Bleak Epoch

The third epoch of the Jurrikian Era (Middle Era), which lasted from about 100.000.000 – 1.000.000 Sentian s.c.a., marked the period in galactic history most famous for the events preceding and succeeding the Great Silence. It saw the fall of the Jurrikian Empire, the Xiggiari rebellion, the rise of the Kethic Order, the fulfilment of the Joomuic Prophecy, and the mass extinction event that wiped out the majority of life in the galaxy. It is generally assumed to have begun with the end of the Golden Epoch – a period defined by the growth and stability of the Jurrikian Empire – which came to an abrupt end with the famous uprising of the Xiggiari rebels after the Battle of Attarha. The onslaught of the Xiggiari Superclan wrought havoc upon the Jurriks, whose financial stability had already deteriorated due to massive amounts of debt. This meant that the Jurriks struggled to facilitate yet another war to quash the uprising, allowing the Xiggiari to claim vast areas of the Imperial territory. This inspired more rebellions throughout the galaxy as tributary nations witnessed the first moments of fragility in the oppressive Empire. Meanwhile, originating from the planet Uman Keth, the Kethic Order was gaining notoriety throughout the galaxy, finding itself many new followers and foes alike. One such foe were the Leeanthi Uari, who, spurred on by the teachings of the Joomui, retaliated against the Kethic Order in an attempt to save the galaxy from their destructive beliefs. Allies to the Leeanthi, the Iolop nation, under the leadership of Mama Kalpha, succeeded in their mission for peace with their neighbour and long-time enemy, the Thumlopian Empire, rallying together against the threat of the Kethic Order. The stage was set for a monumental shift of power, with the demise of the omnipotent Jurrikian Empire and the rise of new rebellions, allegiances, and peace pacts. But around 85.000.000 Sentian s.c.a. the Kethic Order gained access to the Galactic Core, the proposed site for their reformation of the galaxy from a physical form to nonphysical (according to Kethic belief, achieving oneness with the Essence). Their activities there, mysterious as they were, caused a catastrophic destruction of life throughout the galaxy, destabilising planetary biospheres or simply destroying planets altogether. Many nations were eradicated instantaneously, others slowly suffocated or starved amidst the galactic fallout. The Umanar, originators of the Kethic Order, were among the first to be eradicated. There were, however, a handful of survivors, most of which were those privy to the Joomuic Prophecies, who prepared for the coming devastation through the collecting and wearing of protective “Essence crystals.” These crystals were used to protect entire planets, and ultimately proved to be successful, although this survival of the cataclysm resulted in a bleak existence in a comparatively “silent” galaxy. This is what gave the Bleak Epoch its name, and the name for the galactic cataclysm – the Great Silence. The galaxy remained in this state of silence for the remainder of the Bleak Epoch, a time warped by tampered and corrupted Essence – a force that shifted what were once predictable cycles, fast-tracking evolution in some cases, eradicating life on mass in others. The unpredictable, chaotic emptiness of the Great Silence – and thus the Bleak Epoch – came to an end at the dawn of the New Era, around 1.000.000 Sentian s.c.a., when a new array of nations began to rise up and organise the disorganised galaxy they lived in. This, famously, began with the renowned Arcane Triad.