Extract from ‘Journeys in my own Company’ an Auto-Biography by Solin De’Teinde.
I have spent my long years in academic research, I have explored much and written many books, papers and other documents all of which, I must say, I am quite proud. This after all is what I excel at. I have this skill, or perhaps it is a curse, for I sometimes think of it as such. For I have been forced to give up much to achieve my ambitions.
Both my father and my mother were academics, they lived in a city called Ter’Hadsnefel a place of great learning, of art and all manner of higher enlightenments. At its height the city of the T’Iea was majestic, it was one of, and quite probably the foremost centre of study and artistry throughout the first age and it remained so for many thousands of years.
However, the city is now in the second age for the first ended with the sacking of the city by the Ognods. The unstoppable hordes from the north rampaged across the lands, in that time destroying everything in their path. It was a time of great grief, of disbelief, of despair. The once great city was almost destroyed and many were slain defending it. But the T’Iea survived, for the Ognods suddenly and without accountable reason retreated and have not been seen since. They still live in the northern parts of the world, a shadow of what they once were for like the rest of the elder races, something has decimated them to and they no longer venture forth from their lands.
Ter’Hadsnefel was rebuilt in time, well partially anyway, never again to its former glory but never the less it became once more a seat of great learning. But the world had been changed forever and it was this that set me upon my life’s path. I saw a purpose, I would travel and explore to find out and make note of what had happened since the Ognod wars, for the elder races were now scattered and far reduced in number and did not mix in friendship as they once had.