Scarred by a great war in its past, Zauberra has played its role in the history of the realm. It is home to the one of only two highly visible mages guild schools, the Zauberran Academy. It is from here that the great war started. A young, but powerful, student, Kagero Cantaband, had taken up the worship of Kuladar after visiting the northern towns beyond the dwarven kingdom of Dardandon, where through the worship of Vinincia, the Dark God Kuladar was revered. Her research into books written about Ryder Salice and the Dark Wars brought her to the attention of the Guild Master. Seeing that the possible goal of her inquiries could be the freeing of Kuladar from the prison of his own realm, he questioned her severely. It is thought that he was not satisfied with her answers and proceded to expel her from not only the Academy, but the Zauberran Mages Guild itself. To be expelled from one guild is to be expelled from them all, the unwritten, unspoken law of the Guilds Council. Her only hope to free the Dark God gone, Kagero went back to the northern towns. Several years later she returned to the Academy at the head of an army. Though she was personally defeated by the Guild Master, himself, the war had only begun.
A war that would drag on for decades leaving thousands and thousands dead on both sides and the land battered and scarred, but it was the final battle that changed this land forever. In one final confrontation, the bulk of the mages from the Zauberran Academy led a full frontal assault on Kagero's fortress. The mages combined their power into one spell, what it was is still unknown to this day for fear it may be used again. Kagero was somehow able to partially deflect the attack to her east and west, but the devastation was barely comprehendable. All but her and her lead general were vaporized instantly. As many as had been killed in the worse year of the war died that day. The entire continent shook for several minutes. Tidal waves spawned by this earthquake inundated Ponua and reached Nepana, Kednohom, Kryastal Main, and Jafre. Back on Zauberra, all land north of the mountains seemed enveloped in two vortices of energy divided by a narrow corridor leading to the now demolished fortress. Though it is unclear as to what exactly happened to the sorceress and her general, what happened to the northern third of the continent became tragically clear. The western part was now a frozen tundra and the eastern half a burning desert. Both are virtually uninhabitable to this day and have come to be known as Kagero's Heart and Kagero's Wrath respectively. The clash between the cold and hot air off the north coast causes storms to rage constantly. Mariners call this part of the ocean the Tortured Coast of Death as sailing is very near impossible.
Since the war, only the non-human races have kingdoms of their own. The human villages and towns exist fairly independent of each other, but are all financially dependent on the port city, Te'sume. It is where all goods come in and go out of Zauberra. The former capital city of this land, Trendon, and the Zauberran Academy at its heart have faded largely into history. It is now just a glorified town with a rich history. Having both stayed neutral during the war, the elves or dwarves could if they wanted to take control of the continent, but these races prefer to stay within their own lands. The elves who left their homeland of Nepana millenia ago still live in the forest kingdom of Uisine'. Very little knowledge of these elves exists as they generally stay in their forest and outsiders are not welcome. Existing within and below the Noigan Mountains and Doirin Mountains, the dwarven kingdom of Dardandon, also, is a closed society, but more is known of them because their metalworking and other crafts is legendary. The great gates to the kingdom were closed for almost the entire war, but no longer. On a limited basis, members of other races, mostly merchants, make regular visits. Many dwarves have taken up residence in Te'sume to peddle their wears and their skill. It is largely through them that we know of this proud kingdom. Though still reeling from the events of its past, Zauberra may once again take its place upon the grand stage of history. |
