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.
This is the official canon timeline of the SpellForce series with most important events in chronological order.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 45.000 b.c. | The first dragons appear in Godeland and the first Shapers on Xu |
| 40.000 b.c. | At the height of their empire, the Shapers begin enslaving other races due to the influence of the Archfire. The Dragons rise up and defeat them, forcing the survivors to go into hiding. Soon thereafter, the first, primitive races appear. Their lives are meager and humble as the dragons still ruled over Eo |
| ~1000 b.c. | Dwarves from the Grimwarg Mountains meet humans who keep themselves alive in the icy caves of the Windwall. They taught the young race about the world, the gods. The Age of Swords begins. |
| ~ 965 b.c. | Janus Malacay is born in the marshes of Muire. Soon after, the first dragon killers will begin hunting the giant lizards. |
| ~940 b.c. | The Hybernian Empire is founded by the god-emperor Chlerus the Blessed One. The dragons are pushed back to Godeland. As a result, humans take possession of the plains. At the same time, the other races notice the new balance of power caused by this. |
| ~850 b.c. | Zarach creates the Orcs, Trolls, Dark Elves and Fial Darg in the Black Jungle on Xu. Him and Nor get banished from Eo for defying the rules of Aonir. |
| ~750 b.c. | The War of the Six Races as a result of the Dark Races wanting to free their renegade gods. |
| ~720 b.c. | Disintegration of the Hybernian Empire into the kingdoms of Highmark, Nortander and Empyria. The elves of Finon Mir lock their borders for foreigners. |
| ~600 b.c. | The War of the Six Races ends with the intervention of the guardian gods and the fall of the Fial Darg on the Godwall. The Black Legion is defeated. |
| 518 b.c. | The Mage Wars end and the Circle is established in unison by all races in order to keep the misuse of magic in check. |
| ~50 b.c. | Because of internal difficulties and disagreements the mages of the Circle disband. Each mage continued his researches on his own. |
| "0" | The Convocation is triggered by the former circle mages while Aonir's Eye being clouded by the Dark Roamer. The Primal Elements shattered Eo to pieces and killed most of the mages. |
| 8 a.c. | Rohen Tahir summons the Phoenix Bearer and sets her free. Because of the Dark One's plans, the Battle of Fiara turned the remains Nortander into a battlefield once more. |
| ~10 a.c. | Cenwen gets abducted from the Frostweaver Rift by a Fial Darg. The Aryn Crisis caused a major crisis due to Aryn awakening from his slumber. It could be resolved in time by the Shadow Warrior and his allies. |
| ~14 a.c. | Hokan Ashir lures the god of wisdom, Ereon, into the Bone Temple inside the Black Jungle. With the help of the Life Essence he then begins reviving his former rivals of the Circle as loyal slaves. |
| 15 a.c. | The Phoenix is being released from the Phoenix Stone by both the Phoenix Bearer and the Shadow Warrior. The Circle is gone for good. |
| 15 - 18 a.c. | The Messenger helped Toth Lar to resurrect his father Nazshar from the dead. Upon learning about his crimes by Nightsong, he supported her in killing him again. However the shadows had already made contact with the dark elves. |
| ~19 a.c. | With the shadows being interwoven with the dark elf race by Sorvina and her son Toth Lar, the Pact was forged. The Dracon Craig Un'Shallach was killed in combat with the shadows, and his daughter Nightsong was forced to flee to the Iron Fields. |
| ~24 a.c. | The archfire infused portals made by Rohen begin to loose their power. The Shaikan were making contact with the elder dragons of The Refuge. King Ulf was tempted by Riddengard to give in to the Blessed Ones and their archfire power. A Shaper rose back to power and attempted to take over the kingdom of Highmark before being confronted and defeated by the Shaper Conqueress. |
Author's Note:
- The dates are presented in years and are roughly estimated.
- The terms b.c. and a.c. are telling whether it happened before or after the Convocation.
