Rohen's Time Loop

Rohen's Time Loop is a series of events orchestrated by the Rohen Tahir to ensure the survival of Eo after the Convocation.

Description

Due to the presence of two different Rohens in it, the time loop is somewhat difficult to explain linearly. For the sake of simplicity, we first have to realise that there are at least three different instances of the event unfolding, with the events we see during the events of SpellForce: The Order of Dawn, likely being the third.

Important to note, that this loop in SpellForce seemingly does not create new timelines, but instead acts as a linear timeline that forms a cycle during which the events perpetually repeat in the exact same way. Imagine this as a line with a circle in the middle of it. There are events before and after the circle that happen normally, while the events inside the circle happen over and over again, not influencing what comes after as they are always identical. In a way, we might think of it as the loop not being there at all anymore, and the events of the Third Loop (as described below) being the defacto definitive way of the events playing out.

While talking about the event, some characters will be named with numbers. These are referring to the loop they belong to. For example, Rohen#1 is from the first loop, while Rohen#3 would be from the 3rd one.

I will try to keep the explanation here concise and to the point, but if you're interested in a more detailed description with more reasoning, please take a look at the video below:

Events

First Loop

The First loop starts after the Convocation and proceeds in roughly this order:

• Rohen#1 survives the convocation and proceeds to collect the Godstones, setting in motion his plan to create a Time Portal.
• He collects the Godstones (or finds a different power source) and travels back, hoping to decide the Convocation for himself.
• He doesn't succeed, but now, two Rohens are alive in the timeline, Rohen#1 (the one who travelled back), and Rohen#2.

Second Loop

• Ereon#2 visits Rohen#1, gives him the Book of the Convocation and makes him change his mind on the outcome of the Convocation. Rohen#1 now also realises that going back through time didn't enable him to decide the Convocation for himself.
• Rohen#1 proceeds to create the portals to reconnect Eo, while Rohen#2 goes with his original plan of collecting the Godstones, as well as getting rid of Rohen#1
• Rohen#1 likely summons the Phoenix Bearer, though these aren't the events we see during the Order of Dawn.
• Rohen#2 kills Rohen#1 via the casket trap, much like in the story we play
• Rohen#2 acquires the Phoenix Stone, Book of the Convocation and completes his time portal
• Rohen#2 travels back through time

Third Loop

These are the events of SpellForce: The Order of DawnItalic text

• Rohen#2 reads the Book of the Convocation and realises that it's a ruse
• Rohen#2 confront Rohen#3 and a fight insues. (Intro of SpellForce: The Order of Dawn)
• The Book of the Convocation likely gets destroyed in the process, prompting Ereon#3 to seek out Rohen#2 and give him the same book, but from his Timeline.
• Rohen#2 realises that there isn't anything he can do to stop the convocation, so he decides to keep the loop going to make sure Eo has a future.
• Rohen#2 proceeds to create the portals to reconnect Eo, while Rohen#3 goes with his original plan of collecting the Godstones, as well as getting rid of Rohen#2
• Rohen#2 summons the Phoenix Bearer
• Rohen#3 kills Rohen#2 via the chest trap. Rohen#2 recognises this trap as he had used it himself in the past, but gets caught in it willingly to keep the loop going.
• Rohen#3 acquires the Phoenix Stone, Book of the Convocation and completes his time portal.
• Rohen#3 travels back through time

From this point onwards, every subsequent loop repeats and is identical to the third loop, closing the cycle and making sure that, no matter what happens, Eo at least has somewhat of a future to look forward to.