Magical Terraforming of the Imperii Draconi

General

Even before the era of the Imperii Draconi, Dragons and Old Ones had engaged in magical terraforming in Áváhé, for instance transforming arid desert landscapes into temperate regions. This practice was later adopted and expanded by the Imperii Draconi. By the time of the Iron Gate Saga, however, this knowledge had been lost, and the requisite infrastructure was left in disrepair.

Two areas of Áváhé were most notably subjected to extensive terraforming: Western Aerznia and the Dróžt, both originally arid deserts.

Early Examples =

The foundation of terraforming lay in magic. The Old Ones possessed a profound understanding of magic long before the expansion of the Dragons across the continent. Possessing the ability to influence their immediate environment climatically, they initially adapted their surroundings to their favor. Given the Old Ones' developing relationship with the Dragons - who were also adept in magic - both groups engaged in mutual exchange, presumably as early as the Rune Epoch.

The idea of large-scale terraforming likely arose from observing the Old Ones using magic to adapt their environment on a smaller scale. The Dragons, inspired by this practice, endeavored to implement it on a grander scale, with the Old Ones likely supporting their efforts as a gesture of goodwill.

Development

Initially, the Dragon clans focused on creating and enhancing their own habitats. Over time, as Humans - more susceptible to environmental conditions - developed a keen interest, terraforming efforts intensified.

Terraforming became a pivotal interest that spurred the rise of the Old Empire, facilitating its large-scale application. The fact that the Empire was able to emerge at all is probably also due to terraforming as a common ground. As the Imperii Draconi advanced, terraforming efforts increased, transforming all of Western Aerznia up to the Filius River into a Mediterranean-like region.

Inspired by these successes, the Old Ones on the Dróžt embarked on their own terraforming projects.

Operation

Various methods of terraforming have been employed over time. During the era of the Imperii Draconi, institutions known as conservatories were established. These were centers where the magic required for terraforming was harnessed and directed. Frequently, these conservatories were constructed on Nexuses, amplifying their magical efficacy.

Narrative Method

In many conservatories, narrative magic was employed. After extensive experimentation and trials, objects were placed on Nexuses and imbued with narrative properties that enabled them to terraform as required. In this manner, each conservatory contributed as a component of a larger, interconnected system.

'Dreamers'

Nearly any object could be narratively charged and modified to facilitate terraforming. Typically, however, these objects were artistically crafted to enhance their cultural significance and to make them more amenable for the magicians to use due to their aesthetic appeal. In popular parlance, these objects were referred to as 'Dreamers', reflecting a romanticized belief that they envisioned and thus brought forth the world of tomorrow through their dreams.

The Dreamer Controversy

The objects that were narratively altered to support terraforming in some way tended to acquire a common quality: they were infused with the idea of the terraformed world as a concept. This led to debate among scholars and philosophers as to whether these objects actually acquired intelligence in some way, or even became living beings, since they did after all incorporate a cognitive concept and even magically enacted it. Since the items were commonly said to be dreamed of terraforming, this discourse became known as the Dreamer controversy.