The Th’il

PEOPLE • OF • THE • ELEMENTS

In other worlds, known as the elves.

History

The Age of Harmony

During the First Age, the Age of Creation, the th’il were lived in concert with nature and the fae. There was no death, no need for food, and no concept of consumption. The th’il were nourished directly by the infinite divine energies of Sythlia and thrived in a world unburdened by decay or mortality. Tied to earth, the Adri’il expressed their affinity through the shaping of natural stone, creating monumental works without quarrying or cutting. Connected with sunlight, the Lithar’il were radiant beings whose wisdom shone as a beacon, illuminating the understanding of the young world. The Ryal’il, aligned with water, created flowing art and rituals, using their connection to currents and tides. The Myrad’il, bound to fire, showed their power in dynamic dances of flame, weaving creations in the air that, ephemeral as they were, symbolized the momentary nature of existence. The Theran’il, aligned with air, moved with fluidity, creating pathways across the skies and crafting songs that were intangible and carried on the wind. The Slindar’il, bound to the moon, used the tenuous tug of lunar forces to paint intricate patterns of light and darkness, creating displays of breathtaking beauty. The Vaud’il, bound to spirit, wove the threads of existence together, joining all things and maintaining the precarious balance of harmony. The void-aligned Fayd’il worked at the edges of creation, carving boundaries and defining the space in which existence unfolded.

The Sundering of the Elements

With the coming of the Second Age, the death of Aevyn had come to mean the end of the harmony of the First Age. This event tore a facet of Sythlia away, birthing Nor’dagha, the uncaring, brutal aspect of nature. The killing of Aevyn by a Slindar’il freed infinite divine creation energies throughout the universe. The th’il, exposed to these forces, mutated in myriad ways. Some became powerful god-like beings known as italti, while mundane animals were reshaped into wondrous creatures and magical beasts populating the lands.

It was during this era that Vaurain, arguably the world’s first true adventurer, took center stage in the growing chaos. Known for his close association with Al‘raxis, the last of Sythlia’s powerful dreg’n, Vaurain‘s efforts often served to mediate disputes between th’il lineages and even reached out to the italti themselves on occasion. His association with Al‘raxis stirred the envy of Inaralaal, a th’il leader recognized for their intellect and magical aptitude.

In 1104 PreIC, Vaurain visited Al‘raxis, an event that further stoked Inaralaal‘s jealousy. By 1082 PreIC, Inaralaal confronted Al‘raxis in a fateful encounter, leading to events that culminated in 1067 PreIC with the destruction of Lyr‘ani, one of the most beautiful creations of the th’il. This catastrophe, later known as Inarallal, marked a turning point in th’il history. Transformed by the immense energy released in the tragedy, Inaralaal became Thrii Dri’il, the Great Lich, ruler of Dra’anan. This event serves as a cautionary tale of unchecked ambition and the perils of personal grievances.

The italti, empowered and corrupted by the divine energies unleashed during the death of Aevyn, ruled as tyrannical god-kings over the lands for centuries. Their reign of terror defined much of the Second Age. In response to the italti’s tyranny and the growing chaos, the th’il established Wyth Tyr’il, their cultural homeland, as a sanctuary and a bastion of their heritage amidst the turmoil. The Ride of the Hunt, a series of coordinated uprisings, ultimately brought the italti’s dominion to an end. Twenty-two tyrannical italti were slain, marking the close of this era of horrors.

The Age of Trials

The Third Age, lasting a short 68 years, saw widespread territorial expansion. The beasts and so-called monsters that sprang forth from the turbulent energies of the Second Age were pushed to the outskirts of the known world. The northeastern part of Erinnal, birthplace of much of the turbulence that had wracked Evindale for so many thousands of years, became home to these creatures. With the passage of time, during this era, the th’il–now cast across the world-took to different environs and each lineage helped to forge a new civilization and culture.

The Fourth Age

The Fourth Age saw little reunification of the th’il instead, their houses continued to scatter further, taking shelter in remote parts of Evindale or among other cultures then forming.

Decline and Rediscovery

During the rise of industrial powers and the encroachment of darker forces in the Sixth Age, the th’il lost touch with their elemental origins. Most abandoned their traditional roles to become outcasts in a world fast becoming the domain of mechanical progress and Syndicate control. The most shunned, of course, were the Fayd’il–born of the Void-a fact of macabre origin that nearly rendered them extinct.

Despite this decline, pockets of th’il communities preserved their heritage. These groups guarded ancient knowledge, awaiting a time when the th’il could rise again to restore balance. Legends spoke of a new era of harmony, led by the th’il, which would arise in the wake of humanity‘s rebellion against The Syndicate‘s oppressive reign.

The Future of the Th’il

The Eighth Age is the age of Brightpunk, and it promises renewal to the th’il. As Evindale heads toward hope and resurgence, the th’il are well-placed to resume their duties as stewards of the elemental balance. Their unity, forged in the trials and tribulations of millennia, is still their strongest asset.