Evermore (or Evermor[1]) is a land of magic and a haven realm for Elves that is separate from the Blessed Continent.
History[]
Background[]
The Elves of the Blessed Continent regarded Evermore as a mythical promised land[2][3] to which they would travel to upon leaving the affairs of the Blessed Continent. When Inioch was crown emperor of the Elven Kingdom, the preeminent power of the Blessed Continent, his father retired to Evermore, leaving Inioch to rule the Continent.[1] Evermore was regarded by Elves of the Continent as a realm of paradise,[4] as well as a place of power.[5]
The Elves of the Blessed Continent balanced their newborns by those who passed beyond to Evermore.[6] Thus, Evermore provided a means for population control on the Continent. Evermore was also a ceremonial destination for deceased members of the royal house. When Inioch's first wife died, her body was taken to Evermore.[1]
In addition to being a haven for Elves, Evermore was also the location of the Circle of Wizards, which governed the spheres of magic for thousands of years.[7]
Inioch's reign[]
During Inioch's reign, the Highmen expected Inioch and the Elves of his kingdom to depart for Evermore once Humans arrive on the continent. The Elves leaving for Evermore would enable the Humans, who are soon to arrive on the Blessed Continent, to settle and thrive freely. The Highmen expected the Elves to depart in accordance with an old covenant between them and the Elves. However, Inioch and his Elves grew fond of the Blessed Continent, and refused to leave for Evermore.[8]
When the Humans finally arrived, Inioch refused to depart for Evermore. Instead, he attempted to assimilate the Humans as subjects. This failed, and resulted in the destruction of the Elven Court and Inioch's kingdom, as well as his own death.
According to legends, there was once a time in which Elves had many gates to Evermore. After the fall of the Elven Court, the only path from Blessed Continent to Evermore was through the Isle of Last Goodbyes. Reaching Evermore requires traveling by ship past the Isle of Last Goodbye,[2] and through what is described as a "misty passage" in the sea.[9][10]
The Keepers-Cult wars[]
During the wars between the Keepers and the Cult of Storms, Evermore became viewed by many Elves as the only hope to survival in a world soured against its first caretakers.[6] Following the assassination of Queen Elwyn's, Inioch's return as an Undead lich, and the appearance of a bloody star over the Valley of Wonders, a large number of Elves on the Blessed Continent began traveling to the Isle of Last Goodbye with the intention to depart for Evermore.[2] Due to the intervention of the Keepers on the Isle, many Elves who arrived there experience a change of heart, vowing to fight for the Keepers to retake the Valley of Wonders.[11]
Trivia[]
- The specific geographical relationship between Evermore and the Blessed Continent, and whether the two are different continents on the same planet, was left ambiguous in Age of Wonders (1999), which only refers to the use of a sea route to reach Evermore.
- The developers have stated that the lore of the first Age of Wonders game was inspired by Tolkien legendarium.[12] While there is no known developer commentary on the story inspirations of Evermore specifically, the story concept of Evermore resembles that of Valinor in Tolkien's works. In Tolkien's works, Valinor was a land to which Elves would travel to upon departing from Middle Earth, and is accessible through a special sea route after Aman, the continent in which Valinor is located, was physically removed from the mortal world's seas.
- In Age of Wonders (1999), Evermore is similarly a sanctuary land for Elves that is accessible by a sea route. In Age of Wonders II, the role of Evermore in the lore of the series was expanded to be the home of Wizards. This concept also has similarities to Tolkien legendarium, in which wizards has origins tied to Valinor.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The History of the Valley of Wonders
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Outcome text for the The Safelands (campaign scenario): "With the bloody star, the loss of their queen, and now the spread of pestilence which blights their verdant forest-lands, the Elves go to an island. From this "Isle of Last Goodbyes," they believe to sail to a mythical sanctuary called "Evermore.""
- ↑ Introductory story text for Invasion (campaign scenario): "While the Elves prepare to migrate to their promised Evermore, this monstrous king has sent his legions to sever the safe passages through the tangled woodlands."
- ↑ Introductory narrative text for Last Goodbye (campaign scenario): "Evermore awaits, but before the reward of paradise, the Elves face the possibility of death."
- ↑ Outcome text for Upon the Rocks of Sacrifice.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "About the Elves" text in the Keepers campaign: "Legend speaks of a time when Elves had many gates to their haven realm of Evermore, but now only the Isle of Last Goodbyes remains. In days when death was unknown, the Elves balanced the newborn by those who passed beyond to Evermore. Now, Evermore is viewed by many Elves as the only hope to survival in a world soured against its first caretakers."
- ↑ Age of Wonders II story description on the official site: "You are in the land of Evermore, where the Circle of Wizards has governed the spheres of magic, all magic, for thousands of years."
- ↑ Developer commentary by Raymond Bingham of Triumph Studios: "THe Elves were supposed to leave the Blessed Continent after the Reign of Inioch. That's what was known as the Covenant between the High Men and the Elves. The High Men found the world that the Elves changed into a habitable place. In exchange for other worlds the Elves and High men have worked together for eternities. But the Elves of the Blessed Continent fell in love with their creation, and refused to leave it."
- ↑ Story text for Death 3 in Age of Wonders II: "Centuries past, the Elves took ships to Evermore, past some Isles in the mists of the sea. Meandor knows the way. He insists upon joining me on the voyage to Evermore."
- ↑ Outcome text for the scenario Last Goodbye: "They look to Evermore with as much anticipation as the pilgrims arriving daily. As I watch the ships disappear behind the coils of that misty passage, I wonder if we will see them again."
- ↑ Outcome text for Last Goodbye (campaign scenario).
- ↑ Lennart Sas (Apr 24, 2023). "Guest article: learn more about Age of Wonders 4 from series’ director Lennart Sas!" GOG.com.