The Burning

Interview with Sr. Barnby Lasvica of Coth-Rom, Tutor to Nobles, Sage of Coth-Rom Conventicle (Ret.)

What was the Burning? Ah, my boy, if I knew that, I wouldn’t be a retired sage earning coppers teaching the snooty children of the nobles.

Here are the facts. The Burning was almost the end of humanity! 

It is written in the Cartus Vera Incardeso, 
  “Vidi parentibus supino flamma liberoria”,

which is ancient Jane for “I saw parents choking on the fire and smoke from the burning bodies of their children.” The book goes on:

  “In the old times, when dragons darkened the sky, humans were angels and giants, beautiful and strong, the children of the Gods. Their home was the restful shores of Lake Janee, and their cities reached into the heavens.

  “Then, on an old day, the fires came. Tem caught fire, because where-ever a human walked, flame followed. Lake Janee boiled away. Day turned to night, and the night was starless. Flames scorched the heavens for 70 days and 70 nights, and ash rained down from a lacerated sky.

  “Millions of other life forms died as the world burned, but it was the humans who burst into flame and wrought destruction, that of others and of their own. The ruin of man was near-complete. All knowledge  was reduced to smoke and lost in the wind.”


It took thousands of years, but we recovered. Our second renaissance was a rebirth around Lake Janee. Our ancestors called themselves the Shaikar and for the first time their new language was written down as Muhjan was rebuilt. Ghuldar became a new power centre, and the children of the Shaar spread across Tem.

One can, with diligence, compile a reasonable catalogue of what happened, but the most important question – why? – remains unanswered. Speculations abound. I have been compiling explanations from all across Tem, and gladly share them with you.

According to some Druidic scholars and nature theoreticians, the mass death was a natural disaster, like a disease. It spread rapidly and incurably. Many people became weak and infirm, and some did die rapidly of the illness. The fiery destruction was accidental, caused by unattended fires sweeping unchecked through settlements.

A well-regarded theory amongst wizards who are experts in magical history hold that the Burning was the result of a magical power surge. They postulate that a number of mages tried to join powers to magnify their magic and lost control. Some wizards point out that it is far more likely that a single magic user, an archmage of great ability, attempted to break the laws of magic and unleashed uncontrolled powers, which caused the cataclysm. As a result, to this day, all Mage Guilds practice techniques and rituals to prevent another disaster.

Amongst priestly scholars there are several controversial explanations. Some claim that mankind was overcome with pride and turned from the Seven; the Burning was punishment from the Gods for man’s excessive pride. Known as the “Fallen Angels” theory, the proponents point out that magic was far more powerful in the before-times than the present, and also that ancient cities, relics and splendours are probably buried beneath the waves.

Several scholars have noted that the historical reports strongly suggest that it was only humans who were targeted, with non-human deaths being collateral damage. Priests have noted that humans are the favourite of the races. They also point to a history of war, occupation, slavery, and oppression. Therefore, humans as a species were a failure and a level playing field was being prepared, for the ascendance of the next species. Some worthy human was able to intervene on our behalf and prevent our complete annihilation.

Some Qidranian scholars have put the blame squarely on the ancient magicians. When Sahir meddled with the pure works of Qidra, magic was introduced as an un-natural element into the world, these scholar say. Humans were never supposed to wield such power, and the Burning was the final punishment meted out uniquely to the human race. Human mages in ages past were using far too much of this mysterious power, and too much of a good thing is a bad thing, as the saying goes. Thus was all of humanity punished because of the extravagant use of magic.

Most controversial of all is the suggestion that the Burning was the result of a divine struggle, with the conflict between the Gods spilling over onto Tem and accidentally causing the destruction.

Not all theories blame the Gods, or humans, for the terrible event. Some sages point to the somewhat obvious conclusion that the Burning was caused by Fire Elementals wreaking havoc on Tem. Although there is no direct evidence of this, at least as far as I know, elemental mages today take extreme precautions when interacting with elemental powers.

Some scholars point to linguistic and palaeoteric evidence, along with textual analysis and other archaeological clues have led to the controversial suggestion that one of the Great Dragons woke up from its long sleep and destroyed the humans.

Perhaps the strangest historical fact that several scholars have drawn attention to, is the repeated findings by archaeologists that almost no human remains have ever been found. During the extensive rebuilding of Muhjan, for example, excavations revealed many fallen structures over several square kilometres. All the structures revealed extensive fire damage. Charred remains of household furniture, workshop tools, and other equipment were carefully recorded, yet not a single charred bone fragment has been recovered. Puzzlingly, the badly burnt bones of domestic and farm animals were successfully recorded. This rather startling fact has led to the suggestion that the humans were somehow transported away, perhaps taken up to the Gods?

Whatever the truth, this is without doubt the most fascinating question I have encountered in my long life. I believe a great secret is locked up in this apparently simple question: Why?