Azlan

The Azlan, star elves, are the ancestral maedi, created by the Voru to serve as a counter to the dwarves. The first Azlan was Yekkat the Beautiful, the immortal lord of elvenkind. During the Night Wars, the Azlan were at first enemies of the dwarves, proxies for the conflict between the Ilani and Endani Voru. But after a series of indecisive clashes, the giants agreed to set aside their differences and unite against the hesha, who controlled central Altea and were seen as a threat to both dwarf and elf. The preemptive attacks against the hesha led to the fall of Nyx and the destruction of much of the dwarven empire of Tir Urdun, which dominated northern Altea. Though Nyx was banished with the aid of the Outsiders, the dwarves were greatly weakened and were vulnerable to an attack from the Azlan. Yekkat destroyed Kanlin, ancestor of the dwarves, and conquered the dwarven capital of Talamon. The Azlan became the masters of Altea and sent further expeditions to other continents, seeking to extend their empire of Zakhema to all the world. For a time, the maedi were supreme, even as Alba froze at the beginning of Age Zero and the Great Passage brought numerous new peoples into conflict with Zakhema. The elves weathered such upheavals, but they were not prepared for a revolt from within their empire. In the province of Adantu, modern-day Aldan, a man named Irud arose to lead enslaved humanity against their elven masters. Akhei-Bel, Queen of Adantu, sought to contain the rebellion but it soon engulfed much of northern Zakhema. The Azlan tried to destroy Irud by creating a perfect warrior, Sivar Seven-Souled, but Sivar failed in his task. With the slaves poised to take Vathram, capital of Adantu, Yekkat emerged to confront Irud himself. The rebellious slaves clashed with the Zakhemite armies on Asphodel Fields and Yekkat was slain. With Irud triumphant, Akei-Bel and her chief sorcerer, Yatavo, attempted the mysterious Tower Spell within Vathram's Brass Tower. The spell failed, hurling all maedi into the Abyss in a cascade of cataclysmic magics that triggered a Timedeath. With the last of her power, Akhei-Bel placed a curse on mankind, prophesying that Irud and his descendants would rule for Five Ages, which would end in a century of darkness. What awaited at the conclusion of this century is unknown. 
With the maedi thrown into the Abyss, they splintered along factional lines, no longer trusting in one vision to unite the race. The nature of the Abyss changed the maedi physically as well, and they diverged into five distinct ethnic groups: the Basai, the Fiarra, the Rasna, the Sho and the Voij. Each of these groups was led by a prophet who returned with their people to the World Above, save for the Fiarra, who remained in the Abyss.
No Azlan remain in Vala. Though the ruins of their grand temples and palaces testify to the former magnificence of the star elves, they were destroyed as a people, divided into many bloodlines, each becoming more distant from the giants with each generation. The Tower Spell hurled most maedi bodily into the Abyss, though some had their souls torn free and cast into the Gloam. Maddened and confused, these spirits became lemures, vampiric entities that exist only to feed on anima. The Azlan left many secrets, as well as many wondrous devices. Sovereigns have expended vast resources seeking the incredible 'voidships' that the Azlan inherited from the giants, as well as other mechanical marvels described obscurely in fragmented and arcane texts. No modern maedi fully understands what their ancestors were capable of, though many consider themselves heirs to their grandeur. The greatest of the Azlan mysteries is the nature of the Tower Spell, which allegedly could be used to recreate the very weave of fate. Such powers are better left forgotten, though still treasure seekers plumb foreboding Azlan ruins, more often finding death than riches. For though the Azlan are gone, their works remain, and many of these works were never meant for mortal hands. 
Category:Races
Category:Maedi