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This Is Magic:

A sequel to “What Is Magic” except this one does come with a map. Also this one will be going all out in terms of comparisons to the source material. The year is 2613 and the world has changed monumentally since the days of Chaos and the United Earth Sphere. Magic has now existed on this planet for 600 years and humanity has adapted to it well. However it still turns out to surprise them every time a breakthrough is made in understanding it. The world limped on under the autocratic rule of the UES, struggling to combat the threats across the world that had emerged since the gift/curse of magic was given to humanity.

The in the middle of the 22nd Century absolutely everything changed. A girl was born. An extraordinary girl. At an early age she possessed an unnatural aptitude for magic, scouted by various UES institutions she was taken under their care from her parents where tests revealed something disturbing, she possessed all three known categories of magical power, all packed within her body as a flowing font of power. Barely two years later the girl's parents had another child, another anomaly possessing the same abnormal abilities as her older sister. The younger sibling was also ripped from her parent's arms and brought under the influence of the UES government to be studied and eventually exploited. Through the tests, the training and the forced confinement the two girls took solace in each others company, they were together and that was ll that was important. However through the whole ordeal something called out to them, it begged for their aid to heal this broken world they were born into. The gifts had been misused, their users misguided and the foulness had arrived too early for humanity to learn how to properly combat it. They had been born to change that.

As they grew and matured their powers developed with them, combining the three categories and creating a strength far greater than the sum of their parts. In 2174 the Chaos Incursion spat out a monumental horror, an army of deranged beings and awful monstrosities that west only to randomly stop at Anatolia, head north through the Caucasus and swing round to head east. The two sisters were mobilised, placed under strict observation and sent with a vast compilation of all armed forces in the area to stop the assault. Together they roamed ahead of the army they were placed into and faced the horde by themselves. In a matter of hours they had purged the Chaos from the ungodly host, cleansing the humans and animals and obliterating the unnatural abominations that lurched alongside them.

When surveillance finally picked up what they had done. Somehow slipping past all of their observers, fighting a giant horde of Chaos twisted creatures and not only surviving but purging its influence from the land. The two girls became living legends overnight, the best attempts by the government failing to cover up what had already been seen by satellites, drones, magical scryers and eyewitness accounts. The government's plan to broadcast this momentous engagement backfired their plans to subsequently cover up the two super-beings, several bureaucrats were executed for being both dispensable and involved with the decision making process.

This began a decade of subversion, the UES government cracked down on any who possessed footage of the event or knowledge of the two heroines that won it. The fact that it showed two incredibly powerful beings slip out of the government's control and then exhibit their phenomenal abilities was threatening to their hegemony. However it was too late, more people than ever before were beginning to question their place in life. The two sisters were separated and suppressed but proved to be ineffective, they fought back and whatever power they had called upon in Asia answered them. News of their escape leaked past even the best UES attempts to cover it up and the people responded accordingly. Many lashed out in outrage at the attempted imprisonment of such heroes whilst others defended the government's actions with loyal zeal. Chaos, both the mundane and the supernatural kind, spread across the globe as loyalist and rebel clashed, huge areas were lost to the various magical afflictions that threatened humanity even through this period. It was as the rebellion grew to an unstoppable height, a veritable juggernaut, that the two sisters emerged once again. They said that they had seen the evil that lurked at the heart of the enormous corrupt edifice that was the United Earth Sphere and they called upon all just and upright citizens to fight against it.

The rebellion lasted two years as a series of rapid campaigns, liberating entire continents from the rule of the UES. The power of the two sisters was the only thing that made it so quick, without them it would have lasted decades and likely failed as well. It finally ended in 2177 when the two sisters faced off against the Shadowman himself, the no longer secret, leader of the UES in the ruins of the capital at Washington DC. He was quickly overwhelmed by their combined power and destroyed. With his death the remnants of the UES collapsed into infighting and were overrun.

The two sisters took command of the rebellion in its aftermath. As the two who cleansed and entire army of Chaos and inspired them to overthrow the UES they were accepted as the future leaders of united humanity. There was some opposition at first but the two sisters proved to be compassionate beings, followers of a new ideology that called for compassion, determination, faith in others and above all Harmony. In the early years of their new leadership they exhibited many new powers and worked hard to a new goal, the extinguishing of chaos. By their hands and with their powers the taint of Chaos was expunged from the Earth. The foul energy rift that Chaos had exploded forth from was collapsed upon itself and the Incursion was expunged completely, those within it either cleansed or put to rest.

This miraculous act, that still took years, solidified their rule. The people of Earth were in awe of their abilities and flocked to meet them. They swore allegiance to the two and promised to uphold the values that they asked of them. They were offered ruler-ship of the world and the two humbly accepted it. Thus a new nation was born to guide the whole of humankind. The Imperium of Man.

By the 27th Century the Imperium is the single largest state on the planet, covering most of the world and protecting billions of lives. The infrastructure of the old United Earth Sphere has either been re-purposed or dismantled for use elsewhere. The Imperium has evolved over the centuries into what it is today, refining itself as it cast off the remains off the UES and developed into a nation that is diverse, tolerant yet cohesive. Officially it is a constitutional monarchy with a massive representative parliament and a system of minor parliaments spread throughout the Imperium but most government officials usually defer to the Empress who, even after centuries of life, is still alive and at the peak of health. Immortality was an ability beyond even the greatest sorcerer-scientists and only the unnatural and corrosive energies of Chaos appeared to give people extended life and vitality in exchange for their sanity and autonomy, a price few were willing to pay. However the Empress appears barely any older than a mature woman of 30, only her eyes bear testament to her true age.

Her capital used to be built on the site of the Chaos rift, a monument to victory and a sentinel against further incursions. However the incident with her sister has driven away from it's ruin. She has relocated to a new city built in the Carpathian Mountains. Terminus is a shining metropolis, built from futuristic and alchemical alloys and synthetic materials that are far superior to anything found in nature. It is an immense complex that is both a city and a gigantic art project in one. The architecture is impossibly slender and smooth, possible only because of the materials that it is built from. All of the buildings are coloured as white as marble with accessories and decorations that are painted in a variety of colours. The Empress is fond of gold and prefers most of the city's highlights and details in that colour along with royal purple. After all, for all of her humility before the public, she does enjoy most of the pageantry that comes with being royalty. The streets are domed because an artificial atmosphere has to be generated (building your city on the top of a mountain range may be impressive but the thin air can cause a lot of problems) but there are numerous access ports that people can freely enter and leave. The domes are all transparent and there are numerous balconies, open galleries and solarium for those who wish to enjoy the scenery first-hand. Terminus is also famous for the extensive botanical gardens and royal menagerie that exist within, exhibiting not only pre-magic species but also the safer post-magic mutants that have emerged, for the enjoyment of the public.

The rest of the Imperium is as diverse as it is enormous but there are a few features that unite them together. The sworn allegiance to their Empress, a single military force they all supply soldiers for, a new aristocracy and devotion to the magical state of Harmony. Like Chaos Harmony seems less like an intangible concept and closer to a force of existence, impressing itself over the world. Whereas Chaos is uncontrollable and unpredictable, Harmony appears to be far more benign and cooperative, relying on the practitioner to use it's powers responsibly and appropriately and withdrawing its influence if it is used to generate disharmony. Harmony has made the world stable but not oppressive allowing humanity to experience personal freedom once again. This has fostered a new culture of tolerance but even then it does not mean that all societies are under the same stifling form of social standards. There are still numerous cultures, some revived from before the cultural white-washing of the UES or created after the rise of the Imperium and the free exchange of ideas. This diversity has made organising the Imperium as a whole difficult, prompting the necessity of the immense and labyrinthine bureaucracy, as well as recreated several cultural tensions and divisions, even as the government preaches cooperation and understanding.

Magic based discrimination still exists, a holdover from the very early days of the new supernatural world but for the most part it is no longer a problem for people. Still, settlements have formed based around one particular magical category and the societies in those settlements often reflect that. A series of mannerisms concerning the magical category of an individual have developed and new social standards have arisen along with them.

Even though Harmony and the Imperium have brought people together in many instances humanity has regressed socially. The formal aristocracy has returned to rule over the populace, the sheer size of the Imperium prompting their return. The most exceptionally talented and powerful individuals have founded new power dynasties in the last few centuries. They are tasked, like the aristocracy of old, with the responsibility of ruling over the people of the Imperium. However not all of them live up to their responsibilities and have rebuilt the class division systems. Their existence is tempered by the near global system of representative democracy that is generally concerned with electing local and regional civil servants and parliamentary members for the capital regions. The disconnect between the new elites and the rest of the population is rather small but there are still numerous instances of the nobility forgoing the meaning of their title and abusing their power over others. In the upper class itself there is a network of power and influence that is constantly being manipulated by those seeking more power and control. Life in the aristocracy is an endless game of superficiality, flattery and deception, a friend and ally one day will be a rival or enemy the next but it is all in the name of influence. Thankfully there are still plenty amongst the elite who uphold the edicts of the Empress and live up to old concepts like noblesse oblige and even chivalry.

Religion has seen a revival now that UES has been dismantled. The Abrahamic faiths have returned along with Buddhism and Hinduism but a great number of new religions have also emerged. Cults dedicated to a variety of spirits, concepts and notable figures have appeared and gained popularity. The cult of personality that grew up around the Empress in the early years of her rule has only grown and now resonates with the vast majority of the Imperium's population. Even those who subscribe to other faiths consider their ruler is divine. Those individuals and families that are descended from her children, whilst not considered divine themselves, are revered by many and flattered by all seeking to gain some form of patronage. With the return of mass organised religion there has also been the return of religious fundamentalism and strife. Harmony discourages faith based conflicts but that still fails to dissuade some people and certain regions of the Imperium have used the decentralised system to set up societies that are nominally independent of the state and thus established their own social standards.

Conscription is no longer universal but the armed forces are huge. Armies of soldiers with weapons and equipment specialised for their magical abilities are used to guard the Imperium and occasionally campaign against its enemies. Alchemical and synthetic alloys make armour, weapons and vehicles stronger and lighter and weaponry such as lasers and magnetically accelerated rail weaponry are now commonplace. There are also numerous weapons that apply specific battle spells. Magic that once protected people from the maddening influence of Chaos now deal with the trauma that inevitably follows modern warfare. Warfare has entered the air in a way that has never before been witnessed. Vast platoons of flight enabled soldiers are equipped with lightweight weaponry and armour and trained to execute elaborate manoeuvres and stratagems that exploit their speed and versatility. They in turn are supported by fleets of gravity defying aircraft that range from small agile drones to incredibly advanced fighter-craft and great floating warships that dwarf everything around them. At sea even larger vessels ply the waterways, protecting vital trade routes and civilian craft as the legacy of Chaos is much stronger and widespread in the ocean.

The armed forces are large by necessity as there are still an immense number of threats left even after so long.

Though the UES is dead its twisted legacy remains. The two sisters, now rulers of the new state attempted to scour the world of the foul tyranny's remains but a portion persisted. On the Australasian continent a powerful sorcerer prodigy was able to gather enough power to resist them, gathering the collective hatred anger and grief of all the UES loyalists and whatever slaves they were able to gather he fought off the two sisters and kept a much reduced portion of the Shadowman's old empire.

Today the Empire of Oceania, vile remnant of the UES, sprawls over the Australian continent and has thrust very far into Southern Asia. Despite the collapse of its predecessor it rose out of the ashes like the proverbial phoenix to reclaim and hold a large portion of territory. Countless millions are enslaved under the oppressive autocracy and their collective misery powers the spells hat keep Harmony and the powers that the Imperium wields from encroaching on it. Even as they harness negativity for their powers the hatred, grief and pain caused by the wars they wage makes them stronger, their enemies adding to their power with every sad or angry thought. In turn their armies and populations of ,somewhat, free citizens are taught from the day of their birth to hate all those outside their borders, to abuse the slave classes and to give their undying loyalty to their great and malevolent emperor. The cities of Oceania are fortified citadels, formed out of immense black crystals and furnished in dark metals forged into jagged shapes. The buildings are designed to intimidate the slave populations who are housed in segregated compounds, separated from the citizenry by massive walls that are designed to be impossible to fortify from the inside in case the slaves try to rebel and use their own prison to defend themselves. Great crystals filled with magical energy are used to augment the fortifications, weathering attacks and firing bolts of arcane energy at any opponents. Every city is dominated by immense citadels formed of jagged crystal wherein lie the ruling classes of Oceania. Though smaller than the armies of the Imperium the forces of Oceania fight with insane zeal. Armed with advanced weaponry, terrifying magic and great machines of war, Oceania's armies are powerful. Great beasts formed of similar crystals to the fortifications are possessed with false life by magic and made to rampage across battlefields everywhere, the intense emotions unleashed in battle fuel the magic that flows through these constructs, regrowing whatever damage they suffer. Slave soldiers that have been lobotomised with either crude cybernetics or experimental spells are used as cannon fodder in the constant campaigns of attempted expansion.

The Oceanian emperor is an intimidating warlock, born with the power to project magical energy he showed a desire to acquire power and organise others, thriving on the sheer level of control exerted by the UES. By the time the UES had collapsed and the Shadowman was obliterated he was already a competent practitioner of the esoteric branch of magic that had become increasingly common in parts of the UES. It was this power that allowed him to carve out his own personal empire and take charge of the remaining loyalists. Despite his immense power he is a paranoid figure, given over to intense periods of isolation which his subordinates often use to their advantage. Intrigue is labyrinthine and deadly in his government but he maintains enough awareness of what goes on in his empire to curb the worst of corruption and root out any traitors in his ranks. He rarely speaks at all, preferring instead to communicate through written orders and proxies imbued with his power. At the public occasions and battles he does attend he will speak rarely and instead glower over whatever crowds there are, intimidating them with his powerful presence. However it is through the written word that his true strength is shown. He is an artist of the written word and whatever he writes Is extensive and masterful. Many of the texts he has authored have been printed as propaganda that spurs his followers on and strikes fear in his slaves.

Centuries prior to the present North America was almost engulfed by a vast sea of viscous slime that moved with a malevolent and sadistic consciousness. Even in 2613 the foul sea still lies over the continent. It has not moved since but still undulates wildly. Faces are seen peering out of the surface, leering and humming as if trapped in unsettling ecstasy. Any who try to approach it end up engulfed and those unfortunate enough to escape are scarred mentally, their minds twisted by the foulness that has infected their body. A massive militarised zone surrounds the mass, waiting for it to move again. Those who are unfortunate enough to live on the edge of the quarantined zone that supposedly contains the substance have noticed a disturbing tune and song emanating from their disgusting neighbour along with a terrifying presence. Cases of spontaneous madness are common in those who either live nearby or have been stationed at the quarantined zone for too long, or who have simply looked at it in a certain way. Directly casting any magic at it is an especially certain way of losing your mind.

Chaos' taint on the real world is gone but it has left behind a varied legacy of its own. Various strange paraphernalia have been left behind by the warping power of Chaos and have since spread across the world whether by accident or design. Some creatures, such as the talking horses, all of which also possess magic, are rather benign and easy to categorise. However other things that have been left behind are far more disturbing and incomprehensible. Monstrosities and abominations, both physical and incorporeal, still haunt the planet. Some of them have been exploited by the valiant and the unscrupulous for their own purposes through various magical and mundane means. Many of these creatures appear similar to the creatures of myth and legend, strange chimeras created from an amalgam of different animals. Others are less identifiable but no less capable of thriving in the new world. These creatures have proved remarkably resilient to Harmony in any passive form and so require direct intervention, usually being pacified through force of arms. Those creatures and phantasms that possess magical abilities are by far the most terrifying. Whilst none of them are on par with the insanity inducing abominations that used to inhabit the Incursion their powers are still a frightening force.

There are also still those who wish to exploit Chaos for themselves, the malcontent, sociopaths and lunatics who seek power at all costs. Every year numerous disappearances, ritualistic murders and riots have all been linked to various Chaos groups around the world. Blood sacrifice is not necessary and the results do vary, like all things involving Chaos,but many cultists and practitioners like to think it is more likely to help. There are also those who practice the dark form of magic that used to be common in the UES and dominates all of Oceania. They are far more conspicuous than Chaos followers and tend to be far more destructive.

However the most terrible disaster that ever struck the Imperium took place barely thirty years ago. Though considered a dual monarchy the amount of duties that the royal family were burdened with was incredibly disproportionate. The elder was petitioned far more frequently by her subjects and ministers. The younger meanwhile was sent to the battlefields that still existed around the world, fighting the taints of Chaos and the armies of Oceania. There she was a regular witness to all sorts of depravities and atrocities, all of which took their toll. The younger sister began to change, her mind degrading and her body slowly beginning to warp as she slowly eroded her sanity. She became more erratic and violent and one day, after savagely obliterating a Chaos incursion, she denounced her older sister and declared herself sole ruler. Most of the army, loyal to her due to her actions beside them in the wars, joined with her.

The subsequent war that erupted was horrific. The carnage that ensued saw countless people slaughtered in savage battles. Terrible weapons and spells were unleashed by both sides in an attempt to end the war as quickly as possible. They knew that the longer they fought the stronger their enemies outside their borders were becoming. Finally the elder prevailed and unleashed a devastating spell on her younger sibling, ending the war.

The war caused untold damage and even to this day there are parts of the Imperium that are still recovering. Vast areas are being decontaminated of dangerous energies and reconstruction is ongoing. Traitors have joined the extensive wanted list that previously consisted of Chaos followers and Oceanian agents. Another victim of this civil war is the reputation of the younger sister. She has gone from a ruler and celebrated fighter to a horrific demon, her conduct in the final years lading to her breakdown have been focused on and exacerbated, making her a feared and reviled figure. Despite the best efforts of the Empress people still believe the rumours and lies now being spread about their former ruler. There are still resistance groups who worship the younger monarch and see her as a symbol of reformation and revolution. To these people she is a martyr who was sacrificed in a glorious crusade to depose her tyrannical sister (these claims are of course false and asinine at best). These revolutionaries have gathered once again, making clever speeches, discussing matters of varying importance, deliberating what they potentially have the possibility of doing and generally doing nothing to actually advance their cause (most don't even realise the “what has the Imperium ever done for us?” question is hypothetical and tend to list off quantifiable benefits).

Earth has survived centuries of living with the most esoteric and unpredictable forces that have ever existed and yet human civilization has survived. Even after so many disasters the people of Earth are still looking forward to a new age of prosperity, a utopia that has been dreamed of since humanity first came into being. However the taints of madness and tyranny still remain, deep in the hearts of all sapient life lie the seeds of evil and a new dark force has appeared, lingering on the edge of civilization, waiting for the chance to seize power and rule over this world.

Description

This Is Magic:

A sequel to “What Is Magic” except this one does come with a map. Also this one will be going all out in terms of comparisons to the source material. The year is 2613 and the world has changed monumentally since the days of Chaos and the United Earth Sphere. Magic has now existed on this planet for 600 years and humanity has adapted to it well. However it still turns out to surprise them every time a breakthrough is made in understanding it. The world limped on under the autocratic rule of the UES, struggling to combat the threats across the world that had emerged since the gift/curse of magic was given to humanity.

The in the middle of the 22nd Century absolutely everything changed. A girl was born. An extraordinary girl. At an early age she possessed an unnatural aptitude for magic, scouted by various UES institutions she was taken under their care from her parents where tests revealed something disturbing, she possessed all three known categories of magical power, all packed within her body as a flowing font of power. Barely two years later the girl's parents had another child, another anomaly possessing the same abnormal abilities as her older sister. The younger sibling was also ripped from her parent's arms and brought under the influence of the UES government to be studied and eventually exploited. Through the tests, the training and the forced confinement the two girls took solace in each others company, they were together and that was ll that was important. However through the whole ordeal something called out to them, it begged for their aid to heal this broken world they were born into. The gifts had been misused, their users misguided and the foulness had arrived too early for humanity to learn how to properly combat it. They had been born to change that.

As they grew and matured their powers developed with them, combining the three categories and creating a strength far greater than the sum of their parts. In 2174 the Chaos Incursion spat out a monumental horror, an army of deranged beings and awful monstrosities that west only to randomly stop at Anatolia, head north through the Caucasus and swing round to head east. The two sisters were mobilised, placed under strict observation and sent with a vast compilation of all armed forces in the area to stop the assault. Together they roamed ahead of the army they were placed into and faced the horde by themselves. In a matter of hours they had purged the Chaos from the ungodly host, cleansing the humans and animals and obliterating the unnatural abominations that lurched alongside them.

When surveillance finally picked up what they had done. Somehow slipping past all of their observers, fighting a giant horde of Chaos twisted creatures and not only surviving but purging its influence from the land. The two girls became living legends overnight, the best attempts by the government failing to cover up what had already been seen by satellites, drones, magical scryers and eyewitness accounts. The government's plan to broadcast this momentous engagement backfired their plans to subsequently cover up the two super-beings, several bureaucrats were executed for being both dispensable and involved with the decision making process.

This began a decade of subversion, the UES government cracked down on any who possessed footage of the event or knowledge of the two heroines that won it. The fact that it showed two incredibly powerful beings slip out of the government's control and then exhibit their phenomenal abilities was threatening to their hegemony. However it was too late, more people than ever before were beginning to question their place in life. The two sisters were separated and suppressed but proved to be ineffective, they fought back and whatever power they had called upon in Asia answered them. News of their escape leaked past even the best UES attempts to cover it up and the people responded accordingly. Many lashed out in outrage at the attempted imprisonment of such heroes whilst others defended the government's actions with loyal zeal. Chaos, both the mundane and the supernatural kind, spread across the globe as loyalist and rebel clashed, huge areas were lost to the various magical afflictions that threatened humanity even through this period. It was as the rebellion grew to an unstoppable height, a veritable juggernaut, that the two sisters emerged once again. They said that they had seen the evil that lurked at the heart of the enormous corrupt edifice that was the United Earth Sphere and they called upon all just and upright citizens to fight against it.

The rebellion lasted two years as a series of rapid campaigns, liberating entire continents from the rule of the UES. The power of the two sisters was the only thing that made it so quick, without them it would have lasted decades and likely failed as well. It finally ended in 2177 when the two sisters faced off against the Shadowman himself, the no longer secret, leader of the UES in the ruins of the capital at Washington DC. He was quickly overwhelmed by their combined power and destroyed. With his death the remnants of the UES collapsed into infighting and were overrun.

The two sisters took command of the rebellion in its aftermath. As the two who cleansed and entire army of Chaos and inspired them to overthrow the UES they were accepted as the future leaders of united humanity. There was some opposition at first but the two sisters proved to be compassionate beings, followers of a new ideology that called for compassion, determination, faith in others and above all Harmony. In the early years of their new leadership they exhibited many new powers and worked hard to a new goal, the extinguishing of chaos. By their hands and with their powers the taint of Chaos was expunged from the Earth. The foul energy rift that Chaos had exploded forth from was collapsed upon itself and the Incursion was expunged completely, those within it either cleansed or put to rest.

This miraculous act, that still took years, solidified their rule. The people of Earth were in awe of their abilities and flocked to meet them. They swore allegiance to the two and promised to uphold the values that they asked of them. They were offered ruler-ship of the world and the two humbly accepted it. Thus a new nation was born to guide the whole of humankind. The Imperium of Man.

By the 27th Century the Imperium is the single largest state on the planet, covering most of the world and protecting billions of lives. The infrastructure of the old United Earth Sphere has either been re-purposed or dismantled for use elsewhere. The Imperium has evolved over the centuries into what it is today, refining itself as it cast off the remains off the UES and developed into a nation that is diverse, tolerant yet cohesive. Officially it is a constitutional monarchy with a massive representative parliament and a system of minor parliaments spread throughout the Imperium but most government officials usually defer to the Empress who, even after centuries of life, is still alive and at the peak of health. Immortality was an ability beyond even the greatest sorcerer-scientists and only the unnatural and corrosive energies of Chaos appeared to give people extended life and vitality in exchange for their sanity and autonomy, a price few were willing to pay. However the Empress appears barely any older than a mature woman of 30, only her eyes bear testament to her true age.

Her capital used to be built on the site of the Chaos rift, a monument to victory and a sentinel against further incursions. However the incident with her sister has driven away from it's ruin. She has relocated to a new city built in the Carpathian Mountains. Terminus is a shining metropolis, built from futuristic and alchemical alloys and synthetic materials that are far superior to anything found in nature. It is an immense complex that is both a city and a gigantic art project in one. The architecture is impossibly slender and smooth, possible only because of the materials that it is built from. All of the buildings are coloured as white as marble with accessories and decorations that are painted in a variety of colours. The Empress is fond of gold and prefers most of the city's highlights and details in that colour along with royal purple. After all, for all of her humility before the public, she does enjoy most of the pageantry that comes with being royalty. The streets are domed because an artificial atmosphere has to be generated (building your city on the top of a mountain range may be impressive but the thin air can cause a lot of problems) but there are numerous access ports that people can freely enter and leave. The domes are all transparent and there are numerous balconies, open galleries and solarium for those who wish to enjoy the scenery first-hand. Terminus is also famous for the extensive botanical gardens and royal menagerie that exist within, exhibiting not only pre-magic species but also the safer post-magic mutants that have emerged, for the enjoyment of the public.

The rest of the Imperium is as diverse as it is enormous but there are a few features that unite them together. The sworn allegiance to their Empress, a single military force they all supply soldiers for, a new aristocracy and devotion to the magical state of Harmony. Like Chaos Harmony seems less like an intangible concept and closer to a force of existence, impressing itself over the world. Whereas Chaos is uncontrollable and unpredictable, Harmony appears to be far more benign and cooperative, relying on the practitioner to use it's powers responsibly and appropriately and withdrawing its influence if it is used to generate disharmony. Harmony has made the world stable but not oppressive allowing humanity to experience personal freedom once again. This has fostered a new culture of tolerance but even then it does not mean that all societies are under the same stifling form of social standards. There are still numerous cultures, some revived from before the cultural white-washing of the UES or created after the rise of the Imperium and the free exchange of ideas. This diversity has made organising the Imperium as a whole difficult, prompting the necessity of the immense and labyrinthine bureaucracy, as well as recreated several cultural tensions and divisions, even as the government preaches cooperation and understanding.

Magic based discrimination still exists, a holdover from the very early days of the new supernatural world but for the most part it is no longer a problem for people. Still, settlements have formed based around one particular magical category and the societies in those settlements often reflect that. A series of mannerisms concerning the magical category of an individual have developed and new social standards have arisen along with them.

Even though Harmony and the Imperium have brought people together in many instances humanity has regressed socially. The formal aristocracy has returned to rule over the populace, the sheer size of the Imperium prompting their return. The most exceptionally talented and powerful individuals have founded new power dynasties in the last few centuries. They are tasked, like the aristocracy of old, with the responsibility of ruling over the people of the Imperium. However not all of them live up to their responsibilities and have rebuilt the class division systems. Their existence is tempered by the near global system of representative democracy that is generally concerned with electing local and regional civil servants and parliamentary members for the capital regions. The disconnect between the new elites and the rest of the population is rather small but there are still numerous instances of the nobility forgoing the meaning of their title and abusing their power over others. In the upper class itself there is a network of power and influence that is constantly being manipulated by those seeking more power and control. Life in the aristocracy is an endless game of superficiality, flattery and deception, a friend and ally one day will be a rival or enemy the next but it is all in the name of influence. Thankfully there are still plenty amongst the elite who uphold the edicts of the Empress and live up to old concepts like noblesse oblige and even chivalry.

Religion has seen a revival now that UES has been dismantled. The Abrahamic faiths have returned along with Buddhism and Hinduism but a great number of new religions have also emerged. Cults dedicated to a variety of spirits, concepts and notable figures have appeared and gained popularity. The cult of personality that grew up around the Empress in the early years of her rule has only grown and now resonates with the vast majority of the Imperium's population. Even those who subscribe to other faiths consider their ruler is divine. Those individuals and families that are descended from her children, whilst not considered divine themselves, are revered by many and flattered by all seeking to gain some form of patronage. With the return of mass organised religion there has also been the return of religious fundamentalism and strife. Harmony discourages faith based conflicts but that still fails to dissuade some people and certain regions of the Imperium have used the decentralised system to set up societies that are nominally independent of the state and thus established their own social standards.

Conscription is no longer universal but the armed forces are huge. Armies of soldiers with weapons and equipment specialised for their magical abilities are used to guard the Imperium and occasionally campaign against its enemies. Alchemical and synthetic alloys make armour, weapons and vehicles stronger and lighter and weaponry such as lasers and magnetically accelerated rail weaponry are now commonplace. There are also numerous weapons that apply specific battle spells. Magic that once protected people from the maddening influence of Chaos now deal with the trauma that inevitably follows modern warfare. Warfare has entered the air in a way that has never before been witnessed. Vast platoons of flight enabled soldiers are equipped with lightweight weaponry and armour and trained to execute elaborate manoeuvres and stratagems that exploit their speed and versatility. They in turn are supported by fleets of gravity defying aircraft that range from small agile drones to incredibly advanced fighter-craft and great floating warships that dwarf everything around them. At sea even larger vessels ply the waterways, protecting vital trade routes and civilian craft as the legacy of Chaos is much stronger and widespread in the ocean.

The armed forces are large by necessity as there are still an immense number of threats left even after so long.

Though the UES is dead its twisted legacy remains. The two sisters, now rulers of the new state attempted to scour the world of the foul tyranny's remains but a portion persisted. On the Australasian continent a powerful sorcerer prodigy was able to gather enough power to resist them, gathering the collective hatred anger and grief of all the UES loyalists and whatever slaves they were able to gather he fought off the two sisters and kept a much reduced portion of the Shadowman's old empire.

Today the Empire of Oceania, vile remnant of the UES, sprawls over the Australian continent and has thrust very far into Southern Asia. Despite the collapse of its predecessor it rose out of the ashes like the proverbial phoenix to reclaim and hold a large portion of territory. Countless millions are enslaved under the oppressive autocracy and their collective misery powers the spells hat keep Harmony and the powers that the Imperium wields from encroaching on it. Even as they harness negativity for their powers the hatred, grief and pain caused by the wars they wage makes them stronger, their enemies adding to their power with every sad or angry thought. In turn their armies and populations of ,somewhat, free citizens are taught from the day of their birth to hate all those outside their borders, to abuse the slave classes and to give their undying loyalty to their great and malevolent emperor. The cities of Oceania are fortified citadels, formed out of immense black crystals and furnished in dark metals forged into jagged shapes. The buildings are designed to intimidate the slave populations who are housed in segregated compounds, separated from the citizenry by massive walls that are designed to be impossible to fortify from the inside in case the slaves try to rebel and use their own prison to defend themselves. Great crystals filled with magical energy are used to augment the fortifications, weathering attacks and firing bolts of arcane energy at any opponents. Every city is dominated by immense citadels formed of jagged crystal wherein lie the ruling classes of Oceania. Though smaller than the armies of the Imperium the forces of Oceania fight with insane zeal. Armed with advanced weaponry, terrifying magic and great machines of war, Oceania's armies are powerful. Great beasts formed of similar crystals to the fortifications are possessed with false life by magic and made to rampage across battlefields everywhere, the intense emotions unleashed in battle fuel the magic that flows through these constructs, regrowing whatever damage they suffer. Slave soldiers that have been lobotomised with either crude cybernetics or experimental spells are used as cannon fodder in the constant campaigns of attempted expansion.

The Oceanian emperor is an intimidating warlock, born with the power to project magical energy he showed a desire to acquire power and organise others, thriving on the sheer level of control exerted by the UES. By the time the UES had collapsed and the Shadowman was obliterated he was already a competent practitioner of the esoteric branch of magic that had become increasingly common in parts of the UES. It was this power that allowed him to carve out his own personal empire and take charge of the remaining loyalists. Despite his immense power he is a paranoid figure, given over to intense periods of isolation which his subordinates often use to their advantage. Intrigue is labyrinthine and deadly in his government but he maintains enough awareness of what goes on in his empire to curb the worst of corruption and root out any traitors in his ranks. He rarely speaks at all, preferring instead to communicate through written orders and proxies imbued with his power. At the public occasions and battles he does attend he will speak rarely and instead glower over whatever crowds there are, intimidating them with his powerful presence. However it is through the written word that his true strength is shown. He is an artist of the written word and whatever he writes Is extensive and masterful. Many of the texts he has authored have been printed as propaganda that spurs his followers on and strikes fear in his slaves.

Centuries prior to the present North America was almost engulfed by a vast sea of viscous slime that moved with a malevolent and sadistic consciousness. Even in 2613 the foul sea still lies over the continent. It has not moved since but still undulates wildly. Faces are seen peering out of the surface, leering and humming as if trapped in unsettling ecstasy. Any who try to approach it end up engulfed and those unfortunate enough to escape are scarred mentally, their minds twisted by the foulness that has infected their body. A massive militarised zone surrounds the mass, waiting for it to move again. Those who are unfortunate enough to live on the edge of the quarantined zone that supposedly contains the substance have noticed a disturbing tune and song emanating from their disgusting neighbour along with a terrifying presence. Cases of spontaneous madness are common in those who either live nearby or have been stationed at the quarantined zone for too long, or who have simply looked at it in a certain way. Directly casting any magic at it is an especially certain way of losing your mind.

Chaos' taint on the real world is gone but it has left behind a varied legacy of its own. Various strange paraphernalia have been left behind by the warping power of Chaos and have since spread across the world whether by accident or design. Some creatures, such as the talking horses, all of which also possess magic, are rather benign and easy to categorise. However other things that have been left behind are far more disturbing and incomprehensible. Monstrosities and abominations, both physical and incorporeal, still haunt the planet. Some of them have been exploited by the valiant and the unscrupulous for their own purposes through various magical and mundane means. Many of these creatures appear similar to the creatures of myth and legend, strange chimeras created from an amalgam of different animals. Others are less identifiable but no less capable of thriving in the new world. These creatures have proved remarkably resilient to Harmony in any passive form and so require direct intervention, usually being pacified through force of arms. Those creatures and phantasms that possess magical abilities are by far the most terrifying. Whilst none of them are on par with the insanity inducing abominations that used to inhabit the Incursion their powers are still a frightening force.

There are also still those who wish to exploit Chaos for themselves, the malcontent, sociopaths and lunatics who seek power at all costs. Every year numerous disappearances, ritualistic murders and riots have all been linked to various Chaos groups around the world. Blood sacrifice is not necessary and the results do vary, like all things involving Chaos,but many cultists and practitioners like to think it is more likely to help. There are also those who practice the dark form of magic that used to be common in the UES and dominates all of Oceania. They are far more conspicuous than Chaos followers and tend to be far more destructive.

However the most terrible disaster that ever struck the Imperium took place barely thirty years ago. Though considered a dual monarchy the amount of duties that the royal family were burdened with was incredibly disproportionate. The elder was petitioned far more frequently by her subjects and ministers. The younger meanwhile was sent to the battlefields that still existed around the world, fighting the taints of Chaos and the armies of Oceania. There she was a regular witness to all sorts of depravities and atrocities, all of which took their toll. The younger sister began to change, her mind degrading and her body slowly beginning to warp as she slowly eroded her sanity. She became more erratic and violent and one day, after savagely obliterating a Chaos incursion, she denounced her older sister and declared herself sole ruler. Most of the army, loyal to her due to her actions beside them in the wars, joined with her.

The subsequent war that erupted was horrific. The carnage that ensued saw countless people slaughtered in savage battles. Terrible weapons and spells were unleashed by both sides in an attempt to end the war as quickly as possible. They knew that the longer they fought the stronger their enemies outside their borders were becoming. Finally the elder prevailed and unleashed a devastating spell on her younger sibling, ending the war.

The war caused untold damage and even to this day there are parts of the Imperium that are still recovering. Vast areas are being decontaminated of dangerous energies and reconstruction is ongoing. Traitors have joined the extensive wanted list that previously consisted of Chaos followers and Oceanian agents. Another victim of this civil war is the reputation of the younger sister. She has gone from a ruler and celebrated fighter to a horrific demon, her conduct in the final years lading to her breakdown have been focused on and exacerbated, making her a feared and reviled figure. Despite the best efforts of the Empress people still believe the rumours and lies now being spread about their former ruler. There are still resistance groups who worship the younger monarch and see her as a symbol of reformation and revolution. To these people she is a martyr who was sacrificed in a glorious crusade to depose her tyrannical sister (these claims are of course false and asinine at best). These revolutionaries have gathered once again, making clever speeches, discussing matters of varying importance, deliberating what they potentially have the possibility of doing and generally doing nothing to actually advance their cause (most don't even realise the “what has the Imperium ever done for us?” question is hypothetical and tend to list off quantifiable benefits).

Earth has survived centuries of living with the most esoteric and unpredictable forces that have ever existed and yet human civilization has survived. Even after so many disasters the people of Earth are still looking forward to a new age of prosperity, a utopia that has been dreamed of since humanity first came into being. However the taints of madness and tyranny still remain, deep in the hearts of all sapient life lie the seeds of evil and a new dark force has appeared, lingering on the edge of civilization, waiting for the chance to seize power and rule over this world.