The Great Machine

A reference to an Ancient device, legends of the Great Machine still flow freely among treasure hunters and academics who study the Ancients. While there are many interpretations of what it is, the most common belief is that it once powered one of the great floating cities of the Ancients. It provided all the mystical arcane energy needed to keep the city aloft as well as the energies used for the day to day living and defense of the city. Additionally, some speculate that it was also used for arcane research and even alchemical transmutation.
While legends speak of many of these cities once flying the skies, during the Great War, all of these wonders were destroyed and crashed to the earth beneath. The locations of the crashed cities were lost during the end of the War, when much of the old civilizations were swept away and only tales and rumors survived. Some say that the capital of Illyria was built upon the ruins of one such city. Other stories tell of hidden valleys in the Temat range hiding the remains of these wonders. The most likely resting place of one of the great cities though are the swamps to the south of Berringar along the border with Moraat.
Over the last 20 years, treasure hunters and mercenaries have returned from the jungle surrounding the swamps bearing relics from the Ancient civilization. These artifacts have been drawing increasing attention from the Empire and the Kingdom of Moraat in recent years and some worry that it may spark border conflicts between the two powers. Still, the Empire in particular seems to be avoiding moving any sizable military force into the area and leaving the collection of relics to freelance adventures and members of the Adventurers' Guild.