Lux-Ferous

The Lux-Ferous Empire was the first widely successful nation founded by humans, and predecessor to The Interstate. Its formation is the basis for the numbering of years in the modern calendar, in the form of B.L. (meaning Before Light, which includes every year since the dawn of time until the formation of the Empire) and E.T. (Esternia Thereum, which translates to "Holy Era" in modern tongue. It begins at the inauguration of the first Emperor and goes to the present day). The Empire is known for its worship of the Old Gods.

The Lux-Ferous was eventually destroyed by the Absolution, leaving behind empty cities and a host of technological marvels still not understood by experts to this day.

History:
As far as intact historical records show, in the year 20 B.L. a drunken idiot named Yadan Krin began a rebellion against the "Beverian Regime" (which scholars assume was the name of Aridia's previous masters), apparently under orders from the First Prince, Faevo-Aggridor.

According to most Lux-Ferous legends, this war lasted until Yadan Krin was captured by the Beverian High Imperator, Lovisa the Coldblooded, and forced to entertain the Beverians at their stronghold as a jester. While captured, Yadan Krin prayed for the Prince of the Void, Abraxous, to save him. Abraxous heard his prayer and sent a massive flood that swept away the stronghold and drowned everyone inside, dragging them screaming into The Deep (as far as we can tell, this mass-drowning did not save Yadan Krin).

With their leadership dead, the Beverians retreated back across the sea (to their "homeland", the location of which is still unknown, if it ever existed), leaving the Lux-Ferous as Aridia's masters. This is when the Black Tower was constructed, and the Old Gods took up residence on the physical plane.

The Absolution:
The Lux-Ferous only grew in both size and strength as the centuries passed, becoming a hub for both technology and science. It is unknown just how advanced the Lux-Ferous Empire was at the time of its collapse, but they at least had access to nuclear power. Unfortunately, this utopia of scientific achievement was not to last, as corruption and political strife began to crumble the foundations of the empire from within. The Lux-Ferous came to an abrupt, violent end in the Absolution, when the empire dropped its nuclear arsenal on the Black Tower. The Death Wail of the Old Gods triggered a massive backlash of unbound magical energy, creating the Shattered Wastes, turning the Frozen Forest to stone and the Crystalline Sea to glass, and destroying both the land and sky of Aridia.

After the fall of the Lux-Ferous, Aridia remained shattered and in ruin until the establishment of the Interstate.