The West, or Western Empire as it was once known, was first settled four centuries ago, during the twilight of the Elentian Empire. Prior to that time small city-states and kingdoms existed, but such islands of civilization were rare in the vast expanse of wilderness dominating the region.
Most cities were nestled in sheltered valleys or other easily defended terrain. Those that weren’t quickly fell prey to tribes of brutal orokh, trolls or roaming monsters.
All this changed when the Elentian Empire turned its attention to the west. An expedition led by Lord Commander Britton Justarius was sent to locate Catalysts of note, and during the course of their exploration discovered a site so powerful the Elentian Empire could not ignore it.
The area Justarius discovered contained two Catalysts. The first they dubbed The Heart of Fire. It was an enormous cavern of flame and lava, with a gargantuan fire ruby nestled at its very center. Their initial study revealed that the ruby was growing, and that careful cultivation would allow them to mine the Catalyst for a near endless supply of Fire Rubies.
Fire Rubies could be used by mages to fuel their spells, allowing them to stay on the battlefield longer. The rubies could also be used as components for Eldimagi, a near priceless resource.
Not far from the Heart of Fire lay a second Catalyst nearly as important. A tunnel had been bored through the walls of creation opening a portal into the Void. Just across the threshold lay the severed arm of what could only be an elder god. It was so massive that the trek from the stump to the fist took nearly twelve hours.
The stump excreted enough viscous black blood to form a small lake. Anyone willing to drink from the lake could catalyze, though the grim act was unsettling to most.
The nobility of the Elentian Empire was filled with feverish excitement at these discoveries. The Heart of Fire was enough to justify the founding of a new province, but the addition of The Arm catapulted the site to singular importance.
The creation of the famed Imperial Battlemages required both a Fire and a Void catalyst. Normally this meant shuffling apprentices through thousands of miles of hostile wilderness.
Having a Fire and Void catalyst in close proximity meant they could train battlemages in relative safety. This duality existed nowhere else in the world and simplified the creation of what was widely regarded as the Elentian’s most powerful weapon.
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The Found of the Hasran Province
Emperor Jhordil commissioned the founding of the Hasran Province, and stationed two full legions of imperial troops to oversee the construction. They guarded the thousands of miners and workers who labored night and day to construct a citadel to protect the site.
Unfortunately the remote location caused great difficulty in getting shipments of fire rubies back to the capital, or sending potential battlemages to the new Hasran university. The Elentian’s needed a secure method of travel between the capital and the Hasran Province.
Initially the empire sent small convoys of ships along the coast of the Southern Ocean, but such a trek was extremely hazardous as it brought them near The Maw. Once past it they traveled up through the South Sea and debarked on the Plains of Ebat Cen.
The trip didn’t end there. It required another three thousand mile journey over land, which was the most dangerous part of the trip. Many expeditions were lost, and the rest suffered casualties.
The emperor knew there had to be a better way.
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The Pipe
How do you bridge a six thousand mile gap under constant assault by Orokh, trolls and all sorts of other menaces? You go under them.
The Elentian Empire realized that setting up a continent spanning road simply wasn’t feasible. It would take enormous amounts of work to create and near constant patrols to keep it safe. Yet they needed a more secure way to import fire rubies from the distant Hasran Province to the heartland of their empire.
This problem plagued them for nearly a decade before an enchanter named Yalaris came up with a solution. Instead of build a road, why not dig a tunnel? The Orokh Plainsrunners and Horselords of Ebat Cen were forces to be reckoned with, but dig a tunnel under them and you avoided both.
Construction of The Pipe began in earnest. Over the next decade tens of thousands of slaves were sacrificed to dig a tunnel between the Elentian city of Silesia and the new Hasran province.
Nearly a dozen enchanters lined the interior with strengthening runes, with warmasters and battlemages stationed at guard posts every ten miles just in case a subterranean threat found its way inside.
When it was finished the Elentian’s had a foolproof method to move men and material to their new province. The Pipe had the added benefit of allowing the Elentians to connect the outposts they’d created throughout the West, including modern day Arlen and Valys.
