D&D Fourth Edition -- A new Campaign World-- Eisunstein

History of Eisunstein –
(The world is made of Ice and Stone – Eis und Stein is German for ice and stone.)

10,000 Years ago, the Magi, powerful magic-users, ruled the world. Magical pollution was eroding the fabric of reality. This erosion, the Magi thought, could be corrected and repaired if they simply stopped casting spells. However, Magi are born with the innate ability to manipulate the energies of “magic." They spend decades mastering the basics. The fortunate few then spend several mortal lifetimes mastering the many sciences of the Arts of Magic. After an average of fifty years training just to do the most basic of magical tasks, asking anyone of them to just stop manipulating magic is like asking anyone else to stop breathing.

Realizing they would never simply stop, the most far-sighted among them – The Order, called for a general retreat from inter-dimensional politics and exploration as well as a complete abstinence of magical energy. Items imbued with magic were secured and the Soporphagi were crafted to carry the Magi into the future.

Half of the Magi abandoned their cities, universities and even their far-reaching embassies on other planes. They retreated to their secured school-laboratories which they called Covenants.

The Covenants' War began. Centuries long feudds errupted into magical violence and military confrontations as some Magi seized the opportunity to raze opposing Covenants and plunder their magic. Eisunstein slipped loose of reality just a little more. An ice age began, the storms were mighty and horrific, the world was blanketed in ice and snow over the course of a single week.

The Magi of The Order crafted powerful artifacts that they named Soporphagi (Sopor is a Greek root meaning sleep). The Soporphagi are able to maintain the resident Magus (one per artifact) for thousands of years in relative stasis. No need to breathe, eat or drink. The Magi does not age, and some even learned to train in new skills while “sleeping.”

Before entering stasis, the Masters of The Order summoned an aberrant race – the near demon Xenons, to guard the Soporphagi and to protect their loyal servants, the consors who also lived in the Covenants with the Magi.

Today rumors abound that Eisunstein is re-awakening, fully connected to reality again, the ice is receding and the Magi should be waking up, the Soporphagi were designed to awaken the Magi once the danger had passed. However, they are not waking up. Some speculate that the Protectors – The Xenons, are killing the slumbering Magi and remaking Eisunstein to their own liking.

Weapon Master Altari of Covenant Duresca is pulling together bands of heroic investigators to ascertain the truth behind the rumors. If need be he will send them to locate Duresca's master – Master-Magus Lucien, and awaken him to dispel the erring Protectors.