The Sundering Event

1,247 years ago, the gods themselves struck down the mighty Kheth-Moran Empire in a single catastrophic event known as the Sundering. This divine retribution buried entire cities under sand and shattered the greatest civilization the world had ever known.

The Empire's Hubris

At its height, the Kheth-Moran Empire commanded impossible magic. Cities floated in the sky, elementals served as slaves, and the Pharaoh-Kings believed themselves equal to the gods. Their greatest transgression was the construction of the Godforge - a massive device designed to chain and control divine beings.

The Final Ritual

The last Pharaoh-King, Amenthes the Eternal, attempted to bind the god of death itself using the Godforge. The ritual required the sacrifice of thousands and the channeling of power from every corner of the empire. For a brief moment, it seemed to succeed.

Divine Wrath

The gods' response was swift and absolute. Rather than allow themselves to be enslaved, they chose to destroy everything the empire had built. The Sundering manifested as:

The Great Burial

• Sand from Nothing: Infinite sand poured from the sky, burying cities in minutes
• Falling Cities: Floating metropolises crashed to earth with devastating force
• Elemental Rebellion: Enslaved elementals turned on their masters
• Magic Failure: All empire magic ceased to function simultaneously

The Crimson Eclipse

The sun turned blood red and remained so for seven days. During this time, the dead rose from their graves, and shadows gained physical form. Many survivors went mad from the supernatural terror.

Immediate Aftermath

In the space of a single day, the greatest empire in history became a wasteland:

• Population Loss: 90% of the empire's people died in the first week
• Knowledge Destroyed: Libraries, schools, and archives were buried
• Infrastructure Collapse: Roads, aqueducts, and trade networks vanished
• Magical Contamination: Unstable magic created dangerous zones

The Dark Centuries

The 400 years following the Sundering were marked by:

Survival Struggles

• Scattered survivors formed small, isolated communities
• Knowledge of agriculture, medicine, and crafts was nearly lost
• Constant threat from magical creatures and unstable ruins
• Tribal warfare over scarce resources

Cultural Trauma

• Fear of magic and divine retribution
• Destruction of written records and oral traditions
• Rise of survival-focused clan structures
• Taboos against empire artifacts and knowledge

Lasting Effects

Even today, the Sundering's impact shapes life in the desert:

Physical Changes

• Desert Climate: The region became permanently arid
• Buried Ruins: Empire cities lie beneath the sand
• Magical Zones: Areas where reality remains unstable
• Cursed Artifacts: Empire items carry divine wrath

Cultural Legacy

• Religious Fear: Deep respect for divine power
• Clan Loyalty: Family bonds over individual ambition
• Practical Magic: Preference for simple, safe spells
• Oral Tradition: Distrust of written knowledge

Modern Mysteries

Many questions about the Sundering remain unanswered:

• Did any Pharaoh-Kings survive the catastrophe?
• Where is the Godforge now, and does it still function?
• What happened to the bound god during the ritual?
• Are there other empire survivors in distant lands?
• Will the gods' wrath ever fade from the cursed artifacts?

Lessons for Adventurers

The Sundering teaches important lessons for those who explore empire ruins:

• Respect Divine Power: The gods are not to be trifled with
• Beware Hubris: Excessive ambition leads to destruction
• Handle Artifacts Carefully: Empire items may still carry curses
• Value Community: Individual power means nothing without others