From The Old World to Althea

## **The City**

The Old World was a mild, and temperate place. A comfortable abode for the High Elves in city of the Old World.

The Old World Elves had lived here for so many generations the origins of their people and their city had become lost in ancient history. Like many old and ancient societies, the Elves of the Old World were not immune to infighting and civil war with their neighbours.

The Elves had beaten back and survived many wars in living memory until the last, where the city was lost to the Grand High Elves and the people of the city were cast out to the wasteland of the Tundra and The Cold.

## **The Cold**

Little is known about the time the Elves spent in The Cold. It was harsh and desolate. Colder than the deepest cold. The society of the Elves slowly collapsed as they fought to survive in this wretched place.

While in this place, very subtle changes began to occur to the Elves of the Old World. In their bodies, their minds and their MaJiich.

Some of the more magically sensitive Elves began experimenting with chants, songs and spells, while trying to open a portal back to their home. They discovered some were able to sing weapons into being. Creations of their own blood and bone. Eventually the MaJiichs succeeded in opening a portal, but it did not lead home. It lead through to a dark, hot world that had many more resources to aid their survival.

They had discovered the Planes of Peklo, inhabited by the VoiVodé, who were served and worshiped by those called Senka.

## **The Portal to Peklo**

The Elves were able to travel back and forth from Peklo to The Cold through the portal they had created. Gathering supplies and resources from Peklo and returning to aid those who chose to stay in The Cold.

The VoiVodé of Peklo noticed the MaJiich the moment the portal was opened. They took time to observe these new creatures that came to their Planes.

Out of interest and curiosity, they did not interfere with them but watched and learnt about them, over countless eons of time..

It was decided by the VoiVodé that these Elves could be of use to them, and that this was a prime opportunity for the VoiVodé to create new Senka to serve and worship them.

The VoiVodé encouraged the Elves to continue in their travels back and forth through the portal to support their kin in The Cold. What the Elves did not notice was that each trip would result in a slight changing. Slowly, they were being altered by the VoiVodé.

These changes included extended life spans, increased MaJiich abilities and a telepathic connection with the VoiVodé.

## **The War**

Over time the changes took hold in the Elves of Peklo and they became different to their kin in The Cold. The VoiVodé became more demanding in their requests for allegiance, worship and acts of service from the Elves.

Those who remained true to the old ways rebelled against these demands, not wanting to let go of their history, traditions and Gods from The Old World.

In the society of The Cold it was decided to invade Peklo, to overthrow the VoiVodé and re-establish the society of Elves under the Old World God of Presdné Boh.

The VoiVodé called upon the Elves of Peklo who were loyal to them to defend Peklo. Should this defence be successful, they would be granted permanent residence in Peklo.

And so the Elves on both sides of the war took up arms against their former kin.

The war was long and devastating, with many deaths on both sides. At it's end there was no one left to return to The Cold. Only those Elves loyal to the VoiVodé.

Now the Elves of Peklo, drenched in the blood of their own, became Senka.

## **Peklo**

After The War, the way to The Cold closed. The Senka revelled for an eternity in worship and service of the VoiVodé. This celebration focused on eternal bliss and pleasure in all things. As well as the burden, or blessing, of the joining of minds with each other and the VoiVodé they chose to serve. This joining of minds brought the Senka to a place of exploration of the dark pleasures of the VoiVodé.

The pleasures that lie in cruelty, pain and blood. That permanently mark the body, and brought permanent physical and cultural change to the individuals and the community.

## **The Way through to the New World**

The VoiVodé are sensitive to movement and power in the MaJiichs, across planes and dimensions. They became aware of the beings in Althea as they began to explore their abilities and stir the powers of nature and MaJiich.

As the Senka were connected to the mind of their VoiVodé, they too were aware of this growing ability in others, like but not of their kind. Those more sensitive to this ability began to experiment with MaJiichs of their own. and were soon known as the MaJii of the Senka.

With the support of VoiVodé Nadvlada and Zvaru, the MaJii of Senka were able to locate and create a portal through to this New World of Althea.

## **Althea**

When the portal into Althea opened is unknown, lost in the mist and darkness of time past. What is known is that it was long before the known history of many races of Althea. For reasons unknown to the Senka the way back to Peklo closed and they could not return. The Senka found that they had limited connection and poor communication with their beloved VoiVodé. While this was a cause for great turmoil, it also gave them a certain amount of freedom to discover, explore and enjoy this new world.

Many of the Senka settled and hid in Carpathia. Other of the Senka became bored and moved out into the other nations of Althea to discover, explore, learn and of course enjoy all there is to offer.

## **​The Creation of VešTec, Oracle to the VoiVodé**

The VoiVodé became frustrated with the poor communication and control they had on the Senka in Althea. They began to reach into the minds of the beings of magic within Althea, to find one that could be used. The time of Darkness when the star, Siku, fell and created the Nation of Snow Elves of the FrostFall, Alerted the VoiVodé of a race with power. Seeking out these Elves they became aware of a very young individual that could hear and speak with them.

VoiVodé Zvaru saw an opportunity to exploit this young elf for their own gain. Zvaru gathered the MaJii and thinned the barrier between Peklo and Althea, and reaching through Zvaru snatched her from the Ice and dragged her through to Peklo.

With their Dark MaJiichs the Senka and VoiVodé encircled her, the changes that took and eternity to effect the Dark Elves were afflicted upon her much more quickly, through darkness, pain and fire. She longed to melt, to join the waters and Ice in Siku's embrace.

It was not allowed as they corrupted her body and life span, enhancing her ability to hear and speak.

When it was done, her mind was open to all their voices. She was compelled to listen, to obey and convey their messages.

The light and cool of Ice would always be her comfort, but she no longer had to fear the fire or the darkness, She cannot melt. While still mortal, she has an unknown lifespan.

And so, they returned her back into Althea. Left her cold on the ice, alone with the noise, dark and heat, conflicting with her nature of quiet light and ice. And left her with only the ice and their voices from across the dimensions to guide her way.