Rushwater Holt History & Timeline

What follows herein is a rough description of Rushwater Holt's history of major events affecting the tribe such as tribal splits and moves, past holts, and the chieftain line including Recognitions, births and deaths.

This history is nowhere specific and/or detailed and only the years after the holt's founding are near correct due to elven memory.

NOTE: RWH's timeline is NOT the same as Warp's original quest timeline. As such, it cannot be compared to the ElfQuest books as Cutter and his original tribe of elves have not even been born yet, according to the timeline below.

Historial Timeline
Unknown Date	High Ones land on World of Two Moons.
~ -1 352	Wolfrider tribe splits between Two-Spear and his sister Skyfire. Two-Spear follows his mad quest to find an ancient elvin dwelling and wars on nomadic humans due to his hatred of them.
~ -1 342	Ancient elvin dwelling is found and Two-Spear plans a new holt while his madness appears to increase. His daughter Kahvi challenges Two-Spear for chieftainship of the tribe but loses. Two-Spear moves the tribe back to nomadic drifting on the plains, leaving Kahvi for dead.
~ -1 339	The tribe splits again, this time between Two-Spear and an elder named Snakethrower who is sick of his chief's madness and deviance from the Way. Snakethrower leads his fellow Wolfriders who wish to return to the Way west of the plains.
~ -1 338	After much traveling and nomadic wandering, the tribe comes across an old, thick forest with traces of elvin magic, humans and preservers. Forbidden Grove Holt created.
~ -1 318	Snakethrower Recognizes Stormhawk.
~ -1 317	Snakethrower dies in an exploration mission. Stormhawk takes up the chieftainship.
~ -1 316	Stormhawk gives birth to Surewolf.
~ -1 302	A harsh winter causes extended hunting parties. Stormhawk and a fellow hunter are killed by a tree-horn. Surewolf becomes chief.
~ -884	Surewolf Recognizes Dampdawn.
~ -882	Swiftsting is born to Surewolf & Dampdawn.
~ -881	Game runs low and starvation threatens the tribe once more, lasting for several months.
~ 736	Dampdawn is killed by a rogue human hunting party.
~ -716	Surewolf falls from a weak branch in the marsh and is attacked by bloodworms. Swiftsting becomes chief.
~ -503	Swiftsting Recognizes Gentlestar.
~ -501	Silkweed is born to Swiftsting & Gentlestar.
~ -387	Lightening sets fire to the northern reaches of the forest. Elves spend weeks putting out the blaze - much land is burnt to a crisp and many game animals are forced to move.
~ -386	Limited food due to past fire forces a hunting party to the plains. Swiftsting and Gentlestar are killed by a giant bristle boar. Silkweed becomes chieftess.
~ -91	Silkweed Recognizes Gruffheart.
~ -89	Highbelt is born to Silkweed & Gruffheart.
~ -55	Humans encrouch closer into the forest and the elves' territory. The tribe picks off several humans and scare them away.
~ -45	Drought strikes the holt stream and a small band of sword-feet attack the tribe in search of food and water. Silkweed is killed in the battle and Highbelt becomes chief.
~ -5	Highbelt decides to move the tribe south-west as the land can no longer support them and humans continue to threaten the holt.
0	Rushwater Holt, named for the fiercely flowing rivers at the forested base of high canyons, is founded on the western coast of the Vasp Deep Waters.
144	Highbelt Recognizes Rainpetal.
146	Redmoon is born to Highbelt & Rainpetal, who almost dies during the labour.
364	Rainpetal dies in a hidden patch of strangleweed. Highbelt is stricken for weeks and is challenged for chieftainship by an upstart who concurrs to a loss.
482	Highbelt dies from a mineral deficiency due to bellyworms. Redmoon becomes chief.
529	Redmoon Recognizes Snowthorn.
531	Latethaw is born to Redmoon & Snowthorn.
614	Redmoon is bitten by a fox and develops foaming sickness. For the safety of the tribe, Redmoon exiles himself (as they currently had no healer). Latethaw takes up the chieftainship. Snowthorn goes with Redmoon to care for him and returns many moons later - she refuses to speak about the matter.
855	Humans once again encouch towards the elves' territory, this time a nomadic tribe of elf fearing/hating humans the elves name "Land Lopers". Occassional battles begin between the Land Lopers and the Sky Singers as well as the elves during the seasons the humans pass through the elves' territory.
920	Latethaw Recognizes Shadowmoss.
922	Soulseeker is born to Latethaw & Shadowmoss.
1 108	The holt is overcome by a snake explosion - 4 tribemembers, including Shadowmoss, die from snake poison.
1 275	Latethaw is found dead by a long-tooth while hunting. Soulseeker becomes chief.
1 392	A new band of humans the elves call "Sky Singers" move into the region and populate the northern forest. The elves try to scare them off to no avail.
1 428	Soulseeker Recognizes Woodshine.
1 430	Wildstar is born to Soulseeker & Woodshine.
1 459	A small band of elvin youths discover a near-by troll colony during their first hunt.
1 496	Elves suspect trolls of capturing missing tribemates. Cold war between elves and trolls ensues for five year duration.
1 501	Civil war breaks out in troll colony due to pressures from elf cold war. Splitjaw leads the dissident party, slays King Gnarl and is himself crowned.
1 516	Amicable trade between the elves and trolls begins - elves gain metal weapons, jewellery and other troll crafts.
1 693	Woodshine is accidentally killed, caught in the middle of a battle between Sky Singers and Land Lopers. The worshipful Sky Singers manage to save her body and take it back to their clan. Soulseeker leaves the tribe to regain her body - he is successful but disappears after her howl and is never seen again. Wildstar takes up the chieftainship.
1 703	A hurricane comes off the Vast Deep Water and destroys much of the forest and surrounding area and floods the canyon rivers.
1 742	Glimmer & Bucksprout are captured by curious Sky Singer humans but are soon rescued.
1 747	Present year (when RWH opened - 1998).

1 real year = 4 RWH years
January February March	1 year - winter game play Celebrations: Grand Bonfire
April May June	1 year - spring game play Celebrations: Wolf bonding, Highbelt's Hunt
July August September	1 year - summer game play Celebrations: Taal
October November December	1 year - autumn game play Celebrations: Dreamberry Feast & Chieftain Howl, Dance of Joining

Recent Timeline
1748 Oct, Nov, Dec. 1998	Silversong, Colorcast's mother & Wise Elk's mate found dead while hunting alone. Surefire, Clearheart and Cloudtouch arrive at RWH.
1749 Jan, Feb, Mar. 1999	Lionheart born to Surefire and Clearheart.
1750 Apr, May, June 1999	Cloudtouch returns to Sorrow Woods. Dawnmist and Halfkin Recognize. Birchbark overcomes her fear of hunting by joining in Highbelt's Hunt.
1751 July, Aug, Sept. 1999	Silverwolf goes in search of her soul name but does not return. Dapple runs off after her. Willow Walker, Ravencloud and Bladeshore happen upon the Land Lopers preparing to sacrifice an unknown elf (Nightwalker). They try to rescue him but are caught and killed themselves.
1752 Oct, Nov, Dec. 1999	Beechnut born to Dawnmist and Halfkin, Purehaven becomes the foster father. A tornado ripes through the canyons, killing Shadowglen and her wolf friend, Darkwind. Silverwolf and Dapple return from Silverwolf's soul name search. Colorcast and Birchbark lovemate and tree together.
1753 Jan, Feb, Mar. 2000	Lovemaker and Rock hold a contest to see how many of the tribe's women they can seduce. Rock wins but the two are treed by the retalitory women when they discover the plot. An unusaully harsh cold snap hits RWH making food scarce - elves are forced to hunt further from the holt. Wishsong and his wolf-friend Scorn are killed during an extended hunting mission. Birchbark's second wolf-friend, Flight, dies from old age and scarce food. Clearheart's wolf-friend, Moonhowler, dies in a pack fight.
1754 Apr, May, Jun. 2000	Woodsmoke and Silverblade lovemate. A hunger crazed tuft cat enters the holt, attacking and killing Windsoul. Wind Dancer, and their wolves, Blackfeet and Icebite, come to her aid but the wolves are slain, too and Wind Dancer dies from his injuries. Woodsmoke's wolf-friend, Bluehaze, dies due to a lean winter, little food and old age. Clearheart and Surefire break their lifemating. Clearheart and Wise Elk lovemate. Firemoss and Nettle Recognize. Sunsilk contracts bellyworms from her wolf-friend Stormshy and the two die. Dustmask, Duskwater's wolf-friend, dies from wounds inflicted by Land Lopers. Honeyhue finds her soul name while sneaking into the Sky Singers' village and she discovers herself to be a rock shaper. Rock and Dreamberry lovemate, Wildstar balks at the notion of joining them.
1755 July, Aug, Sept. 2000	Sweet Tear changes her name to Smokepath and takes up tracking. Clearheart bonds with her new-found wolf-friend, Rainbow. Dreamshadow and Woodsmoke Recognize. Shadowpool and Silverwolf die together hunting branch horns. Shadowpool is gored by the beast's antlers during the death blow. Silverwolf is kicked from the rock ledge when jumping to Shadowpool's aid. Nettle returns with special trades from the trolls, including a specialized sword called the "Whistler Sword" for Tendril. Colorcast has a strange dream of Wildstar apparently in trouble and sneaks out after her. Land Lopers attack Sky Singers, kidnapping a Sky Singer youth as hostage. Lonewolf discovers the war camp and youth, trying to rescue him but the youth is killed and Lonewolf barely survives himself. Colorcast rescues a hawk she names Beauty from humans.
1756 Oct, Nov, Dec. 2000	Clover born to Firemoss and Nettle, Duskwater is adoptive father. Wolfstrider changes his name to Survivor. Whitewater discovers a band of maurading, rogue crocodilians and leads them away from the holt but is killed in the process. A huge war between Sky Singers and Land Lopers bursts forth, with the elves caught in the middle. Land Loper youths kidnap Rainbow, Clearheart manages to rescue her but loses her left incisor tooth in the process. After the Dance of Joining, Wildstar finally concedes and decides to den and lovemate with Rock and Dreamberry. Lionheart wanders out of the holt in search of his father, Surefire.
1757 Jan, Feb, Mar. 2001	Echo born to Dreamshadow and Woodsmoke. Surefire returns to RWH. Dirk and Surefire Recognize. Surefire's wolf-friend, Nighthunter, dies.
1758 Apr, May, Jun. 2001	Clearheart and Snowbird drown in a flash spring flood caused by a sudden microburst storm while swimming.