The Southern Cataclysm

Disaster / Destruction

The end of southern Kingdom was abrupt and unprecendeted, it took but a full year for any presence of civilization in the south to be completely torn asunder. Not even the refugees will talk about the tragedy, as if their minds have erased it.

In a single day almost all humanity in the south had been killed

The presence of monsters erupted all of a sudden destroying the walls of the main cities and devouring the people inside, like a shark through a turtle's shell, they reached the interiors and slaughtered whatever twitched. With this, they set their sight northward to the other kingdoms. All at once the region was at war, with itself...

More people were lost in a day of battle than died from the disease

Like fodder it took hundreds to down some of the largest threats, worst of all was the presence of smaller monsters that could move discreetly to slip past the front line. Hundreds of adventures mobilized, many losing their lives, none emerging heroes as even their collective force only did well to slow the monster's assault.

When the northern army arrived the battle took a turn

Even with the monumental strength the northerners possessed they could only bring this to a startling stalemate. More northern kingdom warriors emerged alive from skirmishes than anyone else but most could not stand back against fear and rejoin battle. It was a nationwide threat that no one was prepared for. If they had stood as one from the beginning they may have faced a great chance but it was too late to look back on mistakes.

So they called upon their gods

Four champions emerged amongst the rambled fighting. With them, humanity avoided another great cataclysm but once again they were reminded that they were far from safe. Anything could kill you anywhere.

Those who touched the frontlines and survived told their tales, in taverns, to bards, to historians. There is always one consistency, without the four champions things would have been over. Every soldier in every army from every place paled in comparison to them. When it took seven to kill one of the monstrosities, they divided their heads and bodies like childsplay. Thus philosophers referred to these people as "Essence Holders," they were prepared to explain their unimaginable strength on an imaginary energy that linked their souls to the universe and a higher purpose.

Regardless of the truth, the war against the monsters ended with the slaying of a monstrous demonic creature known only as, "Walking Death." Without any clear description and the eradication of those that fought it, no one knows what exactly it was.

Once things settled the four champions vanished from the public eye, secluding themselves in their respective kingdoms as objects of worship without exterior interaction.

Thus began the age of the Empire.