resonance
Core Ethos:
As the Forge of Heaven was shattered, the echoes and reverberations shook the foundations of the universe. Few on Ahld survived. Those who did were forced to struggle against the Darken, powerful entities formed from the nightmares of the Gods, as well as the rage and hysteria of those still living on the desolate planet. Most survivors have banded together in small enclaves and large city-states, and fight constant wars with each other, all the while battling the creatures of nightmare.
what came before
Though Ahld itself is a relatively old world, the most important aspects of its history lies within the last four hundred years.
Some people blame magic for both the Shattering, and the ensuing Darkwars. Had it not been for magic, Emperius would never have been breached, and the gods would never have been slain. After the Darkwars, those with arcane gifts - and even priests, who no longer had their gods to protect them - were persecuted. Many of these mages and sorcerers joined the Darken, who did not prejudge those with the gift. Others set up fortresses where all who studied their craft could find refuge. Scholars began at this time to study the inner workings of the world, and found that magic wasn't the only source of power. The most prominent of these discoveries were made through the workings with steam.
Scientists began using steam as a source of power for many things, including objects of transportation. The first recorded use of such was during the Battle of Peirnyth, between the city-states Kalde and Grinmord. Disputes over mining issues grew heated, and the two city-states came to battle on the fields of Peirnyth. With the help of scientists, Kalde used steam to float huge balloons over the enemies, dropping flaming pitch and boulders from above. Soon afterwards, scientists in Rengard found a way to use steam to power the large propellers on ships, thus creating the first steam-powered ships.
Over the next few hundred years, mankind forgot about magic, save for the occasional burning at the stake of a "witch" or "heretic." However, sixty years ago, a cult began to show up around the shadier parts of some of the cities. They called themselves the Reborn Fire, and claimed to be priests of "new gods." To prove their point that they were meant to be the rulers of mankind, the cultists used powerful magics, saying it was a gift from the gods, such as the magic of clerics of old. Though there were several groups of these cultists spread across the city-states of the continent, they were unified by one man, named Kastor Tathfire, who led this new magical rebellion. Mages of this cult came to the cities as healers, and at the same time, a new form of magic, inherent and called psionics, emerged in some powerful people. Though mankind didn't want it, magic was coming back, and coming back strong.
Ten years ago, from across the Ocean of Souls, warships came, bearing the crests of Halfard Sigus, Emperor of Rhodwyd. These soldiers seized control of several port city-states, and were able to make their way many miles inland before the steam-powered weapons of the people of Naryth were able to beat back the imperial army.
Currently, the imperial outposts cover most of the southeastern coasts and riverbeds of Naryth. Across the rest of the continent, hundreds of city-states, fortresses, cave enclaves, and small, walled settlements protect against both the imperials, and the monstrous creatures of the Darken.