The Great Purge

Galwyndor, at the time of the Great Purge

The Great Purge, also known as the 4th Great War, was a turning point in the history of Galwyndor. This war was waged worldwide in an effort to exterminate all creatures that could use the omnicrux, commonly known as magic.

Catalyst

After the 3rd Great War destroyed most of the world, the High Alliance - a large coalition of nations - in concert with the Last of the Eari (Eari was the other school of magic besides Draol), embarked upon a massive campaign to rid the world of magic use entirely. In its final act, the Eari sacrificed themselves to create the eight Eari Stones, one for each race, which were used to seek out and destroy those who used magic. Even though there were 8 stones, one made for each race, each race was not represented by the keepers of these, the Tal Calar.

The Meralian Accord

As a result of the destruction caused by the Fourth Great War, a Meeting of Lords was called to the kingdom of Meralia, which ultimately decided to outlaw magic usage in a bid to protect the world from further destruction. This council edict came to be known as the Meralian Accord. A total of twenty-two nations signed the agreement; it should be noted that no representatives from any schools of magic were invited save those from the Eari, and the race without representation was the merfolk. This accord decreed that wielding omnicrux was punishable by death.

The Great Armies

Two massive forces were assembled to carry out the Great Purge, one in Greater Galwyndor, consisting of forces from each of the nations there who participated in the Meralian Accord, and one force from Lesser Galwyndor, primarily made up of forces from the Aerylothian army and the Gruenor army. This vast coalition of armed forces was called the Great Army.

Last of the Draol

For seven years and three moons we pursued the last of the remaining Draol, Atury, only surviving student of Orilac the Wise and the one they called the Glyphmaster. He, accompanied by a small contingent of disciples. It was Jarl Ultar’s forces who first overtook them in the highlands of the Andermark, and held them fast, until Commander Stormloft’s retinue arrived and severed a retreat from the East. Having none of the Eari Stones in our possession therewhen, a fierce battle staying six days ensued. Each side suffered many casualties as we awaited the reinforcements to deliver the Stone into our possession, as we could not defeat the Glyphmaster otherwise. And so we endeavored simply to stave off defeat, losing many lives in the interim. Before we could come into possession of the powerful artifact, on the dawning of the seventh morn, a great chasm rent the sky grown lush with crow near the smoking plain, called forth by the Glyphmaster himself, which swallowed up our prey and a multitude of our allies alike. All who entered this dreadful gateway vanished therewith. ‘Twas there, in the shadow of the Atlicas atop the very bosom of Andermark, where the Fourth War claimed its last. The Great Purge concluded, and therewhen the realms entire tasted the bitterness of magic no more. --as journaled by the hand of Cpt Bulred Denimir, 3rd Averian Army, 47th Eltry Regiment, 5th Caval

This process was referred to as The Great Purge; during The Purge, many spellcasters went into hiding or were destroyed by the Eari Stones. Atury, one of the last remaining spellcasters of Galwyndor, was hunted down like all the rest. The Gruenor and Aerylothian armies, who led the Alliance, all but decimated Atury's throng of minions; when victory was nearly certain, Atury, in a last-ditch effort to escape, opened a Keldra Gateway, a spell which was beyond his ability, which erroneously transported himself and some of his minions. Led by the Gruenor captain Gunther Stormloft, a small portion of the two armies manages to enter the gateway and pursue Atury to the world of Errod.