Thread:Eureka Enderborn/@comment-26535281-20160908234115/@comment-26084195-20160911184245

Alright, so after that two new gods entered the scene. Bristlebane, god of trickery and fun, and Cazic-Thule, the Faceless, god of fear. Brell Serilis made a pact with them as well, and this time Rallos Zek joined in for real. Bristlebane went to an unclaimed and seemingly inconsequential land to create the Halflings, short and stout beings of joy and cleverness. Cazic-Thule was drawn to the swamps and jungles of Norrath, where he created many species, including the disgusting Trolls, the Lizardmen, the serpentine Shissar, and the reptilian Iksar, who he deemed his finest creation. Rallos Zek this time created Ogres and Trolls, who would be his primary army.

By this time, many of the elder races had begun to expand and mature. Villages became cities, cities became kingdoms. But it was the Ogres who began the first real conquest. They formed into an army, the Rallosian army, and conquered a significant portion of Tunaria. Unfortunately, as their power and knowledge of magic grew, so did their greed, and they soon learned of the Planes, the dimensions of the gods, and sought to challenge them. So they located the entrance to the Plane of Earth and attacked the Rathe and its people.

Rallos Zek was quite pleased, but when his army knew defeat, he led a second assault himself. The gods of power were outraged, and combined together, and Rallos Zek was swiftly crushed. The gods then erected impenetrable walls between the planes of power and everything else, denying access to all but fellow gods of power and The Nameless.

Then, in what some call spite and others call retribution, the gods of power enlisted the Tribunal to administer punishment to Rallos's creations. The Ogres were almost wiped out, their empire crumbled, and their intelligence was significantly reduced. The Giants were scattered, forced to flee their homes to avoid the snow and ice overtaking their once green lands. And the Orcs too were punished, though no known records exist of their punishment, leading many to speculate that it was very bad indeed.

Many more species were placed on Norrath over time, some being created by the gods, some evolving naturally. The gods also created minor or demi gods to rule over minor aspects, and in some cases promoted a loyal mortal to godhood. Then the last gods came to Norrath; Mithaniel Marr, god of valor, and Erollisi Marr, goddess of love. Together they first created the Barbarians, a tall and muscled but otherwise very human like species in the cold northern reaches. The barbarians were war like as well, but were far more honourable and wise about it. Some of them were so wise they discovered a better opportunity. These unnaturally wise Barbarians were in fact the first Humans.

By this time the other civilizations of Norrath had either long since declined, or were well on their way, and this small minority of Barbarians saw an opportunity to triumph where the others had failed.

Perhaps this was a seed of wisdom planted by the Marr Twins, or perhaps it was only by chance, but as the Barbarians spread out across the lands, warring with both each other and any other race encountered, this tiny movement continued to grow. And so even amidst desolation and war, there was hope.

This small and enlightened group of Barbarians were the fathers of the Human race, and they rapidly gained a foothold throughout the lands, studying the lost art of geomancy.

The Combine Empire, as this lost race of Humans is called, spread throughout the known world, but then died even more quickly than it grew, and for reasons still unknown. And while they are the ancestors of every Human on Norrath, and their relics and ruins still litter the lands from Odus to Faydwer, little history of this period remains.

The last of the old races to decline was the empire of the Elves.

The Elddar Forest, the Elven realm of old, spread across the entire southeastern quarter of Tunaria. Tree communities and marble cities were built in the forest's clearings and meadows, their white towers and spires climbing out of the forest, higher than the tallest tree.

Legends say this prosperity drew the jealousy of Solusek Ro, Lord of Flame. He arched the spine of the serpent mountains, bringing heat from the burning sun to the ancient forest.

The rivers ran dry, it rained less each year, and while the great elven druids fought long and hard, using their powerful magics to combat the change, they could only delay the inevitable.

Slowly the forest gave way to desert, and eventually even the fair Elven city Takish-Hiz crumbled and the elves were forced to flee Tunaria, leaving much of their greatness behind.

After the fall of the Combine Empire, the remnants of mankind dwelled mostly in the center of Tunaria, inhabiting primarily the vast and fertile plains of Karana. Villages appeared and prospered, several reaching the size of towns, and two even became cities.

To the west a strong and noble band of Humans, lead by Antonius Bayle the First, founded Qeynos under the lofty principles of law.

Freeport, to the east, became an active and dangerous port of call for all who dared to venture into the Ocean of Tears. Humanity, much to the disdain of the elder races who watched from afar, remained strong, even daring to rename their home after one of their own instead of one of the gods. The great continent of Tunaria would forever more be known as Antonica.

This is not to imply, however, that humanity was at peace. Competition was fierce, and when resources grew scarce for one reason or another many groups abandoned the promises and alliances of their past and fought.

A few leaders spoke out against the violence, urging the masses to remember why they had fled the cold north. Others reminded them of their former glory and the might of the Combine Empire. These leaders insisted that humanity adhere once again to those principals to which all had agreed.

Explorers and adventurers returned from afar with tales of elves, dwarves, and other strange creatures, as well as descriptions of ancient abandoned cities. A few even came back with limited knowledge of sorcery and the mystic arts. And when that discontent minority of leaders heard all of this, they became both jealous and determined.