WELCOME TO WILDEMOUNT CH.QRÿSTÿUVBFGCPWÿVPHÿWCB 2: FACTIONS AND SOCIETIESG@FG@W XY`abÿ`dÿStory of efWildemountghip`qrY Asÿ uvMONKwxÿvyÿÿvs ÿv ÿÿ ÿvwÿ OF THE COBALT SOUL SHEDS LIGHT ON WILDEMOUNT uvwÿsÿyvÿsÿswÿvyÿvwÿsw'S PAST FOR A BAND OF YOUNG ADVENTURERS. Born from nothing, thereiaiÿ hiwasÿ` somethingpiYefrfjÿkffeYgÿYeirÿYe`qfeYgÿYeirÿgfdiÿirhÿlaijÿ. Light, then thought, then life and fire. eiWe ÿhewho`ÿiaiÿm`arÿ`dÿYeiÿ are born of the hfwillggÿ`dÿYeiÿf`hÿniioÿYeiiÿaip`ahÿY`ÿoaiiaqiÿYeifaÿhiihg of the gods keep these records to preserve their deeds, ÿYeifatheir design, and their lessons.`rjÿ eiWe ÿhewho`ÿgfqiÿmbÿ`qaÿ` live by our ownhr ÿhfwillggÿeiggÿniioÿYeiiÿaip`ahÿY`ÿnr` shall keep these records to knowhÿhe whereiaiÿ hiwe ÿwalkhignÿirhÿ and hewhereiaiÿr`YÿY`ÿYaiihjÿ not to tread. eiWe ÿhewho`ÿg``nÿY`ÿ`qaÿfriqfYimgiÿirhÿn look to our inevitable end keepiio these records to teacheÿYe`iÿ those hewho`ÿqppiihÿ`qaÿd``YYioÿe` succeed our footsteps howhÿ toY`ÿmiÿmiYYiaÿYeirÿ be better than wehi ÿp`qghjcould. rs-ArchivistapefqfYÿshfiÿXeqÿ`dÿYe Adia Shu of theiÿt`migYÿX`qg Cobalt Soul HistoryfY`abÿ`dÿ of efWildemountghip`qrY The continent of Wildemount has undergone many ages of discovery, conflict, and renewal. These bygone eras are more than ancientECGAEFÿ@GUFDVXcÿ history. I@WhetherAF@AVÿF@A the people of Wildemount know it or not, the struggles they face in their daily lives were set in motion by the turbulent events of pastUFÿTWAUcÿ9@GUÿUACFGDE ages. This section explores this history and the major figures whose actions shaped the physical and cultural landscape of Wildemount. Myth of Exandria rGHAÿAYAVÿUAAfLife ever seeksUÿFDÿSEQAVUFTEQÿGFUÿGECAeFGDEcÿqYAVXÿCGYGPGsTFGDEÿ@TUÿGFUÿD to understand its inception. Every civilization has its ownbE ÿGEFAVeVAFTFGDEÿDHÿinterpretation of b@whereAVAÿGFUÿUFDVXÿdAWTEcÿqYAEÿ its story began. Even bGwithinF@GEÿF@Aÿ the bDworldVPQÿDHÿqgTE of ExandriaQVGT`, QGHHAVAEFÿCSPFSdifferent culturesVAUÿ@TYAÿCVATFGDEÿ have creation RXmythsF@UÿF@TFÿAYAEFSTPPXÿCDEYAVWAÿ that eventually converge bGwithF@ÿVACDVQAQÿ@GUFDVX`ÿdSFÿF@AVAÿGUÿEDÿSEGYAVUTPPXÿTCCAeFAQÿUFDVXcÿqYAEÿUD`ÿF@AÿT recorded history, but there is no universally accepted story. Even so, the ancientECGAEFÿCGFXÿDH city of tTUUAP@AGVasselheimRÿ DonEÿF@AÿQGUFTEFÿCDEFGEAEFÿDHÿuF@TEsGTÿGUÿPTVWAPXÿCDEUGQAVAQÿFDÿdAÿF@AÿDPQAUFÿUSVYGYGEWÿCGFX`ÿ@TYGEWÿAEQSVAQÿTÿFAVVGdPAÿ the distant continent of Othanzia is largely considered to be the oldest surviving city, having endured a terrible bTwarVÿF@TFÿ that bGwipedeAQÿD outSFÿ RDmostUFÿDH of CGYGPGsTFGDEÿEAcivilization nearlyTVPXÿTÿF@DSUTEQÿXATVUÿTWDcÿtTUUAP@AG a thousand years ago. VasselheimRÿ @DSUAUÿF@AÿATVPGAUFÿfEDhouses the earliest knownbE ÿFAtemplesRePAUÿFDÿF@AÿWDQU`ÿTUÿ to the gods, as bAwellPPÿTUÿF@AÿATVPGAUFÿfED as the earliest knownbE ÿVACDVQUÿDHÿ@records of historyGUFDVXÿF@TF that USVYGYAQÿF@GUÿsurvived this CTFTUFVDe@GCÿcatastrophic bTwarVc. 9@AÿThe RDmostUFÿ bGwidelyQAPXÿTCCAeFAQÿFTPAÿDHÿF@Aÿ accepted tale of the bDworldVPQvUÿDVGWGEUÿGUÿF@Aÿ's origins is the RXmythF@ÿDHÿF@AÿwDSEQGEWcÿ9@GUÿGUÿF@AÿGEFAVeVAFTFGDEÿ@APQÿTEQÿA of the Founding. This is the interpretation held and embracedRdVTCAQÿ bGwithinF@GEÿ RDmostUFÿDHÿI of WildemountGPQARDSEF`, TUÿas bAwellPPÿTUÿF@A as the ÿYTUFÿPTEQUÿDHÿqgTEQVGTÿTUÿTÿvast lands of Exandria as a b@wholeDPAc. 9@AÿwDSEQGEWThe Founding rDEWÿTWD`ÿF@GULong ago, this ÿbDworldVPQÿ bTwasUÿDEAÿDHÿFS one of tumultuousRSPFSDSUÿTEQÿC@TDFGCÿHDVCAU`ÿETSW@FÿdSFÿSEdVGQPAQÿiVAUÿTEQÿC@SVEGEW`ÿhTWWAQÿVDCfcÿ9@VDSW@ÿF@AÿTU@AEÿUfGAU and chaotic forces, naught but unbridled fires and churning, jagged rock. Through the ashen skies ÿDHÿxVATFGDEof Creation yVGPrimordialRDVQGTP`ÿF@, theAÿWDQUÿCT gods cameRA ÿHVDfromRÿ dAXDEQÿF@AÿAF@AV`ÿEAbeyond the ether, newbÿ TEQÿHDVand formlessRPAUUcÿrDDfGEWÿDEÿF@GUÿVDGPGEWÿVATP. Looking on this roiling realm,R` ÿF@AXÿUTthey sawbÿ eDFAEFGTPÿHDVÿWVATFÿdATSFX`ÿWVATFÿUFpotential for great beauty, great strengthVAEWF@`ÿTEQ, and theF@AÿC@TECAÿFD chance to ÿPATVEÿF@AGVÿDlearn their ownbE ÿePTCAÿGEÿCVATFGDEcplace in creation. 9@SU`ÿQGYGEAÿ@Thus, divine handsTEQUÿdGVF@AQÿF@AÿwGVUFÿx@GPQVAE`ÿF@AÿAPYAU`ÿ birthed the First Children, the elves, b@whoDÿA embodiedRdDQGAQÿdATSFXÿTEQÿWVTCA`ÿFDÿ beauty and grace, to bTwalkPfÿF@AÿYAVQTEFÿVAAEÿTEQÿfED the verdant Green and knowbÿ theF@Aÿ RSmusicUGCÿDHÿF@A of the ÿPSAcÿBlue. A UACDEQÿCVATFsecond creationGDEÿ bTwasUÿ bVwrought:DSW@FÿF@AÿQ the dwarves,bTVYAU`ÿTÿ@ATVFXÿeADePAÿGEFAEFÿDEÿFT a hearty people intent on tamingRGEWÿF@AÿPTEQ`ÿiPPAQÿ the land, filled bGwithF@ÿF@AÿCVTHFÿTEQÿGEYAEFGDEÿDHÿF@AÿQGYGEGFXÿdAXDEQÿ the craft and invention of the divinity beyond theF@AÿTU@AE ashen YDGQcÿÿF@GVQÿevoid. A third peopleADePAÿ bAwereVAÿWGYAEÿPGHAÿF@Aÿ@S given life: the humansRTEU`ÿAEQD, endowedbAQÿ bGwithF@ÿ@ATVFUÿDHÿeTUUGDEÿF@TFÿdSVEAQÿTUÿdVGW@FPXÿTUÿF@AGVÿUeTEUÿDHÿPGHAÿ hearts of passion that burned as brightly as their spans of life bAwereVAÿU@DVF`ÿTEQÿG short, and infusedEHSUAQÿ bGwithF@ theF@AÿEAAQÿFDÿCA need to celebratePAdVTFAÿTEQÿPTSW@c and laugh. uF@AVÿCVATFGDEOther creationsUÿHDPPD followedbAQÿTUÿF@Aÿ as the RTmanyEXÿVTCAUÿDHÿqgTEQVGTÿ races of Exandria bAwereVAÿWGYAEÿHDV given formRÿ HVDfromRÿ theF@AÿdDSEQPAUUÿGEUeGVTFGDEÿF@AÿDHÿF@AÿeVDFATEÿWDQUcÿ9@AUAÿx@GPQV boundless inspiration the of the protean gods. These ChildrenAEÿDH of xVATFGDEÿCreation bTwalkedPfAQÿF@AÿPTEQÿTEQ`ÿTUÿF@AGVÿfED the land and, as their knowledgebPAQWAÿWVAb`ÿTFFA grew, attemptedReFAQÿFDÿdSGPQÿDEÿGFcÿSFÿF@AÿPTEQÿ to build on it. But the land bTwasUÿiAVCAÿTEQÿFVATC@AVDSU`ÿTEQÿF@AÿC@GPQVAEÿ fierce and treacherous, and the children bAwereVA ÿQTU@AQÿDEdashed on theF@AÿVDCfUÿTEQ rocks and ÿCDEUSconsumedRAQÿdXÿF@AÿAPA by the elements.RAEFUcÿDVVD Sorrowbÿ fillediPPAQÿF@Aÿ@ATVFUÿDHÿF@AÿWDQUÿTUÿF@AUAÿiVUFÿVTCAUÿUFVSWWPAQÿTWTGEUFÿTÿPTEQÿF@TFÿQGQÿEDFÿ the hearts of the gods as these first races struggled against a land that did not bTwantEFÿF@ them,AR` ÿTEQÿF@Aand the C@GPQVAEÿPDDfAchildren lookedQÿFDÿF@AGVÿCVATFDVUÿHDVÿWSGQTECAÿTEQÿeVDFACFGDEcÿ9@SU`ÿF@AÿWDQUÿWTYAÿFDÿF@A to their creators for guidance and protection. Thus, the gods gave to themRÿ WGHFU`ÿPAEQGEWÿF@AGVÿDgifts, lending their ownbE ÿeDpowerbAVÿFDÿF@AGVÿC@GPQVAEÿFDÿCV to their children to createATFAÿTEQ and U@TeAÿF@Aÿshape the bDworldVPQÿTVDSEQÿF@A around themR ;ÿF@AUAÿ these bAwereVAÿF@AÿiVUFÿQGYGEAÿ the first divine RTmagicsWGCUc. IGWithF@ÿF@AUAÿR these magicsTWGCU`ÿF@AÿYTVGDSUÿeADePAUÿPATVEAQÿFDÿdAEQÿF@AÿTEWVXÿATVF@ÿFDÿF@AGVÿ, the various peoples learned to bend the angry earth to their bGwill:PPÿFDÿFA to temperReAVÿF@AÿaT the flamesRAUÿF@TFÿdSVUFÿF@VDSW@ÿF@AÿWVDSEQ`ÿFDÿFTR that burst through the ground, to tameAÿF@AÿaDDQU the floods thatF@TFÿF@VATFAEA threatenedQÿF@AGVÿTdSEQTECA`ÿTEQÿFDÿFSVEÿUAAQPGEWÿGEFDÿHVSGFÿTEQÿdATUFÿGEFDÿ their abundance, and to turn seedling into fruit and beast into RAmeal.TPcÿrTEWSTWAÿdACT Language becameRAÿCD commonplace,RRDEePTCA`ÿCSPFSVAÿ culture bTwasUÿdDVE`ÿTEQÿW born, and governanceDYAVETECA VAePTCAQÿTETVreplaced anarchyC@Xcÿ9@AÿeVDFATEÿCVATFDVU`ÿF@AÿQGYGEGFXÿdAXDEQÿF@AÿTU@AEÿUfGAU`ÿUT. The protean creators, the divinity beyond the ashen skies, sawbÿ eVDWVAUUÿTEQÿUTprogress and sawbÿ thatF@TFÿGFÿ it bTwasUÿWDDQ`ÿXAFÿHVTWGPAÿTEQÿGEÿEAAQÿDHÿ good, yet fragile and in need of WSTVQGTEUcguardians. 9@SUÿThus bAwereVAÿdD bornVEÿF@AÿwGVUFÿyVDFACFDVUÿF@AÿVTWDEUÿ the First Protectors: the Dragons pAMetallicFTPPGCÿDHÿqgTEQVGT`ÿ of Exandria, b@whoDÿUTHAWSTVQAQÿF@AÿWAEFPAVÿVTCAUcÿ9@AÿVATP safeguarded the gentler races. The realmRÿ WVAgrewbÿ SGAFAV`ÿF@AÿeADePAÿquieter, the people RSmultipliedPFGePGAQ`, TEQÿEAand newbÿ dAGEbeingsWUÿ bAwereVAÿWGYAEÿHDV given formRÿ TEQÿPGHAcÿUÿCSPFSVAÿWVAb`ÿTEQÿF@AÿeADePAÿHSVF@AVÿSEQAVUFDDQÿF@Aÿand life. As culture grew, and the people further understood the bDworldVPQÿTVDSEQÿF@A around them,R` ÿF@AXÿTPUDÿPDDfAQÿSeÿFDÿF@they also looked up to theirAGVÿCVATFDVU creators TEQÿWTYAÿF@ARand gave them ÿbDworship,VU@Ge`ÿWTYAÿF@A gave themRÿ HDVform,R` ÿWTYAÿF@Agave themRÿ titleFGFPAÿTEQÿeSVeDUAc and purpose. SFÿF@GUÿVATPRBut this realm ÿQGQÿEDFÿdid not bGwishU@ÿFDÿdAÿFT to be tamedRAQcÿSTfGEWÿCPGHHUÿVDTVAQÿGEÿQAiTECAcÿATUÿU. Quaking cliffs roared in defiance. Seas swelledbAPPAQÿTEQÿU and swallowedbTPPDbAQcÿwPT. FlamesRAUÿAVSeFAQÿHVD erupted fromRÿ theF@AÿPTEQcÿAEATF land. Beneath@ÿF@A the APAelements,RAEFU`ÿSEf unknownEDbE ÿFDÿF@AÿxVATFDVUÿdAXDEQÿF@AÿTU@AEÿUfGAU`ÿPGYAQÿTECGAEFÿdAGEWUÿto the Creators beyond the ashen skies, lived ancient beings b@whoDÿ@TQÿTPVATQXÿCPTG had already claimedRAQÿF@GUÿ this bDworldVPQÿTUÿF@AGVÿ@D as their homeRAÿF@AÿyVG: the PrimordialsRDVQGTPUcÿ9@AUA. These WVATFÿAPAgreat elementalRAEFTPÿFGFTEUÿF@TFÿDECAÿQ titans that once dweltbAPFÿQAAeÿ deep bGwithinF@GEÿF@Aÿ the bDworldVPQÿED nowbÿ VDUAÿHVDrose fromRÿ theirF@AGVÿSEUAAEÿQD unseen domainRTGEÿFDÿUSEQAVÿF@AÿPTEQÿDECAÿ to sunder the land once RDmoreVAcÿ9@AÿWDQUÿ. The gods bTwatchedFC@AQÿTUÿF@AGV as their C@GPQVAE`ÿF@AGVchildren, theirÿhDX`ÿ joy, bAwereVAÿaSEWÿTWTGEUFÿF@AÿdVDfAEÿVDCfUÿDVÿHAQÿFDÿHDV flung against the broken rocks or fed to formlessRPAUUÿFAVVDVUÿSEPATU@AQÿdXÿF@AÿQAUFVSCFGDEcÿA terrors unleashed by the destruction. DemonicRDEGCÿAEFGFGAUÿUeGPPAQÿHVD entities spilled fromRÿ theF@AÿS umbraRdVTÿDH of theF@AÿdXUUÿFDÿH Abyss to feastATUFÿDEÿF@AÿCTVETWA`ÿCTPPAQÿHDVF@ÿdXÿF@AÿYGDPAECAÿTEQÿVAPATUAQÿFDÿeGCfÿF@AÿCTVVGDEÿCPATEc on the carnage, called forth by the violence and released to pick the carrion clean. DSomeRA ÿWDQUÿbgods wereAVAÿUDÿHSPPÿDHÿWVGAHÿTEQÿTEWAVÿF@TFÿF@AXÿ so full of grief and anger that they bGwishedU@AQÿFDÿPATYAÿF@GUÿ to leave this bDworldVPQÿdA@GEQÿTEQÿUFTVFÿTEAbcÿ9@AXÿFVGAQÿFDÿCDEYGECAÿF@AGVÿQGYGEAÿfGEQVA