Introduction:
In this, our most glorious fifteen hundredth anniversary, there is much to celebrate as we Citizens look back upon our great accomplishments.
Built up from a loose collection of nations, just emerging from barbarism, we have forged an Empire. We have survived the magic riots of 486 G.E., we have survived the great famine of 1138 G.E., and most important of all, we thew back the Ryla, the alter-plane invaders ,in 1420 G.E. after a devastating decade-long war. In our victory, we not only defeated them, but did it so soundly that they'll not want to trifle with our great Empire ever again. To defeat such a powerful and ruthless foe has demonstrated the power, and the unity, of our great empire.
Finally, the construction of the thirteen great cities, and the archways between them, marked the dawning of a new age, one that will itself reach its five hundredth anniversary seven years hence.
Fellow Citizens! We should never forget, that no matter what great nations will rise and fall from now to the end of eternity, that we were the very First great Empire on the face of the world. From the wild woods did we build a civilization that has thus far stood the test of time.
Founding of an Empire
The Great Empire was founded in the year 0 G.E., by definition. On that historic date, the scattered kingdoms of humanity united with the nations of the elves, the dwarves, the halflings, and the nomadic gnomes into one great Empire that spanned the entirety of known civilization. This empire was formed not by conquest, but for mutual benefit, uniting all the good races of the world in our own common interest.
Another unique aspect of our great empire aside from its size and grandeur, is the fact that the subject nations are free nations, each retaining their unique culture, trading and exchanging ideas, as well as defense and common interests.
The elves lived within their magnificent natural groves, the dwarves still dwelled within their sacred mountains, and the halflings and gnomes retained their nomadic ways.
The vile humanoid tribes that have harassed the good races since the dawn of the world continued to plague the land, but now, with the Empire, the forces of good were united and began the campaign to finally tame these savage creatures. Through the valiant efforts of the good warriors, priests, and mages of the Empire, the humanoids were tamed and the entirety of the land was finally, for the first time in anyone's dimmest histories, were at total peace. The Year of Peace was 391 G.E..
Magic Riots
Though the great mages of the land were always great allies of the Empire, with many of them working hard as founders themselves, there was unrest within the ranks of the mages. Magical training was still, in many cases, haphazard. Local governments would ask, firmly or not, for their services. Mages were held both in awe and spat upon by some of the more frightened and ignorant members of the populace. With the Empire finally at peace with its surroundings, these latent ripples of discontent began to bubble to the surface in 473 G.E.. First there were localized mobs out to lynch those of an arcane bent. Then there were retaliations from some of the local mages, though this was quickly put to rest by their masters.
Things continued to simmer until the great Magic Riots of 486 G.E., where the long, slow simmer finally boiled over in the Great Port City of Vaeia. The protests began on the town square and quickly spilled out into the docks. Several mages were stoned to death, while one was torn limb from limb by the frenzied crowd. Just as another mage was about to be killed, a flight of over twenty mages came from across the wharf, flying fifty feet in the air, and let loose upon the crowd with firey vengence. In the end, over forty ships were seriously damaged, with fourteen being sunk, and a good portion of the docks were also sent into the sea. Thousands were seriously injured, many hundreds were killed, and it took the direct intervention of the Great Founders to stop the violence.
As is the hallmark of the Great Empire, again, reason and calm were the order of the day. Those involved in the riots who were still alive were healed and held. The leaders were brought forth to the Great Council and deliberations between them and the great mages went on for weeks. When they finally emerged, the Order of Mag was founded, plans for the Great Towers were drawn, and the whole system of Arcane magical training that we have today was founded.
At the same time, a great initiative was put forth for wizards to, as part of their apprenticeship, to serve in the public interest as a servant of the people for three one year terms over the course of their advancement as mages. Amongst the services done were public works, defense, and the education of even the poorest members of the populace, giving the Empire nearly total literacy. And as part of that education, the mystique of the wizard was forever dispelled, bringing understanding between the highest arch-mage and the most humble farmer.
The Great Cities
Within seven years of our one thousandth year, the thirteen great cities were begun, cities that now dwarf the exploits of all civilizations before or since. And seven years after the millenium celebrations, they were completed, standing as one of the crowning achievements of the greatest civilization in the history of the world.
Created as centers of trade and travel, they have blossomed into centers of art and culture. Each city is connected to all of the others by the great Travel Arches. The arches, which are yet another feat on the long list of feats of magic accomplished by the Order of Mag, second only to the creation of the ED Guild Halls of the Order itself. With their completion, travel from the even the most remote corner of the Empire to the other was made as easy and short as a walk to the town plaza. Trade, already growing, blossomed into unrivaled prosperity.
Great Famine
The year 1138 G.E. saw the only non-military and non-magic related crisis of the Empire. Again, the crisis served as more of a testament to the greatness of the Empire than it was a dark time in history. The rains were missing, the crops were failing, and many became concerned about the ever-dwindling supply of food.
While in ages past, any nation or Empire faced with such a situation would face riots and revolution, the Great Empire met this threat like it met all others, with logic, and calm, cool reason. The great druids of the land were summoned before the Empire for their counsel. As a result of this consultation, great, far-reaching steps were made to bring the Empire and its use of resources more closely in balance with the great cycles of nature. The rains were restored, the crops were once again bountiful, and the continuation of the Empire was yet again assured.
Ryla invasion
Few could have foreseen the horrors unleashed upon our world by the Ryla. Fortunately, never again will such a horror be unleashed.
It has recently been definitively determined the original cause for their interest in our world. In the creation of our cities, our towers of magic, and our great colleges, great concentrations of magical energies were brought forth. Through means known only to themselves, the Ryla seek out such concentrations as indicators of planes ripe for conquest.
In 1410 G.E. the first of their patrols was engaged in the great forests of Ulmar by the elves. Casualties were heavy, but the elves prevailed, and managed to bring back with them the first remains of the Ryla. Unfortunately, not all of the Ryla were defeated, and some of the patrol escaped deep into the forest, despite the best efforts of the elves to pursue them.
The 'Ryla Stones', as their remains came to be known, were taken back to the Order of Mag for analysis. Despite having three years to analyze them, not much was discovered, perhaps because they were more of a curiosity than a great priority for the Order. This would all change the next time the Ryla were encountered.
(Remainder of book is unreadable)
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