Kenshi takes place on an unnamed tidally locked moon, with a history spanning several thousand years. Much of it is shrouded in mystery, with legends, lies, and myths mixed in with the historical records. This is a vague timeline of events we know to have happened, sorted as close to chronological order as possible with our limited knowledge. Much of this information on this page is speculative and should not be considered 100% accurate.
The First Empire - A powerful and technologically advanced civilization, possessing automated factories, satellites, genetic engineering, giant robots, and space elevators. Unknown how long they existed, what came before them, how far their reach extended, or if they were even from Kenshi's world or not; regardless, they were advanced to the point of godlike levels compared to the modern times in the world of Kenshi. Possible rusted remains of spacecraft can be found around the continent.
The War of Behemoths - At some point, a war broke out between the First Empire and an unknown enemy. The war was very destructive and used weapons so powerful that their owners began to fear the consequences of using them, such as the Behemoths, giant Skeletons that tower over the normal races.
Obedience - Due to their fear of the Behemoths, the Ancients decided to dispose of them. Taking advantage of their unquestioning loyalty, the Ancients ordered the Behemoths down into a massive pit and then betrayed their servants by encasing the pit in solid metal. (Possibly included the ordering of suicide among normal skeletons, as there are apparently many cases of skeleton bodies found with suicide as the cause of death. Unconfirmed if related.)
The Chaos Age - A time of many calamities, from dangerous celestial activity, to natural disasters, to plagues, to a skeleton rebellion (possibly in vengeance for Obedience). It's unclear exactly what happened, but it brought the great empire of the Ancients to its knees, and humanity to the brink of extinction. According to ancient legends, the calamities were stopped by a being named Chitrin, though the validity of these legends is impossible to say.
The Second Empire is Founded. Many hundreds or thousands of years after the Chaos Age, to redeem themselves in the eyes of humanity for their actions of the past (though the humans had long since forgotten), Cat-Lon and his Skeleton followers founded an empire. They attempted to rebuild civilization and study the remains of the Ancient Empire.
The Northwesterners Turn to Cannibalism. At some point, and for reasons unknown, the humans in the northwest developed a taste for human flesh. Cat-Lon's empire spent a fair number of resources combating them, including the formation of a militant group known as the Hydraulic Knights. These knights would combat the external enemies of the empire, such as pirates and cannibals. The cannibal tribes have legends that speak of a skeleton warrior they know as "The Inedible One." It is highly likely that this warrior was a member of the Hydraulic Knights, possibly their leader General Jang.
The Empire starts to Crumble. While initially founded with good intentions, to keep the peace, the empire became more and more dictatorial. Child prisons, crackdowns on piracy and religious cults, and the killing of many of their own innocent citizens in the process much-inflamed tensions amongst the human populace. The Second Empire's military began decapitating dissident skeletons, enthralling any 'traitors' who sided with the humans. When a great famine hit, the empire neared its breaking point.
The Founding of the Holy Nation. While details from this time are sparse (and rarely trustworthy), legends say it was around this time that a great leader of humanity stepped forward and gathered his followers in rebellion. Legends call him the Phoenix, champion of the god Okran and possessor of the everlasting Holy Flame. He liberated the imprisoned humans, and eventually went on to found one of the oldest living civilizations to this day, The Holy Nation.
The Fall of the Second Empire. It is unclear what actually caused the fall of the empire. The most reliable evidence would suggest betrayals from the inside, possibly combined with the rebellion of the Okranites. Regardless, the empire collapsed. Their leaders retreated into the dangerous Ashlands, where they reside to this day. The rest of the empire fell into ruins, though some settlements like the Black Desert City survived, and many likely became the towns the United Cities reside in to this day.
Appearance of the Hivers. Though it is unclear when or how the Hivers appeared, it is evident they were not around much, if at all, at the time of Cat-Lon's empire at least not in a form recognizable as a Hiver. Whether they mutated from humans or came from a land across the seas, they appeared and have been a resident of our lands ever since.
Appearance of the Modern Shek. While it is likely the Shek existed during Cat-Lon's empire, and possibly even back to the days of Ancients, they did not have the appearance they currently sport. Their previous appearance was much more similar to a standard human, as they lacked the horns they are known for, and were known as Enforcers. It is unknown what role they played in the empires of old, though given the name it is possible they were a soldier caste, dedicated to fighting their master's enemies. This could explain the Okranite belief of them being "Servants of Darkness" if they fought on opposite sides during the human rebellion against the Second Empire... The truth, however, has been lost to time.
The Rise and Fall of Kral. For as long as anyone can remember, the Shek were simple tribes living in the wilderness, divided and warring regularly. At one point, a great Shek warrior named Kral unified the tribes into a powerful kingdom, taught his followers a code of honor and strength, and led them into a march of conquest. Eventually, however, he was slain in battle against an enemy force that legends say outnumbered him a hundredfold. After his death, he attained near godlike levels of worship from his followers, who want nothing more than to die in a great battle like him. As such, they have continued their raiding and warlike ways with their neighbours ever since.
The Birth of the United Cities and the Traders Guild. It is implied that the United Cities and Traders Guild were formed in the ashes of a former empire. Whether this was the Second Empire itself or another one is unknown, but the United Cities and the Traders Guild seized power and began to institute new laws regarding slavery, where people would be free of the tyranny of the former empire, and only the criminals would be relegated forcefully to the mines and farms. However, much like the Second Empire in the past, the term of 'criminal' was found to be more and more loosely applied. During the formative years of the United Cities, anti-government rebels invented Spring Bat crossbows to counter the Empire's heavy Samurai.
62nd Holy Lord Phoenix: Per Holy Nation tradition, taken from birth parents and raised in isolation by the High Priest. Indoctrinated in Okranite religion and trained to rule. Known as one of the harshest Phoenixes; at age 16, judged and sentenced his own family to purging by Holy Flame. Since then, he has championed Okran's unrelenting will.
Red Rebellion and Rise of Emperor Tengu: Decades ago, severe drought and famine devastated the United Cities' southern plains. Supplies via Traders' Guild were blockaded by bandits and Shek raiders; surviving goods were seized by nobles, leaving lower classes starving. Rebellion ensued, killing many nobles and Emperor Anzai. Rebels were crushed, survivors enslaved. Cruel, impulsive Emperor Tengu ascended from the Nobles' Circle, intensifying oppression—poor are now arrested and enslaved preemptively as threats to stability.
Destruction of Bast: Once prosperous with fertile farmlands and trading towns, Bast was attacked by the Holy Nation, which burned settlements and abducted youths to Rebirth. Now a perpetual warzone in stalemate between Holy Nation and United Cities, with all life trampled.
Revenge of Luquin: Sold into slavery young with family; endured beatings, starvation, and mine labor. Father died from conditions; mother sacrificed herself to free 15-year-old Luquin. Alone in desert, rescued and trained by ninjas in stealth/assassination. At 22, returned to assassinate nobles serially. Captured, paraded, tortured in Tengu's Vault, and forced to write a tribute book to Emperor Tengu.
Overthrow of King Shager: Latest Shek Kingdom king; honored battle and death in combat. Kingdom crumbling from losses against Holy Nation and United Cities. Shager proposed suicidal last stand. Warrior Bayan protested; backed by Invincible Five member Esata the Stone Golem, who challenged and defeated Shager. Esata ascended with Bayan advising; withdrew from front lines, made peace with United Cities, opened trade to other races. Despite traditionalist protests, she prioritizes Shek survival, even abandoning some core ideals.