Unpolished Gems: A Concept Collection

Welcome to the Tigerspine Academy of Science and Technology. My name is Professor Chui, and I will be your teacher for World History 101. Let's jump in right away, with the most important event of all.

Three thousand years ago, on the plains of Afrika, there lived a mighty lioness. Her name was Onye Nzọpụta, and she was no ordinary feline, for she was one of the most powerful mages in the world, and had the power to talk to humans.

But humans are just a fairytale! I thought this was world history, not mythology.

If you would let me continue, mister Asher, is it? You'll find that things are much more complicated than you can imagine. Now be quiet, please.

The alliance between Onye's pride and the human tribe was a rare thing in those days, due to the war. The humans were fearful of magic, and the animals were angry with the destruction and pollution caused by technology.Thus the two sides fought bitterly, struggling to control the earth and it's precious resources.

Magic? Really? This has got to be some kind of joke! Is this the academy's form of hazing? Cuz it's stu—

Yes class, mister Asher is now a tree. Anyone else who wants to be a tree for the remainder of the lesson can interrupt me as well. No more outburts? Good.

Year after year, the war raged on, laying waste to the planet. Finally, The humans and animals faced off, each using their most powerful and destructive weapons on each other, rendering the world inhospitable to life. Onye Nzọpụta saw that the only way for both the animals and humans of her domain to survive was to join together. The mages and engineers worked together to create amazing machines, capable of protecting their cities and farms from the deadly radiation left over from the war, and eventually reversing the damage.

For some odd reason, the sharing of magic and technology between the two species triggered a biological change. The pride began to stand on two legs, and gained human characteristics, and the humans grew fur, claws, and fangs. Now that the once very different allies were so similar, that they decided to simply call themselves the Wajoyina. They made a pack to become one people, with the goal of healing their injured planet.

And that is how our wonderful kingdom of Zaman Lafiya was founded. Any questions class? Yes, miss Primdrop.

If we still use magic nowadays, how come it's not common knowledge?

For the same reason we don't rely on much technology. To avoid another war. Since neither is a large focus in our society, we will hopefully not fall into the same trap as our ancestors, fearing those with a different power than our own. By using magic or technology only where needed, we both save resources and the environment. Does everyone understand?

Yes Professor Chui.

Great, I'll see you all tomorrow for our next lesson.