The Dark Wave

Through archeologist research and historic study, it is believed a disastrous event known as the "Dark Wave" swept across the coastal valley around the year 1832 TA, leaving death and destruction in its wake. The disaster was caused by a magical plague that corrupted all that it touched and ultimately ended many old established townships and kingdoms. It was believed that the plague stemmed from the residue of a dead behemoth from the depths of the ocean, which was brought to the surface by a violent storm. As the behemoth's corpse decayed, the plague spread like wildfire, killing or mutating life in its path.
The ruins of the townships and kingdoms that were affected by the Dark Wave still remain to this day, like skeletons and bloated corpses of the living. The once-thriving port cities of the region were completely destroyed, with only remnants of their former glory remaining.
However, the elven settlements of this age were able to escape the bulk of the plague. Shelthemar isolation within the forest and defensive positioning pushed back any plague-bearers, which allowed them to remain relatively unscathed. As a result, they were able to provide shelter and aid to those who were able to escape the plague-ridden areas.
Those who did not die outright from the rotting plague suffered from horrific mutations that were unlike anything seen before. As the disease spread, it triggered a terrible transformation in those who were affected by it, causing them to devolve into monstrous beings. Those who 'survived' were afflicted with physical mutations that were reminiscent of sea creatures and sea monsters. Some developed scales or tentacles, while others sprouted fins or gills, adapting to an aquatic lifestyle. In some cases, these mutations also gave rise to new abilities, such as the ability to breathe underwater or to communicate with marine life. These mutations also came at a terrible cost. Those affected by the plague became more primal, losing their humanity and their ability to reason. They began to act like beasts, attacking anyone who crossed their path and showing little regard for their own safety or well-being. As a result of these mutations, many of the survivors of the Dark Wave became feared and reviled by the rest of society. Colloquially referred to as Sea Spawns or Deep Ones, these entities were often hunted and killed on sight, forced to retreat into the shadows of the deep or into the gutted ruins on the coastlines. Over time, their numbers dwindled, and they became a mere memory of a terrible time in history.
Today, the ruins of the Arbour Coastline still bear witness to the horrors of the Dark Wave, with some of the mutated survivors rumored to still be lurking in the shadows of forgotten ruins, haunting the dreams of those who dare to venture too close to them. More than once, adventurers have braved these ruins and have returned with stories of these monster's might and the recovery of strange relics that private collectors and governmental bodies will pay a large sum for.

Origin

Mutated

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired & Congenital

Rarity

Extremely Rare