Archean Era

The Archean Era is the first recorded period of Aotis' history. During this time, ancient precursor races dominated the planet, while many modern races had not yet developed. It ended with a clash between the Seraphilim and the Deminaga, resulting in the Ascension of the Crusaders and the establishment of a handful of Seraphilim as deities, as well as the Great Cataclysm that decimated life on the planet.

## Earliest Days

In the earliest days of Aotis' existence, the Paleonaga ruled the planet, and clashes over control of the infant Aotis led to an unstable climate and hostile weather patterns and environments across the planet. Only the hardiest species could survive. It was during this time that the Paleonaga began to pair with species on Aotis, creating Deminaga, demigods with the destructive nature and power of their divine parent and the shape and mortality (albeit with a longer lifespan and hardier constitution) of their mortal parent. Though the Deminaga were not numerous enough on their own to create societies, they began to carve out domains for themselves and their parents.

## Archean Societies Emerge

In the harshness of early Aotis, the major power was an ancient race known as the Cambirians, who existed on a continent where the Great Maw is currently. They were initially the only major civilization on the planet, as the Philim had not yet developed and the Fae stayed reclusive in the great forests of Allyra and Mulna.

several civilizations ruled parts of the planet, namely the Mastri and Kokon in Allyra, and the Aphnilla in Mulna.

## Rise of the Philim

In this ancient world, a group of Fae curious of the world beyond broke tradition and left the forests to live on the plains of central Allyra. This tribe, known as the Philim, were shunned by their Fae brethren and were barred from entering the great forests again. Despite being cut off from their homeland, the Philim understood the value of culture, society, and technology, and soon their tribes became vast and advanced cities. A harsh life away from the protective weirwoods drove many Philim towards the Naga. Whereas the haughty Fae were generally anti-theist, refusing to accept a higher power than themselves, the Philim openly worshipped the great deities who had manifested themselves and protected Philim societies from the Deminaga sprawling across the planet.

Over time, clashes between the Philim and the Deminaga became more frequent. For generations, Philim fighting and slaying Deminaga in self-defense was fairly commonplace. The Paleonaga tended to ignore the acts of their children, simply creating more Deminaga to replace ones that had died. To the Paleonaga, their children were little more than manifestations of their power on a physical plane. Though they were protected by the Naga, the Philim were warned to not seek out Deminaga on their own accord lest they anger the Paleonaga, who would see such an act as a direct defiance of their will. The clashes between the two races came to a head in 8743 BUE, when a Philim captain named Mithraya led a party of her fiercest warriors on a hunt to preemptively strike down Deminaga before they could attack Philim societies. This marked the first recorded occurrence of Philim actively hunting down a Deminaga. Mithraya's mission was a success, and she displayed the heads of the three Deminaga she helped slay outside the Philim palace in their capitol of Cikleh as effigies.

## War of the Naga

With the favor of many Cambrians and Philim behind them,