edited prologue
I decided to change my prologue. I felt that it left out too much information so I mostly added some things in. I'd like it to be better but right now I'm not going to take the time to completely re-write it.
A Historie of the War between the Younger and Elder Gods
In the beginning there were only the Forces. These Forces created the world, the Elder Gods and the life forms the Elder Gods would rule over and protect. Once the work was completed the power of the Forces had dwindled and the Elder Gods grew in power until the day came that they were stronger than the Forces. The Elder Gods lived among the people and the land. They gathered the people together and revelled in the worship and devotion showered on them. Over time they believed they held the right to completely dominate the world and all that lived on it. Two among their number disagreed with this and knew there was little they could do on their own so they sought out that which had created them, the Forces.
The diminished power of the Forces together with that of the two Gods was not sufficient enough to put a stop to the madness of the Elder Gods. The only solution the two could come up with was to bring forth a new creation that would not have the flaws the Elder Gods had. Doing so would destroy the Forces and two Gods so that all that was left of them would be an echo, but it was the only solution available to them. The two Gods surrendered themselves to the remaining power of the Forces and from the mixture the Younger Gods were born.
The Younger Gods sought out the peoples who had fled from the madness of the Elder Gods. They offered protection against the cruelness of the Elder Gods and in return the wandering peoples agreed to worship them. The Younger Gods gathered together and cleansed the land their peoples had fled to. Then they banished the Elder Gods from setting foot on it. The banishment was felt by the Elder Gods who slipped further into madness now that their path to total dominion was blocked.
It was inevitable that should they remain among their peoples that there would be a direct confrontation between themselves and the Elder Gods. The Younger Gods knew that this could not happen for it could very well destroy the world. In rememberance of the two Gods who had sacrificed themselves so they could be born into the world the Younger Gods chose two from among their peoples and changed them. They became half-gods and were known as the God-born. Their skin was pale as snow, hair black as night and eyes a piercing red-gold. They were given powers and the ability to intercede with the Younger Gods.
Together with the Younger Gods, the God-born created the city of Tor Alin. The city had powerful enchantments placed upon it to increase the mortal lifespan between 250 to 300 years. The only ones who differed in this respect besides the God-born were the Shadow Warriors. Shadow Warriors lived until killed in battle or they took their own lives, but this ability came only after they pledged themselves to fight for the God-born and took their oaths. Tor Alin also housed mages, scholars, seers and healers along with tradesmen.
The Elder Gods searched and found the most twisted and loyal of their followers. They warped and changed him and gave him the name Gal'ozmal, One that serves the Elder Night. Gal'ozmal had powers similar to those of the God-born and he built his fortress Sihdmal and from there he ruled over the peoples of the Elder Gods. Gal'ozmal created the Chosen and gifted them with different abilities. Only one of the Chosen has the distinction of being almost continually in Gal'ozmal's favor, Dras Kilan. He is the most cunningly ruthless and inventive among the Chosen and the most feared.
Chosen are served by Oath Takers who are predominately male. Oath Takers are trained starting at a young age to handle high amounts of pain and still complete their assigned tasks. They are also taught to dispense pain and protect and guard the Chosen they are on assignment with. All Oath Takers are made mutes by the removal of their tongues ensuring that they cannot reveal any secrets they carry and only the Chosen, other Oath Takers and Gal'ozmal are able to understand the sign language used to communicate with them.
Over time those who supported Tor Alin spread out away from the great city. New empires, kingdoms and duchies were formed but each promised in the event of war they would support and fight under the banner of Tor Alin.
Gal'ozmal was not willing to give up power over the peoples he commanded in the name of the Elder Gods. He set up a puppet emperor and used his Chosen as his eyes and ears among the Wastelands he ruled over. The Banished, as Gal'ozmal's people came to be known, were ready to fight and kill when the call came. For now skirmishes along the Borderlands would have to satisfy the bloodlust and bitter feelings.