P r o l o g u e
O R I G I N S
The first life forms, unicellular bacteria that could do little more than feed and reproduce, appeared at approximately the same time in two very distinct environments: the surface known as Ranfonn, basking under the warm rays of the Sun, and the cold, stony world under Terra's humid crust, the Celocadis. Though radically different, both worlds had the right conditions to nurture the sparks of life that had been ignited. However, eons would pass before self-awareness became a reality and the latter would be the only thing both worlds would share. At least, for the time being.
Humans, the only intelligent creature living in Ranfonn at the time, lived as hunting nomads which allowed them to spread throughout the vast expanses of land until the discovery of agricultural techniques. This allowed them to settle down and build civilizations. Due to its efficiency, it allowed humans to prosper and spread throughout the continents. It also allowed scientific development now that they no longer needed to worry about their next meal.
As for the Celocadians, they lived in a harsh environment roughly 30 km below the Earth's surface. They knew not the meaning of 'sky', nor the meaning of 'horizon'. It was a world devoid of warmth and light apart from occasional deathly magma eruption and some rare phosphorescent fungi. Their world consisted of series of tunnels and alcoves where resources and oxygen were scarce as well as space itself which explained the Celocadians' short stature. These wretched creatures often had to rely on cannibalism to survive when they could not find another group to kill and eat. It was a "eat or be eaten" world where survival was quasi impossible, at least until the discovery of magic. Slowly, groups of Celocadians specialized themselves in different branches of Magic and drifted apart, becoming different species all together and slowly building themselves into something akin to civilized nations.
M I G R A T I O N
A millennium after the discovery of magic, a group of Celocadians known to inhabit volcanic regions accidentally found their way to the surface and quickly enslaved the budding civilizations of humans with their magical powers, powers no being with human blood to this date could harness. They used the night as their weapon after discovering how dependent of light the surface dwellers were. From the shadows, they would strike, spreading fears in the heart of many. Before long, they found themselves ruling this rich, new world full of space and emptiness. This newly discovered freedom urged the conquerors to scatter throughout the lands. Some preferred the forests, relishing in the feel of tall trees. Some opted for something closer to home and went to live in the mountains. Others enjoyed the emptiness of plains. Thus, the ex-Celocadians found themselves separated into small, but prosperous communities.
These groups changed overtime to adapt themselves until they, too, became something new, something completely different from their underground ancestors. It came to the point where their origins were relayed as nothing more than a myth and were quickly lost to the younger generations. They had renamed themselves as the Ranfonnians, dwellers of the surface and, for centuries, they lived in relative peace with little more than occasional skirmishes over lands. Warrior clans soon spawned philosophers, artists and even politicians. An easy life with human slaves at their beck and call had them lose their warrior ways. Gone were the days of violence and despair. Food and wine flew in abundance and thus began an age of indulgence for the Ranfonnians.
