Atlantis (CofD)

The ancient Atlantis- or "Ocean Spire"- is even today the ideal many mages idolize. It was here, that Mortals first learned how to wield the powers of the Realms Supernal and magic was set down in a codified system.

History

Back in these times, humanity lived under the constant threat of spirits and monsters. During these times, some humans developed strange dreams about an island inhabited by dragons. Soon, some ventured over the seas to find this island, for it was free of the depredations of spirits. And after they finally reached the island , they were shown new visions. In their dreams, they saw the techniques to give them power, and the ability to drive back the darkness swamping humanity. The travellers entered the caves of the spire, and went into deep meditation. There, they were tested by their other selves, their daimons. Some failed, and left the spire disheartened. Others succeeded, and returned triumphant, bearing the fire of the Realms Supernal.

As the power of the first mags grew, so did the city. High Speech united men and women from all parts of the world, for only the ones, who let their dreams guide them could find the city. Ruled by mighty priest-kings, who were advised by the viziers of the Vox Draconis, the city thrived, protected by the Ungula Draconis and administered by the Visus Draconis from beings that were later known as the Bound and other mages who rejected the society of the Awakened and were called the Timori. Most of the magical knowledge that the Alae Draconis gathered was incredible and as no paradox or disbelief interrupted them, they were free to practice the Art Mysteriorum as they pleased.

Occasionally, a human from another land would receive the gifts of magic, but these were rare, isolated cases. Many of these foreign sorcerors would destroy themselves with their own power or be killed by the superstitious common folk. But the Ars Mysteriorum thrived on Atlantis, and only here were they set in writing for acolytes to study, that they might not be a danger to themselves with their powers.

Downfall

As with their powers, the pride of the mages grew. It took many generations, but finally the Awakened of Atlantis turned on one another in the First Wizard's War, one side seeking to gain physical entry to the Supernal Realms and become gods, the other wishing to preserve the natural order of things. Those who sought godhood won and drove the others from Atlantis.

The leaders of the usurpators then combined their powers and built a ladder to the Supernal Realms at the heart of Atlantis. Climbing this ladder to other planes of existence, they assaulted the rulers of these realms, casted them down and claimed their powers for their own. With the Supernal Realms touching the Material universe, the masters of those realms became true gods. But the universe began to buckle under the weight. Chaos reigned in the world of mortals, and the very fabric of reality began to tear itself apart.

In a desperate alliance with the Timori, the exiled mages regrouped and assaulted Atlantis, seizing it and climbing the ladder themselves. They began to storm the palaces of the celestial magi. In the battle that followed, both sides suffered terrible losses. Mages on both sides were flung from the Supernal Realms back into the world, and the conflict began again in the material realm.

During the height of the battle, the Celestial Ladder collapsed and where it had been, a yawning void gaped open, that drove a wedge between the Realms Supernal and the Realms Material. Stronger than ever before, the Abyss was now nearly inpenetrable for souls, designed to keep an aberration like the Celestial Ladder from ever being built again. The Gauntlet between the worlds of flesh and spirit rose as the tapestry itself restructured.

The foundations of Atlantis were destroyed in the conflict, and the island city fell apart, sinking into the waves of the thrashing sea, its burning wreckage being swallowed by the dark waters. The mages fled, scattered themselves across the world, returning to their old homes, and trying to regain the power they once had, in what is called the Exile.

Legacy

Due to the watchtowers and the oracles, the mages of today have access to the knowledge of their forebearers. Atlantean customs dominate the mindset of modern mages and many attempts have been started to rebuilt the city, the last from the Phoenix Brethren. Four orders of the Pentacle claim atlantean heritage and every attempt to change the society of mages is often faced with bitter resentment.

Many legacies dedicate themselves to the heritage of Atlantis either by trying to restore it or by trying to reinterpret the idea of it.

Sources

• Mage: The Awakening Rulebook