Everything That Has Happened Until Now (Abridged)

“The city of Mikeno'Sedhr, 'great truce' formed after Vadeh, first and wisest among the Ten Thousand, sacrificed himself in the battle of Ur-Hedroh against Flandir, sits at the center of the worlds of Art, Commerce, and Civilisation, without peer among the kingdoms of the Autrech and the most just society known. In the words of the Mistri natives she truly is, 'heart, eye, and mind.'”

–Vadrech's Guidebook to Mikeno'Sedhr

The world once was a wider place when the Ten Thousand danced harmoniously, before a shadow or imperfection had marred the crystal plane of the world. In that age there was no sea nor air, no wind or sky, nothing except the shining expanse of the world, reflecting brilliantly upon the Dance of the Ten Thousand, floating in the sea of Nothing above. But the Ten Thousand desired adornments for their dance, desired accompaniment, and two of them decided to make this urge manifest.

Vadeh was first among the two to act, and without breaking the rhythm of the Ten Thousand he took hold of the flatness of the world and bent it upon itself, forming a globe. He named it Autrech.

Flandir acted next in the rhythm of the dance and, overjoyed at the shape of his brother's making, cried in wonder upon the empty earth. Thus was the sea formed and given name by Flandir.

Vadeh smiled at Flandir's act, and danced gloriously upon the sea. And where his steps fell upon the face of the waters, land sprang from the froth. This he called Land.

Not to be outdone, Flandir grabbed a mass of the land and shaped it into three balls which he sent spinning about the earth, cold orbs of silver adorning the empty sky. He named each moon in turn: Florvir, Igriminir, and Trestev. Flandir smiled a challenge at Vadeh.

Vadeh too grabbed a hold of a piece of the land, much more than his brother had, and molded it into a ball with his hands while warming it with his breath. When he was finished he set it spinning about the bare sketch of a world and as it spun it began to glow. Thus was the Sun named and the first sunrise seen.

Flandir took a great breath, and then blew out into the world, creating the Wind. His brother also drew breath and with his exhalation the Sky was created.

But he did not stop at one breath. Vadeh drew in breath once more, and this time when he emptied his lungs the world was filled with life, and all the animals, plants, and races of the world were created and given names.

The Ten Thousand rejoiced at Vadeh's breath, spiraling their dance closer to the world, and began to act upon the new creation, adding detail, shade, hue, and names.

But Flandir was dismayed and embarrassed. He deemed the final step of creation flawed and unworthy of the Ten Thousand, and so determined to undo it. Thus did Flandir break the Great Dance and enter into the world, determined to eliminate the erratic creation of life. In doing so he threw the Ten Thousand into chaos and conflict. After a millennia of discord two groups arose: those who continued to move in stride with Vadeh, and those who broke off to follow Flandir. This situation might have persisted, were it not for Flandir's will to erase the already-wrought elements of beast and man, his will to seek the annihilation of all.

Vadeh yet remained apart, still in the Dance, but the Ten Thousand who remained at his side besought him to intervene and, after much deliberation, he agreed. The ensuing battle of gods razed the better part of all that existed until the final battle was met at Ur-Hedroh. There Vadeh trapped Flandir in a continuous breath of creation, a storm of thought, but was forced to sacrifice his very existence in order to sustain the winds of the prison.

With Vadeh and Flandir gone, the other Ten Thousand fell once more into disarray, each seeking dominance over the others in order to form creation to their will. The earth was thrown into the grief of war caused by their strivings, with entire continents and populations disappearing. This situation lasted for thousands of years until the Ten Thousand were, themselves, bereft of energy to continue the conflict. The Ten Thousand decided to meet in order to reach a compromise.

After fractious years of debate, a decision was reached: each of the gods would be allowed their battle and strivings for power, but in a more limited context. This context was a new city, named in honor of Vadeh's sacrifice, Mikeno'Sedhr, or, “Vadeh's Truce.” All power would rest in the city, and those who controlled the city would control the world.