The Omiroth were a race of men who lived before the shattering of the world. Though the truth as to their origins have been lost to the mists of time, legends say they came from another world, a race of slaves escaped from their wicked oppressors. Scholars, however, speculate that they came from an island nation in the Bashti Sea that sank beneath the waves in a great cataclysm. Whatever their origins, the Omiroth civilization rose quickly to become the dominant power of the known world. Over a period of less than 100 years, they built an empire which stretched across the entire world.
Though similar in appearance to ordinary men, the Omiroth were gifted in the mystic arts. Magic was in their blood, so much so that even the lowliest member of their race could shape powers from birth. Their society was built upon the use of magic and it played a part in their everyday lives. Legends speak of flying ships and light without flames, great cities floating above the earth, towers and buildings of impossible dimensions, roadways that took travelers from one end of the continent to another in a matter of minutes. In fact, the Omiroth are credited with bringing magic to the world and thus are often referred to as the Fathers of Magic. Most of the major magical artifacts of present originate from the Omiroth.
The Omiroth were divided into eight houses, based upon the form of magic with which the members a particular house were the most skilled. Each house then ruled a different area of the empire. The largest house, Valantir, whose members showed proclivity for invocation/evocation magic, ruled the central portion of the empire. The house of Fandir, those skilled in alteration magic, ruled the northwest corner for the empire, while the Emyris, skilled in Abjuration magic, ruled the northeast. The smaller, west central domain of the empire was overseen by the house of Gothregor, those skilled at necromancy. The east central area was controlled by the Irandan, or house of Illusionists. The southern region of the empire was divide between the three remaining houses; the Caineron who were skilled in divination took the southwest, the Rendane who excelled in conjuration/summoning took the south central region, and the Lordeth, or enchanters, took the southeast.
House School of Magic Standard ----- --------------- -------- Caineron Divination Serpent coiled around emerald Fandir Alteration Full moon surrounded by 4 stars Irandan Illusion Gauntleted fist grasping sun Lordeth Enchantment/Charm Leaping flames Rendane Conjuration/Summon Crossed double-edge swords Emyris Abjuration Rearing unicorn Valantir Invoc/Evocation Snarling wolf's mask Gothregor Necromancy Stricken treeEach house ruled its domain from a large central city. Other races of men and humanoids were given a place in the empire or allowed to live peacefully in an area assigned to them. Early in the formation of the empire, there were a few races who resisted the Omiroth expansion. Most notably, the Kuo-Toa, a race of human sacrificing fish-men who inhabited the shores of the continent, put up fierce opposition to the Omiroth. However, they could not hold long against the power of the empire and eventually the Kuo-toans were exterminated, all but those who managed to escape into the hidden depths of the earth. This event was known as the Omiroth/Kuo-toan wars.
For many years afterward the empire ruled in peace. However, as the power of the different houses grew, there came a division among the race. Some say it came about when leaders of the house of Fandir and the house of Emyris came together to make the Rod of Hathir (now known as the rod of seven parts), and the other houses opposed them. Others say that it occurred when Gothgregor made a pact with the evil drow to help their house gain control of the empire. Still others say the division was caused by the gods whose wrath had been kindled by the growing arrogance of the Omiroth. Whatever the reason, a rift grew between the houses and shortly thereafter war ensued.
The battle between the Omiroth raged for over ten years. Each house used it's particular brand of magic in an effort to gain control of the empire. Records of the horrors unleashed upon the cities and people during this conflict fill volumes. Legends speak of clouds of fire rolling across the land, earthquakes swallowing cities whole, armies of magical monstrosities and undead waging war. The very fabric of the land was altered in many of the domains. The fertile lands of the Valantir were blasted to sand in a great fiery cataclysm. The temperate domain of the Fandir was turned into a stark wintery landscape, with heavy snows falling year round.
The only house to escape devastation was that of the Caineron, in the southwest corner of the continent. They foresaw the coming of the battle with their divination magic and were able to prepare themselves by sealing off their boarders. They refused to take part in the genocidal war, withdrawing from the other houses. When the war ended ten years later, it was the house of Caineron that picked up the pieces. Forging a truce with what remained of the other seven houses, the Caineron's reforged the Omiroth people. Ashamed at what they had done to the land, these survivors migrated to the northeast section of the continent, leaving the only undamaged domain to the other races.
When the world was shattered by the last of the great Necromancers, probably an Omiroth himself, the remaining Omiroth vanished from what was left of the world. No one knows why or how and some still say, however, that they remain still and have recreated a smaller version of their empire on one of the unexplored fragments.
Legends of the Omiroth
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The Nine Books of Magic are a set of texts reported to be the
foundation of magical knowledge in the Shattered World. Between their
covers are said be all the known spells and magical lore passed down from
the fathers of magic. Legend has it that long ago other races of
the world petitioned the Omiroth to pass on a portion of their
arcane knowledge. Whether it was the result of some form of
coercion or their own generosity, the Omiroth agreed and set to
composing the 9 books of magic. Each house of the Omiroth
contributed 1 book to the set, with the exception of the house of
Fandir which contributed two. Within each was detailed the
formulae for the most basic magics known to that house.
Once the books were completed, the Omiroth entrusted them to the Mystic Council, a group of 12 scholars from human and demi- human races who became the first non-Omirothian mages. The Council, in turn, established the Unseen University to teach magic to other members of their races who showed the necessary proclivities. The Nine Books were housed at the university up until the time of its destruction. Even before that time, portions of the books were copied and reproduced to insure the survival of magic despite their loss. They are, however, the origins of all spells known in the realm.
Over the years the original 9 books resurfaced from time to time, and each brought great power and distinction to their owner. Finally, many years after the shattering, a mage by the name of Terribend Modrake set out to find the books and reform them as a set. After a lifetime of searching and braving great peril, he succeeded in his task. Once they were all together, he took them to a small fragment and founded what is known a Modrake's Academy of Magic. There the books have remained to the present day.
The books are described as being large, square and approximately 2 feet on a side. They are fashioned of parchment bound between slabs of wood and sewn to the white hide of an unknown creature, which has been stretched over the boards to form a cover. Each bears the emblem of the Omiroth house that created it and varies in width. They are reported to be indestructible, contained guards and wards that protect them from abuse and mishandling by the unskilled.
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