The Arcane Paroxysm

Era beginning/end

In an instant, two-fifths of the population of Isolde was plane-shifted into the Underdark, each altered by the process.

Like the Shadowfell and the Feywild, the Underdark is a reflection of the Material Plane. Unlike the Shadowfell and the Feywild, which are emotional reflections of the Material Plane, the Underdark is a corrupt reflection of the world itself. Less is known about the Underdark because before the Arcane Paroxysm there were few native humanoids. With fewer natural connections between Isolde and the Underdark, less was known about it. It’s a realm dominated by the aberrations and monstrosities, and inundated with oozes, spores, and funguses.   In what was often described as an arcane flash by practitioners of magic, there was a surge of arcane energy followed by five minutes of an arcane void, where all magic on Isolde was completely suppressed, including the moonstones that hold Melonor aloft. In that moment, three-fifths of the population of Isolde disappeared, having been plane-shifted into the Underdark.     In the Underdark, those that were shifted over in that moment were transformed in the process. They still retained much of their physical form, but they were altered by Joro, Weaver of Shadows, in a reflexive attempt to give the people from Isolde a fighting chance in her realm, knowing how dangerous it is. The Arcane Paroxysm happened in a moment. Between moments even, and she had to react quickly or lose her chance to affect everyone at once. It was messy, but it was the best she could do in the moment.   Unlike the Shadowfell and the Feywild, whose emotional and metaphysical reflection of the Material Plane means that their terrains doesn’t reflect Isolde’s, the Underdark is a physical reflection of the Material Plane, so the Underdark’s terrain closely correlates with Isolde’s, although not exactly. This means that the population of Isolde that was shifted into the Underdark entered the realm in the place they left the Material Plane.   Because the Underdark isn’t an exact replication of the Material Plane, but a reflection of its terrain, some of the people who shifted died upon arrival or quickly fell to their deaths. Of those that survived, many found themselves in lands, layers, or cities controlled by aboleths, beholders or mind flayers. Many of those survivors were enslaved. The fortunate that shifted into the wilds were met with the many dangers. The ones that thrived did so by being cut-throat. Compassion is a liability in the Underdark     On Isolde, the abrupt loss of more than half of the world’s population created deep chaos. Entire governments, systems, and power structures were disrupted. Many families were ripped apart. Society didn’t collapse, but it was severely strained.   In the aftermath of the Undead Cataclysm, a world-wide concerted effort to protect the people of Isolde from another major calamity was started. Cities identified as being capable of sustaining extended shelters were targeted and retrofitted to be able to house and defend an extended population for an extended period of time. The people were educated to find shelter in the nearest of these walled cities, regardless of homeland, and efforts to safely move them would be made as soon as it was safe. As a result of those efforts, when the Arcane Paroxysm happened, an immediate recall into the safety of the walled cities was triggered.   It took months to sort through the chaotic fallout of the Arcane Paroxysm. After people were reunited with their communities and families, the assessment of what should happen next began. As it became clear how many people suddenly disappeared, and the acceptance that they would never return sunk in, the refugees were settled into the suddenly empty homes, a process that was depressingly easy. Months turned into years as research and exploration into what happened took place, but because there was room for everyone, and there were sudden gaps in society and the economy, people began to adjust and move on. There was little demand by people to return home other than an anxiety to reclaim what they were forced to leave behind.   Meanwhile, in the emptied lands of Isolde, the natural world began to encroach on the once inhabited towns and cities that were abandoned. In time, the abandoned areas of Isolde were overtaken, and the wilds became much more dangerous. Reclaiming the lost lands seemed impossible, although some areas were worth carving out as the demand for different natural resources were required. Those living in unwalled towns in those areas take on risk, even as they are protected and fortified by the cities that require those resources.