Phaelsivem

By far the darkest times known of by mortals or recorded in any history books, the Epoch of Bloodshed was an extended period of misery and death unimaginable by modern minds. Between five and six centuries ago, the skies of Phaelsivem slowly transformed into a swirl of crimson and black as innumerable rifts ripped asunder through which forces of evil seeking to subjugate and destroy the masses poured forth. It is not altogether clear what exactly propagated the Epoch of Bloodshed, but for over 100 years, denizens of the Abyss, the Hells, and other evil planes spilled over onto the Material Plane. Some believe it was an unholy alliance between the most powerful archdevils, demon lords, and evil archmages that shredded the barriers between the planes as they sought to usurp power in pursuit of godhood. Others claim this was somehow the will of the gods seeking to punish that mortals that had become unworthy of their blessings. Perhaps it was some horrid combination of the two. Many bands of champions and armies fought to protect their families, their peoples, and their lands, eventually falling by and large, time and time again. The number of innocents slain is incalculable, and even evil humanoids native to the Prime Material Plane were lucky to be treated as slaves. Those that managed to survive took to hiding in sewer systems, caves, and anywhere else they could find to potentially escape these torments.   Then there was a sudden, blinding flash of light that engulfed Phaelsivem for an entire week. Nothing was visible on the surface - all was simply light. When the light finally faded, the agents of evil were seemingly gone - either banished or destroyed. The world's greatest sages and religious leaders are still unsure of the cause/origin of this light, and the gods respond to any questions on the Epoch of Bloodshed with silence or simplistic statements that reveal no useful information. The date is now marked in years since the Epoch ended (current year - 437 PEB), but there are marks of the Epoch of Bloodshed that remain. Pools of tar-like liquid exist across the primary landmasses of Phaelsivem, attracting to them - and even spawning - evil monsters that congregate before unleashing terror on local peoples. There are some dark cults that build temples encasing these pools and use them to make sacrifices. Additionally, the societies that have since redeveloped since the Epoch of Bloodshed have a very noticeable military element; some have mandatory conscription of adult males into the army. Almost every household owns at least one weapon. Bands of adventurers are fairly uncommon but certainly not unheard of; most people would just prefer to remain within the "safety" of their village, city, or kingdom where there are militias or armies whose duty is to protect them. There are also more tieflings than there likely ever were before, and rather than being scorned, they are treated more with pity in recognition of the truly tragic events that likely led to their existence. Finally, devotion to the gods is diminished, as some still question why they did not intervene or why they will not even speak on the matter of the Epoch of Bloodshed. Temples and clergy certainly still exist and are treated in a reverent manner, but many are leery of the true nature and motives of the gods. Declaring oneself a cleric of a specific deity would be typically met with surprise rather than respect or suspicion. There are also fewer sorcerers because of the destruction of bloodlines, and high-level magic is just being rediscovered.   Yet, there is some hope for a better future. The goddess Golau was brought into existence to spread light and joy across the Prime Material Plane. Kingdom borders have become less strictly regulated, and trade is rapidly expanding. People are more free to travel and enjoy themselves, rather than living in perpetual fear of the storied rifts reopening. Beacons of civilization have been reestablished across Phaelsivem, be it the ancient elven kingdom of Hyhe Esari (whose origins predate the Epoch of Bloodshed) or the much newer city-nation of Worledin in the Seilidun Ocean, which has become a key point of seafaring navigation.   Nearly 500 years following the Epoch of Bloodshed, the peoples of Phaelsivem have finally returned to a sense of normalcy, as nearly every creature - save for very few - that exists now was born following the end of that terrible time. The continent of Quo'uj has seen kingdoms like Hyhe Esari and Oakbury regain some of their former power, while newer nations like Caeserin and Birduhn are staking their claims as important powers. The Worlis Archipelago, which forms a nigh impassable belt of islands and whirlpools that bisects Phaelsivem, features the newest world power, Worledin, a key waypoint for east-west (and vice versa) navigation as the other kingdoms discover lands beyond the Archipelago that had been forgotten for centuries.