"After the conclusion of the Two-Hundred Years War in the late 12th century, the Bruuni Empire had all but been destroyed. The once great and terrible city of Baremnan lay in ruins, save for the imposing Mora Dak which even invading armies would not dare approach. Of the scattered fire gods (as well as their warring empires) vying for the unquestioned supremacy once held by Bruun, the most notable contenders were the Eli’iah Cirila (Eli’iah’s Blue Flame) Empire from the eastern plains; the Ohmari (of the god Ohmared) Empire of the central-western deserts; the Atir Valhyamal (The Sun’s Light) of the northern frozen lands beyond the mountains; and the most influential remaining faction of the former Bruuni Empire, which fled south and began assimilating tribes that had largely evaded prior global conflicts.


    The ruins of Baremnan remained unoccupied by any except revenants, vagrants, escaped slaves and adventurers who belonged to no god. This is likely because the region had long been exhausted of useful resources, and what structures remained were dilapidated as a result of the late Bruuni Empire’s internal conflicts - mostly failed slave uprisings that, when cut down, reduced the laboring population greatly and led to the neglect of necessary maintenance. Due to its position at the center of the world and four great empires, occupying this space would be seen as an advance towards a war that none were prepared for.


    The world emerged from a devastating war into an uneasy peace, the underlying conflict over useful resources, land and labor still unresolved. As a sense of dread plagued the lives of those privileged by these societies, their slaves had become restless and optimistic.


    One of the great contending powers, The Eli-iah Cirila Empire, experienced the largest slave rebellion in ancient history. Due to its weakened military and sizeable slave population (consisting primarily of greater and lesser giants, whose emergence is the result of this early period of slavery), the rebellion was the first in history to completely overturn the existing power structure. In other words, this was the first recorded successful revolution and construction of a free peoples’ state - of Utopia.


    The former slaves of Utopia had little tolerance for any former slave owner and institution - as a result, we have very few records written by them. However, there are records from nearby empires (most significantly the Atir Valhyamal) indicating that the plains had become a haven for fleeing slaves and criminals, who were then given the means to defend themselves.


    Militant sub-factions formed with the intent to liberate slaves in other regions of the world - most often their homelands - and began infiltration to work with or agitate revolutionary slave movements.


    The Head of the God Atir (“sun” being a direct translation, but in this case it refers to the Atiri myth which claims the God Atir created the sun), Head Mjolandir, summoned Atir’s forces and attacked Utopia from the north without warning. The Atiri military was by far the least impressive of the remaining major powers, relying primarily on the snaking tunnel system throughout the great northern mountains to fend off invasions. This made them incredibly vulnerable to Utopian infiltrators, who would convince the (mostly dwarven) Atiri slave population to collapse vital tunnels (and once even half of a mountain) to weaken their military, and thus strengthen their chances at a successful revolution.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    This put the Atir Valhyamal Empire’s ruling class in a desperate position, which led to their invasion of Utopia. After only two years of existence, the already fragile freed slaves’ state was shattered. Most survivors fled to the tunnels in the northern mountains, aided by Atiri slaves, and attempted an impromptu revolution there. The desperate momentum of the displaced Utopians and their allies (mostly consisting of Atiri slaves, but also a handful of sympathetic men and elves) drove their masters so far that they fled into Mora - the Black Ocean.


    Their revolution, however, failed. The returning Atiri military were eventually able to secure a route back into their homeland, and were then able to deal with the disorganized, novice revolutionaries with ease.


    The Ohmari Empire, by far the most powerful remaining contender, took advantage of this opportunity to launch a successful campaign for global domination. The Utopians and their ideals soon became legend, held dear by those who would be oppressed during the dark age that marked the final decline of (most) slave empires.


    Unfortunately, this did not lead to a rise in successful slave rebellions, or a newer, more free world order. Rather, with the return of the former Atiri masters from Mora, the Age of Fire ended, and the Age of Water began. Enslaved races became peasants and slave owners nobility. The need for slave labor faded, replaced by the need for land and the resources it held. The ability to wield fire became useless in war when facing someone who commanded water - not to mention the advances to agriculture that were made possible through the taming of water.


    By the 16th century, a new “golden age” approached, and the Utopianism of the previous age - of slaves - changed along with it. The Utopianism of peasants soon began to take form, adopting a rhetoric that to this day pours from the many mouths of the god Luumra. A false promise of liberation.


    True liberation will only come with the death of gods. After all existing gods are defeated and the goddess Parodina fades. Only then will we be free."


    <ul>


    <li>“Against Utopianism; Gods and Liberation (Chapter One)”; dated y2812 m9; written by political activist and Parodinian revolutionary Imvyl Bovran; recorded in the Parodinian Ministry of Records [y2998 m3]</li>


    </ul>


    Editor''s note: Imvyl Bovran initially published this work early in his career as an activist under the pen name Er-Luumra (an ironic ancient Bruuni name translating to "All-Luumra"). This was written years before he was exiled from the Luumra Republic for his most famous book: How To Kill A God.