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Description
Many civilisations had become consumed by magic. Luxor had reached great heights with it, but had also succumbed to it. And the free city-states of Hellenia boasted the best mages in the known world, yet their homelands plagued by monsters born from their experiments.

The Empire recognised the intrinsic threat of magic use, and to this end it sought to regulate it. To make it safe.

There were several state-sanctioned magic schools in the Empire, and only the truly worthy could attend them. And though magic was permitted to civilians, only a select few spells were legally allowed - anyone caught using spells from forbidden categories, such as blood magic and necromancy - were crucified as heretics. But this did not stop countless dark cults from forming in underground Imperial society, right under the noses of the authorities.

Despite the Empire's best attempts, they could not control magic. The very essence of it could linger in the same a spell was cast for years after, and this became a huge problem for their massive urban centres.

The Imperial City in particular was haunted by the effects of magic. Excess magic energy contaminated the water and the earth, causing varied side-effects. It was said if the conditions were right, the dead would even rise from their tombs to haunt the living once more.

One such example occurred in 507 IC at the Proventus Villa, on the outskirts of the city. Proventus Villa was a quaint place surrounded by apple orchards, yet its idyllic scenery was interrupted when deceased slaves buried on the property began to wake.

Some vague memories of their past lives drew them back to the villa, where they wandered aimlessly. When anyone got too close, they attacked. The owner's youngest daughter was killed when she tried to talk to them, as she had done when they were alive. Whatever made them docile in their natural lives was long gone - these were hollow creatures who only existed because the taint of magic had seeped into their bones.

Proventus Villa was abandoned for some time, before the family hired a mercenary to take care of the problem. Some say it was an Orc who took up the challenge.

- - - -

Rendered in Daz Studio Iray. Post work in Photoshop.

Description
Many civilisations had become consumed by magic. Luxor had reached great heights with it, but had also succumbed to it. And the free city-states of Hellenia boasted the best mages in the known world, yet their homelands plagued by monsters born from their experiments.

The Empire recognised the intrinsic threat of magic use, and to this end it sought to regulate it. To make it safe.

There were several state-sanctioned magic schools in the Empire, and only the truly worthy could attend them. And though magic was permitted to civilians, only a select few spells were legally allowed - anyone caught using spells from forbidden categories, such as blood magic and necromancy - were crucified as heretics. But this did not stop countless dark cults from forming in underground Imperial society, right under the noses of the authorities.

Despite the Empire's best attempts, they could not control magic. The very essence of it could linger in the same a spell was cast for years after, and this became a huge problem for their massive urban centres.

The Imperial City in particular was haunted by the effects of magic. Excess magic energy contaminated the water and the earth, causing varied side-effects. It was said if the conditions were right, the dead would even rise from their tombs to haunt the living once more.

One such example occurred in 507 IC at the Proventus Villa, on the outskirts of the city. Proventus Villa was a quaint place surrounded by apple orchards, yet its idyllic scenery was interrupted when deceased slaves buried on the property began to wake.

Some vague memories of their past lives drew them back to the villa, where they wandered aimlessly. When anyone got too close, they attacked. The owner's youngest daughter was killed when she tried to talk to them, as she had done when they were alive. Whatever made them docile in their natural lives was long gone - these were hollow creatures who only existed because the taint of magic had seeped into their bones.

Proventus Villa was abandoned for some time, before the family hired a mercenary to take care of the problem. Some say it was an Orc who took up the challenge.

- - - -

Rendered in Daz Studio Iray. Post work in Photoshop.