The Age of Gods... Early History in the Land

Time of the Elders: A period before the recogning of time when gods walked the material planes and were served by what are now called the Eldar, or high-ones, who were also immortal. The race High-One is known as Elv-an in the common tongue, meaning high being. The prefix Elv- means both high and tree in many dialects. The word tree actually means true in the old dialect, which leads to the multiple meanings that these immortals were tree-dwelling beings, the true beings, and the highest order of creation from the gods. In these days, when gods walked the earth, and quarreled over creation, the devastation was enormous.

Illian War, otherwise known as the War at Gods Retreat, was the greatest earthly crash of the gods on this plane. It is said that the earth was torn asunder, and the Arc of Time itself was rent and perceived time was born into existence. Mortality now existed, and even the Elders grew to know death. In order to stop the destruction of all things, the gods wove a healing spell bound in seven seals which required their combined power to forge. This plane of existence was too fragile to support their powers, and another clash would destroy the order of the universe, so the Pale Vale was created, otherwise known as the Etheral Barrier, one which no immortal could ever pass through back into the mortal realm. Even then, the tear in the fabric of time could not be fully repaired, and time began to march forward, aging all things but the most powerful of gods and creatures. However, during the creation of this great spell, the acts of several gods shaped the world in dramatic ways.

Ahok-Bel-Tyr, one of the greatest of the gods, transformed its dual existence to bring about the Healing of the Earth. By legend Ahok-Bel-Tyr bound his life with the sundered earth and brought life and rebirth to it. The body of Ahok-Bel-Tyr became the earth, the blood became the streams and rivers, the breath became air, and the mind bound with all things, bringing about the faerie planes of Twilight and Morning. With the healing essence of a gods life the lakes, mountains, and moons of this world once again took shape, and soon the many folds of life once again took root in this world. However, the god was changed, and bound forever with the land... now a god of balance and preservation, today he is knows only as Bel.

A defiant trickster, Xotli defied the plans of the gods, wanting to give their power to the high-ones, and as the last seal was being set upon the Pale Vale he thrust certain banes deep within the earth, wounding the reborn spirit of Ahok-Bel-Tyr, who to this day is said to bleed from the mythological Heart of the World. It is said that this blood mixes with the clays and soils of the earth, and that the tasting of these mixtures can bestow the power of a god as a wish upon the drinker. Also, the fabled blood of Tyr mixed with certain metals like gold can cause them to change and become what is known today as Red Gold, a rare, hard, and easily enchantable metal which is cherished by sorcerers for power, and Elves as a religious and holy relic.

The banes places within the earth contained much of the power of Xotli, and the god whispered the knowledge and secrets to invoking the power of the banes, and the words took shape as great covenants of lore. While Xotli was satisfied with giving the freedom and power of the gods to the high-ones, this major creation left Xotli weak and vulnerable. His Ward Amra took advantage of the gods weakness and slew him, stealing his essence and becoming a god himself, retreating into the nether world with the other gods. Still, the shadow of Xotli, and the hatred for the act of murder against him left such an evil stain that it is said that Xotli resides still in this world as a formless being planning the destruction of the Arc of Time and bringing all of creation to an end. Xotli, now called The Deceiver, is still served by four eternal shadows, called Ravers, the spirits of the remaining wards still faithful to Xotli.

Moradin, who today is better known amongst humans as Mor, was served by his son Wodin, who had a gift of divination and forsaw the age of magic introduced by Xotli's banes, and the destruction of the Arc of Time. Moradin drew the blood soaked earth at Bel-Tyrs feet and upon an anvil deep within the earth forged the Dwarv-an (meaning earth beings), as a powerful ward against the dark magicks of Xotli and underworld companions to their Elv-an Brothers.

With the last words of the all-gods-spell Thirteen Seals were put in place, and with the thirteenth seal all gods passed from this plane into the Astral Plane except Ahok-Bel-Tyr who was joined with the world forever, and Xotli, who was cursed to exist without being. This new Etheral Plane served as a barrier and warning to all who would attempt the power of the gods, limiting the domain of the mortals, and establishing the domain of the immortals, now known as the planes of the dead, where all mortals must pass.