Tharrisa Annexes Olbern

Political event

"Olbern has become a nest of the rich and powerful, avoiding taxes and contributions to greater Kalin as to protect their power and influence." -Speech justifying the annexation of Olbern.

Olbern had long been an island nation of mages and, for most of the Third Age, home of the Schola Magus. After the shifting of magic in the early Third Age, less and less mages both moved to Olbern or attended the Schola Magus.   While the Schola Magus did not suffer overall, instead just becoming more exclusive, Olbern had issues adjusting to the new reality. Less and less children of established Olbern families could become dedicated magic users, and many High Elves on the island returned home to Embrel in the sky.   Over the centuries Olbern became more and more "watered down" with laws changing to simply allow ancestral ownership of property no matter magical ability, and eventually allowing people to simply buy space on the idyllic island.   Meanwhile, the growing and strengthening Impero Tharrisian began to view Olbern both as a security risk, and an opportunity. Political and diplomatic pressure mounted until the Senatus and Imperatrice announced that Olbern would become a province of Tharrisia under its guardianship.   Due to widespread bribes and diplomacy, Olbern offered no real resistance as Legionnaires landed on the island and took control.   Despite promises that the Schola Magus would remain independent of Tharrisia governance besides generalized law, other nations decried the action as aggressive. Straka had a tense few months of stand off with Tharrisia until Aurelian diplomatic intervention calmed down tensions.   In the end Olbern, and by extension the Schola Magus, came under the influence of Tharrisia.