History - In the Beginning -- Eletherian Message Board

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Date Posted: 11:58:17 08/25/00 Fri
Author: Vincent
Subject: History - In the Beginning

Here is what I have for "In the Beginning" for our history page. I am posting it here first so I can get your comments/changes before I put it on the site.

In the beginning the giants overran Eletheria and ruled with an iron hand. Abusive and cruel, the giants soon discovered language and bronze forging. The giants found that the dwarves had discovered iron, as an accidental by-product of copper or lead smelting, proving superior to bronze in durability, malleability, and strength. The Drychtnothians learned to crush the ore, layer it with charcoal (to lower the iron's melting point), and intensify the heat with bellows, melting away the impurities and leaving carburized iron. The giants enslaved the dwarves to make iron weapons for them. Soon steel was discovered. The discovery of the iron-to-steel process enabled sword makers to take a great leap forward as blacksmiths learned that when the carbon content of iron is increased, steel is formed.

The elves discovered writing and magic and the giants discovered this and enslaved the elves to serve them and to make writing and magic for them. The Elves also strongly grew well-versed in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. The Elven method of counting was decimal. An accurate calendar was also developed. Keen astronomers, they identified imperishable (circumpolar) stars and the indefatigable stars. From the latter they chose 36 stars which presided over the ten-day periods (decans) of the annual celestial cycle. They drew up tables which made it possible to determine the position of each decan at every hour of the night and then be able to determine (at least approximately) the time of night. The Elves also determined true north by stellar bservation. They also built shadufs for raising water to irrigate the fields of the giants.

The might of the Dragons became known and priests arose to spread hope through all the peoples who were oppressed by the giants. Word soon came of revolt against the cruelty of the giants. Helbane was forged and would be used to fight back against the giants. The Dwarves, enslaved by the giants to forge their weapons, stole the secret of steel and forged weapons for themselves and their allies. The enlaved elves, working as scribes animal handlers, stole their magic and taught their allies. The humans, enslaved gladiators and soldiers, learned to fight the giants and bring them low. The gnomes, the artisans of the giants, learned the art of trickery and illusion and befuddled the giants. The halflings, who served the other races, were the messangers by which news of revolt spread.

The giants were beaten and thrown down, destroyed, only the barest remnents of their dreams remaining. Years of peace followed, and the humans and demihumans learned and taught each other. Eventually the races sought out their own havens and settled into their own realms. This segregation became more distinct as time passed.

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