After Calamity

The term "After Calamity" (often abbreviated as AC) refers to all events that occurred following the catastrophic event known as the Calamity. This event marked a fundamental rupture in the Eternal Universe, reshaping the cosmic order and bringing an end to the era of direct divine influence. The timeline of history is forever divided into two periods: Before Calamity (BC) and After Calamity (AC). The AC era is defined by the aftermath of destruction, the struggle to rebuild, and the lingering echoes of the universe’s greatest catastrophe.

The Aftermath of the Calamity

The Calamity left scars upon every Plane of Existence. The violent explosion of Eternal Essence, triggered by the Unstable Shard, caused reality itself to fracture. Planes that had once been stable were thrown into turmoil, their boundaries weakened and in some cases permanently altered. Entire regions were reshaped, landscapes destroyed, and celestial bodies displaced from their orbits.

The Eternal Plane, once the seat of The Seven’s power, was left in ruins. As punishment for their failures, The One imprisoned The Seven within its confines, severing their direct influence on the universe. Without their guidance, the cosmos entered an age of uncertainty, where mortals and lesser beings had to carve their own destiny.

The New Reality

The AC era is characterized by instability, adaptation, and transformation. The weakening of planar boundaries has led to increased interplanar activity, with creatures and forces from distant realms spilling into the Material Plane. Magic itself became unpredictable in some regions, as raw Eternal Essence still lingers in pockets across the cosmos, affecting reality in strange and often dangerous ways.

Civilizations that survived the Calamity found themselves struggling to recover, with many ancient cities reduced to ruins and entire nations lost to the chaos. Some societies adapted, forging new alliances and rediscovering lost knowledge, while others fell into decline, unable to cope with the vast changes brought upon by the catastrophe.

Key Events in the AC Era

The Rebuilding

In the early centuries following the Calamity, civilizations across the planes focused on survival and reconstruction. New political powers emerged, filling the void left by the absence of divine rule. Scholars and Magisters dedicated themselves to understanding the remnants of the old world, piecing together fragments of lost knowledge and mapping the new cosmic order.

The Rise of New Powers

With The Seven imprisoned, mortals and lesser divine beings found themselves in positions of newfound authority. Empires rose and fell, some seeking to claim the power left behind by the Eternals, while others sought to restore the balance that had been shattered.

The discovery of Eternal Essence-infused artifacts from the BC era sparked a new age of magical exploration, as those who wielded these relics found themselves capable of performing feats once thought impossible. However, the dangers of these artifacts remain ever-present, as many still contain unstable energy linked to the original Calamity.

The Expansion of Interplanar Influence

The weakened boundaries between planes led to an unprecedented level of interaction between different realms. Elemental creatures, celestial beings, and even entities from unknown dimensions have found their way into the Material Plane, reshaping cultures, ecosystems, and conflicts.

At the same time, mortal scholars have gained access to knowledge once hidden beyond the reach of their plane, unlocking new forms of magic, technology, and philosophy that continue to shape the course of history.