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Introductie
Een jaar geleden op deze zelfde dag, kwamen ze. De duivels, de vervloekte Asmodians. Ze kwamen uit het niets, springend door een van onze portalen een paar minuten nadat onze legionnaires waren vertrokken. De lafaards. Ze slachtte ons af, en zelfs onze moedigste probeerden hun best tegen hun aanvallen, maar welke echte kans stonden ze tegen deze onsterfelijken? Ik rende weg, ik heb geen schaamte om het te zeggen, ik rende weg en verstopte mijn vrienden. Mijn buren en familie werd volledig uitgemoord. Iemand moet deze dingen onthouden, want het is door deze acties dan een reeel wezen kan zien welke mensen eerzaam zijn en welke kwaadaardig. Dus ik rende en verstopte me, en wanneer ik terug ging helpte ik de doden begraven. "Waarom?" vroeg ik, "Waarom zou iemand zoiets doen?" Het was dan dat ik me realiseerde dan ik heel weinig wist over de geschiedenis van onze planeet, en gauw nadat ik was begonnen met onderzoeken wat er was gebeurt zo veel jaren geleden dat zou uitkomen in een oorlog met hun die wij ooit als broeders zagen, de Asmodians. Doorheen deze pagina's zal je lezen wat ik heb geleerd over Atreia, zij van ons die ooit leefden en zij van ons die nu nog steeds leven op deze heilige landen.
Zijn we arrogant? Misschien. Ik heb arrogantie gezien tussen de Elyos juist zoals ik warmte en vrijgevigheid heb gezien. De Asmodians hoewel, ik heb ze met mijn eigen ogen gezien, en ze hebben me mijn eigen bloed doen proeven. Is het dan niet duidelijk dat deze schepselen, nu verdraait in afgrijselijke monsters, zijn vervloekt door Aion? Is het mogelijk
dat wij Elyos, mooi zoals we zijn, verkozen zijn? Zijn we een reflectie van de omgeving waarin we hebben overleefd, en geleefd, of zijn zij een reflectie van ons?
Voor mijn leven, ik weet het niet.
Mijn naam is Rafaela, en ik heb mijn onderzoek zorgvuldig uitgelegd hieronder. Ik kan enkel hopen dat je mijn notities nuttig vind en dat ze je helpen in het bevrijden van deze prachtige, gebroken wereld van demonen die hem nu teisteren.
Hoofdstuk 1 - Creatie
Ontelbare millenia terug, maakte onze god, Aion, Atreia. Onze wereld was prachtig, een planeet vol leven en kleur met de machtige Tower of Eternity die kern van onze wereld vormde. Het was een tijd wanneer wij en de Asmodians dezelfde mensen waren.
Onze wereld was volledig dicht, en onze thuis was verlicht door de zachte, gloed van de toren. Het voedde ons, gaf ons hoop en steunde ons op elke manier. Wij in onze plaats, waren volledig onderschikt aan onze god. Dit weten we niet alleen door verhalen die doorverteld zijn, maar ook door artefacten en inscripties die door onze archeologen zijn gevonden doorheen Elysea. Waarom Aion deze wereld heeft gemaakt blijft een mysterie. Hoe dan ook, we weten dat onze god een monumentale uitdaging in gedachte had voor ons,
want een monster werd naar voren geschoven om onze vastberadenheid, en onze kracht van onze overtuiging te testen.
Hoofdstuk 2- De Tijd van de Balaur
Ze werden "the draken" (verwijzend naar draken uit de Noordse mythologie)genoemd, het waren verschrikkelijke beesten. Sommige van onze oudste parabels verhalen over deze verschrikkingen, 's nachts vertellen we nog steeds aan ongehoorzame kinderen over hun ongetemde woede en dorst naar bloed. We leerden snel hoe we ons van hen konden verschuilen, gebruik makend van natuurlijke enclaves (http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enclave) probeerden we hun priemende blikken naar andere oorden af te leiden. Ondanks alles verloren we duizenden van onze soort terwijl andere wezens volledig werden uitgeroeid tijdens hun meedogenloze aanvallen. Anderen zoals de Mau en Krall, werden tot slaven gemaakt die enkel in leven werden gehouden omwille van hun brute kracht die kon gebruikt worden in de Balaur hun oorlog. Deze draken, door Aion gestuurd om over Atreia te heersen, hun vertrouwen groeide net als hun getallen. Maar even snel als hun honger naar macht groeide, kelderde hun toewijding aan hun missie en daarmee ook aan hun god. Onze verhalen vertellen over één dag in het bijzonder, op die dag veranderde er iets bij de draken. Ze organiseerde zichzelf en een hiarchisch systeem ontstond. Later kwamen we te weten dat ze deze gebeurtenis hun "ontwaking" noemde. Het was rond deze tijd dat de nieuwe meesters, de vijf "dragon lords", hun volk herdoopten tot wat ze zichzelf nu nog altijd noemen: "the Balaur".
De eerste keer dat onze voorouders de Balaur zagen dachten ze dat het een nieuw ras was, zo groot was het verschil in vaardigheid en voorkomen. Het was slechts na hun eerste aanval dat ze de brute kracht van hun nieuwe vijand onder ogen zagen. Dit samen met het zien van dat ontembare verlangen om al het leven te verwoesten, deden onze voorouders concluderen dat zij terug te maken hadden met de verschrikkingen van vroeger. Het waren dezelfde wezens, gezegend door Aion, die vroeger zonder enig verpinken het ene ras na het andere uitroeide.
Tegen dit moment hadden de Balaur hun missie reeds volledig vergeten. Arrogant en gulzig als ze waren, vroegen ze meer en meer macht totdat deze niet meer kon gegeven worden. Aion weigerde, hij dreigde met de mogelijke gevolgen indien hij hen zulke destructieve kracht zou geven, ze zouden even machtig worden als de god die ze aanbaden. Hierdoor realiseerden ze zich dat hun potentieel onderdrukt werd door Aion, uiteindelijk keerden ze zich tegen hun god. Ze concentreerden zich op oorlog voeren en "the Tower of Eternity" bedreigen.
Hoofdstuk 3 - De Millennium Oorlog
Onze voorouders stonden moedig en verenigd in voor de verdediging van de toren en de god waarvan ze zijn gaan houden. Maar de Balaur, met hun overrompelende en brute kracht, beukten zich doorheen hun linies waarbij duizenden slachtoffers vielen. In een wanhopige poging creëerde Aion de "Empyrean lords", 12 krachtige strijders, opgedragen om de macht te grijpen en de plunderende Balaur te overwinnen. Aion schiep ook Aether, een substantie die de 12 Lords konden manipuleren om zichzelf en hun volgelingen te beschermen tegen de Balaur. Met deze substantie werd ook een beschermend schild rond De toren van Aion gemaakt. Het was zo groot dat de overblijvende voorouders er in konden wonen en langzaamaan hun beschaving terug opbouwen. Zo begon de Millennium oorlog, een conflict waardoor landen en wezens buiten het schild werden verwoest doordat de Balaur hun frustraties afreageerden op alles wat ook maar het kleinste verzet toonde. De documenten waarover we vandaag nog beschikken tonen aan dat onze beschaving floreerde tijdens de tijden dat de Empyrean Lords moedig de tegen De Balaur vochten. Uiteindelijk slaagden de mensen er in om Aether te gebruiken op dezelfde mannier als de Lords dit deden. Deze werden bekend als de Daeva zij ontdekten in de loop der tijden krachten veel groter dan ze ooit hadden kunnen dromen. Ze waren bijna halfgoden en zouden snel onze toekomst gaan vormen. Velen dachten door hun mogelijkheid om te vliegen dat ze engelen waren die door Aion waren gestuurd met hetzelfde doel als de Lords, stabiliteit en orde in de wereld brengen.
De oorlog duurde vele jaren voort, als één kant de bovenhand nam leek het alsof deze strijd eindelijk uitbalanceerde. Als een kant zich tot overwinnaar zou uitroepen zouden de kosten die hun eigen volk betaald ondraaglijk zijn.
Uit angst voor deze hopeloze oorlog zochten sommige Lords naar andere manieren om deze te beëindigen …
Hoofdstuk 4 - Hoop
Van alle Empyrean Lords was de mooie verschijning Ariel degene de het meeste met ons, het volk, sprak. Tijdens één van haar eerste avonden in Atreia kwam ze van de toren naar beneden en sprak met ons rondom het kampvuur. Ze was zeer geduldig en bekommerd, ze zei ons alles wat we moesten weten. De Balaur, hoe machtig en schrikwekkend ze ook waren, durfden de grenzen van het Aethrisch schild niet oversteken. Voor de eerste keer in vele jaren waren we veilig. De muurschildering die deze avond afbeeldt bestaat nog steeds, het toont een grote vrouwelijke figuur met open armen die naar ons kijkt terwijl we tranen van blijdschap en opluchting laten vloeien, en we voor de eerste keer in zoveel jaren feest vierden.
Ik vertel je nu over Ariel omdat zij de eerste was die de wijsheid in Lord Israphel's onverwacht voorstel zag, ze wist dat vrede de enige oplossing was. Het was zij die het inzicht had om te zien dat een overwinning, als dit al mogelijk was, ons enkele nog meer zou verwonden; en het was zij die moedig genoeg was om de dorst naar oorlog van de andere Lords te veroordelen tot de pronkzucht die het werkelijk was.
Ze ondersteunde de mening van Israphel, dat als we na 1000 jaar nog steeds oorlog voerden, we geen zekerheid hadden dat na 2000, 3000 of zelfs 10 000 jaar er een einde zou aan komen. Ariel zag, net als Isaphrel, dat door het voortzetten van deze oorlog we meer op het spel zetten dan enkel onze manschappen. We zouden dat ene iets verliezen dat ons laat uitstijgen boven de Balaur en alle andere schrikwekkende beesten in deze wereld, onze menselijkheid. Het was geweten dat Isaphrel de Balaur meer haatte dan gelijk wie. Indien zelfs hij zich boven zijn haat voor de Balaur kon zetten in ruil voor vrede, dan zou iedereen – inderdaad "zou" – dit voorbeeld kunnen volgen.
Zelfs zonder enige schriftelijke bevestiging over wat er tijdens het pleidooi van Isaphrel was gezegd, weten we dat er discussie was tussen Ariel en enkel ander Lords. Het werd duidelijk dat de zoektocht naar vrede niet zonder tegenstand ging gebeuren, en voor de eerste keer ontstonden er breuken in ons verenigd front.
Maar zelfs de oorlogsstokers en anderen op zoek naar glorie, arrogant en overweldigend als ze waren, konden de autoriteit van Israphel en Siel niet ontkennen. Ze waren ten slotte de bewakers van de toren. Vrouwe Ariel en de 4 gezegende Lords die haar kant kozen, verdedigden hun mening uren lang. Maar het was Vrouwe Siel's toestemming die de zaak voor eens en altijd besloot. De bewakers hadden gesproken: er zou vrede komen.
Onze voorvaderen verheugden zich. Hoe konden ze anders? De bombastische woede van Lord Asphel en zijn dienaren was zo luidruchtig en furieus, de koppigheid van kleine kinderen nabij. Toen ze wegvlogen in de koude nacht twijfelde niemand er aan dat ze uiteindelijk terug zouden komen als hun furie over was. Ons pad was duidelijk uitgestippeld en niemand durfde hiertegen ingaan.
Ariel leerde haar getrouwen een lied om Aion te danken, en voor de eerste keer in vele eeuwen, durfden we te hopen.
Hoofstuk 5 - Het Epische Cataclysme
De dag van de vredesconferentie was aangebroken. Onze voorouders ontwaakten bij het zien van de 5 dragonlords. Ze stonden alleen net buiten het Aetrisch schild. De afbeeldingen die we hebben van die dag schilderen ze af als gigantische wezens, veel groter dan de andere Balaur.
Siel en Israphel, de twee Lords belast met de bescherming van de toren, ontbonden het Schild en nodigden de Dragon Lords uit in de toren voor onderhandelingen. Dit was de kans voor deze wezens om ons volledig te vernietigen, maar toch kozen ze om dit niet te doen. In tegendeel, ze wandelden rustig door onze nederzettingen in de toren. Misschien hadden we wel hun respect gewonnen door onze veerkracht en standvastigheid. En misschien was het vertouwen dat wij en Ariel hen gegeven hadden toch niet zo misplaatst. Asphel was aanwezig samen met zijn trouwste bevelhebbers wier gezichten een duistere indruk gaven. De vredesconferentie was begonnen en voor even liepen de onderhandelingen zeer goed.
Toen, in een fractie van een seconde, gebeurde het.
We spreken nog over de gebeurtenissen van die dag, over de kreten van paniek, over de ziekelijke zekerheid die zich toen stelde: de oorlogsstokers zouden hun zin krijgen zelfs indien ze hiervoor Atreia zouden moeten opofferen. We zagen Asphel zich plots en snel bewegen, toen viel Dragon Lord Vitra neer. De Balaur gaven niet meer om woorden, in een ogenblik was er een bloedbad en complete chaos.
Hun woede escaleerde, ze hakten zich een weg door ons heen naar de verlichamelijking van Aion zelf. De muren van de toren beefden en scheurden, ze vielen om en versplinterden in duizenden stukken.
Ariel huilde toen ze probeerde de toren intact te houden. Ze werd naar het zuidelijke deel van de toren gestuurd om de toren te beschermen, zij en haar aanhangers waren alles wat er nog tussen Atreia en de totale vernietiging stond. Asphel en zijn groep werden naar het noordelijke deel gestuurd met dezelfde opdracht. Ze waren zonder twijfel te blij met de plotse heeropflakkering van de oorlog om hun plicht te doen en de toren te beschermen.
Ondanks Ariel's pogingen faalden de Lords. De toren begaf het met een kreunend geluid, hij brak en scheurde van top tot teen. Aion stierf.
Ik kan de angst die onze voorouders voelden toen de toren die de twee helften bij elkaar hield ineen stortte niet beschrijven. We vertellen nu nog verhalen over de duizenden mensen die voor hun leven liepen, de dood reeds in hun achterhoofd.
Toen Siel en Israphel zich realiseerden dat Atreia stervende was, offerden ze zich op. Ze namen alle Aether die ze in zich hadden om ons volk te beschermen.
Miljoenen mensen stierven tijdens deze gebeurtenissen die we nu kennen als het epische cataclysme. Uiteindelijk, toen het puin rustte, konden we zien wat er met onze mooie wereld was gebeurd: Aion, de Tower of Eternity, was vernielt en onze wereld was in tweeën gescheurd.
Hoofdstuk 6 - Verlossing
Ik ben een Elyos, het volk dat zich in de lagere helft van Atreia bevindt, onze nieuwe wereld die we Elysea genoemd hebben. Eerst brandden onze ogen door het maagdelijke licht van onze nabijgelegen ster, zo sterk vergeleken met de zachte, kalme gloed die onze toren uitstraalde voor hij vernield werd. We pasten ons desondanks toch snel aan en we vierden onze nieuwgevonden wereld. Ons volk kon naar de hemel kijken en de duistere resten van het bovenste deel van Atreia zien. Het draaide traag in het rond, maar hing toch nog vast aan ons heiligdom.
Het licht van onze nieuwe ster was wonderbaarlijk, het toverde onze eens zo schrale velden om tot weelderige weiden, net zoals het ons veranderde in de prachtige wezens die we nu zijn. Onze huid gloeide van de kracht, onze harten sloegen sterk en zeker, snel stonden we weer stevig op onze voeten. Aion, hadden velen reeds snel door, wou dat dit was gebeurd. Wij waren de Elyos: Aion's gekozen volk, door hun god geplaatst in hun paradijs! Deze wereld kon zelfs door de Balaur niet bereikt worden. We vernomen van Ariel dat zij verbannen waren door Siel en Israphel naar een onbekende leegte, juist voor deze nobele Daeva zich opofferden tijdens het episch cataclysme.
De vijf Emyrean Lords die door Siel en Israphel gestuurd waren namen ons onder hun vleugels, ze herdoopten zich tot Seraphim Lords. Onze Lords vertelde onze voorouders over hun strijd, en hoe de andere vijf Lords de Balaur hadden beledigd en uitgedaagd, hen zo duwend in een nog groter conflict. Onze wereld, eens zo stabiel en harmonieus, was nu in tweeën gedeeld. Er werd ons gezegd dat dit alles kwam door de acties van de andere Lords en hun vervloekte leider, Asphel.
We bouwden ons leven terug op, en daarmee een nieuwe stad, een glorieus bouwwerk gepast voor onze wereld en onze Lords, genaamd Sanctum. We zweerden onze nieuwe thuis te verdedigen en de sterkste Daeva werden door onze Lords als bewakers aangeduid.
Zevenhonderd vijftig jaar ging voorbij op deze wijze. We hadden een algemene vrede, en we groeiden zo goed als we konden. Maar, de dingen gingen weer eens veranderen doordat onze planeet zichzelf herstelde.
Hoofdstuk 7 - De Abbys en het Storm Legioen
Het enige dat overbleef van onze grote toren na de tragische gebeurtenissen waren twee stompen, één in onze wereld en de andere in Atreia's bovenste helft. Het grootste deel van de brokstukken lag verspreid over de twee helften van onze wereld.
Op een dag begon de aarde rond deze brokstukken te verschuiven en traag maar zeker begonnen ze te leviteren. We stuurden de dappersten onder onze bewakers op onderzoek uit, ze ontdekten portalen die naar grote stukken van de toren leidden. Daar stroomde Aether als water doorheen het landschap.
We noemden deze wereld het Abyss, en behoedzaam baanden ze zich een weg vooruit en ontdekten ze deze nieuwe werelds dodelijke omgeving. Ze troffen een wereld aan met veel Aether dat Aion gegeven had aan de Empyrean Lords en dat de Daeva konden manipuleren tijdens de oorlog met de Balaur. Vele Daeva gingen verloren: de poorten waren niet stabiel en eens ze sloten was er geen mannier om ze terug te openen waardoor degenen aan de andere kant werden uitgesloten.
Op een dag opende een ander portaal, groter en stabieler dan alle anderen. Een bewaker met de naam Deltras ging er doorheen, aan de andere kant vond hij iets adembenemend. Zijn legioen stond in de bovenste helft van Atreia en wanneer ze naar boven keken zagen ze hun eigen Elysea badend in het licht.
Traag en behoedzaam trokken ze vooruit, ze ontdekten dit vreemde land dat vroeger een deel was van hun thuis. Het was nu een duister en onheilspellende plaats, vol met vreemde geluiden en voorbij flitsende schaduwen. Daar ontdekten ze de Asmodians, mannen en vrouwen die vroeger onze broeders waren maar nu veranderd waren in afschuwelijke wezens. Erger nog, deze nachtmerries werden geleid door één van de moordzuchtige Empyrean Lords, een wreed wezen Zikel genaamd.
Het was donker: onze Daeva konden niet goed zien en werden snel door Zikel en zijn monsters overmeesterd. Dit wezen, dat ooit aan de zijde van de machtige Ariel stond, overmeesterde Deltras en eiste dat hij de Seraphim Lords vervloekte voor hun "zwakte". Deltras, moedig en nobel als hij was, behield zijn trots als Elyos. Hij weigerde de naam van de Seraphim Lords te vervloeken en vervloekte de arrogante Zikel in de plaats.
De Asmodians vielen aan, en degene die aan de andere kant van het portaal wachtten zagen enkel 2 mannen terugkeren, bebloed en gewond.
Hoofdstuk 8 - Een Nieuwe Vijand, een Oude Vijand
We waren met verstomming geslagen. Verrast dat iemand er in was geslaagd om in die afgelegen en bevroren woestenij te overleven, en verrast wat deze Asmodians geworden waren. We mobiliseerden onze legioenen in alle haast en bereidde ons voor op oorlog.
Aion had nog een test voor onze toewijding. Een ander stabiel portaal opende, en eruit kwam een gruwel waarvan gehoopt hadden ze nooit meer terug te zien: de Balaur. De Balaur hergroepeerden hun troepen snel, zo haalden ze de Krall en Mau terug naar hun kant en dwongen andere zwakkere rassen tot overgave. Hun furie was groter als ooit tevoren en het waren wij deze keer die de last droegen van hun woede.
Onze wereld, het land waarin we leven, had de kleinste en meest breekbare mogelijkheden om te overleven gekregen door het offer dat Siel en Israphel brachten. We geloofden dat deze mogelijkheden genoeg waren om te overleven en ons uiteindelijk de overwinning zouden helpen bereiken op onze Asmodian vijanden die ons familie durfden noemen. Deze naïeve hoop verdween als sneeuw voor de zon toen we volledig toevallig iets vreselijks te weten kwamen.
Atreia was stervende. Onze wereld bloed constant Aether doorheen de Abyss. Zonder het stelpen van dit bloeden zal Atreia's Aethrische levensbron uitgeput geraken. Onze wereld, die slechts aaneenhing door de opoffering die Siel en Israphel brachten, gaat uiteenvallen. De twee helften die vroeger onze grote planeet vormden zullen doorheen de ruimte dwalen, koud en leeg voor altijd. Al het leven hier zal uitgeroeid worden in een vingerknip, en alles wat we bereikt hebben, alles waar we zo hard voor gewerkt hebben, zal opgaan in het niets.
In paniek begonnen onze priesters en schriftgeleerden alle mogelijke oplossingen te overlopen. Uiteindelijk vonden we er één.
De Abyss is een echo van de grootse Tower of Eternity die ooit stond in het midden van onze wereld. Het bestaat enkel door de immense magische krachtvelden die tussen de twee stompen van de toren resoneren. Het is een veld van onnatuurlijke energie zoals dat wat zou ontstaan tussen de twee polen van een gigantische magneet. Indien we de Asmodian Tower of Darkness zouden vernietigen, zou dat veld in elkaar stuiken en daarmee de Abyss voorgoed sluiten.
Indien we deze toren zouden vernietigen zijn we niet enkel eindelijk verlost van de wereld van de duistere en lelijke Asmodian bezoedeling, maar redden we ze ook van de ondergang en geven we ons volk het oneindige paradijs dat ons geschonken is door Aion!
Deze opdracht is onze finale test, onze laatste hindernis voor we in staat zijn onze beloning te veroveren. We moeten de Asmodians en hun zielige land vernietigen. We moeten Atreia redden.
English
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Introduction
One year ago this very day, they came. Those fiends, those cursed Asmodians. They appeared from nowhere, leaping through one of our portals only a few moments after our legionnaires had left. The cowards. They butchered us where we stood, and though our bravest tried their hardest to resist their attacks, what real hope did they have against these immortals? I ran, I have no shame in saying it, I ran and hid while my friends, and my neighbours, and my family were all slain. Someone needs to remember acts like these, for it is through these actions that a rational being can see which of our people are honourable, and which are wicked. So I ran, and I hid, and when I returned to my settlement I helped bury the dead. "Why?" I asked, "Why would someone do this?" It was then that I realised how little I knew of the history of our planet, and soon after I started researching what happened so many years ago that would result in us being at war with those who we once considered our brothers, the Asmodians. Within these pages you will read all that I have come to learn about Atreia, those of us who once lived and those of us who still live on these sacred lands.
Are we an arrogant people? Perhaps. I have seen arrogance amongst the Elyos just as I have seen warmth and generosity. The Asmodians though, I have seen them with my own eyes, and they have made me taste my own blood. Is it not obvious that those creatures, now twisted into such vile monsters, have been cursed by Aion? Is it possible that we Elyos, beautiful as we are, are blessed? Are we a reflection of the environments in which we have survived, and lived, or are they a reflection of us? For the life of me, I do not know. My name is Rafaela, and I have detailed my research below. I can only hope that you find my notes useful and that they can somehow aid you in ridding this beautiful, broken world of these demons that now infest it.
Chapter 1 - Creation
Countless millennia ago, our god, Aion, created Atreia. Our world was a beautiful one, a planet full of life and colour with the mighty Aion Tower of Eternity spanning the inner core of our world. This was a time when we and the Asmodians were the same people, simply called humans. Our world was fully encased, and inside our home was illuminated only by the soft, gentle glow of the tower. It nurtured us, gave us hope and supported us in every way. We in turn were fully subservient to our god. We know this not only through stories and tales that have been passed down through the generations, but also in various artefacts and inscriptions that our archaeologists have found at dig sites throughout Elysea. Quite why Aion had created this world for us remains a mystery. However, in hindsight we can see that our god had a monumental challenge in store for us, as a monstrosity was summoned forth to put our resolve, and the strength of our convictions, to the test.
Chapter 2 - The Age of the Balaur
They were called the draken, and were appalling beasts to behold. Some of our oldest parables feature these monstrosities, and at night we still tell misbehaving children of their furious anger and thirst for blood. We quickly learned to hide from them, using natural enclaves to keep their keen eyes attracted elsewhere. Still we lost thousands of our kind, while other creatures were entirely wiped out under their relentless onslaught. Others, such as the Mau, and Krall, were enslaved by the draken; only kept alive so that their brute strength could be used against other enemies. These draken, sent by Aion to rule Atreia, quickly became more confident as their numbers swelled. However, as their greed for power grew, so did they start to forget their mission, and indeed, their god. Our stories tell of one day in particular, when something changed in the draken. They became more organised, and a few of their number gained dominance over the others. We later learned these draken called the event their 'awakening', and it was roughly around this time that their new masters, the five Dragon Lords, renamed their kin with the term which we still use today - the Balaur.
The first time our ancestors saw the Balaur, they thought them a new species, such was the difference in physical appearance and ability. It was only after their first attacks that they recognised the sheer brutality of their assailants, and their unrelenting desire to extinguish life, that the truth dawned on our ancestors: These creatures, who had apparently received a blessing from Aion, were the same terrors that had been so ruthlessly wiping race after race from the face of Atreia.
The Balaur had by this stage forgotten their mission entirely, becoming arrogant and greedy and demanding more power from Aion than could be provided. Aion refused, threatened by the potential consequences of granting such destructive terrors the same abilities that our benevolent creator possessed. Realising their potential was being suppressed by Aion, the Balaur eventually turned on their god, rallying forth their more warlike subjects and threatening the Tower of Eternity itself.
Chapter 3 - The Millennium War
Our ancestors were brave, and stood united in defence of the tower and the god that they had come to love. However, the Balaur, with their sheer brute force, tore through their ranks, slaughtering thousands where they stood. In a desperate move, Aion created the Empyrean lords, 12 powerful guardians tasked with reigning in the marauding Balaur and restoring order to Atreia. Aion also created Aether, a substance which the Empyrean Lords could manipulate to protect themselves and their followers from the Balaur. This substance was also used to create a protective shield around the Aion tower, so large that it allowed our remaining ancestors to rest within its boundaries and slowly, day by day, restore some semblance of civilisation. So was started the Millennium War, a conflict that saw the lands and creatures outside our Aetheric shield burn and scream in agony as the Balaur took out their frustrations on anything that dared show even the slightest resistance. The inscriptions that we still have show our people prospering during this time as the Empyrean Lords bravely fought against the Balaur, eventually taking with them the humans that were capable of utilising the Aether in similar ways to these Empyrean Lords. These individuals became known as Daeva, and in the full passage of time would unlock power far greater than our own. They were virtually demi-gods, and would soon become instrumental in shaping our future. Indeed, their ability to fly led many of us to believe they were angels, sent by Aion to bring order and stability to our world.
The war raged for years, and while one side would occasionally gain the upper hand, it seemed that this contest was finely balanced indeed. If one side were to eventually claim victory, the cost to their own people would be almost unbearable.
Afraid of continuing this crippling and demoralising war, some of our Empyrean Lords started looking at other ways of ending this struggle…
Chapter 4 - Hope
Of all the Empyrean Lords, the one who spoke most to us, the people, was a beautiful figure named Ariel. On one of her first evenings on Atreia, Ariel came down from the tower of Aion and spoke with us around our campfire. By all accounts, she was patient and caring, and told us everything that we needed to hear. The Balaur, mighty and terrifying as they were, would not dare cross the boundaries of the Aetheric shield. For the first time in many, many years, we were actually safe. We still have the stone carving depicting that evening, showing this great female figure, with open arms, watching us weep tears of joy and relief, as we celebrated for the first time in many, many years.
I tell you of Ariel now, because it was she who first recognised the wisdom in Lord Israphel's unexpected proposal and saw that peace was the only option. It was she who had the foresight to know that victory, if possible at all, would almost certainly cripple us; and it was she who was brave enough to confront her fellow Empyrean Lords, and condemn their thirst for endless battle as the vainglory it truly was.
She echoed Israphel's view that if we were still trapped in this same war after one thousand years, then what guarantee would we have that this war wouldn't still be raging after two, three, or ten thousand years? Ariel saw, as Israphel had seen, that by continuing this exhausting war, we risked losing more than mere numbers. We would lose the one thing that elevated us above the Balaur, and the other ferocious beasts within our world: our humanity. It was well known that Israphel detested the Balaur more than any other. If he, even he, could overcome his loathing in the name of peace, then everyone could – indeed, should – follow his example.
While we have no records of what exactly was said between the Empyrean Lords in the wake of Israphel's announcement, we know there was something of a dispute between Ariel and some of the more warlike Lords. It was clear the decision to seek peace would not go unopposed, and for the first time, rifts appeared in our united front.
But even the warmongers and glory-hounds, rant and froth as they might, could not deny the authority of Israphel and Siel acting in concert as Guardians of the Tower. Lady Ariel and the four blessed Lords who took her side argued for many long hours, but it was only Lady Siel's agreement that sealed the issue once and for all. The Guardians had spoken: there would be peace.
Our forefathers rejoiced. How could they not? The bombastic wrath of Lord Asphel and his underlings was just so much sound and fury, the petulance of children denied. As they winged their way into the cold night, none doubted that they would be back eventually, once tempers had had a chance to cool. The path was clearly laid before us now, and none would dare to rebel.
Ariel led her faithful in a song of praise and thanks to Aion, and for the first time in many, many centuries, we dared to hope.
Chapter 5 - The Epic Cataclysm
The morning of the peace conference dawned. Our ancestors awoke to find the five Dragon Lords, leaders of the Balaur, standing alone outside the Aetheric Field. The drawings we have of the day show them to be physically huge creatures, much larger than the other Balaur.
Siel and Israphel, the two Empyrean Lords charged with protecting the tower itself, lowered the Aetheric Field, and invited the Dragon Lords inside the tower for negotiations. Here was a chance for these creatures to destroy us entirely, and yet they chose not to, instead walking peacefully through our settlements and into the tower. Perhaps we had gained their respect through our resilience and determination, and perhaps this trust that we, and Ariel, had placed in them was not misplaced at all. Asphel was present, and with him his cronies, their faces dark. The peace conference began, and for a short while negotiations were progressing well.
Then, in a moment's breath, it happened.
We still speak of the events that followed that day, of the sudden shouts of panic, of the sickening certainty that gripped us all: the warmongers would have their way, even if they had to sacrifice all of Atreia to achieve it. We saw Asphel move swiftly and suddenly, and the Dragon Lord Vitra collapse. The Balaur did not waste time with words. In an instant, there was carnage and chaos.
Their hatred redoubled, they hacked their way past us and into the very substance of Aion itself. The walls of the Tower shivered and cracked, coming away in titanic shards.
Ariel wept as she strove to hold the Tower of Eternity intact. Sent to its southern base to lend her energy to the Tower, along with all of her attendant Lords, she was now all that stood between Atreia and destruction. Asphel and his group, sent northwards with the same purpose, were no doubt too enthralled with the sudden resumption of hostilities to do their duty and hold the Tower intact.
For despite Ariel's striving, the Lords failed. The Tower gave a mighty groan, buckled and shattered from end to end. Aion fell.
I cannot speak of the fear that gripped our forefathers when the great tower that spanned the interior of Atreia suddenly shifted and cracked. We tell tales of thousands running for their lives, pandemonium in their wake.
Realising that Atreia itself was dying, Siel and Israphel sacrificed themselves. They each drained their bodies of Aether, their blood, and in their final moments used it to safeguard our people.
Millions died in the event which we now know as the Epic Cataclysm. Finally, as the debris settled, we could see what had happened to our beautiful world: Aion, the Tower of Eternity, was shattered, and our world was torn in two.
Chapter 6 - Deliverance
I am one of the Elyos, the people who found themselves on the lower half of Atreia, our new world which we labelled Elysea. At first, our eyes burned under the virgin light of our nearby star, so fierce compared to the cool, calm glow that had been emanating from our tower before it had shattered. We soon adapted, though, and found ourselves celebrating this newfound world on which we lived. Our people could look skywards and see the darkened remains of upper Atreia, spinning slowly as it clung on desperately to our glorious sanctuary.
The light from our new star was magnificent, and turned our once meagre fields into bountiful pastures, just as it turned us into such beautiful beings. Our skin glowed with vigour, our hearts beat strong and sure, and soon we had found our feet. Aion, some quickly resolved, had meant for this to happen. We were the Elyos: Aion's chosen few, and we had been delivered by our god to Paradise! This was a world which not even the Balaur could reach - we learned from Ariel that they had been banished by Siel and Israphel to an unknown void, just before those noble Daeva sacrificed themselves during the Epic Cataclysm.
The five Empyrean Lords who were sent by Siel and Israphel took us under their wing, renaming themselves the Seraphim Lords. Our Seraphim Lords told our ancestors of their struggle, and how the other five Empyrean lords had provoked and insulted the Balaur, goading them towards further conflict. Our world, once so stable and harmonious, was now rent in two, and we were told it was all because of the actions of the other four Empyrean lords and their cursed leader, Asphel. We began rebuilding our lives, and with them our new city, a glorious creation fitting for our world and our Lords, to be named Sanctum. We were sworn to protect our new home, and the strongest Daeva amongst us were appointed guardians over it by our Seraphim Lords.
Seven hundred and fifty years passed on Atreia in this manner. We were at peace for the most part, and we prospered as best we could. However, things were about to change again, as our planet started to heal itself.
Chapter 7 - The Abyss and the Storm Legion
All that remained of our great tower following the Epic Cataclysm were two stumped remains, one on our world, the other still visible on Atreia's upper half. The majority of the tower had been destroyed, its remains left scattered over the two halves of our world.
One day, however, the earth around these shattered remains began to shift, and slowly the fragments levitated themselves into the air. We sent our bravest Guardians to investigate the phenomenon, and they discovered portals leading to huge floating chunks of the Aion tower, in a bizarre realm where Aether flowed like water.
We labelled this world the Abyss, and slowly our Daeva ventured forth, exploring this new and volatile environment. They found a world rich in the Aether that Aion had granted to the Empyrean Lords, and which the Daeva had managed to manipulate when we were at war with the Balaur. Many Daeva were lost, though; these portals were unstable, and once closed seemed to stay shut, exiling anyone who had gone through.
One day another portal opened, larger and more stable than the others. A Guardian of ours by the name of Deltras passed through it, and on the other side, he found something astounding. His legion, the Storm Legion, were standing on the upper half of Atreia, and when they looked across the sky, they didn't see the shaded remains of the Aion tower, and the upper half of Atreia, but instead saw their own world of Elysea, bathed in warm sunlight.
Slowly, cautiously, they moved on, carefully exploring this strange land which once was part of their home. It was now a dark and foreboding place, full of whispers and fleeting shadows. There they discovered the Asmodians, men and women who were once our brothers, but now had been warped into twisted and foul creatures. Even worse, these nightmares were led by one of the murderous Empyrean Lords, a cruel being named Zikel.
It was dark; our Daeva could not see well, and were soon captured by Zikel and his monsters. This being, who we had once revered alongside the mighty Ariel, threw Deltras to the ground, demanding he curse the Seraphim Lords for their "weakness". Deltras, brave and noble as he always was, kept the pride of the Elyos. He refused to curse the Seraphim Lords, and instead cursed arrogant Zikel to his face.
The Asmodians attacked, and those of us who were waiting on the other side of the portal saw only two of our number return, bloodied and injured.
Chapter 8 - A New Enemy, an Old Enemy
We were stunned. Stunned that anyone had managed to survive on that desolate, frozen wasteland above us, and stunned at what these Asmodians had become. We mobilized our Legions quickly and prepared for war.
Aion had a further test for our resolve, though. Another stable portal opened, and from it spewed a horror we hoped to never see again: the Balaur. The Balaur regrouped their forces quickly, summoning the Krall and Mau back to their side and forcing other weaker races into submission. Their fury was greater than ever before, and it was us who now bore the brunt of their anger.
Our world, this land in which we live, was given the slightest and most fragile of lifelines by the sacrifice of Siel and Israphel. We believed that this lifeline would sustain us, and would eventually allow us the opportunity to savor our victory over the Asmodian fiends that once dared to call us kin. This naïve hope, though, evaporated like a wisp of steam when we learned, completely by accident, something terrifying.
Atreia is dying. Our world bleeds Aether continually through the Abyss. Unless this bleeding is stemmed, then Atreia's Aetheric life source will be exhausted. Our world, held together by Siel and Israphel's final sacrificial act, will fall apart. The empty halves that once made this great planet will drift through space--cold and empty forever. All that lives here will be extinguished in the blink of an eye, and all that we have achieved, all that we have worked for, will be lost.
Panicked, our priests and our theorists began researching possible solutions--and we found one.
The Abyss is an echo of the great Tower of Eternity that once stood in the midst of our world. It exists only because of the immense arcane forces that still resonate between the two Tower stumps. It is a field of unnatural energy like that which would arise between the poles of a titanic magnet. Were we to destroy the Asmodian Tower of Darkness, that field would collapse, closing the Abyss forever.
When we destroy the Tower of Darknesss, not only would we finally rid this world of the existance of the dark and ugly Asmodian taint, we save our world from destruction, and deliver our people to the eternal paradise granted to us by Aion!
This quest is our final test, our final hurdle before we are able to reap our reward. We must destroy the Asmodians and their pathetic land. We must save Atreia.
One year ago this very day, they came. Those fiends, those cursed Asmodians. They appeared from nowhere, leaping through one of our portals only a few moments after our legionnaires had left. The cowards. They butchered us where we stood, and though our bravest tried their hardest to resist their attacks, what real hope did they have against these immortals? I ran, I have no shame in saying it, I ran and hid while my friends, and my neighbours, and my family were all slain. Someone needs to remember acts like these, for it is through these actions that a rational being can see which of our people are honourable, and which are wicked. So I ran, and I hid, and when I returned to my settlement I helped bury the dead. "Why?" I asked, "Why would someone do this?" It was then that I realised how little I knew of the history of our planet, and soon after I started researching what happened so many years ago that would result in us being at war with those who we once considered our brothers, the Asmodians. Within these pages you will read all that I have come to learn about Atreia, those of us who once lived and those of us who still live on these sacred lands.
Are we an arrogant people? Perhaps. I have seen arrogance amongst the Elyos just as I have seen warmth and generosity. The Asmodians though, I have seen them with my own eyes, and they have made me taste my own blood. Is it not obvious that those creatures, now twisted into such vile monsters, have been cursed by Aion? Is it possible that we Elyos, beautiful as we are, are blessed? Are we a reflection of the environments in which we have survived, and lived, or are they a reflection of us? For the life of me, I do not know. My name is Rafaela, and I have detailed my research below. I can only hope that you find my notes useful and that they can somehow aid you in ridding this beautiful, broken world of these demons that now infest it.
Chapter 1 - Creation
Countless millennia ago, our god, Aion, created Atreia. Our world was a beautiful one, a planet full of life and colour with the mighty Aion Tower of Eternity spanning the inner core of our world. This was a time when we and the Asmodians were the same people, simply called humans. Our world was fully encased, and inside our home was illuminated only by the soft, gentle glow of the tower. It nurtured us, gave us hope and supported us in every way. We in turn were fully subservient to our god. We know this not only through stories and tales that have been passed down through the generations, but also in various artefacts and inscriptions that our archaeologists have found at dig sites throughout Elysea. Quite why Aion had created this world for us remains a mystery. However, in hindsight we can see that our god had a monumental challenge in store for us, as a monstrosity was summoned forth to put our resolve, and the strength of our convictions, to the test.
Chapter 2 - The Age of the Balaur
They were called the draken, and were appalling beasts to behold. Some of our oldest parables feature these monstrosities, and at night we still tell misbehaving children of their furious anger and thirst for blood. We quickly learned to hide from them, using natural enclaves to keep their keen eyes attracted elsewhere. Still we lost thousands of our kind, while other creatures were entirely wiped out under their relentless onslaught. Others, such as the Mau, and Krall, were enslaved by the draken; only kept alive so that their brute strength could be used against other enemies. These draken, sent by Aion to rule Atreia, quickly became more confident as their numbers swelled. However, as their greed for power grew, so did they start to forget their mission, and indeed, their god. Our stories tell of one day in particular, when something changed in the draken. They became more organised, and a few of their number gained dominance over the others. We later learned these draken called the event their 'awakening', and it was roughly around this time that their new masters, the five Dragon Lords, renamed their kin with the term which we still use today - the Balaur.
The first time our ancestors saw the Balaur, they thought them a new species, such was the difference in physical appearance and ability. It was only after their first attacks that they recognised the sheer brutality of their assailants, and their unrelenting desire to extinguish life, that the truth dawned on our ancestors: These creatures, who had apparently received a blessing from Aion, were the same terrors that had been so ruthlessly wiping race after race from the face of Atreia.
The Balaur had by this stage forgotten their mission entirely, becoming arrogant and greedy and demanding more power from Aion than could be provided. Aion refused, threatened by the potential consequences of granting such destructive terrors the same abilities that our benevolent creator possessed. Realising their potential was being suppressed by Aion, the Balaur eventually turned on their god, rallying forth their more warlike subjects and threatening the Tower of Eternity itself.
Chapter 3 - The Millennium War
Our ancestors were brave, and stood united in defence of the tower and the god that they had come to love. However, the Balaur, with their sheer brute force, tore through their ranks, slaughtering thousands where they stood. In a desperate move, Aion created the Empyrean lords, 12 powerful guardians tasked with reigning in the marauding Balaur and restoring order to Atreia. Aion also created Aether, a substance which the Empyrean Lords could manipulate to protect themselves and their followers from the Balaur. This substance was also used to create a protective shield around the Aion tower, so large that it allowed our remaining ancestors to rest within its boundaries and slowly, day by day, restore some semblance of civilisation. So was started the Millennium War, a conflict that saw the lands and creatures outside our Aetheric shield burn and scream in agony as the Balaur took out their frustrations on anything that dared show even the slightest resistance. The inscriptions that we still have show our people prospering during this time as the Empyrean Lords bravely fought against the Balaur, eventually taking with them the humans that were capable of utilising the Aether in similar ways to these Empyrean Lords. These individuals became known as Daeva, and in the full passage of time would unlock power far greater than our own. They were virtually demi-gods, and would soon become instrumental in shaping our future. Indeed, their ability to fly led many of us to believe they were angels, sent by Aion to bring order and stability to our world.
The war raged for years, and while one side would occasionally gain the upper hand, it seemed that this contest was finely balanced indeed. If one side were to eventually claim victory, the cost to their own people would be almost unbearable.
Afraid of continuing this crippling and demoralising war, some of our Empyrean Lords started looking at other ways of ending this struggle…
Chapter 4 - Hope
Of all the Empyrean Lords, the one who spoke most to us, the people, was a beautiful figure named Ariel. On one of her first evenings on Atreia, Ariel came down from the tower of Aion and spoke with us around our campfire. By all accounts, she was patient and caring, and told us everything that we needed to hear. The Balaur, mighty and terrifying as they were, would not dare cross the boundaries of the Aetheric shield. For the first time in many, many years, we were actually safe. We still have the stone carving depicting that evening, showing this great female figure, with open arms, watching us weep tears of joy and relief, as we celebrated for the first time in many, many years.
I tell you of Ariel now, because it was she who first recognised the wisdom in Lord Israphel's unexpected proposal and saw that peace was the only option. It was she who had the foresight to know that victory, if possible at all, would almost certainly cripple us; and it was she who was brave enough to confront her fellow Empyrean Lords, and condemn their thirst for endless battle as the vainglory it truly was.
She echoed Israphel's view that if we were still trapped in this same war after one thousand years, then what guarantee would we have that this war wouldn't still be raging after two, three, or ten thousand years? Ariel saw, as Israphel had seen, that by continuing this exhausting war, we risked losing more than mere numbers. We would lose the one thing that elevated us above the Balaur, and the other ferocious beasts within our world: our humanity. It was well known that Israphel detested the Balaur more than any other. If he, even he, could overcome his loathing in the name of peace, then everyone could – indeed, should – follow his example.
While we have no records of what exactly was said between the Empyrean Lords in the wake of Israphel's announcement, we know there was something of a dispute between Ariel and some of the more warlike Lords. It was clear the decision to seek peace would not go unopposed, and for the first time, rifts appeared in our united front.
But even the warmongers and glory-hounds, rant and froth as they might, could not deny the authority of Israphel and Siel acting in concert as Guardians of the Tower. Lady Ariel and the four blessed Lords who took her side argued for many long hours, but it was only Lady Siel's agreement that sealed the issue once and for all. The Guardians had spoken: there would be peace.
Our forefathers rejoiced. How could they not? The bombastic wrath of Lord Asphel and his underlings was just so much sound and fury, the petulance of children denied. As they winged their way into the cold night, none doubted that they would be back eventually, once tempers had had a chance to cool. The path was clearly laid before us now, and none would dare to rebel.
Ariel led her faithful in a song of praise and thanks to Aion, and for the first time in many, many centuries, we dared to hope.
Chapter 5 - The Epic Cataclysm
The morning of the peace conference dawned. Our ancestors awoke to find the five Dragon Lords, leaders of the Balaur, standing alone outside the Aetheric Field. The drawings we have of the day show them to be physically huge creatures, much larger than the other Balaur.
Siel and Israphel, the two Empyrean Lords charged with protecting the tower itself, lowered the Aetheric Field, and invited the Dragon Lords inside the tower for negotiations. Here was a chance for these creatures to destroy us entirely, and yet they chose not to, instead walking peacefully through our settlements and into the tower. Perhaps we had gained their respect through our resilience and determination, and perhaps this trust that we, and Ariel, had placed in them was not misplaced at all. Asphel was present, and with him his cronies, their faces dark. The peace conference began, and for a short while negotiations were progressing well.
Then, in a moment's breath, it happened.
We still speak of the events that followed that day, of the sudden shouts of panic, of the sickening certainty that gripped us all: the warmongers would have their way, even if they had to sacrifice all of Atreia to achieve it. We saw Asphel move swiftly and suddenly, and the Dragon Lord Vitra collapse. The Balaur did not waste time with words. In an instant, there was carnage and chaos.
Their hatred redoubled, they hacked their way past us and into the very substance of Aion itself. The walls of the Tower shivered and cracked, coming away in titanic shards.
Ariel wept as she strove to hold the Tower of Eternity intact. Sent to its southern base to lend her energy to the Tower, along with all of her attendant Lords, she was now all that stood between Atreia and destruction. Asphel and his group, sent northwards with the same purpose, were no doubt too enthralled with the sudden resumption of hostilities to do their duty and hold the Tower intact.
For despite Ariel's striving, the Lords failed. The Tower gave a mighty groan, buckled and shattered from end to end. Aion fell.
I cannot speak of the fear that gripped our forefathers when the great tower that spanned the interior of Atreia suddenly shifted and cracked. We tell tales of thousands running for their lives, pandemonium in their wake.
Realising that Atreia itself was dying, Siel and Israphel sacrificed themselves. They each drained their bodies of Aether, their blood, and in their final moments used it to safeguard our people.
Millions died in the event which we now know as the Epic Cataclysm. Finally, as the debris settled, we could see what had happened to our beautiful world: Aion, the Tower of Eternity, was shattered, and our world was torn in two.
Chapter 6 - Deliverance
I am one of the Elyos, the people who found themselves on the lower half of Atreia, our new world which we labelled Elysea. At first, our eyes burned under the virgin light of our nearby star, so fierce compared to the cool, calm glow that had been emanating from our tower before it had shattered. We soon adapted, though, and found ourselves celebrating this newfound world on which we lived. Our people could look skywards and see the darkened remains of upper Atreia, spinning slowly as it clung on desperately to our glorious sanctuary.
The light from our new star was magnificent, and turned our once meagre fields into bountiful pastures, just as it turned us into such beautiful beings. Our skin glowed with vigour, our hearts beat strong and sure, and soon we had found our feet. Aion, some quickly resolved, had meant for this to happen. We were the Elyos: Aion's chosen few, and we had been delivered by our god to Paradise! This was a world which not even the Balaur could reach - we learned from Ariel that they had been banished by Siel and Israphel to an unknown void, just before those noble Daeva sacrificed themselves during the Epic Cataclysm.
The five Empyrean Lords who were sent by Siel and Israphel took us under their wing, renaming themselves the Seraphim Lords. Our Seraphim Lords told our ancestors of their struggle, and how the other five Empyrean lords had provoked and insulted the Balaur, goading them towards further conflict. Our world, once so stable and harmonious, was now rent in two, and we were told it was all because of the actions of the other four Empyrean lords and their cursed leader, Asphel. We began rebuilding our lives, and with them our new city, a glorious creation fitting for our world and our Lords, to be named Sanctum. We were sworn to protect our new home, and the strongest Daeva amongst us were appointed guardians over it by our Seraphim Lords.
Seven hundred and fifty years passed on Atreia in this manner. We were at peace for the most part, and we prospered as best we could. However, things were about to change again, as our planet started to heal itself.
Chapter 7 - The Abyss and the Storm Legion
All that remained of our great tower following the Epic Cataclysm were two stumped remains, one on our world, the other still visible on Atreia's upper half. The majority of the tower had been destroyed, its remains left scattered over the two halves of our world.
One day, however, the earth around these shattered remains began to shift, and slowly the fragments levitated themselves into the air. We sent our bravest Guardians to investigate the phenomenon, and they discovered portals leading to huge floating chunks of the Aion tower, in a bizarre realm where Aether flowed like water.
We labelled this world the Abyss, and slowly our Daeva ventured forth, exploring this new and volatile environment. They found a world rich in the Aether that Aion had granted to the Empyrean Lords, and which the Daeva had managed to manipulate when we were at war with the Balaur. Many Daeva were lost, though; these portals were unstable, and once closed seemed to stay shut, exiling anyone who had gone through.
One day another portal opened, larger and more stable than the others. A Guardian of ours by the name of Deltras passed through it, and on the other side, he found something astounding. His legion, the Storm Legion, were standing on the upper half of Atreia, and when they looked across the sky, they didn't see the shaded remains of the Aion tower, and the upper half of Atreia, but instead saw their own world of Elysea, bathed in warm sunlight.
Slowly, cautiously, they moved on, carefully exploring this strange land which once was part of their home. It was now a dark and foreboding place, full of whispers and fleeting shadows. There they discovered the Asmodians, men and women who were once our brothers, but now had been warped into twisted and foul creatures. Even worse, these nightmares were led by one of the murderous Empyrean Lords, a cruel being named Zikel.
It was dark; our Daeva could not see well, and were soon captured by Zikel and his monsters. This being, who we had once revered alongside the mighty Ariel, threw Deltras to the ground, demanding he curse the Seraphim Lords for their "weakness". Deltras, brave and noble as he always was, kept the pride of the Elyos. He refused to curse the Seraphim Lords, and instead cursed arrogant Zikel to his face.
The Asmodians attacked, and those of us who were waiting on the other side of the portal saw only two of our number return, bloodied and injured.
Chapter 8 - A New Enemy, an Old Enemy
We were stunned. Stunned that anyone had managed to survive on that desolate, frozen wasteland above us, and stunned at what these Asmodians had become. We mobilized our Legions quickly and prepared for war.
Aion had a further test for our resolve, though. Another stable portal opened, and from it spewed a horror we hoped to never see again: the Balaur. The Balaur regrouped their forces quickly, summoning the Krall and Mau back to their side and forcing other weaker races into submission. Their fury was greater than ever before, and it was us who now bore the brunt of their anger.
Our world, this land in which we live, was given the slightest and most fragile of lifelines by the sacrifice of Siel and Israphel. We believed that this lifeline would sustain us, and would eventually allow us the opportunity to savor our victory over the Asmodian fiends that once dared to call us kin. This naïve hope, though, evaporated like a wisp of steam when we learned, completely by accident, something terrifying.
Atreia is dying. Our world bleeds Aether continually through the Abyss. Unless this bleeding is stemmed, then Atreia's Aetheric life source will be exhausted. Our world, held together by Siel and Israphel's final sacrificial act, will fall apart. The empty halves that once made this great planet will drift through space--cold and empty forever. All that lives here will be extinguished in the blink of an eye, and all that we have achieved, all that we have worked for, will be lost.
Panicked, our priests and our theorists began researching possible solutions--and we found one.
The Abyss is an echo of the great Tower of Eternity that once stood in the midst of our world. It exists only because of the immense arcane forces that still resonate between the two Tower stumps. It is a field of unnatural energy like that which would arise between the poles of a titanic magnet. Were we to destroy the Asmodian Tower of Darkness, that field would collapse, closing the Abyss forever.
When we destroy the Tower of Darknesss, not only would we finally rid this world of the existance of the dark and ugly Asmodian taint, we save our world from destruction, and deliver our people to the eternal paradise granted to us by Aion!
This quest is our final test, our final hurdle before we are able to reap our reward. We must destroy the Asmodians and their pathetic land. We must save Atreia.
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