(MN) Original History

With each story, there is always a *before*. How far back *before* can be a long and messy web of events, however, this is a collective of key points to the formation of Foris, it's moons and the Original Kin. Much of this story will be written in the perception of gods, and thus eons of time may pass between events to account for evolution.

## *Before* the Universe

Let's begin at the beginning of life, the universe and everything. There are many beliefs and theories that capture certain elements of this tale and may even further explain certain elements that are otherwise left out of this account of events. However, this is how the universe of Foris came to be.

In the beginning, a lone point of infinitesimally small light shone through the vast abyss. The Energies that Were decided to enact an experiment. They created three orbs that orbited the light, upon which three species were formed: The Nagastryn, Grimgard and Sylvanae. Residents of Draconis Prime, the nagastryn were a cunning and resilient serpentine people, who prided strength, guile and power. Roving over the surface of Garferalis were the lumbering grimgards - nomadic fur covered giants. And finally, among the wild tapestry of Faerwyn, the sylvanae exuded an ethereal aura.

As the three planets evolved and technology continued, the higher species became aware of each other a new community was created. The early years were peaceful and so the Energies that Were decided their experiment was a success. Motivated by this cultural catalyst, they channelled their collective powers to ignite the singular point of light. The radiant surge of power extended as tendrils of energy and matter, weaving through the void and birthed new galaxies and stars in its wake - each becoming a new canvas for life to flourish and evolve.

With the expanse of new opportunity, the nagastryn grew hungry for exploration and expansion. The grimgards saw this hunger as a danger and, fully realising their nomadic lifestyle, abandoned their planet becoming a true nomadic spacefaring society. The nagastryn took the abandoned planet for their own, as the beginning of their building empire. From there, they turned their sights to Faerwyn, starting the first war. The vast number and battle prowess of the nagastryn eventually overpowered the sylvanae. in desperation, their scientists created Arks; unmanned rockets that would carry the sylvanea genetic markers and building blocks. Sending these out into space was the last action of the Sylvanae species, before being wiped out.

The Sylvanae Arks spread throughout the universe. Once they found a planet with life, they could create a fusion of local fauna with sylvanae genetic material, thus carrying on their blood. This is where all Elves come from.

## Forward to Foris

War is an inevitability throughout the universe. The largest was that between celestial beings with sizes that dwarfed star-systems. One battle resulted in a ruin and rubble. The dust from this battle began to coalesce, combined with stellar material, created a wandering planet. Whether through divine intervention or fateful coincidence, this planet fell into orbit around a new star system that already had other planets - including a frozen giant water world.

This dust and rubble within the core of the planet, from celestial battle, attracted the attention of greater beings. The first being a beta class Grey, named Bastion, that settled into orbit and began simply observing the planet and thus before they were able to interact with it, another also sought after what secrets could be buried. Tiamat, a banished dragon-kin goddess, had followed the stellar dust. Driven by an insatiable thirst for supremacy, Tiamat glided through the cosmos. Upon finding the newly formed planet, she unleashed her formidable strength, unleashing a titanic force upon a smaller planet, intending to shatter it and reveal the hidden treasure beneath. The impact of this celestial collision melted the surface and created a new debris field. The core of the planet was still intact, however, and the debris field formed two moons. The planet Foris had now begun to finally settle.

Undeterred, the cunning dragon-kin goddess devised another plan, setting her sights on the closer of the two moons, born of her previous attempt. She named it Ignis and began work on a hatchery for new life that could do her bidding. She began work on the mighty dragons.

Yet, fate had other plans in store. As the second moon had an impact of its own, that of an ark; an ancient vessel carrying the genetic material of the sylvanae. The impact of this chance encounter disrupted Tiamat's designs, altering the course of events in ways she could not have foreseen. For instead of birthing dragons, Tiamat's creations were left unfinished and transformed into the scorchborne, abominable beings with traits akin to dinosaurs rather than the majestic dragons she had envisioned. These beings, devoid of the intended power and grace, came to call Ignis their home, nonetheless.

Meanwhile, the ark that had landed on the second moon gave rise to the eldumae, the arboreal moon elves with a deep connection to the cosmos, who named their home Selenae.

Tiamat's ambition threatened the delicate formation of this new world and thusly was once again confronted by the other deities who had taken a shine to Foris and what history could be yet made. Instead of banishment, they devised a plan to contain Tiamat. The grey named Bastion was selected as the ideal prison with its unique capabilities. In her final moments before capture, Tiamat had planted eggs within Foris itself, before being dragged within the depths of Bastion. Once powerful wards were put into place, the collective deities placed Tiamat into an eternal slumber within the heart of the grey.

## Founding of the Original Kin

Cosmic powers gave life to Ignis, and artificial inception brought life to Selenae, but throughout all of this celestial drama, life was beginning on the now settling surface on the planet below. Small by mysterious rifts began to slowly tear into the dry and lifeless planet. From one spew forth cold, frigid water. This water, however, was the spark needed to create life. Over time, flora and fauna began to flourish. Darker fauna crawled from their shattered egg shells and spread monstrous wings.

This new land was found by wanderers from the other side of the rifts. One rift created a pathway from Selenae, another from Ignis and the final rift, from which the waters came, forged a gateway from Foris to another planet in the system: Glaciera. Glaciera was larger than Foris but was a water world, encased in ice. From the rift, a new people swam out called the Jakhar: aquatic giant-kin who lived beneath the ice.

Scorchborne, eldumae and jakharsian people came to Foris through their rifts and were met by fauna that had already begun to venture into higher levels of cognition. From the mountains, came the hooved capras. From the open savannahs, came the mystical myrrkhats. And from the verdant grassland and forests came the long-eared lapindras.

As time passed, the six peoples of Foris came together and named themselves the Original Kin.