Historical Record #
The Loxodon we see today weren’t just born into the world fully formed. Their story is a slow, powerful current that stretched across thousands of years. Their ancestors, the great elephants, walked the wide, open land that people now call Astraea. Every year was a pilgrimage, a massive, instinct-driven journey following the life-giving promise of water. What they never realized was that this essential water, the stuff of their survival, was filled with a deep, silent celestial energy. It was the leftover essence, a cosmic breath from the being that first sparked life into the planet. This essence bled up from the planet’s heart into the very streams and pools they drank. It was this constant, measured exposure—a daily, vital dose—that began to slowly, invisibly change them, deep in their very blood, over countless generations.
This infusion of magic, quiet but relentless, gave the elephants something new: a sharper mind. Their simple calls became a complex language, and their already incredible memories turned into perfect, unshakable records of everything. The bonds between them, always strong, grew into something profound, like one huge, sprawling family. Historians would later call this long period the Age of Nomadic Herds. As their minds collectively sharpened and they became truly sapient, the wisest among them—the elders—started to intentionally pass down knowledge and traditions. It was in the dust and heat of the migration paths that the first fragile threads of a real, conscious community began to weave together.
What began as just a better memory and a tighter herd bond blossomed into complex problem-solving, sophisticated conversation, and a towering sense of self. All these small shifts were happening at once, driving them toward what they are now. The Matriarchs, already the most respected of the herds, were the first to truly grasp the potential sitting inside them. They didn’t just recall the old seasonal routes; they started staring at the patterns of the stars and seeking the deeper, hidden meaning in their endless lives. This long evolution also saw their massive bodies straighten, their stance becoming more upright, and their limbs gaining a new, careful dexterity. Their trunks, once just for grabbing food, became sensitive tools, able to hold objects and trace out complex ideas in the dirt. This entire, slow transformation taught the Loxodon a profound, core lesson: the value of patience and the slow, inexorable march of time.
Eventually, their wandering ceased. They learned sophisticated ways to grow their own food and, with that stability, the need to chase the seasons vanished. They began to build permanent homes. The nation itself grew from scattered groups of elders meeting when necessary into one strong, unified body they called Ashta, the Matriarchal Council that blossomed under their wise, collective care. With the security of their new settlements came an explosion of thought and culture. Their deep spiritual connection to the cosmos, which had been developing for ages, finally found a name: The Herd-Mother. They looked up at the vast, terrifying, beautiful skies of Astraea and, using their flawless memories, started to map every star, every known path of light. This love for the heavens drove them toward a massive invention: glassmaking. They dug the fine, smooth sand from old riverbeds and taught themselves how to melt and shape it. This work created the first telescopic lenses, allowing them to stare deeper into the blackness than anyone before. It was this stunning achievement that cemented their place as master astrologists and artisans.
They called this era the Age of Insight. It was a time of grand, sweeping construction—magnificent observatories and libraries carved directly from solid stone, filled wall-to-wall with shining, intricate glass lenses. These towering libraries, overseen by a dedicated group of scholars and scribes, became the beating heart of Loxodon society. They held everything: their celestial maps, their long history, their deep philosophical thoughts, and all their artistic traditions. The founding of a great university ensured this treasure of knowledge would never be lost, passed down to every new generation, solidifying the Loxodon’s core truths of wisdom, community, and enlightenment.
Present Day Details #
Founded: 1490 AR
Capitol City: Aaru
Citizen Population: 2,393,281
Government Type: Matriarchal Elder Council
Leadership:
Language/Name influences: Ancient Egyptian, African, Loxodon
