Legend of the Eldarin

It is said a long time ago, long before Man became the chosen race, Earth was a very different place. The veins of Magic that lie within the planet were awake and flowed. During that time, another people  walked and ruled the lands. Of these people, there were many types, as there are many types of creature in the world. Most resembled the animal spirits such as wolf-men, or hawk-men. Others were not like men at all, rather resembling the animal gods they were, such as the earth-bull, Gorgon, or the fire-bird, Phoenix. There were even those who resembled Man the most. These types of Eldarin were closest to Man, and as such they are remembered with the names Man gave them: Angels and Demons.

The Eldarins were like no other race, being born of the first forces of life, and as such first children they had tremendous powers. They wielded the powers of the eight sacred elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Ice, Thunder, Light and Darkness. They lived as no other, seeing the ancient creatures rise and fall, evolve and die. They were already old when Man's civilization was in its infant cradle.

When they saw Man, they were curious. This was a race which had a potential unlike any they had ever seen before. Yet, Man was pale in comparison compared to the Eldarin. It was in this infant civilization which their destiny was cast. Some of the Eldarins decided to help Man, showing him the way to do many things, helping him to grow as would loving parents. Others were afraid of man's potential, and shunned them, staying to their wilds. Still others saw Man as a way to increase their own power, aiding them only to enslave them. However, as time passed, Man became less dependant on the Eldarins, as they had become powerful enough to progress on their own. All too soon, it became apparent Man would someday be the master race.

The issue split the Eldarin peoples. Some said to destroy Mankind, and insure their rightful place, others said help them, let them become dominant if they were destined to be so. The Eldarins had ruled long enough; their day of reckoning would come. The Eldarins fought amongst themselves, and a great war ensued. As a result, the world was torn by disaster after disaster as the Eldarins battled. The elements fell out of balance; everything seemed lost.

Then the greatest of the Eldarins called a meeting. There it was decided the Eldarins should leave the world to the fate which must come. It was all too clear the Eldarins' time had ended on earth, and a new age had truly begun. Most of the Eldarins agreed, obeying the Great Ones' command. However, there were some who disobeyed, and stayed behind. As such, they were cursed with a choice: they could lose their immortality, and become mortal themselves like those whose lives they meddled with. Or they could keep their ageless lives, but be bound by a far more powerful curse: Should they die, they would not be allowed into the Heavens or the Hells, neither would they be able to reincarnate in the grand cycles. They would face a fate worse than that of any other race: true oblivion.

Mortal now, these Eldarins faced a new life. They still had their powers, and as such they were still far stronger than any Man. They continued to act as they had before, as protectors and as tyrants. However, now they  feared death as did any Man, and this gave Man the advantage he had been waiting for. He was no longer at the mercy of the mighty Eldarin. Now he could fight those who dared opress him, and now he could threaten and force the Eldarins which before had been his protectors. The fear which Man shared of the Eldarins manifested, and soon changed to anger.

As way leads to way, this anger soon blackened to hatred. Man fought back against his once-protectors, tired of being patronized. Man attacked his attackers, tired of being slaves. The Great Purge swept across the lands. Many of the Eldarin were destroyed. Those who did not fled for their lives, hiding away never to be seen again. They hid away in the darkest recesses of the earth, daring never to show their faces to Mankind again.

However, the Eldarins had an ability which no one suspected. Though they lost their immortality, they gained the ability to Manifest. By joining with a human, they had the ability to insure their continued exhistance. For by having a child with a human, their blood continued to flow. Should they die, their being gained the ability to reincarnate. They could be reborn again in human form from any who shared their bloodline. Thus they could live on, not as they once were, but as something new.

 The wheel of time turned and the veins of magic quieted, taking with them the powers of the remaining Eldarin and their descendants. Those Eldarin who had chosen the curse of oblivion went into sleep, until such time that the flow of magic was once again strong enough to feed their immortal lives. Those who had chosen mortality and and their descendants became indistinguishable from normal members of the race of Man.  Over time, the people of Earth forgot about the ancient powers and beings of their world, save for in a few myths and legends. . . . .

A new age has begun. The Age of the neo-Eldarin . . . .