The Fall of Atalan

The Fall of Atalan, also named the Dreamless Night, will always be remembered in the history of both Atalan and Eramere by all races.

After many earthquakes in the months prior, leading to the Rise of the Dragons, and increasing presence of cultists, murder, and general madness within the city, most inhabitants believed the city was already beginning its decent into a second Long Night during the Summer of 988IY/2841EC. . Manifestation attacks were frequent, often being created or drawn to this realm through heretic blood magic and its associated runes.

No one seemed immune to the madness as nightmares stalked most dreams, and even members of the Legionnaires and the Nobility turned on the populace as they too were claimed by The Varpathian's madness. Crazed humans of all races, and even a pair of Gnomes, were seen causing havoc and destruction within both the Slums and Trade Districts, using blood runes to summon manifestations never seen before.

Many civilians and their defenders were pushed into the Army District, which collapsed into the slums soon after during all of the fighting, taking many lives with it.

Others, barricaded themselves within the Academy, for both protection and to protect the Obelisk. Elsewhere in the Church district, a divine summoning circle began, which eventually brought the aid of Divine Servants to the battle.

It is said that The Varpathian attempted to at last be born. As adventurers, members of the House of Concordant Cycles, The Legion, and others strived to defend the city from the cultists and manifestations, a great, ugly storm approached, staining the ground an oily black-violet wherever its snaky lightning touched.

The Obelisk turned from red, to a lurid violet.

Those within the city at the time could see a dark form rolling down, snaking out from the Obelisk and coalescing in darkness... rising... and growing larger.

However, as the being attempted to be free of the Obelisk, it appeared to be struck down by a great burst of light, and each visible element of fire, ice, lightning, and shaking earth. Bright light beamed in amongst the rolling darkness, shadows and light moving together around and through the dark violet. The oily shadows staggered.

A voice was heard above the city, that was said to say that "The Guardians have fulfilled their Quest -- Despite all your Efforts. You are Anchored ... and Now we go to WAR"

A large bronze winged form was seen battling the creature as both roared overhead, fighting around the Obelisk as the elements continued to rain down around them, sometimes striking the shadowed and twisted creature, as their epic battle continued in the skies of Atalan. Eventually, an even brighter burst of golden white light struck the huge being of oily darkness in time with all elements, even while it fought with the dragon. The creature of darkness roared one last roar of defiance but was seen and heard no more.

But that, was only another beginning.

Rifts opened all over Atalan, bringing forth manifestations. An army of snake people attacked the gates, others seen snaking through the city. To some, it appeared that they might be looking for something - though few stayed to watch at this point. More winged forms were seen in the skies - and these ones, were not friendly as dragons and drakes alike took advantage of the chaos. Some drakes and dragons were even seen crashing through the House of Concordant Cycles as many barricaded themselves within it.

Worse still... all magic, divine and arcane, seemed to falter.

It was then, that many made their way through the fighting at the gate to escape the city... into both plains, and rivers... heading eventually to High Reaches in the Great Exodus, where the events of the Sundering unfolded in full.

Another account of the Dreamless Night:

An accounting of Year of the Dreamless Night by Classus Reginus.

986 IY, a year that will be burned into the memories of all who lived upon Eramere, and especially upon those that resided in the fallen city of Atalan. A year that started in hope, the famine of the previous year had been overcome, and crops looked as though they would recover. This brief respite from the horrors that were to come was short lived. Soon, the very land seemed to be dying, fields aged, and turned to ash, and word of a great and powerful malignant spirit causing it circled around camp fires, and common rooms. But things were far worse, and far more sinister within the walls of Atalan.

Tales of terrible creatures in the night, and strange suicides harkened back to the Long Night, and many feared that it had come again. But this was worse, far worse indeed. Soon, tales became fevered rants as people began killing themselves in the streets, and unleashing horrors upon the populace. The Legion, and Church, and the various adventurers and would be heroes sought to stem the tide of madness, but this horror would not be stopped.

Upon a dark night, in late Spring, the devastation and calamity would reach it's precipice. On that fateful night the Obelisk, an object of great curiosity for some, disdain, and fear for others went ablaze in flurry of magical light. All throughout the streets, people who had been unable to sleep for days went mad, and ended their lives to create bloody runes upon the floor. These runes opened...rifts into the Beyond itself, and spilled it's horrors into Atalan. Many died, and whole sections of the city collapsed in the battle. Worse, another force of strange snakelike creatures assaulted as well, along with flights of...of Dragons. The city besieged from all ends, the brave few warriors left lead who they could out of the city, and into the hills toward the newly founded Town of High Reaches, the rest is another history...