Formea Wrym Crisis

== Overview ==
The Formea Wyrm Crisis was a sudden, catastrophic event which eternally changed Soly, and presumably all of Reality. It was nearly the cause of a mass extinction event, crumbling kingdoms as fresh water suddenly became a precious resource, causing untold numbers of deaths through the centuries.
== History ==
The crisis began in year 1240 of the Human Era, when the Eternal Soaring of Creation touched the Magenti River, bringing the Formea Wyrms into existence. At first, many assumed the Soaring's touch birthed some tiny insects which died off immediately, as has happened in the past. Eventually, the flooding river carried the microscopic wyrms to numerous populated locations in its path. The wyrms were mistakenly transferred to lakes, sewage systems, ponds, and ditches throughout the world, infesting nearly every body of water within the decade.
As the superior race within Soly for over a thousand years at that time, the Humans were too busy enjoying their free reign and expanse across the world to mount an effective strategy to combat the Wyrms. Even as the body count rose to staggering heights, many sects of Human culture refused to take any precautions against the invisible threat eating their guts.
It is estimated that the Human population fell 90% at one point during the crisis, leaving the total number of Humans across Soly at less than 20,000. Many kingdoms fell into ruin, and entire pockets of civilization vanished wherever the Wyrms managed to find refuge. A particularly bad outbreak in the former heart of Human society forced most people to evacuate it entirely, those who fled starting to refer to it as The Dourland.
Eventually, the threat could not be ignored any longer. A woman by the name of Saint Tristo undertook the monumental task of organizing the remaining Humans to adopt strict rules of preservation. This was met with expected resistance, however it is said she wielded great influence over many governing bodies across the remaining Human settlements. Her speeches are said to have instilled fear of the Formea in even the most steely soldier, changing the overall perspective of the free-spirited Humans. Many sweeping policy changes were made, such as all accessible bodies of still water falling under strict surveillance.
Over the years, many of these policies still remained in effect, though they became more cultural and less governed. Saint Tristo's passion and charisma, changing the Human perspective on the crisis, was rewarded with a following that would last hundreds of years. Statues would be carved in her likeness and spread across Soly, constantly reminding Humans how close they came to utter extinction, and to always remain wary of still bodies of water.
The Lorekeeper once spent a considerable amount of time looking for a viable method of exterminating the Formea Wyrms, though it appears those efforts were largely in vain.
The Crisis heavily effected the other races as well, though not much is known about how. It is rumored that the crisis transitioned the Foreckaw from their Second to Third Generation.
Category:Events