The Destruction of Orn
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(Redirected from Destruction of Orn)Common knowledge
About
In the year 63 p.o., a calamity struck Orn, rippling destructive waves of energy across the landmass,. It drove magicians into homicidal insanity that ended in the death of those around them and eventually also themselves.
Little is known for certain of what or why this happened. Many conflicting theories exist, from divine punishment, to a magical catastrophe due to hubris.
No matter the reason, it is one of the single most defining event for most inhabitants on Orn presently despite how long ago it occurred.
Survivors
Though the event caused the death of close to all inhabitants of the continent, sporadic clusters of largely magically inert humans survived. Most of these did not last and were either raided by neighboring bands, or simply died from starvation or disease.
Despite all the hardship, some groups are known to have formed into functioning societies after the disaster. These were located in the Mistwreath, on the Thundertop, in Wahlminster, and several smaller clusters in Mendaris (including a group of gnomes).
In depth knowledge
The calamity was in fact an attack originating on K'Shaal.
The attack took the form of a grand curse with two effects. The first effect was a homicidal frenzy caused by a potent spellplague. It affected magicians, slowly feeding on the spells of those stricken over time to propagate itself further, all while backlash damage for every spell lost or used. This damage, combined with the onslaught from their fellow casters, resulted in practically all of them either dying or being killed.
The second, and more directly destructive effect of the curse was caused by the spells it absorbed to propagate itself. As it traveled along the ley lines and other magical infrastructure, it erupted in gouts of energy. Exploding in elemental blasts, altering terrain and causing untold damage to the landmass of Orn.
Aftermath
With this attack, the K'Shaali empire managed to eliminate practically every magic caster on Orn in one swift and savage curse.
Survivors were all but exclusively servants or low class commoners with no magical talent.
As demonstrated by accounts gotten from the Wellspring Compound in The Triumph, anyone not on the material plane at the moment of the attack were seemingly spared its immediate effects.
With the portals keeping connection to The Triumph or any other planes open being notoriously tenuous, and the curse being such a disruptive factor, all such connections are thought to have collapsed before the curse could cross planar boundaries. This meant that anyone without the rare ability to planar travel without external aid were stranded wherever they were. For the majority this was on The Triumph, where they were forced to live through its gradual transformation into the Shadow Plane. Others were stranded in their own personal demi-planes, in mansions or pleasure gardens. Needless to say these were rarely equipped to sustain anyone for an indefinite stay, and a bad time were had by everyone involved.
Trivia
- By backwards calculation of the Grickian Calendar, astronomers have determined that the 9th of the Follower 63 p.o. was the date of the calamity.
- In the Mistfaith spreading knowledge of this event is discouraged, as it does not mesh very well with their basic narrative and their origin myths.
- It is a common misconception that the destruction of Orn happened at the same time as the Ordering when it did in fact happen 63 years later. That said, this discrepancy has little meaning for most people.