The Calamity of the Void

The Calamity of the Void, occurring 300 years ago, was a cataclysmic event that shattered the Aetherian Empire and reshaped Ecliptica. Triggered by cultists breaching the Veil—the dimensional barrier between realms—the Calamity unleashed eldritch horrors, plagues, and chaos, leading to the empire's collapse and the rise of modern nations like Albion, Valthorne, Sylvaris, Nocturne, and Ironreach. Eldritch Gods such as Azagorth, Elysia, Morgrath, Nyrathos, Seraphel, Vortulon, Xyraxis, Zaladria, and Zephyrus exploited the breach, spreading corruption and madness. The Calamity's legacy persists in Ravensgate's current plague and lockdown, hinting at ongoing Veil weaknesses that Plague Doctors must address to prevent a repeat catastrophe.

Description:
The Calamity began with ominous auroras cracking the sky, as the Veil tore open in a vortex of void energy. Eldritch tendrils erupted, devouring landscapes and twisting reality. Plagues like the Shatterplague, Whisperplague, and Ashbloom Plague ravaged Ecliptica, driving denizens to madness, starvation, and self-destruction. Cities crumbled into desolation, forests withered, and forges spewed corrupted artifacts. The Aetherian Empire's arcanists, desperate to seal the rifts, sacrificed anchors that formed the basis of Ravensgate's modern lockdown. The event's echoes—fractured mirrors, whispering winds, and radiant scars—linger, a chilling reminder of the gods' hunger for the material plane.

History:
The Calamity's roots trace to the Aetherian Empire's hubris, as arcanists experimented with Veil rifts for power, unknowingly inviting Eldritch Gods' influence. Cults like the Ebon Star, Radiant Dawn, and Famine Cabal infiltrated Nocturne and Valthorne, performing rituals that weakened the Veil. Azagorth’s devourers consumed Ironreach colonies, Elysia’s illusions fractured alliances, Morgrath’s madness spread paranoia, Nyrathos’s whispers revealed forbidden truths that drove betrayals, Seraphel’s purges burned "impure" sites, Vortulon’s hunger starved armies, Xyraxis’s desolation withered lands, Zaladria’s deceit sowed discord, and Zephyrus’s winds carried cryptic omens amplifying chaos.

The climax occurred when the Veil fully breached over Ravensgate, unleashing a void storm that lasted seven days. Eldritch entities partially manifested, causing the "Voidfall Plagues"—psychic afflictions mirroring the current plague. Aetherian heroes sealed the gods in the Outer Darkness, but at great cost: the empire fractured into rival nations, with Albion inheriting Ravensgate. Post-Calamity, survivors formed the Saffron Veil to guard against recurrences, but cults persist, exploiting Veil scars. Ravensgate’s lockdown draws on Calamity-era anchors, but the gods' lingering essence fuels the plague, suggesting a new breach looms.

Characters:

  1. Archon Vaelor Dawnscar

    • Description: Radiant Dawn survivor, burned skin, fervent eyes.

    • Backstory: Order District elder, witnessed Seraphel’s purge, now warns Plague Doctors of Veil weaknesses (Arcana DC 15).

  2. Dr. Lysara Voidwhisper

    • Description: Science District scholar, shadowed gaze, trembling hands.

    • Backstory: Studied Calamity relics, hears Nyrathos’s whispers, offers plague clues (Investigation DC 16) but risks madness.

  3. Lady Esmara Shattercrown

    • Description: Iron Quill noble, fractured mirror necklace, paranoid.

    • Backstory: Spires descendant of Calamity victims, hoards Morgrath’s mirrors. Trades lore for protection (Persuasion DC 15).

  4. Captain Talia Riftwind

    • Description: Skyrunners’ Guild pilot, wind-scarred face, wary.

    • Backstory: Mists survivor of Zephyrus’s storm, trades Veil maps, fears new Calamity (Insight DC 14).

  5. Brother Lorne Voidveil

    • Description: Saffron Veil monk, void-tattooed arms, resolute.

    • Backstory: Shadows healer, sealed a Calamity rift, seeks artifacts to stop plague (Religion DC 14).

  6. Gorath Ashforge

    • Description: Ironreach smith, ashen scars, grim expression.

    • Backstory: Iron District forger, crafted Xyraxis’s Ashshards during Calamity, aids Plague Doctors to atone (Arcana DC 15).

  7. Sylva Hungerbloom

    • Description: Verdant Covenant druid, withered vines, steady gaze.

    • Backstory: Mists herbalist, purifies Calamity-tainted grounds, trades anti-plague herbs (Nature DC 12).

  8. Captain Vren Starblade

    • Description: City Watch officer, star-scarred helm, muttering.

    • Backstory: Order District guard, fought Calamity horrors, tasks players to destroy relics (Persuasion DC 14).

  9. Zorath Voidwrack

    • Description: Ebon Star cultist, void-glowing scars, manic laugh.

    • Backstory: Desolation zealot, seeks to reopen Calamity rifts for gods, fights players (CR 3, Cult Fanatic).

  10. Madame Elyra Gloomweave

    • Description: Syndicate seer, gloom-veiled eyes, cunning whisper.

    • Backstory: Shadows fortune-teller, uses Calamity visions to scam refugees, trades plague lore (Deception DC 14).

Impacts on Denizens:
The Calamity profoundly impacted Ecliptica’s denizens, fracturing societies and spawning enduring horrors. In Nocturne, scholars driven mad by Nyrathos’s whispers unleashed Shadowplague, leading to isolated cabals. Sylvaris druids, scorched by Seraphel’s light, became reclusive, their groves haunted. Valthorne soldiers, starved by Vortulon’s hunger, developed anti-magic zeal. Ironreach workers, devoured by Azagorth, turned to mechanical prosthetics, fostering anti-god sentiments. Zaladria’s illusions sowed betrayals in Spires courts, creating enduring distrust. Morgrath’s madness left fractured minds, with survivors like the Iron Quill hoarding knowledge. Xyraxis’s desolation reduced cities to ash, birthing nomadic refugees. Zephyrus’s winds carried cryptic warnings, guiding some to safety but misleading others to ruin. The Calamity’s plagues, like Whisperplague and Ashbloom, echo Ravensgate’s current affliction, with cultists like Zorath seeking to repeat it. Denizens, scarred by loss, formed the Saffron Veil to guard the Veil, but ongoing rifts threaten a new Calamity, forcing Plague Doctors to confront its legacy.