There was no once upon a time. There was only the cracking of the earth and the emergence of a monster. It clawed through the earth; a shadowy creature with crimson skin and hissing snakes in place of its heart. Lives were lost and Alencia was brought to its knees. There was no happily ever after. Only the sealing of the beast with the use of a cursed scroll, and the lingering fear for its return. There was no unity - only a balance maintained by the three pillars that would guard the country's peace.
- An excerpt from Roots of Alencia's Factions.
- An excerpt from Roots of Alencia's Factions.
In the beginning, there were the Gods.
Just as it was that they were three in number, so it was that they created the three races of beings - demons, the Fae, and humans. Divided by magic so that peace would forever be born from the three's bosoms, mankind hungered and lusted for power. They began to desire strength over nature and the world, eventually capturing the very essence of the Gods themselves in order to use it in a method known as magic. Mages were created - using the new arts without a care for others, draining the Gods just so that they could only physically manifest for that of an anointed Oracle. Even after this, man still strove for greater power, eventually leading to individuals using their own internal power to construct feats that were otherwise impossible under the all-encompassing laws of Alencia.
One man in particular lusted like a famished hell-hound for the ability to bend others unto his will, and in the end opened a rift within the world, allowing demons and spirits to pour through like sand at the seafloor. The rift grew and grew until one demon more powerful than the rest broke through, sundering the veil and wreaking havoc on the scales of which were never before seen.
The Gods could not, due to Man's brashness and pride, help restore balance. Humans had to search for a magical scroll, which is now lost to us, in order to seal away the demon, in lieu of defeating it. This resulted in a fear for magic- causing a small few to break away from the norm and become "Mage Hunters", or Templars.
Now the land is shattered into three segments - ruled by single sovereigns; kings or queens in both title and craft. Politics leave the land fractured, if yet peaceful.
However, a storm is brewing, and with the use of their loyal servants, war may just well break out between the factions. The drama of war is not the drama for those faint of heart - only the bravest might survive the quarreling of the three, and only the cleverest may do so unscathed.
All the while, more sinister happenings are afoot. What will happen to Alencia this time?