Blood is Magic

We once had a civilization.  Built on our ingenuity and stubborn pride, we had conquered the stars themselves.  There was nothing we could not accomplish if we all put our minds towards one goal.

And then the Change came.  Science could not explain it - indeed, our machines failed and our knowledge proved useless to us.  Though we could adapt, the Change was too quick and too deep.  Our civilization could not withstand so great a Change.  We fell - squabbling amongst ourselves for the ruins of our once-great cities.

We fought.  We fought as we always had.  We fought for our families, for our countries, for ourselves.

But it was not enough.  The Change was too great.

We fled the surface with the wild New Laws that wracked it.  We were many but our tools and our ways were broken.  We fled downwards from the surface - into great caverns carved by forgotten ways, the last redoubts of our ancient forebearers.  And slowly - one by one - those caverns fell silent until only the Great Cavern remained.  Our Cavern.  Our home.

We grew strong once more, fed on the ancient tales of our once-great people.  We accepted those of our people who wandered into our caves with open arms, leaving past grudges behind and learning what we could of the lands forever locked away from us.  We grew numerous once more and enlarged our homes.  We learned of the New Science and how to tame the numerous Elements.  We felt great once more.

But the Law remains.  None may leave.  None may test the strength of the surface world and the Children Races that now populate it.  None.  And for a hundred thousand centuries, that Law has remained unbroken - by force, by ennui, by will.

Until now.