Post by Promise Broken on Oct 7, 2006 12:00:36 GMT -5
Quick Stats:
The Age of War lasted approximately 2,000 years (the general length of time for an "age"), and it has been nearly 500 years since its end.
In Earth, Satazian was preceeded by 1 other ruler (though human, his life was unnaturally long due to Borran's influence)
In Fire, Kaji Hito was preceeded by 2 other rulers (both were Fire Dragons)
In Wind, Aeolian was preceeded by 1 other ruler (a Feather Dragon)
In Water, Rigel Preghiera was preceeded by 3 other rulers (the 1st two were pureblooded elves, the 3rd was an elfin halfbreed)
The First Age: a call to war
The birth of the world was the first stage that sent life into rotation, but the beauty that should have attributed to the creation of a new and wondrous breath of life and world did not last long if it ever existed at all.
With the hate bred into the souls of every created race, their prejudice and dislike for those of opposites realms spread like fire, and the venom took over the world quickly and without mercy.
The leaderless inhabitants of each nation were unchecked and over the course of the first few days of the worlds creation, blood was spilled and massacres were commonplace in this new chaos that was enveloping and consuming the gods' creation.
Each of the divine entities were disturbed by this, and though they still held a dislike towards one another, watching the ultimate destruction of that which they had worked so hard to create was more than they could bear. Intervening in the chaos, they wiped the destruction from their world and released their hold on their subjects, giving them a more open and merciful mind--though they inevitably still left much prejudice and bias dislike in their races' hearts. They then bestowed godly powers onto one chosen individual--one for each elemental race.
These "chosen ones" were given ultimate powers blessed by their patron. These powers could ultimately overpower all within their domain.(ex: water controls those pledged to Water, fire controls those pledged to fire, etc.) They became the leaders of the individual nations, and it was their job and purpose to lead their race and region to the ultimate victory--supremacy.
However, though this was meant to help decrease the chaos... it did little but mute it.
The four chosen leaders were often times more corrupt and harsh then their soon to be replacements. Their ways were sometimes selfish and too focused on the goal ahead then the present situations. The dislike between all the nations was still great enough that the leaders were willing to use their power at any cost, unnecessary sacrifice for the "good of the whole" was common, and each of the leaders were labeled with some bad trait or another. They were oppressors in most cases, and were just too motivated for victory that they were willing to do almost anything to reach that goal.
The reign of earth's first leader was shortly lived, before his replacement took the position. This was due to Earth's malignant and overpowering militia and cavalry. The ruler was a steadfast man, often overzealous and confident. Yet his confidence was rightly placed. He was lacking in mercy, and he would smite without consideration. If he had it in his mind to decimate a rival town, it was done without question and with haste. He took no prisoners, and he left none alive. He was a highly paranoid man, and he was even known for killing his own officers and soldiers, thinking that they were plotting against him. It was this strength and power that began to worry the people he governed. They began to whisper and plot in the secrecy that escaped his watchful vigilance. Eventually, their rebellions spread throughout the nation and Borran's favor faded from him. Borran was no longer satisfied in the old soldier's reign, and devoted his power to a new rising power. A seasoned soldier, a crossbreed, but a powerful ally nonetheless. the old leader was removed, and Satazian rose to power. In his careful grasp, earth has flourished and the people have found confidence in their leader. Though his influence in the Age of War was not even half as long as his ascendant, he led his people through the end of the First age, and still stands powerful and ominous now in the state of neutrality.
As for the nation of Fire. They were led beneath the prideful wisdom of a great charcol colored dragon. He was land bound, like all fire dragons, and held a pride and predejuice that it would seem, none could match. He looked down feircly upon the inferior, and the Fire nation seemed almost divided within itself. Miscreants that had pledged their loyalty to Pyran were outcasts among the dragons. They held little say in the workings of the nation and this led to unrest among the inhabitants and seemed to threaten an outbreak of possible civil war under the leadership of the first ruler. This left the Fire Nation in a vulnerable position in its quest for supremecy. The halfings, miscreants, and humanoids were used at the forefront of battle, and when tides turned, those ranks were quickly abandoned in the retreat. This caused high resentment throughout the course of time, and slowly humanoids, anthros, and other miscreatns began to speak out against the appointed Fire Dragon. The great god, Pyran, was also beginning to grow dissatisfied as Fire began to fall more and more behind in the great race, realizing that perhaps the pride of the great dragon was too great, he stripped the Black Fire Drake of his power and rank, and found favor in another--still unwilling to give power to a non-dragon. This power fell to a wiser dragon of fire, whose age and wisdom had not left him so pompous. Though this one, also found the miscreants and non-dragon folk of fire to be of a lower class, he showed them more respect and helped in minute ways to quell the possibility of civil war. It was this bronze earth-bound lizard that led the Fire nation through the remainder of the wars, and held power for a number of centuries to come. However, it was soon time again for change even after the wars. nearly 500 years after the last battle, civil unrest arose once more, and this time... without the impending war, the people did not relent so easily. They wanted satisfaction and humanoid preists and temple maidens prayed for revelation. Soon enough it came, questioning himself once again, the great fire god found little comfort in the peace and non-victory. His second dragon ruler had been nearly as unsuccessful as the first. Feeling it was time to try a different style, Pyran shifted away from his supreme creations and descended power to a mage--the young Kaji Hito, who at the time was serving as a coronel in the army. The dragons and humans still seem slightly disconnected but many have come to accept Kaji's rule now that he has stood respectfully and successfully in the appointed spot. When they are needed, the dragons come to lend their support, else they keep mostly to themselves in the pits of the mountains, while the miscreants flourish above ground.
Now, Water and Wind were not as prominant as their earthen and pyrotic brothers. They had their battles, but they did not seem as blood thirsty as Fire and Earth. This minor dominance allowed the first alliance to be formed in Algaësia--though its life span was short.
Since the first two years of fighting had been bloody. The first leaders of Water and Wind had found it exponentially beneficial to condense into one fighting force to seduce the other opposers. However, this was strictly based on advantage and survival. Thus, when the opportune moment showed itself both leaders turned on one another and the brief alliance dissapated into a state of none existance. So much so, that there are few records of it, and an even fewer number of people who know if it.
Anyways, with the alliance dispersed Water became a prominant player in the field. The elfin mistress governed strictly but mercifully, and had her generous moments. However she was not without disgrace. Though powerful in her magics, she was young and reckless, often engaging in unbalanced conflicts with other nations. It was this recklessness that eventually led to her early and unexpected downfall. Known for her aggressive raids, she was one day overplayed, and her forces fell to their enemy. Being one among them, she was imprisoned and later executed. Heiseph was forced to annoint another one. This time she moved to the level-headedness and wisdom of an older male--also pure blooded. He led the forces through the majority of the war, but he was very proud and very stern. He looked down feircely upon any miscreant and from his influence spread a general dislike towards any and all creatures that were not of pure elfin blood. This cause heavy resentment among the halfings of the nation. Their masses made up atleast a third or more of Water's population, and so when they finally decided to revolt it was all out chaos within. Their inner boundary conflict pulled them out of the main fighting and Water became a weaker component of the Age. Fire and Earth rising as the main superpowers again.
The elfin Lord was soon overthrown, but not before Heiseph stole back her gifts and bestowed them to another soul she believed would rule with a less judgemental hand--for Heiseph could not afford to lose any of her worshipers. She chose a halfbreed, that led the final downfall and assassination of the Elfin Lord. Rising readily into the space alotted he moved Water back into the Running and became a feirce component, but wise enough to stay out of battles that he knew could not be one. He expressed a steady tolerance, but was feirce towards the purebloods. The resentment festered once again as the age of war passed and peace began to level out. Fearing the brink of another civil war, Heiseph stripped away her gifts for the first time and took great consideration in choosing her next Lord or Lady. Long enough that for nearly ten years, Water was leaderless, with only a mild steward to hold order. Finally, She gave her strengths to an unborn babe--that would grow to be Rigel Preghiera. Now Rigel rules, steadfast and wise, but cautious and calculating.
As for Wind...? The nation was ruled by a benevolent feathered dragon. She was a kindly creature... however, her kindness would eventually lead to her downfall, and the vulnerability of the Wind Nation.
It all began towards the ending of the wars. Many of the POW's of the war had been taken care of, punished for their crimes against the nation of Wind. These punishments varied, from banishment, slavery, even to death--the preferred option among much of the populace. However, her mercy left the death sentence as a last reserve for the most gravest of sins. It was her forgiving heart that led to the release of a powerful and influential mercenary of the earthen nation. Indeed, he was a killer, but never had he intentionally attacked innocent, unguarded cities. His killer intentions had always focused on militant forces, and his attacks never seemed harmful enough to cause any significant damage. Thus his sentence was reduced to mere banishment--an unpopular vote among the people. Many did not trust him, many lost faith in their leader as well.
From their the war turned south in their favor. Several officers abandoned her regim, to seclude themselves in mountain holds of their own; small rebellions broke out within the outskirt villages, and it seemed only her dear, beloved friend, Caelum--advisor & secret lover--seemed to remain openly loyal to her.
Indeed, she maintained her state of power, but her hold on her country had lessoned and thus she took a back seat in the conquest of the wars. Luckily, the wind nation was not a particularly easy terrain. High mountain terrapces and cliff sides made for very formidable terrain to those restrained by the ground. Therefore, there were but few attacks actually directed against her homeland. She managed to see her way into an era of peace, but with her reputation maimed, her respect dwindling, the dragoness began to fade. With time and age, enduring the stress of leadership, and a sullen downfall, she eventually seccumbed to the natural elements of the air--dying without heir or descendent to fill her stead. The weight then fell upon, Caelum, who as advisor became the temporary steward of the wind kingdom--now made vulernable by its lack of a divine leader.
Now... however, 500 years after... the goddess, Airos has finally blessed another. A young winged girl, who must now face enormous challanges and fill the large shoes of her great predecessors.
The Age of War lasted approximately 2,000 years (the general length of time for an "age"), and it has been nearly 500 years since its end.
In Earth, Satazian was preceeded by 1 other ruler (though human, his life was unnaturally long due to Borran's influence)
In Fire, Kaji Hito was preceeded by 2 other rulers (both were Fire Dragons)
In Wind, Aeolian was preceeded by 1 other ruler (a Feather Dragon)
In Water, Rigel Preghiera was preceeded by 3 other rulers (the 1st two were pureblooded elves, the 3rd was an elfin halfbreed)
The First Age: a call to war
The birth of the world was the first stage that sent life into rotation, but the beauty that should have attributed to the creation of a new and wondrous breath of life and world did not last long if it ever existed at all.
With the hate bred into the souls of every created race, their prejudice and dislike for those of opposites realms spread like fire, and the venom took over the world quickly and without mercy.
The leaderless inhabitants of each nation were unchecked and over the course of the first few days of the worlds creation, blood was spilled and massacres were commonplace in this new chaos that was enveloping and consuming the gods' creation.
Each of the divine entities were disturbed by this, and though they still held a dislike towards one another, watching the ultimate destruction of that which they had worked so hard to create was more than they could bear. Intervening in the chaos, they wiped the destruction from their world and released their hold on their subjects, giving them a more open and merciful mind--though they inevitably still left much prejudice and bias dislike in their races' hearts. They then bestowed godly powers onto one chosen individual--one for each elemental race.
These "chosen ones" were given ultimate powers blessed by their patron. These powers could ultimately overpower all within their domain.(ex: water controls those pledged to Water, fire controls those pledged to fire, etc.) They became the leaders of the individual nations, and it was their job and purpose to lead their race and region to the ultimate victory--supremacy.
However, though this was meant to help decrease the chaos... it did little but mute it.
The four chosen leaders were often times more corrupt and harsh then their soon to be replacements. Their ways were sometimes selfish and too focused on the goal ahead then the present situations. The dislike between all the nations was still great enough that the leaders were willing to use their power at any cost, unnecessary sacrifice for the "good of the whole" was common, and each of the leaders were labeled with some bad trait or another. They were oppressors in most cases, and were just too motivated for victory that they were willing to do almost anything to reach that goal.
The reign of earth's first leader was shortly lived, before his replacement took the position. This was due to Earth's malignant and overpowering militia and cavalry. The ruler was a steadfast man, often overzealous and confident. Yet his confidence was rightly placed. He was lacking in mercy, and he would smite without consideration. If he had it in his mind to decimate a rival town, it was done without question and with haste. He took no prisoners, and he left none alive. He was a highly paranoid man, and he was even known for killing his own officers and soldiers, thinking that they were plotting against him. It was this strength and power that began to worry the people he governed. They began to whisper and plot in the secrecy that escaped his watchful vigilance. Eventually, their rebellions spread throughout the nation and Borran's favor faded from him. Borran was no longer satisfied in the old soldier's reign, and devoted his power to a new rising power. A seasoned soldier, a crossbreed, but a powerful ally nonetheless. the old leader was removed, and Satazian rose to power. In his careful grasp, earth has flourished and the people have found confidence in their leader. Though his influence in the Age of War was not even half as long as his ascendant, he led his people through the end of the First age, and still stands powerful and ominous now in the state of neutrality.
As for the nation of Fire. They were led beneath the prideful wisdom of a great charcol colored dragon. He was land bound, like all fire dragons, and held a pride and predejuice that it would seem, none could match. He looked down feircly upon the inferior, and the Fire nation seemed almost divided within itself. Miscreants that had pledged their loyalty to Pyran were outcasts among the dragons. They held little say in the workings of the nation and this led to unrest among the inhabitants and seemed to threaten an outbreak of possible civil war under the leadership of the first ruler. This left the Fire Nation in a vulnerable position in its quest for supremecy. The halfings, miscreants, and humanoids were used at the forefront of battle, and when tides turned, those ranks were quickly abandoned in the retreat. This caused high resentment throughout the course of time, and slowly humanoids, anthros, and other miscreatns began to speak out against the appointed Fire Dragon. The great god, Pyran, was also beginning to grow dissatisfied as Fire began to fall more and more behind in the great race, realizing that perhaps the pride of the great dragon was too great, he stripped the Black Fire Drake of his power and rank, and found favor in another--still unwilling to give power to a non-dragon. This power fell to a wiser dragon of fire, whose age and wisdom had not left him so pompous. Though this one, also found the miscreants and non-dragon folk of fire to be of a lower class, he showed them more respect and helped in minute ways to quell the possibility of civil war. It was this bronze earth-bound lizard that led the Fire nation through the remainder of the wars, and held power for a number of centuries to come. However, it was soon time again for change even after the wars. nearly 500 years after the last battle, civil unrest arose once more, and this time... without the impending war, the people did not relent so easily. They wanted satisfaction and humanoid preists and temple maidens prayed for revelation. Soon enough it came, questioning himself once again, the great fire god found little comfort in the peace and non-victory. His second dragon ruler had been nearly as unsuccessful as the first. Feeling it was time to try a different style, Pyran shifted away from his supreme creations and descended power to a mage--the young Kaji Hito, who at the time was serving as a coronel in the army. The dragons and humans still seem slightly disconnected but many have come to accept Kaji's rule now that he has stood respectfully and successfully in the appointed spot. When they are needed, the dragons come to lend their support, else they keep mostly to themselves in the pits of the mountains, while the miscreants flourish above ground.
Now, Water and Wind were not as prominant as their earthen and pyrotic brothers. They had their battles, but they did not seem as blood thirsty as Fire and Earth. This minor dominance allowed the first alliance to be formed in Algaësia--though its life span was short.
Since the first two years of fighting had been bloody. The first leaders of Water and Wind had found it exponentially beneficial to condense into one fighting force to seduce the other opposers. However, this was strictly based on advantage and survival. Thus, when the opportune moment showed itself both leaders turned on one another and the brief alliance dissapated into a state of none existance. So much so, that there are few records of it, and an even fewer number of people who know if it.
Anyways, with the alliance dispersed Water became a prominant player in the field. The elfin mistress governed strictly but mercifully, and had her generous moments. However she was not without disgrace. Though powerful in her magics, she was young and reckless, often engaging in unbalanced conflicts with other nations. It was this recklessness that eventually led to her early and unexpected downfall. Known for her aggressive raids, she was one day overplayed, and her forces fell to their enemy. Being one among them, she was imprisoned and later executed. Heiseph was forced to annoint another one. This time she moved to the level-headedness and wisdom of an older male--also pure blooded. He led the forces through the majority of the war, but he was very proud and very stern. He looked down feircely upon any miscreant and from his influence spread a general dislike towards any and all creatures that were not of pure elfin blood. This cause heavy resentment among the halfings of the nation. Their masses made up atleast a third or more of Water's population, and so when they finally decided to revolt it was all out chaos within. Their inner boundary conflict pulled them out of the main fighting and Water became a weaker component of the Age. Fire and Earth rising as the main superpowers again.
The elfin Lord was soon overthrown, but not before Heiseph stole back her gifts and bestowed them to another soul she believed would rule with a less judgemental hand--for Heiseph could not afford to lose any of her worshipers. She chose a halfbreed, that led the final downfall and assassination of the Elfin Lord. Rising readily into the space alotted he moved Water back into the Running and became a feirce component, but wise enough to stay out of battles that he knew could not be one. He expressed a steady tolerance, but was feirce towards the purebloods. The resentment festered once again as the age of war passed and peace began to level out. Fearing the brink of another civil war, Heiseph stripped away her gifts for the first time and took great consideration in choosing her next Lord or Lady. Long enough that for nearly ten years, Water was leaderless, with only a mild steward to hold order. Finally, She gave her strengths to an unborn babe--that would grow to be Rigel Preghiera. Now Rigel rules, steadfast and wise, but cautious and calculating.
As for Wind...? The nation was ruled by a benevolent feathered dragon. She was a kindly creature... however, her kindness would eventually lead to her downfall, and the vulnerability of the Wind Nation.
It all began towards the ending of the wars. Many of the POW's of the war had been taken care of, punished for their crimes against the nation of Wind. These punishments varied, from banishment, slavery, even to death--the preferred option among much of the populace. However, her mercy left the death sentence as a last reserve for the most gravest of sins. It was her forgiving heart that led to the release of a powerful and influential mercenary of the earthen nation. Indeed, he was a killer, but never had he intentionally attacked innocent, unguarded cities. His killer intentions had always focused on militant forces, and his attacks never seemed harmful enough to cause any significant damage. Thus his sentence was reduced to mere banishment--an unpopular vote among the people. Many did not trust him, many lost faith in their leader as well.
From their the war turned south in their favor. Several officers abandoned her regim, to seclude themselves in mountain holds of their own; small rebellions broke out within the outskirt villages, and it seemed only her dear, beloved friend, Caelum--advisor & secret lover--seemed to remain openly loyal to her.
Indeed, she maintained her state of power, but her hold on her country had lessoned and thus she took a back seat in the conquest of the wars. Luckily, the wind nation was not a particularly easy terrain. High mountain terrapces and cliff sides made for very formidable terrain to those restrained by the ground. Therefore, there were but few attacks actually directed against her homeland. She managed to see her way into an era of peace, but with her reputation maimed, her respect dwindling, the dragoness began to fade. With time and age, enduring the stress of leadership, and a sullen downfall, she eventually seccumbed to the natural elements of the air--dying without heir or descendent to fill her stead. The weight then fell upon, Caelum, who as advisor became the temporary steward of the wind kingdom--now made vulernable by its lack of a divine leader.
Now... however, 500 years after... the goddess, Airos has finally blessed another. A young winged girl, who must now face enormous challanges and fill the large shoes of her great predecessors.