The Great Blink

Metaphysical / Paranormal event

The last 70 years of the Third Era consist of the time of The Great Blink.   The southern half of the world is covered in a magical darkness, which cannot be lit by mundane light. Magical lighting only has minimal effect. Mass panic leads to massive casualties, refugees who are able to travel escape to the north hemisphere.   Underdark style monsters appear in great numbers furthering deaths.   Minotaur ships are some of the few who can travel relatively safely in the blink. Minotaurs, previously inhabiting a single continent seperate from the empire, gain an honourary place in the empire for thier contribution in saving refugees - in return for which they are granted assylum in the empire for the duration of the blink.   After the blink, many of the landmasses of the southern hemisphere are changed. Ruins of cities may still stand, but are moved or split. Some islands have appeared, some vanished.   After the blink the minotaur homeland, Karranak, is gone.   Monsters are more prevalent in the south post blink, but the underdark creatures have mostly gone.   There are some pockets of civilisation who lived in the blink for the duration.