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Timeline before the begining of the FFVII.

As stated above by Deehe, this timeline will help out the newcomers and keep the older ones aware of what is going on. Also, it provides an interesting history that we can look back upon when we get far into the storyline.

I will start of with the events that led up to the begining of the Final Fantasy VII story. I think that everyone should be personally aware of these events to RP to the fullest in the Final Fantasy VII world. Note - I myself did not personally write this

- Over 2000 years ago.

An interstellar race known as the Cetra arrives on the Planet. They are on a quest for the Promised Land. The Planet is an ideal location as it contains the Lifestream, pure magical energy drawn from every living thing on the Planet. There is already humanoid life on the Planet and the Cetra settle in tribes amongst them.

- Approx 2000 years ago.

Jenova arrives. It is known as the "Calamity from the Skies". It lands at
the north of the Planet and Cetra who have settled in a place called
"Knowlespole" go and investigate. Jenova appears disguised as a Cetra,
promising peace, but infects the Knowlespole Cetra with a terrible virus that mutates and destroys them. Jenova then moves across the Plant infecting and destroying the Cetra tribes.

Jenova's landing caused a huge wound in the Planet and the Lifestream gathers there at what becomes known as the Great North Cave to repair the Planet. Five Huge Robotic Weapons of increasing power are created by the Planet to kill Jenova (WEAPON, DIAMOND WEAPON,ULTIMATE WEAPON, RUBY WEAPON and EMERALD WEAPON), but before they can be used, a few surviving Cetra manage to defeat Jenova (now in permanent female form) and seal her in rock.

The Weapons go into hibernation and the few surviving Cetra disperse amongst the Human population.

- Over the next 2000 years.

The people of the Planet grow more sophisticated. The centre of commerce, government and power is centralised mainly in a large city called Midgar. This city becomes more populated over the years. A commercial weapons manufacturing company called Shinra figure out a way to draw power from the Lifestream in the form of pure Mako. Mako is used by everyone as a source for materia and magic, but Shinra create huge reactors that suck Mako from the Planet. This allows Midgar to become a huge, sprawling and prosperous city. However the speed of
Midgars technological change is not matched by its democratic changes and Shinra finally take over the running of the government and form their own military wing and secret police force to keep a hold on power.

To keep a charade of democracy, a mayor is elected to run Midgar, but he/she is merely a puppet in the pay of Shinra. Shinra develop an elite armed force called SOLDIER, where promising soldiers are treated with Mako to enhance their abilities. They also create the Turks, a shadowy collection of assassins, spies and undercover thugs to carry out less obvious empire building on the companies behalf.

Over the last 60-odd years of Midgars history, it has become place of two
extremes. Wealth, luxury and power fuelled by the Mako reactors are the lot of those who live high above the ground on Midgars raised Plate structure. Poverty, deprivation and oppression are endemic in the under city, making life a constant struggle for those who live in the slums under the Plates of the Higher Midgar.

- Year 0, 60 years before the begining of the game. Also the time when Midgar begins to excel.

- 57 years ago.

Vincent Valentine born. At some point in the next twenty years he joins theTurks.

- 48 years ago.

Nanaki (Red XIII) born in Cosmo Canyon. He is one of the few remaining of his species. At some point during Nanaki's growing up, the Canyon was attacked by a vicious tribe know as the Gi. Nanaki's mother was killed. Seto, Nanaki's father fought off the Gi, but was turned to stone in the process. Nanaki is never told the truth as to where his father went and grows up believing Seto abandoned the Canyon to the Gi like a coward. Nanaki's species is very long lived and has some connections to the Ancients. This may explain why Hojo took an interest in Nanaki many years later.

- 33 years ago.

Barret is born in Corel. Corel at that time is a prosperous town built on the
coal mining industry. Coal still being the principal source of fuel for places
outside of Midgar at this time.

- 32 years ago.

Cid Highwind born.

- 31 years ago.

Professor Gast while excavating in Mount Nibel, finds Jenova inert in a
2000-year-old geological stratum. He takes Jenova to Nibelheim, where he begins to research her origins and powers. At this point he believes her to be an Ancient/Cetra. Shinra become very interested in his work and offer him money and assistance to carry on.

- 30 years ago.

The Jenova Project is started. The goal Shinra are aiming for is the
creation of humans with the powers of the Ancients. It is not clear if Gast
knew of this, but Hojo the scientist sent to assist by Shinra most certainly
did.

Gast and Hojo start experimenting on Jenova. These are conducted in the
basement laboratory of Nibelheim Mansion. A young female scientist called
Lucrecia and a young Turk called Vincent (sent to keep an eye on things) are also present.

As the experiments progress, Vincent falls in love with Lucrecia. However she is in love with Hojo and declines Vincent's proposal of marriage. Lucrecia becomes pregnant by Hojo. Hojo, having no luck using full grown humans and creatures in his Jenova experiments, decides to use his unborn child instead. He injects Lucrecia and the baby with Jenova cells. Lucrecia becomes very sick and upon delivering the baby, finally becomes altered beyond recovery.

Vincent in a rage confronts Hojo. But he is incapacitated by Hojo and subject to more Jenova treatments. He becomes another twisted monster like the rejects being stored in pods at the Nibelheim Mako Plant.

Hojo then stores Jenova in the Mako Plant and takes his perfect newborn baby son away to Midgar and Shinra headquarters where he can be raised and observed as he grows. The boy is named Sephiroth and he is never told who his parents are.

At some point Professor Gast left the project, most likely after Hojo began his warped experiments on live people. Realising he had no way of stopping the Shinra scientist he decided to get away before Shinra decided he is no longer useful.

Vincent awakes to find Lucrecia and Hojo gone and the experiments at Nibelheim Mansion over. In despair he seals himself up in a coffin in the basement and sleeps for the next 30 years. Lucrecia, having new powers courtesy of the Jenova cells also goes into seclusion in a Waterfall Cave.


- 28-24 years ago.

Professor Gast travels the planet. He is possibly looking for more information on the Ancients/Cetra. He visits Bugenhagen at Cosmo Canyon during his travels and gives him scientific equipment. At some point along the way he meets Ifalna, one of the last Ancients on the Planet. They fall in love and retire to Icicle Lodge on the Northern Continent. Gast does not officially leave Shinra, but he does not tell them of his whereabouts.

- 22 Years ago.

- Aeris is born to Professor Gast and Ilfalna. Soon after her birth Hojo
finally tracks Gast down. He tries to take Aeris and Ifalna away for his
experiments. Gast and Ifalna resist. Gast is killed (In our timeline, Kenji killed Gast and Aeris and Ifalna escaped.) and Ifalna and Aeris are captured.

- 21 years ago.

Cloud born in Nibelheim. He grows up a lonely and isolated child; constantly frustrated by his inability to allow himself to be the person he wants to really be.

- 20 years ago.

Tifa born in Nibelheim. She is out-going and lively and has a lot of
friends. Although she and Cloud are close in age and distance they don't spend much time together as children.


- Approx. 16 years ago.

- Shinra go to war abroad with the town of Wutai. (In our timeline, Wutai was building a cannon much like the one in Junon, and was considered a threat to Shinra's safety.) The fierce pride of the leader Godo has kept Shinras influence out of the town, but they are quickly crushed and Wutai has to become a tourist town to carry on and survive. Somehow during this time, Ifalna escapes from Shinra Headquarters Laboratory with Aeris
and gets as far as Sector 7 station in Midgar. Here, exhausted and wounded she hands Aeris over to Elmyra Gainsborough and then dies. During their first meeting Elmyra's husband is killed far away and this is sensed by Aeris.

Elmyra adopts Aeris and raises her. Aeris grows up showing strange intuitive powers and an affinity with nature. She keeps about her person a small white pearl of materia that her dead mother left for her. This is actually the materia for summoning Holy. But Aeris is not aware of its power. As she grows up, Tseng the leader of the Turks pesters her. He wants to take her back to Shinra Headquarters, but Aeris manages to avoid Shinra every time.

Sephiroth is also proving to be a hugely capable and talented young soldier with abilities and powers that far outstrip his peers. His conduct during this time of war earns him a hero's reputation even though he is still in his teens and he continues to rise though the ranks of SOLDIER.

During the War, Shinra keep investing in new military research and formulated a space program. An experienced young pilot called Cid Highwind was destined to fly Shinras rocket into space. Cid has already proved himself worthy with the Sea Plane the Tiny Bronco and the Highwind airship. But his dream was crushed when the launch was aborted due to technical problems. After the War with
Wutai finished, Shinra decided its Mako business was more profitable than war and Space exploration and the Space program was dropped.

- 16 years ago.

Yuffie born in Wutai.


- 12 Years ago.

Tifa's Mother dies. An upset and confused Tifa believes her Mother has gone to Mount Nibel and sets off to find her. Cloud follows to make sure she stays safe but Tifa is injured in a fall. Tifa's father arrives and blames Cloud for leading her astray. Cloud, distressed at being wrongly blamed and angry at his inability to save Tifa, decides that one day he will become as strong and capable as the Legendary Sephiroth and resolves to join SOLDIER when he is old enough.

After Tifa recovers, her and Cloud become a little closer. She hears of his
plans to join SOLDIER, at the same time she starts training under martial arts master Zangan perfecting her hand-to-hand combat skills.

- 9 years ago.

Zack leaves his home in Gongaga and joins SOLDIER; he easily makes the grade and gets to serve under the command of Sephiroth.

- 7 years ago.

While stationed in Midgar, Zack meets and dates Aeris. He writes to his
parents about her during this time.

Cloud leaves Nibelheim, but fails to get into SOLDIER. He becomes an
ordinary Shinra soldier and cuts off all contact with his hometown and old
friends; so ashamed is he that he failed again.

- 5 years ago.

Reports of monsters disrupting life for the workers at the Mt. Nibel Mako
reactor results in Sephiroth, Zack and Cloud being sent to Nibelheim to
investigate. On reaching Nibelheim Cloud keeps his identity hidden from Tifa and the other townspeople. He cannot bear to be seen as just an "ordinary" solider.

Tifa takes the party to the Mako reactor. Tifa and Cloud stay outside. Inside, Sephiroth discovers Jenova's body and sees all the mutated "failed" experiments of Hojo's. He begins to realise his origins may be similar and becomes upset. Zack is disbelieving at first, but when one of the mutated humans falls out of a pod he also begins to be concerned. The party return to Nibelheim Mansion.

Sephiroth finds all the notes of Jenova Project in the basement of the Mansion. He is aware of Professor Gasts initialisation of the project but has not been told how Gast died or Hojo's full involvement in his creation. Later in the night Zack goes to speak to Sephiroth and finds Sephiroth a changed man. Sephiroth has discovered Gast's notes he made at Icicle Lodge about the Ancients. He now believes he is descended from the Ancients and regards normal humans as traitors who abandoned the Cetra to a terrible disaster. However he does not seem to accept Jenova is the cause of that disaster. He rants and raves at Zack before leaving quickly to see Jenova whom he refers to as "Mother".

Zack follows him outside and sees the whole village in flames. Many people are dead or dying, a Shinra Soldier (Cloud) tends to his dying mother. Sephiroth heads for the reactor with several townsfolk in hot pursuit. Tifa and Zack chase after him, Cloud following behind.

At the reactor Tifa discovers her father's body. Sephiroth has killed him. As Sephiroth moves towards the Pod with Jenova in it, Zack tries to attack him but is batted away. Tifa picks up Sephiroth's discarded sword and attacks him, but he takes the sword back and cuts her down. Cloud arrives to witness this and he tenderly moves Tifa into a more comfortable position before confronting Sephiroth.

Sephiroth opens the pod and tries to free Jenova. As Cloud approaches
Sephiroth tells Jenova he has come to reclaim the Planet for her. Cloud stabs Sephiroth then returns to tend to Tifa. Injured, Sephiroth can only take Jenova's head with him, he leaves the pod room, walking past Cloud. Cloud follows him onto the bridge above the Life stream running far below at the bottom of the reactor. Sephiroth stabs Cloud though the chest, but Cloud keeps a hold of the sword and uses it to flip Sephiroth and Jenova's head into the bottom of the Mako reactor. Cloud then passes out.

In the immediate aftermath, Zangan (Tifa's tutor) arrives at the reactor and takes the wounded Tifa to Midgar. Here she sets up a bar called "Seventh Heaven" in the sector 7 slums when she has recovered.

Cloud, Zack and the surviving residents of Nibelheim are gathered up and used by Hojo to create clones of Sephiroth now they believe the original is dead.

Far from dead, Sephiroth washes through the Life stream until he ends up at the Great North Cave. Having assimilated the knowledge of the Ancients while in there he begins to formulate a plan to turn himself into a God. This involves summoning a Meteor to cause a big enough wound on the planets surface to make the Life stream rush to one place, where he can absorb it all. Over the next 5 years he experiments with controlling the Sephiroth clones remotely and projecting himself psychically. His physical body however remains in the Great North Cave for the duration of the game.

Shinra cover up the incident at Nibelheim and repopulate the town with
Shinra staff. Experiments carry on at the Mansion, but Jenova is moved to
Shinra Headquarters (now minus her head), for safekeeping. After the cloning project proves to be a failure, Hojo moves back to Midgar permanently and carries on research there. At some point he captures Nanaki for a series of unknown tests and names him Red XIII.

- 4 years ago to present day.

Shinra persuade the people of Corel to accept the building of a Mako reactor. Barret, seeing that coal has no future, pleads Shinras case. His best friend Dyne opposes it, but Barret talks him round. One day Barret and Dyne come back from a trip out of town and find Shinra burning down Corel. They discover that Shinra have blamed several explosions at the new reactor on sabotage by Corel Townsfolk. Barret and Dyne are both severely injured in the fighting. Dyne falls over a cliff and Barret believes him dead. Barret goes back to Corel to be with his now dead wife Myrna. He sees Dynes wife Eleanor is also dead but Dynes daughter Marlene isn't. He decides to take Marlene and flee to Midgar.

Barret has his useless arm replaced with a gun, he also hears of a similarly injured man who has a gun arm and surmises Dyne is still alive. But he cannot find him. Dyne remains at Corel, the desert overtakes the town and a huge Entertainment Complex called the Gold Saucer is built above it. Corel becomes the Gold Saucer Prison town. Dynes mind disintegrates and all those who come into contact with him as he carries on as the Boss of Corel Prison fear him.

Meanwhile the remaining survivors of Corel move northwards and settle in the devastated North Corel, which has also lost its income from the shut down Mako Reactor. They live near the Ropeway station that leads to the Gold Saucer. They eek out a miserable existence selling junk to travellers going to the Gold Saucer.

Barret, swearing revenge on Shinra decides to start targeting their reactors in Midgar. He hooks up with Tifa (who is also harbouring anger towards Shinra) and uses the basement of her bar as a centre of operations for his environmental terrorist group AVALANCHE.

At sometime close to the present day, Zack and Cloud escape the Shinra
Mansion. Cloud is nearly catatonic from Mako and Jenova treatments. Zack dresses him in a spare SOLDIER uniform and they manage to get to the mountains near Midgar before Shinra catches up with them. On their journeys Zack tells Cloud all about his life in SOLDIER and what happened when he was alone with Sephiroth. Cloud is still too confused and messed up to respond, but Zack takes care of him.

When Shinra find them Zack is shot dead. Cloud is left alive, as he is
considered no threat. However Cloud manages to pick up Zacks sword and make it to Sector 7 railway station in Midgar where Tifa finds him still confused. As he gets better Clouds mind takes Zacks experiences and mixes them with his own, setting up the split personality that would allow Sephiroth such control over him.

Remembering Zack's idea that they become mercenaries, that's what he tells Tifa he is now and she decides to hire him to help AVALANCHE blow up the Mako reactors. It is here that the actual game begins...

Note - This is not written by me, it is written by falsehead (Sophie Cheshire). I just found that this was alot better than what I can fathom up. Also note that there are some quotes by me about "our" storyline. There are some events that have happened in our storyline that have not in the original. Also our storyline might differ a bit, depending on what Deehe chooses, so do not take this as "our" storyline, merely use as a guide to what happened in the years before the begining of the game.

We will count 60 years before the begining of the game as Year 0, or the rise of Midgar.