A Primer on Scadrial [required reading]

[Two McMillion]

(Yes, this is required reading even if you've read the books. Here is where the most vital information about the IC world will be contained. If you are new to Mistborn and need more information about Scadrial, please see The World We Live In forum.)

Welcome to Modern Scadrial

Modern day Scadrial is a world on the brink of industrial revolution. The first horseless carriages travel the streets of the cities, streets newly lit by electric lighting. Buildings of steel are beginning to reach for the sky. The steam engine has shrunk the world dramatically, and every day new discoveries in science, medicine, and philosophy are being made.

Undergirding it all are the Metallic Arts. The sought after magical abilities granted by Allomancy and Feruchemy grant men and woman superhuman powers. The powers touch every aspect of life: war, industry, law enforcement, science, and much more are all affected by the Metallic Arts. For hundreds of years, these powers were limited, only one or two per person. It remains to be seen how the reemergence of Mistborn and Feruchemists will affect the lives of everyone on Scadrial...

[Two McMillion]

How We Got Here

Though a great deal of information about the world from before the Final Ascension was contained in the Words of Founding, much of the specifics of that time have been lost, or passed into popular legend. For all practical purposes, the history of modern Scadrial begins with the Originators. It is known that the Originators first emerged in the Field of Rebirth- today a shrine and park in the center of the city of Elendel- following a disaster of some sort. Depending on who you ask, Harmony may have first emerged during this time, or may have existed previously, or has never existed at all. Harmony might have caused the disaster, or been the one who fixed it, or had nothing to do with it. In any case, the Originators built the city of Elendel, under the rule of the Lord Mistborn. The power of the Lord Mistborn was legendary, but he was the last Mistborn until much more recently. Before the Day of Return, most considered him utterly unique, a person unlike any other whose equal would never again be seen.

The descendants of the Originators began to spread out and fill the world, and soon other cities began popping up around Scadrial. The Words of Founding contained information scientists were able to use to build engines that ran on steam and electricity, and soon the rail lines began to pop up between the cities. At first, these cities all gave alligence to the Lord Mistborn, but when he died and left no heirs they became mostly independent city-states, though technically each still owes allegiance to the Lord Mistborn should someone with a proper claim show themselves. Still, as time past an no heirs showed themselves, the cities became secure and comfortable in their own independence(code word: "Metalmind").

A furor of exploration seized the world. Ships set sail for uncharted parts of the globe, mapped and colonized distant islands, found new mines for metals in the Roughs. Advances were made in the field of optics, allowing for telescopes, in the field of explosives, allowing dynamite to break the mountains open for the trains and to break city walls open, too, in their field of medicine as people became aware of germs for the first time. The printing press was invented, and within a few short years books were everywhere. The advent of cheap and practical firearms brought another revolution to war, crime, and peacekeeping. The world is changing at a breakneck pace, spinning faster than anyone can catch, and running on top of the world are those with the Metallic Arts, spinning with it, or spinning it for their own designs...