A Creator's Guide to Crafting the Unknown

Every world carries the weight of its past.

Beneath every city lies another, forgotten. Every sword was forged in the shadow of an old war. Every lull in peace holds the memory of ancient feuds.

In this chapter, we explore how to build a history that breathes—through timelines, key events, and the stories civilizations tell about themselves (and each other).

Part One: Building a World Timeline

Let's start with the backbone: a timeline of your world's major eras.

You don't need to write centuries of detail—just sketch the key epochs, and how one led to the next.

Common era types:

Age of Creation — Gods or forces bring the world into being

Age of Beasts — Primordial creatures roam freely, mortals are scarce

First Civilizations — Language, cities, magic, technology awaken

Age of Magic / Age of Faith / Age of Discovery — Choose a defining trait

Era of War / Collapse / Plague — The turning point

Reconstruction / Renaissance — What comes after?

Current Era — The "now" of your stories

Each age should feel distinct, but also connected—each one shaped by the fallout of the last.

Part Two: Define Key Events

Once you have your eras, begin to populate them with defining moments. Ask:

What discovered, founded, or fell?

What wars, revolutions, or mass migrations took place?

What magical, technological, or divine events altered the world forever?

Was there a calendar reset moment? (Like "Year 0" after a world-shaping event)

Create a handful of powerful historical beats:

"The Binding of the Sky King"

"The Sundering of the Twelve Cities"

"The Century Without Stars"

"The Uprising of the Forged"

These don't need full explanation—just enough to imply depth and consequence.

Part Three: Winners, Losers, and Forgotten Truths

History isn't just a list of events. It's shaped by perspective.

Who wrote your world's history?

Which version survived—and which was buried?

Are there competing historical records, religious interpretations, or banned chronicles?

This creates fertile ground for:

Scholars and truth-seekers

Rebels and revisionists

Hidden truths and rediscovered legacies

Maybe the villains of yesterday are seen as heroes today—or vice versa.

Part Four: Historical Impact on the Present

Every decision, law, culture, and grudge in your world is rooted in the past.

Ask:

What wounds still haven't healed?

What alliances are built on fragile treaties?

What technologies or magics were lost—and are now feared or hunted?

What legends are based on historical figures, exaggerated over time?

Also consider:

Border tensions from ancient disputes

Cultural pride tied to past victories

Cities built on top of ruins—both literal and symbolic

The past is never really past.

Part Five: Personalizing History

Zoom in. History isn't just kings and empires—it's people.

Add:

Named historical figures—some worshiped, others hated

Lost love stories, sacrifices, betrayals that echo into the present

Family lineages that trace back to pivotal moments

You don't need to write every generation. Just know a few names that matter—and how their choices still ripple outward.

Bonus: Timelines as Tools

Consider making a visual timeline—a simple bar or list showing:

Eras

Key events

Foundings and falls

Major shifts (like magic disappearing, gods vanishing, a second sun appearing)

Keep it flexible. Your timeline should be a living document, ready to expand or shift as you write.