The Dalian Cataclysm

The Dalian Cataclysm was the war that ended the Greater Dalis rule in Ardean and saw their near total extinction.
Different kinds of records of varying degree of accuracy have survived from those times. Most importantly, Saah's Red Library has a copy of a manuscrip, penned by a Naazey mage Iin-ah'Suh, who was present during the conflict. This combined with acheology and modern scholarly practices have given us a fairly good picture in what happened.

"The Changed Ones ruled over men, but men grew tired of their position, so they pleaded for salvation, but it was denied, over and over again. Until the the Cold Ones showed them the way. So they could throw away their shackles and stand. With rock, steel and determination they threw themselves at the Changed Ones. But the Changed Ones laughed at them, as no rock, steel or determination could break their black steel."

The conflict itself was long brewing as the Greater Dalis were increasing their already tight control over Adrean and it's people. Years of oppression, slavery and extensive genetic manipulation made by the Dalis to they subjects and themselves fanned the flames ever further. A resistance was born. Driven by Human and their Naazey allies. It however, was ineffectual against the powerful Dalian technology.

"A Changed One with a heart of flame came to us, she promised us victory. She told us how she was misguided and how the gods have abandoned her people. -"No longer can I watch the corruption and cruelty. No longer can I stand for all the blasphemy of my people and the scheming of my father. We are lost."

All this changed when the Dalian heir apparent Elianar joined the cause. She had learned of her father's plans to grant immortality to their people, in exchange for the lives of nearly all of their Human and Rashadin subjects. It is said that the bastard goddess Ainentara was the one pulling the strings.

"With her on our side, the tides were turning and the Flame Heart grew bolder and a plan was formed. Soon the Changed One leader was slain. We celebrated, we though the nightmare has ended, but through vile machination the Tyrant came back and with godly flames devastated our ships."

Now with a portion of the Dalian military on their side they finally had a fighting chance. Thing took a turn to worse after Elianar murdered her father, the Emperor. As he was brought back more powerful than before. It is said that he could raise the dead with only a glance and shoot "godly fire" from his hands that could vaporize entire fleets.

She gathered her companions and in a great council they spoke to Old Zarath, who then gave them a vision and a gift. They looked at each other and understood what must be done. Pieces of godly souls they gathered and under Zarath's instructions they build it. A weapon to face a god. She then acknowledged what they had done and went with Vaal to truly understand their enemy. There she was changed again. Becoming what she truly was. The Flame Eternal.

Elianar, with her companions "Kardetav Sulla" a former Dalian captain, "Vaal-a Sooshaa" a Naazey Hero, "Anton Varadion" a human resistance leader. "Naadia Montravar" an Ilensilian Champion and "Jez"- Elianar's handmaiden. The Emperor had somehow managed to tap into a well of holy energy. This brough the attention of the gods themselves. And Tcharathar, in his holy wisdom, bestowed a gift and quest for our heroes. Then through battle and hardship, they managed to complete it. And along with it, they managed to forge a godly weapon of incredible power. Elianar herself was said to have ascended to higher form. But there is nothing to prove this claim.
To this day, it not fully known what exactly happened that day. A cosmic ritual interrupted? A miscalculation from Ainntar? Or even a purposely carved plan by her?

As the forces fought, there was a thunderclap. There were screams and then they looked up. The sky had turned into a rainbow of colors and the stars, stars that were not ours shone bright. The Moon flickered green and a sudden thunderstorm pounded the ground. The heavens fell from the sky and ripped and janked the screaming Dalian souls, taking them up, up to skies. Leaving nothing but empty husks.
And then the gods cried.

The Conflict

Aftermath

This event resulted with every Dalian being killed in Western and Middle-Ardean and the subsequent power vacuum was so massive, that not a single faction fully managed fill it. And the lack of backup power structure meant that anyone had a claim for the throne. Infact, the next nearly 300 years was dominated by near constant warfare between factions.
Some faction fared better that the others. Surprisingly, the eastern Qur of Ron'Tka, with the help of Athonrici Human corsairs were first ones to take Azyrium.
Aside from Riek, the Ardean Humans on the were practically thrown back to the bronze age. The Naazey, while powerful, were still recovering from the war itself. As their city-states had faced against the full power of Dalian Navy and were in complete ruins.
The remaining Dalis were scattered and leaderless. It was in year 673, when the Dalian forces finally took the city of Amaran, finally re-instituting Dalian rule.
Thanks to extensive acheological work done by Ussorian scholars, we have been able to estimate that the kill-zone was around 8000 miles wide. So not even those out in the sea or T'sa were saved.
-Hesper Nawarin, 1572

Start Date

2710 FE (Fall Era) Or more commonly 2 BCE (Before Cataclysm)

Ending Date

0 CE, The Cataclysm marked the beginning of the current era.