The Principalities
The principalities share a common history until the end of the second age. Each was once part of the powerful Mik’Tash Empire. The first nation to rise up in the second age, warlords took lands and city-states and formed the Mik’Tash Empire.
The Emperors of Mik’Tash had long ago forbidden magic; little did they know it would lead to the downfall of their Empire. The Karismon War ended badly for Mik’Tash, the navy (the largest and most powerful in the world) was destroyed within hours by the Karismon fleet.
Karismon then turned to the three largest coastal cities (the capitol included) and within days forced the empire to surrender. So much magic was unleashed in those three cities, that to this day magic flows freely and uncontrollably through the streets. There are signs and patrols that attempt to keep people out of the area, but some have gone in, and few ever return. Magic is completely unpredictable and uncontrollable in that area.
The three surviving heirs to the Empire quickly established control of what has become known as the three Principalities; Amaröbi, Shelien, and Malidarian. Each principality has its own agenda, Amaröbi has turned towards magic, Shelien has maintained the old ways of forbidding magic, and creating a powerful military, and Malidarian has turned to knowledge and study for power.