Rending

The Modern Age began with the Rending. It is the apocalyptic shredding of the world by the Anathemae, 13 of the most powerful Archmages corrupted by Dyrosh and Orcus.

A high magic ritual to wrest control of all magic from the world and vest it in the Anathemae's hands was interrupted by heroic forces.

The backlash of the high magic ripped through the minds of all arcane casters. Almost all succumbed to insanity and using the vast power of the high magic, proceeded to rip the world to pieces. At great cost, the peoples of the world united to hunt down the insane wizards and kill or sequester them. The Anathemae were too powerful to kill and were sequestered, but now those conditions of release are coming to pass. Already the awnshegh conquer territory and Anathemae like Lushanow D'Uster are free to once again vie to amass the power of the world.