Category: lore

Vanity and the Ancient: Concerning the Second Age

Andrew Michael MillerLeave a comment

The civilization centered on and around Caelon we know today was built on the remains of a vibrant and ancient world, one more far-reaching and expansive than many people realize. The ancient societies of mankind were said to have spread far and wide, far beyond the reaches of modern man in his attempts to rebuild. Although the bones of their cities still stand, the knowledge they gathered and the technology they used now are lost to the ever-flowing stream of time. What hints of the past still remain are closely-guarded secrets in libraries and treasure troves kept by the rulers of the modern world. However, there are a few important discoveries that have been made in time, that give us a glimpse of what life used to be like before the Fall of Man.

The Founding of Torium

Andrew Michael Miller1 Comment

After the Gifted Wars reached their conclusion, several factors brought the remainder of the Torian Empire closer to the edge of destruction. Losing direct control over nearly half of the Torian-founded settlements on Caelon to new monarchies primed the government of the White Walled City for an eventual takeover by outside forces. For nearly 400 years, the Torian government saw decline as more and more cities came to prominence, decentralizing the trade and lowering the intrinsic value of a capital city. While the Torian forces would be ultimately conquered and removed from their home, the ancient seat of El Tor, the remnants of the once-great society still survive across the great Lago Nero, on a large stretch of land now known as Torium.

The Gifted Wars – 32 Years of Bitter Feuds (Part X)

Andrew Michael MillerLeave a comment

Following the incident in the waters near Penderona that saw General Tonsior receive his first major defeat in the war, the Torian forces had no choice but to regroup back at the capital and prepare for a campaign on land. The battles up along the coast had been overwhelmingly successful until the sea battle of Penderona, which saw forces from the Saibhrean Isles come to the aid of their allies in Penderona. Even though the loss was tremendous, Tonsior's forces took back with them Baron Siabahn, the leader of Penderona as their captive. Soon, the stage would be set for the final leg of 32 years of conflict on Caelon.

“Keeping Safe the Waters” – Traditional Saibhrean Song

Andrew Michael Miller2 Comments

The song "Keeping Safe the Waters," translated below into the common language, is a song that was written about the historically significant victory against tyrannical rule that played such a crucial role in the political and social formation of the continent and the isles. Sung in the old style, the song survives to this day as an important part of the Saibhrean heritage. The songs sung in the old style are rhythmically diverse, are never accompanied by instruments, and are typically sung alone.

The Gifted Wars – 32 Years of Bitter Feuds (Part IX)

Andrew Michael MillerLeave a comment

By the early part of the year 69 A4, the army led by General Tonsior had rested and replenished from its campaign in the land to the South, now known as the Southern Tribelands. In Caelon, the Torian control of the settlements continued to deteriorate until less than half of the settlements continued their subservience to the Torian seat of power. The idea spread across the land like a wildfire that possessing the Gifts of the First Son gave governors a birthright to stake out their own kingdoms. The Torian Empire was now in hasty decline, and the council was now desperate for good news. General Tonsior strategized that utilizing the vast fleet of Torian ships against the far less-developed navies of the newly formed kingdoms would be the key to their success.