Great Collapse

The **Great Collapse**, scientifically known as the **Late Kotenbavivic Extinction** and also called the **Collapse** or the **Calamity**, was a global catastrophe brought on by a sudden, rapid decrease in global temperatures. The exact cause remains a source of extensive research, but the academic consensus is that an extremely large asteroid broke apart after striking Mirat. Many fragments from this asteroid were put on a collision course with the planet, and several managed to strike the surface with sufficient force and quantity cause an impact winter.

The event adversely affected every civilization in existence at the time, resulting in the demise of many due to fragments utterly devastating regions in which they landed. Southern Granheim and Cagri were struck with the most fragments. while Kretila remained largely untouched. The decrease in global temperatures due to the impact winter caused widespread crop failures and environmental changes, which are blamed for a near two-century long decline in the human population. Estimates range between nearly half to two-thirds of the human population dying off.

Numerous other factors have been considered as possible causes or contributors to the Great Collapse. Increased volcanic activity in the Harped Range, which separates the South Bolic Plate from the Granish Plate, has commonly been cited as a potential aggravator or even the sole cause of the Collapse.

## Names

Due to its global ramifications, the Collapse is known by many names to many different nations. Some general trends for names exist, largely depending on location and linguistic roots.

Selected (translated) versions include:

* **North Granish/North Tarepasan:** Fall of the Stars/Starfall
* **West Granish:** Storm of Stones
* **North Cagrian:** Heaven's Tears
* **South Cagrian:** Fire Rain

## Timeline

### Date

The estimated year of the Collapse is likely accurate, as historical documentation that can be reconciled with multiple calendars exists. The most likely **day** that the fragments started to land is believed to be February 7th, although records show that they continued to fall for at least two more days. Some fragments continued to orbit the planet, falling to the surface occasionally.

### Disaster

The culprit is most likely an asteroid between 10 to 20 kilometers in diameter, which broke into multiple fragments after striking the far side of Mirat. Although the moon absorbed most of the impact and material, a significant number of fragments from the impact managed to reach a collision course with Arpeia.

### Impact Winter

The ensuing ejection of materials into the atmosphere caused an impact winter, which resulted in widespread crop failures and death. Although the actual period of cooling lasted only about 80 years, the population bottleneck resulted in a slow decline for nearly 160 years after. During this time, many civilizations arose near volcanic areas, where natural warmth and fertile soil fostered the rise of powerful empires. Most inhabitants towards the global north began to adapt, breeding crops that could survive the harsh conditions, and taming beasts of burden.

## Population Decline

Estimating both the population before the Collapse and the population after the impact winter is a difficult task. An analysis conducted by the International Union with the aid of government agencies and independent researchers tentatively concluded that the global population in 1 BGC was approximately 300 million. After the decline, the population stood at anywhere between 100 to 150 million.

## Impact on Calendars and Dating

The Collapse, being a defining moment in history, resulted in many cultures dividing their calendars to differentiate between the eras before and after the collapse. In 1437, the Society of Gandorists hosted an unprecedentedly large meeting, with the intent to create a functional, scientifically-accurate calendar that could be used throughout the world. This meeting resulted in the creation of the Common Calendar, which begins Before the Great Collapse (BGC), and transitions into After the Great Collapse (AGC) at Year 0 (the year ***of*** the Collapse). The calendar was created by reconciling several dates to find an approximate year in which the Collapse occurred. The Common Calendar has since been standardized across the world, although some nations still use their traditional calendars alongside it.