The Second Storm

Only the elves remember The First Storm, which ravaged Seidrheim 3000 years ago. Although it only lasted for five years, it took a toll that would last generations. The world's seasons had been thrown out of balance: agriculture came to a standstill, livestock died, and villages closed themselves up. But, the populace eventually recovered, and The First Storm fell into legend. Thirty years ago, the elves - although normally a recluse people - sent out warnings to the main cities of the world. Signs of a similar nature were beginning to show themselves. The elves, in their generosity, wanted to prevent as much damage to Seidrheim as possible. Those who respected the elves - humans, faeries, halflings, and centaurs - immediately began preparation. Agriculture production was increased, stores were filled, and whispered of impending doom settled upon the land. For those who didn't believe, like the dwarves and orcs, everything continued as normal. They believed the elves were tricking those whom they considered lesser (which in the orcs' opinion, had to be everyone other than themselves), forcing them to labour and toil mercilessly.
As many know, hubris always leads to death. And the dwarves and orcs certainly paid in kind for their hubris. For The Second Storm did come, two years after the elves warned the people of Seidrheim, and it flooded the land. Dwarves who lived underground in lowland areas were forced to flee to their mountain-dwelling cousins, or stubbornly stayed and drowned in their homes. Orcs, who usually lived in distinct tribes, fled to the Orcish major city of Gashak . Many tribes were decimated before they could find safety in the city, as orcs are territorial and tribes would fight each other as they all made their way to Gashak.
It rained without letup for eight months, the seas rose, and many suffered. Those who tried to escape to higher ground were ravaged by bitter snowstorms, and most who did not already live in the mountains died of exposure, unused to the temperature. No one could explain the phenomenon, and most stopped trying to. Although the elves had forewarned the people of Seidrheim, they looked after their own and hid away in their treetop villages, waiting for the chaos to end.
Two years after the rain stopped, the seas finally started to recede. The earth was still soaked, but those who lived on high ground were noticing that hardier crops were beginning to germinate.
It's been twenty-five years since The Second Storm, and the youth of Seidrheim talk about the "legendary Second Storm." Most can't believe that it actually happened, and feel that their parents play it up to scare them at bedtime.
Have we learned nothing?

Type

Natural