El's Random Ruminations

Notes on Towers

Alderdell was a mountain right in the center of the continent of Corvis on the planet of Tairie. It was said that this mountain had once been the center of an ancient civilization that brought life and magic to the world. When they were gone, all that was left of them was Alderdell - a great stone tower that nature and the magic they wrought in the world - slowly turned into the mountain it is today.

Then one day the dragons came, wisest and noblest of beings, raised more towers in honor of the ancient ones and to teach the younger races the ways of the world once they arrived. The dragons communed with the spirits of Earth, Fire, Water, Wind and Magic to help them build those new towers.

Elves and Dwarves came first. The Dragons taught them Earth magic so they could till the soil and commune with nature; Water magic to navigate the oceans and rivers; Wind magic so they could soar through the world at great speed. Fire to warm their homes in the winter and work the precious gems and ores they dug from the earth. Holy they called the magic that had been bestowed by the gods to protect life and heal the body of illness and injury.

Then finally they taught them Green magic - the most pure and powerful of all the magics. It requires great patience to master all its spells but the world would fully open to those patient enough to unlock its secrets. The Dwarves and Elves grew strong and wise together under the tutelage of the dragons. There was great friendship between the first three races and they made beautiful things together.

When the Terranean and Aquatian people arrived on land and sea, the Elves and Dwarves shared their knowledge and taught them the ways of the world. This was a time of joy and peace as they grew and learned under the Elder races.

Then finally after many centuries, humans arrived at the doors of Alderdell. Escaping some calamity in their world they arrived starved and in pain. They looked at the dragons with great fear until the beautiful elves and the mighty dwarves fed them and healed their wounds. Then the elder races patiently taught them the ways of their new world.

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The elven tower of Corrick had been filled with challenges that allowed Elves to hone their physical agility and their mental acuity. The dwarven tower of Baerick had been built with challenges that allowed the dwarves to increase their physical strength and learn about the ores and gems found in the world of Tairie.

The tower of Aerick was built for the Terraneans and Aquatians – they are very social people who love games and puzzles - so they could hone their strategic minds and get to know each other. The Tower of Corbae in the north had been built to teach humans how to live in the world of Tairie and to help them connect to their Elf and Dwarf mentors.

The last tower – Kairick – had been built by The Great Dragon Talos just before the cataclysm almost 600 years before. Giant creatures were surfacing from the oceans far to the west and threatening to overrun the world. It was built as a fortress to protect the world.

It allowed the predominantly green mages living in the island chains far to the west, to protect their homes and fight back. During the cataclysm the Aquatians living on the northeastern coasts of Corvis sailed away with their friends and families. Some settled in the small Terranean continent of Tairinia, most continued and settled in the island chains known as Oceanus. They have not been seen in Corvis for nearly 500 years.