The Underdark Cataclysm

The Most Cruel Irony, The Most Twisted Fate

The Underdark is not a place of compassion. Rare is the things that dwell down there of wholesome or kindness. Many of the socities down there have been hardened form their enviorment, choosing survival over compassion. While the society makes one evil, not birth, it is evil nonetheless that permeates the lands so unfathomably deep underground in the world.
Yet, does a society of evil deserve such a fate? Does it truly warrant the horror that was inflicted upon an entire part of the world, in less than a day? Of the generational agony and woe it has caused, of the fracturing and disillusion of what people once were? Such questions are for the gods to answer in the end, but it if for the mortals to deal with the repercussions of such events.
While hardly much is known, the Underdark Cataclysm represents perhaps one of the largest near mass extinction events in recorded history. It has utterly wiped out several species of flora native to the underdark, and what species it didn't outright kill have been driven to near total extinction. All in the span of barely a day it took for this to happen. Reports and documentation are scatterted at best, though some believe that the cause of this event was some sort of creature in the Underdark. Some have even pointed fingers at the allegedly real "aboleth" beasts of the Far Realm, but regardless of the cause, the outcome is the same. In the year 3445EC, reports of large water movment were being reported leading up to the disaster. While out of the ordinary, none of it seems to be of any threat to the Drow. However, blindingly quickly, floods began to occur in rapid succession, and soon into one massive tidal wave of mind blowing size.
While the surface did not feel anything, below their feet, an entire world was being drowned in a flood the likes of which none have ever seen. Though slow at first, it picked up speed all too quickly to be natural, but none were worried about its origin at the time. Drow, deep gnomes, swordwings, all manner of creatures in the Underdark, once sworn enemies now all scrambling and screaming to climb to safety. Very few managed to survive and reach potions leading out of the Underdark where the water ceased to rise. After this, to the worlds surprise, a horde of drow immigrants began solmenly marching aimlessly. At first worrying the reports told of a drow military force, Ashenfeld deployed its armies and moved in, seeing as the main migration was within its borders. The sight of the drow was described as a solmen march of pain and woe, and the wailing and weeping of children and parents completly drowned out the sound of rain and thunder.
Found in an awkward position, the Ashenfeld commander had no idea what to do with this, as killing them not only seemed humane but would ultimately be a waste of time and energy. Beseeching help from the capital, the King of Ashenfeld was rushed out to meet with the Matron Mothers, who by now had formed a very temporary and very fragile cooperation for their race, and got to talking. No one knows what exactly was agreed upon, but in the end, the Drow were allowed to settle in cities, or be allowed to walk through and find new caves and lands to settle should the city leaders accept them in. So it was that once proud Drow, would plead for charity from the cities, though eventually be allowed in as shanty towns. Some would move into new cave systems to try and make new cities, but none if any truly worked out.
Since then, the Drow have been trying to rebuild themselves slowly, the Matron Houses now long since returning to their typical scheming and rivalry. Many larger cities feature a drow district around Neundorf, Ardita, and Ashenfeld, and conditions can varry greatly. Of the other races that dwelled in the underdark, reports are conflicted. Some say the Deep Gnomes were wiped out, but others have reported them surviving in small cave systems. Duregar managed to survive, finding deep cave systems close by the Underdark to build their horrific industrial centers. Swordwings (a small species of insect like humanoids) were almost entirely wiped out, and now at best an endangered species. Regardless of who it was, the Underdark is no more, drowned in water that killed hundreds of millions. So great this event was that drowning has become a generational phobia for many, including the Drow. Large bodies of water being seen at best as ill omens, and nightmares of drowning in a infinite dark sea tormenting many. On top of this, Lolth, the Drow Goddess, has seemingly gone silent, responding less and less to the summons and powers of her clerics, leading to religious schisms and conflicts in drow cities over trying to maintain and repower Lolth, or to abandon the Spider Queen in favor of new gods.

So it was that the all powerful nations of the Underdark, were brought to ruin in but a day...

Date of Event: 3445-3445
Total Estimated Deaths: Millions, 60% of the Drow species is killed in less than a day