Word Weld

The Valeîn are the oldest race in the physical realm, or the Inwii. They were born of souls that were seeded at the beginning of time, and their souls gravitated towards the physical realm. They were gifted Form fitting their nature: tall, grim, stalwart. The Valeîn consider themselves caretakers of the lands of Àea, not just of its lands, but of its other peoples. Their defining physical traits are their glowing eyes; their tall, gaunt, broad forms, standing as tall as seven feet; and the six digits they have on each hand and foot.

Their people held mighty kingdoms when Àea was young, for they were gifted with knowledge of one of the Three Magics of Creation: the power of Will. But when the Archdemon Neyrlor was released from his prison, and the continent of Àea was shattered, their civilization was shattered with it, and slowly they sank into ruin. Their final known civilization, which existed in Menenvel, was destroyed by the Giiledon race, their mortal enemies. Their most notable contribution to Àea is that by mingling with the Elves, they to helped create the race known as the Leîn.

The Elves originated as souls wandering in the Void, but were drawn to the ethereal spirit realm of the Arwii, becoming one of the most ancient denizens of this surreal realm, which mirrors the physical realm in many ways, yet is filled with strange beauty and vistas completely alien to those who dwell in the physical dimension. When they encountered the Archangels and glimpsed the physical world, the Inwii, many wished to experience it as well, and were given borrowed physical forms while they endure in this realm. The Elves are tall and elegant, lovers of nature and lovers of peace, yet powerful and tenacious warriors when stirred to action. They are fair, beardless, and lithe, with straight hair and pointed ears betraying their presence.

In ancient times they were arbiters and peacemakers, but the Archdemon Neyrlor hated them for their early intrusion into his affairs, and in the thousands of years since made it his mission to destroy them. Together with the Valeîn, the Elves of the north helped create the race known as the Leîn, who would succeed both races, but the Elves of the south were completely annihilated during Neyrlor’s war upon them, a tragic conflict known as the Nalamdyn, the “War of Fire.” The remaining Elves, weary of conflicts with Men, Trolls, the Valeîn, and the Archdemons, now dwell on a secluded isle in the West Sea, where they await the twilight of the world.

Men were born of souls seeded by Avacil, the Father of Lights and Creator of All. But unlike other races, like the Elves and Heviron, whose souls gravitated toward the spirit realm of the Arwii, or the Valeîn, Dwarves, or others whose souls found home in the Inwii, the souls that would become the race of Man were drawn not to ethereal fields and spheres of the Arwii, nor to the mountains, grasslands, and wastes of the Inwii. Instead, they were drawn directly toward Avar himself, toward his throne. They reached the Celestial City and were given forms in his image, and he dwelt with them in the Highest Heaven. But when in time a Great Archangel decided that he should share in Avar’s own nature, he used Men to open the Tome of All Time, a book that ultimately corrupted them and all of creation, unleashing evils sown long before.

In the Inwii, Men were originally tribal, and shunned by many of the other peoples, but in time won their place, though at a great cost. Their freedom and society came at the end of a long war against the largest factions of the Elves, and were it not for help from the Keepers of Àea, men would surely have fallen. Now, they are the dominant race of free people, as most others have fallen into ruin or obscurity, but their old sins still haunt them.