Adam the First
Birth: 800 AGF
Death: 1025 AGF
Shard Type: Maximus
Adam is arguably the most famous Godshard, owing to the fact he was the first as well as one of the most powerful. Born in the town of Venito, he became a Godshard three days after he was born. Yet despite his glowing eyes and Soulsight unnerving people, Adam lived a mostly normal life as a carpenter. Sometimes strange things happened around him when he spoke, possibly nearly casting spells without realizing it. It wouldn’t be til he turned thirty that everything changed. A Maelim warband attacked Venito and in panic and terror, Adam accidentally cast a spell for the first time, destroying the marauders utterly.
Confused and intrigued, Adam left his home and wandered the world for a century. He traveled in non-descript grey robes, desperate for answers on what he was. He met famous Benelim such as High King Ioannis and deities including Terra. He would be one of the last humans to ever gain an audience with the earth Goddess. What was said between them is not known.
During the outset of the Daemon Wars, Adam returned to the Cradlelands to warn his people of the danger. But Adam had been gone for so long that nobody knew who he was. No one heeded his words and city after city fell, until at last Adam came to people who listened: The City of Primus. When survivors from all the other cities came seeking refuge, Adam showed compassion and requested they be allowed inside.
The daemons arrived soon after, lead by the monstrous daemon lord named Hanbi, who took the form of a monstrous lion. The defenders won the day, largely in part to Adam, who decimated the horde with his magical power and by besting Hanbi in single combat. Thus a bond between Godshards and the people of Primus had been formed.
After the battle, Adam sought to settle down and raise a family. Yet he was infertile, even after laying with several women. Adam was devastated by the revelation. But an opportunity presented itself when six more Godshards arrived at Primus, confirming he would not be the only Godshard.
These six Godshards devoted themselves to Adam. The seven of them created an island off the coast of the Cradlelands, to be a safe haven for all Godshards, outside the geopolitical order. Where they could learn and study more about themselves. Adam's latter years were mostly teaching his students and writing down his story, his beliefs and what he learned. Adam was self-aware to know Godshards would be looking to him and his life story for guidance and he would not be found wanting.
Adam died at the age of two-hundred and twenty-five, surrounded by friends and students. His observations would prove to be correct as Godshards centuries after his death would still strive to follow his example, dress like he did, and use their power to help others.
Elias, Greatest of the Original Six
Birth: 920 AGF
Death: 1120 AGF
Shard Type: Majorus
Elias was the most powerful of Adam's original disciples, and the longest lived as a result. Hailing from the distant Southern Realms, his foresight took him north at a young age. He would meet other Godshards in his northward journey and together they would meet Adam in Primus.
Like the others, Elias devoted himself to Adam and assisted Adam in the creation of the island. Until the day Adam died, he was a quick study and eager to learn. As the most powerful, he lead the others upon Adam's death.
In his younger years he sought to wander the world in a similar vein as Adam. He spent a lot of his time in the Southern Realms, introducing his people to the concept of the Godshards and what they could do for humanity. After saving a king of the city-state Aninda from a rampaging Behemoth without killing the beast, Elias secured a legacy of his own in those distant lands.
It wasn't always peaceful and prosperous however. When Maria, another one of the original Six died due to her soul being incinerated from not casting spells, it devastated him. He spent more and more time in the Cradlelands after that. He assisted the Republic of Primus in dealing with a Maelim warband, earning him much respect from the legionnaires. More and more Godshards were coming to the island and others were being discovered on their travels. One of the last times Elias wandered to his homeland he came across Sheba, abandoned in an alley. In time, the other Godshards of the original Six passed away, one by one, until at last Elias was the only one left.
He mended his broken heart by being a strong leader to the next generations of Godshards. This culminated in Elias' most famous pupil: Ruth the Uniter. Elias was a grandfather figure to Ruth, a rock of comfort and wisdom in her early years. Elias had great foresight, he saw the problems on the horizon, ambitious senators and the coming of a Maelim army the Cradlelands had never seen. Yet he saw the boundless potential of Ruth and how she could be a capable leader. On his deathbed. he declared Ruth to be his successor. He passed away at two-hundred, confirming the lifespan of a Magnus Shard. While his legacy wasn't as strong as Adams, his was a crucial bridge between the very first of the Godshards, and the next generations.
Maria the Tragic
Birth: 930 AGF
Death: 1030 AGF
Shard Type: Majorus
Maria was another one of Adam's original Six disciples. She learned under Adam and sought to carry on his teachings. But Maria had a crippling stutter that made it hard for her to cast spells properly. The desire and willingness to help others was there, but she couldn't follow through with it in spellcraft. Eventually she decided to focus on helping people with her words and guidance only.
Unfortunately, due to her nature as a Majorus Shard, spellcasting was an important aspect of her lifestyle that couldn't be ignored. This fact was made apparent when her soul began to burn up from the inside out. Despite the other's best efforts to help her, there was nothing anyone could do but watch as her body and soul incinerated from the build-up of magical energies. Before she died, she begged the others to write down and remember her demise, lest others end up with the same fate. Even in the throes of agony, she was selfless, worried more for others than herself.
Maria would be the first Shard to not die from natural causes.
Ruth the Uniter
Birth: 1100 AGF
Death: 1325 AGF
Shard Type: Maximus
Abandoned by humans due to her deafness, Ruth was raised by the Benelim huntresses Leela and Katherina. Chaffing under the prejudices that Benelim held toward humans, it was perhaps a turn of fate that a Shard entered her when she turned seven, making her the first known late-bloomer. Reluctantly Leela and Katherina took her to the island, which at this point was known as Adam's island. Elias and the other Godshards welcomed her with open arms.
Ruth had a difficult time growing up, as the myriads of influences left a conflicted impression upon her. She was exposed to the culture of humans and Benelim, she saw the best and worst in both peoples. Her inability to speak orally proved to be a critical hurdle that needed to be overcome, lest she end up like Maria. Ruth was grateful for the immense support of her fellow Godshards, Elias, Megan and her best friend and eventual lover Sheba.
Through the efforts of Elias and the timely and rare assistance of High King Ioannis, the first magical spells were cast via Benelim Sign Language. An empowered Ruth began to rapidly increase her power and skill soon after. She spent time in both worlds for a while, Sheba right beside her as a guide and friend. When she turned twenty, she reluctantly succeeded Elias after his passing. A month later a slew of problems would put Ruth to the test. Senators in Primus sought to take over the island under the guise of "helping them", and a fiercesome Maelim army led by one of the last remaining firstborn known as The Butcher, assailed the Cradlelands from the west. Despite the protests of her adoptive Benelim parents, Ruth opted to say and fight.
Though her own power and determination, combined with support from Sheba and the then Consul of War Clodius, The Butcher was slain and the senators stood down. But the Maelim weren't done yet and a decade after her victory, the same Maelim army attacked the Realm of the Golden Wood. Maelim raiders sent by the same army attacked the city of Submersio in pursuit of Katherina, culminating in the wounded Benelim saving Clodius' life. It was all Ruth needed to convince the Republic of Primus to help save her other adoptive home.
The Maelim army was defeated and their leader, The Scythe, the daughter of The Butcher, slain by Ruth's hand. Ruth effectively united her two worlds, bringing an age of peace and prosperity to both. Her later years were largely those of study, documentation and building. Especially after Sheba's passing at the age of one-hundred and ten. A long standing dream of Ruth's was to turn the camp on Adam's Island into a proper settlement. The humans and Benelim had centuries of history to catch-up on. There were plenty of spells and works that needed to be documented. Ruth would name the new chronicle after Sheba in her name and memory.
By the time of her passing at two-hundred and twenty-five, the foundations of the Island City had been laid, her peoples had come together and her legacy was pure and true, second perhaps only to Adam himself. Among the Benelim she was known as Amica, friend.
Sheba the Cheerful
Birth: 1100 AGF
Death: 1210 AGF
Shard Type: Minorus
Sheba was found by Elias when she was only three days old. Even as a child, she was a bright and cheerful soul. She always had a smile on her face, always something nice to say. It would be revealed that Sheba had one of the first known passive abilities, that of charisma. When a seven-year old Sheba met Ruth, she instantly felt a connection. The feeling was mutual and they soon became friends and when they became adults, lovers. Sheba became a teacher, and quickly became a beloved fixture of the island.
Sheba would prove to be Ruth's rock time and time again. When Ruth had to stand before the senators of Primus to argue her case for the island's independence, it was Sheba who translated her signs, which in combination with her passive charisma, made them quite the team. This ensured their independence was maintained. When Ruth's stress and frustrations caused her to lash out against some builders, alienating people around her, it was Sheba who was that voice of reason.
After the liberation of the Golden Wood, Sheba would continue to be a teacher on the island up until her death at a hundred and ten years old. Her legacy was such that Ruth insisted the newest chronicle be named after her. She would get her wish and the Sheban Chronicle remains an important piece of history for future generations.
Mikel the First Mago
Birth: 1075 AGF
Death: 1120 AGF
Shard Type: Majorus
Mikel was a potent Godshard originally from the north. Like countless other Godshards, he was drawn to the island due to rumors of like-minded people. He was one of the more powerful Shards of his day, and he was something of a guardian to many of the other Shards as a result. Mikel was also a pioneer of the concept of magical leanings, and he was the Shard to coin the term and proposed the first theories regarding them.
He had three magical leanings: elemental, abjuration and metallurgy. Indeed he would discover many spells in these areas, a crucial and understated legacy. Tragically Mikel would be killed by The Butcher, who strangled him so he couldn't cast a spell, reminding the Godshards that they were still mortal, they were still human.
Evelin the Stubborn
