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 The **Golden Age** is the current era of the [[Second Age]], declared by the [[Ecclesiarchy]] and [[Archbishop Fiora Eltal XXIII]] after the resolution of the [[Second River War]] between [[Brightwood]] and [[Dragonfall]]. For the first time in a thousand years, none of the major [[Resolute Kingdoms]] were at active war with each other, and the hope is that, while conflict will remain, piety, magic and science will be able to lead the realm into a more enlightened age, where war can be dispensed of and the resources of the world turned towards solving other problems. The era began around 2700 SA.
+The Golden Age is a chiefly [[Resotania|Resotanian]] project, and for them, its effect has been to substitute hard power over the other Kingdoms (in the form of Whiteshields and grand crusades) for a softer expression, increasing the importance of faith and ritual in everyday life, and therefore reliance upon the Ecclesiarchy. For many, it is seen as one step closer to accepting that the days of the Empire of Resotania are somewhat past, and that it is instead happy to remain first among equals. However, officially Resotania relinquishes none of its power, and maintains that every Resolute Kingdom is still beholden to it. With internal power squabbles "sorted" under this //Amani Resotani//, as it is known, Resotania has turned her eye to dealing with the [[Marak Dohts Dominion]] above all else.
+A key instrument in the [[Golden Age]] is the [[Arcanigreement]], the treaty signed in blood several hundred years ago, banning the use of the arcane in warfare in any form. A large effect of this has been to stop petty squabbles between lords from exploding in importance and casualty, and instead limiting the fighting to levies of merely a few hundred in many cases. However, [[Hollowsmere]] was necessarily granted near-limitless power in enforcing this bond. Many suspect the faraway kingdom of using this as pretence to mould events across the realm to its own advantage.
+Fittingly, the Golden Age has also seen the emergence of the [[Light]] as a religion exploding in importance. It was long held that [[Light's Heart]] effectively split the continent in two, and this has become even more pronounced with the permanent garrison of  [[Light's Army]] at the mountain. To the North, the Resolutes and [[Stroms]] are subject very strongly to Resotania influence, but now must also consider the relentless march of [[Akselmarch]].
+To the South, the Kingdoms are left somewhat to their own devices. Unquestionably, the strongest power is [[Dragonfall]], which has long had designs on the other, nearby titles. Indeed, so many cycles of Dragonfall reaching for power, only to be violently admonished by the [[Whiteshields]], have turned that many believe this Golden Age to be merely another lull, unchanged from the rest. In any event, while Dragonfall seems reluctant to be the first villain to end the Golden Age, the growing influence of the Light far from the Writ may cause the military power to consider Resotania's opinion among its least concerns.