The True People
The True People are a highly advanced, secret human society that survived the apocalyptic Soulsundering by taking refuge deep underground. Founded and led by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (known to the surface world under the alias Jalnab), the True People dedicated centuries to advancing human technology in order to protect humanity from the magical threat posed by the elven race.
History and Origins
The group's origins trace back to the T.C.B.S. (Tea Club and Barrovian Society), an organization John formed with his friends at King Edward's School before the Sundering. After John fell in love with an elf named Edith (Lúthien), he was murdered by an untalented elf. Through this death, he briefly entered the realm of the Twins, became a human Prime Mage, and returned to life.
Realizing the immense danger elves and their magic posed to humanity, John reformed his society, inviting only the smartest and most successful human minds while strictly excluding all elves. Knowing they could not fight the impending magic of the Sundering, they retreated underground to survive, establishing a sprawling, high-tech subterranean city named Gondor.
Culture and Deception
While the surface-dwelling human survivors (the Remnant) appeared primitive and scavenged for survival, the True People actively orchestrated this deception to keep the elves from realizing humanity's true threat. John invented the "Low Remnant" language—a fabricated dialect designed specifically to confuse the elves—and hid humanity's capabilities behind a facade of squalor and ignorance.
Technology
Safe in the subterranean stronghold of Gondor, the True People spent three hundred years advancing human science far beyond pre-Sundering levels. Because they had no way to counter magic, they focused entirely on technological superiority. They mastered matter transference via quantum entanglement, neutrino bombardment, high-intensity lasers, and matter/antimatter reactions. They also developed highly advanced life-extension therapies, allowing members like John and his inner circle to live for hundreds of years while still appearing in their prime.
The Escape Module
When the Cothellon elves began constructing the floating sky cities, the True People secretly infiltrated their construction teams. They manipulated the floor plans of the Under, creating vast, inaccessible "mystery rooms" that took up nearly half of the lower city infrastructure.
Inside these unmapped spaces, they secretly built the Escape Module, a massive evacuation and weapons system designed to detach from the cities in hundreds of segments. The module was equipped with stasis pods containing acceleration gel, allowing it to safely transport abducted human Citizens through high-gee spaceflight to another planet in the event of an emergency. Over time, as the True People prepared to fight the Cothellon, they outfitted these flying segments with advanced particle weaponry and maneuverability.
Key Events
The Battle Against the Imprisoner
When the ancient Cothellon leader Orym (the Imprisoner) claimed the power of Xyclami and became an unchecked, godlike threat, the True People finally revealed themselves to the world. John activated the Escape Module, splitting the Unders of the sky cities apart into thousands of crescent-shaped flying fragments. The computer-controlled constellation of machines unleashed a barrage of energy beams against Orym. Simultaneously, the ground near the Remnant city of Lusvunub split open to reveal Gondor below, allowing Defense Chief Jefferson to deploy massive war vehicles known as Destroyers into the fight.
A New Era
Following the permanent deactivation of magic by Tarathiel, the True People officially emerged from hiding. With the magical threat to the planet removed, they offered their advanced technology to help rebuild the surface world, integrating peacefully with both the Remnant and the elves of Pano Sylrantheas. John also recruited the former underkid leader Dill (Dillon) into their ranks, giving him a leadership position to help guide their newly expanded society.