In one ancient world, the human empire of Khemet has thrived for thousands of years. Pharaoh Ramses II has been blessed by the gods, but the world beyond his rule teeters on the brink of a dark age. Can a band of orphans find their fate and become heroes?

• About 2,000 years ago (in “game time”): Khemet (Egypt) is unified under its first kings. Humans domesticate horses and begin using the plow. The “Kin Strife” or the “Sundering” among demihuman tribes. The current era begins.

• About 750 years ago (“circa 1982 B.C.E.”): The Middle Kingdom in Khemet. The Chaldean city of Ur is sacked, ending the first true human urban settlement. Nearby Bronze Age city-states of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro flourish. Nonhumans settle in a portion of Central Asia later known as the “Vanished Lands.”

• About 500 years ago: Laws of Hammurabi codified; copies are sent to Khemet and the Saganim empire. The rise of Old Assyria.

• About 400 years ago: Hyksos rule of the Nile Delta.

• About 300 years ago: The New Kingdom in Khemet, including Queen Hatshepsut. Phoenicians develop first alphabet. Volcanic eruption destroys the island of Thera; Minoans decline (a few Atlantean refugees eventually reach the “Vanished Lands”). Memir makes peace with Hifalendorin rebels [first P.C. parties in Westchester, N.Y.; oD&D-BECMI, 1982 A.D./C.E.].

• About 200 years ago: The reign of the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti. Hebrews learn of monotheism.

• About 100 years ago: Pharaoh Tutankhamun assassinated. Aryans invade India; the “Rig Veda” forms the basis for the Hindu religion and caste social structure. The Ebir Sheikdom and Garku Nasit go to war; Transfer Portals first used [SUNY-Binghamton, AD&D1, c. 1986].

• 53 years ago: Ramses II takes the throne of Khemet.

• 36 years ago: Saganim human pirates steal from the Coral Temple and are cursed with Undeath by the Thalassaquendi. “Capt. Jack Kildare” [Randy K.M./N.P.C.] alters the terms of the Scourge by appealing to Krakas, lord of the maelstrom.

• 19 to 14 years ago: The Exodus. Drow Ranger “Faelonia” [Dexter V.H.] and her companions serve as scouts and diplomats during the Six Kingdoms War, which involves the realms of Gokuri, Gusorin, Hifalendor, Waletku, Zeda, and Zuromm. [AD&D2, 1987 to 1991]. New kings take the throne in Hifalendor, Saganim, and Waletku.

• 13 to 11 years ago: The “Children of the Elder Gods” and “Children of Champions” participate in the “Chaos Wars,” among many other adventures. Clan Nakagawa founded. [NYPIRG at Queens College-CUNY, 1990 to 1991].

• 10 to 8 years ago (“1236 B.C.E.”): A group of children is orphaned in Khemet. The Trojan War ends; Achaean/Mycenaean Greeks decline. The crew of the airship Longshot searches for metallic dragons. “The Paragon” restores contact between giants and the Zeda kingdom and builds Morbaltek in the Ivory Mountains [GWU/BNA, Virginia, 1993 to 1999].

• 7 years ago: In the northwestern borderlands, the “Liberators” battle Orcish warlords, retrieve the Axe of the Dwarvish Lords, and discover the lost city of Eagle’s Rest (near Dosh Kar); the Nannuattan seize the Temple of Elemental Evil [CW, Boston area; D&D3.0, 2000 to 2002].

• 6 years ago: The privateers aboard the Dragon’s Bane sail the Sea of Nagendwa, meet aquatic races, and repel the dreaded ghost fleet from Hesolin. Former members of the “Dragonslayers” later explore Eagle’s Rest and Tel Silat [D&D3.5, 2002 to 2004]. They also help destroy the Flying Citadel, found the Gargoyle Headlands and a monastery/dojo, and slay the Undead gold dragon Daneira in the port of Gisar.

• 5 years ago: The exploits of Theseus. “Mystical Harmony/the Seekers of Lore” fight monsters on the Plains of Sathendo before adventuring through time [2005 to 2006]. The “Broken Chains” wander the Halmed Desert and Emein Island as Goblinoids migrate from Zuromm to the Garku Nasit. “Holy Steel” sets out for distant Khemet [2007 to 2008].

• 4 years ago: The “Faith-Based Initiative” retrieves relics for the barbaric Gusorin Confederation [TT, D&D4e, 2009]. Gokuri takes control of Tekugi. “Holy Steel” fights intrigue in Ramses II’s court; Prince Sethemwie and “Ibrahim” [Byron V.O.] exiled [ Pathfinder, 2010].

• 3 years ago: The “Uncommon Companions” wander the borderlands between Hifalendor and the Waletku kingdom, encountering followers of the mysterious Vappu Lahja. Members of the “Broken Chains” reunite, and “Holy Steel” travels the outer planes [FATE 3e Legends of Anglerre, 2011].

• 2 years ago: Former performers from “Vistel’s Circus” (Party 39) defend Saganim from corruption and giants, journey to Falit and the Zarendo Islands, and even travel through time and space to free slaves. As the crew of the airship Zephyr, “Vistel’s Expedition” visits Gisar, Alfhileno, and the Astral Plane before defeating Vappu Lahja [D20/FATE, 2012 to 2015].

• 18 months ago: As the latest wars wind down in the east, a team is tasked with escorting a slippery Nannuattan diplomat. It uncovers spreading chaos in Tong Sheng and traces its sources [Party 40, “A New Dawn,” 2013 to 2015].

• 6 months ago: The privateers known as the “Storm Riders” (Party 41) aboard the Interceptor monitor the growing threats on the Sea of Nagendwa. The “Shadow Wyvern Company” heads west ahead of the Ghost Fleet (Party 42) [EH-RBR, D&D5e, 2015-2016].

• Present day (“5 February 1226 B.C.E.”): The Egyptian orphans begin their adult adventures. Early attacks by the “Sea Peoples.” The Iron Age begins in Mesopotamia; Hittites expand. [Party 43, 2018]

“Talons of Tanis,” Player Characters for Gene D.’s “Vanished Lands: Journey From Khemet” heroic fantasy campaign, using Dungeons & Dragons 5th Ed., as of spring 2018:

• “Maketre Kenamon” [Beruk A.]: male D’mt Pesedjer Bahati (Ethiopian human Monk-Kensai), outsider and weapon master from Punt; LNg

• “Khafre Maa Keru” [Byron V.O.]: male Khemtian Pesedjer Ghaffir (Egyptian human Paladin) of Anubis, god of the dead; sage sworn to an oath of vengeance; LGn

• “Smrithi” [Brian W.]: male Pesedjer Hekai (Egyptian human Sorcerer), Djinn-touched wild mage and charlatan; CGn

• “Zyren Akahlay” [Bruce K.]: male Pehesset Shenu (Half-Elf Bard), sometime criminal and member of the College of the Sword; CGn

• “Farooq Fairbottom” [Rich C.G.]: male Ptahmenu Ghazi (Dwarf Cleric), acolyte of sun god Amun-Re; NGl

• “Zikak” [Drew S.]: male Aarakocra Khebenti (bird-man Rogue), inquisitor in the Medjai; LNg

• [Dexter V.H./ absent ]: male Nubian Eseteri Bequenu (Sudanese Elf Arcane Archer); LNg, Lvl. 1