En Requiem: Introduction

En Requiem is an epic universe of diverse space-faring races, ancient empires and the mysteries of magic. At the dawn of its time the universe appeared small to those who lived in it--each planet was without contact with the others, and technology reached a point where it was simpler and easier to just use magic. There would have been no change from this and the worlds would still be the same, had the Mahrgrave not appeared.

The Mahrgrave are a race of technological adepts who fled the collapse of their own universe. Not knowing their final destination they boarded vast ships called Arcworlds and voyaged beyond the boundaries of their own universe. Here they stayed, drifting for all eternity and none at all, for time does not exists where they were, in the shadow dimension. Eventually they came into contact with the universe of En Requiem. Some claim it is a rebirth of their old universe, others argue contrary, believing there are an infinite amount of universes which exist, and each can be contacted from the shadow dimension.

People had lived in the universe of EnRequiem for millenia, learning and studying the arcane forces known as Dus. As individuals increased in power and ability to manipulate Dus, they came to be known as Archons. The Archons were incredible in their ability, and often likened themselves to gods. There were also different factions of Archons. These factions have fought continually in what is known as the Eternal War.

The Mahrgrave arrived with two trump cards. While on their odyssey outside of the known universe they had discovered a way of manipulating Dus different from that used in En Requiem, later called channelling. This, coupled with their advanced technology, made them as gods themselves. Like a scythe they cut through the new universe, colonizing many worlds already inhabited by other sovereign races. During this same period the Eternal War reached a frenzied climax, followed by the exile of all Archons. In their absence rose the Mahrgrave Namhad Empire.
Many factions existed within the Mahrgrave, but in the end it was the Namhad Empire which conquered all others. The centuries of the Namhad Empire were dark, oppressive and decandent. As the automated systems of the ancient Mahrgrave continued to function, many of the new generations could not be bothered to learn the technology, and much knowledge was lost or discarded.

After years of oppression and decline the people arose and overthrew its reign, establishing a new galactic order known as the Confederated Planetary Systems. This was a republic form of government engineered by scraps of knowledge which had been passed down from generation to generation. It lasted 23 years. What followed was a bloody century known as the Chaos Wars, where civilization nearly disappeared again.
This is not to say there was no more war after the dust settled. Only that it was not an all-out continual battle. As of the current year, several sovereign empires exist (each with their own number of protectorates).

           During the Chaos Wars there was one point where a single empire rose above the others in power, nearly managing to conquer known space and establish their own new dark empire. It was only through an unprecedented allying of forces along with some treachery that the Kratcian empire does not rule to this day.
           Several hundred years in the past, its most powerful Sorcerer King sat atop the Kratcian throne. Mekvlaadin was not only the greatest Sorcerer King the Kratcian empire had seen, but he nearly reached the levels where he would be forced to join the Archons on the outer planes. He created many evil creations, but none as sinister as the Kraal, which were the heart of his dark army. The Kraal are a vile joining of a demon from the plane of Kraalerac with the sacrificed spirits of people or animals bound to the prime plane. The Kraal use the blood of the slain victims to compose their initial bodies, and are inherently shape-changers as their entire form is liquid.
           Legend tells a story of the DracoKraal. This was to be the pinnacle of Mekvlaadin's twisted creations. Mekvlaadin himself enslaved three great dragons and unified them with an Arch Demon from Kraalerac. The resulting Kraal was to be incredible in power. But before he could complete it, he was assassinated by the allies against him. With his final breath Mekvlaadin cursed his home world, burying it in thousands of feet of ice. It is believed that to the DracoKraal still lies unfinished beneath the ice in the primordial breeding pits at the depths of Mekvlaadin's tower.

           At the dawn of time the Arcane arts were new to the people of the universe, and their secrets were unknown. But mankind was inquisitive, and lusting for the seemingly infinite power they slowly cracked open its secrets. Many of these wizards became mighty, likening themselves unto gods. Violent, bloody wars were fought between rival wizard towers and orders, tearing at the very fabric of the world.
           As decades passed certain wizards gained dominance, and others in like thought and beliefs gathered around them. Over time more secrets were discovered, and even the barrier of death was overcome. As these wizards grew in their power they learned the secrets of the dimensions, and the wars were spread throughout all of the planes of existence in this universe. Wizards at this level of skill and power came to be known as Archons.
           The wars continued, and different groups where destroyed or disbanded--their members being obliterated, or fleeing to join with other stronger groups. Eventually three pantheons of power came to be. These were led by the most powerful of Archons: Dagdanicus (Pantheon of Light and Illumination), Tyr Macha (Pantheon of Darkness and Strife) and Dys Thonwy (Pantheon of the Storm).

The battle between these pantheons reached a deadlock that lasted for eons. Over time the destruction being unleashed grew to such a state that the underlying fabric of the primal plane was on the verge of collapsing. It was being torn apart by the Archons and their wars. In a desperate effort a group of heroes met in secret and created seven seals which were forged together in a powerful ward. This ward exiled the Archons and their battles to the outer fringe planes.