The Schism
After the fight with Nezha, the damage inflicted to the World Tree caused catastrophic calamities across the continent. Tectonic plates started to shift, and the continent began to break apart ultimately causing scholars to refer to this age as The Schism. This period is marked by great innovation and equally great unrest. Yokai and demons became more prevalent and necromancy and Scaragán were introduced to the world thanks to Nae’Va.
The Seelie continent, the continent upon which Atreyu and his friends journeyed and the battle with Nezha took place, began to break apart and smash into the Unseelie’s continent causing the two Fae courts to intermingle regularly, destroying boundaries and creating conflicts.
The World-Heart Keystones
Lead by Thalin, Asha Academy made great strides in the development of magical research and focused its efforts on healing Pangea, the World Tree.
Unfortunately, Asha Academy concluded that the World Tree could not be restored to its original state; however, they were able to siphon its power and lifeforce using elemental magic and store it in 8 artifacts dubbed the World-Heart Keystones. These keystones were the world-tree itself reborn and, though their creation did not stop the continent from splintering, it stabilized the realm and caused the continental shifts to come to a halt. The calamities started to dissipate, and the mortal plane grew calm.
Despite resistance from his colleagues, Thalin, as headmaster of Asha Academy, forged a pact with the Dragon Tyrants scattered throughout the mortal plane. Dragons are known for growing stronger with age and these dragons received their titles because they were the most powerful and ancient of their kind. It was rumored that their might rivalled the gods themselves.
Each tyrant was entrusted with a keystone which they agreed to protect from all who dared to abuse its power until a time came that they were needed.
Dragon Tyrants
The Dragon Tyrants are the most powerful and infamous of their kind. Each one resides on a different continent lest they risk territorial disputes. Their names are: Despoina, Ch’askañawi, Liru, Farida, Enkara, Kahkewistahaw, Kaimahina, and Aqakuktuq.
The Pax Eclipsis
Originally the Seelie and Unseelie lived on and ruled over two different continents. Each continent had its own World Tree at its center. There is a prevailing theory among scholars that these were not two separate trees but two “branches” of the same entity—the planet.
The Seelie referred to their World Tree, Céadach, or “First One” while the Unseelie revered their World Tree as Nintu, “Lady of Birth.” Both cultures had the most profound respect and love for the World Tree and considered the base of the tree a sacred site of immense power. Scholars have begun referring to the World Tree as Pangea, a name which encompasses both trees—now seen as branches.
The damage that Nezha caused to Céadach also ravaged Nintu as it reverberated throughout the mortal plane. The Schism caused tectonic shifts which shattered the two continents causing them to smash into one another over time. During this period of chaos, the two courts went to war as each ruling class tried to assert its “divine” authority over the other.
After much bloodshed, and only once Thalin was able to stabilize the lands, the two courts entered a fragile peace treaty which was dubbed the Pax Eclipsis. The treaty not only acted as a ceasefire between the two courts; but also functioned as a marriage contract wedding the Unseelie Queen, Titania, with the Seelie King, Alberich.
The treaty dictated that during the Spring and Summer months, the Seelie King would rule, and the Unseelie Queen would be in power during the Autumn and Winter. Autumn and Spring would act as transition periods while the Seelie King hibernated during Winter while the Unseelie Queen became dormant during the Summer. It was the charge of each ruler to keep their spouse safe during their most vulnerable times.
The signing of the Pax Eclipsis is universally regarded as the end of The Schism.
