The Barons' Rise
The Barons' Rise (1940–1930 YE) represents a pivotal decade within the larger span of the Glimmering Transition, marking the moment when the administrative capital of the Lost City of Umbral shifted irrevocably from the hands of master engineers to the grasp of powerful commercial and political factions. Every inscription from this era reflects a civilization choosing immediate, glittering profit over the eternal wisdom of the deep stone, a choice that proved fatal. Following the technical implementation detailed in the preceding First Glow sub-era, the Barons' Rise was defined by the ruthless consolidation and monopolization of the energy supply, leading to an atmosphere saturated with arrogance and political maneuvering.
This period saw the zenith of personal influence for figures like Senator Kaelen, whose power derived entirely from controlling the distribution networks of refined Aetherium. Unlike the earlier Deepstone Era, where honor was found in craftsmanship, now prestige was measured by the sheer volume of harnessed Auric Resonance. The new elite, or ‘Barons,’ did not build; they regulated. Their primary mechanism of control was the stringent enforcement of the [[Aetherium Tariff]], an artificially imposed tax on energy usage designed to crush burgeoning independent enterprises and solidify their power base. This economic weapon accelerated the alienation of the traditionalists, hardening the resolve of the disenfranchised Deep-Delvers who viewed this commercialization as a profound betrayal of the mountain spirit.
The historical chronicling of the Barons' Rise is essential to understanding the ethical collapse that allowed figures like Architect Vorlag to continue their unsustainable expansion into the subsequent Dominion era without checks. The old systems of oversight were dismantled through the political machinations known as the [[Consolidation Pacts]] and the chilling [[Purge of Engineers]], which saw dissenting technical minds exiled or silenced, leaving only those willing to serve the Barons' boundless hunger for influence.
This crucial decade, while brief, cemented the political structure that would lead to the Great Sundering just two centuries later. To fully chart this rapid descent into economic absolutism, the scholars of the Abbey meticulously break the Barons' Rise down into the following distinct chronological segments:
1. The [[Aetherium Tariff]] (1940 YE): Establishment of the economic control system.
2. The [[Purge of Engineers]] (1939–1937 YE): Elimination of technical opposition.
3. The [[Consolidation Pacts]] (1937–1935 YE): Formalization of market monopolies and political alliances.
4. The [[Year of Gilded Stone]] (1935–1932 YE): Unbridled outward displays of the elite’s wealth and power.
5. The [[Kaelen Mandate]] (1932–1930 YE): Senator Kaelen’s final assertion of near-total bureaucratic control over resource allocation, defining the political climate for the decades to follow. This era remains a chilling reflection of ambition’s imperfect mirror within the greater Age of Weaving.