War of Ars Magica

Around 900, a fleet of large sailing ships appeared on the eastern horizon, presumably crossing the Great Sea, although some traditions hold that the ships floated over water and land alike, propelled by a magical wind. Speculation on the origin, and even the existence, of the fleet is subject to scholarly debate. It is known that at that time, the feudal fiefdoms faced their first threat from the outside. A very small army of powerful warriors, aided by death-wielding wizards and fire-breathing dragons, landed near the port which would in later years become the Emperor's Celestial City. From there they slowly marched north along the shores of the Sapphire Sea. All who resisted were slain. In their wake, the Army Magica left destroyed villages and routed militia.

News of the attacks spread quickly. As the Army Magica marched north, the feudal lords in the south organized a great fighting force under the leadership of King Isolde. At the same time, an envoy to the ancient elven college of magicians was dispatched. The delegates pleaded desperately with the mages for help against the dragons and their wizard masters. In the end, a pact was struck. And although the full disclosure of that treaty has never been known, the elven Collegium Magicium has held strong sway over the Western Empire and its leaders since then. It is rumored that the soul of the emperor was sold that day to the mighty wizards in their secret council.

With the northern lords thoroughly defeated, the Army Magica returned south along the rim of the Sapphire Sea to finish their deed. However, they met King Isolde and a force of 10,000 desperate fighting men. The battle may have ended differently if not for the battle mages of the elves, which effectively neutralized the Army Magica's spell casting advantage and took down several dragons in a surprise volley of ice and lightning. In the end, the Western Empire was victorious. All the invading warriors were slain, and the few dragons and mages who fled were never seen again.

It was in 905 of the First Age of Man that King Isolde was named the Emperor of Rembia, the first in a monarchy that has lasted almost three thousand years. The Collegium Magicium established the first elven presence in the cities of mankind, despite bitter opposition from their queen. It is noted that less than fifty years later the first humans joined the college, and soon magic had become an everyday part of life in the empire.

The next four hundred years passed in relative peace and prosperity. It was a time of great education and enlightenment. Great sailing ships were constructed to sail over the ocean to the lands far beyond, advances in alchemy and medicine were made, and the proliferation of magic became widespread. Merchant trade made the Western Empire the greatest civilization in the Realm.