History of Convergence

**Written by Nobleheart**

**The First Age,** it is unknown how it all started but our understanding is that the people of Arborea have inhabited it for a very long time. Some say the dwarves arrived first, others say it was the elves and a few claim it was the some progenitor race, a mix of human, elf, and dwarf. We may never really know but what we do know is that dwarves have always sought mountains and caves to dwell in, elves the forest, and humans, the most exploratory are also the most promiscuous and have always had a variety of fey bloodlines in their tribes. These tribes would have a range of interactions, trade, union, fighting, stealing, all the normal contests creatures have with each other in nature, but the conflict to come was something else entirely.

**The Great War** made it's interplanar “Convergence” on our lands, the epicenter of which was on the Southern lands. The angels and monsters that poured out on to our world had no concern for the people or forests they trampled on their path to destroy each other. Entire communities of people were turned into vampires or malign mutants to bolster the ranks of their oppositional armies. In that they were quite aligned, the people of Arborea were only of note for their use in war as slaves and food. Many people attempted to endear themselves to either side, some willingly provided humans as cattle for food and vessels, some attempted to perform fell experiments with the alien powers in hopes of learning their abilities and overcoming the invasion. Regardless, in time, all would be destroyed except for the few who managed to escape into the depths. Years after the Convergence’s beginning are tracked as AC, After Convergence, and those before are tracked as BC, Before Convergence, though they are estimated dates and years, and the exact beginning of the Convergence is unclear, whether it started when the first Outsider entered our world, the first settlement of Celestia was claimed, the first great battle… who can say, though an estimate is better than nothing. The years seems to have been recorded first when Frostshield officially allied with the Forests of Return, after a heinous incident within the dwarven capital. It seems a great deal of the Convergence took place before this date in fact, the people living in that time were ignorant of the seriousness of the situation, or in denial of it for many years.

**The Anchorage** began when the last refuges were accepted into Frostshield and the doors sealed with shaped stone and powerful magics. Various people harbored in the warm tunnels of the dwarves and were grateful. The technology and magics all people’s brought to the effort provided food and a sustainable environment into the deep rock. Cultures and peoples melded out of necessity and proximity. The dwarves who suggested they would need other peoples to make their new community thrive were proven correct for sometime until new generation of folk, born underground, never having experienced the horrors outside, or the nihilistic meaninglessness of war did not appreciate the delicate balance within this underground city. Petty conflicts arrose, populations increased, resources strained and it is said that extreme measures were required to return the city to peace. Metal men of terrible violence and indestructible make were employed to intimidate those they could and utterly destroy those they couldn’t. It’s said the bodies of these rebels were fed to the pigs. Truely a dark time, and a cautionary tale that we must do what we can to prevent another Great War as we may not survive another Anchorage. Historians place the Anchorage as taking place in 1 AC.

**The Return** when the doors of Frostshield were unsealed the people burst forth in a great explosion of life. The elves rejoiced to find their forests resurrected miraculously after having to leave them during great fires started by the war. They claimed these, rejecting any who did not share their reverence for the trees. Humans traveled along the coast, some were lured in by the water fey of the Blue Forest, and those courageous enough made homes along the haunted Ashray Coast, but most found the Southern lands most suitable, free of elves and fey, which perhaps has benefited them as their culture and technology have developed remarkably quickly. Historians place the Return at 30 AC.
**The Second Age** marks the crystallization of sustained, highly developed, unique and prolific peoples and cultures. It is hoped that should a Second Great War occur we will be ready, but the competitive nature we originate from that made us into fierce and clever creatures may be our downfall if we cannot unite in resistance against these alien threats. We now possess great magics and technologies, our capacity to make our own Great War is more possible than ever, I pray to the Gods that we are ready for such power as we will need it. It is a time of trade, exploration, ideas, and for the potential for great and terrible things. We are currently at the year 1000 AC.