There was a time, long ago, when this world and our own were linked together. They still are, in fact, but the boundaries between the two are nearly impenetrable where once they had been as fragile as gossamer. Men and women passed easily from one plane to the next, and the gods and goddesses our ancestors worshiped were merely the exotic, powerful denizens of Aether. They lived among us then; some were our teachers, others our rulers, and the tales we spun of them have endured down through the centuries, colored by time and perception but still holding a ring of truth.

But human beings, curious and resourceful and never quite satisfied, began searching for new truths. With the birth of a new age on Earth, and a growing emphasis on science, the old stories have started to pass from truth to fiction -- from fact to fantasy, and the "gods" and "goddesses" are now no more than myths, fairy tales, and legends.

Earth's Renaissance has seen a discovery of "the New World," major breakthrough in science and medicine, and technological advancements that have further cemented the boundaries between a world of reason and ingenuity, and one of magic. Yet that same rebirth has heralded a rekindling of interest in classical art forms and literature, hinting that the link may be weakened, but not severed.

Though the two worlds are mutually exclusive and their denizens unaware of each other save through the oldest of legends, imagination is still the bridge that keeps the two linked. While traveling across the boundaries may not be possible physically, such a wall is not an obstacle for the mind. As long as the stories are told and re-told to the generations that come after us, that bridge will remain strong.

Please read the histories of each race for their individual versions, or see "news timeline" for a more specific outline of the game's history.