The Weaver and the Tapestry

An Excerpt from Sir Albert Ainsworth’s book “A Brief Introduction to the Old World” published in the Newhaven Journal

    With the uncertainty in the world today, and the rapid changes society is undergoing, it would be very tempting to look upon the days of our ancestors and wish we had been born in the time of unbridled wizardry and freedom. But I would caution the reader, as such thinking is fraught with a simple logical fallacy; how do you assume your situation would be any different then it is from this very day? Historians have many hypotheses about prior centuries. The clues that have been uncovered only raise more questions and leave us with fewer answers. What we have learned from years of study of the ancient texts, songs, relics and ruins, speak of a society much like our own. Dear Reader, I endeavor to lay out these discoveries in hopes your opinions of the past will be put into a fresh light and inspire you to look to your own time and let the past shape your bright future.
    I would be remiss in beginning this volume without explaining the complex nature of the enigmatic, chaotic and ever present force which has come to shape every level of life across Faerun; the Aether. Magic has always been a part of the world; indeed most people still believe it to be the controlling force in the universe in spite of its recent bending of the knee to science. It is said that magic was once as prolific and easily obtained as technology is today. Great magical civilisations expanded across the world. Some say that the sapients, flush with aetheric power, dared believe themselves to be the equal of archons. Others believe that these great magical civilisations were corrupted by Maleficium and controlled by demons. Still others claim that invaders from beyond Earth devastated the world. Whatever the true reason, what followed was a divisive event known as the Great Devastation.

The Eventide of Death

    The morbid term used to refer to this era was described as an eternal time of darkness, agony and despair. Though we have many old stories and tales, the incomplete nature, and likewise conflicting accounts, make this indeterminable timeline mysterious.
    What we have been able to ascertain with a reasonable amount of certainty is that at some point the world was overrun by the demons through the gates of Pandemonium, though the actual nature of these creatures is highly debated among scholars today. Some documents describe it as a metaphorical darkness, a powerful Entropic Evil, while others give them details as as far as making them out to be actual beings with physical form. Whatever their origin, they ravaged the lands of Faerun until they were not even recognizable. The races of the world withdrew into formidable defenses, waging a war that far outstripped any modern record. This led to what many believe was the alteration of magic and sowed the seeds of innovation. Though none have ever been recovered, the ancient stories and songs detail some colossal inventions that were used to stall the ever encroaching enemy. Many warriors were turned by the influence of the Malaficium, as told in the stories. The corruption seeped into many stout hearts and laid waste to cities before the enemy ever breached the gates.

The Weave, Aether and Maleficium

    The Weave, which was woven as a great tapestry which flowed through all life and bridged all planes, was the source of all sorcery. Its full meaning is lost to modern academia, though many educated guesses have been made. Numerous stories and tales have survived over the years, but it was not until the great scrolls were uncovered in the Dark Hold ruins that a more central theory emerged. These documents told of a tumultuous event afterwhich the Divine Tablets were remade and the Heavenly Host took their new places and ranks once again over the world. It is indicated that the Archons became aware that their power could be taken away and their essence lost in obscurity. In the wake of this, the Shadow Weave and the Weave were once again locked and entwined, binding Entropy and Order together, weaving a beautiful power that magicians and magic users could draw from. Spells and rituals were essentially a sorcerer telling the Weave to reshape reality, bend the elements to their will, and twist space and time temporarily. But the Weave would ultimately balance itself out again. Some argue this proves that Harmony is the ultimate goal of all nature while others argue that this just illustrates the importance of order and structure in nature and the world.

The Sundering

    The Aluminat teaches that the Maleficium flooded through the gates of Pandemonium and washed over earth, drawing its full force up to the gates of the mystical city Eloim Loyce. The battle reached a crescendo as the chosen of the gods marched forth, sorcerers drew their power and mages channeled such power as had never been seen before. But the potential threat of Asmodeus taking control of the Weave was thought to be a sure victory for the demons of hell. It is unknown what happened at this point as there is no record of the events that occurred to cause the greatest calamity during this era. But several events happened concurrently which altered Faerun forever. The poet and historian and poet Volo recorded the scene as he watched from the city of "Deep Waters". He described the heavens exploding as stars bolted across the heavens and meteors crashed into the earth in mushrooms of fire and ash. The earth ruptured, and the sky shattered like glass. The sea churned and boiled like a pot over a fire. Something at a fundamental level had changed.
    Like iron doors being slammed shut, the echo was felt through all the planes as the Heavens were shuttered from mortal man. The Heavens were silent. Spells and enchantments failed to produce even a spark. And it was noted the demon princes had vanished, leaving their forces without leadership. It is believed by many theologians and philosophers that a great power was used to sever the doors to other realms and planes of existence in order to shut off the forces of the Pale, and keep the Maleficum from spreading any further. Others believe this to be an act of cowardice by the Archons who had succumbed to the Maleficium and fear of losing their own followers. The Archons, the old gods, were thrown down along with their legions of angels, and perished for their sins. Others still think some other entity was responsible for this evil and its resounding effects on mankind.

The End of a Era and Rebirth

    With the balance gone, magic was never the same. Much of the knowledge was lost or incomplete. Certain types of magic disappeared overnight as its source had likewise vanished. As the many natural abilities diminished and the spells became too complicated, a new means of power and form of “magic” emerged. Over the following centuries alchemy and artificers dominated the world of magicians. Machines of power, electricity and steam emerged, the complicated clockwork devices and engines beating back the enemies of mankind, unleashing terrifying death and lethal destruction.
    Left on their own, a unified front of unlikely allies marched against the dark incursion and drove them back into the darkest recesses of the earth. The races drove the Entropy away, but stayed from delving into the depths of the deep world which they knew would spell their peril. They elected to keep the gates of this world sealed and protect the world from these evils until such a time as the races were strong enough to eradicate it from the land for good. But evil is cunning and has reared its ugly head and attempted to claw its way back into the mortal world.
    The definitive victory came on the sands of the Marunoch as the demon armies were driven into that terrible place. Their last strongholds were there in that burning desert. The armies of men, elves, beast and others, marched upon them in their machines of steel and steam and launched the largest combined assault known to history. The demon armies lasted two weeks before the human invasion of their lands accomplished a final victory over their enemies. But the price of freedom came at a great cost.

Magic and the New Age

    At long last the flag of freedom flew over a land drowned in blood. Generations which had only known the rule of their demonic masters now stood in the open world with a glaring task ahead of them. Slowly, new kingdoms rose up from the bones of their predecessors with no memory of their ancestors. But the bones of our enemies were not so far gone. Beneath the triumph of innovation and fusing of magic into metal, stone and wood, the things that go bump in the night still lingered. The very land, including man and beast, had been corrupted by the Maleficium. And still greater forces, the Weave itself, lingered in the shadows inspiring, luring and driving men to accomplish great feats of terror and wonder. Untethered, the Weave in its new chaotic form, absolute and resolute, began to influence men.
    Gone were the days when the balance of Order and Entropy would flow directly through a man. Balanced, it could be wielded. But in its pure forms it would destroy the user. Though technology was unlocking all kinds of potencial, magic could still be wielded in a limited fashion. The last time the Weave was left unmanaged magic became weird. But the severing of the Weave changed things in very direct ways. Before a few herbs crushed into powder could amplify the body's healing of a wound over time. Now those same herbs could be combined with other natural elements to completely erase the wound completely. Magical words took on real meaning, ancient phylacteries housed raw unbridled energy, artifacts produced strange effects and the combination of certain items could create powerful spell effects. Seemingly mundane objects now had amplified qualities and magical artifacts were dangerous. Some items possessed special qualities unnatural to its species. The raw ether created powerful, but violent reactions, making some things more powerful and others too wild to control. Magic was stronger in some respects, and manageable by using vessels to carry and wield it effectively.

Old Wounds

    Following the downfall of the last formidable threat to humankind, the ragtag armies returned to their cities and set about restoring order to the chaotic lands. Dwarves returned to their mountains and fortified their strongholds. Elves returned to their ancient forests and tended to the earth once again. Man focused on rebuilding his cities and towns. Everything else mixed into the gaps in between. The cooperation and unity wavered in those early years of shaky peace. Droughts, famines and violent weather greeted the victors as they returned home. The starvation, disease or death from abyssal corruption ravaged those who survived. The War was over. But many wars remained to be fought.
    It is unfortunate that the old wounds festered in those stark conditions. Men could only do enough to keep their own people alive, much less anyone else. This caused many to withdraw into their strongholds and refuse help to any outsiders. Mistrust, paranoia and feuds broke out despite the efforts of the new leaders of the world. It took only a few years before the races of the world were threatening to unleash the terrible tools of destruction upon each other.

The Treaties of New Tide

    When it seemed mankind would snuff out his very existence by his fear and pride, the first miracle appeared. This is where the Aluminat Church has much authority on the subject as the events that took place gave rise to their charter. Messages arrived in the form of a man or woman, representing the lands of Faerun. It was learned that these individuals were divinely inspired to bring peace and order to the world. Spreading from the North and Northeast, the Voices shared a common goal and soon established bastions for their teachings and instruction in the Book of Order.
    The Aluminat gives each individual a name, denoting their domain and position in the hierarchy of saints and patrons. The Voices embodied the virtues of Law and Order, Justice, Prosperity, Beauty, Faith, Inspiration and Wisdom, and Truth. These Voices brought the races of men together and formed the Treaties of New Tide, which brought the world into a tentative peace. They wrote books and instructed men, becoming judges, leaders and warriors in the battle to cleanse the lands of Maleficium. Followers of the tenants of the Voices formed the Aluminat Church and venerated the Voices as each passed onto their Heavenly reward.
    The races of men were slow to trust each other. But as roads were laid down and Maleficium cleansed from the land, the cities along the Coast began to thrive. The Iron Horse, a railway created to transport weapons and goods across treacherous lands, was converted into the first public transit. Villages and towns began to spring up outside of the crucibles which they had counted on for their defense. Artificers and alchemists began to turn their attention towards making peaceful inventions and machines to ease the burden of living in this torn land. Trade and commerce began to grow. The first ships were launched into the sea, fish were caught and sold. The islands to the West were explored and cleansed in a bloody assault which cleaned out the evils dwelling in the old ruins. Soon there was art, music and lore being shared across borders, consulates and diplomatic connections were established in foreign lands. Society began to form anew and traditions regrew.

The Age of Illumination and the Black Plague

    Over the next few decades as the Maleficium was beginning to be cleansed from the land, the first new train lines were built, connecting the Iron Horse line with one stretching down the southern tip of the Sword Coast, into the mysterious lands of the South. As daring explorers and ambitious businessmen pushed out from the coast, new lines were laid down atop the bones and blood of the workers who died only daily to push the engine of industry forward. The history of his era is so complicated and numerous, it is impossible to relate all the innovation, expansion and sordid tales which graced many newspaper and passed the lips of gentlemen in club rooms. The most notable event is often referred to as the Age of Illumination; and the beginning of new woes.

    As trade and culture were exchanged in many regions, news of the Syl-Pasha who had united the South into one empire, and a new religion which had emerged which greatly contradicted the teaching of the Aluminat and the edicts of the Voices. It promoted Harmony between Entropy and Order, known as the Word. Condemned as heresy, there was a “cold war” between the religious factions, as dealings were dictated more by religious alignment than good commerce. Despite efforts of both sides to spread influence and gain converts, the results were minor. Where the Word gained traction, the Aluminat Codex has likewise seen converts.

    To further complicate the matter, the Interior northern peoples, and many other sects, cults and religions adopted worship of the old gods again. The ancient faiths seemed to spring up over the course of decades, but remained largely hidden save for the more remote regions. It was not until many hundreds of years passed before centers of worship towards old deities and chaotic archons was formed, granting power and connection with the aether that made it a threat.
    As the political and theological controversy reached a fevered pitch, everyone was reminded of a more malignant foe. Though nobody knows its exact origin, the virulent Black Plague broke out on the world and ravaged the populace. Everyone blamed the other, explaining it as divine justice upon the other for their heretical beliefs. But despite whoever started it, the disease cared not for religious lines or beliefs, but killed indiscriminately any who were vulnerable. As it continued seemingly unabated many cures were offered and accepted, but it seemed to be little more than a temporary fix. It was not until it was discovered that the source of the disease was directly linked to the Maleficium. Some argued it was the Aether, but this was quickly squelched as a vicious rumor. Maleficium was the culprit, as it was for everything else that went wrong in the world or had a nefarious appearance. Eventually, it was blamed directly on the working of a coven of hags who had used their magic to infect innocent travelers, workers in the Badlands or anyone else who came near enough to contract their vile Maleficium.

Go East, Young Men!

    Ever since the call to "Go East!" by many powerful businessmen and opportunists, the call to explore has never ceased. As a result, and despite the war of religions, the next few hundred years saw some magnificent inventions that are worth noting here. The desire to overcome the wilds which had yesterday sat crouching like a tiger outside every door. Conflict is the mother of invention. War, as we well know, inspires and removes barriers. 

    The earliest invention, still in operation to this day is the Iron Horse. Conceived by what would later become the Consortium of Hermetic Guilds. The "Guilds" would be largely responsible for many of the greatest inventions over the next few hundred years. Their unofficial oversite on everything regarding the Maleficium, Aether and magical meant they had a significant hand in invention in the early days until it was more thoroughly understood. The Iron Horse remains a crude, if not effective example of the power of order and cooperation. The train far from beautiful, as it was designed more as a military vehicle to transport armies and supplies through corrupted lands. The strange thing is that nobody knows much about it. Ask any engineer and he'll tell you that the oldest means of transportatio connects all the major cities along the coast in the High Moor and reaches far into the Maruroch Desert in the Tortured Lands. Further questioning reveals that it is powered by some kind of magic, and then he'll just shake his head. The secret of this engine was carefully concealed by its reclusive creator, and has remained a secret in his family ever since.

    James Hargreaves is credited with the invention of the first clockwork machine which revolutionized the textile industry. The "engine" was expanded upon in practically every part of life. Steam was the next step and soon the revolution was creating magnificent factories, more complex engines and even the aerostat which made air travel possible! Mining machines, looms, engines, clockwork limbs - the list is endless. Though there is much we still do not know, the possibilies are endless. Study of the aether has only added to the possiblities that the clockwork engines can do to make life easier and the use of the aether more accessible.

    The call of adventure is still out there. Many believe that progress is the answer to forming a new soceity in the ashes of the last. Others believe that the truth lies out there, hidden in the old world and just wating to be found by someone with the tenasity and will to know its worth. Whatever the cause, life will never be the same. And that is not a bad thing.