The Conflict
Prelude
The origins of the Battle of Rankin are linked to the Lumina Stone, a celestial artifact believed to be of otherworldly manufacture. The Order of the Arcane, an institution immersed in magical study and application, esteemed this artifact greatly. The Council of Masters, the Order's administrative body, dedicated extensive research to understanding the Lumina Stone, perceiving it as a channel of celestial power, a tool for accessing realities beyond the ordinary, and a device for preserving balance between existences. The Order's equilibrium was disrupted when news reached Arvandor, Eryndor's capital city, that the Krugar, a martial race with little affinity for magic, had acquired the artifact. The manner of this acquisition remained uncertain, but its implications were stark to the Council of Masters.
When peaceful attempts to retrieve the Lumina Stone proved unsuccessful, the Council resorted to covert operations. This move incited resistance from the Krugar, who considered the artifact a divine gift and symbol of their strength. As tensions escalated, the Council was drawn into direct confrontation.
Rankin, a bustling coastal city of Krugarlond with a vibrant port, became a critical strategic point during this conflict. The Order installed escape portals just south of the city, intending to use these for retreat to Arvandor. Rankin's surrounding geography — an expansive ocean to the east and south, a formidable mountain range to the north and west — played a pivotal role in the conflict. The Order's forces approached from the west, using the mountains as a shield to conceal their movements. However, upon discovering the portals, the Krugar forces fortified their positions between the mountains and the sea, successfully blocking the Order's retreat path and setting the stage for a tense standoff.
The Krugar forces, consisting of a staggering 75,000 infantry and 5,000 ranged artillery, caught the Order off guard by positioning themselves between the Order and the escape portals. The Order's forces, though lesser in number and composed mostly of various mage divisions and 5,000 infantry, intended to utilize their magical expertise. The Krugar's strategic advantage complicated the Order's retreat plans, resulting in a stalemate.
As the conflict ensued, the Order's specialized mages used their formidable magical abilities to counteract the larger Krugar forces. The Arcane mages, utilizing their powerful spells, served as the primary offensive unit, while the Healer and Nature Mages provided support and sustenance. Despite the Order's magical prowess, their disadvantageous position and the Krugar's persistent advance resulted in a protracted, casualty-ridden conflict. In a desperate final move, the four archmages unleashed a devastating spell that killed or mutated all Krugar defenders, rendering the land a wasteland.
Only a reduced force of the Order managed to retreat to Arvandor, leaving behind a desolate battlefield.
Three years following the Rankin battle, the Kingdom of Eryndor formally disbanded the Order of the Arcane. Subsequently, the practice of magic as an organized discipline declined rapidly. Most mages spread across Aldor in search of anonymity. Magic became a peripheral practice, confined to parlor tricks and entertainment in isolated locales.
Historical Significance
Despite the dissolution of the Order, their legends and documents persisted for centuries. When
Sidrus Ejafi discovered the Locus of Knowledge and began constructing what would eventually become the
Conclave of the Keepers, he took upon himself the task of reuniting the dispersed mages. Drawing upon the principles and legends of the Order, Ejafi structured the Conclave as a reimagining of the erstwhile institution.
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