The Great Calamity / The Heliocide
The Great Calamity (also known as the Heliocide) occurred about 750 years prior to the start of our campaign. None of the mortal races really have an understanding of exactly why it happened, or even what happened, however there was a massive planet-scale disaster which utterly reshaped Astara. Some scholars believe that the calamity was due to the hubris of the gods, who had each sought Astara for their own designs. This had invoked the wrath of Helios, a greater god whom resides within the sun. Legend has it that Helios sundered the moon Aegon from the heavens and into Astara, the collision both reshaping and scarring Astara with fragments of the lost moon.
The fallout of this event had a profound affect on all races inhabiting Astara, fundamentally changing the way many cultures survived. The majority populous of many races were wiped out entirely, and those that survived were left in utter desolation. The years following the Calamity consisted of mass migrations of displaced cultures, forced to move somewhere safe or intact to start anew. Due to this, most of Astara is not accurately mapped (see map fragments), as the catastrophe twisted the landscape and shattered known borders. During this time, alliances were forged and broken, ancient treaties abandoned, and a lawless chaos ensued. Most were desperate, and resorted to whatever measures necessary to survive. This greatly impacted the behavior of not only individuals, but cultures as a whole, as seen with the re-emergence of unsavory practices like cults, slavery and cannibalism. As such many races had evolved throughout the calamity, some only vaguely resembling their former selves.
What remains of written history tells of the twin moons of Astara, Aegon: Former Moon of Astara and his sister Neoma: Moon of Astara. It is said that they once sailed the heavens together, but you would only need look around you to know that hasn't been true for a long time. Today Neoma is a lonely thing, shrouded by great ring of her late brother Aegon's broken body. He was sundered by the Sun, shattering into a million sharpened splinters that descended upon Astara like hail before a mighty storm. Where the largest of them struck entire nations were obliterated, with only desolation in store for those who remained. For a great many years survival was desperate, daring only to persist another day.
But Astara is a resilient planet, and so too are her people. Wild life recovered quickly and was eager to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Soon enough people sought to lay claim, too. Centuries later civilization is slowly burgeoning once more, but is fiercely contested by a relentlessly unpredictable environment. Everywhere the monolithic Shards of Aegon can be found dominating the landscape abundance now overflows. Vegetation reaches greedily ever upwards, and in the suffocating density of growth creatures beyond reckoning prowl. To call them animals is to dilute their nature, those who live in these places are monstrosities through and through: Elk of terrifying proportions bearing bladed, venom weeping antlers; Lizards grown to the size of a barn and belching immolating flame; Hateful Oxen stood upright...
The fallout of this event had a profound affect on all races inhabiting Astara, fundamentally changing the way many cultures survived. The majority populous of many races were wiped out entirely, and those that survived were left in utter desolation. The years following the Calamity consisted of mass migrations of displaced cultures, forced to move somewhere safe or intact to start anew. Due to this, most of Astara is not accurately mapped (see map fragments), as the catastrophe twisted the landscape and shattered known borders. During this time, alliances were forged and broken, ancient treaties abandoned, and a lawless chaos ensued. Most were desperate, and resorted to whatever measures necessary to survive. This greatly impacted the behavior of not only individuals, but cultures as a whole, as seen with the re-emergence of unsavory practices like cults, slavery and cannibalism. As such many races had evolved throughout the calamity, some only vaguely resembling their former selves.
What remains of written history tells of the twin moons of Astara, Aegon: Former Moon of Astara and his sister Neoma: Moon of Astara. It is said that they once sailed the heavens together, but you would only need look around you to know that hasn't been true for a long time. Today Neoma is a lonely thing, shrouded by great ring of her late brother Aegon's broken body. He was sundered by the Sun, shattering into a million sharpened splinters that descended upon Astara like hail before a mighty storm. Where the largest of them struck entire nations were obliterated, with only desolation in store for those who remained. For a great many years survival was desperate, daring only to persist another day.
But Astara is a resilient planet, and so too are her people. Wild life recovered quickly and was eager to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Soon enough people sought to lay claim, too. Centuries later civilization is slowly burgeoning once more, but is fiercely contested by a relentlessly unpredictable environment. Everywhere the monolithic Shards of Aegon can be found dominating the landscape abundance now overflows. Vegetation reaches greedily ever upwards, and in the suffocating density of growth creatures beyond reckoning prowl. To call them animals is to dilute their nature, those who live in these places are monstrosities through and through: Elk of terrifying proportions bearing bladed, venom weeping antlers; Lizards grown to the size of a barn and belching immolating flame; Hateful Oxen stood upright...
The Conflict
Aftermath
The effects produced by the Calamity include, but are not limited to:
Historical Significance
Conflict Type
Battle
Battlefield Type
Planetary
Start Date
~5000 2E
Conflict Result
The destruction of Aegon, the devastation of Astara from its fallout and The Echo.
Location
Comments