March 3, 1356
The people of Brookvein woke to a day that began like any other. As the sun rose over the farmlands, a shadow stretched across the villages. In the distance, a tower loomed bigger than any house, bigger than any castle, taller than the hills. Its peak pierced the clouds. Farmers halted their work. Merchants froze in the streets. Children stopped playing. Nobody moved.
The tower had appeared without explanation. It had not been built, placed, or transported. It simply stood there, as if it had always existed. Its walls were circular and smooth, etched with swirling lines no one had ever seen. Its base could hold an entire town, and its height vanished into the sky.
Villagers approached cautiously. At its base, a single passageway radiated a heavy, unnatural vibe... silent, dark, and oppressive. Officials prohibited entry, but curiosity and ambition eventually overcame caution. Small teams were sent inside, each supplied for a month. None returned. Over the next three years, hundreds of groups were dispatched. Most perished. Many vanished without a trace. The tower remained an impenetrable mystery.
Finally, one group returned. Only nine of thirty-five survived. They were battered, injured, and in some cases missing limbs. They carried objects beyond comprehension: metals heavier and stronger than any ore in Brookvein, gold that shimmered unnaturally, and other materials that resisted fire and decay. Among the items was a small, dead green-skinned goblin-like creature, a grim testament to the dangers inside. Most astonishing were the books they brought back volumes filled with symbols and instructions no scholar had ever seen.
Upon study, the scholars realized these books contained the fundamental principles of manipulating the natural world. They taught the basics of what would later be called "magic." With this knowledge, the survivors could understand the tower in ways no one else could. They discovered that monsters within the tower each contained a crystal in their hearts, pulsing with energy. Those trained in magic could sense this energy, and consuming it strengthened both body and mind. The books had given the survivors the knowledge to recognize and use these crystals safely.
The interior of the tower astonished them. The first floor was a grassplain, stretching farther than the eye could see. Above them, a sky hung within the structure, indistinguishable from the world outside. The tower was not merely a building it was another world. Climbing it seemed impossible. Monsters lurked in shadows, and the explorers quickly learned the importance of preparation, patience, and caution.
As they ventured further and discovered shrines that teleported them to higher floors, they mapped portions of the tower and survived where others had failed. Craftsmen forged weapons and armor from the metals, while scholars applied the knowledge from the books. Subsequent expeditions returned with more materials, knowledge, and energy from monster crystals. Brookvein prospered, its power and influence growing with each successful venture.
The king rewarded the nine survivors, honoring their names for the thousands of lives sacrificed to explore the tower. Their deeds were celebrated, their leadership cemented, and their experiences used to guide all future expeditions. Other continents took notice. Diplomatic envoys arrived, negotiating with Brookvein for access, trade, and knowledge. The nine survivors became known as the first generation of Climbers, the lead expedition of the tower, and the first to return alive from the first of the seven towers in the world.