The Breaking

Before The Breaking

Before Sarchi'na stepped in, it seemed that the corrupt king, the murderer of Fænya Omar'di, and father of the Contenæ prince, was close to victory. He'd created a weapon of mass destruction and had demonstrated its destructive power on a camp of soldiers and medics. The land itself had risen and split apart; fire burned in every direction, and the wind only served to exacerbate the conditions.

During The Breaking

It was then that Sarchi'na had enough; Her gifts had been abused as methods of death instead of services of life. Lightning struck the king dead, the sky shook and appeared to split as Her voice echoed across the world. She removed all people from the king's lands in the south and divided it from the continent. The dozen or so small islands surrounding the southern coast were submerged in water; Sarchi'na allowed any inhabitants to vacate beforehand.
All those born before this time had their magic stripped from them, and those born after were given limits to the power they could possess or wield. Healers, Priests, and Warriors had to pass a series of tests to prove their worthiness and regain their blessings.

After The Breaking

The Island containing the ruins of the Contenæ kingdom is overrun with monsters and beasts unique to that place. Magic along the border works differently; sometimes, effects are more potent; other times, it fails altogether.
Any magical change to the natural landscape (like pulling a pillar of rock out of the ground), is impermanent, no matter how strong the caster.
If any magic-user surpasses their abilities, they risk losing their power or losing their life.
Prospective Healers, Priests, and Warriors must meet the Goddess and pass her test(s) to achieve the level they seek; this is not a literal in-person meeting, but one of meditation held within the mind. If any student does not pass the test(s), then attempting to receive Her Blessing could result in loss of magic or death.

Summary

The Breaking was the catastrophic event caused by the Goddess Sarchi'na in response to the continued warring of her people during the time of peace, or Ofirður's reign. It occurred 534 years ago.

Type

Metaphysical, Divine