The Great Desolation

Disaster / Destruction

The Great Desolation was a war that lasted over 1000 years and was an involvement of the Prime Material Plane in the Blood War. It caused drastic geographical changes, the collapse of civilizations, and magical disasters.

The Great Desolation had its origins in the latter parts of the Golden Age that preceded it. During that time, many cults began to both form and gain considerable power and influence. Some of these worshipped devils, while others worshipped demons. This gained the attention of both of the aforementioned parties, since they both had their respective reasons for pursuing increased leverage over Ardrim. This led to small-scale conflict between cults, somewhat similar to the turf wars that thieves' guilds occasionally took part in.   The situation greatly escalated upon the Fall of House Duergar. The consequencing pact with Asmodeus gave the Lord of Hell the souls of the entirety of House Duergar, giving him much power. The Demon Princes heard of the event, and decided that it was a danger to their efforts in the Blood War. In order to counteract this, the demons decided to invade the Prime Material Plane, stealing souls from the devils and preventing them from getting any more.   The abyssal armies moved quickly, taking control of a large portion of Western Beogar. However, before they could take the rest of the continent, the devils mobilized their own forces, taking much of Eastern Beogar. Following this, the demons gained control of most of Balukthur and southern Baltier. Meanwhile, the demons took control of Nortern Baltier and the Emerald Coast of Balukthur. The only countries that retained full independence were the Giant nations of Arvyre and Ghihon. Technically, the Deodene Empire remained independent, but in reality the Ulsterlands were consumed with violence, scorching the land and turning it into a wasted warzone due to the constant fighting between the Deodenian Holy Legions, the infernal armies, and the abyssal armies.   Interestingly, the infernal military involvement in the situation came in two varieties. The first allied itself with mortals, believing that (should the mortals win) they would gain great favor and influence in Ardrim. The most prevalent among these was Asmodeus. The second simply attempted to kill as many mortals as possible in order to steal their souls before the demons could dispose of them. This group was more of a minority, but nonetheless incredibly dangerous.   The war continued for more than 300 years, with heavy casualties on all sides. Many civilizations fell, nations crumbled, and the general population of the world lost a considerable percentage of its individuals. A turning point would not come for a very long time.   However, a turning point was inevitable at some point. It came when demonic forces managed to successfully invade the western regions of Ghihon. Upon occupying the region, the demons realized that they could not suppress the local Ghihovi due to their potent psionic abilities. In order to address this, they began the Ghihovi Genocide, killing the people of Ghihon en masse. What they didn't realize was the retribution that it would bring upon them.   The High Veilbreakers of Ghihon then devised a powerful and complex ritual that's details have been lost to the sands of time. The ritual then proceeded. As part of it, the vast majority of the Ghihovi sacrificed themselves, destroying both their bodies and souls. This provided the remaining Ghihovi to meld their spirits with that of the Quori, spirits of dream from Dal Quor, and use their power to direct the immense power created by the sacrificed Ghihovi to begin the Final Sundering.   The Sundering, while not completely vanishing and destroying the fiends and demons, it greatly weakened their forces. The remaining devils generally allied themselves (or were already allied) with the mortal races to fight push back the last of the demons.   The final battle of the Great Desolation was the Battle of Al Kimran. Al Kimran is a city that still stands today in Balathir. It was the final city in all of Ardrim (or at least all that is known of Ardrim) that the demons still held. It was invaded by a coalition of nearly all of the mortal races with assistance from angels and devils alike. In the center of the city the great wizard Azuth, one of the final Mages that retained their spellcasting ability after the Final Sundering and the consequenting Arcane Collapse, created a gate to the Abyss. It was there that they pushed the final demonic forces out of the Prime Material Plane.   As such, that day became the international holidays hat would become known as Gate. In the wake of the Final Sundering, the goddess of magic Mystryl had disappeared and the gods raised the mage Azuth to the position of God of Magic in her absence. Upon her return, he would serve her as an assistant and scribe, remaining a god(location:1e3c90bb-44d2-4284-9498-193b15693eb4) the Fall of House Duergar. The consequencing pact with Asmodeus gave the Lord of Hell the souls of the entirety of House Duergar, giving him much power. The Demon Princes heard of the event, and decided that it was a danger to their efforts in the Blood War. In order to counteract this, the demons decided to invade the Prime Material Plane, stealing souls from the devils and preventing them from getting any more.   The abyssal armies moved quickly, taking control of a large portion of Western Beogar. However, before they could take the rest of the continent, the devils mobilized their own forces, taking much of Eastern Beogar. Following this, the demons gained control of most of Balukthur and southern Baltier. Meanwhile, the demons took control of Nortern Baltier and the Emerald Coast of Balukthur. The only countries that retained full independence were the Giant nations of Arvyre and Ghihon. Technically, the Deodene Empire remained independent, but in reality the Ulsterlands were consumed with violence, scorching the land and turning it into a wasted warzone due to the constant fighting between the Deodenian Holy Legions, the infernal armies, and the abyssal armies.   Interestingly, the infernal military involvement in the situation came in two varieties. The first allied itself with mortals, believing that (should the mortals win) they would gain great favor and influence in Ardrim. The most prevalent among these was Asmodeus. The second simply attempted to kill as many mortals as possible in order to steal their souls before the demons could dispose of them. This group was more of a minority, but nonetheless incredibly dangerous.   The war continued for more than 300 years, with heavy casualties on all sides. Many civilizations fell, nations crumbled, and the general population of the world lost a considerable percentage of its individuals. A turning point would not come for a very long time.   However, a turning point was inevitable at some point. It came when demonic forces managed to successfully invade the western regions of Ghihon. Upon occupying the region, the demons realized that they could not suppress the local Ghihovi due to their potent psionic abilities. In order to address this, they began the Ghihovi Genocide, killing the people of Ghihon en masse. What they didn't realize was the retribution that it would bring upon them.   The High Veilbreakers of Ghihon then devised a powerful and complex ritual that's details have been lost to the sands of time. The ritual then proceeded. As part of it, the vast majority of the Ghihovi sacrificed themselves, destroying both their bodies and souls. This provided the remaining Ghihovi to meld their spirits with that of the Quori, spirits of dream from Dal Quor, and use their power to direct the immense power created by the sacrificed Ghihovi to begin the Final Sundering.   The Sundering, while not completely vanishing and destroying the fiends and demons, it greatly weakened their forces. The remaining devils generally allied themselves (or were already allied) with the mortal races to fight push back the last of the demons.   The final battle of the Great Desolation was the Battle of Al Kimran. Al Kimran is a city that still stands today in Balathir. It was the final city in all of Ardrim (or at least all that is known of Ardrim) that the demons still held. It was invaded by a coalition of nearly all of the mortal races with assistance from angels and devils alike. In the center of the city the great wizard Azuth, one of the final Mages that retained their spellcasting ability after the Final Sundering and the consequenting Arcane Collapse, created a gate to the Abyss. It was there that they pushed the final demonic forces out of the Prime Material Plane.   As such, that day became the international holidays hat would become known as Gate. In the wake of the Final Sundering, the goddess of magic Mystryl had disappeared and the gods raised the mage Azuth to the position of God of Magic in her absence. Upon her return, he would serve her as an assistant and scribe, remaining a god.