The origins of Malazhi stretch back millenia ago, when man was first developing magic. At that time, Malazhi was a village, where the elves and humans met regularly to exchange ideas and trade goods. Malazhi was a center for trade between elves and humans, and magical knowledge became part of the trade. As the races grew in population, the magic grew likewise.
Slowly, the town of Malazhi grew in both power and importance. The users of magic steadily became more prevalent, and began to influence many areas of society.Some sages have theorized that the rapid spread of magic resulted from the discovery of far older ruins near Malazhi. The veracity of these suppositions has never been substantiated. Malazhi's power spread across the continent of Feansia, and soon began influencing events around the world. Although not a conquering force, the civilization touched both the southern tip of Melarna and much of the western coast of Ahvosia. The Malazhians established the colony of XXX on the south of Melarna and tamed the surrounding areas, and established trading posts over the length of XXX. The entire island of Tethasia was a part of Malazhi, (and it is thought that the island subcontinent was connected to the mainland at one point by powerful magics). Independent city states almost all voluntarily merged with Malazhi, gaining much magical knowledge in exchange.
Life in Malazhi was strongly influenced by the magic. Almost all people of middle class or higher had magical tools or items which helped in everyday work. A hammer has been found which is enchanted to hold a nail in the proper position to hammer and to drive the nail using only one blow. Only the poorest had no magic. Many schools of magic flourished, and even to this day new spells, items and research notes are being recovered. Many enchanted creatures were allegedly created in sorcerous experiments.Religion never played a high role in Malazhian life. A journal has been found which shows clearly that the demigod Ossav was believed by many citizens to have been only an extremely powerful man bolstered by magics. Existence of gods was recognized, and some even worshiped, but priests were not considered equal to wizards. Indeed, when half of the people can work magic themselves, faith in the miracles of the divine is lessened.
No one knows what caused the fall of the great Malazhi civilization. Ruins of the capital (the City of Malazhi) have been estimated to be over three thousand years old. Most of the central power and organization disappeared almost entirely, with little trace of the former administration. Provinces suddenly were isolated and frequently leaderless, and the entire empire swiftly dissolved into chaos. Some sages theorize a magical revolt, while others credit the gods and their servants. Some theorize a catastrophic failure of some sorcerous experiments, and others still believe an invasion wiped out the people of the city.
Outlying territories which were cut off from the center survived for a time, and some even thrived. It is unclear whether the outpost of XXX, when sieged by Ossav's humanoid troups, was supported from Malazhi, or withstood the numerous assaults using only the magic native to the colony.Since the great fall, various provinces, kingdoms, and nations have arisen. Some nations use magic and encourage its use, while others spurn it from fear. For a time, some areas were controlled by wizards, while warriors and kings seized control elsewhere, and petty despots were common. Various small nations in a variety of types now make up the continent.
Malazhi
Malazhi itself is a large ruin of a sprawling city that was once THE magical center
Who Rules: no one
Who Really Rules:
Population: unknown; several groups of beings are currently in the ruins of the city proper:
Tribe of kobolds
A group of Beholder-kin
Important Features in Town:Towers of Nardix - a pair of adjacent ziggurat-shaped structures, with a garden between them. Currently used as a base of operations for the beholder-kin of the city. One tower has been thoroughly plundered, the other has been kept largely intact by the more advanced beholder-kin.