The Shattering

The Shattering was an apocalyptic catastrophe that caused the collapse of civilization and the death of the Old Gods. It is believed to have been caused by the discovery of The Thirteenth Spire by The Twelve.

Name

Occurring 500 years before the Survivors of The Lost Caravan awoke in The Lament, The Shattering was a world changing event that reshaped the lands, ended civilizations, and caused chaos on a physical and metaphysical level. While the destruction wrought by the event was varied, it is named for the one event all survivors and returning spirits remember seeing: the skies splitting open like cracks in a giant pane of glass, followed by the deafening sound of breaking glass heard the world over, followed by pieces of the sky falling to the ground.

Physical effects

While the exact nature of the cause and effects of The Shattering are not fully known, scholars and other survivors know that time was also affected by the event. The day and night cycle was disrupted, causing some days to last as long as a week, or in some cases as short as a few hours. These effects seem to have stabilized sometime over the course of the last five centuries. Other measurable effects of The Shattering include long lasting and harsh seasons with extreme weather events. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions were known to have occurred. The largest geological event is believed to be the formation of The Lament, a large desert that was formed in the center of the continent.

Metaphysical effects

It is common knowledge that The Shattering also affected the afterlife and the gods. Of the old gods, only Al Alarel, the goddess of the dead, and Tephis, a minor deity were able to survive, and even they were fundamentally changed. The remainder of The Shattered Pantheon consists of new gods who inherited their divinity. Additionally, the afterlife seems to have been disrupted, with nothing truly holding back the spirits of the dead from returning to the world of the living in one form or another.

Many areas of the continent have been magically effected either directly by The Shattering or by its after effects. The Lament is home to wandering spirits who possess living travelers during the night. The ruins of the city of Odde are filled with magical hazards and traps that are incredibly deadly to inexperienced and veteran explorers alike. The Levinhead and the southern mountains surrounding it are bombarded by an endless thunderstorm, and the advancing Dragonblight.

Twelve at Thirteen

The events leading up to and causing The Shattering are detailed in the epic poem 'Twelve at Thirteen.' The poem describes the history of storied adventurers known as The Twelve, their discovery of the Thirteenth Spire, and how that event caused The Shattering. While the poem is well known, none of the Survivors of The Lost Caravan know any of the verses or possess it in written form. However, the structure of the poem is so familiar that the group has been able to conclude that the New Verses they have encountered on their travels are meant to be a part of the poem, even when they are written in obscure languages.