The World of Adav

Once upon a time, so long ago that only legends remain, men, elves, and orcs lived in harmony and peace, under the benevolent rule of the Arethoi, the acolytes of the sun. They call that time the Second Age. Cities floated in the air, the least peasant was provided with comforts, even children were taught the magic arts.

And then the world changed. Magic became a paltry thing, petty manipulations. Populations starved, barbarians overwhelmed whole nations, floating cities fell to earth, the Arethoi Empire broke apart.

Once upon a time -- within the memories of many alive today, at least among the long-lived elves -- there was a world called Adav: a poor world, a large world, a world of many civilizations. There were the elves of Faily, the orcs of Khaggok, the insect-worshippers of Jatala, the strange Bos Rekki, and many others. Between them lay barbarian lands, impassable mountains, uncrossable seas; thus contact between them was rare and intermittent. And all knew the world was fated to decline, magic weakening year by year. The golden Second Age would never come again.

And then the world changed. Some say the cause was a quarrel among the gods; some say a mighty mage summoned the storm. The Bos Rekki say nothing, but seem rather smug when asked about the change.

At first, the change seemed a catastrophe. Suddenly, where there had been land and a dozen countries now was the great Star Sea. And then came the Ten Year Winter, when so many starved. But since that catastrophe magic is powerful once again.

Magic spurs the crops, saves the sick, supplies cities; populations are growing, cities springing up, commerce spreading, barbarians lands becoming civilized. Countries that once seemed impossibly far apart seem cheek by jowl, now, mere instants away by teleport, mere weeks by forced march over the roads that spread with commerce.

The Fourth Age has brought prosperity; and with it, war. Those roads are routes for armies. Commerce pays for large and permanent armies. Magic makes wars far bloodier, and far more desperate, than in the past.

Some seers proclaim the brotherhood of all sapient life, and plead for peace; their pronouncements avail little, in a world of ancient hatreds and rivalries.

For the common wisdom says: Only when Adav is again united will peace reign. And so each nation seeks to unite Adav -- under its own rule. For who else can be trusted?