First Age
The earliest known records of Enochia speak of a world untouched by divine beings, civilized by dwarves, elves, halflings, and humans. This First Age, often referred to as the time of The Ancients, is shrouded in mystery, with few surviving accounts of its past. Yet, it is widely recognized as the age of peace and prosperity.
However, this era came to an abrupt end at the hands of a powerful faction of elves known as the Fayaal. The Fayaal were a people devoted to knowledge and magic, and in their relentless pursuit, they delved deeper into the foundations of existence. In their tampering with powers far beyond their comprehension, the elves triggered a cataclysmic event that marked the end of the First Age.
The Conflux
The Conflux marks the darkest chapter in Enochian history, a cataclysm that forever altered the world. It began when the Fayaal elves, in their pursuit of arcane knowledge, changed the world in an act still shrouded in mystery. But this event triggered a rupture across the world, unleashing chaos that engulfed Enochia.
Fiery stones, later known as Godstones, rained down from the heavens, crashing into the earth with devastating force. Through these stones, mortals heard the voices of The Gods for the first time. The gods revealed the existence of a barrier known as The Veil, a cosmic shield that had prevented them from directly intervening in mortal affairs. Though the Veil briefly faltered during the Conflux, it returned, leaving the Godstones as the only reliable channels for divine communication.
In the wake of the Conflux, the very geography of Enochia was irrevocably transformed. Entire continents were altered within days, rendering old maps obsolete and reshaping trade routes and territorial boundaries overnight. As the earth convulsed, deadly red storms—later called Emberstorms—began to manifest, seemingly out of nowhere. These storms, most fierce over open seas, turned ocean travel into a perilous endeavor, isolating regions and instilling a deep sense of dread across the lands.
As chaos erupted, strange new beings emerged, with monsters and humanoid Races appearing as if drawn from thin air. These beings, lacking any memory of their origins, suddenly found themselves navigating a world that was not only foreign but fraught with danger. The ancient peoples who had survived now faced rivals they had never encountered before, leading to fierce conflicts as both old and new races vied for land and resources.
In the aftermath of the Conflux, Enochia became a realm under the watch of unseen gods, scattered with Godstones and plagued by the lethal fury of Emberstorms. In this dramatically altered landscape, the survivors would shape the Second Age through conquest, endurance, and bloodshed.
Second Age
The Second Age began amidst the emerging chaos, characterized by an age of rebuilding within a new world order. Cultures fought to survive while new societies emerged from the ashes of war. Monsters roamed the land, claiming vast territories, and survival became the primary concern for many. Yet, amidst this turmoil, small bastions of civilization began to rise, offering glimmers of hope.
This era was marked by the struggle to adapt and establish order amid the chaos. The Emberstorms, now a familiar yet ominous presence, complicated travel and communication, particularly over sea where they raged most fiercely. These storms ensured that regions remained isolated from one another, creating a patchwork of disconnected cultures.
Over the course of more than a millennium, these isolated cultures drew strength from the gods and Godstones introduced during the Conflux. They forged their own identities, enduring the remnants of chaos, and began to rebuild. The Second Age became a testament to resilience as civilizations formed alliances and developed new ways to navigate the challenges posed by their tumultuous world.
Today (Second Age)
In the present day, Enochia is a world defined by both the scars of its chaotic past and the promise of recovery, approximately 1,300 years after the Conflux, or ~1300 AC (After Conflux). While the Emberstorms continue to rage across the seas, civilization has taken root in many places, allowing people the time and space to think beyond mere survival.
Each region of Enochia grapples with its own struggles and challenges, but many have begun to cultivate stability and progress. Some communities are investigating the Underdark, seeking safer means of travel and trade beneath the earth's surface, hoping to establish new routes insulated from the chaos of the storms.
Others, driven by curiosity and adventure, venture to the sea, besting the Emberstorms in the hopes of finding treasures, ancient secrets and mysteries of Magic.
This spirit of exploration reflects a society beginning to emerge from its troubled history, seeking to uncover the mysteries of a world that is still recovering but filled with potential.
While remnants of strife linger, and monsters continue to threaten the fringes of civilization, the people of Enochia are beginning to chart a course toward a brighter future, striving to carve out a place for themselves in a world shaped by its tumultuous history yet eager for renewal.
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