to leave for Kaladesh.10
On Innistrad: Tamiyo returns to continue her studies of the changing conditions on Innistrad.10
4 months earlier (approximate)
On Zendikar: The Gatewatch is formed and defeats Ulamog and Kozilek. (no exact reference)
On Innistrad: Jace arrives on Innistrad seeking Liliana’s help finding Sorin. (no exact reference)
3 months earlier
On Innistrad: The Promised End occurs. Emrakul is sealed into the Moon.7
0 - Present on Kaladesh (Release Happens)
Unanchored times
Gideon’s Origin: Kytheon Iora of Akros
Gideon is arrested at age 13.
Gideon is released to fight the monsters and sparks at 17.
Jace’s Origin: Absent Minds
Jace is 13 when Alhammarett takes him for training.
Jace is 15 when he realizes Alhammarett was decieving him and he is a planeswalker. A few weeks later he sparks and lands on Ravnica, meeting Emmara Tandris.
Alara Unbroken
Sarkhan spends two years on Jund prior to the events of the Novel.
Elspeth arrives on Bant two years before the novel as well.
The Quest for Karn
Elspeth encounters Phyrexia for the first time.
Godsend Part I
Elspeth in on Theros for several months prior to the beginning of the plot.
Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
Elspeth slays Polukranos a month before Ajani arrives.
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I think you might have had a similar mixup with Gideons age.
Otherwise great work. Another useful resource.
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I don't know if you want to go down this road, as it may become too chaotic, but you might also be able to at least place some events in between others. For example, Garruk's getting cursed happened some time in between 1 and 3 years earlier. This happened after Liliana received the Chain Veil, which was some time after Agents of Artifice, 3 years ago, but before the point 1 year ago when the Helvault was shattered. Same thing for Elspeth's tragic betrayal, which was some time between 2 years earlier, when The Quest for Karn occurs, and 6 months earlier, when Ajani arrives on Kamigawa. I don't have any specific quotes for these, but logically they have to occur between those points at the very least, because of changes in characters (no chain veil vs. chain veil) and characters present (Elspeth on Mirrodin, so still alive, then Ajani saying that Elspeth is dead, so not still alive).
I dunno, I'd like to help out because this is interesting and seems fun. I'd be up for compiling a list of events that need to be placed and seeing how many of them can be placed via source quotes or the relative placement method.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
Bruna, Light of Alabaster | Karlov of the Ghost Council | Breya, Etherium Shaper | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Queen Marchesa | The Mimeoplasm | Avacyn, Angel of Hope |
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Frequent lurker and vorthos player
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The timeline of the Dack comics has always bothered me for just this reason. I think it's fair to say Avacyn was in the Helvault 1.5, but could have been imprisoned earlier. Sorin showing up in the Dack comic make it seem to take place during Dark Ascension.
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[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath