History of Atlazan

The First Coil (Age of the Atlazi) Long ago, Atlazan was a unified continent ruled over by the Atlazi people. How and when these people founded their empire is unknown, but they lived in peace for centuries, perhaps millenia. It was a time of singular goal and purpose, without conflict or war. The only threat to the Atlazi were the beastmen of the deep jungles, and rarely did they cooperate for any effort against the powerful Atlazi cities. In this age old gods held sway, once powerful and now long dead. Heroes roamed the land defeating any beasts that threatened, clearing jungle borders, and putting down tribes of beastmen. The wild lands were ruled over by the first dragons, great and powerful creatures of magic and emotion. Many protected the Atlazi in their territory in exchange for wealth and fealty, becoming treated as servants of the gods or heroes reborn to continue their work.
The Second Coil (Age of Change) Eventually, outside forces found their way to the Atlazi. The Second Coil began subtly and slowly. People of names and places long forgotten sailed to Atlazan and made contact. Relationships were made between distant empires and goods unique to those areas were traded among them. Still, war was not a thought in the Atlazi mind. One day everything changed. Decades into the full swing of the Age of Change, visitors came to the bustling and growing cities of Atlazan. Calling themselves the Kai’rella, they offered knowledge and resources to continue their growth. It was a boon the Atlazi could not refuse, and for many years it proved as good as it sounded. Ultimately, the people of Atlazan realized they were slowly being opressed to the point where some outposts became no more than slave camps. How this came to be, without anyone noticing, is anyone guess. But some did notice. The heroes of the time, wandering and able to witness the changes, and the great Liege Wyrms, as they came to be known, foresaw the tyranny of the Kai’rella and planned their ultimate downfall. In a bold and desperate move, the Heroes and Liege Wyrms attacked from throughout the empire at once. Millions of Atlazi died on that day and a great number of Heroes and Liege Wyrms died too. It was the decisive blow to the Kai’relleans, ending what may have been a long war with the eventual subjugation of all Atlazan. For weeks they pushed back but the people of Atlazan would not yield, eventually sending off the Kai’rella.
The Third Coil (Age of Darkness) After the defeat of the Kai’rella, the continent of Atlazan fell to darkness. It is unknown whether their far off allies faced similar problems, but trade ceased sometime near the end of the Second Coil. With most of the Heroes and Wyrms dead, and the survivors of the old empire dispersed throughout the continent, a time of desperation and darkness came over Atlazan. It was centuries before a pair of Liege Wyrms, acting as simple heroes, brought together the descendants of the ancient Atlazi.
The Fourth Coil (Age of the Atali) The two Liege Wyrms, called Raeshana and Mu’hili, spend many years collecting followers and raising the spirits of the Atali, those born of the ancient Atlazi bloodline. Only after the Second Atlazan Empire was formed and settled did the two reveal their true forms to the peoples. In a ceremony celebrating the survival and perseverance of the Atali, the two surprised their most loyal followers, lieutenants, and everyone around by reverting to their draconic forms. Cheers followed for a week, a continued celebration today in both the Temtektaggre Empire and Avian Alliance every spring when the last frost of winter has finally passed. Treated as heralds of the gods, Raeshana and Mu’hili were given free reign of the continent to come and go as they pleased, in the forms they pleased. Quickly the pair had more responsibility that would last much longer than they anticipated. The Atali, eventually, fell into two major groups: the Rae-atal and the Mu-atal. Each was named for the Liege Wyrm they paid homage to. With the combined leadership of heroes and sages from both the Rae-atal and the Mu-atal, the guidance of Raeshana and Mu’hili, and the protection of rising young Liege Wyrms, the Second Atlazan Empire continued to prosper for centuries. Until the beastmen brought forth their own gods to bring Atlazan to its knees.


The Fifth Coil (Age of Beasts)
The true events the portended the passing of the Fourth Coil and the coming of the Fifth are unknown, though both Realms have their theories.  What can be agreed upon is that the Rae-atal and Mu-atal began to drift and quarrel, often taking sides in situations that were polar opposites.  Eventually it was done of spite for whichever group brought problems to attention.  Perhaps one of the more interesting things, on which both sides agree, is the dominance of Hero support with the Rae-atal and the support of the Mu-atal by Liege Wyrms.  While not a perfect demarcation by all, the polarization was clear. What historians may never agree upon, is what happened to allow the beastmen to not only sack many Atali cities, not only raid powerful relics, but to summon their greatest demonic god-beings.  It is believed that the scale-kin of the Temtektaggre Empire are the descendants of the Mu-atal, and it is they who say that Raeshanna betrayed Mu’hili in an attempt to get the beastmen to do their dirty work and destroy the Mu-atal.  In the Avian Alliance, the opposite is believed, with Mu’hili betraying Rae-shanna for similar reasons.  Regardless, the Fifth Coil was heralded by betrayal and fel-fire, a state which lasted centuries.


 The Sixth Coil (Age of Compromise)
The Fifth Coil took centuries to end.  Demons and beastmen roamed Atlazan killing and torturing all they could find.  Blood flowed through the lands and acrid smoke filled the air.  Atali of both sides died by the thousands and millions over the many, many decades.  It was not just these reasons for that length of woe, however.  Demon Lords walked the lands.  Heroes and Liege Wyrms did what they had to for their charges, dark though the actions may have been.  Worst of all, the Rae-atal and the Mu-atal continued to fight one another. In the end, compromise heralded the Sixth Coil.  Great Liege Wyrms of the Mu-atal and the finest Heroes of the Rae-atal came together to defeat the Demon Lords and drive the beastmen deep into what is now called the Wildlands.  It took many years to accomplish, but there was a cost.  Some lamented at the loss of Heroes and Wyrms, but, after so many years of near worship, many of them ascended to something more.  As the Realms tell it, those Heroes and Wyrms who fell in the battle that drove the Demon Lords back to their Abyssal prisons became many of the scaled and feathered gods today.Camaraderie of shared hardship, fighting for their survival, and a pantheon born of that battle allowed the compromise to be maintained.  Atlazan was divided into the two kingdoms that are known today: the Temtektaggre Empire and the Great Avian Alliance.  Between them, miles and miles of wilderness and Wildlands, helping to maintain the peace.  Peace would not last forever though.


The Seventh Coil (Age of Strife)
After nearly two centuries of peace between the Temtektaggre Empire and the Great Avian Alliance, war broke out once more in Atlazan.  Not an very ferocious war, few battles have ever been fought, but cooperation and alliance has ended.  Alliances with other races have been made.  Each is on its own against the beastmen.  Resources are first come first serve.  It has been a tense time, and it has lasted for centuries.  Recently the conflict has come to a head, and war becomes less and less a misnomer.  Armies and navies may even soon meet in battle.


The Eighth Coil (Age of Unification or Conquest)

With war drawing closer and closer to reality, a new Realm has emerged.  Mysterious in origin, and guided by strange creatures of both feather and scale, the Feathered Serpent Unification seeks to not only bring peace to the many people of Atlazan, but more.  The couatl claim that neither of the Atali people was to blame for the advent of the Fifth Coil and that it is the destiny of all to become part of a re-unified Third Atlazi Empire.  Twenty-five years ago marked the Transition of Coils, open war was announced and the FSU founded its first city of Asylum.  Whether it will be an age of unification or one of conquest is yet unknown.  The actions of many will decide the outcome of the Eighth Coil and the character of the Ninth Coil.