The Cataclysm
Summary
Section titled “Summary”The Cataclysm was a centuries long war that started at the end of The Arcanic Age - where the Illchors were released from their imprisonment. Their release led to a second period of warring between the Archons and Illchors.
“stand fast, stand tall
move swift, avoid that maul
find a mate, make it quick
find some water, drink a bit
lucky you got to live at all”
- A limerick recovered from a journal dated to the middle of The Cataclysm…
Details
Section titled “Details”The Cataclysm is the single-most ruinous event in Vaelorys’ history - with over 90% of the population at the time dying directly from warfare, or indirectly from the consequences of it. Little is known about the events of this time period outside of the conjecture of the Gods, and the folklore that has been passed down from Mortals of the time.
What is understood is that the Archons did eventually win the war - not without cost however - and managed to re-seal the Illchors, whilst also laying the groundwork to prevent a catastrophe like this from ever happening again.
The Archons; led by The Fate-Cloaked Maiden, constructed a barrier to prevent all Divine Beings from physically entering the Material Plane ever again and would soon after bid farewell to the world they had cultivated and protected - leaving Vaelorys’ fate in the hands of Mortals.
Legacy
Section titled “Legacy”The Cataclysm scarred the landscapes of Vaelorys forever and set Mortal civilization back millennia, however it also had more direct consequences as well - namely the construction of The Raven Ward.
The magical barrier created by the Archons was named The Raven Ward in honour of The Fate-Cloaked Maiden who championed the need for it’s existence. It’s creation marked the end of The Arcanic Age and the start of The Departure - a time period where Mortals rebuilt society and learned to live without the direct and physical presence of the Gods.