Corrupted by the beasts of the Void and unmapped for centuries the lands of Adelon had always held an air of fear and wonder about it. In the earliest days members of each race sought to colonize the new lands and claim it as their own, seeking the plentiful resources that dotted the landscapes. Every attempt to move much further beyond the coasts however was met with swift, brutal retaliation in the form of beasts from the Void. The people tried everything they could imagine until they finally implored their homelands to send aid, something to be able to drive back the threat that the beasts posed. When aid did finally come it did so in the form of a select few warriors whose abilities were unique and unparalleled, their martial prowess enabling them to combat the dark beasts that plagued Adelon. Able to wield otherworldly powers and send back the monsters from whence they came, these warriors were known as Magi.
Slowly but surely Magi began to push the Void beasts back, and with every victory the expansion of each race's empire grew. Within a matter of years the once hopeless dreams of colonizing Adelon had become a reality, each race now held stock in the new lands and enjoyed the fruits of their victories. The strongest of the Magi who had led the offensives were each heralded as heroes among their people. Many became chieftains or leaders, were given everything one could ever want and lauded as the champion of their races. So highly were these individuals held that, in their passing, their spirits lived on. After passing the mortal coil many returned, not as mere mortals but as gods, beings whose already immense power had grown and the binds of the circle of life cast aside. Dubbed Saints, these beings had become the embodiment of each races ideals and values, in essence becoming gods of their respective people. Rather than continue to live among their people however these Saints watched over them as a wayward guide, keeping them safe should the beings of the Void ever return. Peace settled over Adelon and the races flourished.
As people are inclined to however peace did not last long, jealousy brewed and races began looking to each other as enemies. The distribution of resources was not equal, Dimurans had colonized largely barren lands where Murans had found bountiful forests as their home, and it was this inequality that bred violence. Races who may otherwise never have met before now found themselves locked in strife and constant battle with one another, gaining land only to quickly lose it to another, an endless cycle of violence. Many implored their holy warriors, their Saints, to fight for their side. Yet no matter how they might plead or beg the Saints refused to take part in the battles. Perhaps their powers were too great or they knew something most did not, but no matter how the war progressed none ever took up arms, against another race or against each other.
Fifty years of constant bloodshed had passed before war between the races finally ceased as a familiar threat reared its ugly head once more: beasts of the Void had begun to return. Magi who had been used as weapons against one another now became allies as they once again sought to protect the lands their predecessors had so valiantly fought for. Again Magi were able to push back the darkness and protect their lands, bringing about a lukewarm peace to the lands of Adelon yet again. At last the Saints did see fit to intercede and took to the lands again, not as warriors but as envoys of peace. If Adelon ever hoped to survive then its people could not fight among themselves, they had argued. Races would have to put aside differences and work together to create a flourishing kingdom. Begrudgingly each race agreed, and how could they not when those imploring them were the very people who had given them so much? A tentative alliance was formed at first, and slowly the alliance grew into stronger ties.
The Void was ever a constant threat and every generation would have its own heroes. As each attack on Adelon was defeated the forces which assailed it grew more persistent, until the Void was all but defeated. Led by Maximillian Adelon, a Muran Magi whose mastery of Luminous and Air was second to none, the Magi drove back the Void to the very ends of the kingdom and to their point of origin; rifts that opened between worlds and allowed beasts from the Void to pass over. Sealing these rifts ensured that no new beasts would enter, and Maximillian led efforts to see almost every single Void beast erased from existence. For his efforts and ability to lead he was appointed the Kingdoms first true ruler, the first king of Adelon. The lineage of Maximillian continues to rule to this day, although their power over the kingdom has waned over the years. The true seat of power no longer resides with the royal family, but with the Church instead.
As the tale of the Saints continued to grow people began to worship them as one might a god, building shrines and monuments to their greatness. When Adelon became unified there was a need for not only a centralized rule, but a centralized method of worship as well. No longer were Saints limited to their own race as worship began to seep into other groups as well. Seeing this a group formed and called themselves the Church of the Nine Saints, or simply the Church. What initially was an effort by Maximillian's advisors to centralize and guide worship slowly became its own beast entirely, with a hierarchy of priests and bishops forming and buildings being constructed as halls to practice in. Over time the Church's influence on every day life grew until their power equaled that of the royal family's itself. Gone were the rulers who were as enigmatic and powerful as Maximillian, and with no heroic kings over them many people began to see the Church as their primary leader. And what was once a simple body of clergymen seeking to guide worship of the Saints had since become a corrupt body, one which was only too happy to take the reins of the kingdom.
Maximillian's family would continue to lead as the royal family but over generations their actual control of the kingdom waned. The Church now held the majority of power and controlled most of the kingdom's finances, created its laws and eventually even its military. With the reverence of Saints still at an all time high they enjoyed an unbridled level of wealth and power never before seen in Adelon, save for what the Saints themselves had enjoyed. As time passed and society advanced however new technological marvels began to surface, life became easier and people grew less faithful and dependent on the Saints. With the beasts of the Void but a distant memory there was no need to worship, and gradually the number of faithful waned. Sensing the threat to their power the Church changed its course, and a group which once lauded the worship of Saints above all else now backed the companies developing the new wonders of the world, leaning away from the practices that had carried them to where they were.
With the changing of society came unforeseen consequences, and no group felt these consequences more strongly than Magi. Though the threat of Void beasts was minor by comparison to that of the past they still existed, and as such Magi were still needed to combat the threat. Yet as worship began to wane so too did the reserves of magic in the world, a startling revelation made by both the Church and Magi: as worship waned so too did magic that the Saints supposedly supplied to the world, and with less magic to wield the Magi in turn would lose their power. Unable to fathom life without their unique abilities many began to fight against the idea of worship fading from life, and inevitably the discourse grew violent as fights broke out. Utilizing new technologies and Magi who had brokered deals with them the Church was swift to put down these revolts, and in a matter of a year Magi, once praised and heralded as heroes, had become ostracized and were seen as outsiders.
Slowly but surely Magi began to push the Void beasts back, and with every victory the expansion of each race's empire grew. Within a matter of years the once hopeless dreams of colonizing Adelon had become a reality, each race now held stock in the new lands and enjoyed the fruits of their victories. The strongest of the Magi who had led the offensives were each heralded as heroes among their people. Many became chieftains or leaders, were given everything one could ever want and lauded as the champion of their races. So highly were these individuals held that, in their passing, their spirits lived on. After passing the mortal coil many returned, not as mere mortals but as gods, beings whose already immense power had grown and the binds of the circle of life cast aside. Dubbed Saints, these beings had become the embodiment of each races ideals and values, in essence becoming gods of their respective people. Rather than continue to live among their people however these Saints watched over them as a wayward guide, keeping them safe should the beings of the Void ever return. Peace settled over Adelon and the races flourished.
As people are inclined to however peace did not last long, jealousy brewed and races began looking to each other as enemies. The distribution of resources was not equal, Dimurans had colonized largely barren lands where Murans had found bountiful forests as their home, and it was this inequality that bred violence. Races who may otherwise never have met before now found themselves locked in strife and constant battle with one another, gaining land only to quickly lose it to another, an endless cycle of violence. Many implored their holy warriors, their Saints, to fight for their side. Yet no matter how they might plead or beg the Saints refused to take part in the battles. Perhaps their powers were too great or they knew something most did not, but no matter how the war progressed none ever took up arms, against another race or against each other.
Fifty years of constant bloodshed had passed before war between the races finally ceased as a familiar threat reared its ugly head once more: beasts of the Void had begun to return. Magi who had been used as weapons against one another now became allies as they once again sought to protect the lands their predecessors had so valiantly fought for. Again Magi were able to push back the darkness and protect their lands, bringing about a lukewarm peace to the lands of Adelon yet again. At last the Saints did see fit to intercede and took to the lands again, not as warriors but as envoys of peace. If Adelon ever hoped to survive then its people could not fight among themselves, they had argued. Races would have to put aside differences and work together to create a flourishing kingdom. Begrudgingly each race agreed, and how could they not when those imploring them were the very people who had given them so much? A tentative alliance was formed at first, and slowly the alliance grew into stronger ties.
The Void was ever a constant threat and every generation would have its own heroes. As each attack on Adelon was defeated the forces which assailed it grew more persistent, until the Void was all but defeated. Led by Maximillian Adelon, a Muran Magi whose mastery of Luminous and Air was second to none, the Magi drove back the Void to the very ends of the kingdom and to their point of origin; rifts that opened between worlds and allowed beasts from the Void to pass over. Sealing these rifts ensured that no new beasts would enter, and Maximillian led efforts to see almost every single Void beast erased from existence. For his efforts and ability to lead he was appointed the Kingdoms first true ruler, the first king of Adelon. The lineage of Maximillian continues to rule to this day, although their power over the kingdom has waned over the years. The true seat of power no longer resides with the royal family, but with the Church instead.
As the tale of the Saints continued to grow people began to worship them as one might a god, building shrines and monuments to their greatness. When Adelon became unified there was a need for not only a centralized rule, but a centralized method of worship as well. No longer were Saints limited to their own race as worship began to seep into other groups as well. Seeing this a group formed and called themselves the Church of the Nine Saints, or simply the Church. What initially was an effort by Maximillian's advisors to centralize and guide worship slowly became its own beast entirely, with a hierarchy of priests and bishops forming and buildings being constructed as halls to practice in. Over time the Church's influence on every day life grew until their power equaled that of the royal family's itself. Gone were the rulers who were as enigmatic and powerful as Maximillian, and with no heroic kings over them many people began to see the Church as their primary leader. And what was once a simple body of clergymen seeking to guide worship of the Saints had since become a corrupt body, one which was only too happy to take the reins of the kingdom.
Maximillian's family would continue to lead as the royal family but over generations their actual control of the kingdom waned. The Church now held the majority of power and controlled most of the kingdom's finances, created its laws and eventually even its military. With the reverence of Saints still at an all time high they enjoyed an unbridled level of wealth and power never before seen in Adelon, save for what the Saints themselves had enjoyed. As time passed and society advanced however new technological marvels began to surface, life became easier and people grew less faithful and dependent on the Saints. With the beasts of the Void but a distant memory there was no need to worship, and gradually the number of faithful waned. Sensing the threat to their power the Church changed its course, and a group which once lauded the worship of Saints above all else now backed the companies developing the new wonders of the world, leaning away from the practices that had carried them to where they were.
With the changing of society came unforeseen consequences, and no group felt these consequences more strongly than Magi. Though the threat of Void beasts was minor by comparison to that of the past they still existed, and as such Magi were still needed to combat the threat. Yet as worship began to wane so too did the reserves of magic in the world, a startling revelation made by both the Church and Magi: as worship waned so too did magic that the Saints supposedly supplied to the world, and with less magic to wield the Magi in turn would lose their power. Unable to fathom life without their unique abilities many began to fight against the idea of worship fading from life, and inevitably the discourse grew violent as fights broke out. Utilizing new technologies and Magi who had brokered deals with them the Church was swift to put down these revolts, and in a matter of a year Magi, once praised and heralded as heroes, had become ostracized and were seen as outsiders.
