The Torn Tapestry & Colorless Flame

“For the tribes of mortals could not agree. Strife arose and the leaders of each side pulled the Tapestry to their side. Hundreds and hundreds pulled, and soon even the tapestry was torn asunder, useless to those who wanted it so greedily.”

Excerpt from the Wisdom of The Cerulean Oracle regarding the Tapestry’s Sundering. 

The Torn Tapestry Unknown pre Ferox Empire (F.E.) Many years ago the people of the Verous Islands were a unified people. The tribes were led by Chosen Heroes, all of whom kept the balance between the people.
One day, the Tapestry was torn, and war broke out between the many Verous Islands tribes.
War of the Tapestry Cir. -800 F.E. to -587 F.E. Spurred by the Tapestry’s Sundering the many tribes went to war. In defense of those they cared for, The Chosen Heroes joined the battle. Though they could slay the non-chosen ilk, The Chosen Heroes found they could not bring physical harm upon each other. Believing their connection to magic was the source of this forced pacification, they passed the secret to the people in hopes of reconnecting them to those they fought. Instead, they learned the lay people were not bound by the same rules, and the conflict escalated. In the ensuing conflict many Chosen Heroes were slain, and only a few remained.
The Plague of Colorless Flame -587 to -423 F.E. The people, now without Chosen Heroes to guide them, used magic in barbaric displays of power. The remaining Chosen Heroes, saddened by the misuse of their power, created a final ritual to cleanse their charges of magic. Gathered together in the center of Verous, in a place known as The Loom’s Circle they enacted a ritual that would remove magic from the land. The ritual was interrupted, and instead a Colorless Flame of horrible power covered the world. This Colorless Flame was forever burning and would manifest whenever any spellcaster used magic, even passively. Many great magicians died, unable to withstand the power of the Colorless Flame that sprung from their use. This in turn also killed the Chosen Heroes who began this plague, for they were beings of innate magic.
People did not use magic, in fear of spreading the flame. But as time went on the Colorless Flame manifested in places regardless of whether people used magic or not. Soon the Colorless Flame threatened Verous, as it made entire swaths of countryside unlivable. But one day the Last Chosen Hero, a being who was able to mute his magical power, journeyed to The Loom’s Circle and managed to erased the botched ritual entirely. Doing so cured the land of the plague, but in the process they were consumed by Colorless Flame and died.
Though their name is lost to history, an effigy was created in the center of The Loom’s Circle to commemorate their selfless act which saved all of Verous.

Summary

An event that led to the once united tribes of Verous to war. This age of barbarism lasted for an unusual amount of time, but many agree that the inciting incident was the tearing of the tapestry. 

Historical Basis

Many cultures recalled the power the Tapestry had over foresight and history, and as such it remains a prominent object in many stories.
Cultures prior to the rise of the empire tell of the Tapestry and it’s secrets, and as such some consider the ability to gaze upon it to be like receiving a vision from the gods. Many others however believe looking at the Tapestry will drive one to madness. 
During Alaric Ron Zhen’s Liberation Campaign, he recovered many larger pieces of the Tapestry from the Arcana.
it is said Iselle D’Atombre’s ability to see was caused by her proximity to a large piece of the Tapestry. 
Many Arcana recorded the Sundering of the Tapestry in their notes. Some claimed to have been present when it occurred but these claims are dubious at best. 

Spread

After the Liberation and foundation, The four champions debated if this news should be shared with the people. Jayshra Maho’Doa made the argument that this should be a cautionary tale against disunion, and that those who do not learn from such events will allow them to happen once more. 
Heeding her wisdom the other three ensured these events would be discussed at length in their books. This with the Four Wisdoms the knowledge of these events spread. 

Variations & Mutation

Each of the four champions had their own take on the Tapestry’s Sundering. 

• Alaric Ron Zhen described the story with the emphasis on the moral failings it led to (Night of Falling Stars, Age of Arcana, Etc.)
• Feodor The Wise emphasized the role different groups played, being sure to include the names of any historically significant people. 
• Iselle D’Atombre focused on the story as a fable, so as to better convey the story to the masses as something more palatable than historical fact. 
• Jayshra Maho’Doa was the most detailed, describing the sequence of events as factually as possible. Her account is almost 300 pages long.