The Nadani: The First Magick-Sensitive Beings
In a time before time after the formation of the world of Evelyn, life sprung from a distance well of some distance place that is all but for forgotten in the memory of the world. As life clenched its grip on the world, a people emerged out of the darkness with the powers of gods. They could bend the will and fabric of nature to their will, conducting miraculous works of unexplained power.
The Nadani, as they came to be called. Their souls were intrinsically attuned to the elemental forces that shaped the world and some say that they hand a hand in shaping the Evelyn we know today. Their coming marked the beginning of an age of wonder, mystery, and discovery, setting them apart as the custodians of Evelyn's arcane secrets.
The Origin of the Nadani
The origins of these peoples is different depending on whom you ask. Some legends state that the Nadani were not born but “formed” from the essence of Evelyn itself, their spirits entwined with the world's natural Magick. Others say that they were tasked by some divine light as the true masters and lords of the world. And those in the west say that they are the descendants of the four dragons that first molded the lands and seas into what they are.
Some recorded oral traditions from the Nadani would have you believe that they were shaped from the primordial mists that first enshrouded Evelyn's landmasses, born under the light of the twin moons that governed the night sky, and it was the gift of the second moon essence that not only caused its disappearance entirely but the coming of their great power. These people were not a singular race in form but in essence; they varied greatly in appearance, from beings of ethereal beauty to creatures with features reminiscent of the elements they were attuned to and even in the form of animals that would learn to stand and speak like humans.
What made the Nadani truly remarkable was their innate ability to harness and manipulate the Magick flowing through the world. Unlike later civilizations, who would learn the secrets of Magick through study and practice, the Nadani simply were Magick. Their existence was symbiotic with the ebb and flow of Magickal energy, and as such, they wielded tremendous power without the need for runes, incantations, or elaborate rituals.
In the early days, the Nadani lived in harmony with the land. They built no great cities nor left behind any vast monuments; their culture was a fluid and ethereal one, living in small tribes scattered across Evelyn's vast continents. Each tribe would often anchor themselves in locations where Magick was strongest—at the peaks of mountains, in the depths of ancient forests, or along the shores of mystical rivers. These places would later come to be known as Ley Points, sacred sites where the Magick of Evelyn pulsed in vibrant streams.
The Gifts of the Nadani
Magick for the Nadani was not merely a tool but an extension of their beings. They could command the winds to carry their voices across great distances, shape the water to nourish the land, and call upon the fire within the earth for warmth and protection. Their songs could heal wounds, and their whispers could lull the fiercest storms. The Nadani were also known for their ability to commune with the spirits of the land—the trees, the mountains, even the stars themselves. To them, the world was alive, and Magick was the breath that kept it in motion.
Among the Nadani, there were those whose sensitivity to Magick was so profound that they were revered, even worshipped as gods. These individuals could hear the very hum of Evelyn’s essence and, through their connection, could influence the fate of their people. The most powerful of could even foresee events yet to unfold or reach into the minds of others, guiding them through visions.
The First Darkening
The peaceful era of the
Nadani was not destined to last. As centuries passed, a great imbalance arose within the Magick of Evelyn. Some among the Nadani became consumed with the pursuit of greater power, their desire for control overshadowing their natural harmony with the world. These individuals began experimenting with darker forms of Magick, bending the Ley Points to their will and creating areas of instability known as Fissures. These corrupted energies attracted the attention of other beings, darker entities that existed in the voids between realms.
This period, known as the “First Darkening,” saw the Nadani descend into a civil war of Magick. Those who sought to maintain the balance of the world called themselves the Keepers, while those who wished to reshape Evelyn through force and domination became known as the Fell. The conflict was devastating, not only for the Nadani but for the world itself. Entire regions were drained of Magick, becoming desolate wastelands where nothing could grow. Ancient forests were reduced to ash, mountains crumbled, and oceans receded.
In the end, the Keepers prevailed, though at a great cost. The Fell were cast down, but many of the most powerful among them were not destroyed, merely banished to shadowed realms where they waited to return. The Ley Points, once sources of pure Magick, had been weakened, and the Nadani as a people were forever changed. Many had perished, and those who remained were no longer unified. They began to scatter across Evelyn, each group forming its own distinct society.
The Formation of Orders
After the First Darkening, the remaining Nadani grew increasingly fragmented. With Magick now a force that could no longer be fully trusted, many of them sought to organize themselves into structured groups to study and better understand their abilities. These groups became known as the Orders, and they would play a pivotal role in the next thousand years of Evelyn’s history.
Each Order had its own philosophy and approach to Magick. Some sought to continue
living in harmony with the world, becoming the caretakers of Evelyn’s natural Magick. Others believed that Magick was a tool that could be mastered and used to shape the world as they saw fit. Some Orders were more militaristic, training warriors who used
Magick in battle, while others were more scholarly, dedicating themselves to the study of ancient texts and the mysteries of the arcane.
Among the most influential of these Orders was the Order of the Eldertree, whose members believed that the Magick of Evelyn was strongest in the oldest and most sacred trees, which they referred to as the Eldertrees. This Order was known for its deep connection to the forests of Evelyn, and its members could communicate with the trees, using their Magick to heal the land and protect it from harm. The Order of the Eldertree became revered as the guardians of nature, and their influence spread across much of Evelyn.
Another significant group was the Silver Circle, an Order dedicated to the study of celestial Magick. The Silver Circle believed that the stars and the moons were not only sources of Magick but also guides for the future. They were known for their diviners, who could read the constellations and predict events with startling accuracy. The Silver Circle often played a role in advising kings and rulers, their counsel sought in matters of war, diplomacy, and governance.
The Magi of Mizrah
While many Orders rose and fell across Evelyn, one of the most powerful and enduring was the Order of the Magi, which took root on the continent of Mizrah. The magi, as they came to be known, were a group of Nadani who believed that Magick was a gift to be harnessed for the betterment of civilization. Unlike other Orders, which often viewed Magick as a natural force to be respected, the magi saw it as a means to achieve greatness. As their connection to their magick strengthened, they began to consider themselves the vessels of a greater, more divine power. The Arkana, as it came to be known, became the center of their worship, as though it was their God. Their traditions and religion sprang from these beliefs.
Mizrah, a continent known for its wide variety of biomes such as deserts and vast mountain ranges, became the perfect setting for the magi to establish their strongholds. They built grand cities powered by Magick, their towers rising high above the sands, shining with the brilliance of enchanted light. One such city was the great City State of Asheen where the magi would reside for several millenia. The magi were meticulous in their approach to Magick, developing a complex system of study, teaching, and mastery. Unlike the more intuitive Magick of the early Nadani, the magi sought to quantify and control Magick through rituals, incantations, and intricate spellwork.
The magi were also responsible for many of the technological advancements that would shape Mizrah’s future. They learned to imbue objects with Magickal properties, creating enchanted weapons, tools, and even machines. This technological revolution allowed the magi to build a powerful and prosperous society, one that was unrivaled in its time.
However, with power came corruption. Over the centuries, the magi became increasingly insular and arrogant. They believed themselves to be the rightful rulers of Mizrah, and their influence spread far beyond the continent’s borders. The other Orders, seeing the rise of the magi, grew wary, fearing that their pursuit of power would lead to another cataclysm like the First Darkening.
The Sundering of the Nadani
As the magi’s influence grew, tensions between the various Orders began to rise. The magi saw themselves as the true inheritors of the Nadani legacy, while others believed that they had lost their way, becoming consumed by their thirst for control. The Order of the Eldertree, in particular, became one of the most vocal opponents of the magi, accusing them of exploiting Evelyn’s natural Magick for their own gain.
This growing divide eventually led to a schism among the Nadani. Some chose to join the magi, drawn to their vision of a Magickal utopia, while others remained loyal to the more traditional Orders. The Nadani, once a unified people, were now fractured into competing factions, each with its own vision of what the future of Magick should be.
The Sundering, as it came to be known, was a turning point in Evelyn’s history.
The Nadani were no longer the singular custodians of Magick but rather a collection of rival Orders, each vying for dominance in a world that was becoming increasingly unstable. The magi, with their growing power, became the dominant force on Mizrah, but they were not without their enemies. The other Orders, though smaller and less organized, continued to resist their influence, leading to centuries of conflict and intrigue.
The Decline of the Nadani
As the centuries passed, the Nadani’s connection to Magick began to wane. While they were still capable of great feats of Magick, the power that once flowed so freely through their veins had begun to diminish. Some believed that this was the result of the magi’s relentless exploitation of the Ley Points, which had caused the Magick of Evelyn to become unstable. Others thought that the Nadani were simply growing old as a people, their time as the rulers of Magick coming to an end.
The magi, however, refused to accept this decline...
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