The Terminal Catastrophe

The Terminal Catastrophe is a landmark event in the history of the First World, marking the catastrophic divide of the once unified landmass into two isolated halves. Fundamentally, it was the immediate aftermath of the casting of the Spell of Sundering, a desperate move made by the Volion Lesethocracy during the height of the War of the Mirror. In a last-ditch effort to prevent the Sarentek Confederation from acquiring the Mirror of Dominion, the Volion unleashed the spell, and the world as it was known was irrevocably altered.
Taking place on the 32nd of Orangebloom, now year 1 in the Merillian Calendar, the Terminal Catastrophe led to the sundering of the The First World. The spell tore a latitudinal fissure across the land, severing the Granite Spine and creating a massive divide that soon filled with water. This body of water, known as the Sundering Sea, became a hazardous barrier between the two halves of the sundered world. The effects of the Catastrophe were both immediate and long-lasting, causing drastic geographical, societal, and ecological upheavals, the effects of which are still felt over three centuries later.

History

The historical context of the Terminal Catastrophe is closely intertwined with the War of the Mirror. As the conflict between the Volion Lesethocracy and the Sarentek Confederation escalated, the two factions sought control over the Mirror of Dominion, an artifact said to allow its owner to rule Merillion. With the Volion on the brink of defeat, desperation set in, leading to the fateful decision that would forever change the world.
On the 32nd day of Orangebloom, known now as the first year in the Merillian Calendar, the Volion Lesethocracy cast the Spell of Sundering using their Promethean shards. It was a move born out of desperation, an attempt to prevent the Sarentek Confederation from seizing the Mirror of Dominion. However, the consequences of this act were far more devastating than the Volion Lesethocracy could have predicted. The Spell of Sundering caused the First World to fracture, splitting it in half. A few days after the Catastrophe, the fissure filled with water, creating the Sundering Sea and sealing the division of the First World into two halves, now known as Aevolacor and Lesefaron.
The Terminal Catastrophe marked the end of the War of the Mirror but at a staggering cost. It led to the collapse of both the Sarentek Confederation and the Volion Lesethocracy, triggered economic distress among many nations reliant on trade, and irrevocably disrupted the First World's ecosystems.

Societal and Economic Impacts

The Terminal Catastrophe sent shockwaves through the societies of the First World in both literal and metaphorical ways. The sudden, massive division of the world, marked by the rise of the Sundering Sea, elicited a range of responses, from disbelief and horror to resigned acceptance of the changed world order. The reception of the Terminal Catastrophe varied greatly depending on an inhabitant's proximity to the epicenter of the event, their cultural affiliations, and the immediate and long-term impact on their lives.
Close to the epicenter, communities that once thrived were obliterated in an instant. Those who survived were left in a world unrecognizable from the one they knew just moments before. For these people, the Terminal Catastrophe was an apocalyptic event, a shattering of their world and way of life. The inhabitants of the Sarentek Confederation and the Volion Lesethocracy, who were directly embroiled in the conflict that led to the Terminal Catastrophe, bore the brunt of the disaster. The loss of life was massive, their economies and infrastructures were obliterated, and their social and political systems were left in tatters.
Meanwhile, the inhabitants further from the epicenter, such as those in the The Granite Spine or farther north, experienced the Terminal Catastrophe as a distant but powerful shock. The immediate impact on their lives might have been less severe, but the long-term consequences were profound. Trade routes were disrupted, causing economic distress, and communication with far-flung communities was severed, leading to isolation and cultural shifts.
The Terminal Catastrophe had profound and specific impacts on different regions of the First World, leading to dire ecological and magical consequences. On both Aevolacor and Lesefaron, the people were faced with similar challenges of drastic changes in the landscape, disruption of trade, and isolation, yet some areas experienced unique difficulties.
In Sarentekia, the crucial criumite trees were devastated. Known for their delicate ecological balance, the immense disturbance caused by the Terminal Catastrophe upset their natural growth and equilibrium. The impact of losing such an essential resource was felt acutely by the Sarenteki people, impacting their economy, culture, and way of life, and adding an extra layer of hardship in the catastrophe's aftermath.
In contrast, the Shimeran Jungle, once bordering the Soladurni desert on Aevolacor, found itself separated from the mainland by the Sundering Sea. This isolation accelerated the desertification of Soladurn, transforming the once thriving and diverse ecosystem into a harsh and arid landscape.
The situation was equally dire on Lesefaron. The region around Prometheus, embedded in Hailindor, suffered increased instability. Settlements close to the meteorite were lost, consumed by the growing influence of Prometheus, causing displacement and significant loss of life.
Moreover, the Terminal Catastrophe wreaked havoc on the First World's ley lines, the invisible channels of natural magic that crisscrossed the planet. The immense magical disturbance caused a "wildening" of these energies. This chaotic shift in magic caused unpredictable effects, some regions saw their landscapes morph and warp in bizarre ways, and magic-users found their abilities were no longer reliable, leading to both wondrous and catastrophic outcomes.

The Road to Recovery

The Terminal Catastrophe marked the beginning of a new era, one filled with the struggle for survival and rebuilding in the aftermath of a world-shattering event. Despite the devastating losses and monumental challenges, the people of Aevolacor and Lesefaron rallied with determination.
In the immediate aftermath of the Catastrophe, communities had to adapt to the new geographical realities and harsh living conditions. Economies that once relied on trade with distant nations had to pivot to self-sufficiency. Many adopted a more nomadic lifestyle, following the changing seasons and migrations of newly adapted wildlife for sustenance. Over time, new alliances were formed, new nations rose from the ashes of the old, and cultures evolved to meet the demands of their transformed world.
The impact on magic, once a cornerstone of daily life, was profound. With the ley lines thrown into chaos, magic became wilder and less predictable. It was a hard blow to civilizations that had based their lifestyles around the steady flow of magic. But in this new world, adaptability was key. Magic users started exploring and studying these changes, slowly learning to navigate and manipulate the unpredictable flows of magic, leading to a new field of magical study called "Wild Arcana".
The recovery was not just physical and societal, but psychological as well. The loss, grief, and trauma experienced by the survivors required healing. Many turned to faith, and religious institutions experienced a resurgence as people sought solace and guidance in their beliefs.
While the The Sundering Sea remained a perilous divide between the two halves of the world, there was a glimmer of hope. The successful voyage of the Arcane Serpent marked a potential breakthrough. The journey was treacherous and required unprecedented innovation, but it proved it was possible to traverse the lethal sea. This instilled a renewed sense of hope and a spirit of adventure, that maybe one day, the divided world could reconnect.

The Catastrophe in Arts

The Terminal Catastrophe left a profound impact on the arts throughout the First World. Art, as a form of expression, reflected the transformative experiences the inhabitants faced, their grief, their resilience, and their hopes for the future.
The initial aftermath was marked by a significant decrease in artistic output. Survival was the priority, and luxuries like art were relegated to the sidelines. However, as societies began to stabilize, the artistic community returned, albeit changed in form and theme. The artworks created in the early post-Catastrophe era were often raw and stark, echoing the desolation of the world around them. Landscape painting, in particular, became a poignant medium for showcasing the physical changes brought on by the Catastrophe, while the narrative arts used storytelling to memorialize the event and share survival strategies.
Sculpture, once primarily focused on beauty and divine representation, took a turn towards the abstract. Artists began to sculpt renditions of the broken world, often using materials directly affected by the Catastrophe such as sundered stone or warped metal. These creations, scattered across the newly shaped world, served as haunting reminders of the past and the cost of power unchecked. Literature and poetry delved into themes of loss, change, and resilience. Epic poems were composed, retelling the stories of the Terminal Catastrophe and the struggle for survival. But they also began to explore themes of hope, of rebuilding, and of the potential for a brighter future. Music, as ever, echoed the emotional state of the people. In the aftermath, melodies became melancholic, reflecting the grief and sorrow of the world. But as time went on, the music began to change, embodying the resilience of the people, their determination to survive and rebuild. Songs of unity, strength, and hope began to fill the air, providing solace and inspiration. Perhaps one of the most significant impacts was the emergence of a new art form — Wild Arcana. As magic users started to navigate the unpredictable flows of magic post-Catastrophe, they began to create spectacular, ephemeral works of magic-infused art.

Date of Setting

32nd of Orangebloom