The War of the Aetherial Factions

Long before the establishment of the Aetheri Council and the Citadel, the southern kingdoms were home to four powerful factions of Aetheri. Each faction was united not by geography but by their shared magical ideals and philosophies.

These factions battled fiercely for control over the most magically potent sites—especially the radiant and coveted Arevael Isle, whose aether-rich soils could amplify magical abilities to unprecedented levels.

The Varneth Ascendancy

• Philosophy: Magic as dominion — the strong should rule by right of their power.
• Magic Focus: Destructive and elemental magics (fire, lightning, earth) geared toward conquest.
• Goal: To seize Arevael Isle as a seat of power and subjugate lesser Aetheri and kingdoms.

The Serene Covenant

• Philosophy: Magic is a sacred duty to preserve balance and nurture life.
• Magic Focus: Healing, protection, growth, and calming aether flows.
• Goal: To protect Arevael Isle’s ley lines and prevent its exploitation for war.

The Aether Forgers

• Philosophy: Magic is a craft, to be honed, studied, and refined like an art or science.
• Magic Focus: Enchanting, aether manipulation, and creation of magical artefacts.
• Goal: To establish a school on Arevael Isle for knowledge and innovation.

The Freeborn Flames

• Philosophy: Magic is freedom — a natural right that must remain unshackled by rules or leaders.
• Magic Focus: Wild, untamed magic with unpredictable effects but immense raw power.
• Goal: To break all restrictions and claim Arevael Isle as a sanctuary for unbound magic.

Arevael Isle was the jewel of the southern lands, radiating with potent, pure Aether energy. Each faction coveted its power - control over Arevael meant supremacy in the magical and political realms. Initial disputes over mining rights, magical resources, and territorial claims quickly escalated into open conflict.

For years, alliances formed and shattered, battles raged on land and sea. Magic clashed with magic in blazing, earth-shattering battles that levelled cities, burned forests, and tainted the skies with energy storms. Entire generations were lost.

The war’s climax was the destruction of Celestis, a floating city circling the Ethereal Vortex. Celestis was the shining jewel of the skies, a sanctuary of magical learning and the birthplace of many great Aetheri. Its fall was catastrophic - not only physically but symbolically. The city, once a beacon of hope and unity, was shattered by a battle so fierce it disrupted the vortex’s magical flow temporarily.

Witnessing the devastation, nine of the most powerful Aetheri from each faction - known later as the Founding Nine - rose above the chaos. They recognised that continued fighting would only destroy the world they all depended on.

The Founding Nine brokered a historic truce. They created the The Aetheri Council - governing body tasked with overseeing all magical users across the southern kingdoms, enforcing laws, and protecting the innocent from reckless magic.

They also founded the Aetheri Citadel , a grand fortress and academy built on neutral ground, accessible to all Aetheri regardless of faction or origin.

• It was designed to: Train new Aetheri to control and responsibly use their powers.
• Facilitate dialogue and understanding between different magical philosophies.
• Maintain balance and peace among the factions.
• Serve as a hub of magical knowledge and innovation.

The War of the Aetherial Factions left scars but also forged a new era of cooperation. The factions dissolved their armies, and while their philosophies persisted, they now operated under the aegis of the Council’s laws.

The Citadel became a symbol of hope - a place where magic was no longer a weapon of destruction but a force for healing, learning, and protection.