Anyria

[Kaden]

Lore

Anyria Lore

Camden, Alanyia, Balron, Tannis, Felnar

Lightning Region – Elmont (Camden)
Fire Region – Forar (Alanyia)
Earth Region – Myrn (Tannis)
Water Region – Hal’lal (Felnar)
Air Region – Latlan (Balron)

Non-magic-region – Amoria

Part One: Arthran D’Elmont

One Thousand years ago, the first magic user was born. A man of incredible power and influence, Athran D’Elmont wielded powers never before heard of. Some hailed him as a god, some as a demon. Regardless of what they thought of him, though, everyone expected great things from him. Truly, the whole of Anyria had their eyes on this single man. D’Elmont, as it turned out, would not let them down.

With seemingly complete control over the elements, Athran could crush mountains, flood lands, or blot out the sun with endless rains. He did none of those things, though. The era into which Athran was born was one of war and conflict. There were no true regions with no true leaders. Mankind was only just learning to mine ore and craft weapons and armor from metal. Whoever was the strongest was the person how gave the orders. Arthran had his sights set on a goal much nobler than conquering a couple of tribes.

In a world where the strongest ruled, a man who could bend the very forces of nature to his will was king. It did not take long at all for D’Elmont to subdue the tribes around him, reigning in the aggressive natures they had known. Athran began to centralize the people under his rule, creating the first true city Anyria had ever known: Vesaria. Soon after the founding of Vesaria, people began coming to D’Elmont without him having to seek them out.

Using his magical powers, Athran was able to provide everything the city needed: running rivers of water, fertile plains for farming, and natural walls of stone for defense. Truly, Athran was every bit the magnanimous man of vision that Anyria needed. Knowing that the people looked to him, Athran took a wife and officially crowned himself King of Anyria. King Arthran and Queen Calmia were equal parts respected and feared, all knowing that their reign was absolute.

Shortly after the birth of Arthran’s only son, Talin, the king received a premonition. Something horrible was poised to strike not only his kingdom, but all of Anyria. A massive crystal, large enough to rend the entire land asunder, would be striking them from the sky. Knowing that such a disaster had to be averted, Athran prepared himself for what was to come.

The crystalline meteor neared Anyria, everyone across the land turning to watch as the scion of destruction blotted out the sky. Drawing out the whole of his magical strength, Athran’s powers cut through the sky, driving into the meteor and crushing it within a maelstrom of magical might. The spell could be seen across all of Anyria in an event that would come to be known as The Shattering.

So powerful a feat did not come without a cost, however. Athran D’Elmont gave his life that day, sacrificing himself. It was said that he passed with a smile on his face, content in his knowledge that the land he had united, his land, would be safe from catastrophe. Small flecks of the crystalline meteor trickled down from the sky, illuminating the land as the glittered in the sun’s light. It was as though Anyria itself was praising the king’s sacrifice.

Part Two: The Divide

While The Shattering had been a miracle for most of Anyria, it had meant destruction for some. Above Vesaria, it looked as though the crystal had been destroyed outright. In fact, significant portions of the crystal had survived Athran’s blast and proceeded towards the land below. In two places did Anyria feel the wrath of the crystal’s descent. One such place was virtually empty, not more than an open plane once inhabited by people that had since moved to Vesaria.

The people of Amoria, however, were struck full-on. The Amorians were a people not unlike those living in Vesaria. They had rallied around a wise and charismatic leader known as Darus. Hearing of Athran’s efforts to unite the land and its people, Darus had set out to do the same. Though he did not possess D’Elmont’s gift of magic, his mind and tongue were more refined than any in the land. Being born into a warring era, though, he was also no stranger to combat. Though his physical prowess was only just above average, when combined with his unique mind, he was second only to Athran himself.

While Darus initially intended to extend good will towards Athran and offer to work towards a common goal together, his pride stayed his offer to the sorcerer-king. He felt that Athran’s role in the world should have been his. Were it not for D’Elmont’s magics, he would be the ruler of the land, for he was just as ambitious and, in actuality, much smarter than D’Elmont. His was a mind and vision forged in strife and tempered by his indomitable will.

Darus’s pride had trickled down to his people, who had chosen to have nothing to do with Vesaria or the self-proclaimed King D’Elmont. There bore no ill-will towards their brethren in Vesaria, but they viewed Athran’s gifts as being handed out while they worked for what they had. While they were never out-right aggressive to the rest of Anyria, that attitude did end up fostering a sense of superiority in the Almorians.

The Shattering would be the most significant event in the history of Almoria. Of the two pieces of crystal that struck the ground, the larger of the two drove itself straight into the heart of Almoria. Most of the population was destroyed by the impact and the land itself was crushed beneath the force. What had once been Almoria was rendered no more than a crater.

Darus himself survived the impact, having set to take more people under his wing. He felt the crystal’s impact and fell to his knees, knowing in his heart he would have no home to return to. When Darus returned and witnessed the destruction that D’Elmont had inadvertently wrought, he did not speak for months. The talents that he had once turned towards building a noble nation began warping, twisted by his anger and hatred for D’Elmont and what he had done.

Part Three: Talin and the White Wall

Decades past after The Shattering with little turmoil. Calma, the reigning Queen had quickly prepared for grabs at the throne, but they never came. It seemed as though Athran’s final act was not saving Anyria, but blessing it with a time of peace. There were arguments and clashes as anyone might expect, but nothing that Athran’s son, Talin, wouldn’t be able to handle.

Just after his twentieth birthday, on the anniversary of The Shattering, Talin was crowned the King of Anyria and it was then that he revealed his magical prowess to the world. Though by no means the mage that his father had been, Talin had been granted powers as his father had and vowed, at his coronation, to use them to lead Anyria to prosperity.

That prosperity, however, would not last long. While the Queen had been working to stabilize the land and ensure Vesaria’s safety, Darus had been gathering followers and building an army. His thirst for vengeance would be sated by nothing less than the blood of D’Elmont’s family. He would see Vesaria crushed beneath his might as Almoria had been beneath Athran’s.

Leading his army north from the crater that had once been Almoria, it was not long before Darus was knocking on Vesaria’s door. His soldiers had crafted crude weapons to siege the city with. Rams of wood and stone struck at the city’s gates. Troops were carried to the top of walls by machines of Darus’s own creation; though little more than boxes on stilts, the machines delivered troops directly into Vesaria.

The Almorian force was significantly smaller than Vesaria’s, but they were strong, well-trained, and fueled by a thirst for revenge. Darus had selected each soldier by hand, choosing the ones who had lost the most from Athran’s careless flaunting of his magical powers. In addition to their drive to be victorious, they had Darus’s mind carefully planning their battles. The Vesaria’s were quickly and decidedly overrun by the Almoria’s brutal tactics and ruthless fighting.

Though he wished to stay and defend the city his father had built, Talin was inexperienced, untrained, and caught completely off-guard. Both the Talin and Calma retreated from Vesaria, taking as many of their people with them as they could. Darus, however, was not interested in letting his prey escape. He was prepared to give chase to the fledgling king and end the D’Elmont line with his own hands.

Talin, though not the magical powerhouse that his father was, turned to meet Darus’s advance. As the two leaders locked eyes, Talin could see the rage and the sorrow that had been building within the man for decades. The years had also worn on the older man; he was no longer the fighter he had once been and though his mind was sharp, his body was overworked and malnourished. He had lived so long for that moment. A small part of the young king was actually pained to take it from him.

As his father had done, Talin steeled himself and called forth the depths of his power. Raising his hands to the sky, the mage felt the ground tremble, moving at his will. Between himself and Darus rose a massive wall. The wall seemed to have been carved from a single piece of a pure white, flawless stone. It extended across the land, father than Talin could see in any direction and over twenty leagues tall.

As exhaustion overtook Talin, he could hear Darus scream in rage from beyond the wall. Though the Almoria may not have claimed the king’s life, he had taken everything D’Elmont had built.

Part Four: New Vesaria

While the fall of Vesaria was a terrible blow to the people of Anyria, and to Talin’s hold on his kingdom, it would eventually be seen as divine guidance. With his magical powers exhausted, Talin found himself barely able to lead his people forward. The creation of the White Wall, a barrier of pure magic-given-form, had taxed both his body and soul and it was showing.

Leading the survivors of Darus’ attack, Talin did all he could to make it appear as though he had any idea where to lead them. The king was doing all he could to place one foot in front of the other, trying to come up with a plan for his people was beyond him. Despite that, he knew his feet moved with purpose. He did not know why, but he felt drawn.

For weeks they wandered, living off the land and doing what they could to survive. A few dozen of the king’s people had escaped. They were afraid and concerned. The king himself was barely able to lead them, let alone fend off an attack of some sort. Just when it seemed like the survivors of Vesaria had given up hope, a beacon of light broke over the horizon.

Sunk deep into the ground was a massive chunk of the meteorite that Athran had destroyed. It’s brilliant glow illuminated the land, as though shining a spotlight on the traveler’s future home. As Talin approached the crystal, he could feel himself becoming invigorated, swelling with the magical energies he had exhausted.

Flexing his magical muscles, the king raised his hands and, with a mighty roar, commanded a castle of stone and earth to rise from the ground. As he cast his spell, the crystal pulsed and the king felt even more invigorated. With a second wave of his hand, the king crafted a series of small houses and, again, the crystal pulsed and rejuvenated him.

The survivors of Darus’ attack stared in awe as, right before their eyes, their king molded a city from the very ground they stood on. It soon became clear to the ruler that the crystal rejuvenated his magical energy and amplified it as well. It seemed like far more than a coincidence that they had found such a powerful site to settle.

Proclaiming the settlement “New Vesaria,” the king and his people turned the city into a thriving metropolis in no time.

Part Five: The Heirs

Generations passed in New Vesaria with few problems. King Talin’s line continued to rule, each generation expanding their sphere of influence. The lands surrounding New Vesaria came to be known as Elmont, a tribute to the first sorcerer-king. The decades passed peacefully as Talin and his descendants used their power to shape Elmont into a lush, verdant utopia for their citizens. Things would not stay peaceful forever, though.

Reports began to trickle into the capital of crops dying and small farms vanishing overnight. The knights of Elmont were sent to validate the rumors, but few returned. Those that managed to make it back to the capital were all but comatose. Only a single knight was able to explain what they saw.

A massive construct of earth and rock was making its way across the landscape, crushing anything and everything in its path. The knights attempted to stop it, but most fell beneath its heel or were swatted over the horizon as though they were no more than insects. It was not too long before the abomination itself was within sight of the New Vesaria. The city trembled both with fear and from the creature's mighty footfalls. The citizens turned to their leaders for security, many of them already preparing for an inevitable end.

During the time of peace that Talin had created, he had enjoyed many luxuries and, as a result, had ended up with several potential heirs to his throne. While there were constantly arguments over who Talin's heir would be, all were in agreement that there were five very strong candidates. Camden, Alanyia, Balron, Tannis, Felnar were all mages of equal renown and power. It was often thought that the only one stronger than any of the five heirs was Talin himself, though even his power would fall against the combined might of his heirs. Each of the five heirs were capable mages, but could control a single element as though it were naught but an extension of their own being. So, when the Construct, as it would later be known, set upon New Vesaria, the city turned to the heirs to stop it.

What, exactly, happened in the battle against the Construct was only ever truly known by the five that fought against it, but echoes of explosions and the rumbling of the very earth shook throughout all of Anyria. For five days the battle raged on until, on the eve of the sixth day, the heirs returned to the city. None of the heirs said anything, neither to each nor the people who gathered to greet them. Their skin had paled and their faces locked in an expression lost somewhere between exhausted and shocked. The five walked through the city, straight to the palace where they rested for only a single night before they announced they would be leaving New Vesaria.

Part Six: Pilgrimage

The heirs returned from their battle with the Construct changed people. They had all been seen as charismatic, out-going leaders, equal parts power and benevolence. Their collective decision to Elmont surprised everyone. The only person who they discussed their decision with was Talin, who could only watch them leave. Though people tried to learn their reasons or even follow them out of the city, they all but vanished as soon as they left the city gates, moving with a speed and determination that could never be matched by the average man.

It would be five years until anyone heard from them again. The king had been far beyond his prime when the heirs had left and by the time they returned, the city was alight with rumors about who would be the next ruler of Elmont. Talin assured his people that there would be no need for concern, a confidence in his voice that the kingdom would be in good hands. Five years later he fell ill and, as it seemed like Elmont would be left without a leader, a single heir returned to the city gates.

Camden, known for his skills with lightning magic, walked through New Vesaria quickly and with purpose. The man looked to have aged many times more than he should have in only five years. He looked not like the prince that had strolled through the streets, talking to the people and using his gifts to help people where he could. There was a determination in his stride that those around him could only guess.

Walking straight into the palace, guards attempted to stop the prince, not recognizing him as he approached. Without breaking his gait, the heir turned his head to the guards, light flashing across his eyes the way a bolt of lightning flashed across a stormy sky. Camden would be the last person Talin saw before passing away the night after his heir arrived. When Camden left his father's chambers, it was with the crown resting firmly on his head. After the procession for the late King Talin, Camden addressed New Vesaria, his voice magically amplified to carry across the entire city.

The world, he told them all, was changing. He had seen it with his brothers and sister when they fought against the Construct. They had spent the past five years traveling across the land, seeing for themselves how nature itself was being warped by the magics that were growing. The Construct, they were warned, would just be the first of many if steps were not taken. He had returned to rule over Elmont while his siblings would settle the other regions of Anyria.

To the East Alanyia would take her fire magic, while Balron, with his command over air, would head South. Those two, known to be the most powerful combatants, would settle the regions near the White Wall. Tannis would use his earth magic to settle the North and Felnar's water magic would be used to inhabit the islands in the West. As Arthran had done, they had set out to unite the people of those lands and cultivate places where the could live in safety. Despite Camden's warnings, it would be years before people realized how right he had actually been.

Part Seven: The Rising

Over two decades passed after Camden took the throne of Elmont. The warnings he issued against the land's distortion continued, but paid them only token attention, having grown accustomed to them. Many believed the king to be overly cautious, traumatized by his encounter with the Construct. The sad would come, however, when he was proven right in his concerns.

Over the horizon, marching towards New Vesaria, people one day spotted a legion of creatures, all fashioned from the earth itself. Though nowhere near the size of the Construct, each creature stood a bit taller than the average man. They lumbered forward, legs of stone and soil carrying them towards the city. The call to alarm was issued and New Vesaria moved to face the coming threat.

Since he had taken up the crown, Camden had begun preparing his soldiers to fight against creatures of magic, not simply other men. Though they had been taught well, there was fear in their eyes as they moved out towards the magical menace. Leading them, though, was Camden himself. Raising his hands high, the king unleashed a mighty roar that washed over the land. As the resounding cry reached the earthen golems, the sky darkened. The air itself seemed to shake, the tension in the air palpable. Suddenly, with a second bellow, the king commanded lightning to rain from the heavens. Bolts crashed to the ground, rending the golems into nothing more than dirt they had risen from. Emboldened by their leaders display, the soldiers of New Vesaria charged forward.

Once again battle raged on for five days. Despite their intimidating appearance and magical origins, the creatures could be felled simply enough with a blade. Their surprising fragility, however, was offset both by their sheer numbers and the strength of their blows. The soldiers that they struck crumpled to the ground, their innards pulped by the power of the creatures. When the last of the creatures fell, though, Camden addressed the city once more.

The other regions had been assaulted similarly, but, like he had done, his siblings had been training their followers to resist the attacks and they had all suspected that none of them would come under the proverbial fire that Elmont would. Despite their victory, though, he warned them to remain vigilant as other attacks would happen. The next few years would not be easy for New Vesaria, but it's people had weathered the worst Anyria had to throw at them and they would weather it once more.

Part Eight: Amoria

The fight raged on for a century, many lives were claimed, but eventually a champion stood and the constructs saw their betters. As mysteriously as they had risen, the constructs stopped rising from the earth. It would be a long time before everyone truly felt at ease. There had been many questions asked about the magical menace that would go unanswered. For years soldiers continued their long patrols of the lands, looking for any sign of an approaching foe. Slowly the troops began marching home, some happy to lay down their weapons, others searching for what to do with the life they had committed to fighting an enemy that no longer existed.

Where soldiers departed from the emptied battlefields, scholars stepped in, eager to examine any remains of the minor constructs. What they found amongst the constructs' crumbled remains would shape the course of Anyria's future in an irrevocable way. Each construct looked to have been powered by a crystal that pulsed with magical energy. The people of Elmont quickly noticed the similarities between these smaller crystals and the one around which New Vesaria had been built. It did not take long for battle grounds to buzz with people looking for these crystals. Many families made small fortunes collecting and selling these crystals for study or simply as trophies to soldiers who had fought on those grounds.

The Heirs, as they were still known, met several times in a short span within the New Vesarian castle. Despite their age, none of them looked over the age of thirty, their lifespans extended dramatically by their magics. Even they, though, did not know exactly what the appearance of the crystals meant, but it was clear to them that the stones would play an important part in the years to come. The discovery of crystals in the mines of Myrn furthered the concern of the Heirs, but their concerns would have to be put on hold by a more pressing matter.

Within Latlan and Forar, reports were rising of raids against the smaller villages. While such reports were not altogether uncommon, both the frequency of the attacks and their proximity to their region's capitol increased. These bands of raiders struck quickly and viciously, devastating the soldiers that stood in their way with unnerving efficiency. It became clear that the raiders were much more than thieves simply looking to capitalize on the calm after the construct's storm. With renewed purpose and zeal, soldiers returned to their patrols around the countryside. Their foes, though, were more than mindless automatons shuffling through the lands. These enemies were cunning and quick.

It was Balron, the Lord of Latlan, that first stepped from his capitol to hunt these enemies. He encouraged his people to spread word of his voyage, intending to use himself as bait. His strategy would work far better than he ever could have guessed. Six days after he set out, his procession was attacked. True to their reputation, they crushed most of the soldiers that guarded Balron. When the Lord stepped from his carriage to greet the enemy, he was shocked to discover that it took no more than a dozen of these warriors to devastate his personal guard. Unleashing his fury against his attackers, Balron would be more shocked to discover that his magic had virtually no effect on them. Seeing their target caught off-guard, they moved in for a quick and decisive kill.

Two weeks after he left the capital, Balron returned. Bloodied and beaten, the Lord returned on foot, his entire entourage destroyed in the fight with his assailants. Dragging behind him, he had managed to bring with him the broken body of one of his attackers. The attacker was quickly determined to be an Amorian. Their size and stature were more intimidating than Latlan's finest warrior. Truly, the Amorian seemed to have been honed to physical perfection. Balron quickly sent word to his brothers and sisters that Amorians were somehow crossed the White Wall and that they were all but immune to his magic.

Not long after Balron's return, more Amorians were sighted in the lands of Latlan and Forar. There was little time to worry about how or why they were suddenly appearing after generations of exile behind Talin's White Wall. The two regions guarding the Wall were quickly thrown into chaos as more and more Amorians attacked. It was often, and rightly, referred to as an invading army. Without their leader's supreme powers to back them, soldiers took to the defense without the confidence that they had grown accustomed to. Fortunately, it would not be the Heirs that lent their magic to the war.

Part Nine: The Mage Wars

The five worked together to fight back the Amorians as effectively as possible. Latlan and Forar were used as training grounds for any able-bodied soldier, teaching them how to combat the Amorian's superior physical prowess and guerrilla tactics. Though the Amorians were thought to possess the strength of two or three soldiers, they were far from invincible. Latlan and Forar became countries of war, their citizens dedicated to serving the soldiers directly. The mines of Myrn overflowed with miners, all of them knowing how important the ore and minerals they mined were to outfitting the people fighting to keep them safe. Trade routes were quickly established between Mryn, Latlan, and Forar.

With most of their younger citizens devoted to fighting back the Amorians, Elmont and Hal'lal did what they could to study their enemy. Reports of enemy activities poured into Elmont, whose strategists analyzed how the Amorians move, attacked, and fought. While most of Anyria had their sights set on the war with Amoria, Hal'lal had not turned their attention away from the mysteries of the crystals. It was the scholars of Hal'lal that would truly turn the tides of the war. Many mocked them as they suddenly appeared on the frontlines, old men and women wearing the robes of scholars without weapons or armor.

Though the Amorians preferred quick strikes against vulnerable targets, enough of them had crossed the White Wall to make camps a necessity. Those camps would be the target of the scholars' attack. Two dozen of Hal'lal's citizens crossed the lines, approaching the enemy camps with easy, measured steps. The plains of Forar was the perfect spot for them to demonstrate what they had discovered. From within their robes, they produced crystals taken from fallen constructs. Raising them high, the scholars themselves began to glow with an unearthly energy. The ground beneath the camp began to churn and, in an instant, a gaping maw opened in the earth, swallowing the entire camp and anyone who had been in it. They were certain that such magic wouldn't work directly against the Amorians, but it didn't need to.

News quickly spread throughout Anyria. What were once trophies and baubles became sources of immense power. As more and more Anyrians learned to wield the power of the crystals, the Amorians pulled back across the White Wall. They had been prepared to deal with five mages, not a country full of them. It seemed like, overnight, the war had been won. The victory, however, was eclipsed by the proliferation of magic in the world. People went from talking about how to fight to how to study, which crystals were best, and what kind of spells they would love to master. Everything had changed.

It turned out that not everyone carried with them the ability to harness the crystals' power. It was never clear why some could use magic and some could not, but soon everyone hoarded whatever crystals they could find or buy. Lives were dedicated to how magic should be used or studied and, as is often the case, disagreements about the use of magic began to crop up. Alarmingly, people abused the power they gained, lording their strength over those who were numb to the crystals.

Fights began to break out between mages. Some saw themselves as righteous vigilantes, some were driven by greed, others were just looking for a good fight. Spells flew about Anyria, virtually unchecked. Law keepers without any magical prowess could do nothing to stop the acts of violence. It quickly became clear that the use of magic would have to be regulated. There would have to be some way to monitor the use of crystals and the casting of spells. The Heirs convened once more to discuss what they could do.

Part Ten: The Council

Though many had gained magical powers, none had challenged the Heirs. They knew, though, it was only a matter of time before someone set their sights on a throne. The answer the Heirs came up with was a council, a governing body, free from the influences of the regions. They themselves would comprise its members, taking in mages they could trust to subdue those who would misuse magic. Not only would the Council monitor the use of magic, they would oversee the sale and distribution of crystals as they were mined from the earth.

The Heirs themselves would be the Grand Council, having the final say in any and all matters relating to magic, their authority deemed absolute. Almost all of Anyria trusted their wisdom and guidance. They were also known for being fair. Though they were all siblings, they hardly saw eye-to-eye on everything. Directly beneath the Grand Council would be a High Council of fifteen members. Each Heir hand-selected three mages to represent them in the High Council, which would be responsible for directing day-to-day operations. In most cases, the High Council would have the final word on issues, the Heirs having countries to run in addition to their duties to the Council.

It was a rough start for the Council, many wanting to challenge it's authority and many more questioning their initially brutal methods of dealing with those that stood against them. The Grand Council were weary of a heavy-handed approach, but magic was a powerful, new, and unpredictable element in potential revolts. The Mage Wars refer to the period of years in which the Council solidified its authority over all things magic. Many tried to resist them and virtually all failed. Backed by the raw power and authority of the Heirs, standing up to the Council was, to most, the same as throwing one's life away.

Though founding the Council ended up being an arduous task, it presented a unique opportunity for those learning magic under its guidance. The bulk of the Council were mages willing to help teach those who sought them out. People were not forbidden from studying or practicing magic, but were warned to simply do so cautiously. The formation of Council had ushered in a period where many struck out to unlock their potential in world of magic.