Pralayam

The Pralayam (प्रलयम) was a major disaster in Taraki history that resulted in the extinction of the ancient Ekhshau Empire and caused the gradual cultural & linguistic divergence that characterizes the modern Taraki peoples. It is also the second time a great civilization was destroyed by an abjaksan losing control of their powers, the last time being during the Great Ketellaao in Soynaltiar roughly two millenniums before.
== Background ==
The events leading up the the disaster is blatant a repeat of history. In an similar fashion to the events leading up to the Great Ketallaao, the Chiranjivi (चिरंजीवी) dynasty of the Ekhshau Empire was locked in a struggle between two rivals for the throne. For nearly ten years, the legal ruling Rajadhiraj (राजाधिराज/Emperor), Nachiketa (नचिकेता), and his rival cousin, Rajakumar Shivrasa (राजकुमार शिव्रासा/Prince Shivrasa), warred for the throne.
== The Disaster ==
As the forces of Shivrasa laid siege to the capital, Shon (शोण), in the tenth year of the war, Kalbhodi, the abjaksan of Tarak of the time and a loyal servant of the Chiranjivi dynasty, tried to tap into the latent power of his past lives through the Niyogin. However, he tapped too deeply and the power was more than his body could handle.
His power went out of control and the resulting explosion vaporized his body and destroyed everything nearly fifty miles around, including Shon and several nearby towns, killing everyone within range and wiping out the Chiranjivi dynasts.
== Aftermath ==
With the core of Chiranjivi dynasty wiped out and no clear heir to the throne, and the capital leveled to nothing but a few smoking ruins, the Ekhshau Empire ceased to exist. The year this event took place is generally used as the Year 0 of the Laukik calendar.
The entirety of the imperial library of Shon was emptied and sent away in preparation for a scorched earth tactic weeks before, and so the records of the empire remained even after it fell. However, these records were insufficient to keep the Taraki people unified. With the main center of their civilization obliterated, the surviving peoples scattered in all directions across Tarak, intermingling with various peoples and tribes previously uncontacted by Ekhshau and spreading their culture. This intermingling and cross-breeding over time resulted in several distinct ethnic groups and languages with a shared root of origin.
== Notes & Trivia ==
Category:Qirsyllviar
Category:Abjaksan
Category:Events
Category:Disaster
Category:Disasters in Taraki History