The Ancients

'Perfection cannot exist forever, but in a moment or memory. That is true perfection.'

Written by Yerran

^{- Scribbled writings scratched over a mural in an ancient tomb unearthed in Sabal}

To the mortals of Venya the lives of 'The Ancients' are a long past myth, but for those immortal beings that have endured several thousands years it is not so mythological. The Ancients were an ideal and nation, more than a specific race. During their time the nation was called Famala and they existed as a single combined nation of thousands of races and peoples encompassing all the lands of Venya.

Culture

With the eradication of hunger, sickness and death by old age many spent sections of their lives in different 'phases' of existence they called them. A phase of life spent travelling the world, experiencing the challenges of the elements, cultivating life, in study, creating families or perfecting magics and art, and it became common for some to spend 50-100 years in different phases. A strange phenomenon occurred for many not meant to live immortal lives. Aging became fashionable of a sort, and those that lived far longer than their allotted time chose death, deciding they had accomplished all they meant to in life and passing on willingly, considering it merely another step in the their adventure. Some had big 'death' parties before parting ways and a culture of acceptance developed around it. Though death by age was defeated, one could stills suffer death through incidents and murder, though it was uncommon.

Beneath the veneer of this perfect society was another level. Those that struggled to find their place in a world of plenty. Where they tried to fight against the cultural movements of the time and make waves through change to rules they believed unjust. Sometimes these woes were heard or their proposed cultural changes were adopted in a big way, but for many former mortal races, without the struggle of life there was an accompanying emptiness. This hollowness ultimately led to the downfall of the great nation. For those continued to strive for greatness and happiness, searching in places that should not have been delved for knowledge and power, hoping it would bring fulfilment.

The City of Unity: Taelon

The city stood at the centre of a sprawling continent upon a great plane. Towers of white, gold and silver glistened for miles and the city was separated into sections with huge promenades, gardens and parks between each. Beneath the glow of the towers stood the verdant growth of cultivate trees and other plant-life. The city was a perfect blend of architecture, gigantic structures and nature. Due to the nature of their magics the city had flying craft for transport as well as dozens of teleport rooms that linked to other cities across the globe and city, allowing instantaneous travel to most of the world. This meant many people lived far from Taleon making little of the city residential, rather a collection of academies, centres, council chambers and parks. Those that decided the course of the nation began as the rulers of the individual nations, though as lines between these nations began to blur it was put to elections for districts, though most avoided these political issues later in the nation's life, finding it had little effect on their lives, leaving those in power to pursue what they wished.

Language

Once this language united the races of the world. Spoken by all, with minor local differences it is now simply referred to as 'Ancient'. Little has remained of this language, save on ruins of temples and chambers long since lost to the surface. More of these symbols can be found in the Everdark, fallen below the world, without the tread of a mortal step for millennia.

This language is no longer spoken, as it is almost impossible to know what it sounded like, though tribes far removed from the worlds centre may have closer dialects that others. Runes, glyphs and markings of this language contain levels of magical energy that enhance the information stored in them, though those that now study this dead language know not of this magical level of information. A level once unveiled, can grant visions, sounds, scents and feelings of moments in time. As of yet, none have truly uncovered this, instead reading the bare markings of the symbols and translating what summates as a blurb of their true meaning.

History

Peace between nations across Venya was achieved in 2274P.C. and with it went the passing of grudges and hatred (these had boiled over since 2500P.C. and eventually passed). This new era led to true communication between races and the chance to truly learn and experience others' cultures. Knowledge and trade boomed as new infrastructure facilitated the exchange of ideas and the wealth of all nations grew beyond belief. The citizens soon began to drift from their homes, and nation’s borders began to blur to the point of non-existence. The unification of peoples can be said to have been achieved by 1800P.C. and with it the nation of Famala was established. A nation that encompassed all races, beliefs and cultures and covered the surface of the world.

Despite the progress and well-being of the world there were those that despaired at unification. These people stood on the very fringes of society, as far from the great city of Taelon as possible. The city that personified the belief of togetherness and unity above all else, named in honour of the one that made it possible. It flourished as a beacon, growing with splendour and grace at the centre of Famala.

The people of Famala basked in their growing glory. War, famine and disease had become things of the past and the wealth and livelihoods of those that lived within their borders could barely be measured. The city and its lands emulated that of the Creator Gods and soon the people saw themselves as such. Suffering was something of the past and even their magics were far beyond anything they had once believed possible solving even death from old age.

The Beginning of the End

Their arrogance soon saw tremendous works of magic done, though with the completion of each, they felt something amiss. Many lived the lives they wished in peace and tranquility, but some were never satisfied, wishing for more, to fill the emptiness they felt or to display their power and pride above all else. Some great magisters, wizards and sorcerers of the world sought to pull themselves into the planes of the Creator Gods, to take, what they believed, was their rightful place alongside them. A great gate was built at the centre of Taelon, one that would pull the mortal world closer to their gods and allow passage into their plane; to become gods. The casting and creation of the spell took years to come to fruition and eventually at a great casting ceremony the gate burst into life. A portal, hundreds of metres tall and wide sparkled and materialised at the centre of Taelon.

Though the great wizards and thinkers of the world had succeeded in pulling the plane of their Gods towards them they had failed to consider the state of balance in all things and had drawn multiple planes into close proximity to theirs. The opening of the gate heralded the beginning of the end as a host of monstrosities from beyond the ether poured forth into their world, beginning the Age of Desolation (60 P.C.).

Fall of an Empire: The Cataclysm

In the blink of an eye the empire shattered, its heart torn out and its best and brightest killed. The Empire of Famala limped on, intent to undo what it had wrought on Venya and struggled on for sixty years in a war that saw the world ravaged and cities burn in the endless conflict. Eventually the battle lines shifted and an opportunity revealed itself, one to close the gate and end it all. A brave cadre of warriors fought their way to the gate, horrified by what they witness in the ruins of Taelon and there on the steps of the great gate fought horrors and gods, breaking the gate and fracturing the planes of existence with it. Reality broke and the cracks spread across Venya, causing such upheaval that 85% of those living on Venya died in the following cataclysm, and with it, so went Famala and 'The Ancients' became a thing of myth and legend.

To This Day

The recent excavation of many sites and temples buried beneath the sands of The Sabal'Har Desert have caused a 'rush' of treasure and knowledge seekers to the nation and caused an influx of labour and wealth as expeditions are mounted to glean what information they can. Most, however, only seek to extract powerful artefacts and items that far eclipse anything currently in the world. Some wish to divine the language of 'The Ancients' in a bid to understand their powers as well as to understand what went so wrong, but it is a small few compared to those that simply seek wealth and fame. 

This search also goes on in the waters beneath The Shattered Shelf and across its islands. Further proof of 'The Ancients' buildings and artefacts can be found in ancient cities that still stand to this day, far from the epicentre of the Maelstrom that used to be the location of Taelon.

Races

The world under the rule of Famala was one bereft of racism and discrimination. Magic had developed in such a way that any could become who or what they wanted, whether a dragon, beast or alternative sex. Many took this option finding comfort or practicality in the body of one different to their birth. Though many changed and experienced others before returning to their own, content with what was first theirs.

Manufacturing and Agriculture

Many of the tiresome and difficult tasks were replaced by magic or through the use of machines powered by arcane crystals. These crystals were created through the capture of energy from various sources (earth, sky, etc). This meant that largely these tasks were performed without the need for sentient intervention, giving everyone more time for their 'phases' and life activities.

In some cases the citizens of Famala took over from these automatic systems when they wished to learn or experience the ways of 'agriculture' and 'farming' during a particular phase of their lives, or perhaps take over 'manufacturing' in a phase they wished to learn crafting.