The World of Gods and Men

Lysander's Tower and the Citadel during the height of the Golden Age. Founded by Lysander as a centre for learning and the training of teachers, the institution would survive the Wrath of Arathor and continue its mission for thousands of years. Today, the tower remains the oldest surviving structure in Eldoria and the enduring heart of the Citadel. Introduction In the previous article, we explored the life and legacy of Lysander, the God of Wisdom and founder of the institution that remains his greatest enduring achievement: the Citadel. Unlike many of the wonders of the Age of Gods, the Citadel did not vanish with the passing of the Golden Age. Aurelis fell, the Temple District was destroyed, and countless monuments of that era were lost to history. Yet the Citadel endured. Though altered by time, war, and reconstruction, it remains the oldest continuously operating institution in Eldoria and one of the few surviving links to the world that existed before the Wrath of Arathor.

A later artistic depiction of the Divine Family overlooking Aurelis during the Golden Age. Though the accuracy of such paintings cannot be verified, they reflect the enduring image of six figures who helped shape the history of Eldoria. Introduction In previous articles, we have explored the creation of the World, the Age of Gods, and the rise of Aurelis, the legendary Golden City. Yet behind each of these subjects stand the figures who shaped them: the Divine Family. Few names appear more frequently within the historical record. From the earliest surviving accounts of the Golden Age to the traditions that endure in the present day, the influence of the Divine Family can be found throughout nearly every aspect of Eldorian civilisation. They guided kings and commoners alike, encouraged learning and discovery, comforted the suffering, and helped transform a young world into a flourishing realm.

Artist's reconstruction of Aurelis at the height of the Age of Gods. Though no contemporary images of the city survive, descriptions preserved within the Fragments of Elion, the Songs of Alaric, and later historical records consistently portray Aurelis as a city of white marble, gardens, temples, and flowing water. The colossal Tree of Ages is depicted at the city's centre, whilst the Palace of Thalor overlooks the capital from the hill above. As with all reconstructions of the Golden City, certain details remain speculative.   Introduction In the previous article, we examined the Age of Gods, a period remembered as the Golden Age of Eldorian history. It was an era in which Gods and mortals lived side by side, knowledge flourished, and the continent stood united beneath the rule of Thalor, the Creator-King.

  Artist's depiction of the Age of Gods, showing members of the Divine Family living and working alongside the peoples of early Eldoria. Thalor is shown offering guidance to ordinary men and women, whilst Elandra, Arathor, Lysander, Nymira, and Morrigan each perform the roles for which they became renowned. Though no contemporary artwork from the period survives, the scene reflects themes that appear consistently throughout the earliest surviving sources. Introduction In the previous article, we examined the creation of the World, the birth of humanity, and the descent of Thalor and the Divine Family from Aethyr. Those events marked the end of the Creation Era and the beginning of a new chapter in human history.

A popular artistic depiction of Thalor during the Creation. Though painted many centuries after the event itself, such imagery reflects the widespread belief that the Creator fashioned the World as an artist creates a masterpiece. Introduction Among all the questions that have occupied the minds of scholars, priests, and philosophers throughout the ages, none is older than that of our world's beginning. How was the World created? Where did humanity come from? And by what means did the Gods first come to walk amongst mortals?