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Beneath what mortals call the ‘real world’ is the Twilight. And the Twilight can only be accessed by the Others.
Long, long ago, the Others were humans like any other, but they extended their magical abilities beyond mortal means, and became capable of stepping into the Twilight – where the magic of the world can be seen, and the Others begin to take their true shape. However, an Other can only survive in the Twilight for so long unless she has great strength and power beyond classification – otherwise, the Twilight will feed off an Other’s magic until there is none left and they are consumed, becoming lost to the mortal world above. Still, there are tales of the greatest wizards and sorceresses who made homes in the Twilight, who were able to live within its depths for years without losing themselves – or their mind.
The Others are divided into the Light and Dark – both have existed as long as there have been Others. The Light believe in the goodness of humanity, in helping the weak and powerless. The Dark believe humanity is selfish, and do what they will, looking out for no one but themselves and those to whom they may feel loyalty. It is said that the emotional state when an Other first enters the Twilight will determine the ‘side’ she will choose, and the powers she will borrow from the Twilight. Though it is said that the choice between Light and Dark is a personal one, when an Other is initiated as part of the Watches, each may try to steer the new recruit to their preferred outlook. The choice is final – usually.
Millenia passed with the sides locked in a war with no end, both willing to use any means necessary to achieve victory. When they realized the war would destroy both Light and Dark entirely, the leaders of both sides forged The Grand Treaty, a set of laws governing the way the Others use their powers. The Light created the Night Watch, and the Dark created the Day Watch, each ensuring the other would not violate the Treaty – while each tried to find loopholes to continue their war in the shadows. The Inquisition, composed of both Dark and Light Others known to be both powerful and ‘neutral’, was created to arbitrate. Since the signing of the Treaty, the Night Watch and the Day Watch have monitored and surveilled one another ceaselessly, diligently policing every violation. The leaders continue to make their plans, centuries old, using humanity and weaker Others as their pawns. The war continues, and no one wins.