The Fade: an Introduction

Though Aversill is the name of the current human colony on the continent of Phemerhon, it is clear that something once called this place their home as well. Throughout the entire colony and especially on the Sentinel Plain are scattered hints and remnants of a vast and powerful civilization that was, during one catastrophe or another, ground nearly to dust. That race, whatever they might have been, seems to have been swallowed from the face of the Earth. Now all that remains of their physical likeness are the statuary that occasionally survives whatever disaster that destroyed the race.
Antiquarians refer to these beings as Phemerhonians, but most other refers to these creatures as the faded ancestors or simply the fade. In appearance, they seem to be human in their build but in all statuary appear emaciated and often bent into positions which would be otherwise unnatural for humans. All figures in face statuary are lacking in hair. Because of the devastation of Fade civilization, it is impossible to tell the scale of the race. Fade architecture often seems gargantuan by human standards (for instance, the Denzibal Temple in Streckhorn or the Asternil Gate in Starfell) but other examples of the style suggest human proportions. Experts debate the proportions in relation to the Fade as some antiquarians suggest that the Fade may have had slave races—especially the Dwarves, Orcs, and Goblins who call Phemerhon their ancestral home. Thus the human sized architecture pertains to these races. Others disagree, seeing the Fade as ancestral to one (in not all three) of these races.
Unfortunately, so far at least, divination acts offer no help in discovering the true nature of the Fade. The last catastrophe seems to mark a stopping point beyond which no mortal eye can look. If the gods know the true nature of the Fade, they are silent on the subject. One source that is rumored to have achieved some success is the use of remnant magic. However, as such magic is dangerous, and opens one up to powers beyond the scope of sanity, few are willing to risk their lives or minds to pursue information on this subject. As such information is branded heretical and those who do return with secrets are often reticent to share. One of the rumors circulated throughout the Sentinal Plain (and believed as gospel truth in Streckhorn) is that Codphetomus, the Fade God represented by the Codphetumus Statue in Streckhorn can still be contacted through rituals known to only a select few.
Of all areas of human settlement, nowhere have Fade ruins been so well preserved as in Streckhorn. Indeed the great unnamed Fade city has for the most part simply been repopulated by the citizens of Aversill in order to found Streckhorn. Structures have been built only where old structures have completely decayed. Thus, the great tier and tower system is a remnant of the Fade as is the great statue of Codphetomus and the six gargantuan statues of unnamed Fade Gods that flank the central colossus. Streckhorn itself accounts for roughly a third of the above ground ancient city and none of its tunnel system which the Streckhorn government closes off, as a rule, through engineered collapses.
In addition to the tiers and statues, Streckhorn is also surrounded by what remains of a great wall radiating five miles out from the city center. Near its extremities, the wall still exists some 200 feet high where it is anchored to the mountain face. Most of the wall has been reduced to ruin or covered over with time. Streckhorn scholars believe that the “hill country” particular to the Streckhorn region of the Sentinel Plain is made up of stone from this gargantuan construction.