As you probably knew, yesterday was the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Let us have a moment of silence.

Now... I will begin.

On modern Earth, the inevitable happened. World War III. But it was instigated by stealthy and subtle measures... Instigated by the Archfiend and his minions, the Fiends. Ok, let's back up a bit...

On another planet, many years ago, there existed many creatures. There also existed a powerful energy force that imbued some of the vegetables, minerals, and other parts of the planet. There were many kinds of energy, each unique. But they could all be put under one umbrella term.

Magic.

Animals of various kinds ingested or otherwise absorbed the magic, forming a race of intelligent and powerful creatures known as the Seikilos. The offspring of the Seikilos were heavily influenced by the magic during their development and growth, making them fully transform into creatures of magic themselves at the age of a thousand years. Some of these Seikilos were mild and gentle, or wild and adventurous. It all depended on the very nature of the magic indwelling them.

And there was one species that was belligerent, warlike, and on top of that gifted with powerful fire and shadow magic. They were the Archfiends. Although not evil as a rule, many of them gave into their wilder and more animalistic instincts and made war on their brethren. For this they were banished, every single one, regardless of personal crimes, to a realm separate from the rest of them.

Well, almost every single one. There was one left... A Seiki that was shielded by his friend, another Seiki of a separate species. The Archfiend Seiki had no name, as was the custom of his species, but the Seiki that protected him from her elders was named Anghael. She warned him to flee and hide from the wrath of the Seikilos, and so he fled to caves deep in the heart of the planet.

There the darkness of his nature was compounded by forces even more ancient and devious than his own lineage, and finally he came into his full power, once he reached a thousand years of age. He gathered his power, and fled through the universe looking for another hospitable world.

Not far away was what was once a perfect world, although since fallen it was called Earth.

Born of the sheer hatred and malice in the Archfiend's heart was born the Fiends, a race of pure evil, sinewy, clawed monsters. Through their subtle guile they put fear and anger into the hearts of Earth's leaders, and before long the third war that encompassed the whole world was unleashed.

During this time a small group of researchers had just finished their greatest invention- a ship that could support life for easy and simple travel to other planets. As news was broadcast of powerful missiles being sent to destroy their country, the scientists made a frantic escape from their planet.

The missiles landed, and most of the world's population was destroyed. The governments were in shambles.

And it was at this time the Archfiend and the Fiends took control. They enslaved the remnants of humanity and forced them to work, building up an empire. Ironically, it was the only time all of humanity had been united under peace with one another.

***

After several years, the small spacecraft found a hospitable planet! They landed (read crashed) and exited. An even greater miracle- the air, atmosphere, and gravity were absolutely perfect! And they were greeted by strange creatures... Some humanoid, and some not... The leaders, a race that looked like angels from heaven, acted as spokesmen. And though they could not understand the words, the humans could clearly hear the meaning in their minds.

***

Some more years passed on Earth. The world, weakened by this alien magic so foreign to it,and by the devastating warfare years before, was starting to deteriorate. Eventually the world was at a point where it might collapse any day! Humanity rose up and overthrew the Fiends which held them captive, but sparing the Archfiend who promised them that he could save them all.

But the evil and craft nature of the Archfiend was still as strong as ever, and he knew very well what to whisper into their hearts to make them believe him, to make them think they had won. And he knew very well just where it was that he transported the only surviving continent of Earth to.

***

The Continent merged with the part of the planet known to its inhabitants as the Wastelands. Memories and echoes of Humanity's history had survived among the descendants of the humans and the Angels, as the leader species of the Seikilos were called by those emigrants long ago. A sort of feudal system had come about over many years, echoing that of earth's history but mixed with knowledge of modern technology.

The Wastelands were deserts of barren land, filled with bandits, cactuses, sand, and monsters. But until the Archfiend and his people came, it belonged to Alteria. Then it was known as the Meinlands, the earthlings' word for Wastelands. And the newcomers themselves, warped by magic, were called by themselves the Sheim'n, the Abominations. No sooner had they arrived but the Archfiend wrought his magic and physical form once more, making them think he was one of them.

And the Outsiders and Royalists fought each other. The Outsiders, hardened and dark from generations of service to twistedly evil masters, fought viciously against these selfish attackers who plagued them shortly after their having fled from a dying world.

And the Royalists fought what they believed to be a just and righteous battle against these evil invaders.

This is the backstory of Alteria Online.

SO: All the races of AO are descended from Humanity. The Seikilos festival still happened, and so the Seikilos are all dead. >:-}

But the Archfiend is trying to get revenge on all the Seikilos and so has the Outsider army stop the festival. There is an 'ancient language' called English that only the wise people know how to read or speak. All the races speak bar-barish, etc.