Altered Lore

305 AC Tsunami

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305 AC Tsunami

Overview

305 AC Tsunami was catastrophic wave of water and Aether that struck Arkaster capital, devastating lakefront Districts and much of The Asterion palace. Despite protection from The Tumult for centuries, cataclysm represented unprecedented breach of stabilized zone. Aroro Niski sacrificed herself defending city’s southwestern ramparts, holding back deluge long enough for other Alterers to mobilize defensive response. Basileus Itzamna ruun-Heeren perished along with much of government and significant urban population.

Detection and Warning

Aroro Niski, 28-year-old Yzmir mage who mastered all Five Spheres of The Naali, first to detect disturbance in The Aether flows. Initially just breeze, recognized as harbinger of cataclysm unlike anything Asgartha endured since founding. Attempted to warn peers who tried to reassure her: archipelago protected from The Tumult for centuries; unthinkable such calamity could strike deeply within stabilized zone.

Faced with Magisters’ disbelief, Aroro sought audience with Basileus Itzamna ruun-Heeren. Waited long hours in halls of The Asterion hoping for meeting that never came. Tried to persuade The Aegis sentinels of urgency, begging them to let her through. Said she turned back with face stricken with dread—perhaps glimpsed horizon through Palace windows, realized time running out.

The Deluge

Wave Formation

Wave of water and Aether crashed into Vagheria foothills, reshaping rocky crests before cascading down mountain slopes and flooding into Muir Concordia. Sea swelled and rippled, cloaked in turn with vegetation, crystal, fur—cacophony of ideas made manifest. Furious ravenous surge carried thousand overlapping concepts, replacing, entwining, chasing one another in endless cycle of creation and destruction.

Flood of ideas tore across land, reshaping terrain with wrath not seen since First City built. Aether-tainted foam rolled forward, sliding like undertow, like ravenous shark come to devour. Tsunami represented unprecedented breach of Asgartha’s centuries-long protection from The Tumult.

Aroro’s Defense

When tsunami struck, Aroro Niski already standing on city’s outer ramparts at southwestern edge of capital. For hours had been inscribing Sigils along walls, eyes glowing as Irises scanned distance. Around her placed numerous Effigies ready for rapid summoning, while voice called to The Aether swirling beyond The Veil.

As deluge bore down, Aroro stood alone before The Tumult, drawing on last reserves to slow boiling waves. Summoned sixteen Eidolons simultaneously (Ikenga, Caellach, Ganesh, Sakarabru, Achilles, Merlin, Hecate, Heshkari, Niavhe, Bastet, Amahle) by shattering Effigies through force of will. They empowered voice, provided energy to continue frantic katas, poured power into hers.

Tsunami struck with deafening roar. Sigils layered around her shattered one by one in blink of eye. Voice drowned under crashing wave. Eidolons swept away one after another by overwhelming force. Broken, on brink of annihilation, Aroro unleashed all Mana gathered in counterattack as blinding as fierce.

Held out several long minutes, chaining posture after posture in dizzying rhythm. Wave broke temporarily on shield she conjured—brief time before silhouette disappeared into merciless flood. But precious moment allowed other Alterers to mobilize and organize. Each took responsibility for small section of city, creating pockets of stability around which rolls of Aether crashed and broke.

Destruction

Though lakefront Districts and much of The Asterion devastated, Aroro’s sacrifice drastically reduced human toll and extent of destruction. Basileus Itzamna ruun-Heeren perished in deluge along with much of government and significant portion of urban population. Around ramparts people fled desperately seeking shelter as shouts and cries echoed.

Aftermath

Immediate Response

As waters receded, humanity began to heal. Many survivors honored Yzmir Mage’s sacrifice with thoughts, prayers, and tributes. Her feat spread like wildfire, passed from mouth to mouth, from tavern to temple. Tsunami left cruel devastation, but rather than give in to despair, humanity proved resilience by celebrating joy of survival.

Perhaps to exorcise trauma or honor fallen—Aroro Niski became posthumously embodiment of that resilience, of survivors’ will to proclaim to world they were stronger than grief and desperation.

Political Transition

New Basilissa Ndidi Dewitt hastily elected to replace perished Basileus Itzamna ruun-Heeren. Significant portion of government perished requiring rapid reconstitution of Asgarthan leadership during crisis period.

Memorial Construction

Ndidi Dewitt ensured statue erected in Aroro’s honor towering over waters with one hand outstretched as if to hold back waves. Lighthouse built on small island that served as her final stand—transforming tragic memory into beacon of hope and restored safety.

Memory of dark day endured for decades. Stories people told continued to be passed down through ages, ultimately leading to Aroro Niski’s awakening as Oneiros at base of lighthouse—recalled from death by power of remembrance.

Long-Term Significance

Vulnerability Demonstrated

Tsunami demonstrated that even centuries-protected stabilized zones not immune to catastrophic Tumult breaches. Shattered assumption that archipelago could not suffer such calamity, forcing Asgartha to reconsider security assumptions.

Investigation Imperative

When Aroro Niski awakened as Oneiros decades later, shared dark suspicions with Yzmir Faction. Tsunami did not feel like random or natural occurrence—but possibly coordinated attack from beyond. This time Magisters did not turn deaf ear and received warning with gravity. Indeed possible wave of destruction orchestrated—deliberately crafted to eradicate pocket of civilization.

Announcement of Expeditionary Corps creation became signal Aroro long awaited—chance to investigate tsunami’s source: its origin, its architects. Could no longer sit idle in face of faceless enemy. Could not remain passive, vulnerable to another such strike. Though feared what might be found within Terra Incognita, Aroro determined to shed light on event that cost her life—and so many others.

Catalyst for Rediscovery

Truth needed to come to light if humanity were to have hope of confronting threat. 305 AC Tsunami thus became partial motivation for Rediscovery Endeavor, with investigation of event’s origins representing key mission objective.

Geographic Impact

  • Vagheria foothills: Rocky crests reshaped by initial wave impact
  • Muir Concordia: Flooded as deluge cascaded down mountain slopes
  • Lakefront Districts: Devastated by tsunami
  • The Asterion: Much of palace destroyed
  • Southwestern ramparts: Location of Aroro’s final stand
  • Memorial Island: Small island where lighthouse constructed, became Aroro’s awakening site as Oneiros

Relationships

  • Aroro Niski: Yzmir mage who sacrificed herself defending city, later awakened as Oneiros
  • Itzamna ruun-Heeren: Basileus who perished in tsunami
  • Ndidi Dewitt: Basilissa hastily elected after tsunami, commissioned memorial
  • Arkaster: Capital city struck by tsunami
  • The Asterion: Palace largely destroyed during event
  • Yzmir: Faction whose mage sacrificed herself, later received Aroro’s warning about deliberate attack
  • The Tumult: Source of Aether-tainted deluge
  • Rediscovery Endeavor: Organization created partly to investigate tsunami origins
  • Muir Concordia: Body of water affected by tsunami
  • Vagheria foothills: Mountain range where wave first impacted

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