Raharrs:History
History
Prehistory
The Harr solar system was artificially created by the Ancients about two and a half billion years ago. Harr must have been created already in a form suitable for the emergence of life, with liquid water on the surface and primitive photosynthetic multi-cellular organisms.
After the creation of the solar system, the Ancients no longer interfered with development (or did so in ways that left no trace), and life developed at a normal pace. Sixty million years ago, the first Raharrids, the common ancestors of the Raharr and all related species living today, appeared on the scene. Raharrids were relatively small carnivorous animals, gathering in temporary packs and leading a semi-aquatic, semi-arboreal lifestyle. Apparently, they were a fairly successful niche predator, comfortable in the forests and rivers of the time.
About 30 million years ago, the Harr plunged into another of its short but harsh glacial periods. By this point, the raharrids had split into many separate species, including proto-raharrs. Proto-raharrs were noticeably larger in size, reaching about two-thirds the size of the modern raharr. The Ice Age was a severe test for the population: declining temperatures, the emergence of winters, and an impoverished biosphere put the population through a "bottleneck" and nearly provoked the extinction of the species. However, the proto-Raharrs were able to adapt to the new conditions and become omnivores. The population decline forces the proto-raharrs to begin to aggregate in permanent packs, which serves as a catalyst for the rapid development of true social relationships within the pack. This allows them to expand and secure their food supply, leading to an increase in numbers and a period of "Second Dawn of the Raharrs". Raharrian ancestors continue to increase in size, though at a much slower rate than before. The middle of the Ice Age (15 million years ago) becomes the most severe, forcing the proto-Raharrs to migrate to the equator, to the area that would come to be known as the Origin of Rirrkh.
The Raharr continued to evolve in this part of the continent, and by the time the Ice Age receded (~250,000 years ago) and the planet returned to its normal state. The Raharrs of those times were already much closer to sentience, possessed an extremely advanced brain and advanced social structure, and probably had rudimentary speech. They are beginning to re-populate their former habitat area, and the skills they have acquired allow them to reach the other two continents of the planet as well.
Ancient history
Subsequently, the oldest known centers of civilization, proto-cities, whose remains have partially survived to this day, emerge on the two hemispheres almost simultaneously, respectively named Source Rirrkh and Source Riyk. The ancient city of Source Rirrkh failed to become the dominant power of the region, and held few lands, remaining mainly a central place for trade, but still remained the most developed place on the continent for many centuries. In contrast, the city of Source Riyk was the foundation of a large and vast civilization that long remained behind the scenes of the struggle between nations because of its relative inaccessibility by land - the way for both foot caravans and military campaigns was blocked by the Great Desert of Riyk, the largest desert region on the planet, with temperatures at its heart that could reach the boiling point of water. After a while, the tribes of the continents united under the Northern and Southern Empires, marking the beginning of their long and difficult relationship with each other, which more than once escalated into war.
In 2366 Before Realization, Garn Kahto Sha is born, a figure virtually mythical in Harr history despite all evidence of his existence. He was described by his contemporaries as "a stern leader, whose radiant mind could outshine the suns themselves," but he remains in history as a legendary conqueror who almost single-handedly erected one of the planet's oldest and largest states. Garn possessed extreme military and political ability, far superior to any adversary he might have encountered among the disparate tribes of the western continent. At the age of 30, he begins his conquest and conquest campaign, lasting 26 years and ultimately culminating in the Continental Empire with Garn as emperor. Despite the fact that the Empire was called Continental, in reality, it did not occupy the entire continent, as compared to the heavily populated equatorial regions of the western continent, the northern and southern extremities were extremely sparsely populated and considered virtually uninhabited. Garn conducted no military campaigns in these areas, but still considered them the property of the empire. As the largest city on the continent and at the crossroads of many trade routes, Garn chooses Rirrkh as the capital of his empire. Garn spends the next 10 years setting up his empire and organizing life there, then turns his gaze eastward, where he finds new continents and new lands. His thirst for conquest awakens in him again, and Garn dreams of creating a World Empire. After 18 years of preparing for a new military campaign, Garn offers the eastern countries to join his empire, and then, after receiving a refusal, tries to seize the territories by force. This provokes a severe war that lasts for the next 20 years. Garn eventually realizes the futility of trying to create a World Empire and concludes a forced truce, after which he returns to the western continent. There, until his death, Garn was busy adjusting and strengthening his Empire. The system created by Garn Kahto Sha was able to survive for two thousand years.
Pre-space age
The development of technology allows to push the boundaries of the possible, and simplify travel between continents. Raharrs turn their gaze to the sky, and begin to develop the art of astronomy. This is helped by the primitive telescope invented in 712 P.R., which is used to make the first maps of Harr's satellites, and the first models of the solar system. The second era of warfare begins, with the Southern Empire conducting an attempt to traverse the Great Desert from the south to attack Riyk from what was believed to be an unexpected direction. The Southern Empire had long coveted the legendary riches of Riyk, but the Great Desert prevented a land campaign, while Riyk had a good defense against a sea attack, due in part to the nature of the coasts in that part of the continent, almost entirely composed of impregnable cliffs with rare well-protected harbors.
However, the Riyk turned out to be much more widespread to the south than thought, and the military march was spotted in time and counterattacked before they could reach the warmer latitudes. The Riykians, more accustomed to such conditions, force the enemy army to flee. Following this, Riyk enters the world stage in full force, ending their long hold on neutrality. Riyk reclaims part of the territories of the Southern Empire, and invades the northern islands to the east of the Northern Empire, which is originally mistakenly seen as an attack by the Southern Empire. Some time later, Riyk decides to move the capital closer to the equator, to warmer and more fertile regions (and closer to the center of the country, which will give it greater security and efficiency in governing the region), where it will remain until modern times, gradually growing into a megalopolis. The invention of the steam engine makes riverboats self-propelled and fast, leading to a radical and revolutionary change in shipping, making it significantly more reliable and safer.
120 years P.R. an expedition takes place to the Isle of the Ancients, then known as the Burning of Hopes. In spite of its large size, the island remained uninhabited by the Raharrs. When crossing the ocean, ships tended to keep to the north, as storms were not uncommon around the island. At times ships sailed close enough to the island to see it on the horizon, but even from that distance the hostility of its conditions was instantly apparent. Few ventured closer, but at close range the unfriendliness and aridity of the land became even more evident. There were several occasions in history when ships for some unknown reason crashed on the shores of the island, but none of their crews were able to survive the conditions that reigned there. Research during the expedition showed that the Island is not completely lifeless after all, and there is a thin and poor border of vegetation stretching along the coast, but there were no large animal species on the entire island, as well as no sources of fresh water. Surface exploration also did not reveal any deposits of minerals or metals that would have been worth all the difficulties encountered by the miners. Due to the inhospitable nature of the island, mapping is extremely hasty and the expedition does not stay there long - the temperature on the island is too high even for the desert folk, and it is impossible to replenish water and food supplies. The island is marked as unpromising and useless land, and it will take another four centuries before the island returns to the center of any attention.
Realization event
Harr's civilizations continue to conquer scientific and technological progress. The world's first heavier-than-air aircraft is created and successfully launched into the sky. Although it crashes on landing, crippling the pilot, everyone remains extremely optimistic about the potential of this discovery. Nearly universal electrification of Harr's major population centers is achieved. Shortly thereafter, a campaign begins to build an observatory complex beyond the southern polar circle, as the most convenient site for observing various celestial bodies. The southern and northern empires begin to change their political strategies, concentrating on easing relations between them for the sake of their prosperous economies. A couple of decades later, their efforts prove sufficiently justified when both sides sign a peace treaty to unite in the Condominium of the Empires and end their centuries-long feud. At the same time, the first stages of construction of the housing complex near the South Pole are completed, and construction of the main observatory tower begins. A decade later, the Condominium is reformed, the two Empires create a unified government and completely erase their borders, forming the new Releksh Foundation Soon the construction of the observatory complex is completed as well. It is now the most advanced institute for the study of astronomy, equipped with the latest technology. Despite its location in extremely inhospitable and remote latitudes, the new observatory begins to draw the best scientific minds from all over the planet. Almost immediately, observations of the suns reveal the presence of some objects in very close orbits around the stars. Despite the equipment of the observatory, at the moment it is not possible to examine the objects in detail. Meanwhile, the world is experiencing an industrial boom. New technology makes economic ties stronger and more efficient, and more cargo ships are at sea than ever before. This provokes conditions for the development of piracy, with many islands breaking away from their states and declaring themselves independent in order to attract pirates and their prey.
Space age
Major historical events:
The time is counted from the moment of the discovery of the Star Stabilizers by the Raharr (Realization event), or P.R. and is in raharrian years.
Timeline
- ~1 million years P.R.
The first signs of tool use, the Ice Age begins to end. - ~400 000 years P.R.
End of Ice Age, signs of use of fire. - ~20 000 years P.R.
The Raharrs spread to the territory that would later be the Source Riyk. - ~5 000 years P.R.
Development of agriculture, appearance of the first permanent settlements. - 2 500 years P.R.
Founding of the Northern and Southern Empires. The western continent is divided among a large number of tribes. - 2 310 years P.R.
Discovery of the first simple physical laws, the birth of scientific thinking occurs. Tribes of the western continent begin to unite under Garn Kahto Sha, who proclaims the Continental Empire. - 2 300 years P.R.
The Continental Empire comes into contact with the Northern and Southern Empires. - 2 282-3 258 years P.R.
Garn tries to unite both empires with his own. This provokes a war that lasts a couple of decades, after which it fades and ends in a forced truce. The technology of the time did not allow for any effective warfare across the ocean and the resources of the warring parties eventually depleted. Garn Kahto Sha dies without ever wishing to resign as emperor at the age of 108. - 1 200 years P.R.
The Southern Empire experiences a revolution, becoming the Federation of the Sun. - 1 150 years P.R.
The Federation of the Sun becomes mired in corruption, shortsighted management causes famine and poverty, and a bloody rebellion breaks out in the process of which the Southern Empire is rebuilt. However, since the Emperor's family line was interrupted fifty years ago, the new Empire has little in common with the old one, in fact only in name. Almost immediately, the new Emperor attempts to conclude a peace treaty with the Northern Empire. - 712 years P.R.
Invention of the telescope, first maps of Harr's satellites created. The Source Riyk, remaining neutral until now, become active, halting and reversing the Southern Empire's exploratory-conquest campaign on its borders. Territories of the circumpolar regions, previously considered unpopulated, also fall under the influence of the Riyk. The Northern Empire takes this as a conquest by the Southern Empire and breaks the peace treaty. - 500 years P.R.
The mastery of the steam engine provokes the invention of the steam boat, leading to a revolution in shipping, making water transportation significantly more reliable and safer. Skirmishes between the Continental and Southern Empires resume. A revolution takes place in the Continental Empire, causing the state to break up into dozens of republics. - 120 years P.R.
Invention of the internal combustion engine, beginning of mapping of the Isle of the Ancients. An island scorched by heat, without any resources, inhabitable territory, or great strategic value, remains unclaimed by anybody. - 40 years P.R.
The first heavier-than-air aircraft in Harr's history achieves sustained flight. After flying for 2 minutes, it crashes on landing, nearly killing the pilot in the process. - 23-17 years P.R.
Completion of construction of the first blocks of the colony at the South Pole. Beginning construction of observatory. The Southern Empire and the Northern Empire create a condominium of Empires intended to end a centuries-long feud. - 10 years P.R.
The condominium of the Empires reforms into the Releksh Foundation. - 2 years P.R.
Completion of the construction of an observatory. Installation of the Solar Telescope in it and directing it to the suns. Discovery of Stabilizers. Formation of Independent Islands. - Realization
Improvement of the telescope allows Stabilizers to be seen in detail. The realization of their artificial nature throws the world into a stupor, all major nations are gripped by religious hysteria. - 2 years A.R.
The world is still raging in the aftermath of the Stabilizers' discovery. The system's largest sun produces a powerful coronal ejection, and Harr heppens to be right in its path. A powerful geomagnetic storm envelops the planet for five days, and leads to the global destruction of infrastructure. The entire electrical grid of the planet is destroyed and leads to a large number of fires. The effect of this catastrophe is superimposed on the unrest caused by the Realization, and mass riots and suicides break out, throwing civilization backwards in development. The South Pole colony is cut off from supplies from the mainland. - 5 years A.R.
The Rrirkh Republic declares itself "Source Rrirkh," and aims to recreate the Continental Empire and unite the disparate republics back into a single state. A new philosophical and religious movement begins to sweep the world, describing the creators of the Stabilizers as supreme beings and postulating the abolishment of negative emotions. The movement, thanks to the founder's skillful propaganda, is rapidly gaining followers. The Source Riyk are mired in civil war, large areas are splintering off and demanding independence. The South Pole is uninhabited again. - 256 years A.R.
The internal combustion engine is reinvented. "Followers of the Ancients" convert half of Harr's population. Source Rrirkh occupy most of the continent, mostly annexing republics on a voluntary basis. The Source Riyk regain political stability and integrity, while annexing part of Releksh's territory. - 280 years A.R.
Nearly 85% of Harr's population are adherents of the 'Followers of the Ancients' philosophy. South pole base is rediscovered and repopulated. The bodies preserved there from events nearly three hundred years ago are honorably buried and elevated to the rank of national heroes. A check with the lists preserved at the station showed that not all of the bodies had been found. The most likely version of the missing is that some of the station's population decided to try their luck and make it to the southern mainland on the ice. Their bodies were not found. - 335 years A.R.
Rrirkh has reached the goal of uniting all the republics of the continent, and turns attention to the Independent Islands. The level of science reaches its new peak. Rrirkh launches the planet's first artificial satellite. Artifact X is discovered on the Isle of the Ancients and a base is set up to study it. - 337 years A.R.
The base, established to study the artifact, organizes a rebellion and declares its independence, proclaiming itself the Science Corporation. Rirrkh and Riyk join together to suppress the rebellion, but are crushed and repelled by the Ancients' technology, which has been reactivated by the scientists. The Science Corporation enters into a non-aggression and cooperation agreement with all the leading powers of the world. Religion, based on the philosophy of the Followers of the Ancients, begins to show signs of decline. - 350 years A.R.
The first models of neuroimplants are created and begin to spread. - 378 years A.R.
The Yhish epidemic. By this time, many among the world's population have neuroimplants installed. These first models had the ability to communicate wirelessly with the planet's internet. This shortsightedness turned to tragedy when a self-modifying spam virus discovered a vulnerability in the neuroimplant's network protocols, allowing it to access all subsystems in order to spread. The result of the virus activity was extensive brain damage, in most cases accompanied by fatal damage to the brain stem, which provoked the cessation of reflex body functions (such as breathing), and subsequent death. The incident is named after the presumed point of origin of the virus, the city of Yhish. The cumulative death toll reached three hundred thousand before the virus could be isolated from further spread. Fortunately, the lethality of the infection played a positive role in limiting the number of victims, since the neuroimplant almost immediately went into hybernation mode when the host died. If it had been able to function longer, the number of victims could have been measured in the millions.
The epidemic had a huge impact on revising the entire augmentation industry and related safety protocols, resulting in regulations that outlawed implants with wireless capability. - 380 years A.R.
The first spacecraft equipped with hypergenerator based on the Ancient technology, enters orbit. The unmanned prototype was to make a jump to the nearest solar system and then immediately jump back. The ship successfully completed the first point of the mission, but then disappeared. The first prototype of antigrav plate is created. - 390 years A.R.
An active study of the solar system is underway. Hephrene, which was used in many technologies of the Ancients, was discovered on Gaulurr. It allows to improve the technical parameters of Raharrian technology. Six of the first exploratory ships are built and sent to the surrounding star systems in search of planets suitable for colonization. The missing unmanned prototype was not found. Science Corporation attempts to open The Ancient artifact by placing a thermonuclear charge on its surface. The attempt leads to nothing but destabilization of the rock, increased risk of collapse, and minor radioactive contamination, hampering the work of the research teams. The first blocks of the underwater settlement are laid and drained. - 395 years A.R.
The first contact between the Raharrs and the extra-Harrian civilization takes place. An explorer ship encounters a Sashli explorer ship in the third solar system on its way, who also conducted exploration of the space around them. - 410 years A.R.
The religious aspect of the Followers of the Ancients is considered to have ceased to exist, leaving behind only small sects. Atheistic and agnostic attitudes among the Raharr civilization reach a global historical high. - 490 years A.R.
The Raharrs convene a meeting of ambassadors of all known species and vote to approve a galactic Alliance of Civilizations, designed to facilitate the processes of relationship and mutual assistance between the various species of the galaxy. The meeting has been going on for several months, during which time various questions about the future of the alliance have been discussed. During the discussions, several species declined to participate in the Alliance because of the contradictions that arose. The remaining civilizations settled their misunderstandings and eventually the Alliance was founded. - 540-543 years A.R.
Conflict with the Insectoids. An Insectoid colonization ship enters the orbit of a Raharrian colony. The ensuing contact turns into an aggression, and the insectoids bombard the planet from orbit. Subsequently, a full-fledged war was averted by Sashli efforts. - 576-588 years A.R.
the Vainur Incident. - 740 years A.R.
Contact with Humans, the events of the "Leaving the Cradle" webcomic take place.
Date Converter
Leaving the Cradle | The Cliff World | ||||||
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Species |
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Organizations | Alliance | Independent Worlds | Science Corporation | Politics | |||||
Technologies | Hephrene | Interstellar Travel | Spaceships | |||||
Places | Planet Harr (Nelnusarr star) | "Shining" Space station | "Dawn" class spaceships | Artifact X | |||||
Characters | Gharr | Zane | Hekaht | Ahshu | Quantum | Nea | Dan | Mark | Val | ! Virus | |||||
Events | ! Overall chronology | |||||
Further reading: | Civilization development stages | Instruments | Ideas | |