Malverand was a vast human empire in Valrindor, extending from lands now called Xalmyrra to Skarnheim. Its capital was Maraveth, and other nations arose within its former territory. The surviving community around the capital eventually became Shroudvale.
Territory and legacy
The empire’s lands were once rich in gold and harvests. Great towers rose from Maraveth, but only a few remained after its fall. Malverine, the common language of Valrindor, originated in the empire.
Shaper aftermath
Malverand had already fallen when the darkness threatened its remaining settlements. Zal’therak offered the survivors power, but it failed to halt the darkness. Malcairn and Zharrek pursued essence infusion instead. After their initial experiment failed, Zharrek trapped Zal’therak in a shard and used its power to transform the population. The darkness receded as the transformed people reshaped their surroundings.
Those who refused the changes left; those who stayed became known as essence shapers, and their land became Shroudvale. When Zharrek attempted to expand, an alliance of Skarnheim, Thundermarch, Shaoying and Linsothar defeated the shapers. The victors enclosed the corrupted territory behind a massive wall.
Malverand was a vast human empire in Valrindor, extending from lands now called Xalmyrra to Skarnheim. Its capital was Maraveth, and other nations arose within its former territory. The surviving community around the capital eventually became Shroudvale.
Territory and legacy
The empire’s lands were once rich in gold and harvests. Great towers rose from Maraveth, but only a few remained after its fall. Malverine, the common language of Valrindor, originated in the empire.
Imperial government
Arcanis devised Malverine to overcome language drift. Barachiel banned other forms of communication and sent enforcers throughout the empire; settlements where language drifted were destroyed and their residents relocated. The language outlasted the empire itself.
Fragmentation and collapse
Barachiel’s disappearance left the empire without an emperor. The guardians offered the throne to anyone capable of wielding the divided shards, but none of the candidates succeeded. Michael governed from Maraveth through the Maraveth Ascendant Consulate, while rebellions and rival guardians fractured the provinces.
Jeremiah broke away in Jazarel. Eremion absorbed Thamrielle’s army, while Uriandel and Sigvariel fought over their territories. Raphael forced Jeremiah back under imperial control and then turned against Michael. Skarnheim declared its independence in 2085 AX.
Thalion and Isandriel led the Order of Thalion Zenith against the guardians. The Order destroyed their imperial rule, and Thalion had Malverand’s history erased and forbade his companions from speaking of it.
Shaper aftermath
Malverand had already fallen when the darkness threatened its remaining settlements. Zal’therak offered the survivors power, but it failed to halt the darkness. Malcairn and Zharrek pursued essence infusion instead. After their initial experiment failed, Zharrek trapped Zal’therak in a shard and used its power to transform the population. The darkness receded as the transformed people reshaped their surroundings.
Those who refused the changes left; those who stayed became known as essence shapers, and their land became Shroudvale. When Zharrek attempted to expand, an alliance of Skarnheim, Thundermarch, Shaoying and Linsothar defeated the shapers. The victors enclosed the corrupted territory behind a massive wall.
Malverand was a vast human empire in Valrindor, extending from lands now called Xalmyrra to Skarnheim. Its capital was Maraveth, and other nations arose within its former territory. The surviving community around the capital eventually became Shroudvale.
Territory and production
The empire’s lands were once rich in gold and harvests. Its capital was supported by satellite settlements supplying food, materials and labor, with mining in the surrounding mountains. Roads connected the provinces, while skyships carried people and supplies between imperial centers.
Arcanis’s cores distributed essence through towers, allowing ordinary citizens to use magic. Excessive local draining corrupted the land, so Eremion developed remote towers and logistics to supply the cities without exhausting their surroundings. He built Blackcrag into a center for mining and production. Controlled burning enriched farmland, while Morindel grew around another major tower.
Imperial government
Under Barachiel, the empire was ruled by powerful mages known as its guardians. Arcanis created Malverand hearts that allowed them to survive otherwise fatal injuries. Provincial guardians controlled land, armies and the production that sustained their cities.
Arcanis devised Malverine to overcome language drift. Barachiel banned other forms of communication and sent enforcers throughout the empire; settlements where language drifted were destroyed and their residents relocated. The language became Valrindor’s common tongue.
Failed succession
Barachiel vanished in 1021 BX after crossing a gate that Khauren had tampered with; his star shard split apart. The guardians offered the throne to anyone capable of wielding the divided shards, but none succeeded. Michael took on the emperor’s responsibilities without accepting the title. Arcanis also disappeared, leaving the empire without the engineer who understood its most advanced machinery.
The guardians curtailed essence use and reduced the towers’ output to preserve stability. Michael commissioned a hidden vault beneath the Maraveth Ascendant Consulate to protect the guardians’ artifacts. Researchers could still build towers, ordinary skyships and gates, but no longer understood the gates’ function; further innovation stalled.
Fragmentation and collapse
Rebellions and rival guardians fractured the provinces. Jeremiah broke away in Jazarel. Eremion absorbed Thamrielle’s army, while Uriandel and Sigvariel fought over their territories. Raphael forced Jeremiah back under imperial control and then turned against Michael. Skarnheim declared its independence in 2085 AX.
Raphael and Eremion later reunited the empire as two domains, each ruling one half. By 2103 AX, their forces had retaken Thiravos and Theryssa; Raphael also ruled Crosford. This reconsolidation did not last. Thalion and Isandriel led the Order of Thalion Zenith against the guardians, ending their imperial rule. Thalion had Malverand’s history erased and forbade his companions from speaking of it.
Shaper aftermath
Malverand had already fallen when the darkness threatened its remaining settlements. Zal’therak offered the survivors power, but it failed to halt the darkness. Malcairn and Zharrek pursued essence infusion instead. After their initial experiment failed, Zharrek trapped Zal’therak in a shard and used its power to transform the population. The darkness receded as the transformed people reshaped their surroundings.
Those who refused the changes left; those who stayed became known as essence shapers, and their land became Shroudvale. When Zharrek attempted to expand, an alliance of Skarnheim, Thundermarch, Shaoying and Linsothar defeated the shapers. The victors enclosed the corrupted territory behind a massive wall.
Malverand was a vast human empire in Valrindor, extending from lands now called Xalmyrra to Skarnheim. Its capital was Maraveth, and other nations arose within its former territory. The surviving community around the capital eventually became Shroudvale.
Territory and production
The empire’s lands were once rich in gold and harvests. Its capital was supported by satellite settlements supplying food, materials and labor, with mining in the surrounding mountains. Roads connected the provinces, while skyships carried people and supplies between imperial centers.
Arcanis’s cores distributed essence through towers, allowing ordinary citizens to use magic. Excessive local draining corrupted the land, so Eremion developed remote towers and logistics to supply the cities without exhausting their surroundings. He built Blackcrag into a center for mining and production. Controlled burning enriched farmland, while Morindel grew around another major tower.
Foundation
Lothar established Maraveth’s council and suggested the name Malverand for its growing nation. Michael and Raphael joined the council, followed by Barachiel and Arcanis. Barachiel’s leadership and Arcanis’s inventions drove its expansion. Lothar had given Barachiel the ability to learn spells rapidly and Arcanis the ability to see the world’s patterns.
Lothar also proposed enforcing a common language. Arcanis created Malverine with Aruviel’s help. Barachiel banned other forms of communication and sent language enforcers throughout the empire; settlements where language drifted were destroyed and their residents relocated. This native empire is distinct from the Malverand Intergalactic Empire on the other Valrindor.
Imperial government
Under Barachiel, the empire was ruled by powerful mages known as its guardians. Arcanis created Malverand hearts that allowed them to survive otherwise fatal injuries. Provincial guardians controlled land, armies and the production that sustained their cities.
Failed succession
Barachiel vanished in 1021 BX after crossing a gate that Khauren had tampered with; his star shard split apart. The guardians offered the throne to anyone capable of wielding the divided shards, but none succeeded. Michael took on the emperor’s responsibilities without accepting the title. Arcanis also disappeared, leaving the empire without the engineer who understood its most advanced machinery.
The guardians curtailed essence use and reduced the towers’ output to preserve stability. Michael commissioned a hidden vault beneath the Maraveth Ascendant Consulate to protect the guardians’ artifacts. Researchers could still build towers, ordinary skyships and gates, but no longer understood the gates’ function; further innovation stalled.
Fragmentation and collapse
Rebellions and rival guardians fractured the provinces. Jeremiah broke away in Jazarel. Eremion absorbed Thamrielle’s army, while Uriandel and Sigvariel fought over their territories. Raphael forced Jeremiah back under imperial control and then turned against Michael. Skarnheim declared its independence in 2085 AX.
Raphael and Eremion later reunited the empire as two domains, each ruling one half. By 2103 AX, their forces had retaken Thiravos and Theryssa; Raphael also ruled Crosford. This reconsolidation did not last. Thalion and Isandriel led the Order of Thalion Zenith against the guardians, ending their imperial rule. Thalion had Malverand’s history erased and forbade his companions from speaking of it.
Shaper aftermath
Malverand had already fallen when the darkness threatened its remaining settlements. Zal’therak offered the survivors power, but it failed to halt the darkness. Malcairn and Zharrek pursued essence infusion instead. After their initial experiment failed, Zharrek trapped Zal’therak in a shard and used its power to transform the population. The darkness receded as the transformed people reshaped their surroundings.
Those who refused the changes left; those who stayed became known as essence shapers, and their land became Shroudvale. When Zharrek attempted to expand, an alliance of Skarnheim, Thundermarch, Shaoying and Linsothar defeated the shapers. The victors enclosed the corrupted territory behind a massive wall.
Modern restoration attempt
Raphael later gathered followers to restore Malverand’s rule over Valrindor. After Aldar’s attack left him close to death west of Cyndarel, Alistair placed a device on Raphael and detonated it with a cosmic ray. The blast killed Raphael, and Alistair recovered his Malverand heart. Before the modern Valrindor Council meeting, Raphael’s surviving followers, including Eliona and Gabriel, recognized that the empire would not return. Their forces survived under new leadership, but Malverand remained a fallen empire.