Rule Illyria!

The year was 1612 when it all changed, when what we now know as Laylines shifted and opened up portals to the Abyss. At first it just seemed as if the world was tearing itself apart as storms raged mountains shifted and cities and towns were swallowed by the ground and the sea.   Then in the midst of the midst of our darkest hour the horde came. Countless Deamons and their minions flooded the land, spreading their corruption and pillaging all that they could find. Nation after nation fell until the three largest powers remained those whos empires stretched across the globe and dominated the seas. For 30 years they fought individually, making fortresses out of their cities and conscripting all who could hold a musket or a sword.   It all seemed for nothing until the smartest of us harnessed the Deamons powers for our selves. Mana our saviour and our curse, volatile and powerful we weaponised it before fully understanding it. Our Mana bombs fired by mortar and artillery decamated the battlefield. Killing thousands of our own and millions of the horde. We came together the three last remaining Empires combined their might to drive the horde back.   The fields of Estalian was where we had our first real victory. The hordes rushed our thin red line but three Volleys a minute was enough to drive them back running like the dogs they really were. Many lost their lives to give us hope that we may win the war. One by one the portals were closed, manabombs detonated within close proximity was enough to shift the Layline just enough to close the portal and stop the hordes from coming through. It took us another 20 years of blood, sweat and shot before they were all closed.   Then we realised the extent of the damage wraught upon our world. Twisted by the chaotic nature of uncontrolled magic. Wastelands of twisted magical power, rendering them unrecognisable from the green forests and yellow deserts. Alien plants and fey creatures roamed the lands in place of the deer and other natural creatures.   But now we had room to breath and time to think. We are a hardy people and this new frontier was not going to stop us. We had the power of Mana and an Industrious spirit. It was not long before we harnessed it for almost all aspects of our life. It was after in an abundance on our world. Its only downside was its chaotic nature which made it prone disaster. Still undeterred the brightest minds learned how to. Siphon this power from the saturated ground and refine it into useable energy. It would take centuries but we would reclaim our world and restore it to it to what it once was.   And then we tamed the Laylines for ourselves. The cosmicverse opened up before us in a way we had never before imagined. Countless planes and worlds to explore and spread civilisation and order. Now we find ourselves resurgent and exploring new worlds as our forefathers once did on the cradle world of our home in search of knowledge and power.   Extract from The Birth of the Golden Era by Tomain Shakeheart 75-GE