The history of this land is the story of man's control over magic.  The mightiest empire known in the past was the oil empire of Tal'Kora.  Their skill and innovation with machines led them to tap into the powerful lines of magic that crossed the land and reign them in.
The power of the Tal'Kora dominated the land.  But the magic became too powerful and it changed and undermined the Tal'Kora empire, weakening their grip on their colonies and holdings.  Some say that the ease of living that their control over magic gave them ultimately weakened them.
Historians do not know what happened, but in some magical cataclysm the Tal'Kora suddenly ceased to be.  All control they had was gone and their magic was released upon the earth.
What followed historians now call the Free Middle Epoch.  Here there was no center to the power.  Magic flowed freely through the air.  Great sorcerors and fantastic items filled the land.  Kingdoms rose and