Imperium Astorum - The Mage Kingdom

The Imperium Astorum (translated from Draconic to Common as "The Empire of the Stars") was a technologically advanced society of mages that reigned from approximately 1500 to 1000 Era Caelorum (-3500 to -2000 Y.S.). The marvels of their civilization continue to baffle mages and artificers alike, from Potentia transport systems and localized gravity, to millennia-old automatons and spell-fueled armor.

### History

The most technologically advanced culture in Exnilion's history is shrouded in mystery and myth. No one really knows how their empire came to be, for no records have been discovered that date older than -3200 Y.S., and those only speak of the empire as far back as -3500 Y.S.

By their downfall at approximately -2000s Y.S., the empire had approximately 9 floating citadels, called Arces (or Pearls of the Heavens, by ancient Draconic scholars). These citadels were powered by a strange reactor that fed off of "starlight," providing the magic required to sustain the city and its automaton servant-class. According to the Draconic records of metallic dragons, a war broke out between the citadels over starlight, as the mysterious substance had begun to deplete. The chromatic scholars dispute this claim, saying that the Mageocratic upper class grew complacent, and their automaton servants staged an uprising. Ancient Jotun runes hold that a plague ravaged all life within the cities, and their population was wiped out.

Whatever the case, the Arces began to fall out of the sky. Wherever their cities landed, a virulent sickness befell the locals. Plant life withered, animals dropped dead, and humans and giants alike became incurably sick. The only creatures that seemed to be immune to the sickness were the dragons, which allowed them to salvage the cities and build a powerful empire in the vacuum that followed.

It is also believed that dragons adopted the language of the Imperium, due to it being both a highly technical language suited for science and study, as well as a tongue that the common people associated with immense power. This theory was posited by Vandryn Lambrecht in 1391, but has not been confirmed.

The first fallen citadel was discovered in 1139 Y.S., by a Roamer shepherd, 180mi east of Sabishaht.

Before 1390, people collectively referred to the civilization as either the Ordo Automagicae - for their aptitude with arcane magic before the discovery of divine magic - or the Empire of Pearls - a name they are called in Jotun Runic tablets. In 1391, the legendary Vandryn Lambrecht and a team of explorers discovered a citadel in the bay of Galdric's Hook. Their time in the flooded Arx was brief, but they discovered an important set of writings containing the name of the empire, it's current king, and the names of all 9 fallen Arces.

### Geography

The Arces were theoretically positioned in a wide ring around the known landmasses of Exnilion, orbiting over each and every continent, as well as the Olean Archipelago and the Isle of Meldan. Legends hold that they floated in the sky, like bright-white moons, a thousand feet above the ground. Each Arx could hold well over 10,000 people, and was defended by an army of automatons and the elite Praetorian guard. They were completely impervious, with records indicating they never suffered an attack. Only 4 of the alleged 9 Arces. have been discovered, but scholars have theorized the location of the remaining Arces.

### Achievements

#### Art

The citadels are constructed from a beautiful mix of Adamantium structure and Marble overlay, interwoven with strange geometric bands of copper, and lights powered by triboluminescent quartz. There are no icons or imagery of life - only marble reliefs of fire, wind, mountains, lightning, and other non-living forces of nature. The only exception is the carving of a helmet surrounded by 9 stars, found in each uncovered Arx - possibly the empire's official sigil or crest.

#### Technology

* **Gravity Wells:** Large, lavender, crystalline structures are spread throughout the various levels of the Arces. The structures emit a powerful gravitational field at a radius of 30ft, negating the gravity of Exnilion and pulling anything within range towards the center of the structure - at the same acceleration of the planet's gravity. These wells seem to be innately gravitational, but copper linkage through the citadel suggests that they can be powered and coordinated in some way.
* **Automatons:** The automatons of the Arces come in various shapes and sizes, but are all primarily made of the same stuff. Their inner workings are mostly adamantium, and they appear to be powered with a charged Necridium crystal - possibly containing a trapped soul of some sort. Their outer shells are mostly constructed of adamantium, with occasional automatons completely shielded with magic-resistant Adamanite. Their ocular systems are made of a strange glass alloy, that reacts with light, and they often have encased illuminators, made polished quartz cylinders that create light through friction.
* **Potentia Ducts:** Large ducts, full of thin copper wires and encased in flexible Adamanite rings, run throughout the city, connecting all the mechanisms that require magic - or Potentia - to function. These ducts all lead to one central chamber - The Star-Drinker Generator.
* **Star-drinker Generators:** A spherical room full of water, placed on immense ball bearings and bound to a small mechanism that generates Potentia with the friction of quartz crystals. If the water was heated to the point of boiling, the room would rotate and generate enough energy for the entire citadel. The running theory is that a small star-like energy source would be placed in the center of the chamber, and provide enough energy to continually boil water. The larger chamber containing the whole mechanism was built air-tight, and any steam would eventually condense and be pumped into the base of the generator, to be re-boiled.
* **Praetorian Armory:** The Praetorian guard were the elite mage-warriors who defended the Arces, and struck fear into the civilizations beneath. These guards boasted an arsenal of powerful weapons and armor, made of Adamantine with anodized with black accents.
	+ **Praetor Armor:** Appearing as a suite of advanced half-plate, this armor could theoretically be made into a suit of protective full-plate when powered with a wearer's spell slots. A few suits have been recovered from Arx Meteor, but were too badly damaged to test.
	+ **Praetor Sword (Spellblade):** A simple hilt with a knuckle guard, and a clip for the belt. The blade can be powered with a wielder's spells, matching the power and damage type of the spell when used as a melee weapon. Multiple blades have been recovered and/or looted from the citadels.
	+ **Praetor Cannon:** Only one cannon has ever been found, and it is currently under investigation by the Oberikon Mysticum. the long-barreled, wrist-mounted device is theorized to have the capacity to launch deadly projectiles at immense speed, but is powered by some undiscovered mechanism.
	+ **Wings of the Praetor:** A half-set was discovered in the disposal section of Arx Mechanarium. They resemble a pair of white mechanical wings, that attach to the back of a set of Praetor armor. When fueled by spell slots, they may become active, allowing the wearer to take flight.

### Politics

* Officials: The Emperor of Stars (Caesar Astorum)
* System: Mageocratic/Oligarchic Empire
* Legislature: The Common Senate (Senatus Plebeius), made up of the ten most talented mages from each city
* Exchange: The emperor would be chosen from the members of the senate; only the most capable of mages could ascend to the rank. A month of tests, duels, and displays of knowledge would ensue, and at the end, the best mage would be named emperor for life. After his death, the senate would convene to repeat the process.