The Age of Concentrated Mastery

The start of the modern era was defined by the formation of the Arae. To the Barons, they are trusted advisors, governors of their lands and above all else, the most elite warriors the world has ever seen. The investment into smaller and smaller groups of soldiers was intended accomplish one goal - to wage effective war with the least number of people. One Arae could best twenty good soldiers in combat and twenty Arae could repel an invasion. Talent destined for this future is identified early and training is constant. To be granted the honor of Arae, the person must be more than an elite fighter. The Barons know full well that ultimate strength leads to ultimate betrayal. The Arae are effective organizers, accomplished in battle and fiercely loyal to their Barons. An Arae is an extension of their Baron. Their long term goals align with the Baron's vision for their territory and any action they take is in service of that vision.

Many other events shaped the new era. Mastery craftsmen and subject specialists were now deeply entrenched as society's most valued and highest paid workers. The concept of nobility was largely redefined around ability itself. While the political arena is still a haven to the occasional talent-less silver tongue, entities such as trading, crafts and mercenary guilds carry significant influence. While daily implementation of policy for Barony towns is left in the hands of capable administrators, real autonomy is largely an illusion. The true rule belongs to the Arae, the Regents and the Baron.

Trade and communication also resumed. Reopening relations led to reopening of old wounds and new conflicts. Small, elite squadrons were formed, each led by an Arae to address internal and external feuds. Skirmish warfare has been perfected and has become the norm. Recently, with Barony borders clearly defined, fighting is rare and often the result of claim disputes or acts of retaliation.

Mal Oran has been recognized as a Barony, now ruled by one of Morwyn's descendants. With its borders opened for travel and trade, Mal Oran has also introduced a new change into the world: oil. The concept of a burning source of energy is still new to the Baronies. It is currently used to power forges and other craft machinery. Experiments are being performed to leverage it with siege weapons, though attempts so far have resulted largely in accidental injury. The future of oil in the Baronies is uncertain, though those with vision view it as a potentially critical commodity and keep a careful eye on Mal Oran's control of it.

Argem has been dormant since the last plunge during the Swell. It was soon discovered that the Chain would not trigger if its limit was exceeded in its own current vicinity. Not long after this discovery, a community quickly expanded in the vicinity of Argem's tip, eventually growing into the size of a city numbering nearly fifty thousand souls. The Free City of Exen lies on the northern coast of the continent, within reach of The Vale, Mal Oran and the Vjor, yet controlled by neither. Its most capable minds have discovered a critical benefit of the Chain. It can be mined, yielding an indestructible alloy named Iryum, imbued with a natural affinity for enchantment. The Chain itself regenerates any lost contents, though the mining process is so difficult, requires so much finesse and leaves so little margin for error, that yields are minuscule and highly valued. To mine enough Iryum to forge a single blade to a sword would take close to a full year.

Skillful exploration has also yielded results. The first evidence of potential civilizations lost to a time before the Nomads was uncovered through the location of two ancient ruins, the only ones known to exist that contain areas still unexplored. The first, called The Well, can be found among the rocky peaks of Spire Sound, with speculation that whatever lies in the depths of the ruin was responsible for the formations that make up the inlet of spires. The second, called the Frozen Tomb, has barely been traversed. It rests north of Mal Oran, in a frozen wilderness known as the Icy Void. The secrets of both are on the minds of many a Baron, all of whom seek to gain advantage in a world of limits.