Ambitious and selfabsorbed, Mesmer craves recognition and fame. Obsessed with immediate gains, his reckless maneuvers nearly spark open conflict between humans and fae.

When revolutionary upheavals erupt and authority falls into the hands of Robespierre—a zealot and formidable magician—Mesmer abandons his post and flees.

1764–1766. Dark Forces Unveiled

In France, and later across other European countries, a cult known as Fratres Tenebrarum (in French, La Fraternité Obscur) emerges. Founded by Count Cagliostro, it is devoted to the worship of Chaos. The cult’s mission is to prepare the earth for the invasion of Chaos’s main forces from the dimension of the Abyss.

To open the Gates leading to Chaos, they sacrifice human lives. For this purpose, the Swarm is unleashed upon the earth — an entity from another world that enslaves the will of intelligent creatures, feeding on their fear and blood.

Standing against them is Countess Saint-Germain and her Brotherhood of Nephilim, composed of beings from the fae folk who first entered our world: Violet the fairy, Onyx the wolfen, and Axe the dwarf. Together they fight on the side of Order, determined to resist the spread of Chaos.

They track Cagliostro’s movements and begin investigating the cult’s activities. Yet panic grips the peasants of the province where the Nephilim arrive: they mistake Onyx the wolfen for the legendary Beast of Gévaudan. Meanwhile, the real murders intensify, carried out by Cagliostro and his cultists, who exploit fear to discredit Saint-Germain and her companions.

A hunt for the “monster” begins, drawing in aristocrats and even the military. Wolfen, targeted as the beast, narrowly escapes death. The tale of the Beast of Gévaudan becomes a fashionable obsession, with the number of killings attributed to it growing with each retelling. The cultists seize the opportunity, continuing their sacrifices under the cover of this terrifying legend.

Saint-Germain and her allies gain support from François-Antoine de Beauterne, dispatched by the king under the guise of slaying the Beast. Several cultist hideouts are uncovered and destroyed. To calm the populace, the corpse of a large wolf is displayed as proof of the beast’s demise, and the panic gradually subsides.

Plague in the Loire Valley and the First Epidemic of Corruption

A strange pestilence spreads across the Loire Valley: fields blacken, vineyards wither, and the infected undergo horrific mutations, losing their minds and transforming into monsters. This marks the first recorded mass manifestation of Chaos on French soil.

Countess Saint-Germain aids General Lafayette in purging the Corruption and destroying the infected monsters. The king, informed by Lafayette of the Countess’s invaluable assistance, learns the full truth of what transpired.

At court, both the general and the sorceress are hailed as heroes. King Louis XVI decrees the creation of the Royal Council of Wise Men on Magical Affairs, intended to be led by Saint-Germain. Yet at the last moment, Franz Mesmer is appointed chairman.

An aging scholar of “animal magnetism,” Mesmer wields deep connections among the aristocracy and the royal court. He persuades the king that a venerable, respectable man would endure criticism more easily than a young woman. He argued that people would heed him more readily than SaintGermain, who at court was openly branded a “witch.”

The council assembles “magicians” - sorcerers, alchemists, and mystics to serve the crown and France. But true masters of the arcane are few within the empire, and those who exist often resist Saint-Germain’s authority.

Meanwhile, the influence of Mesmer’s followers graws rapidly. Once considered as fringe thinkers, they now attracted increasing support.

For the educated and devout Catholics, Mesmer’s doctrine of animal magnetism proves easier to accept than magic, which they have long been taught to fear as the work of dark forces. Mesmer insists that magic is merely a byproduct of animal magnetism, promoting his theory as safer and more rational.

Though formally subordinate to the Council of Magical Affairs, the Mesmerists openly oppose Saint-Germain, condemning her practice of magic and her alliances with non-humans.

The quarantine imposed on the Loire Valley, with its moratorium and heavy taxes, deepens France’s financial crisis. Yet the authorities stubbornly refuse to reform the tax system, sowing further unrest.

June 11, 1768. The Breakthrough in Lyon

In the catacombs beneath Lyon, the second largest Rift after Paris tore open. From its depths surged demonic creatures, threatening to engulf the city in ruin. Only the combined might of the Council’s magicians and the regular army prevented catastrophe. This event entered history as the Great Breakthrough of Corruption.

Meanwhile, in Paris, agents of Chaos worked tirelessly to erode the people’s trust in their rulers. At their head stood Countess Jeanne de La Motte — adventuress, cultist, and devoted student of Cagliostro — weaving intrigue and deception at the very heart of the kingdom.

July 15, 1768

For the first time, contact with fae was officially proclaimed. Before the glittering halls of Versailles, the fae appeared as honored guests of the king. They spoke of their homeland, a world nearly consumed by Chaos, and pledged their aid to humanity in the struggle against Corruption.

Yet their presence ignited a storm of controversy and led to an unprecedented political crisis. Some nobles demanded the expulsion of these “demons,” fearing their otherworldly nature. Others urged that fae be embraced as allies, recognizing the value of their knowledge and power.

August 1, 1768. The Oath at the Tuileries

At the Tuileries Palace, King Louis XVI, defying pressure from his court, accepted the oath of allegiance from the first representatives of the wolf people — les loupshommes libres, or wolfen. New military units were created: regiments of wolf grenadiers. Preparations began for the swearingin of other fae. The army even debated the formation of centaur hunter regiments.

This provoked a wave of panic across France. Townsfolk and peasants demanded the expulsion of fae, while priests thundered from their pulpits that their arrival heralded the end of days. The public appearance of wolfen caused a fresh surge of “Gévaudan hysteria.”

The memory of the Beast of Gévaudan still haunted the people, and pamphlets and sermons compared the wolfen to werewolves, warning that they would betray and slaughter those who trusted them, just as wolves prey upon sheep. Only the steadfast resolve of Countess SaintGermain, backed by the king himself, prevented mass reprisals against the newcomers.

September 13, 1768. Laws on NonHumans

To quell the unrest, fae were forced into segregated districts — ghettos — and restrictions were imposed on their movements and livelihoods. Yet their legal status posed a profound dilemma: fae could not be neatly fitted into the rigid class system of France.

They refused to accept the burdens of the Third Estate, and some demanded recognition of their aristocratic standing. But the French nobility balked at acknowledging nonhuman nobles who owned no land, labored for sustenance, and did not worship God.

Scientists, poets, and philosophers began to question the very essence of aristocracy: what truly defines a noble, and are aristocrats truly so different from commoners.

1768–1785. The Age of Magical Reforms

Europe is divided over the issue of magic and faeries. Through diplomacy, France strengthens ties with its allies, yet Chaos continues to spread across the continent. Reports emerge of those infected with the Corruption in the New World. After several skirmishes with the infected in Canada, French forces withdraw from Quebec, formally ceding it to the British Empire.

Following the initial waves of panic, European rulers begin to accept the Corruption as an everyday, inevitable evil, much as they once did with the plague.

Magic starts to shape the economy. The fae, long accustomed to using magic in their daily lives, succeed in creating artifacts and potions for everyday use. At first, people acquire these artifacts as dangerous curiosities, but soon they become valued as practical tools.

Initially, French authorities rush to impose heavy taxes on the trade in magical artifacts and potions, as early buyers are willing to pay enormous sums. Over time, however, some artifacts prove hazardous to users, while others are exploited for criminal purposes. In addition, many counterfeit or poorly functioning artifacts flood the market.

The requirement for fae to live and trade only within designated neighborhoods — essentially ghettos — increasingly fuels their discontent.

While Saint-Germain remained focused on combating the spread of Corruption and confronting cultists, many members of the Council of Magic Affairs, led by Mesmer, seized opportunities to profit from their positions. They persuaded the king that the Council should regulate all matters related to magic — this new source of unprecedented energy and extraordinary possibilities — within the Empire.

All magicians, both human and fae, were required to register. From then on, any magical activity demanded special permission from the Council and its local representatives, and anyone caught practicing magic illegally was outlawed and severely punished. Naturally, special taxes were imposed on the use of magic, divination, and the creation of potions and artifacts.

Yet magic proved difficult to bind by law. Harsh measures only fueled the rise of an underground black market, where everything related to magic was bought and sold like any other commodity. The illicit trade in magical services also expanded rapidly.

After several joint campaigns against those infected with the Corruption, fae regiments were integrated into the army. Respect among ordinary soldiers grew, despite lingering superstitions. However, no fae were admitted to the officer ranks, and the human officers placed in command of fae regiments were not respected in society.

The Mesmerists within the Council of Magic Affairs press for ever stricter measures against the fae, both to secure the favor of the nobility and out of fear of the ease with which fae command magic.

During her rare visits to the capital, SaintGermain strives to defend the rights of the fae before the king. She arranges audiences between the monarch and influential courtiers with her trusted companions — the dwarf and the wolfen Onyx. For many aristocrats, it is the first time they have spoken with nonhumans as equals. SaintGermain underscores the benefits they can bring to France and their vital role in the struggle against the Swarm.

The devastation wrought by the Corruption, combined with the aristocracy’s determination to preserve its accustomed way of life and wealth in a changing world, leaves the provinces — especially villages and small towns — impoverished. The people of France grow embittered, blaming the authorities for every misfortune and accusing them of collusion with magicians and fae “monsters.”

Meanwhile, in the catacombs beneath Paris, the largest black market for artifacts takes shape, controlled by several “Shadow Princes” of the fae Underground dealers in artifacts and illicit sorcerers forge close ties with France’s criminal underworld and, through smugglers, with networks abroad. Crimes involving magic and fae — or those connected to them — multiply. So too do cases in which human and fae lovers, forbidden to marry, choose to live together in defiance of law and public opinion.

Many accuse the fae of spreading the Corruption and of countless crimes.

In Paris, rumors against Saint-Germain grow ever more numerous. She is accused of secret dealings with the very cultists she battles. “She appeared too conveniently in time! She orchestrated all this herself, to pose as a savior and secure her place at court!” whisper voices in the halls and on the streets. The fact that the sorceress, no longer young, continues to preserve the appearance of a youthful maiden only fuels suspicion — the “unnaturalness” of her visage turns many who were once neutral against the countess. On the other hand, the hope of attaining “eternal youth” still keeps some aristocrats loyal to Saint-Germain.

The Necklace Affair and the Alchemists' Conspiracy

In the autumn of 1785, rumors swept across France that the queen had purchased an extravagant diamond necklace, bankrupting the treasury. Yet an investigation led by SaintGermain revealed that the conspiracy ran far deeper.

The true culprits were cultists of Fratres Tenebrarum, known as “the men in black” — secret devotees of Chaos. They had created a homunculus in the likeness of the queen, using it to discredit the Bourbon dynasty and steal the priceless necklace. In the pursuit of this false queen, the Petit Trianon was completely consumed by fire.

It soon became clear that the diamonds in the necklace, owing to their exceptional purity and cut, had absorbed an immense reserve of magical energy. This energy was the true objective of the Dark Brotherhood, for the cultists needed only to shatter the stones to open a vast Rift in the very heart of France.

The conspiracy was exposed. The “false queen” — the homunculus — was destroyed, and the real Marie Antoinette was vindicated. SaintGermain succeeded in regaining part of her lost influence at court.

Many young aristocrats were captivated by her—by her eternal youth, power, freedom, and magic—and eagerly sought her favor. Among them was the young wife of the Vicomte de Beauharnais, known to her friends as Josephine, who became a pupil of SaintGermain. Later, like several of her other pupils, she divorced her husband, who disapproved of her involvement in magic and her communion with fae.

At Saint-Germain’s request, the jewelers who made the necklace joined the government and began creating artifacts—stones that could hold or reflect Rift energy.

1786 Thanks to France’s diplomacy, some European countries became more tolerant of fae. But in most of the world, fae were still seen as monsters, almost the same as the Swarm. Even when the Swarm destroyed their lands, many kings and emperors refused to change their views.

Marie Antoinette, without the comfort of her Petit Trianon, was now to face the dangers of the court, the anger of the people, and the threat of Chaos. Her detachment from reality became a symbol of the old aristocracy hiding from the coming storm.

Thanks to Saint Germain, who sought to improve relations between humans and fae, free magical clinics were opened in Paris, Reims, and Toulon.

The discovery of magic began to exert a growing influence on the development of science and technology, extending far beyond the mere trade of artefacts. Many fae were unable to enlist in the army or navy, as the two regiments reserved for them were already full, with no new positions available. Peasants were forbidden from using blessings in the fields to secure good harvests or ward off insects. The use of magic for healing was also heavily restricted.

By June 1, 1878, eighteen trading houses and manufactories had been registered, co-owned by front men representing the fae, who remained barred from engaging in commercial activities outside their own districts. Fae were still prohibited from hiring workers.

These prohibitions increasingly fueled crime and obstructed the introduction of new innovations. Aristocrats living near infected areas often broke the law by purchasing charms for their fields, pastures, and homes without going through official channels, seeking to avoid long queues and exorbitant taxes. In some villages, communities pooled resources to secretly hire magicians to protect their lands from evil.

1 January 1787

Emperor Joseph II of Austria introduced a series of laws intended to centralize authority in Belgium and curb the “spread of magic and other heresies.” The measures sparked a Belgian revolt, leading to the creation of a Franco-Belgian defensive alliance against the Swarm.

20 January 1789

The Austrian Habsburgs—Marie Antoinette’s family—together with the Holy See, called for the expulsion of magicians and “ungodly creatures” from France. Yet, despite their ambivalence toward the fae, the French—ranging from nobles to shopkeepers—resented the notion of foreigners presuming to lecture their king.

February 1789

Throughout France, demonstrations of solidarity with the fae multiplied: joint fairs, invitations to Sunday services, and grand balls. These initiatives were most often led by junior officers and retired soldiers, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the fae in resisting the advance of Corruption.

5 May 1789. Proclamation of Equality

The king convened the Estates General, where, under pressure from those assembled, he declared: ``Before God and the law, all are equal—man and non-man, native of France or the colonies—for darkness makes no distinction. And Magic has been granted to the people of France by the Lord Himself, as part of their need to defend against Evil.``

This proclamation laid the foundation for sweeping reforms. For the first time, peasants and commoners were granted access to magical protection, while werewolves, centaurs, and other fae gained the right to serve in the army on equal terms with humans. The people embraced these measures with enthusiasm: even if it was only the illusion of freedom, it was an illusion they longed to believe in.

May–June 1789

Agents of the Swarm spread rumours in the poorest villages of imminent famine and a looming large-scale assault. The provocateurs named Paris as the sole refuge, driving waves of desperate refugees to flood into the capital.

13 June 1789

The Catholic Church denounced any alliance with “inhuman races.” Papal legates accused Saint-Germain of heresy and witchcraft, while a reactionary faction of aristocrats declared that the king was under the sway of a court sorceress.

Saint-Germain and several close associates miraculously escaped. That night, Josephine revealed her magical gift for the first time, aiding Saint-Germain in her flight from the cultists. Yet through a moment of carelessness, she herself came into contact with the Swarm and became infected with its “echo.”

Discontent spread among the people, who grew increasingly dissatisfied with the king and his policies. The fae, too, resented the mounting oppressions imposed by the authorities. Cagliostro, aided by his agents among the townsfolk, played a key role in stoking this unrest.

25 June 1789

Unrest in Paris erupted into open revolt. Among the leaders of the masses was the lawyer Robespierre, whose rise quickly drew Cagliostro’s attention.

28 June 1789

The army was ordered to block refugees fleeing lands devastated by the Swarm from entering Paris. Outraged by this command, part of the provincial garrisons defected, siding with the rebels.

10 July 1789

In Paris, leaders of the uprising—revolutionary journalists, poets, and heads of Mesmerist circles—were arrested.

A second wave of arrests was planned for the night of 12 July, targeting officers and army veterans. Yet that same night, troops who had defected to the rebels, along with “inhuman” regiments, advanced toward Paris. Determined to overthrow the despised aristocratic regime and establish a new order, Robespierre struck a bargain with the Swarm. Convinced that his will was strong enough to resist the lure of dark forces, he believed he could wield the Swarm’s power solely to protect himself and his comrades. He was wrong.

14 July 1789

The rebels stormed the Bastille, freeing its prisoners.

January 1790. The Swarm Advances

The Swarm broke through the Rhine Valley, devastating the lands as far as Cologne. The Holy Roman Empire, having outlawed magic, found itself utterly defenceless.

9 January 1791. Battle of the Rhine

For the first time, the French army confronted the Swarm’s legions in full-scale warfare.

Terror and the Light Rebellion

Robespierre rose to power in France, and his devotion to revolutionary ideals soon hardened into fanaticism. The guillotines never ceased their work. Robespierre begins to listen to the Swarm's whispers. He believes he can negotiate peaceful coexistence with the Swarm. The Swarm's agents convince him that their goal is to overthrow the old world order, not to destroy humanity. The Corruption flares up in Champagne. Waves of the dead attack villages on the banks of the Marne. Yet all of this pales beside the horrors of the Great Terror. Even among the revolution’s supporters, many recoiled in dread at what is unfolding. Accusations mount against Robespierre: that he is infected with the Corruption, that his ideals are distorted, that he now serves dark forces.

The claim that “our leader was infected with the Corruption” proves convenient for a circle of conspirators. They seek to end the terror without restoring the old order.

The Council of Magic is reshaped into a new body — the Council of the Wise. Alongside magicians, it gatheres revolutionaries, poets, lawyers, doctors, officers, alchemists, fae, and even a handful of aristocrats.

The Years of the Great War

France stood on the brink of ruin. In the southern ports of Marseille, sailors began to die as ships arriving from England carried traces of infection. Saint-Germain and her students secretly journeyed to the region to confront the Swarm.

1 February 1793. Contamination of the English Fleet

The destruction of the infected ships ignited war with Britain. Robespierre, increasingly consumed by his radical vision, began to believe that the Swarm represented the purest form of equality. Yet he understood it was not yet time to speak of this openly.

29 August – 19 December 1793. The Siege of Toulon

The city fell to the cultists of the Dark Brotherhood. Amid the chaos, a young artillery officer, Napoleon Bonaparte, proposed a daring plan that secured victory and catapulted him to fame. His determination and composure distinguished him, and in his gaze Saint-Germain discerned the spark of destiny.

They met among the smoking docks, where the sorceress was struck by the officer’s audacity and courage. Together, they set fire to the infected ships. Afterwards, Napoleon suggested enlisting fae craftsmen to forge enchanted cannons.

Saint-Germain recognized in him a man capable of uniting military genius with a new magical order. In time, Napoleon encountered her student Josephine—and fell hopelessly in love.

December 1793. War with Spain

La Fraternité Obscure orchestrated an explosion in Pamplona, placing the blame on French revolutionaries. In response, Charles IV declared France the source of all misfortune. Already consumed by Corruption, Robespierre proclaimed Spain “the enemy of the revolution and the future.” The war that followed provided the perfect cover for the Swarm’s advance into Europe.

End of the Terror

Saint-Germain returned to Paris to confront the revolutionaries. A brief inquiry revealed that Robespierre was indeed possessed by Corruption, and that many of his laws had deliberately weakened the army and undermined France’s ability to resist the Swarm and the Legions of the Abyss. Several members of the Committee of Public Safety were also found to be infected.

On 27 July 1794, in a night remembered as the Silver Night, a storm of magic descended upon Paris. The Council of the Wise struck against Robespierre and his circle. Silver flames engulfed the city’s centre, consuming members of the Committee of Public Safety as well as part of the Council itself.

From the ashes, the surviving members of the Council, together with Saint-Germain, established a new government. Among those elevated was Napoleon, one of the officers who received promotion in the aftermath.

The Anti-Mage Rebellion and the Rise of Napoleon

Incited by agents of Chaos, British spies, and aristocrats, crowds of townspeople—worn down by magic and fear—rose in rebellion against the government, which had become dominated by figures tied to the royal court and former supporters of the Committee of Public Safety.

Encouraged by Josephine, Napoleon chose to act decisively. His troops, bolstered by magic and arcane cannons, swept through Paris and crushed the uprising. In the aftermath, the people hailed him as a hero, while the Council of the Wise proclaimed him the saviour of the republic.

Saint-Germain observed Josephine’s growing influence over Napoleon but failed to perceive the hand of the Swarm behind it. She attributed everything to the young sorceress’s ambition. Yet Josephine’s relentless hunt for agents of Chaos had proven highly effective, and her devotion to the cause seemed beyond question.

1796–1798. The Great Campaign

Driven by ambition and love, and sustained by Josephine’s letters, Napoleon departed for Italy. Josephine remained in Paris, weaving a web of alliances and eliminating rivals within the Council.

Later, in Egypt, Napoleon explored the ruins of ancient temples in search of artefacts left behind by the fae of ages past. There he experienced a vision: a sphinx promising eternal glory if he destroyed the old world and forged a new one.

Taking this vision to heart, Napoleon began to rally supporters. He also commissioned the creation of a museum in Cairo, ostensibly to study relics from the ancient war against the Swarm.

The Fall of the Council of the Wise

Paris was once again shaken by rumours and intrigue. Saint-Germain struggled to hold the Council together, but Josephine and Napoleon plotted a coup. Wishing to avoid another civil war, Saint-Germain departed the city.

By morning, Paris awoke to a new government—the Consulate. Behind Josephine’s back, whispers spread: “She is not merely the wife of General Bonaparte. She is a witch, the queen of shadows, more powerful even than Saint-Germain herself.”

1802–1804. The Empire of Light

Josephine, now the supreme sorceress of France, established the Order of Steel and Magic, uniting fae, magicians, and the military. She persuaded Napoleon that France required not a republic but a new, powerful empire—one capable of purging the world of the Swarm and magical chaos.

In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself emperor, with Josephine ascending as his empress.

Separation and Prophecy

In secret, Saint-Germain met with Napoleon. She warned him that the Swarm was stirring once more, preparing to strike France and Britain simultaneously.