The Cleaved Helm

Saga: History of the Space Vikings

"The Sword Worlds were colonized by Solomani exiles, and must have had jump drives when they arrived, therefore they begin at [tech level] 9 or 10 in -400. . . ."
— Loren Wiseman, "Prologue: Adventures in the Imperium's Past,"
Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society #20

A Brief History of the Space Viking Era

"Thrones quiver; royalty's ranks are thinned.
The sceptre is raised, but no one listens.
Yesteryears' bright promise reeks bitter;
Famine, pestilence, and death stalk the land.
Siva's hordes descend from without;
The Rule of Man ends."
— Roberto Camino, "Crash on Cunnoic (sic)," Gryphon #4

Irresitible Wave blazon of Tizon^[ᚠ]

The history of the Sword Worlds — Sværdverdenerne — began during the Long Night which followed the collapse of the Rule of Man (and four centuries before the founding of the Third Imperium) with the settlement of Gram by Terrans from the war-torn Old Earth Union. Within just a few years the "First Colonies" — Joyeuse, Colada, Tizon and Hrunting — were settled from Gram in an effort to pre-empt the potential for Darrian expansion into Sword Worlds space.

Another century passed before the "New Colonies" — Tyrfing, Sacnoth, Excalibur, Hofud, Durendal and Dyrnwyn — were settled from Gram. In this period limited contact was established with the Zhodani and the Darrians.

With time, Sacnoth began to challenge the traditional hegemony of Gram. Late in the Sword Worlds' second century the "Far Colonies" — Orcrist, Anduril and Narsil — and the "Rim Colonies" — Beater, Sting and Biter — were settled from Sacnoth. Shortly afterward, Gram settled the "Horseshoe Colonies" — Isenfang, Haulteclere and Morglay — the last of the traditional Sword Worlds.

Eventually, Sacnoth and Gram were at war. Sacnoth emerged victorious and established the Sacnoth Dominate, claiming suzerainty over all of the Sword Worlds and moving into the Danuuz, Sepireld and Pilgrim frontiers.

Space Viking Era Timeline

SW^α	Year OT^β	3I^γ	Historical event
-	3151	-1370	Darrian explorers arrive in what is now Sworld Worlds space, eventually reaching all worlds in the region. (AM08, pp. 9-12; GT23, pp. 34-36; GT31, p. 6-7)
-	3251	-1270	Darrians begin establishing scientific outposts on worlds that would ultimately become Sword Worlds — including Anduril, Colada, Excalibur, Morglay, Hofud, Joyeuse, Sting and Tizon — and on worlds in the Pilgrim frontier including Caladbolg, Hoding, Sauvagine, Curtana, Bowman, Quernbiter, Eriksen and Rømer. (AM08, pp. 9-12, 24-25; GT23, pp. 34-36; GT31, p. 6-7; M1, p. 11)
-	3596	-925	In the aftermath of the Maghiz, Darrian outposts in the Sword Worlds, some of which were within range of the physical disruption, lose contact with Darrian homeworld. (AM08, pp. 9-12; GT23, pp. 34-36; GT31, p. 6-7)
-	3721	-800	Last remaining Darrian outpost in the Sword Worlds fails. (AM08, pp. 9-12; GT23, pp. 34-36; GT31, p. 6-7)
-	4101	-420	During the Long Night, a group of Humaniti leaves Terra in the Solomani Rim, eventually making their way to the Spinward Marches.^δ (S08, p. 10; M3, p. 17, 18, 19; AM06, p. 12; J18, p. 13; GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate"; GT31, p. 7)
1 F.E.	4122	-399	Gram is settled. (S03, p. 16; S08, p. 10; S11, p. 22; J18, p. 13; M3, pp. 17, 18, 19; GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate"; GT31, pp. 8-9) Founding Era ("Gram Hegemony") begins. (GT31, p. 86) Settlement "pipeline" established through Aslan space; small groups of compatriots begin making their way from Terran space to the Sword Worlds. (GT31, pp. 8-9)
4 F.E.	4125	-396	Gram establishes minor settlements on the Four Worlds of Joyeuse, Colada, Tizon and Hrunting (the First Colonies). (J18, p. 17; GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate"; GT31, pp. 8, 9, 11)
79 F.E.	4200	-321	Old Earth Union settlers seeking Sword Worlds settle on Caladbolg (TD16, p. 20; GT31, p. 9, 78).
106 F.E.	4227	-294	Gram begins settlement of New Colonies of the near Far Leg — Tyrfing, Balisarda and Excalibur — and of the Dyrnwyn Spur — Hofud, Durendal and Dyrnwyn; Galatine remains a reserve. (J18, p. 17; GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate"; GT31, pp. 9, 11, 55, 99)
108 F.E.	4229	-292	Zhodani traders reach Gram, establish limited trade with some Sword Worlds. (GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate"; GT31, pp. 9, 11) Ancient Darrian ruins discovered on Excalibur; sparking search for ancient ruins on other Sword Worlds.
135 F.E.	4256	-265	Settlement of New Colonies largely complete. (J18, p. 17; GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate"; GT31, pp. 9, 11) Darrian explorers from Mire reach Tizon. (GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate"; GT31, p. 9, p. 11)
c168 F.E.	c4289	-c232	In break with Gram, Balisarda changes its name to Sacnoth. (GT31, p. 77) Sacnoth begins settlement of the Far Colonies — Orcrist, Anduril and Narsil — and the Rim Colonies — Beater (having changed the name from Galatine), Sting and Biter. (J18, p. 17; GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate"; GT31, p. 9, 11, 77 & 99)
c200 F.E.	c4321	-c200	Settlement "pipeline" back to Terran space via Aslan space is broken. (GT31, p. 9) Settlement of Far Colonies and Rim Colonies largely complete. (GT31, p. 9, 11) Gram begins settlement of the far Horseshoe Colonies of Isenfang, Haulteclere and Morglay. (GT31, p. 9, 11, 99)
c212 F.E.	c4333	-c188	First Gram-Sacnoth War begins. (GT31, p. 9; GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate") Settlement of Horseshoe Colonies largely complete. (GT31, p. 9, 11, 89, 92 & 99)
213 F.E.	4334	-187	Gram flagship, the 5000-ton escort Ormen Hin Lange, destroyed in battle against Sacnoth forces. (GJ2723, "The Five States")
1 D.E.	4335	-186	First Gram-Sacnoth War ends with defeat of Gram. (GT31, p. 9) Sacnoth Dominate established. (S11, p. 22; J18, p. 13, p. 17; GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate"; GT31, p. 96 says -187) Dominion Era begins.
22 D.E.	4356	-165	Trade agreement reached with Zhodani.
23 D.E.	4357	-164	Diplomatic relations established with Darrians. (GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate")
25 D.E.	4359	-162	Margadsson Expedition departs Biter for the Pilgrim frontier. Namsmann Expedition departs Biter for the Sepireld frontier.
28 D.E.	4362	-159	Margadsson Expedition returns to Biter from the Pilgrim frontier.
29 D.E.	4363	-158	Namsmann Expedition returns to Biter from the Sepireld frontier. Damsgaard Expedition departs Biter for the Pilgrim Frontier.
30 D.E.	4364	-157	Zisduurkhaar Expedition departs Biter for the Sepireld Frontier.
31 D.E.	4365	-156	Ilmasson Expedition departs Biter for the Sepireld Frontier.
32 D.E.	4366	-155	Damsgaard Expedition returns to Biter from the Pilgrim frontier.
33 D.E.	4367	-154	Khaasira Expedition departs Biter for the Pilgrim frontier. Khaasira Expedition establishes settlement on Hoding in the Pilgrim frontier. (GJ2723, "Trade Pioneers"; GT31, p. 83)
36 D.E.	43701	-151	Zisduurkhaar Expedition returns to Biter from the Sepireld frontier.
37 D.E.	4371	-150	Khaasira Expedition returns to Biter from the Pilgrim frontier. Werlauff Expedition departs Biter for the Sepireld frontier. Ilmasson Expedition returns to Biter from the Sepireld frontier. Acharya Expedition departs Biter for the Pilgrim frontier. Badawi Adventure departs Isenfang for the Danuuz frontier.
38 D.E.	4372	-149	Dominate explores up to ten parsecs into Dannuz, Sepireld and Pilgrim frontiers. Strikr Expedition departs Biter for the Sepireld frontier.
39 D.E.	4373	-148	Badawi Adventure returns to Isenfang from the Danuuz frontier. Lútasson Expedition departs Biter for the Sepireld frontier. Eberlein Adventure departs Dyrnwyn for the Danuuz frontier.
40 D.E.	4374	-147	Bowman Expedition departs Biter for the Pilgrim frontier. Xiong Adventure departs Isenfang for the Danuuz frontier. Eberlein Adventure returns to Dyrnwyn from the Danuuz frontier.
41 D.E.	4375	-146	Linuuska Adventure departs Morglay for the Danuuz frontier. Werlauff Expedition returns from the Sepireld frontier. Kruhl Adventure departs Dyrnwyn for the Danuuz frontier.
42 D.E.	4376	-145	Osferthsson Adventure departs Dyrnwyn for the Danuuz frontier. Xiong Adventure returns to Isenfang from the Danuuz frontier. Linuuska Adventure returns to Morglay from the Danuuz frontier. Strikr Expedition returns from the Sepireld frontier. Bowman Expedition surveys the Bowman Belt in the Pilgrim frontier. (M2A, pp. 7, 8)
43 D.E.	4377	-144	Kruhl Adventure returns to Dyrnwyn from the Danuuz frontier. Acharya Expedition returns to Biter from the Pilgrim frontier. Lútasson Expedition returns to Biter from the Sepireld frontier. Osferthsson Adventure returns to Isenfang from the Danuuz frontier.
44 D.E.	4378	-143	Awair Adventure departs Dyrnwyn for the Danuuz frontier. Bowman Expedition returns to Biter from the Pilgrim frontier. Guerreiro Expedition departs Biter for the Pilgrim frontier.
45 D.E.	4379	-142	Thornom Expedition departs Biter for the Pilgrim frontier. Tygalfsson Expedition departs Biter for the Pilgrim frontier.
46 D.E.	4380	-141	Awair Adventure returns to Dyrnwyn from the Danuuz frontier.
47 D.E.	4381	-140	Guerreiro Expedition surveys Eriksen, Vallmo, Balmung and Sotobosk in the Pilgrim frontier. (M1A, p. 11)
48 D.E.	4382	-139	Tygalfsson Expedition returns to Biter from the Pilgrim Frontier.
49 D.E.	4383	-138	Gram passenger liner Rolf Krake fails to reach destination after entering jump; presumed lost due to misjump. (Ship actually reaches world which will become Aki in Glisten — arriving two years after the Thornom Expedition surveyed Diadem, one parsec to rimward; crew and passengers establish settlement.) (GT31, p. 74) Thornom Expedition returns to Biter from the Pilgrim frontier.
50 D.E.	4384	-137	Guerreiro Expedition returns to Biter from the Pilgrim frontier. Era of the Space Viking campaign.
82 D.E.	4416	-105	Era of the canonical Sacnoth Dominate campaign. (GJ0725, "The Sacnoth Dominate")

Timeline notes:
^α Sword Worlds Eras calendar.
When Gram was settled the event was marked with a new calendar system. The Founding Era (F.E.) calendar begins with Year 1. (The Old Terran calendar was maintained for dates prior to the Founding Era, with no efforts made to connect the two dating systems.)
When the Sacnoth Dominate was formed the government again established a new calendar system, beginning the Dominion Era (D.E.). Founding Era dating continued to be used for dates prior to the establishment of the Sacnoth Dominate, resulting in two distinct Sword Worlds calendar eras: Founding Era from the settlement of Gram to the establishment of the Sacnoth Dominate and then Dominion Era restarting at Year 1. (With the shift from Founding Era to Dominion Era, the calendar system became similar to the Old Terran era name calendar systems.)
(As Sword Worlds history unfolded each subsequent government established a new calendar. As multiple eras reflecting successive governments established by Gram and by Sacnoth unfolded the original Founding Era came to be known simply as the "First Gram Era." Likewise the subsequent Dominion Era came to be known as the "First Sacnoth Era." But these conventions are in the future of the Cleaved Helm campaign. At the time of the campaign the contemporary calendar is that of the Dominion Era and the Founding Era represents the most immediate prior historical era.)
^β Old Terran calendar.
^γ Third Imperium calendar.
^δ Depending upon which historian is retelling the history, the original settlers of Gram are variously described as "exiles" (J18, p. 13; M3, p. 19; GJ0829, "The Sword Worlders" ; GT31, p. 7) or "refugees" (GT31, also p. 7) or simply "colonists" (S03, p. 16; S08, p. 10; M3, p. 17, 18; AM06, p. 12; AM08, p. 12). What all of these historians agree upon is that the original Gram settlers left Old Earth Union space during a time of strife and turmoil, with little advance planning or preparation, and that their expedition enjoyed no formal support from the Old Earth Union government.

Image credits:
^[ᚠ] Original image by Thomas Tamblyn. No endorsement of the Cleaved Helm has been made or is implied.

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