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"The war began with the two brothers, Merath and Senath. Merath was a talented artificer; even from an early age, his ability to craft materials and magic into beautiful things was evident. His works were known far and wide, and he delighted kings and smallfolk alike with his "toys," often small automata and the like, or so the stories say.

They say that his brother Senath grew jealous of his ability. Some say that it was this alone that caused him to do what he did; others think that there was something dark to his nature. In any case, the stories say that, in an effort to gain the skill of his brother, he made a pact. Again, the stories are somewhat unclear as to who the pact was with. The most common theory is that it was a demon of some sort, although some of the later tales speak of both celestials and demons rising up together to aid Merath against his brother. In any case, Senath opened a doorway to somewhere else and brought through some sort of monstrous being, which gave him great power.

When Merath discovered what his brother had done, he gathered an army, drawing from as many places as he had allies, and managed after much hardship and sacrifice to stop him. Some traditions say that he killed his brother, others say he locked Senath away with the being or beings he had summoned. Little is known about Merath's doings after this time, even in the more conjectural tales; in most cases, he simply 'went away.' In a few instances, he charged his followers, called the Protectors or Keepers, to remain vigilant should his brother ever return.

There are many that know one version of this tale or another. Many a bard has sung the song of the Artificers' War, and many a book has been written about the significance of the story from a literary standpoint, but most regard the tale as just that: a tale. However, it is the purpose of this book to propose that the tale of the Artificers' War is, at least in part, the recounting of an actual event that occured over a thousand years ago. It is the opinion of this author that Merath and Senath were actual persons, and that it might even be possible that there are people who still call themselves Protectors, even today."

From the introduction to "A Study of the Possible Validity of the Tale of the Artificers' War" by Sheridan Mott, Professor, Thaumheim Mages' Academy, City of Thaumheim, Terrandin