Province of Myrathe

Long before the Sundering, Myrathe was part of the great and unified landmass known as Valdossar. The earliest inhabitants of the region were a mysterious and ancient race, the Lizard Kings, also known in legend as the Serpent Kings. These beings were far more than mere mortals, through their mastery of arcane magic, they shaped the very land itself. With their superior intellect and architectural prowess, they created cities that defied the laws of nature. The Serpent Kings were believed to be immortal or semi-divine, wielding powerful sorcery that allowed them to command the elements and bend the fabric of reality.

Through their deep connection to the world's ley lines and their sinister manipulation of blood magic, the Serpent Kings shaped their cities in awe-inspiring ways. Floating structures that defied gravity, rivers blazed with mystical fire, and vast labyrinthine palaces stretched deep into the earth, hidden from prying eyes. The cities were centers of arcane knowledge, where scholars, mystics, and artisans combined their powers to weave magic into every facet of life. The Serpent Kings' reign seemed eternal, their empire one of unmatched power and sophistication.

The Age of Ascension and the Brotherhood of the Red Sigil

The Brotherhood's Rise

As the Serpent Empire grew in both power and complexity, a secretive and radical cult known as the Brotherhood of the Red Sigil began to take root. This enigmatic faction of arcane zealots believed the Serpent Kings were merely intermediaries for an even greater cosmic force: the Unspeakable One, an eldritch entity residing in the spaces between dimensions.

The Brotherhood preached that through dark rituals and unholy pacts, the Serpent Kings could transcend their mortal forms and merge with the Unspeakable One, granting them eternal dominance over the multiverse. The cult's influence spread like a creeping shadow through the upper echelons of Valdossar society, twisting the minds of the elite with promises of boundless power.

The Ritual of Ascension

The Brotherhood's ultimate goal was the Ritual of Ascension, a grand and dangerous summoning designed to merge the physical world with the realm of the Unspeakable One. The ritual was set to occur on the eve of Valdossar's greatest celebration, a spectacle of magic and power meant to elevate the Valdossarian people into beings of pure energy. It was to be the culmination of centuries of study and preparation.

However, when the moment of transcendence arrived, disaster struck. The ley lines, the very veins of magic that coursed through the land, fractured. The Ritual of Ascension backfired in a cataclysmic explosion of magic, tearing apart the fabric of reality itself. The Sundering had begun.

The Sundering: The Fall of the Serpent Empire

Divine Wrath and the Destruction of Myrathe

The Sundering was not just an event, it was a cataclysm. The continent quaked and cracked, the seas rose to swallow entire cities, and mountains crumbled into the abyss. The power of the Unspeakable One, which had only been partially unleashed, began to tear at the very fabric of existence. The continent of Valdossar fractured into several islands, and the once-proud empire of Valdossar was undone.

In the aftermath of the ritual's failure, the Lizard Kings, were driven mad. Some became mindless beasts, stripped of their former grandeur, while others were warped into horrific abominations, twisted by the lingering influence of the Unspeakable One. The Valdossarian Empire collapsed in a single night, its cities reduced to ruins. The capital, a magnificent beacon of their power, was shattered, leaving nothing but memories and the haunting echoes of a forgotten civilization.

The Valdossarian people, now broken and maddened, retreated into the depths of the earth, fleeing from the ruin they had brought upon themselves. They carried with them the ancient, forbidden knowledge of their magic, hidden away in tombs beneath the surface.

The Cursed Land of Myrathe

Myrathe, once part of the heart of the Valdossarian Empire, was left as islands of ruins, haunted places that became legend in their own right. They were said to be cursed, haunted by the ghosts of the Serpent Kings, waiting to be reclaimed by those brave, or foolish, enough to seek them.

The Age of Healing: Myrathe in the Aftermath

The Rise of New Kingdoms

For centuries, Myrathe lay abandoned, its ruins untouched and feared. The younger races, humans, elves, dwarves, and others, avoided the shattered shores, wary of the curse that hung over the land. Myrathe was nearly a forgotten place, left to be consumed by time and the sea.

However, as the Delgwynthian Empire rose to prominence across the Valdossarian Archipelago, the Delgwynthian rulers, driven by their thirst for knowledge and power, began to hear whispers of the ancient magics hidden within Myrathe's ruins. Scholars and mages from the Empire began to explore the islands, searching for lost knowledge and relics of unimaginable power.

The Delgwynthian Conquest

After centuries of dormancy, the Delgwynthian Empire launched a series of expeditions to reclaim Myrathe as part of their broader campaign to unify the fractured Valdossarian Archipelago. The islands, though steeped in dark magic and fraught with peril, were a prize the Empire could not ignore. They sent expeditions to claim the ancient cities and recover the forgotten lore of the Serpent Kings.

Despite the land's dangers, the Delgwynthians quickly established a military presence in Myrathe's northern cities and coastal fortresses. They set up garrisons to protect their scholars and arcane researchers, and for the first time in centuries, the region was brought under organized rule. Myrathe, once a land of myth and ruin, now stood as a contested prize, home to powerful factions seeking to control the arcane knowledge and relics buried within.

Myrathe in the Present Day: A Land of Conflict and Mystery

Today, Myrathe is a land of ceaseless conflict and perpetual strife. The Delgwynthian Empire maintains control over the key regions, but vast stretches of the islands remain wild and untamed, filled with arcane hazards and ancient traps. The Empire's garrisons are spread thin, and much of Myrathe remains a lawless, dangerous frontier.

The Arcane Vaults and Lost Knowledge

The arcane vaults of Myrathe, hidden deep within its ruins, remain largely undisturbed. These vaults are filled with forbidden magics, ancient weapons, and relics of incredible power. Treasure hunters, pirates, and Delgwynthian scholars alike risk their lives to unearth the secrets of the past, seeking to harness the power that was once the domain of the Serpent Kings, often with grusome concequences.

The vaults are a treasure trove for those brave enough or foolish enopugh to face the dangers of the past. Some seek lost magics that could tip the balance of power in the Valdossarian Archipelago, while others hope to find weapons that could change the fate of kingdoms.

A Land of Magic and Mystery

Though Myrathe is now part of the Delgwynthian Empire, it remains a land of magic, mystery, and danger. The Sundering may have shattered the continent, but it also left behind a land steeped in ancient sorcery, where the past is as alive as the present. In this land, magic and history are inseparable, and those who dare to seek out its secrets risk more than just their lives, they risk unleashing the power of the Serpent Kings once again.

The islands of Myrathe may be cursed, but they are also a place of unimaginable potential for those who are willing to venture into the unknown. The echoes of the Serpent Kings still linger, and the true legacy of Myrathe remains to be uncovered.

Population Breakdown:

Cities and Towns

• Segae is the bustling capital of Myrathe and is a city of politics, military control, and scholarly activity. Built apon the ruins of an ancient Valdossarian Empire city, it hides secrets beneath its streets, fueling the city's importance to the Empire.
• Daxos is a city nestled deep within the Phylas Forest, built among towering trees and overgrown ruins of an ancient Valdossarian Empire fortification. It is known for its integration of nature and arcane surroundings. Daxos is a hub for mages and druids who seek to study both the magic of the forests and learn about the forgotten arts of the Serpent Kings.
• Phylas is another forest city, located at the northern end of the Phylas Forest, known for its harmony with nature. This city is a place of both magical and physical fortification, with natural barriers, enchanted walls, and powerful druids who protect it from the dangers that lie within the forest.
• Trulia is a small but vital town located at the edge of the Phylas Forest, providing resources for the capital while maintaining a deep connection to the ancient lore of Myrathe. The town is known for its artisans, lumberjacks, and druids who work to preserve the forest's natural beauty. It also serves as a stopping point for travelers heading deeper into the forest.
• Ildyrae is a more remote and isolated town located at the Ish Island in the Ghast Woods. It is known for its close-knit community, focused on exploring the island and gathering rare forest materials and ancient artifacts. It also serves as a retreat for those who wish to escape the tensions of the larger cities.