History of the First World

The Terminal Catastrophe, a world-shattering event that forever changed the face of the First World, has its roots in the ancient rivalry between the Volion Lesethocracy and the Sarentek federation. These two powerful nations had been at odds for centuries, but their animosity reached a boiling point with the discovery of the Mirror of Dominion. This artifact of unimaginable power, rumored to grant its owner the ability to subjugate the entire First World, was discovered in ancient ruins situated between the two nations. The Sarentek were poised to claim the Mirror, prompting the Volion to declare war in opposition. This conflict, known as the War of the Mirror or the War of Sundering, raged on for nearly fifty years. The war was marked by numerous battles, shifting alliances, and the constant struggle for control over the fabled artifact. As the conflict drew on, both nations exhausted their resources and populations in the pursuit of victory.   On the brink of defeat and with the Sarentek close to seizing the Mirror, the archmages of the Volion Lesethocracy convened in desperation. Determined to prevent their enemies from obtaining the artifact, they prepared a world-level spell that would annihilate the Sarentek and protect the Mirror. They harnessed the power of the shards of Prometheus, a source of immense magical energy, and cast the Spell of Sundering on the 32nd of Orangebloom, 1 CE.   The Spell of Sundering, however, had consequences far beyond what the archmages had anticipated. The First World, unable to withstand the immense stress of the spell, cracked open, and a chasm split the continent in two from sea to sea. This cataclysmic event, known as the Terminal Catastrophe, gave birth to the Sundering Sea, an impassable body of water infused with remnants of the Promethean magic.   The Terminal Catastrophe left a lasting impact on the people of the First World. The Volion Lesethocracy and the Sarentek federation both collapsed, their civilizations in ruin. The chasm created by the Sundering Sea separated the two halves of the First World, isolating the people on either side and forever altering the course of their history. The Mirror of Dominion, the artifact at the center of the conflict, was shattered and lost to the depths of the Sundering Sea, its power dispersed and seemingly lost forever.