The Mage Lords:

No one knows for sure where the Mage Lords originally came from, but it is known that they did not originate in this world. Some things have been hypothesized, but many facts have been gleened from them over the years to bring a basic history of their rise to power.

They originate from a world outside this one, one of those many planes of existance that would be considered Prime. They were struggling with other Magi in this world for dominance of it. This struggle reigned for several centuries, and in the end the Mage Lords were defeated.

They were given the choice of death or exile, and many of them chose death. But those few who chose exile were stripped of their power (in the hopes of their death) and great magics were worked to send them into exile in another world, a harsh world, one where survival would be at a minimum.

But they were wrong. They ended up on the Eastern shores of Meth'iir's largest continent. It has been rumored that they were to be placed on the Continent of the Dragon Lords, but none have been able to enter there using magic for thousands of years.

Even as they arrived, their few followers that remained, and a few others of insubordinate nature, were sent behind them, arriving as they had.

They immediately began to take control, but were thwarted by others when it was learned they had no real power left. Thus, the Warlords arose first, making life as miserable for the Mage Lords as possible. This resentment would flower as time passed, for the Mage Lords harbored one last power that they concealed from the Warlords: They remained young.

Even as the Warlords fought and began conquering territories, the mages began the single task of finding a way to return their powers. They still retained extremely long life, and by moving constantly from one Warlord to another, they were able to keep this secret fro many years.

Finally, after much war and conquest, they found the key to returning their powers. It was a slow, grueling process that transformed their bodies (and some say their minds), but they were once again able to take their place as the masters of men in Meth'iir. In a single night they destroyed 10,000 men and no less than 50 of the greatest Warlords.

The others were quickly enslaved, and put under the yoke of those Warlords who were left alive, and plans were made to begin the conquest of the Dwarven realms to the east, to fulfill their prophecy of domination.