Arcadus

205 AE

A plane created by gods who sought refuge from their would-be usurpers. The once barren and lifeless plane has evolved into a world of magic, adventure and intrigue. In the early days, the gods steered the people of the land in their development, in return for their loyalty and reverence.   With this guidance, nomadic settlers began to carve out pieces of the world for themselves. Creating villages/towns and eventually cities of learning, politics and culture. Where once there was war and conflict, now peace had won out. While some gods kept a tight lease around their people's development, others encouraged them to flourish and develop down their chosen path. However, none could see the fall of the crystals.   On a now fateful day 250 years ago, the crystals began to fall from the sky, referred to by scholars as the 'Gods' Tears'. They appeared out of nowhere like shooting stars in the sky, leaving trails of spectacular light behind them. They hit the ground with immense force. At the time, the people were terrified and many cried out for help from their gods. Yet once the dust has settled, the crystals had burrowed into the planet's crust and began to imbue the lands with their essence.   At first, both man and god feared the crystals. Ultimately however the people's curiosity got the better of them. Over time, the people came to realise that the crystals began accelerating and enhancing the mana around the world. Magic that has once been limited now began to flourish and evolve in ways that few could dream of. The fields of medicine, construction, and magic, all accelerated. The scholars refer to the age before the crystals as BE (Before Enlightenment). Citing that the Age of Enlightenment began one year after the crystals fell. The period in between was referred to as the Year of Awakening, the dawn of the new age.   In 5 AE, it was decided that to govern the lands to the West, named Arcadia after the God of Magic, a council of powerful magic users would form the Conclave of Arcadius. These people were highly skilled in magic and were elected based on several qualities. They were rumoured to be able to influence the weave itself to create objects, hold back death and even in some instances create life.   They used this power to extend their own lives and created a golden age for the land of Arcadia. A magical Rennascience had begun. Cities began to harness and use this power.   The gods were undecided on how to approach this recent development. They daren't intervene for fear of repeating the cycle that brought them here. Some of the gods decided to watch over the people of the land. While others decided to walk among the mortal races, experiencing a mortal life for the first time in centuries. New avenues had presented themselves and a bored god will seek any distraction.   One god, in particular, Saradar was terrified that now the evolution of the people of Arcadia was truly out of their control, the cycle of banishment would occur again. He pleaded with the others to support him in his plan to take this power away. Destroy the crystals and ensure the people remained under the thumb. His brothers and sisters did not agree, for the price of destroying the crystals would cost countless millions of lives, plunging the world into an age of destruction and despair. Eventually, the gods rose and combined their power to banish Saradar into a plane where he couldn't fulfil his new vision.   Although Saradars logic and paranoia had passed to some of the mortals who he had guided on Arcadus. The lands to the East of the Caspian Mountains had avoided being struck by the crystals. The people there didn't benefit from the accelerated evolution. In time, they grew to fear what their neighbours to the East had become. They would call their experiments heresy. They condemned the Conclave as heretics. They saw the magic of the crystals as evil and unnatural, preferring to keep to the old ways. To prepare for any future calamities brought on by this newfound devilry, The Saradar Empire was created. This Empire's purpose was to be ready for when the true purpose of these crystals was revealed. Rather than relying on crystal magic to fulfil their goals... they turned to technology. In the years ahead an arms race had begun. Now both great empires stand ready for the future.   It is now 205AE, and the Saladar Empires continue to evolve, as does the land of Arcadia. Only the lifeless swamps of the Bukavac Swamp stand between these two empires. The new world to the West continues to run experiments on the crystals, finding new ways to evolve. The Conclave, while still respected amongst the people, now seeks to aim for loftier goals. Meanwhile, the Skaldar Alliance rose, a merchant republic who have become very wealthy trading with both sides.   The city of Crysarrium, home of the leader of the Conclave, has called a meeting of the other members. They will meet in the coming days, and a new age will begin.   Meanwhile, there are rumours of strange portals opening across the world, both in the East and West. It appears that the Conclaves experiments and the resonance of the crystals have lit a beacon to the other planes. Fey, Devils and Demons have all taken note of this new land. Perfect for exploration, or conquest.   But who will be there to witness it!