For the most part, the history of Carador is gleaned from the writings of Masallan historians, who have kept the most accurate written records in all the Known Lands. Still, once Masalla began to spread its influence, the accounts of events began to differ, and each province now has their own tales to tell. Here, however, I shall attempt to give as simple and unbiased an account as possible of the general path our history has taken.

Written history is accurate to only about four thousand years ago. Before that we can only guess based on stories and legends presented in early history texts. Creation myths the world over, however, tell of a time when all was unshaped, and most speak of a race of nature-oriented people – fae – who served as our ancestors.

Most historians today are leaning toward the Great Wyrm theory, also known as the Shaping of the World, which states that the world was once composed of many isles which all were covered with stone. There existed no plants, no animals, no people. But there were creatures in the world – the Great Wyrms, as large as a small city, who dwelled upon the legendary Dragon Isles and flew over the barren world. They wished for something to interact with, and so each of the dragons flew out, and claimed a territory as their own. Strange, unearthly magics were raised up, and each of them made their territory into a unique land of their own devising. They created plants and trees, valleys and hills, mountains and rivers and flowers and animals of all shapes and sizes.

Then each of them visited the other lands created by their brethren. Soon they learned, however, that the magic had taken on a life of its own, and that strange, new beings had emerged from the magic – beings who had magic of their own, and spoke in a strange language, and explored their world much as the wyrms explored each others’ creations.

They were the fae. The wyrms, enchanted, changed their shape so that they could interact with these primal fae, and many of the wyrms lost themselves in the change, and became of the same shape.

Humans are the crossbreeds of these shape-shifted wyrms and the faerie creatures, though we have long since forgotten our roots, and lost most of our ability to wield magic and shape the world with our thoughts.

We have, however, learned to shape the world with our hands.

Most of us trace our roots to Masallan descent. Masallan history documents many kings and queens ruling over an emerging civilization, bringing together tribes and clans to form governments and class structure. Then, about five hundred years past, the Masallans began to explore outward, discovering new isles with new cultures.

Some cultures were civilized, and forged relations with Masalla, such as Jedda, Lantrielle, Japura, and Tirané. Others, such as the Old World, Rel Morde, and Moraithe, had primitive native populations who were quickly conquered by the Masallans. Many other lands remained unsettled, usually due to dangerous predators or strange events which befell early explorers.

Today our history is a rich and detailed tale, complete with wars, political intrigue, stories of love and vengeance, great heroes and their terrible enemies. Historians reside in every major city, and continue to take the happenings of today and scribe them down into books, which a hundred years from now, will be old tales.

More detailed histories of specific provinces can be found under the History Tome, and the storytellers Rebecca and Kenton are putting together a variety of tales pulled from the dust of antiquity and scribed down in modern Caradorian. Look for them in future publications of Illumination.

Composed by –

Scribed by-