The Mageban

In the Imperial Year 382, Emperor Varrok sat upon the Ruby Throne of Nerath, lording over most of the known world. The Dwarven slaves of Craggonen had been pacified. The Lycari of the North were defeated and scattered. The Dragonborn had retreated into their jungle strongholds. But there was one threat to the Empire that was not entirely contained.

Wizards, sorcerers, and warlocks still existed within the Empire, and very few of them were wholly loyal to the Empire. In fact, the wizard Euripiderious had recently channeled unfathomable powers during the defense of the Storm Coast. Varrok considered this situation to be a problem.

He called forth his councilors, and they set up what was to become one of the Empire's greatest mistakes. The first day of the Imperial Year 895, all arcane casters whom did not mystically seal their pledge to the Empire were to be captured and put to death. For the most part, there was uproar among the wizards and the like, but the common people, thanks to lies and falsehoods spread by the Empire, supported the action.

On the first day of the year, though, many wizards came forward and had their essence bound to the will of the Emperor. They were collected into small conclaves, brainwashed and molded into tools of the Empire. The Imperial Maegi were born.

But not all arcanists submitted, especially those in the Greenlands. Hedge wizards from all over the realm made their way in secret to hidden camps in the Greenlands, where they gathered their strength and created Krysskralt, the Crystal City. Using a form of living crystal from the soil of the Greenlands, the wizards grew spires of crystal hundreds of feet tall. They then sliced the top of a mountain off and inverted it, placing the spires on the floating island of rock. Thousands if not tens of thousands of spells and rituals were cast on the city, making it impenetrable to all, excepting only those who were given special means of entering.

When Varrok heard of Krysskralt, he grew enraged, and ordered an immediate assault against the city. Hundreds of the Maegi were sent north from the capital, along with thousands of soldiers. But it was useless. No attacks could penetrate and a siege would be completely pointless. However, the Crystal Wizards did not make any aggressive moves against the Empire. They sought only freedom, not domination. And because there was such support from the common people, the Crystal Wizards refused to help them anymore. Krysskralt was hidden away, and even now, only a rare few who do not live there, have ever seen it.