The Malison of Karveki, by Cobel
Ages ago a great dominion called the empire of Brisbane existed far to the north and west of the kingdom of Evendarr. Brisbane was developed by several peaceful nomadic tribes that had wandered Avalon in search of a land to settle. The empire was chiefly composed of humans and Hoblings. The empires laws were built upon the principles of Equality, reason, and peaceful coexistence. All citizens were treated equally under the law and justice reigned supreme.
One of the central mysteries of the empire was the mysterious comings and goings
of an enchanted tower which would appear unexpectedly only to disappear without
a trace days later. The citizenry dubbed this strange spire the Vanishing Tower
and Empress Calista Ramirez ordered the Cabinet of the Arcane Seminary to investigate
this bizarre mage made thing. Yet despite all their attempts to breech the tower
it still appeared and stood unaffected and unable to enter throughout the reign
of three emperors. The cabinet of the Arcane Seminary tried subtle magic’s
as well as powerful direct magic’s. Yet the gates stood unopened even after
an enchanted battering ram was pulled by a full hundred war steeds and launched
at the tower.
The key to unlocking the tower was only found after many decades of investigation.
The Arch-Wizard Tamir, First Practitioner of the Cabinet of the Arcane Seminary
unearthed the three components required to construct an enchanted key which
would open the gates of the vanishing tower. Empress Calisto Ramirez was so
impressed with his accomplishment that in addition to all other titles he held,
he granted Tamir one more, that of Grand Sorcerer of Brisbane. A monument to
his honor was built and placed in the forecourt of the Arcane Seminary in the
shape of a simple spire commemorating his entry to the spire of the Vanishing
Tower. On this Monument were inscribed the directions for creating the key so
that this lore might never be lost.
Once the tower was entered the mages and sages of the Arcane Seminary began
to investigate its properties, its contents, and its history. It was quickly
discovered that the Tower was a multi-planar construction that existed simultaneously
in varying realities. The creator of the spire was a long dead Dragon Mage named
Xzaven and inside its many rooms he secreted much of the arcane lore he had
collected in his long life. The tower also contained a series of portals that
entered each of the other worlds that the tower abutted. These portals were
the primary topic of investigation for the Arcane Seminary. Arch-Wizard Tamir
eventually learned to control the portals and enter the other worlds, but many
of these worlds were found to be inhabited by hostile and powerful forces which
attacked the members of the Arcane Seminary and claimed the life of Tamir himself.
It was later learned that Tamir was elevated to an elemental. After this loss
the portals were ordered closed and the knowledge of their use restricted by
Empress Calisto.
The empire used the knowledge gained from the Vanishing Tower to grow and prosper
until one century later, in the reign of Emperor Balengale, the Empire of Brisbane
had reached a size Unheard of in other nations of Avalon.
However after this century of peace and prosperity came war. The Barbarian hordes
of the Ice Nation came down from their home in the Frostpeak Mountains and laid
claim to the plains where stood Devonshire, the Capitol City of Brisbane. The
Ice Nation greatly outnumbered the forces of Brisbane and their warlike ways
were unchallenged by the peaceful people of Brisbane. The Citizens could do
little but hide while their crops were stolen and their lands ravished.
Thankfully the new First Practitioner of the Cabinet of the Arcane Seminary,
A great wizard named Erol completed a grand research into the construction of
enchanted creatures called Golems. Erol created many differing types of these
constructs and marched them before the Emperor to show their prowess in combat.
Emperor Balengale was so impressed with Erol’s enchanted soldiers of Iron,
Stone, and Wood that he appointed Erol the new Grand Sorcerer of Brisbane and
immediately set him to building an army of Golems to defend the Empire from
the Ice Nation Barbarians.
Grand Sorcerer Erol shared his Formal Magic lore with every sorcerer within
the Arcane Seminary and together they created a legion of Golems. The golem
army they produced was named the Regiment of Aegis and marched out to repel
the Barbarian Hordes of the Ice Nation. The Wizards of the Arcane Seminary marched
with the Regiment of Aegis in order to instruct their creations. Several members
of the Arcane Seminary had actually stored their spirits within the bodies of
Golems by a Formal Magic Spells developed by Lord Encrasse, a master healer
in the Arcane Seminary.
The viscous battles that were fought were known to all as The Great Barbarian
War and they raged on for many years even with the Golems and mages in the forefront
of the battle. The Empire of Brisbane was finally victorious after suffering
major casualties and losing many of their outlying districts. At the last, the
Ice Nation withdrew back into the Frostpeak Mountains and Emperor Balengale
decided to let them stay there and not assault their homeland.
The following centuries again proved prosperous and peaceful for the empire.
Infrequent encounters with Barbarians, Minotaurs, Gnolls, and Ogres were easily
defeated by the Regiment of Aegis. The people of Brisbane were able to once
more expand their knowledge of Magic and science unhampered by these annoying
threats. The Empire excelled to noteworthy heights in the lore of Architecture
and the arts as well. The Capitol City of Devonshire was surrounded by a colossal
stone wall with lofty turrets and gates of High Steel interlaced with mithral.
The Regiment of Aegis was employed to use their great strength to operate winches
and move huge slabs of granite and marble during the lengthy construction. Twelve
long years later the wall was complete and Devonshire stood as a rock against
which all attackers would surely be ground to dust. Emperor Clayton proclaimed
that no force would ever breech the Gates of Devonshire once this bastion was
completed.
A second showcase city was then built, the great city of Courtland which was
in the center of the Empire and a masterpiece of marble columns, vaulted arches,
wondrous fountains, and beautifully resplendent flower gardens. Courtland became
a repository for the fine arts of Brisbane and the College of Minstrels built
therein was famed throughout Brisbane and beyond. Immense halls displaying grand
sculptures and exquisite paintings were filled with the melodies of the bards
as they practiced. The comedies and tragedies of the Courtland playwrights were
regularly performed in the great Coliseum before cheering crowds.
Three Centuries Later a gathering of Elves from the far off Kingdom of Quentari
arrived to seek new forests in which to settle. The Elves were led by General
Valerian and had voluntarily departed their native land to found a new Wold
that would serve as a true home to the Elven people. A representative of the
Empire warmly greeted General Valerian and peaceful negotiations soon ensued.
Emperor Ungaro, a kindhearted ruler, generously granted the Elves title to the
Sterling-spring Forest. The Elves named their settlement Heartwood and peaceful
trade between Heartwood and Brisbane soon commenced and further increased the
prosperity of Brisbane. Soon a great Spirit Tree rose in the center of the Sterling-spring
proclaiming to all that a Wold had been formed and the Elves had found a new
true home.
Over time as the Cycle of Ages continued the Great Celestial Change occurred
once again and the magic’s that animated the Golems of the Regiment of
Aegis faded away and the once mighty construct army
crumbled to dust.
Many of the citizens were anxious over the loss of their defenders yet still
more remained unconcerned as the Empire had not been attacked in centuries and
none remembered first hand the ravages of war. Empress Latulorian, a benevolent
and prudent ruler, was among those concerned over the expiration of the Regiment
of Aegis. Empress Latulorian instructed Grand Sorcerer Karveki to research the
creation of new and even more powerful constructs to defend the Empire against
all invaders.
Time was against the mighty Empire of Brisbane though for scouts from the Ice
Nation soon reported back to the Barbarian hordes that the Regiment of Aegis
was no more. Once again the armies of the Ice Nation arose to try and claim
the plains where the Empire of Brisbane lay. The Barbarians, led by a merciless
chieftain named Randar, poured out of the mountains in a huge assault less than
ten years after the fall of the Regiment of Aegis. Thus began the Second Barbarian
War, a war largely responsible for the fall of The Empire of Brisbane. The initial
assault was so fierce and the defenders of Brisbane so unprepared that the Ice
Nation nearly conquered the Empire overnight.