"Food, drink, wealth - we took so much for granted before the Dark came. Who would have ever thought it would have been the light to leave us first? - Traveling Merchant
History
The Age of the Long Dark, a somber chapter in the annals of Elyssara's history, descended upon the realm like a shroud of shadow following the Age of Radiance. This melancholic era was marked by the First Eclipse, the celestial embodiment of Pelor, and the shattering of the Luminalith, plunging parts of the world into a seemingly endless twilight. As the first eclipse cast its shadow over Elyssara, the realm witnessed the disappearance of the sun's brilliance and the onset of perpetual darkness. The Luminalith, a powerful radiant crystal that had blessed the realm with light, shattered, scattering its radiant fragments across the land. The darkness that ensued came to be known as the Shadowloom, a suffocating abyss that enveloped parts of the realm in an eerie, unnatural gloom.
In this dire age, Elyssara faced numerous challenges. Agriculture faltered, and the once-fertile lands struggled to yield meager harvests under the oppressive darkness. Nature withered, and the vibrant ecosystems of the past gave way to desolation and uncertainty. Cultural pursuits waned as the arts struggled to find inspiration in the pervasive gloom. The grand cities that once celebrated the sun's blessings stood as somber reminders of the radiant past, their streets now lined with dimly lit lanterns and fading murals.
Technological advancements that once thrived under the sun's energy dwindled, with solar-powered inventions falling into disuse. The people of Elyssara faced a profound challenge, adapting to the scarcity of resources and energy. Religious life took a solemn turn as the worship of Pelor and Caelia evolved to include prayers for the sun's return and the reassembly of the Luminalith. Temples and shrines held hope in their hearts, but their altars were often shrouded in darkness, and the clergy found themselves guiding the faithful through a crisis of faith.
Unity frayed as the darkness bred uncertainty, and trade suffered as the realms grappled with the harsh reality of the Long Dark. Crime rates, once remarkably low, began to rise, testing the resilience of Elyssara's people. In the face of the Shadowloom, a new chapter in Elyssara's history was set to unfold, one where courage and determination would shine brightly against the encroaching darkness.
Scholarly Data
Begin Date: 0 TY (Twilight Years) (151 Years Ago)
End Date: Ongoing
Significance: Monumental cultural, economic, and religious changes
Minor Era Events
The Healing of Lysandralis (1 TY): A powerful cleric of Pelor named Seraphal, now known among the citizens of Lysandralis as the High Illuminarch, managed to restore a portion of the city of Lysandralis to its former radiant glory by banishing most of the Long Dark, providing hope to its residents. Though some of the city still remains shrouded in darkness, life resumed to some degree of normalcy, and Seraphal was installed as High Illuminarch.
Major Era Events
The First Eclipse (0 TY): The catastrophic event that plunged Elyssara into the Age of the Long Dark, as the Luminalith shattered, releasing the Shadowloom's darkness and allowing the Shadow Sect to gain significant power.
The Creation of the Lightforgers (35 TY): A group of gnomish inventors known as the Lightforgers developed ingenious sun-mimicking devices to combat the prolonged darkness. At the head of this project was Rurik Gearspark, whom now holds a seat on the Luminara Council of Lysandralis.
