ENDLESS FIRE
The Endless Fire destroyed the city of
Mareilon in 773 GUE and set back
the public's acceptance of magic. This magical inferno, kindled on the 18th of
Estuary was so named because it burned for 4 weeks after
consuming Mareilon. A well-meaning local civil servant caused the
unspeakable devastation when he attempted to cast the ZEMDOR spell
(“turn original into triplicate”) but, instead, accidentally cast the
ZIMBOR spell instead (“turn one really big city in lots of tiny, little
ashes”). He reportedly apologized to the city, with the words: “Whoops!
My bad!”
Lord
Dimwit Flathead the Excessive’s response was swift and
characteristically extreme. The Endless Fire led him to issue a series
of 5,521 edicts over the following few weeks, which had the effect of
severely limiting public access to magic (and, incidentally, lawyers).
Henceforth, all magic was entrusted to the various
Guilds of Enchanters.
| SOURCE(S): Enchanter (A Brief History of Magic), Zork: Grand Inquisitor, various others |