A Troubled Birth –

As the War in Heaven reached its final, devastating stages, it became clear that the Gods were facing inevitable defeat. Desperate to replicate the success they had found with the Elves, a coalition of beleaguered Gods formed a hasty alliance. Their plan: create a new race, like the Elves, but greater in numbers, one that could overwhelm the Titans through sheer force. However, their creation was left unfinished when the Gods, defeated and fleeing the world, abandoned their new creation. These incomplete beings, the Humans, were left to fend for themselves.

From the outset, humanity was fractured. Violent and territorial, they split into warring tribes. Each tribe evolved differently, developing its own beliefs and customs, and constant warfare threatened the survival of the species. Despite the hardships, the human race adapted. Villages grew into towns, and towns into cities. But even as the population expanded, humanity’s own divisiveness prevented any one faction from gaining dominance. And as the wars dragged on, the very survival of the race began to teeter on the edge.

Fall of Callfor –

The brief unity forged during the War of the Endless Night paled in comparison to what came next. The city of Callfor became the epicenter of a demonic invasion, wiping out its population overnight. Demons overran the city and transformed it into a hellish stronghold, using it as a base to launch an assault on Bastion, one of humanity’s greatest cities.

The demon horde left nothing but ash and ruin in its wake, dragging human captives to a fate worse than death in the fiery abyss known as The Pit. As Bastion’s defenses began to crumble, its rulers sent desperate pleas for aid to other human cities. But none answered. The other cities, calculating and cautious, hoped to let the demons and Bastion weaken each other before committing their forces.

A New Hope –

Amidst this chaos, a lone knight appeared in the city of Grunberg. Clad in unmarked armor, without a sigil or banner, he spoke of humanity’s lost unity under the Gods, of the corruption that had taken root among the city rulers. His words ignited hope in the hearts of the people, and soon, a growing army followed him. This mysterious knight traveled from village to city, defeating demonic raiders as he went. His following swelled as he promised a new world, a world without strife and endless wars. But to achieve it, humanity had to fight

Taking heart, the human force advanced, thundering into the shocked demons.  Still after the initial success the size of the Demon forces threatened to engulf the Knights army.  But the tide would turn again.  Seeing their chance, the beleaguered forces of Bastion opened the great gates and sallied forth into the rear of the Demons who had turned to meet the new threat.   Caught between the two forces the demons were crushed between them.  At the climax of the battle a huge Archdemon descended on the human force and threatened to rout the entire centre of the Knights force.  Charging in to battle the Knight challenged him to single combat.  The two circled each other as the battle fell away from around them.  As the battle raged on neither could land a telling blow.  The Archdemon was bleeding dark blood from numerous small wounds but despite being dented the armour of the Knight has yet to be pierced.  Finally, though a slip on the turgid muddy battlefield by the Knight allowed the Demon to land a telling blow but where blood should have poured a shining white light erupted piercing the Archdemon, going straight through its wing.  The pain and shock it caused gave the Knight the opportunity he needed, and his next blow decapitated the Archdemon.  The battle was over, and the Demons had been routed.  Mankind had survived its darkest hour thanks to a warrior that bled light.  From that day forward he would be known as the Divine Knight.

Forging an Alliance –

The threat of the Demons had shown the majority of humanity that they had to stand together in order to survive an increasingly hostile world.  Before fractious infighting and politics had made such a unification impossible but now, they had a leader everyone could unite behind.  Any opposition was quickly quashed by the feverish support of the masses and soon even the most stubborn nobles realised there only chance of survival was to throw in their lot with the Divine Knight. 

At first it was easy as humanity was swept up in a righteous tide.  The remaining Demons were hunted from the land all in the name of the Divine Knight.  Humanities mysterious savior knew it would not last though.  Humans crave power and would eventually turn on each other.  If they did, they would not survive as a race in such a violent world.  It was here that he proved not only he was a mighty warrior but also a great leader and a fine statesman.  He left the current rulers of the major settlements in place and brokered a series of important trade agreements.  Each of the towns would specialise in producing one primary good such as food, timber, or ore.  If they exported their supplies to the other settlements, they in turn would be provided with goods that they needed from other locations.  This would in time make everyone co dependent on each other and by dedicating themselves to a single resource they would become more efficient and in turn strengthen humanities position.

It would not be enough though.  Humans from different regions had their own sets of beliefs and customs.  Most of them were variations on the same theme.  For example, there were many names for a God of War or a Goddess of Harvests.  A new priesthood was formed, and the Knight taught them the true names of humanities Gods.  None questioned how he knew this for all the Priests had heard the tales of the battle with the Demons and they could see it in his eyes that he was a messenger from the Gods.  The Alliance had been forged in faith and necessity. 

Survival –

The Knight had seen the future though and he knew being united might not even be enough.  To fight the wars to come Humans would need every weapon in their arsenal.  Before magic users had been persecuted as dangerous freaks but he founded the school of magic to teach people with the gift how to use it for humanities benefit.  Many orders of Knights came into being and the existing ones from before his coming were given a more prominent position in society.  The previous unknown science of medicine was founded, and hospitals came into existence and although primitive would help progress the understanding of disease and illness.  But perhaps most important was the founding of the Templar order.  They were given the dangerous and sacred duty of going beyond the borders of Humanities territories to find and retrieve artefacts of great power that would benefit the Alliance and help them defeat their enemies.