The Ages of Shadar

While not an era of constant fighting and bloodshed, the Queen’s War is in reference to a significant period of the Age of Queens in which the great Elven Kingdoms of the age were in both direct and indirect conflict with each other. Fighting under the banners of the White Queen and the Black Queen, Mystra and Shar respectively, the kingdoms engaged in outright conflict and cold warfare over ownership of land and the pursuit of Arcane Magic - reaching incredible heights of arcane power in the service of their queens and their kingdoms. Because of the continued loose allegiance of these kingdoms, infighting between each side was also seen throughout the war.   No records show of Mystra or Shar themselves ever taking part in the fighting - though their inaction during these conflicts appears to indicate some kind of passive support of the conflict. There are records of the two interacting with each other during this time, though not in battle.   While historians have attempted to break the war out into phases and significant turning points - such as the disbanding of the Circle of Magi and the Raids of the Sapphire Fleet, records of this period are still incomplete and the active pursuit of many historians and archeologists of the Diaspora Fractals. These pursuits spurring much of the delving and race to recover artifacts and records of this history strewn throughout the Nimbus Sea. In fact, the competitive pursuit of this between the Holy Kingdom of Shar and the Diaspora Fractals is seen by some as a faint echo of this war long past.

The climactic conflict of the War of Thorns marks the end of the Age of Darkness and is the culmination of many years of rebuilding from the survivors of The Breaking and the Haven cities of The Silver Road. Localized in the region of the Imperial Fractals, this war is in reference to a series of revolts against local Vampires that had organized into a council of allies called the Court of Thorns. These revolts were led in large part by the invention of the Skyship, under the leading banner of The Dawnbreaker captained by King Caspian Valero - who would eventually found the Valedori Empire after this victory.   The war itself was a drawn-out and bloody conflict, spanning decades of fighting across what is now Southmark and Eastmark - made difficult by both the strong fortifications of the Vampires of the region and the hordes of Undead armies under their control. While the first revolt in Sigyn's Leap was able to kick-start the conflict, it would be a long campaign across the coast of the Imperial Fractals to present-day Valedor and inland to Castle Ambrose where the final battle would take place.   While all manner of mortal peoples rallied together in the war for a common cause, some of the fiercest fighters include the Devilblood Companies, the Werewolf Clans, and the beginnings of the Imperial Army led by Damascus Ray.

The Arcane Exclusion Act was one of the first major laws put in place by the Valedori Empire at the start of the Imperial Age to maintain a level of control over the Imperial Fractals. It is also one of the most impactful laws currently upheld by any government or nation of the modern world and is single-handedly responsible for the creation of the Elven Diaspora.   While the law itself is quite clear, the implications of this have affected many different peoples. The act explicitly states the “exiling of all Shadar-Kai from the territories of the Valedori Empire” and “forbids the practice of Sorcery, the pursuit of Spellfire, and uncontrolled use of Arcane Magic”.   The last clause of this law has been widely interpreted to mean that any practice of Arcane Magic that is not directly sponsored by the Valedori Empire is subject to the punishments of the law - which are upheld by both the State Spellcatchers and the Imperial Army as a whole and can range from forced exile, life in prison, or in some cases execution. Because of the severity of this set of laws, while they are not named specifically - Wizards, Elves, and Gnomes also considered themselves unable to live a free life and practice their traditions and studies without the threat of imperial action. This led to both the event of the Elven Diaspora and the settlement of the Diaspora Fractals.   Notably, because of their importance in positions of power or economic advancement within the Valedori Empire - Bards and Artificer have often received kind treatment under this law, and even at times a pass from its consequences. So long as their use of Arcane Magic can be proved to be controlled and in the service of the needs of the empire.