The Severance War

The beginning of the third century was marked by the gradual rise of the Governors, who were tasked with developing Asgartha’s Provinces, as they were granted near full regional powers. This key role allowed them to amass wealth and influence, to the point where they eventually challenged the authority of the Basileus. As infrastructures and cities developed and regional economies grew, so did their personal ambitions.

When Marcus Sune, Asgartha’s Basileus, sought to reform the government towards a more democratic model, the Governors, feeling threatened, rebelled against the central authority. They claimed that Sune’s objective was to strip the regional powers of their autonomy and restore Arkaster as the sole seat of power. This led to a civil war that lasted five years, culminating in the Governors' armies marching on the capital.

At the time, when conscription began, Wanjiru was a young Horomancer stationed in the province of Caer Arcolano. Although the Yzmir declared their neutrality in the conflict, Wanjiru pledged allegiance to Telmo, the Governor of Caer Arcolano, whom he knew was driven by noble intentions. However, as the situation worsened, Wanjiru realized that something was amiss, as if someone or something was pulling the strings from behind the scenes. He secretly began investigating, patiently listening, watching for signs, and spying when necessary.

As he probed further and further, he uncovered a terrible conspiracy deeply rooted in the political spheres of both the loyalists and the insurgents. A previously unknown faction sought to destabilize Asgarthan society to its core. Wherever possible, its infiltrated agents stoked the flames of discord and violence, worsening the war.

Despite his status as an apostate, Wanjiru managed to alert the Yzmir Magisters, who took the threat more than seriously. Just as the armies were about to clash on the battlefield, the Yzmir intervened, showcasing their supremacy by halting the advancing troops. Simultaneously, Wanjiru and small strike teams targeted individuals identified as agitators—high-ranking officials within both the loyalist administration and the rebel coalition.

After being interrogated in secret by the Ordis, the conspirators revealed they belonged to the Isfet, a sect devoted to chaos. Their ultimate goal was to let the Tumult triumph, by fostering disorganization within Asgartha by any means necessary. Peace was eventually restored, and the traitors were publicly tried and imprisoned, though not all the details of their actions were fully revealed.

Celebrated as a hero and a key figure in the reconciliation, Wanjiru, however, remained uneasy. He came to believe that the Isfet had been backed by outside forces. The Horomancer decided to dedicate his life to uncovering the true masterminds behind the conflict. To protect Asgartha, he founded the Qorgan, an Yzmir cell specialized in tracking and eliminating the nation's enemies.