History of the Chaos Timeline (280 ABY – 902 ABY)

Pre-Plague Era (280–425 ABY)

• 280 ABY: The Galactic Alliance remains the dominant galactic government, maintaining an uneasy peace after the tumultuous centuries following the Legacy Era. Minor regional conflicts and cold wars simmer (for example, standoffs with Imperial holdouts in the Unknown Regions), but no galaxy-wide war erupts during this period. The galaxy enjoys a fragile stability in the decades before the next great catastrophe. (The Alliance's prominence is confirmed by records up to the mid-400s ABY.)
• 425 ABY – The Gulag Plague ("Zero Hour"): A deadly pandemic known as the Gulag Virus is unleashed on Csilla by a terrorist called Zero, triggering a galaxy-wide outbreak. The Galactic Alliance, having sustained years of war, goes on high alert as the plague spreads rapidly. Despite quarantine efforts, the virus proves devastating – galactic population is halved within a few years. Interstellar travel grinds to a halt, and governments collapse under the strain. The Gulag Plague marks the beginning of a legendary dark age in galactic history.
• 430–834 ABY – The Four Hundred Year Darkness: For roughly four centuries, the galaxy endures a dark age caused by the plague. In this era of isolation, countless worlds are cut off as hyperspace travel virtually ceases. Major institutions fall – even the Jedi and Sith orders dwindle to embers. Many planets regress technologically and survive in feudal conditions. Only scattered enclaves and hidden bastions (local warlords, bunker-governments, and a few Jedi in hiding) manage to endure. By the mid-700s ABY the plague finally burns itself out; by 737 ABY the virus had weakened and "slowly recede[d] across the galaxy". As the Gulag Plague fades away, the long process of recovery begins and the stage is set for a new chapter of galactic history.

Post-Plague Chaos (835–844 ABY)

• 835 ABY – Resurgence of Galactic Powers ("Galaxy At War"): The Gulag Plague is officially declared over, and the galaxy awakens from its long nightmare. New governments and factions spring up to fill the power vacuum. The Galactic Republic is re-established on Coruscant (successor to the old Alliance/Republic), while surviving Sith cults and Imperial remnants coalesce into a new Sith Empire. Other groups rise as well: Mandalorian clans unite under a Mand'alor, the Hutts reassert control in Hutt Space, and corporate/military coalitions (e.g. the Omega Protectorate and Fringe Confederation) claim independent territories. Conflict is immediate – the fragile post-plague peace collapses as these powers jockey for territory and influence. By the end of 835 ABY, the galaxy is once again aflame with war on multiple fronts, a state of affairs remembered as the "Galaxy At War" period.
• 835 ABY – The Clockwork Rebellion: Amid the early post-plague turmoil, an ancient AI overlord named Omni launches a surprise droid uprising. Without warning, trillions of war droids rain from the skies over major worlds – "Every major capital began to swarm with droids… Trillions of droids streamed into the galaxy like a black mass". Coruscant, Dromund Kaas, Corellia, Fondor and more come under attack by Omni's automatons, resulting in untold slaughter. This crisis, known as the Clockwork Rebellion, forces even rival factions to momentarily unite against the threat. Eventually Omni is defeated and the droid hordes are shut down, but not before millions perish. The Clockwork Rebellion of 835 ABY is remembered as the first great galactic catastrophe of the new era.
• 836 ABY – The Dark Harvest Crisis: The year following Omni's attack brings another horror. A mysterious outbreak of technogenic and biological zombies – believed to be spawned by Sith alchemy – erupts on multiple planets, an event dubbed "Dark Harvest." Entire settlements are overrun by undead monstrosities, and panic spreads faster than the contagion. Mandalorian warriors and Jedi healers eventually contain the infestation, tracing it to a Sith artifact and destroying its source. However, the Dark Harvest crisis claims countless lives and instills a lingering fear across the galaxy. Coming so soon after the droid rebellion, 836 ABY confirms that the galaxy's recovery will be anything but peaceful. (No connected official records detail this event, but it is well known in Chaos lore.)
• 837 ABY – Masks of Madness: A bizarre galaxy-wide phenomenon occurs, wherein many individuals (including prominent leaders and fighters) experience shared hallucinations and false realities. In what is later understood as the Masks of Madness event, people are drawn into an elaborate series of psychic simulations ("Acts I–III") orchestrated by an unknown force. Entire battles and adventures are revealed to have been mere illusion. Finally, in Act IV, the victims awaken in a prison on an alien artificial planet, surrounded by both allies and enemies – all of whom had been unwitting pawns in this cosmic experiment. Realizing the deception, the captives (Jedi, Sith, Mandalorians, etc.) riot and fight their way free amid chaos in the prison. The Masks of Madness event ends with the prisoners' escape and the destruction of the facility. The mysterious puppeteer behind these nightmares is never definitively identified, but the experience leaves many survivors traumatized and furious at having been made "puppets on a string".
• 838–840 ABY – The One Sith War: Taking advantage of the chaos, a resurgent Sith faction strikes in the late 830s. The One Sith, a secretive order inspired by ancient Sith teachings, launch a massive offensive against the Galactic Republic. In 838 ABY, the One Sith shock the galaxy by sacking Coruscant, utterly overrunning the Republic's capital world. The Jedi Temple on Coruscant is destroyed in the assault, and the Supreme Chancellor is killed or driven into exile. With Coruscant fallen, the One Sith establish their own dark regime in the Core. Over 839–840 ABY, the Sith rapidly expand, conquering world after world in the Core and Colonies. The Republic and Jedi are forced onto the defensive, retreating to fortress worlds like Ossus and Anaxes. This period marks a major power shift: by the early 840s, the One Sith Empire holds Coruscant and much of the Galactic Core, while the Republic fights desperately to survive.

Galactic Upheaval and Recovery (844–856 ABY)

• 844 ABY – The Netherworld Event (Great Disappearance): Without warning, reality itself is disrupted on a galactic scale. In mid-844 ABY, millions of people vanish overnight – victims of spontaneous portal rifts that open across the galaxy. This mysterious mass disappearance, later understood to be the work of a powerful Force entity, becomes known as the Netherworld Event or Great Disappearance. Entire populations, from ordinary citizens to top leaders, are whisked away into the mystical Netherworld of the Force. The galaxy descends into chaos: "governments were swept away and worlds fell outside the sphere of influence of the great powers". The One Sith Empire and the struggling Republic alike are thrown into disarray as their leaderships are decimated. Months later, the vanished individuals reappear just as mysteriously as they disappeared, returning from the Netherworld. But the damage is done – the psychological and political fallout is immense. The Netherworld Event shatters whatever fragile stability remained, exacerbating the power vacuums across the galaxy.
• 845–848 ABY – Republic Schism and the Galactic Alliance: In the wake of the Netherworld crisis, the Galactic Republic is left weakened and vulnerable. Internal strife soon erupts. The Republic's Prime Minister, Natasi Lasedri, enacts extreme measures, including a covert operation to eliminate an Imperial Remnant refuge that had been given asylum in Republic space. Lasedri secretly grows a clone army and in 846 ABY launches a coup, attempting to purge her political opponents and seize dictatorial control. This sparks a civil war within the Republic; on worlds like Carida, Republic loyalists, Imperial refugees, and Lasedri's forces clash openly. The turmoil, known as the Republic Schism, leaves the once-great Republic on the verge of collapse. By late 847 ABY, Natasi Lasedri is defeated and disappears, but the Republic is irreparably damaged. In 848 ABY, the Republic's remaining senators and military leaders join with sympathetic former Imperials and independent systems to form the Galactic Alliance – a new unified government dedicated to resisting the Sith. Essentially an amalgam of the old Republic, surviving Jedi, and other anti-Sith factions, the Galactic Alliance establishes its capital on Sullust and later Corellia. As the Republic formally disbands, the Alliance becomes the primary light-side power in the galaxy. (The formation of the Alliance is not explicitly cited in connected records, but is a well-known development following the Republic's collapse.)
• 849 ABY – The Omega War: A new galactic crisis unfolds as a rogue Imperial warlord faction unveils an ancient superweapon called OMEGA. This massive weapon, hidden on the remote world of Castameer, has the power to devastate entire planets. The emergence of the Omega device prompts an unprecedented temporary alliance: Jedi, Sith defectors, Mandalorians, the Galactic Alliance, and even the One Sith (distrustful of the rogue faction) all converge on Castameer to prevent galactic destruction. Intense battles rage on the planet and above it – an event remembered as the Omega War. In the end, the coalition forces manage to destroy the Omega superweapon and defeat the warlord's forces. The Omega War not only neutralizes a doomsday threat but also deals a final blow to remaining One Sith elements (many of whom are present and are wiped out in the fighting). With the One Sith Empire effectively broken by 849 ABY and the prior Republic reborn as the Alliance, the balance of power shifts again. The Galactic Alliance moves to reclaim Coruscant soon after the Omega War, restoring a democratic government to the old Republic capital.
• 851 ABY – Incursion of the Contingency: Another unexpected threat strikes the galaxy in 851 ABY. Without warning, a network of ancient AI war machines – known only as the Contingency – launches a series of surprise attacks on key worlds. Advanced droid armies and automated warships assault planets from the Deep Core to the Outer Rim in a calculated sequence. The Galactic Alliance and Jedi eventually discover that a hidden AI overlord (an ancient machine intelligence) is behind these incursions. In a campaign of running battles, the Alliance and its allies manage to locate the AI's base and destroy the core controlling intelligence, disabling the droid hordes. This crisis, referred to simply as the Incursion, is brief but fierce. It serves as a reminder that not all galactic threats are flesh-and-blood – some are artificial and lurking in the galaxy's forgotten corners. (The Timeline records list 851 ABY: "Incursion" as a major event.)
• 856 ABY – Chaos in the Core (Fall of the Galactic Alliance): By the mid-850s, new dark side powers have been gathering strength. A New Sith Empire, led by the Sith Emperor Darth Carnifex, has formed in the Outer Rim, and the First Order, an Imperial-descended regime, has risen in the Unknown Regions. In 856 ABY, these forces strike. The Sith Empire and First Order coordinate major offensives against the Galactic Alliance, igniting a widespread conflict famously called "Chaos in the Core." The Alliance, now based on Corellia, finds itself attacked on multiple fronts. Sith fleets push in from the Outer Rim while the First Order assaults Alliance territories from the west. The war reaches a climax with the Battle of Coruscant (856 ABY) – Darth Carnifex's Sith legions invade Coruscant, and despite fierce resistance, the capital falls once again to the Sith. The Galactic Alliance's government is decapitated; many Alliance leaders either die or flee during the Sith onslaught. Following this catastrophic loss, the Alliance splinters. By late 856 ABY, the Galactic Alliance collapses as a formal government. The Core Worlds descend into anarchy, now divided between Sith-occupied zones and independent warlord states. This dark chapter earns its name – the Core is in complete chaos. 856 ABY thus marks the end of the Alliance's golden age and the start of a new reign of Sith terror in the Core. (This period is identified in records as "Chaos In The Core".)

The Third Galactic War (856–867 ABY)

• 857–860 ABY – The Mandalorian Excision: In the power vacuum after the Alliance's fall, the Sith Empire turns on the Mandalorians. The Mandalorian clans had formed their own empire during the 850s, but now face the wrath of the Sith. In a brutal campaign, the Sith Empire launches surprise strikes on Mandalorian space. The Siege of Mandalore (858 ABY) is particularly infamous – Sith fleets bombard Mandalore's surface with nuclear and orbital weaponry, inflicting apocalyptic damage. The planet Mandalore is effectively razed, and untold millions of Mandalorians are killed. The once-proud Mandalorian Empire disintegrates; survivors either go into hiding or become nomadic mercenaries. This purge, sometimes called the Mandalorian Excision, removes the Mandalorians as a major galactic power for years to come. (While no single source is cited here, the Mandalorian genocide is a well-known event in the Chaos timeline following 856 ABY.)
• 858 ABY – A Spiraling Galaxy: By 858 ABY, the galaxy is engulfed in conflicts on every side. With the Alliance gone and the Sith Empire ascendant, other factions rise to challenge the Sith's domination, causing the situation to "spiral" out of control. In the northern Outer Rim, a faction of former Imperial officers and Moffs breaks away from Carnifex's rule – they form the New Imperial Order (NIO) and declare war on the Sith Empire, igniting an internal Imperial Civil War. At the same time, an extragalactic threat emerges: the Bryn'adûl, a race of brutal aliens from beyond known space, invades the galaxy. The Bryn'adûl begin wiping out entire sectors (especially in the Outer Rim and Wild Space), committing genocide on non-Bryn populations. Their advance is rapid and destructive, putting them on a collision course with everyone else. Thus, around 858 ABY, the galaxy faces multiple simultaneous wars: Jedi vs. Sith, Imperials vs. Sith, and everyone vs. the Bryn'adûl. This unprecedented turmoil is reflected in the historical tag for this year – the "Spiraling Galaxy" – as no single authority can stabilize the situation.
• 860–863 ABY – The Third Imperial Civil War: Fighting intensifies between the New Imperial Order (led by Imperials who reject Sith rule) and the Sith Empire. This conflict, essentially the Third Imperial Civil War, sees major battles on worlds like Muunilinst, Mygeeto, and Bastion. The New Imperials receive covert aid from the remnants of the Galactic Alliance and the Jedi, who see an opportunity to topple the Sith. In 862 ABY, the New Imperial Order scores a pivotal victory by capturing Bastion (the Sith Empire's strategic fortress capital in the Outer Rim). This emboldens the NIO/Alliance coalition to push further coreward. Meanwhile, the Bryn'adûl War rages concurrently: the Bryn'adûl legions swarm through the Outer Rim from the Unknown Regions, obliterating Hutt Space and encroaching on the Mid Rim (their campaign is so ruthless that battles are often termed "annihilations" rather than mere invasions). The Galactic Alliance is reborn during this time as well – Alliance holdouts and liberated worlds formally reconstitute the Galactic Alliance government-in-exile, partnering with the New Imperials to combat both Sith and Bryn'adûl. The period 860–863 ABY is thus marked by total war on a scale unseen since the ancient Jedi–Sith wars, with multiple existential threats confronting the galaxy simultaneously.
• 864 ABY – Annihilation Campaigns: The year 864 ABY is a turning point in these wars. By this time, the Galactic Alliance–New Imperial coalition has driven deep into Sith territory while also trying to hold back the Bryn'adûl. In early 864, the Sith Empire makes a last stand in the Core Worlds. A massive multi-fleet engagement – the Battle of Dromund Kaas – results in the Sith capital (Kaasis) being overrun and the Sith Emperor Carnifex fleeing. The Sith Empire effectively disintegrates afterward, though Sith insurgencies persist. Concurrently, the Bryn'adûl launch an all-out assault toward the Core. In what's known as the Siege of Corellia, the Bryn'adûl nearly overwhelm Corellian space, but a united Alliance, Imperial, and Jedi force manages to halt them. The term "Annihilation" is used to describe these confrontations, as entire fleets and planets are obliterated in the fighting. Ultimately, by the end of 864 ABY, the Bryn'adûl are beaten back from the Core and suffer critical defeats (their war-chief is slain in battle), effectively halting their expansion. The combined victories in 864 ABY – destruction of the Sith Empire and the neutralization of the Bryn'adûl – save the galaxy from utter devastation. However, the toll is catastrophic: multiple worlds lie in ruin and the galactic population has been terribly thinned once again.
• 867 ABY – Oblivion and the End of War: The year 867 ABY is regarded as the formal end of this era of conflicts. The last Sith strongholds fall; the once-mighty Sith Empire is consigned to oblivion as remaining Sith Lords are hunted down or go into hiding. The New Imperial Order, having achieved its goal, establishes itself as the legitimate Imperial successor state controlling large swaths of the Outer Rim and Northern Territories. The Galactic Alliance, now re-centered on Coruscant (which was liberated), controls the Core and Colonies. Meanwhile, the Bryn'adûl are completely defeated in a final engagement at Sev Tok (a battle in which Jedi and Imperial Knights unite to exterminate the Bryn'adûl leadership). With the Sith Empire gone and the Bryn'adûl genocidal crusade stopped, the galaxy finally finds a moment of respite. The historical entry for 867 ABY aptly bears the moniker "Oblivion", symbolizing the end of the old threats. The galactic map has been redrawn once more: two major powers (the Alliance and the New Empire) stand, and countless lesser factions have room to emerge in the ashes of war.

The Modern Era and Current Timeline (874–902 ABY)

• 874 ABY – Rise of the Underworld: In the aftermath of the great wars, with the major governments focusing on rebuilding, the criminal underworld experiences a renaissance. Crime syndicates, cartels, and gangster dominions fill the void left in destabilized regions. Hutt Space, which had been ravaged by the Bryn'adûl, is reoccupied by Hutt clans regaining their power. Organizations like Black Sun, the Exchange, and various spice cartels expand rapidly. This swell of illicit power is noted in the timeline as "Rise of the Underworld". By 874 ABY, the galactic underworld is so influential that it can sway politics; some impoverished or fringe planets come to be ruled outright by crime lords. The major factions (Alliance and New Empire) tolerate or quietly work with some of these underworld elements as they rebuild their own strength. The late 870s ABY thus see a shadow boom – an economic and cultural flourishing driven by smuggling, bounty hunting, and black-market enterprises.
• 880–899 ABY – Uneasy Peace: The period from the late 870s through the 890s is comparatively calm by Chaos standards. The Galactic Alliance and the New Imperial Order (often now called simply the Imperial Bloc or New Empire) maintain an uneasy peace. The Cold War-like détente between Alliance and Imperial territories persists – neither side wants another full-scale war. Both governments focus on reconstruction of infrastructure and integration of worlds devastated by the Bryn'adûl and Sith. The Jedi Order, reconstituted and headquartered on worlds like Ossus or Coruscant, works to keep peace and help war-torn populations. A small Imperial Knights order (light-side aligned Imperials) does the same in Imperial territory. During these decades, there are smaller conflicts and flashpoints – e.g. a few border skirmishes between Alliance and Imperial forces, a short-lived Confederacy resurgence in the Outer Rim, and campaigns to stamp out remaining Sith cults or pirate kingdoms. But none of these flare into galaxy-wide wars. Culturally and technologically, the galaxy recovers: hyperlane trade is fully restored, core worlds are rebuilt to their former glory, and exploration of unknown regions resumes. Still, veterans of the last war remain vigilant, knowing that peace in the Chaos galaxy is always fragile.
• 900 ABY – Galaxy Convergence: As the galaxy enters the 900s, historians mark this year as a significant turning point. After decades of relative stability, 900 ABY is labeled the year of "Galaxy Convergence." This term is somewhat abstract, but it reflects how various disparate threads of the galaxy seem to converge: the Galactic Alliance and New Empire begin formal peace talks and cooperation agreements, essentially forming a loose galactic concord not seen since the days of the Old Republic. There is also a sense that destiny is converging – ancient threats have been defeated, and for the first time in centuries, the galaxy is not dominated by Jedi–Sith conflict or a single looming war. Some interpret "Convergence" as the galaxy finally coming back together as one community after the fragmentation of the plague and wars. Technologically, there's a convergence as well – innovations from across former enemy lines are shared, leading to advances in hyperdrive and terraforming that benefit many worlds. Though not an "event" in the explosive sense, 900 ABY stands as a milestone year heralding a new chapter of cooperation (and cautious optimism) in the Chaos timeline.
• 902 ABY – Planeshift (Current Timeline): In the current year, an enigmatic new phenomenon grips the galaxy. Strange reports emerge of dimensional disturbances – areas where the fabric of reality is weakening. This event is termed "Planeshift." Unexplained occurrences multiply: bizarre portals or rifts flicker on a few remote planets, and ships vanish only to reappear far off-course. Some individuals claim to have encountered beings "not of this galaxy." The galaxy's researchers and Force-users grow concerned that the barriers between planes (dimensions or universes) are shifting. The major governments quietly investigate these anomalies, while cults and opportunists seek to exploit them. By mid-902 ABY, a few stable gateways to other realms have reportedly formed, confirming that Planeshift is not mere rumor. This ongoing event poses unprecedented questions: Will it lead to an invasion from another universe, a new frontier for exploration, or perhaps the return of long-lost beings? As of now (902 ABY), the Chaos galaxy stands on the threshold of another transformative era, with Planeshift dominating discourse as the latest challenge the galaxy must face. The coming years will determine if this new era brings salvation, destruction, or something far stranger to the inhabitants of the galaxy.

1. Rolled [1d10] - [1d6] = [10] - [4] = [+6]
2. Previous position: [31]
3. New Position: [31] + [+6] = 37

"Things fall to dust. Lose a Resource for which y ou
have no corresponding Memory. Do not create a new Experience for this Prompt, it simply happens as you stare in silence. "

Click to expand...

• Changes to Character Sheet:
  • Resource is now lost to Time:
    • Ruins of Keldab Vevut'tal

1. Rolled [1d10] - [1d6] = [9] - [1] = [+8]
2. Previous position: [37]
3. New Position: [37] + [+8] = 45

"Your body is undergoing further corruption and
change. When do you first notice these new changes? Create a Mark. "

Click to expand...

• Changes to Character Sheet:
  • New Mark has been added:
    • Red Eyes of the Sangnir

1. Rolled [1d10] - [1d6] = [3] - [3] = [+0]
2. Previous position: [45]
3. New Position: [45] + [+0] = 45

"Your body is becoming more effective as it becomes less human. Create a Skill based on one of y our Marks."

Click to expand...

• Changes to Character Sheet:
  • New Skill has been added:
    • Anima-Fueled healing

1. Rolled [1d10] - [1d6] = [3] - [1] = [+2]
2. Previous position: [45]
3. New Position: [45] + [+2] = 47

"The world has evolved in ways you can’t comprehend,
causing you to lose a good amount of w ealth.
What happened? Check a Skill. Create a Skill
that will hopefully prevent this happening again.
Lose a Resource. ."

Click to expand...

• Changes to Character Sheet:
  • Skill Checked:
    • Anima-Fueled healing
  • Skill created:
    • Bounty Hunting
  • Resource Lost:
    • Sealed Datacube of Clan Vevut'tal