Karmic Collapse of 1744
The Karmic Collapse of 1744 is a series of events that occurred primarily in Lac Glacei and among the ruins of Ashinthael. It refers to the collapse of magical power and mythical flora and fauna across both countries, leading to the complete extirpation of magic within the Grand Duchy and the utter collapse of Ashinthael.
Background
Prior to the collapse, the northeastern quarter of Apollonia had a long history of magic and magic users dating back hundreds of years to the first age of Menelmacar. This tradition was carried on and embellished during the height of Gralus' power, whose trained wizards and magic users were renowned across the globe. Scholars attribute this to a series of strong key lines transecting this area of Apollonia; but the reality is that the fickle nature of magic has made studying these phenomena scientifically very difficult. Others attribute the strong presence of magic to the early Infernal invasion that preceded the rise of Menelmacar and widespread magic use. Whatever the case may be, magic became a dominant force in the northeast for many long years.
The presence of magic remained strong until the arrival of Buntings in the mid-1730s in Ashinthael. These errant creations of magic soon inundated the landscape and brought about the rapid collapse of the Ashinthaler dynasty. While Lac Glacei and others were able to eventually bring this population under control and eradicate the invasive species, the event appeared to trigger a series of magical collapse that became widespread across Lac Glacei. Students at the famed St. Nova Academy of Magic soon began to experience a diminishing and eventual loss of powers. Spells, incantations and magical brews lost their potency. And the famed dragons of Ashinthael began to disappear from the land.
Progression of this loss was incremental. It was not akin to the flipping of a switch. Reports from the Green in Ashinthael were the first to reach Monte Glacei. Sorcerers were losing their vision, a blackness overcoming their third eye. And so they fled north into Lac Glacei, seeking the wisdom of seers at St. Nova. But the darkness followed like a blight, spreading across the land, its tendrils reaching from the greatest city to the smallest village. Within a few years magic had collapsed across all of the Grand Duchy.
Aftermath
In the immediate aftermath of the collapse, there was a widespread loss of magical abilities among users. Sorcerers, wizards and witches alike all reported a loss in the ability to wield or control magic. This included an ineffectiveness in conjuring and casting spells. Patrol units reported catching glimpses of dragons retreating into deep caverns, possibly entering a prolonged slumber until magic should return. This suggests a natural cycle, but the details still baffle scientists and magic users. The Lac Glaceian government stepped in to provide re-education opportunities and new employment for those who have experienced a personal loss as a result of the collapse. Many, luckily, were already well-educated. Professors at St. Nova's, for example, will retain their jobs as the university shifts towards a more traditional offering of education curricula.
While apex magical creatures such as dragons have disappeared, the collapse appears to have had minimal effect on creatures that appear magical but do not express or utilize magic as part of their anatomy or functionality. As an example, a flying monkey that relies on its wings and standard physics for flight would not be rendered flightless as a result of the collapse. However, creatures that are specifically magical in nature, such as the Buntings, began to wither and die as a result of the collapse. The magic itself seeming to be part of their biological function.
To preserve some of these species, Lac Glacei captured a mated pair of Buntings and sent them to refuge on Aemilia. Along similar lines, some magic users opted to flee the country to other regions where magic was still present, albeit in a much lessened state. These parties primarily fled to the Hexarchy, the Imperial Federation and Aemilia. But this exodus has been confounded as the Grand Duchy has implemented an exit process whereby those seeking to leave the country must undergo interviews and agree to not share Lac Glaceian state secrets. As an emergency measure, the government has agreed to expedite people seeking to relocate to a safe haven in Mala, which, being on Keltia, appears to be excluded (or at least neutral) from the collapse. It may be that the collapse simply hasn't reached this far-removed area yet, but that is as yet to be seen. Yet once in Mala, those seeking refuge in other countries can undergo an expedited process for permanent relocation. The receiving countries, for their part, have been graciously generous in welcoming those seeking refuge.
