The Obsidian Tempest & Black Winds
Origins of the Obsidian Tempest & Black Wind
Doctrinal Thesis by Miridia Hovldahk of the Ruby Flame Magi's College
Preface
Throughout recorded history, the Obsidiant Tempest and Black Wind have been referred by many names. Names such as the Umbral Tempest, the Umbral Calamity, the Black Scourge, the Obsidian Affliction, the Death Anchoring, and many others have all been used to describe this cataclysmic event. It is widely believed these all refer to the same singular catastrophe commonly referred to as the Obsidian Tempest. While some scholars maintain these individual names were microcosms which occurred around the time just before the Obsidian Tempest, it is generally agreed that those hypothesized individual phenomena contributed to the raging maelstrom known as the Obsidian Tempest and its' Black Wind.
Moving Forward, of the two competing theories between what truly caused the Obsidian Tempest, this article will focus on findings deemed historically accurate as derived from other credible historical records and attempt to prove or disprove speculative theory. While an accurate account of what exactly took place in the lands this devastation occurred is difficult to encounter due to the destruction that followed the events of the Obsidian Tempest, the following is a comprehensive understanding based on findings of fact and the presently understood laws of magic and nature.
These findings were based on historical records recovered from Etrán scholars and dignitaries having managed to escape, or were away at the time of, the Black Tempest's occurrence; as well as other accurately verified accounts from historians throughout the world. However, it should be noted at the time of the tempest's occurrence, relations between Etrá and Môr’Gahldôr were tense due to alleged territory disputes likely causing prejudices to be created between the two kingdoms. Surviving Etrán records from the times just before the Tempest's occurrence depict the Môr’Gahls as a primitive and foul and were viewed to be perverters of the arcane. On the other hand, Dômearian records depicted the Môr’Gahls as a dutiful, albeit abrasive and blunt, people said by many to be powerfully and naturally gifted wielders of magic. By many accounts, the Môr’Gahls, until a few years before the Obsidian Tempest, were well regarded by many for their respect toward nature and preservation of balance in all forms.
It should also be considered that there is no record of the ancient Môr’Gahl language and it is believed the traditional language of the Môr’Gahl's was orally passed down. While many Môr’Gahls could read and write Dômearian, much of what is known about the Môr’Gahls is based on recordings from other civilizations, predominantly through Etrán and Dômearian accounts which then circulated amongst the other civilizations. It was said the Môr’Gahls loved telling stories and speaking in metaphors and, like their language, most of their history was kept through oral tradition. There are few known historical records created by the Môr’Gahls themselves in the common tongue and most of those records are told in the form of the story; which makes determining the difference between fact and fiction difficult without finding similarities in their accounts recorded by other historians.
Further, the closest form of record keeping the Môr’Gahl's held was a pictographic alphabet which depicted meaning through imagery. To this date there has been no discovery of a Môr’Gahldôrian lexicon and tragically nearly all examples of Môr’Gahl pictography remain in the ruins of their lost kingdom. What attainable examples of their pictographic language that exist have long since baffled scholars as no successful means, magic or otherwise, has been able to comprehend the now dead language. However, it is believed the alleged whispers that carry in the wind from the land of the lost kingdoms to the Blackwind Channel is in the tongue of the traditional Môr’Gahl language. Though many scholars theorize the traditional Môr’Gahl tongue was possibly a language derived itself from the arcane. This leads then to three suggestions; 1) the common means of modern tongue used to draw upon the powers of magic could have links to the ancient Môr’Gahl language; 2) the modern tongue of magic language is derived from the Môr’Gahl language, though refined and amplifying its effects; and, potentially the most frightening or exciting theory, 3) the Môr’Gahl ancient tongue is the true voice of magic and modern language is weaker and, therefore, primitive in comparison.
Further, the closest form of record keeping the Môr’Gahl's held was a pictographic alphabet which depicted meaning through imagery. To this date there has been no discovery of a Môr’Gahldôrian lexicon and tragically nearly all examples of Môr’Gahl pictography remain in the ruins of their lost kingdom. What attainable examples of their pictographic language that exist have long since baffled scholars as no successful means, magic or otherwise, has been able to comprehend the now dead language. However, it is believed the alleged whispers that carry in the wind from the land of the lost kingdoms to the Blackwind Channel is in the tongue of the traditional Môr’Gahl language. Though many scholars theorize the traditional Môr’Gahl tongue was possibly a language derived itself from the arcane. This leads then to three suggestions; 1) the common means of modern tongue used to draw upon the powers of magic could have links to the ancient Môr’Gahl language; 2) the modern tongue of magic language is derived from the Môr’Gahl language, though refined and amplifying its effects; and, potentially the most frightening or exciting theory, 3) the Môr’Gahl ancient tongue is the true voice of magic and modern language is weaker and, therefore, primitive in comparison.
Introduction
It is said the Witch-King & Raven Queens discovered, or created themselves, a dark and insidious language. The entirety of this tongue contained nothing but vile and tainted magics forgotten by history. The use of this language frayed the very fabric of the Laws of Magic causing cords of magic to break. The lack of tension caused the breaking of these cords of magic caused traditional spells potency to decrease. Meanwhile, the the Witch-King & the Raven Queens took the severed cords of magic and infused them with this vile and ancient tongue to embolden and taint the very source of the world magic.
This description is based on Etrán records by those claiming to have been in Etrá around the time of the Tempest's occurrence. As explained in the preface, it is possible the recorded depictions are based in prejudice and that the language spoken was traditional Môr’Gahl. However, it is also speculated during the years leading up to the Obsidian Tempest the Witch King & Raven Queens were manipulating the mythical "Fonts of Augury" causing disturbances in the weave of magic. This theory, may hold some truth as during this time it is recorded by several magical scholars sensing a waxing and wanning of the arcane. While the depiction of the Fonts of Augury are considered as mere imagery as a means of explaining how the cords of magic are tethered to the world, there is Dômearian record of tensions formed between Môr’Gahldôr and Dômenore citing a belief the Witch King & Raven Queens were tampering with powerful magics.
Further, the records claim the tainting of the Cords of Magic is what created the Obsidian Tempest and the Black Winds. The decrease tension on the Cords of Magic, while dampening magical potency, allowed a near untethered manipulation of the various strings of magic to be triggered by man and even natural meteorological phenomena. This in turn caused magic to be carried in the winds, rains, storms, and other naturally occurring events.
The tainting of the earth in the lands and seas of Etrá, Dômenore, Môr’Gahldôr was caused by the Witch-King & Raven Queens retethering the newly tainted Cords of Magic back into the weave of magic. It is reported Arch-Magi Vithas Báldiir, a powerful Etrán Magi, severed the the Cords of Magic from the newly incorporated taint to prevent the vile and evil incantations of the Witch-King & Raven Queens from spreading throughout all of Vóreios. It is this severance that is the expected cause that create the Black Winds and the Blackwind Channel between Dômenore and Númenas. This severance also is what sealed the storm that was known as the Obsidian Tempest, but was unsuccessfully at completely concealing its winds; known as the Black Winds.
The resulting tainting of the Cords of Magic within Etrá, Dômenore, and Môr’Gahldôr has left all life within those lands corrupted with madness and horrible mutations. Those that travel close enough to the shores of Dômenore can hear the Black Winds and the whispering of a foul and forgotten tongue in the air driving all that hear its voice to madness...
The book continues on, explaining the understandings and mechanisms of the natural laws of magic, nature, and the theorized requirements and magnitude of energy needed to have created the Obsidian Tempest.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments