Pre-Update
Spring, 1999 FF (Fa'el Founding), The Year of Awakening. Karsus the diviner travels to the Academy of Turin to observe a prophesy fulfilled. It was foretold that an Adept of unsurpassed strength would be born in a carpenter's family. Karsus was to witness the coming of the child, and ensure that he would be learned in the arts of divination. The child is born, but does not carry the Spark. For the first time in the history of magic, a Mass Divination fails. The congragated diviners are in dismay, and various theories for this apparent turbulence in the time fabric are proposed. The future is unsure, and suddenly, all divinations become clouded and filled with fog and miasma. Where once the weather was easily predicted, forecasts prove false as often as true. No longer can people predict the turn of events, and Divination as a branch is severely weakened.
Summer 1999, Karsus travels with his apprentices to Lirkland to discuss the future of the Divination branch, and attempt yet another Mass Divination with the Adepts of Lirkland. They do not succeed, and discover little more of the future. Over time, minor divinations are growing increasingly difficult, almost annuling the purpose of the magic itself. The diviners debate intensely for the remainder of summer, but fail to reach any conclusion or possible solution.
Midsummer 1999, After a tenday of extensive preparation, Karsus attempts yet another divination. He breaks through the fog, and discovers the horrifying truth about the future: The Empire of Fa'el is about to fall. A vision of angry people in open rebellion spread before his eyes. The sound of battle struck his ears, and the sensation of still warm blood spread across his face and body. He fell in a convulsive fit, and raved wildly what he saw, flinging his arms with an astounded expression and unfocused eyes. At last he sank together, completely drained, and died soon after. His apprentices claim that the sudden break of the fog sent Karsus' mind flinging far into the future, and the torrent of visions simply extinguished his mind.
Fall 1999, The nation of Westshire breaks loose from the Empire, claiming sovereignity. The garrison composed mostly of locals sympathise with the rebels' cause and refuses the governor's orders. Instead of massacring the rebels, they switch sides and fight for the freedom of their people. Far in the east, the governor of Cairo officially proclaims Cairo independent. Both incident are concluded without much ado and little bloodshed, leading people to doubt the Empire's will or either ability to solve these outbreaks. Most conclude (correctly) that the Princes do not care about the border regions, but the lack of intervention only gives hope to the rebels and other dissenters. This is shown most clearly in by the end of Fall, as minor resistance turns into open revolt in many places.
Winter 1999, The Empire now faces half a dozen more revolts. The great unrest shakes the very foundation of the Empire as governors struggle with maintaining loyalty among troops and the public while desperately trying to attract the attention of the First Prince. The Princes are, however, far too immersed in intrigues and are reluctant to make the first move against the revlots in an attempt to probe out eachother and side with whatever side that is most likely to win. Obviously, they cannot wait much longer, for what is the prupose of scheming when the throne itself is about to crumble?
New Year 1999/2000, The Year of Severed Hands. Another year over, a new one just begun. The shape of the future is in your hands.
Pre-update map will be up in a few hours.
NOTE: It's still not too late to join. I have roomm for one more!
