Sunfall

The Tears of Gods

Sunfall    Geography and Natural Events      Sunfall

Summers had no heat, spring no growth and winter no storms. Even the night sky emptied of splendour.

— An excerpt from a letter found amongst ruins

Sunfall, the Tears of the Gods or the Sunfallen Meteorite Impact, was an impact event that took place on 0ASF. The meteorite was roughly three to five miles in size and landed somewhere in the centre of the Sunfallen Ocean. On impact, the ocean started to heat rapidly and the collision resulted in a magnitude 10 to 11 earthquake and tsunamis are reported to have reached up to 20 miles inland. Sizeable winds, fires and mudslides also followed.
The geological and ecological changes following Sunfall were substantial. The aftereffects of the impact, particularly the dust in the atmosphere caused sunlight to drop to a minimum together with a large temperature drop. Together this led to a massive loss of vegetation followed by starvation together with the mass migration of certain species. Some species become extinct or are now extinct in the regions that they originally inhabited.

Contents

Description

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Up to five miles in size, Sunfall is the largest impact event in recorded history and resulted in substantial effects on the known world. Whilst the exact location of landfall is not known, it is believed that the meteorite landed in a southern location based on the eyewitness reports available. The heat generated by the meteorite caused the central sea to heat violently and the collision resulted in an expansive earthquake, likely a 10 to 11 magnitude earthquake, followed by a large tsunami that reached up to 20 miles inland followed by supersonic winds that flattened cities and uprooted forests. Whilst the impact crater is underneath the ocean, it is expected to be nearly 180km in size.

Geological Significance

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The geological significance of Sunfall had and continues to have, a vast influence on the known world. The Sunfallen Sea deepened substantially at the point of impact altering the animal life found in the region. Fragments of the meteorite that re-entered the atmosphere and landed on land have created several craters carving lakes and ravines where there were not before. The earthquakes and tremours re-directed rivers, in some cases driving the flow underground. The twin cities of Murad and Elim, once vital trading cities were gravely affected by this and shortly afterwards abandoned as they were unable to sustain themselves.

On dry riverbeds, they said the rivers would flow again. On barren fields, they said that crops would grow once again. On the steps of empty palaces, they said the city would bustle once again. Now they say nothing and the city is their tomb, visited only by scavengers and vultures.

— A fragment of an epic poem on the collapse of Elim and Murad

Sunfall was a stony-iron meteorite meaning that it was comprised of metal and silicate crystals equally. The metal is unique and cannot be found anywhere in the known world. The rock is dark, black and blue in colour and contains large, beautiful golden crystals embedded throughout the rock in veins. The metal has an exceptionally high melting point and is extremely brittle. It is not uncommon to see pieces of Sunfall carved into figurines or jewellery.

Biospheric Effects

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After the initial impact, vast amounts of water, dust and dirt were thrown into the atmosphere leading to torrential rains for months together with dust and debris landing causing intermittent mud flows throughout the known world. Fragments of the meteorite, flung back into the atmosphere, re-entered violently. Those that survived re-entry caused fires and minor craters leading to further damage. Finer dust remained in the atmosphere leading to darkened skies for over five years, turning day into near-night, which resulted in a worldwide temperature drop - roughly 12C.
The effects of the impact were significant on ecosystems across the known world. The lack of sunlight severely hindered plant growth, leading to the extinction of several species. Together with the temperature drop, vast migration events took place which upturned local food chains. Crop failures were endemic, forests died and starvation for species either unwilling or unable to migrate was an inevitable outcome.

Sociological and Cultural Effects

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End of the Kanodite Empire

Elim and Murad

Whilst most of the damage following Sunfall centred around the coastal regions of the Sunfallen Ocean, the commercial hubs of Elim and Murad were spared the intial effects of the meteorite. Both Elim and Murad were exceptionally rich cities with extensive mining operations resulting in vast amounts of gold and gems being sent back to the Kanodite capital of Khomedasht. In return, grain and wheat were shipped to the dual cities which did not have access to enough farmland to support themselves.
As the Kanodite Empire fractured and collasped, the flow of grain and wheat stopped suddenly. Both cities could afford to support themselves for several months and odd communications were heard from the cities for a year before Elim and Murad fell silent. Once the effects of Sunfall had subsided, the cities were scouted briefly and found entirely empty but in reasonable order. The populations had, without reason, vanished. The scouting parties met resistance from the local tribes who fought them off, unwilling to have a foreign have sway over them again. Neither city has been re-inhabited.
To this day scholars debate what happened to Elim and Murad. Some believe that the local tribes killed them all, others that the cities were emptied and led across the desert to find food but perished during the crossing. Others argue that the gods themselves emptied the cities, either condeming or saving their occupants. It is believed ultimately that the city is inhabited by demons who will kill any who enter the cities.

Since their abandonment, the routes that led to the dual cities has been forgotten and journey there is exceptionally perilous. The local tribes are not welcoming to foreigners, killing any they find, and the desert itself has claimed many lives. Despite this, official expeditions or ragtag scavenging operations are common with the allure of extravagant wealth open to claim to those brave enough to try and claim it. To date, none have been successful and no-one has returned from the journey.

A king's ransom is just sitting there and waiting for someone to claim it. I have a way across the desert to the lost cities and we'll be rich! We'll have palaces, gardens and luxury galour. We just need to take it!

— A typical summons to an Elim or Murad Expedition

Religious Ties

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Most religions have an affinity for or place symbolism for Sunfall, either as a symbol of re-birth or the foresign of the apocalypse. It is common for fragments and shards of Sunfall to be placed in prominent positions in temples or be carved into figurines or jewellery used by the priests, nobility or kings. As time passes, portions of Sunfall are increasingly rare and there are those who actively scour the world for fragments to sell to the highest bidder. The largest, boulder-sized portions, are worth the most with some selling for the annual income of kingdoms.

Abicracy

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One of the central tenets of Abicracy is the principle of Descendance. The Abates believe that the creator of the universe and the father of their pantheon of gods, Arrasil, is currently entombed in the sun and will one day return to the known world to destroy all creation. Abates see the pieces of Sunfall as parts of the walls holding Arrasil in place and a reminder that the chains and walls holding him in place are only temporary and that they must place faith aside to ensure their survival.

Solitism

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Sunfall

The Tears of Gods

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Date

0BSF

Time

04:24

Location

Sunfallen Ocean

Outcome

10-11 magnitude earthquakes

Large tsunamis

Severe fires

Restricted sunlight for nearly 5 years

Global average temperature drop of -15C

Deaths

Unknown

Property Damage

Severe