Difference between revisions of "First Age"

As was tradition, [[Kalika]] Aisling, the 20-year-old great, great granddaughter of Yaksha and Ayva approached the time when she would receive the telltale vision that marked her ancestors as either Prophets of Peace or Light. On the Dawn of the new month of [[Bellum]], Kalika received her dream with boredom rather than trepidation - she wanted to be different, and she felt different. Her vision indeed had a dramatic difference. A third road, littered with remnants of battle, appeared down the middle of her Path of Fate. Curious, she followed the distant sound of clashing swords and screams of war to find a battleground stained crimson, and two looming figures locked in vicious combat. The [[Aesir|God of War, Aesir]] chose her to be His Prophetess, and Kalika embraced her violent future. She fled to the south of Caanae and united those tribes who opposed the great city. Eventually, she established the city of [[Stavenn]] in the name of her patron God, and the horrible cycle of battle and death began as raids were staged between the opposing cities over the next 100 years.

At the approach of his fiftieth year, Czevak decided that only an attack led by himself could possibly succeed against the enemy. Marching northward, Czevak camped his entire force on the plain of [[Mertashi]], before the Caanae holdings. For two days they launched attacks of arrows from afar at the enemy. On the third day the full might of Caanae marched out from their holdings, matching the forces of Stavenn in number and might, lead by Elder [[Nathariel]]. The battle itself endured for a day and a night. Thousands were slain, turning the very earth red with precious life-blood.

Believing Czevak more a God than a man, fear and confusion tore through the Stavenn ranks. Abandoning their weapons they fled or surrendered to those they once sought to dominate. Bearing Nathariel up, the Caananites returned to their homes victorious in what was later called the [[Red Siege]], as the color of the soil never quite lost its scarlet tinge again.

During the blistering summer of 714 the days were hotter and longer than anyone could remember. Hundreds died of exposure to the harsh rays. The ruler of Caanae, [[Iktov]] Sholet, invested his riches into developing protections from the intense heat. Scholars and herbalists searched the world trying various combinations of plants and roots. [[Zangrilla]] Sylvia, a specialist in forestal herbs, discovered that by consuming the root of the nightshade plant the immune system provided a barrier to solar allergy.

Sadly, just one month to the day after Sylvia's death, [[Ars]] Voyria discovered that boiling just the right amount of venom sacs, roots of the wormwood tree and roots of the dogs tooth plant would produce an elixir to negate the effects of the poison that killed Sylvia.

By 745 the Caanae skyline was visible to travelers still a day away on foot. While working to discover cures, the scholars had found that many ground ingredients were leaving their hands stained in various colors. Some people began to use these colors to create large murals on the sides of the new buildings. A young stonecutter named [[Iba]] Ebven started to chisel blocks of stone in the semblance of animals. As his animals became more lifelike the Academia wondered if it might be possible to create statues that could be infused with herbal remedies to give protection to those around it. In order to test this theory, they commissioned a great statue of Zangrilla Sylvia to use for tests. Ebven labored for seven years to create the enormous statue. Upon completion, the statue stood at the center of the Academia surrounded by an herb garden. The herbalists spent many months pouring elixirs over the statue and then giving someone an affliction while they stood next to it.

In 775 the Stavennites sent a group of scholars to the Academia in Caanae in the guise of architects looking to build a great Temple to Avasyu. During the daylight hours they would sit and learn the architectural formulas, slipping into the astronomical archives by night and copying the formula for shooting stars. Upon their return to Stavenn, work on combining the architectural and astronomic formula began in earnest, led by [[Czezlo]] Tota. Tota was certain that this would enable them to build a massive weapon, allowing Stavenn to claim its rightful dominion over the rest of the world. Within a few short months the Stavennites had created a siege machine that could hurl large boulders through the air, and had become fairly accurate at hitting their target. When Caananite traders returned home with word of this weapon the scholars of the Academia realized they'd been duped. All Stavennites were cast out of Caanae and all work at the Academia became focused on offensive weaponry.

Due to the jealousy and covetousness of the people of Stavenn, war erupted between their city and that of Caanae. This war is known as the [[War of Avarice]], beginning and ending on the month of [[Ultio]]. Lasting for seven intense years, both sides declared a victory as supplies and soldiers dwindled.

[[Category:History]]