theme:
What we're all about.

Arcana is a world afloat in a sea of mists, a world where magic exists and has always done so, a land of heroism and fantasy. Things most mortals merely dream of hold the potential to exist, from mystic mirrors to creatures found only in storybooks. Everything is open for the taking, waiting for those who are lucky enough - or blessed by the Power - to receive their gifts.

The origins of Arcana are lost in time, as lost as the souls of those who never leave the mists. There are hardly even legends remaining concerning its creation, its purpose. It is only known that the lifespan of the country is measured in ages, and that each age is preceded and followed by a time of despair. The cities of one age are built on the ruins of the previous, the remnants of culture passed down by the few survivors. It is the beginning of one such age, now. The mists have opened after a long closed period, and people are at last coming back into Arcana.

The story has been passed from generation to generation, person to person, nearly lost in the war that tore Arcana to shreds, for the period that separates this age from the last was more destructive, more violent, more all-encompassing than any before, for this time the end of the age was not watched over by the Three...for the war that destroyed the cities and laid waste the planes was a war of the gods themselves, and all mortals shivered in terror at the destruction they wrought.

For a hundred years the war raged, each of the Three tearing down what the others had caused to be built, striking out at each other through their creations, the only way they could. Death and destruction shook the land as Vita, Mortis, and Asmodeus strove one against another to bring the others low. It was not until the Three held Arcana's utter destruction in their hands that the Higher Power sought at last to intervene.

The details of that agreement will remain forever secret, but at the end of it, Vita and Mortis were wed, binding Life and Death together in a pact of mutual dominion. No longer could Death hold his victims permanently, and no longer could Life challenge his command. Instead, Mortis was obligated to return those he held to life after a period of time, and Vita condemned to see all those she loved decay and die, entering into her brother-husband's service.

Their peace made at last, the Three turned their attention back to the country they had almost destroyed and set about rebuilding it once more. Less than ten years have passed since the end of the wars, and the mists have been coaxed into reopening their paths at last. The Three, with the assistance of those few who have survived the wars, are rebuilding Arcana piece by piece, stone by stone...