The Legend of Auriga

"I tuck you in ever so gently, still you cried and turned from me. You stepped on my heart, I continue to forgive you just as mothers do, from under your shoes I still carried you. One day my body will freeze in a winter in which no summer will give of its breeze. In the end my body will burn into ashes and dust, the rain will turn all that glitters to rust. Sit down and let me explain. While my bruises stay, my child I know you never meant to... These scars just won't fade away, and I am sure you never knew.
Auriga weeps for her children. May life remember her sacrifice and change. Shine her light, let it be the beacon of hope at night, be our guide once more dear mother. Shine your light! Blind us when reality bites... We so need the magic she does. Shine your light! Be the beacon of hope at night! Auriga save us from seeing ourselves." - Song of Auriga, first year after the Long Winter.

Auriga, for many connected with nature can attest, is alive, she breathes but not without strain. It was said the first people to find her were what we would be called, well depending on your background, Aeons, Eternals, Celestials, Primordials. Whatever the speakers of these dead languages use to speak were actually called. These ones brought about the foundation of civilization upon the world. Great structures were built, using the natural Ether that Auriga breathed in and out to power their great society. They used Ether to even create life, for purposes beyond any of my peers understanding. You can be bored on a lecture about that another day.
Other life found its way by chance. Perhaps our Mother adopted them? They came on creatures of steel, burning in the sky. One of such beings was the Ren, or Star Children as we call ourseves. It felt as if Auriga was made for us, the places we settled turned fantastic and serene. Our lands became known as the Shivering Isles. Others called it the Feywild and Shadowfell.
Ah yes, I'm sure you did not become aware of this fact. The world was at one point what our top thinkers call a "Planegea" One singular plane all connected, as if a great wheel. You use to be able to traverse on foot to the elemental planes of fire and water. The Shivering Isles were our home. The Ether was different back then. Many had achieved great things during this time. We built fantastic structure, we invented magnificent creations. But much like those who came before us, our mortality was revealed in our arrogance.
We didn't know Mother was suffering from our smug ignorance. The world was cracking at the seams with pockets of pure elemental power, bio-energy this Ether pouring out in pain as if we had cut her and bled her. One large crack is when they attacked.

The Great Dragon War

Dragons, creatures made up of the very elements, particularly the dragons following a wicked dragon named Fatalis. They formed what was called the Chroma Conclave in the city of Dundorma. The first great war to unite man, ren and mer together against the forces of nature itself. Not all dragons were aligned against us. Some actually came and helped liberate the slave species called the Dragonborn. The dragonborn then had swore an oath to the throne, as long as it had jade blood it would serve.
The aftermath of that war revealed a change in the world, a splinter that cracked. The plane of water began to expand and flood what we today would call the Celestial Sea.
This should have been a warning to us but no, instead we continued ignorant to our own importance. Then it happened, a war to end all wars...

The Long Winter

Power was abundant, we had it all, we had unlocked the secrets of the civilizations prior to us. Humanity were on the verge of divinity, it seemed like no place was free from the scars of war. Casters unleashing Ether even to the 9th level. Waging war on a large scale. War was no longer solved between blade and shield. But with explosive power that could destroy entire armies in a flash. Serving in that war, it felt as if the entire world was the plane of fire. Then it ended... Humanity was ruined. Their great unstoppable empire, their forbidden technology. Gone in a flash. Now the Mourning Ashlands remain as a reminder of the pain we inflicted on our Mother.
That wasn't it. The aftermath was something no one could expect. The planes, the elements we lived in, separated from Auriga. Even the Shivering Isles faded out. Our large fantastic trees and world turned more and more.... Mundane. As if the sins of our hubris had locked us out forever. Mother had expressed her shame in us.
Now the discussion of planes is another lecture, perhaps not one you are interested in hearing today. But these planes few have visited again. And time behaves in a different rule. It was unrecognizable to these "Horizon Walkers." As if time was a completely different factor, not obeying the seasons and days we enjoyed. Entire societies and civilizations were spawned within these fragmented planes. Remember, whenever you unleash a fireball on an unsuspecting shop or snap your fingers to light a candle, thank the ether you received from the elemental plane of fire!

Jade Dynasty

The scars of war would remain throughout the Summerwild. But we managed to maintain a semblance of order. One Ilbornren. Syunyu Kaishen, a mastermind and a person the people could love came into power. And he managed to fight and unite a land broken from war. We believe he obtained divinity. And found the pockets of Source. The resting places of where the planes used to reside. He gave access to these pockets of source to what we would now refer to as the Great Houses. House Kitsune and House Naga for instance pull energy from a pocket linked to the elemental plane of water. While Ahtal-Kai and Hermitaur pull from the Earth.
He also created a Hunter's Caste, a nobility that can be earned. To inspire those to become heroes, adventurers, to reclaim the land that we had tarnished so badly. It feels Auriga is pleased at the moment. While scarred she continues to carry us. One day we can hope she will forgive us.

Professor Zorthos, Xurugan Blossomed Light Academy

"We crown the skies with our tiara, the life and fate of Auriga. We write an endless symphony. Now thousands were weeping and hundreds cried in dismay. twenty years today!" - 20th Anniversary of The Long Winter