The Five Races

One day, the Avani found themselves walking alone.

Known by few and believed by fewer, the legend of the Five Races is a mostly-discredited creation story that is most notable for rejecting popular beliefs. It makes a simple claim: once upon a time, the Avani were not the only intelligent species on Alvana and Kinavi. The story is mostly dismissed by serious scholars, though for a bunk theory it has a suspicious amount of corroborating evidence...

Summary

Once upon a time, in a long-forgotten age, the Avani were not always alone. There were once five. First were the Eloneem, inhabitants of the eastern lands and fair above all, known for their long lives and entrancing beauty. After them came the Delurhai, miners that lived deep within the mountains of Cel-Maknu, and the Goblins, bipedal reptiles renowned for their great strength and stringent loyalty. Finally were the Tall Folk, riders of the northern plains, and the Avani, the youngest and most delicate of all the races.
According to legend, these five species, despite their vast differences, lived in an age of perpetual peace and prosperity. Though the races divided themselves by borders, they rarely fought and often cooperated so that the strengths of each could cover for the weaknesses of the other.
However, as is the rule that has always governed this world, for any force there must be its opposite. So, it was inevitable that in this age of peace and prosperity there arose a force to counteract this light that the races had enjoyed for so long. Another race, creatures of unspeakable horror perverted by the pure malice that created them, emerged from the darkest, most hidden edges of the world. They were driven to fall upon the peaceful realm of the five races, destroying anything that came in their path. It soon became clear that something led them, a magical being of a name that no creature dared to utter: The Sovereign .
Yet, in this dark time came light to counteract it, and so twelve heroes emerged. These heroes, paragons of pure heart that channeled magic equal to the sovereign, stood up to face the threat seeking to enslave all sentient life. Together, the armies of the five races and their twelve champions marched against the hordes of the Sovereign, hoping to end evil once and for all.
They failed.
At the end of this battle, the five races were left in ruins. Bodies lay strewn across the continent. The sixth race escaped, creeping back into the corners of the world they came from, and all of the paragons were either killed or never found. However, they succeeded in one small thing: the Sovereign, though believed to survive the battle, was severely injured and fled the scene. He retreated into a dark place in the world, never to be seen again.
In the wake of this defeat, the survivors returned to the ruined villages and cities of their dying societies. But things were never the same, and, one by one, the five races split ways. The Eloneem, weary from their troubles, slowly left their homeland and sailed to the east, hoping to find a land untouched by bloodshed. The Delurhai sealed themselves inside their mountains, the once great cities that became their tombs. The goblins retreated into the swamps and mountains in southern Kinavi, and the Tall Folk vanished into the plains. One day, the Avani found themselves walking alone.
As time passed, this history slowly became myth, and myth slowly became forgotten. For thousands of years, the Avani slowly recovered some semblance of the society they once had. New cities were built. New civilizations arose. New leaders emerged, and new wars were fought. Yet, no member of the other four races were seen in this time. In time, some doubted if they existed at all: in time, all doubted. Eventually, the races that had once been the Avani's greatest allies, and the monsters that had once been their greatest foes, were completely erased.
However, there were always some who didn't forget. Cast out by society, they remembered these things, safeguarded this knowledge, kept these records. They were few, but these disciples were skilled and determined. For these elite few knew that their greatest enemy had never truly been defeated. They knew that if their past was ever forgotten, if this knowledge was ever lost, the Avani would not be ready if the sovereign ever returned.
I hope they're ready for her to return.

Historical Basis

It depends on who you ask. As the myth itself acknowledges, most Avani haven't so much as heard of this legend. Only a few that do actually believe in it. The disciples of this belief claim to have extensive evidence to support their claims. However, they refuse to show this evidence to all but the most trusted members of their secretive, decentralized order. Because of this, the story is widely dismissed by most serious scholars.

Date of Setting

2000-5000 cycles ago

Related Species

• Avani