As the First Age of Eldoria dawned, the mortal races scattered across the vast land, forging their own paths under the watchful eyes of the Gods. What had once been a raw and untamed world of elemental forces and divine will soon became a realm of empires, feuds, and great civilizations. From the enchanted forests of the elves to the towering fortresses of dwarves, from the brutal strongholds of orcs and trolls to the first human cities, the world of Eldoria began to take shape.
The Kingdoms of the Elves: Keepers of the Ancient Ways
The elves, among the eldest of the mortal races, were created by Solmara, Goddess of the Sun, and Lunaris, Goddess of the Moon. Gifted with longevity, grace, and an innate connection to magic, they flourished in the vast forests, drawing power from the land itself. Their kingdoms became beacons of wisdom and sorcery, standing as testaments to their divine heritage.
• Iltharis, the Moonlit Kingdom – Ruled by the Highborne Elves, Iltharis was a realm of silver towers, glowing spires, and eternal twilight. Positioned deep within the enchanted Verdant Glade, the kingdom was a center of magic and knowledge. Here, elven scholars studied the mysteries of the arcane, and great libraries held tomes older than time itself.
• Vael'Thalas, the Emerald Dominion – Hidden within the great Sylvanwood Forest, Vael'Thalas was home to the Wood Elves, masters of nature and archery. Their capital, Elarion, was woven into the trees, an ethereal city untouched by war and corruption. Unlike their Highborne kin, they rejected excessive magic, relying instead on the strength of the land and the wisdom of the wild gods.
• Mythrendor, the Isle of Stars – A kingdom isolated on the Shimmering Isles, where the Celestial Elves communed with the stars. It was said that their magic flowed directly from the heavens, and their seers could read the future in the constellations.
Though the elven kingdoms flourished, arrogance and internal disputes often kept them from uniting. Rivalries between the Highborne and Wood Elves ran deep, and tensions between tradition and progress threatened to divide them further.
The Dwarven Keeplords: Masters of Stone and Steel
Born from the bones of the earth by Terralon, Guardian of Earth, the dwarves were the most steadfast of the mortal races. Hardy and resilient, they carved their cities into mountains, their halls standing unshaken by the passage of time. Their civilization was built on craftsmanship, mining, and war, for they guarded the deepest secrets of the world—the hidden veins of magic-infused ore left behind by the Titans.
• Khazad-Thrûn, the First Forge – The oldest dwarven city, carved deep within the Titan's Spine Mountains. It was here that the first weapons of power were forged, and the greatest dwarven kings ruled.
• Durhimm, the Iron Citadel – A fortress of black iron and obsidian, home to the most skilled blacksmiths and warlords of the dwarven race. Legends say that the fire of the first forge still burns beneath its halls, never extinguished.
• Stormhearth, the Frostbound Keep – A stronghold in the far north, where dwarves of the Frostborn Clans dwelled, hardened by the endless winter and skilled in the ways of runecraft.
The dwarves were slow to expand, preferring the security of their mountain halls. However, their unmatched skill in smithing and construction made them indispensable allies—and feared foes.
The Wards of the Giants: Children of the Sky and Stone
The giants were among the oldest races of Eldoria, direct descendants of the Titans themselves. Towering over all others, they roamed the land as nomads and warlords, carving great monoliths that still stand as remnants of their forgotten empire. Though fewer in number than elves or dwarves, the giants left a lasting mark on the world.
• Jotunheim, the Skyreach Plateau – A land of endless cliffs and towering peaks, where the Storm Giants once ruled. It was said that their fortress touched the heavens, and their kings could command the thunder itself.
• Guldorath, the Sunken City – The lost realm of the Fire Giants, who delved too deep into the heart of the earth and vanished. Only ruins remain, their halls filled with smoldering embers and forgotten power.
• The Wandering Clans – Unlike other races, many giants refused to settle, instead traveling as nomadic warriors, protecting sacred sites or waging wars against orcs and trolls.
Giants rarely involved themselves in mortal affairs, but their mere presence was enough to change the course of history. Some were revered as gods by lesser beings, while others became the stuff of nightmares.
The Warlords of the Orcs and Trolls
While elves, dwarves, and giants built grand civilizations, the orcs and trolls thrived in brutality. Born from the chaos of the Titans' final battle, they were creatures of strength, battle, and survival. Unlike other races, they did not seek the favor of the Gods—instead, they forged their own path through blood and conquest.
• Gor'Mazul, the Crimson Wastes – The war-torn homeland of the orcs, where the strongest ruled. It was said that the land itself was soaked in the blood of endless battles.
• Zag'Thrak, the City of Fangs – A massive stronghold deep within the Ashen Highlands, where orcish warlords gathered to decide the fate of their clans.
• Grimfang Hold, Bastion of the Troll Warlords – The heart of troll civilization, hidden within the Blackmarsh. The trolls, unlike the orcs, relied on dark rituals and primal magic to maintain their rule.
The orcs and trolls saw the world as a battlefield. To them, strength was the only truth, and war was eternal.
The Rise of Human Kingdoms
The humans, born from the trickery of Noctyss, the Trickster God, and the power of Kaelor, God of Magic, were unlike any race before them. Lacking the immortality of elves, the resilience of dwarves, or the raw power of giants, they were instead gifted with adaptability. They spread faster than any other race, carving kingdoms from the land in mere centuries.
• Valderia, the First Kingdom – The oldest human realm, built upon the ruins of a forgotten age. It became a beacon of civilization, law, and knighthood.
• Ravenmarch, the City of Sorcery – A kingdom ruled by mage-kings, where the study of magic was as common as swordplay. Many feared that its rulers sought to rival the gods themselves.
• Drakengard, the Frontier Realm – A wild kingdom on the edges of civilization, where humans battled against orcs, trolls, and the unknown.
Unlike elves or dwarves, humans refused to be bound by tradition. They learned from every race, borrowed their strengths, and made them their own. Within a few generations, they had become a force that neither gods nor mortals could ignore.
A World on the Brink
As the kingdoms rose, so too did conflicts. The elves warred over magic and tradition. The dwarves stood watch over ancient secrets. The orcs and trolls sought dominance. And the humans, ever ambitious, pushed further into lands both sacred and cursed.
And in the shadows, the echoes of the Titans still whispered.