As long as it is known, dwarves and elves have wandered the lands. The dwarves dwelled in the mountains, with their seat of power in the underground city of Kheg Kohldur, where the majestic forges burn day and night. In the mythical forests, the elves would reign. Anybody unpure of heart trying to reach the ivory towers of the elven city E'hathas would be forever lost.

This harmony would not last, as an event called the Arrival changed the perfect equilibrium forever. Flying through the Void, dragons came to this world. Carrying on the backs were races so far unheard of. Carrying humans, gnomes, and halflings, the dragons set down. Where they landed, the dragons forged the city of Arannar, the Obsidian City, as a new home for these races.

The gnomes sought out the original inhabitants of the world, and learned about how to be connected to the essence of the world - Anima, or Breath. Over years, mutual respect built up between the races. Halflings just did their thing, smoking pipes and watching fireworks. Humans spread across the lands quickly. Cities rose up, and populations increased quickly. It didn't take long for humans to become the most populous of all races.

Led by the ambitions of chromatic dragons, humans started to displace the Elder races. Their exact origins unknown, mentions of dragonborn start showing up in the literature in this era. War (The Draconic War) broke out with humans, dragonkin, and chromatic dragons on one side, and elves and dwarves on the other. Halflings remained out of the conflict, and while the gnomes were officially neutral, sympathisers for both sides of the war could be found among them.

A delegation of dwarves and elves gathered to travel towards the metallic dragons to remind them of the pact Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon, had made many years ago to ensure peaceful coexistence. They intervened, stopping the war. As a token of repentance, both the elves and dwarves were given an object of immeasurable value, the very nature of which remains a mystery even until today. Seeing the harm the chromatic dragons had done on the world, the Covenant was made forcing all dragons to leave.

Many dragonborn were left behind, and without masters to serve, they retreated from (human) society into their own cultures. Humans split in four major factions:

• The northern Obsidian Empire, believing their government was the only one legitimately instated by the dragons (roman style nobility, classical western middle ages otherwise).
• The steppe nomads, notably absent from global power plays (tribal, mongolian influences).
• The southern dynasties and the free city states, who recognised the ambitions of the chromatic dragons early and largely remained uninvolved. They have a strong sense of honour (bushido) and are leaders in trade (east asian, primarily japanese influences).
• The eastern nation states (to be developed :P).

As centuries passed, trade and travel between the peoples improved. While relations are by no means friendly, it is not hostile either. Large human cities usually host representatives from all races, but dragonborn have remained in relative isolation and remain a rare sight.