First Astral Era

The First Astral Era is considered to be a time of primitivity. This is the beginnings of the era of man, when the only goal was to survive. While very little to no written history exists of this time, scholars and historians have recovered primitive tools and cave paintings from this time. The biggest innovations of this period seems to be the creation of tools and the ability to create fire. From these advents rose agriculture, which led to a departure from hunting and gathering and a nomadic lifestyle.

Small towns and villages were established in this time, acting as the dawn of a true civilization. Basic sciences began to be cultivated, such as animal husbandry and metallurgy, further advancing their tools. This allowed for greater industry and growth of communities, forming the first kingdoms of the realm. It is from this point that kingdoms began to expand their territories, which led to conflict, weapons and warfare.

In order to wage their wars, natural resources were stripped from the land. The sky was black with smoke and lands destroyed. After years of destruction and bloodshed, the scales tipped. The mountains belched plumes of smoke, and storms engulfed the sky, sending a never-ending torrent of lightning and levin raining from the sky, razing whole kingdoms and boiling lakes. With little other choice, the people were forced underground to survive. Fear was instilled into the hearts of those who escaped the Calamity of Lightning, believing that the gods meant to smite them from Hydaelyn once and for all. The dank underground was a miserable place, where there was no escape from plague and pestilence. With no other road left to them, the people began to pray. With such fervent prayer concentrated in small places, strange occurrences began to take place. Modern day theologists believe this to be the birthplace for Magic.