In ancient times on Tezlon, the discovery of raw mana transformed the world. Mana was a force hidden deep within Tezlon’s core, latent and pulsing with potential, until one fateful day when a powerful mana well surfaced, exposing its energies to the world. This mana well became the cradle of a new era, marking the beginning of channeling and the birth of the first channeler, Kazeen.
The Origins of Channeling and the First Channeler
Kazeen, an insightful wanderer and scholar of Tezlon’s natural forces, encountered the mana well during his explorations. Drawn by an unexplainable connection, Kazeen touched the mana and felt it fuse with him, filling him with elemental strength. He discovered that by focusing, he could shape this energy and direct it—his very thoughts and will guiding mana to flow into spells. The bond he felt with mana was unlike any force he had encountered; it was as if he had become part of the earth itself, channeling its power and expressing its spirit.
Kazeen’s discovery of flowspells—structured expressions of mana that allowed him to wield and control earth itself—marked the birth of channeling. His teachings spread as others with similar sensitivity sought him out, eager to learn this newfound magic. Thus, the first generation of Majaan, single-element channelers, emerged. Under Kazeen’s guidance, they founded the Guardians of Mana, a collective sworn to protect mana’s balance and wield it in harmony with Tezlon.
Formation of the Guardians of Mana and the Exploration of Slipgates
As the Guardians grew in number, they encountered peculiar phenomena in Tezlon: small, shimmering rifts in reality that appeared sporadically across the landscape. These anomalies, which they called Slipgates, seemed like tears in the fabric of their world, offering glimpses into realms beyond Tezlon. The Guardians were intrigued yet cautious, recognizing that these gates could be both an opportunity and a threat. They established nexus points around these Slipgates to study and, when possible, stabilize them, leading to the construction of the First Slipgate—a controlled gateway through which they could safely journey and explore other worlds.
The Mistake of Tisto Mannis and the Rise of the Darkfinders
Among the Guardians was a talented young Majaan named Tisto Mannis, a gifted but impulsive student under Kazeen. Driven by curiosity, Tisto channeled raw mana to push a Slipgate beyond its limits, unintentionally opening a portal to a world of darkness and shadow—a place now known as the Shadow Realm. Through this portal, Tisto came into contact with the D’vann, a race of parasitic beings from the Shadow Realm who had long sought new worlds to consume and control.
The D’vann were formidable, unlike anything Tezlon had ever known. When the D’vann learned of Tezlon’s mana well, they saw in it the key to boundless power. Under orders from their queen, the D’vann seized the opportunity to infiltrate Tezlon. The Queen of the D’vann sent her son, Araquixx, a powerful D’vann Dragon, to assume a human host and breach Tezlon’s world. Araquixx’s mission was simple: take control of the mana well at all costs.
Once Araquixx crossed through the slipgate and bonded to a host, he introduced a new, malevolent form of channeling. Araquixx became the first Darkfinder, wielding mana not as a partner but as a slave, forcibly extracting its energy without restraint or respect. His connection was twisted, fueled by greed and hunger, corrupting the land around him. Thus, the Darkfinders were born—a faction who would stop at nothing to harness mana’s power, no matter the destruction it caused.
The Battle for Mana and the Guardians’ Legacy
The arrival of the Darkfinders sparked a cataclysmic struggle. The Guardians of Mana faced the Darkfinders head-on, aware that allowing the D’vann to seize control would doom Tezlon. Kazeen and his followers devised new ways to safeguard mana, learning to store mana in crystals, gems, and artifacts, allowing them to harness its power without exhausting the land. They also discovered how to return mana to nature through meditation and rest, maintaining their bond and preserving Tezlon’s vitality.
The Guardians perfected the art of meditative restoration, channeling mana back into the land to sustain the cycle of balance. This practice became a cornerstone of their order, a way to maintain harmony with mana and prevent it from becoming tainted. Advanced channelers eventually developed the ability to transcend their physical forms, becoming elemental beings who could summon Elemental Guardians from the Elemental Plane to fight alongside them in the defense of Tezlon.
Legacy of the First Slipgate
Though Tisto’s mistake had introduced the D’vann to Tezlon, the Guardians learned from it. The First Slipgate was fortified and protected, kept as a guarded relic, a reminder of the dangers lurking beyond and the resilience needed to confront them. Slipgates remained a mystery, and each was closely monitored by the Guardians to ensure that no other unwelcome threats could breach their world.
Thus, the Guardians of Mana endured, their teachings passed down to generations of Majaan, Ajaan, Dajaan, and the Avatar, who served as the ultimate protector. Yet, the Darkfinders would remain, their presence an eternal reminder that mana’s power, if abused, could bring untold ruin.