The Old Empire

Lore & Background

Long before the Company marched through the mud and blood, a singular power unified the known lands under a banner now lost to time. This civilization mastered sorcery in ways modern practitioners can barely comprehend, building cities that pierced the sky and weapons that could shatter mountains. Their fall was not merely political but metaphysical, suggesting a cataclysm that broke the world's connection to the old sources of power. Today, their legacy survives only in fragments. Sorcerers like the Lady draw upon residual energies trapped within ancient stones, while mercenaries scavenge weapons from buried tombs that still burn with dangerous heat. The Empire is less a memory and more a ghost haunting the present, its ruins serving as both treasure troves and graveyards for those foolish enough to disturb them. The culture of the current era is defined by this absence. Kingdoms rise and fall over scraps of Old Imperial land, fighting wars over history they do not understand. The magic that drives these conflicts stems directly from the Empire's collapse, making every spell cast a reminder of what was lost.

In Their Own Story

Dust coated the soldier's boots as he stepped into the hollowed archway. The wind howled through broken pillars, carrying whispers that sounded too much like voices. He reached out to touch a wall carved with symbols no living man could read, and his hand burned cold against the stone. Somewhere deep below, something shifted in the dark, waking from a sleep of centuries.

Reader's Guide

Before the current era of warring kingdoms, a singular power unified the land through sorcery and iron. Historians believe this civilization collapsed due to internal magical warfare or divine retribution, scattering its people into the dark ages we know today. Ruins dot the landscape, serving as graveyards for forgotten technology that still hums with residual energy. Survivors of the fall passed down fragmented myths claiming their rulers were touched by gods, though modern scholars doubt such claims. These legends fuel the ambitions of current sorcerers who seek artifacts buried beneath the earth to reclaim lost glory. The Company often marches through these lands, unaware that the ground beneath them holds the bones of emperors who once commanded armies far larger than any mercenary band. This history shapes modern conflicts, as factions vie for control over ancient strongholds. The Lady herself draws power from this lineage, suggesting she may be a guardian or heir to its legacy. Understanding the Old Empire is key to understanding why magic exists and why it remains so dangerous in the hands of mortals today.

Did You Know?

• Ruins often contain dangerous residual magic that can injure intruders.
• Current sorcerers derive a significant portion of their power from this era.
• No living person remembers its peak glory or true history.
• Artifacts are highly sought by warlords to gain military advantage.