The God War

In the age of darkness, the world was subjugated by The Ascended, a pantheon of ancient deities who ruled with brutal tyranny. Their reign was marked by relentless cruelty and the sacrifice of countless lives—individuals, livestock, and entire nations were offered to satiate their insatiable hunger for power. Their dominance was all-encompassing, and resistance was met with swift and devastating retribution.
As the suffering of the world's creatures continued unabated, a new generation of gods began to rise. These deities, granted power through the faith of their followers, were moved by the plight of the oppressed. Among them was Talthos, who boldly declared that he would no longer stand idly by while the world languished under the tyranny of The Ascended. His defiance ignited the flames of The God War, a cataclysmic conflict that would reshape the world.
Talthos’s stand was supported by his wife, Mearea, and his daughter, Attia. While Mearea engaged The Ascended directly, Attia used her protective powers to shield the new gods from harm. Talthos, meanwhile, inspired the people to rise against their oppressors, leading to fierce battles both divine and mortal.
In a desperate attempt to crush the rebellion, The Ascended sent one of their deadliest agents, a creature of shadow known as the Great Scaled One, to assassinate Talthos in his sleep. The serpent struck silently, delivering a fatal wound. Believing their task complete, the agent returned to its master. However, Talthos was saved by Attia, who used her healing powers to save him from certain death.
With Talthos incapacitated, Mearea took charge of the war effort. Utilizing her strategic brilliance, she devised a plan to expel The Ascended from the world entirely. The battle that followed was brutal, with heavy casualties on both sides, but Mearea's strategy ultimately succeeded. The Ascended were cast out into The Far Realm, marking the end of their tyrannical reign.
Following their victory, the new gods helped the races of the world rebuild. However, to avoid repeating the mistakes of The Ascended, they chose to retreat and constructed the Divine Barrier, severing their direct influence over the material plane. This marked the end of the Dawn Age and the beginning of the First Age of Civilization. Despite their retreat, The Ascended continue to probe the Divine Barrier from the darkness of The Far Realm, searching for any weakness through which they might return and reclaim their power.