Buy me a coffeeEon XXXV – The Ashen Dawn (Paleogene)
(Paleogene: 66 – 23 million years ago)
Time Frame: 66 – 23 million years ago
Theme Statement: The world rises from the ashes of the cataclysm, the smoke still clinging to the bones of the past, and the birth of new giants heralds a shifting order of life, magic, and power.
Overview
The Paleogene, known as The Ashen Dawn, is an age that emerges from the charred remains of the old world, one scarred by the great fires that once ravaged the planet and the apocalyptic tremors that changed the face of existence forever. As the dust settles, a new epoch unfolds—a time of rebirth and transformation.
The air is thick with the scent of new growth, yet the weight of ancient destruction still lingers. Vast forests of towering trees stretch across the land, bathed in the unrelenting light of a world slowly healing. Earthquakes are frequent, reminders that the bones of the world are still settling, while the oceans, once turbulent, now swell and pulse with quiet power. In the skies, the gods of wind and storm carry whispers of things long forgotten, as strange, elemental creatures of air, water, and flame emerge from the cracks in the world. From the ashes of the previous age rise the Titanic Beasts, vast and terrible creatures who walk the lands as gods of destruction and creation alike.
Here, life begins anew, albeit in forms twisted and forged by the ancient magics of the earth itself. Creatures—both familiar and alien—populate the land, each a reflection of the planet’s shifting spirit. From the depths of forgotten caves to the sprawling forests, a new dominion of power, ancient and mystic, begins to take hold, shaping every inch of existence. The gods themselves seem restless, their whispers rising in the wind, calling forth champions, beasts, and warlords to claim dominion over the earth.
The air pulses with magical forces—Leylines, once dormant and fractured, now surge across the continents, bridging the realms of mortals and the divine. Here, the Fey stir once more, weaving enchantments deep in the forests, while dragons make their first cautious returns to the skies, their immense power rippling through the magical currents.
For all the newness, there is a feeling that the world is but a dream, a myth waiting to be shaped. Who will guide it? Who will war for it? The answers lie in the coming days—days filled with chaos, creatures, and the hum of arcane might.
Ecological Dominance
The Behemoth Mammals
The mammals that now reign are not small and meek but titanic in both size and strength. They rise to claim the mantle of dominion, walking the earth with the quiet thunder of inevitability. Mastodons and woolly mammoths, creatures of overwhelming power and intelligence, roam vast savannas and dense forests, their tusks gleaming like ancient relics of a forgotten time. Their sheer size demands awe, their lumbering forms both a symbol of stability and a harbinger of new beginnings.
In the wild, the saber-toothed cats stalk with predatory grace, their eyes gleaming with the hunger of ancient blood. They are predators of the highest order, embodying the fierce nature of survival. These saber-tooths, though not yet rulers, hold sway over vast territories, their terrifying forms and immense fangs making them the undisputed kings of the plains.
Elemental Beasts of Flame and Storm
As the earth shifts, elemental creatures bound to the ancient forces of air, fire, and water emerge from the depths. Fire elementals, once dormant beneath the surface, now rise to wreak havoc and forge new lands in their wake. Their flames scorch the earth, but their power is also revered by many cultures as a necessary force for renewal and destruction.
Above, the air elementals swirl like storms given form, their bodies mere whispers of wind and lightning. They dance across the sky, bringing storms or clearing the heavens for new life. These ethereal beings are drawn to the unsteady magic that ripples through the atmosphere, guiding the world’s seasons and shaping the lands below with their whims.
The Fey Unveil Their Courts
With the land now fertile and abundant, the Fey slowly return from their deep realms, reclaiming their dominions and casting their magical influence over the mortal world. Pixies, dryads, and treants emerge, weaving enchantments into the very fabric of nature itself. They often manipulate the forces of the wild, from the rustling of the leaves to the movement of the stars above. The Fey see themselves as guardians of the natural order, but their schemes are often capricious, and their allegiances shift with the seasons.
Geography in Flux
The world is a landscape in motion, both physically and spiritually. Tectonic plates grind and shift, drawing the continents closer while pushing others apart. Mountain ranges rise where none existed before, as if the earth itself is growing in an effort to accommodate the new, thriving lifeforms. Volcanoes, too, are abundant—silent yet watchful—waiting to be awakened by the tremors of this new age.
The world’s climate is still finding balance after the cataclysm. The heat of the past gives way to cooler, temperate seasons. Vast forests cover the lands, broken only by the vastness of open grasslands and jagged, volcanic stretches of rock. Lakes, rivers, and oceans teem with life, their waters both nourishing and wild, holding secrets of the ancient powers that continue to shape the earth.
At the poles, ice sheets begin to form, their slow expansion marking the beginnings of a new ice age. In this time of cooling, ancient oceanic currents shift, with powerful forces deep below the surface stirring strange and ancient creatures to the surface.
Intelligent Cultures
In the shadow of these colossal beasts, the Intelligent Races struggle to define their place in the world. Though humanoids are few, they begin to take root in the lands, forming their early tribes and civilizations from the shifting environment.
Mammalkin Guardians
The Mammalkin, an ancient race of humanoid mammal-like creatures, have begun to rise from their underground burrows. They worship the ancient Titanic Beasts and believe they are the chosen protectors of the earth. These creatures are known for their great strength and intellect, often serving as protectors of the lands and allies to the emerging humanoid tribes.
The Mammalkin are not merely beasts but highly organized societies, with a deep connection to the primal forces of the land. They respect the ancient elemental powers, often employing the forces of earth and wind in their rituals and to shape their growing settlements.
Magic in This Age
The world’s magic is old—older than the rise of civilization—and it calls to the arcane powers from deep within the earth. Leyline currents surge through the world, their flow interrupted only by the seismic activity that reshapes the land. Magic in this age is raw and untamed, drawing on the primal forces of nature—fire, wind, and stone.
New schools of magic arise that focus on manipulating the elements themselves. Pyromancers learn to bend flame to their will, shaping it not only as a weapon but as a tool of creation and destruction. Geomancers study the earth, learning to control the tectonic forces and to commune with the deep spirits of stone. The Fey introduce magic that influences nature itself, often unpredictable and capricious in its results, as it seeks balance in a world still healing from its wounds.
Conflict & Harmony
In this new world, conflict and harmony are in constant flux. The Fey view their return to the world with caution, for the balance they once knew is now disturbed. Their forests and hidden realms are being encroached upon by the growing presence of Mammalkin guardians, who seek to dominate the wilds.
But it is not merely the Fey and the Mammalkin who clash. The Titanic Beasts stir uneasily, their ancient instincts clashing with the new order of life. The behemoth mammals are seen as both protectors and threats by the nascent cultures. They hold the power to shape the world through their mere existence—treading the line between guardians and harbingers of doom.
Legacy of This Eon
As the Ashen Dawn fades into history, the seeds of future civilizations take root. The Titanic Beasts leave their mark on the landscape, becoming part of the very fabric of the world’s mythos, while the elemental forces gain strength, setting the stage for a coming age of change. The arcane knowledge of the land, its spirits, and its elemental forces will pass into the hands of those brave enough to wield it—whether for good or ill.
The Mammalkin rise from the ashes, their destinies intertwined with the fate of the earth itself. The Fey, though hesitant, will continue to weave their mysterious magic into the fabric of the world, while dragons—hidden for centuries—begin to make their first appearances, their ancient powers once again returning to shape the course of history.
The Ashen Dawn is but the beginning of a new age—an age that will bring both prosperity and destruction, as the world shapes itself into something unrecognizable. From the depths of fire and flame, life will rise again, but the true question remains: who will rule in the end?