Primordial Crisis

Scavengers camping in the ruins of a destroyed village.

The **Primordial Crisis** of 756 IC was a near-apocalyptic event taking place in Mundanus when portals to Pandemonium opened up across the world with primordial demons raveging the lands for months.

During this crisis, the Krysallans made themselves known to the world, and their paladins were hard pressed fighting against these forces of destruction. However, where the Krystallans could not be, destruction reigned, leaving many of the smaller settlements in the world destroyed as they did not have the protection of a wall or armed guard.

The crisis came to an end towards the final months of 756 IC when the Orphans of Fate journeyed into Pandemonium itself, closing the gates from within.

## Build-up

"*You bastard.*"
―Nigel DeRosa to Velfrik the Merciless after he blackmailed the lord using his wife and daughter. Early in 755 IC, the Orphans of Fate all met up together for the first time in Xelaphos as part of an expidition team into the city's centre. When several members of House Lucaryn being captured by some primordial device, the Orphans of Fate journeyed with Rena Lucaryn to collect the six points of the Primordial Crown with the assistance of the Pirate Lord, Vincent Greyshine on his ship, the Dirty Dragon.

The group collected the six points, but before they could find the circlet for the crown, they were taken as prisoners by white elves and taken to Salak Tor as slaves. There, they met the Dread King who agreed to release them on the condition that they obtain the blessing of six gods. Upon doing so, the Orphans were granted their freedom, and they fled the country, having stolen the primordial crown from atop the Dread King's head.

Upon fleeing on Vincent's ship, they came across an abandoned island that the crown pulled towards. Within an ancient chamber was an old suit of armour that rose to attack the Orphans and seemed unkillable, so they fled while it pursued at a walking pace, knowing it would catch them eventually.

The Orphans ventured north, into the Northern Wastes into the centre of the Arcspan, decending into the depths of an ancient abandoned city. Within, they discovered that one of their party had betrayed them, having been blackmailed by the Primordials and hadn't thought of any other way out of this, so opened a portal to Pandemonium, starting the crisis.

## Breach

"*It started as any other day. No one could have imagined that the doors of hell would open up before us.*"
―Jaelle Collans describing her experience of the first day of the 756 IC Primordial Crisis. None were prepared for the hell that would unfold on the first day. Portals opened up across the world, with powerful primordial demons keeping the larger portals open. Most of the portals opened in the countryside no more than a few days' march from a settlement, though some opened within cities themselves. Xelaphos was the first city to be hit by this, with portals opening several hours before the rest, though reasons why are unknown. Despite this, however, Xelaphos was one of the least effected cities due to the quick action of an adventuring group lead by a high elf known as Kyuba N'Zark, as they decisively destoryed the demon holding the portal open for the army, and the smaller portals around the city collapsed.

Many other minor settlements across the Empire were razed, though many reports stated that these settlements were being attacked by groups demons numbering only in the dozens. As such, the Empress quickly ordered armed soldiers to travel to surviving settlements to protect them, especially if they did not have the protection of a wall. Despite this order, many more settlements were destroyed before the soldiers could arrive.

It didn't take long for the Krystallans to act, sending out all of their lance teams and enforcer teams across the world to try and contain the demons, but the Krystallans numbers were far too few. Many of the teams that were deployed were redeployed immediately after a mission, with very few breaks in the first few weeks.

## Continued Destruction

"*Personally, I have no problem with the Empress commandeering my ship. It means I can be shipping much needed supplies across the Empire to those who need it.*"
―Ben Dalemark on the subject of his ship being requisitioned for relief efforts. Eventually garrisons were set up and supply lines were drawn out. The demon attacks became less frequent and staying within civilisation was crucial for one's survival. Groups were occasionally, armed guards were sent out with rangers and herbalists to forage for food and medical supplies, while any temples were dedicated as shelters and for creating much needed food and water through spells. Coastal cities such as Port Wren and Laeth still did trade with each other, ferrying vital supplies to different countries should there be excess or shortage, and many people volunteered to take these supplies inland to the more isolated areas.

Any settlements that survived the initial wave of demons now had a sizable unit of soldiers posted for protection against the demons that now aimlessly wandered, killing any they came across. Many of these settlements quickly worked to erect a wooden palisades around their homes to help defend themselves, though it was truly the effort of the warriors that kept them safe.

## Krystallan Civil War

"*I will do what I have to do to protect this world, and I will eliminate anything in my way. If the Ecclesiarchy can't see that, then the Ecclesiarchy is in my way.*"
―General Titus Ursari to Colonel Alessa Cinder when the Ecclesiarchy approached him with their demands.
After the exile of Lance Team Sigma following the murder and resurrection of Minister Visellia Servana of the Krystallan Ecclesiarchy, the Military began to reduce the amount of missions it made to protect the outside world, General Titus Ursari's only response being that he believed that Krystal needed to save its resources. Governor Lucien Vandire, now also Minister of the Ecclesiarchy, demanded that Ursari step down and allow him to take over control of the Military, and Ursari refused. When the Ecclesiarchy attacked, the Military was outnumbered, though they managed to use their superior technology to escape the Citadel, setting up a base of operations elsewhere. The Ecclesiarchy did their best to continue the military's role, but due to the lack of specialist training, were nowhere near as effective as the sabre teams and lance teams. The Military did still send out teams of their own, though much less frequently.

## Gates to the Capital

"*I do not regret my decision. I did what I believed was right in giving as many of my people a chance as I could.*"
―Empress Eliana Arryn I when later questioned about her decision to open the gates of Laeth. Eventually, however, supplies began to run low, and people left the mainland settlements, seeking refuge in the cities closer to the coast. Port Wren always had its gates open for refugees, the hospital setting up numerous shelter areas and taking in anyone they could. The capital, however, filled with nobles, refused to open its gates for several months, stating that the city would quickly become overcrowded. The Empress eventually gathered enough support to overrule this decision, opening the gates to several thousand refugees from further inland.

The capital did become crowded, not having the same medical facilities Port Wren had, and a plague slowly began to build within the city, soon running rampant, ending more lives than were saved by opening the gates in the first place. Scholars from the Eight Colleges pinpointed that the plague originated from a refugee that had recently survived an attack from a minion of Borlorg.

The capital had to slow trade with other cities for a while, only importing what was necessary to keep people alive, as well as transporting healers from Port Wren and Xelaphos. This period was certainly the most difficult for the capital, as famine now ran side by side with the plague as Laeth lacked the supplies to keep its people fed, and thus many turned to crime to get what they needed. The Inquisition was working overtime to keep the city in order, as most of Laeth's guards were now stationed further inland in other minor settlements. Several cults to the primordials were also uncovered in this time, as people lost hope and began to plead with the demonic invaders for any chance of survival.

## Newfound Trust

"*The Buirene Republic shall henceforth recognise the Crolondan Empire as allies for the foreseeable future. May this alliance of nations bring peace and prosperity to our world.*"
―Excerpt of the Buir Head of State's speech when declaring the Republic's cease of hostility towards the Crolondan Empire. Across the world, nations were in panic, unsure of how the demons appeared or how long this disaster would last. Several of the island nations of Empire of Yvel declared themselves independent, and the military Khalûrill took control of the country, and they still have not given back their emergancy powers.

Meanwhile, the Head of State of Buir, Ilonna Jacquier was informed of the seige of Tateraha, the capital of the Crolondan Empire. Despite being urged to use this opportunity to attack by her head general, Marc Coranneau, she instead used the opportunity to reach out to the Republic's long-standing enemy and offer them aid, the Buirene cavalry setting sail and routing the demons that besieged the city with the help of Lance Team Alpha.

This act of selfless heroism from the Crolondans' long-time enemy ended the hostilities between the nations, ushering what would be an unheard of peace between the two nations, without the tensions of previous peace periods, much to the chagrain of General Caronneau.

## The End

"*It's end was as jarring as the beginning. People woke up ready to do what they needed to survive. But there were no demons. No portals. Nothing. Just a silence. I remember well, it was raining heavily. Not the sunny end of the apocalypse you'd expect. But somehow... somehow the sound of nothing but the rain almost felt like the heavens were shedding tears for all the souls lost.*"
―Ben Dalemark recounting how the Primordial Crisis ended. The day started just as any other with one major difference in that the sky was no longer red. Mages in the cities confirmed that there were no longer tears in the fabric of the plane. No more portals. They had survived this invasion. But people did not rejoice, but they mourned. Across the world, the day was sour, with grey skies and a heavy thunderstorm. People were quiet, unsure of what was to come.

In the Empire, the Empress quickly orginised armed patrols and protection for those wishing to travel back to their homes. Quick contact with other cities enabled the reconstuction of settlements that had been lost, and by the harvest that year, the Empire was recovering well. While many lost confidence in the Empress when she opened the capital, she gained much support from her non-stop effort to rebuild, ensuring that everywhere was sufficient.

The Republic of Buir and the Empire of Crolondor are still allies, and it appears they will remain as such for decades to come, though this alliance has caused tensions to rise with the southern kingdoms of Yvel, Potemm, Uuhlim and Ynd, though if war is to break out, it is not likely to do so for many years yet, as all the nations are set on rebuilding.

All of these western nations however stuck together due to sudden increased raids from the white elves of Aldarnesh. Unlike previous raids, however, they appeared to be gathering vital materials rather than riches; wood, iron and food supplies were the main targets. Just as the countries grew strong enough to begin resisting properly, the raids ceased altogether, as if the Dread King had been gathering resources for something, and was yet to unveil his plan...

## Legacy

"*It would have been the end of me. It was, were it not for the fact that the demon vanished before my very eyes. I swear, Jim Baker could have been walking beside me. Never again will I miss an offering to Ilena.*"
―Ava Hadard about how she experienced the end of the Primordial Crisis. The Primordial Crisis will most likely be written down in history books as not only a tragedy, but also a testiment to human willpower. While many turned to crime, many others volunteered their services and risked their lives for the betterment of others. Knowledge of the Primordials before this event was mostly kept to expert scholars and the like, but since this, knowledge is much more accessible, though many do not know the full story of the primordials themselves.

It was the dwarves who realised exactly how the crisis came to and end, when one of their oracles supposedly spoke to Grimm himself, who told the tale of Mickey Kriemhild and his friends, the Orphans of Fate and how they ventured into the realms of Pandemonium, defeating the champions of chaos and closing shut the doors to oblivion, prevailing where few others would. Their song was sung throughout the world, and the true celebrations begun on the first anniversary of the end of the crisis, and would remain a traditional holiday for decades to come.