In the mythic past, a mysterious island existed with a single tower encircled by dragons, and it called to sleeping humanity. Over time the dragons left, and the tower continued to call. Some humans answered the call and sought out the island to see what it promised them. The humans who moved there discovered the first secrets of magic, and through magic they created a mighty city called
Atlantis.
But Mages were filled with
hubris over what they could achieve and created a
Celestial Ladder to reach the heavens and attain greater mastery over the world. Once the ladder was finished and mages began to climb it, there was a conflict over how best to lead the world and over the course of the battle, the ladder shattered. This separated the Earth into the
Fallen World and the
Supernal Realm, with the chasm of the
Abyss in between. The Fallen World is the world of the everyday, and mages have come to understand that it is a Lie.
The Supernal Realm is the truth of reality and the origin of magic; it is ruled by the
Exarchs, powerful mages who had successfully climbed the ladder and took control of the Supernal Realm. The Exarchs wish to snuff out the memory of Atlantis and knowledge of magic so they will remain the supreme masters of reality. They are opposed by the
Oracles, a small number that also climbed the ladder but opposed the Exarchs' plan to rule reality. They use the power of the
Watchtowers to call to humanity in the Fallen World. Fragments of the organizations, artifacts and writings of Atlantis survive to the present day, and mages hope to use this knowledge to further their various causes, though as a whole they hope to gain a stronger connection to the Supernal and oppose the Exarchs' rule.