History of the World (As Told in Elementary School)

First, there was the gray age. There was no light and no dark, no heat and no chill, no pain but no happiness, things simply were. Then, from beyond, came the gods Serenae and Eir. Serenae was the bright star, she brought light, happiness, kindness, goodness, and love to the world. Eir was the dark star, he brought darkness, hate, cruelty, evil, and deceit to the world. Both were equal and opposite, the people loved Serenae, but they feared Eir just as much. 

The first sunrise was seen on the radiant island by Lavinia de Calvane, a shepherd who was tending her flock near the island's eastern shore. She pledged herself to the service of the sun and all things good, and spread the light of the sun westward to those on her island. The people of the island learned her love of the sun, and pledged themselves too to its light. In time the island became unified, and as this was completed she died at peace. To preserve what was built and to further spread Serenae’s light, a church was established by eight great saints, who were known then and are known now to be exalted.

The church being then formed, its members set out to spread its light westward, to the dark lands of the mainland. In that time, the people lived in fear of the dark star Eir, and did what terrible things it commanded to appease it, so as to spare themselves and their loved ones its horrible wrath. But Eir was a god of trickery, and it was those who sought the most to escape its hatred that incurred the worst of it. This was the time of crusades, when those who stood in Serenae’s light sought to push the darkness of Eir and his corrupted back. The light of Serenae was spread due to the variance of her servants both those from the island of light and those who, seeing a chance to free themselves from Eir’s horrors, pledged themselves newly.

The fighting was terrible, and many good people were lost. Some were even corrupted by Eir and made into monstrosities. But the grace of Serenae and the love she brought was equal to that of Eir and his fear and treachery. It seemed this terrible war would go on forever. It was then that Korrodin, the greatest of men and leader of the forces of Serenae set out to seal Eir away and so to make the war winnable for humanoids. He went alone into the deep, dark lands of the west, and fought the servants of Eir within their own lands, spreading the light of Serenae. It was there he met Vannara, a child of Eir who sought to rebel against him, and so to step from the dark and into the light. She rose to fight alongside him, and the two together rose to the greatest heights of true gods. In the moment of their ascension, they sealed Eir within the moon, tempering his power so that progress could be made against his forces. But the sealing of Eir also weakened his opposite, to who always must be equal. Serenae faded into the sun, distant but always present, a guiding start and source of warmth.

The times that are after were one of disorder. Humanoids did not understand what to do now that Serenae and Eir had grown distant, so accustomed to their presence were they. They broke themselves into groups and, forgetting their fear of Eir they forgot as well their love of Serenae, and fought amongst themselves over earthly matters. 

Order would be returned by the Exalted Ruler, Empress Gervaise Seyres. With her armies she unified the fragmented lands, and brought with her order and the seeds for peace.  She restored the church to its former glory and created the system of laws we still use today. It was then the Kestran Empire was formed, and though there would be many struggles, especially in those early years, never again would a period of great darkness and chaos re-emerge. During the time of the empire many important events occurred. There was the Umbral War, during which the Yskoi emerged from below. Fleeing the dark gods to which they had previously been in service of, they sought to make a kingdom for themselves on the surface. Though the fighting was terrible, in the end the Yskoi chose to live within the Empire and to enter the light of Serenae, and together those loyal to the dark gods were defeated. There were also great developments made by the many people and Exalted, who pushed humanity forwards. Amongst them was Ioun, the great mage who perfected the arcane arts, and Erastin, the great inventor who learned to harness steam. There were terrible exalted too, who sought power by horrible means, but let their names be forgotten.

The current day is one of great progress. We must thank those who came before for the greatness of today, and seek to push ourselves towards even greater heights for those who come after. In the name of the Empire, its Emperor, and its people. In the name of Serenae, of Korrodin, and of the Eight Saints.