Third Age

aka Age of Iron

The Third Age was truly the age of one power: the Marasinian Empire. Marasinia was a great magocracy that rose to lay claim over the majority of the known world. Their 500 year rule was marked by great achievements and even greater injustices. Life tended to be good for those of the empire - as long as they accepted the empire's rules. The years presented below are more accurate than those given for the previous ages, generally within a range of 10-20 years.

Rise and Reign of the Marasinian Empire (552 to 1079)

Marasinia started as a small city-state on the western shore of the Thallosean Sea. It arose after the collapse of the Thallosean Empire following the Divinity War. The city was ruled by a small council of ambitious wizards known as Mystarchs. Over time, the Mystarchs extended their domain, expanding throughout central Karnathas to eventually dominate the entire continent as well as most of Atharys and northern Zarkhir. Their campaigns of conquest and acquisition of new territory continued throughout the life of the empire, until it was destroyed by the Thaumaturgical Wars.

Mystarchs Unleash Genocidal Disease on the Elves (903)

Among the many who resisted conquest by the Marasinians were the elves. In spite of their best efforts, the Mystarchs were never able to subjugate the Sylvari, and were generally on the losing side of battles with the ancient race. They finally decided that if they couldn't rule the elves, they would simply eliminate them. The Mystarchs engineered an alchemical disease that was one-hundred percent fatal and only affected elves.

In 903 they unleashed their creation on the Sylvari. Countless elves died in the initial wave as the Mystarchs had hoped. Unfortunately for them, the disease worked a little too well. The incubation period was short enough that when a major population center was infected the bulk of its inhabitants died before it could spread much farther. Numerous elves were able to escape the attacks while the Mystarchs began to refine the disease. Most of the refugees ended up fleeing to Elthanamir. The Mystarchs were unable to break through the island kingdom's defenses, but they contented themselves with having solved their problems with the Sylvari.

Mystarchs Discover Nethermagic (1070)

In 1070, the Marasinians discovered a new form of mystic energy that was later dubbed "nethermagic". Unbeknownst to them, this event was the precursor of their empire's destruction. Wizardry using nethermagic made spell casting easier and the resultant effects more powerful than when using conventional magical energy. However, it had dangerous side effects - its use was addictive, and it slowly destroyed both the caster's sanity and the environment around him. The Mystarchs didn't realize this until it was too late.

Thaumaturgical Wars (1074 to 1079)

Nethermagic use persisted for a number of years before the Mystarchs became aware of the consequences of its use. A few were able to stop, but most couldn't even if they wanted to. As a result of the madness brought on by nethermagic use, the empire fragmented as each Mystarch carved out his own portion and waged war on the rest, succumbing to paranoia and delusions.

The Marasinian Empire was torn asunder by civil war. Great magical weapons and powers were unleashed that have seen no equal to this day; landscapes were razed, cities obliterated, and untold numbers of people were killed. Lands previously conquered broke away from the empire, fighting amongst themselves for what they could scavenge from the chaos when they weren't being attacked by the insane Mystarchs. Humanoid tribes took advantage of the situation as well, attacking settlements left unprotected by the wars.

The Thaumaturgical Wars lasted for over five years. No victor emerged from the conflict; it ended simply because there was no one left with the ability or will to fight. The survivors gathered in a handful of civilized enclaves along the coasts, fortifying their settlements and strongholds and focusing on little more than daily survival.

Gaius Cordaryan seizes Ulthia (1078)

In 1078, the Marasinian general Gaius Cordaryan abandoned fighting in the Thaumaturgical Wars when he realized its ultimate futility. With a large force of soldiers and citizens he traveled to southern Karnathas and seized control of the city of Ulthia.

Destruction of Kyrantheum (1079)

One of the final events of the Thaumaturgical Wars was the destruction of Kyrantheum, the capital city of the Marasinian Empire. At another time this would have been a monumental event, but by the end of the wars most people weren't even aware it occurred and of those who did very few cared. It's unknown what exactly happened but the most likely theory is that Mystarchs were battling for control of the capital when a spell or ritual went awry and reduced the city to a smoldering ruin of broken and blackened stone. The ruins of Kyrantheum are now known as the Black City of Wizardry.