A brief history of Valeria
The world of Valeria unfurled from the primordial void, a grand tapestry woven by the Valar, ancient cosmic architects led by the serene King Elysian. They sculpted mountains, birthed oceans, and coaxed vibrant forests into being. Yet, even in this nascent harmony, sparks of chaos and fervent ambition ignited. Reoryx, a Valar of untamed passion, prematurely brought forth his first children, the magically potent Noldir (Gnomes), only for Elysian to discover them. Spared but confined beneath the earth, they awaited the true Firstborn. Concurrently, a darker genesis occurred in the deep: Nyxara, the Spider Queen and God of Darkness, drawn to primordial suffering, taunted and wounded the vast, ancient entity Threnos. His agonizing thrashing carved out the Netherworld, a realm of perpetual torment echoing with his unseen lament.
The surface world continued its delicate unfolding. The Elves, radiant and intrinsically magical, emerged as the Firstborn on the pristine island of Avondale, soon dividing into the contemplative High Elves and the adventurous Sea Elves. Reoryx, released from his earlier restraint, then created the hardy Dwarves, master crafters of stone and steel, though lacking the inherent magic of their gnomish kin. Amidst this burgeoning life, the mighty Elf, Faenor, harnessed the essence of the Eternal Tree, crafting the three resplendent Elfstones, gems of unparalleled light and power. But this brilliance attracted shadow. Nyxara, consumed by jealousy, cunningly deceived the Elves, stealing the Elfstones and fleeing across the seas.
Faenor’s incandescent rage ignited. When the Sea Elves, bound by the Valar’s ancient decrees, refused him passage, his fury erupted into the horrific First Kinslaying, forever staining the Elven soul. He seized their ships, determined to reclaim his stolen light. Unbeknownst to him, Valerous, a valiant Sea Elf captain, was at sea during the massacre. Sensing the profound betrayal, Valerous resolved to follow, not for vengeance, but to prevent further devastation. Nyxara, meanwhile, found her way to Zylos, a burgeoning human kingdom, where she offered Queen Neferata the dark gift of immortality, transforming her into the first Vampire and enslaving her people. Faenor arrived, only to unleash a new horror: he manipulated Eldrinë, the huntress Valar, to imbue humans with lunar power, twisting it to transform them into Werewolves (Lunari), thus igniting the bloody, hidden conflict known as the Masquerade. Valerous intervened, aiding the desperate Lunari, and in the chaos, managed to reclaim one Elfstone. Refusing to yield it to Faenor’s madness, he entrusted it to his firstmate, who journeyed to the deepest waters, founding the hidden city of Atlantis as its sanctuary. The escalating conflicts culminated in the Great War, where Valerous forged a pact with Elysian and the loyal Valar. They triumphed over Nyxara, sealing her and her demonic legions into the Abyss. In his ascension to the heavens, Valerous carried a second Elfstone, transforming it into the radiant Morning Star, a symbol of Elven hope. The third Elfstone remained, however, locked away with Nyxara in the Abyss.
The world then entered a Golden Age, a period of remarkable rebuilding and expansion, though the seeds of future conflict were already sown. Humans, fleeing Zylos, founded Ninevah, a crossroads city that became a hub of trade and a birthplace of new ideas. From Ninevah, they colonized Azure and Vespera across The Shimmering Deep, fostering a new age of prosperity. The legacy of Valerous continued to weave through the ages: one of his children led the Silvermoon family, establishing the serene Wood Elves in Beleriand's Whispering Woods, their city of Silverwood Glen growing organically from the trees. Another child of Valerous forged a revolutionary union with a human, founding the line of Half-Elven Kings who ruled Azure and Vespera. From these kingdoms, the chivalrous Knights of the Rose emerged, spreading their influence north to Seahaven, a coastal city that embraced its Half-Elven heritage. A new faith, the worship of the One True God, gained prominence in these human and Half-Elven lands, offering a unifying spiritual truth. Meanwhile, the Lunari retreated into the Netherworld, founding Lunaris, their subterranean haven. The Gnomes (Noldir), Reoryx's magically gifted first children, emerged from hiding, settling near the Dwarves of Khaz'Abar in the Stoneheart Mountains, their shared creator forging a strong, if magi-diverse, alliance.
The pinnacle of this Golden Age’s ambition was Arcania, the Wizards' Tower. Its Arch-Wizards, formidable and unchallenged, used their arcane might to hold the colossal Giants and ancient Dragons of the Bitterfrost Mountains at bay, solidifying their reputation as Valeria's ultimate magical authority. Far to the East, the ancient Jade Empire clashed perpetually with the nomadic Golden Horde, with the swift Centaurs caught between them. And on a distant western continent, the eccentric Goblins, Netherworld natives, emerged as talented artificers, their love for gadgets and explosions hinting at a unique blend of science and chaos. Yet, even in this period of supposed peace, the Masquerade continued beneath the surface, a hidden war between Vampires and Lunari, a simmering tension that foreshadowed the fragility of this newfound order.
The Golden Age, however, was built on hubris. The Arch-Wizards of Arcania, their confidence swollen by centuries of unchallenged power, delved into forbidden lore. They sought to tap the raw power of the Abyss, convinced they could control what had once nearly destroyed Valeria. Their experimental ritual backfired catastrophically, tearing open a massive rift above Arcania. From its depths, Nyxara and her demonic legions surged forth, their ancient malice unleashed. Nyxara, empowered by the last Elfstone now intertwined with her essence, brutally asserted her dominion over the other demon lords, her triumphant scream echoing across the world.
Thus began The Breaking of the World, a Cataclysmic War of unprecedented scale. The demonic invasion shattered every facet of Valeria's peace. The hidden Masquerade exploded into open warfare, as Vampires and Lunari found themselves caught in a cosmic conflict. King Elysian and the loyal Valar (Eldrinë, Titania, Maeve) descended once more, clashing directly with Nyxara, their divine battles tearing continents asunder. Arcania's deterrents failed, unleashing the Giants and Dragons of the Bitterfrost Mountains, who added to the widespread chaos. Every race—Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Humans (Knights of the Rose, Ninevah, Azure, Vespera), Barbarians, the Jade Empire, the Golden Horde, and Goblins—was drawn into the desperate struggle, forming uneasy alliances or exploiting the chaos for their own ends. Amidst this ultimate devastation, Lord Valerius of Vespera, a descendant of the Half-Elven kings, succumbed to the bitter grief of his wife's murder and the disillusionment with the One True God. Manipulated by Faenor, he embraced a dark pact, transforming into the spectral Neon Knight, a formidable warrior who betrayed humanity by allying his corrupted forces with the Moquendi Elves of Narazthul, adding a devastating internal wound to Valeria’s suffering. The sheer, overwhelming power unleashed literally broke the world, irrevocably shattering landscapes, collapsing civilizations, and leaving the final Elfstone lost within the chaos.
The Cataclysm ended not in victory, but in utter exhaustion and widespread devastation, plunging Valeria into a 1000-year Age of Darkness. Roads were closed, communities isolated, and travel became a perilous journey through monster-haunted wilds, where Orc tribes now flourished without fear of organized resistance. Racial suspicion deepened, and the old orders, like the Knights of the Rose and the Clerics of the One True God, became increasingly corrupt. Magic, blamed for the Cataclysm, fell into deep suspicion. Yet, from this bleakness, an unexpected spark ignited a renaissance. The eccentric Goblins, with their love for technology, inspired the Gnomes to blend their inherent magic with scientific ingenuity, giving rise to the Artificers. This new school of thought, combining technology and magic, slowly began to rebuild society, making magic practical and gradually re-accepted into daily life. Trade cautiously resumed, and though division and tribalism persisted, society began to stitch itself back together, becoming increasingly interconnected once again. Within this rebuilding, the Gnomes, through centuries of careful bloodline preservation, had brought forth a being of immense magical potential, the wizard Kozzmo, uniting all 12 original family bloodlines.
Valeria now stands poised at the dawn of a new era, bearing the deep, physical and spiritual scars of its tumultuous past. It is a world forever shaped by the triumphs and tragedies of its origins, the enduring echoes of its heroes, villains, and cataclysms, yet ever striving, tentatively, towards an uncertain future.
