Sorcerers Kingdom

The Sorcerers Kingdom was the first, and only time, a single civilization wielded control over much of the human race. Just a few generations before humans were taught the basics of magic by Feuledalyre and his followers. As with all other human advancements the control of magic set off an arms race to dominate those around them. Humans might have destroyed themselves except for the efforts of Feuledalyre to not just teach the basics of magic, but a holistic understanding of the Shadow Realms. There are many dangers in the Shadow Realms for the unwary.

At its height the Sorcerers could command the loyalty of nearly 60% of humans. This feat wold never be duplicated again. Unencumbered magic allowed humans to travel the world quick enough for the laws of the largest cities to apply to the smallest village. It was a dangerous time as the humans used magic with abandon to shape the world. Unlike the True Elves who saw themselves as caretakers and cultivators, the human mindset was to forge the world according to their desires.

The Kingdom might have lasted another millennia, but the appearance of the Eye of the Magi brought chaos and ruin to the kingdom. The first large-scale wars fought between human magicians nearly destroyed all of humanity. Only a few ruins in the wildest parts of the world remain of the most powerful human empire to have ever existed.

• Time Period: 863 - 1998 CA
• Government: varied
• Etymology: Shadians
• Periods:

  • King Huddlefurd; 863 - 1019 CA
  • Circle of Eight; 1019 - 1850 CA
  • Shadow Walkers; 1850 - 1883CA
  • Waning Period; 1883 - 1998 CA

Huddlefurd was one of the first of the truly powerful magicians to rise from the human race. Tales of his exploits are so unbelievable as to reach the legends of the gods. He could, and did, destroy entire cities with less effort than a man chopping wood. Rumors of his displeasure would cause communities to rush to appease him. In time he became known simply as King Huddlfurd, typically with many superlatives following his name. His words became law and his laws spread across the human world.

By all accounts King Huddlefurd was not a despot or even willing King. Surviving records indicate he lived the life of a hermit or scholar. This changed as he amassed more power and central control. Bloodsports and harems greeted him as each city and town sought to earn his praise and undermine others. Never in recorded history has a single human controlled so many others; although his control still comprised less than ten percent (10%) of humans in the world. When he killed hundreds of thousands it became a parable to teach others not to invoke his wrath.

King Huddlefurd used magic to extend his lifespan and as he entered his second century he became increasingly unstable. Legends say he destroyed entire families on a whim, withered crops, and burned livestock for making noise as he passed by. Resistance to his rule began to strengthen and by 1003 the civil war that would end his rule began.

The Circle of Eight were eight of the most powerful magicians to survive under King Huddlefurd's rule. Any magician that showed enough strength to overcome the king was killed. Archmage Thaddimus La’Nocht was the leader of the circle and the only member who was taught directly by Feuledalyre. By all accounts Thaddimus was a scholarly man whose minds was said to be “more elf than an elf.” He worked to undue much of the damage King Huddlefurd did to the world, but eventually was convinced by others that the king must be destroyed.

In 1011 Thaddimus saw the destruction caused by the civil war and agreed to stop King Huddlefurd. Supported by his closest allies he confronted Huddlefurd directly. Legends say the battle even drew the eyes of the gods. Seas boiled, the land shook, and fire spewed into the air. Thaddimus struck down the king and saved humanity, if not the world. Unfortunately the wounds of the battle were too much and Thaddimus died shortly after.

To avoid the mistakes of single rule, while ruling humans with a single law - the Circle of Eight was created. Eight centers of power were constructed and one magician ruled in each, but only with the support of the eight most powerful magicians who lived nearby. Nine was considered a sacred number to the elves and each council kept a chair open for the “Spirit of Thaddimus.” Each member of the Circle of Eight could rule their lands independently, but independently was not strong enough to overthrow the other seven (7) members.

This was a time of relative peace as the Sorcerers Kingdom rebuilt and expanded the horizons of humanity. The magic of war and destruction gave way to the scholarly pursuits. Several members of the Circle of Eight opened up permanent portals into the Shadow Realms.

Human history is not founded on the principals of peace and tranquility, but conquest and expansion. As the first permanent portals into the Shadow Realms were constructed the seed of their downfall were planted. The Shadow Realms is dangerous and several powerful shades came through these portals. The most powerful of these were the five (5) Shadow Walkers. Originally called to this world by Heuqqa the Pure for study, they broke free of his controls and corrupted him. For years they lived in the world undermining the strength of the Sorcerers Kingdom.

In less than two decades of their arrival the Shadow Walkers sparked a war. Whatever the first cause was is unknown, but the end result was the destruction of each of the eight towers. The commoners had turned against the Circle and their magicians. Instead the people rose up under the banner of the gods. Such power was not meant to be held by human hands, only the gods could control such things and not fall to corruption.

Thousands of new religions had sprung up among the humans as the people sought answers to their lives. Most people could not control the power of magic so they turned instead to the gods. It was Faith, and not Knowledge, that destroyed the kingdom. Current scholars believe the sudden uprising of religious cults was spawned by the early disruptions of the Eye of the Magi.

The final embers of the kingdom were extinguished when the Eye of the Magi appeared overhead. Unlike the violence of the previous comet the people of the kingdom simply fell into a malaise. Mass starvation killed more humans than violence as communities fell apart. It was the silent peace of a slow and lingering death that stuck the kingdom.

The one positive effect was that some of this kingdom's art, literature, and history survived for the following millennia.