As the legend of the Forge of Destiny spread, adventurers and rulers alike began to seek it out. Among them, a group of the most powerful and ambitious mages and warriors formed an alliance known as the Ascendant Order. Led by Grandmaster Alaric, a former noble-turned-mage, the Ascendant Order believed that whoever wielded the Forge's artifacts would have the power to end the Magic Wars and establish a new world order.
Alaric had been a student of the Arcane Circle but left when he realized that mere knowledge would not be enough to defeat the oppressive kings. He believed that power—true, absolute power—was necessary to bring peace. Alaric gathered to him a cadre of skilled individuals, from mages to warriors to rogue scholars, each of them hungry for change.
The Ascendant Order began its quest to find the Forge, embarking on perilous journeys through mountains, deserts, and hidden valleys. Along the way, they clashed with rival factions, including kings who sought the Forge for themselves, and rebellious groups like the Children of the Tree, who believed the Forge's power was too dangerous for any one person to wield.