Urth: A Historical Overview

None know how the world began, or even what the world was like before the Ishari empire.  And our knowledge of the Ishari empire itself is limited and full of conjecture.

We do know that it covered much of the land of Timera, probably centred on the country of Ishter, with ruins being found in most countries.  Dedicated study of these ruins is prohibitive, due to conflicting politics and safety concerns.  This is also why we do not even know the makeup of the people of the Ishari empire.  Many scholars claim proof that the Ishari were human, others that it was a mixture of races.  To this date no conclusive proof has come to light.

We do know more about what happened upon the fall of the Ishari.  The people of Timera were protected by the Gods.  Through their priests, the Gods ushered in a time of prosperity and peace.  Magic was plentiful and controlled, whether channelled from the Gods or wielded directly by Wizards.  It was by no means a perfect time, as the Gods of the darker aspects, murder, treachery, and the like, forever strove to bring the peoples of the world into their influence, but on the whole it appeared to be a good time to be alive.

However, something happened to end all of that.  Today we only have theories on what happened to the Gods.  Just over a thousand years ago, seemingly between one day and the next, the Gods disappeared.  Magic spiralled out of control, bringing much devastation to the lands, especially Merkon, known as the centre of magical learning.  The priests could no longer speak to the gods, and many despaired that the Gods had abandoned or cursed the world.  Civilisation descended into barbarity.  Over the years many false prophets arose, proclaiming the return or soon to be return of the Gods.  Many met a bad end as their prophecies and claims turned false.

The mortal races lost access to magic.  They could no longer directly control it’s flows.  Only by cooperating with a spirit, angel, demon or other such creature, could mortals gain access to magic power.  Some rumours claim that rituals have been found, that can be used by anyone, even the lowliest peasant.  Others claim that the touch of any magic is tainting, causing any exposed to it to go mad, or rot away to nothing.

Eventually order began to be returned, as strong leaders rose, and banded their various lands together.  Trade has begun between many of these lands, as well as the exchanging of knowledge, which is just as important.

We have lost so much knowledge of our past.

Let us hope we one day reclaim it.

Professor Traynor Treesmith, University of Deral