The Great Disaster

About 5,000 years ago, a meteorite struck the world of Torandielle.  It was of such immense size that the shock waves were felt almost to the other side of the planet.  Great clouds of ash, dust, and smoke billowed up into the atmosphere, nearly blotting out the sun.  It caused massive damage to the people of the planet, a technologically advanced world-spanning civilization called Albion.  Many people died, their buildings were destroyed, technology started having problems, and the kingdom started falling apart.  Crops wouldn't grow well without proper light, and the water was choked with debris.  People began to fend for themselves, since their government was no longer able to.  Within a few years, the great Kingdom of Albion was all but gone, the only stronghold left being the capitol.  But that also soon fell, as survivors invaded and plundered it for any resources they could get.  The advanced technology was lost, and civilization had to start over.  It took many years, most likely centuries, for the skies to clear and for the waters to become pure again.  The descendants of the roving bands of survivors began to settle down and form settlements, and then when others began to attack them for resources, they built strongholds to keep them out.  These strongholds evolved into the castles that are seen today, and the settlements became strong kingdoms that could now defend themselves from their enemies.  Few people remember what the world was like before the Great Disaster.  Fewer still know what caused it.  All that's left of the once great Kingdom of Albion is the much smaller Kingdom of Camelot, centered in what used to be the capitol of Albion.  The inhabitants pass down the tales of their lost, glorious kingdom, and the disaster that took it from them.  They are ruled by a succession of elected princes, watching for the day when the descendants of the last king of Albion, Uther Pendragon, will return to claim their throne and restore their lost glory.

Type

Natural