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Collected Lore, Vol IV: Decline & Fall




Preserved Oil Painting, c. 344AC, "Remember The Wall"

Editor's Note: This volume contains the most references to occultism in all the Collected Works, yet congruently also contains the highest frequency of known Occultic symbols. These have by and large been subtly removed from all published volumes distributed in Osronan and Therian bookstores.


Despite the long history of the Astyans being recorded in many works - particularly stone carvings - the exact circumstances of their great and ancient empire's decline is still widely debated. Generally there are two main theories; the slow decline, and a rapid downfall. Most theories however agree that the beginning of the end for the Astyan people was the ascension of Amelia Eliade. History does not treat her particularly well -- indeed, most relevant documents were scrubbed clean of her presence long before the end.

The first theory considers the long period after the awakening of occultic magic and the heavy (presumed) tampering of the flow of Time by an unidentified Petrakis (in astronomical history, this was also the first known sighting of the star Yauntu, a notable harbinger of ill omen). Though the details of these events have largely been lost to history, it's undeniable that later costly wars and civil strife left the once-great Astyan-territory growing ever smaller. These independent territories would expand to become today's powerful kingdoms and empires.

The second theory points to the continued longevity of the Astyan Kingdom itself for proof that its existence might have continued indefinitely, were it not for the outside invasion of Mordred. It's this singular war that, the theory claims, immediately began a rapid and irreversible process of disintegration. The Astyan military, once thought invincible, were swiftly defeated and the Astyan heartlands left unprotected, allowing Mordred a swift assault on the capital and the general rout of all remaining citizens, and the kingdom became a ruined wasteland for centuries thereafter.

Copper Engraving found in Astyan Tomb, c. 310AC 

Details of the actual escape from Astya are understandably sketchy at best; most so-called 'contemporary' accounts have generally been found to be written hundreds of years later. What's known for certain is the remaining Astyan refugees were transported by Divine providence to relative safety; a side-effect of which was a slow descent into obscurity and eventual disappearance from the historical record, as well as the subsequent growth and eventual dominance of Esshar itself, from the ashes of a dead culture.

Today, we are left with only what relics Time has chosen to keep behind. Most interesting are their runes and scripts, found in many places throughout Esshar in the form of standing stones, ancient monuments, abandoned fortresses, and ancient stone buildings. Even after millennia, their once-powerful control of magic makes exploration of these places a dangerous prospect. 



Addendum; The People of Sorrow

In the early days of Astyan exploration of Aegis after their flight from the homelands, they came upon a strange and elusive people who nevertheless aided the refugees in their search to find a new place to settle; by all accounts this was in fact an early tribe of who we know today as the Magnolians. Their own history is even more elusive than that of the Astyans, who've at least left a lasting legacy of Essharan families, and crumbling relics of a bygone era.

These early refugees lost much of their ancient and vast knowledge on the flight from Astya; most of the survivors had been civilians and noncombatants. It's speculated in some sources that the Magnolians granted the refugees some kind of assistance, not the least of which was the encouraging gift of the lands west of the mountains, with no-doubt strong hints to stay on that side. 

The earliest pre-Osronan writings confirm the arrival of the 'People of Sorrow' to the peninsula in roughly 284 AC - these writings are contradictory on the exact makeup of these people beyond them having the tattered remnants of a once-advanced military force (likely the last of the Astyan Scouts) along with a large group of civilians. 

Epilogue

What is the lesson we can learn from history? There are many -- and indeed the most clear lesson of all is that even the greatest among us can be driven to great depths by the merciless flow of Time and the insidious hand of the Occult. The history of the Astyan people is indeed a history of the Essharan people, for their birthright lives on. One only needs to look to the grand Magi of the Osronan noble families to see what became of the Astyan's famously powerful magical talent, despite their remarkable advances and culture being lost to us.