Great Erosion: Difference between revisions

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The Great Erosion was one of the most transformative events in the history of Adaris, marking the moment when the primordial realm of Orethil—the realm of the Primordial Spirit of Earth—was first breached by external elemental forces. Before this event, Orethil existed as an infinite and unchanging realm of pure earth and stone, untouched by the influence of other elements. It was the first and most enduring realm, formed from the chaotic energies of Astram within the Primordial Void.

The Great Erosion was not merely a geological event but a metaphysical upheaval that forever altered the balance of the elements in Adaris, reshaping its landscapes, its spirits, and its societies.

Origins of the Great Erosion

The catalyst for the Great Erosion was the intrusion of Jala, the Primordial Spirit of Water. Unlike the other elements, which developed their own domains, Jala lacked a dedicated realm. In seeking space to exist, Jala forced itself into Orethil—shattering the elemental boundaries and piercing the stillness of earth with fluid force.

This intrusion destabilized the elemental order and initiated the erosion of Orethil's eternal form. In response, the realms of Shasae (air) and Tejas (fire) followed, each pressing into the domain of earth. Their combined presence sparked an era of catastrophic transformation.

It was during this period that the Ascendant Spirit Kairos, embodiment of time, came into being. The convergence of opposing forces threatened to collapse the realm into chaos. Kairos emerged to stabilize this unfolding transformation—ensuring that the elements interacted in cycles rather than in uncontrolled destruction.

The Erosive Forces

The invading elemental forces reshaped Orethil in profound ways:

Water: Jala carved rivers, lakes, and oceans into the once-solid expanse of earth. Its constant movement eroded stone, hollowed caverns, and nurtured valleys—transforming permanence into impermanence.
Air: The currents of Shasae swept through the fissures, carrying dust and breath across the broken land. Wind wore down cliffs, softened peaks, and introduced movement into a realm once defined by stillness.
Fire: Tejas erupted from beneath the earth, igniting fault lines and reshaping terrain through volcanic force. Lava flows remade the landscape, forging new minerals and consuming the old.

The Consequences of the Great Erosion

The Great Erosion marked the transformation of Orethil from an infinite realm into the bounded continent of Elemara. The once-endless dominion of Oras contracted, its center solidifying around the Citadel Mountains—the last bastion of its primordial power.

The Orasians, ancient beings born of earth, were altered by the incursion. Once vast and immovable, many were reduced in scale and strength, their forms reshaped by air, fire, and water. As elemental forces mingled, new lifeforms, ecosystems, and societies arose—each bearing traces of the primordial spirits that now coexisted within the realm.

The Birth of Time

The erosion of Orethil's eternal nature demanded order. Without a mechanism to govern transformation, the realm would have unraveled. From this necessity, Kairos—the spirit of time—emerged. Kairos established sequence, decay, renewal, and growth. Through Kairos, the changes wrought by the elements became bearable—gradual, knowable, and cyclical.

Time introduced the rhythms of day and night, birth and death, memory and progression. It remains one of the most vital Ascendant Spirits in Adaris, not as a creator, but as a preserver of structure.

Ongoing Erosion

Though the cataclysmic phase of the Great Erosion has ended, its influence endures. The elemental forces still shape Orethil, now tempered by Kairos’s cycle. The mountains shift, rivers expand, winds carve, and fire smolders beneath—reminders that creation and destruction remain in constant motion.

Legacy

The Great Erosion is remembered not only as a cataclysm, but as a genesis. It marks the beginning of interaction between elements, the emergence of time, and the transformation of a solitary realm into a shared world.

The effects of the Great Erosion still define Elemara—in its jagged peaks, fertile lowlands, and dynamic weather patterns. Spiritually, it signifies the fragility of permanence and the power of elemental convergence. It is a foundational myth, a geological truth, and a living memory woven into the soul of Adaris.

References

"The Chronicles of Creation" – A collection of ancient Adarian texts detailing the universe's origin and the elemental forces.
"The Erosion of Eternity" – A study on the effects of the Great Erosion on Orethil and its people.
"Balancing the Elements: The Role of Kairos" – An exploration of the emergence of time and its impact on the balance of Adaris.

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-'''The Great Erosion''' was one of the most transformative events in the history of [[Adaris]], marking the moment when the primordial realm of [[Terasil]]—the realm of the [[Oras|Primordial Spirit of Earth]]—began to be shaped by the elemental forces of fire, water, and air. Before this event, Terasil existed as an infinite and unchanging realm of pure earth and stone, untouched by the outside influences of other elements. It was the first and most enduring realm, created from the chaotic energies of [[Astram]] within the [[Primordial Void]].
+{{Hatnote|Part of the [[History of Orethil]]}}
-The Great Erosion was not merely a geological event but a metaphysical process that forever altered the balance of the elements in Adaris, shaping both its landscape and its inhabitants.
+'''The Great Erosion''' was one of the most transformative events in the history of [[Adaris]], marking the moment when the primordial realm of Orethil—the realm of the [[Oras|Primordial Spirit of Earth]]—was first breached by external elemental forces. Before this event, [[Orethil]] existed as an infinite and unchanging realm of pure earth and stone, untouched by the influence of other elements. It was the first and most enduring realm, formed from the chaotic energies of [[Astram]] within the [[Primordial Void]].
+The Great Erosion was not merely a geological event but a metaphysical upheaval that forever altered the balance of the elements in Adaris, reshaping its landscapes, its spirits, and its societies.
 == Origins of the Great Erosion ==
-As [[Terasil]] stood alone, the elemental realms of [[Shasae]] (air), [[Tejas]] (fire), and [[Jala]] (water) were yet to fully manifest in the world. These elements existed in their own infinite expanses, but their energies had not yet interacted with the physicality of Terasil. This changed when the balance of the cosmos began to shift, causing the forces of [[Shasae]], [[Tejas]], and [[Jala]] to collide with Terasil.
-It was during this period of elemental convergence that [[Kairos]], the Ascendant [[Spirit]] of Time, came into existence. The introduction of new elements into the timeless realm of Terasil threatened to plunge the world into chaos, with the continuous erosion of its eternal landmass. Kairos emerged to stabilize the passage of time, ensuring that the elements worked in harmony rather than complete dissolution.
+The catalyst for the Great Erosion was the intrusion of [[Jala]], the [[Primordial Spirit]] of Water. Unlike the other elements, which developed their own domains, Jala lacked a dedicated realm. In seeking space to exist, Jala forced itself into Orethil—shattering the elemental boundaries and piercing the stillness of earth with fluid force.
+This intrusion destabilized the elemental order and initiated the erosion of Orethil's eternal form. In response, the realms of [[Shasae]] (air) and [[Tejas]] (fire) followed, each pressing into the domain of earth. Their combined presence sparked an era of catastrophic transformation.
+It was during this period that the [[Ascendant Spirit]] [[Kairos]], embodiment of time, came into being. The convergence of opposing forces threatened to collapse the realm into chaos. Kairos emerged to stabilize this unfolding transformation—ensuring that the elements interacted in cycles rather than in uncontrolled destruction.
 == The Erosive Forces ==
-The elements of air, fire, and water each had their own effects on [[Terasil]]:
-* Water: The power of [[Jala]] began to carve rivers, lakes, and oceans into the once-unyielding earth. The relentless flow of water slowly eroded the mountains, reshaped the valleys, and created deep chasms where none existed before. Over time, these forces nurtured new life and fertility in modern-day Terasil.
+The invading elemental forces reshaped Orethil in profound ways:
-* Air: The winds of [[Shasae]] swept across the plains and mountains, further eroding the stone and creating soft, rolling hills where sharp cliffs once stood. The winds carried seeds and new life across the land, aiding the process of transformation.
+* '''Water''': [[Jala]] carved rivers, lakes, and oceans into the once-solid expanse of earth. Its constant movement eroded stone, hollowed caverns, and nurtured valleys—transforming permanence into impermanence.
+* '''Air''': The currents of [[Shasae]] swept through the fissures, carrying dust and breath across the broken land. Wind wore down cliffs, softened peaks, and introduced movement into a realm once defined by stillness.
+* '''Fire''': [[Tejas]] erupted from beneath the earth, igniting fault lines and reshaping terrain through volcanic force. Lava flows remade the landscape, forging new minerals and consuming the old.
-* Fire: [[Tejas]] brought both creation and destruction to Terasil. Volcanic activity erupted, as the fiery essence of Tejas reshaped the landscape in an explosive display of power. Fire forged new minerals, created magma flows, and renewed the surface of the earth by consuming old formations and creating new ones in their place. The molten heart of the earth became both a source of danger and renewal for Terasil’s inhabitants.
+== The Consequences of the Great Erosion ==
-== The Consequences of the Great Erosion ==
+[[File:Terasil - Great Erosion 01.jpg|thumb|Evidence of the Great Erosion is still seen all over Orethil.]]
-[[File:Terasil - Great Erosion 01.jpg|thumb|Evidence of the Great Erosion is still seen all over Terasil.]]
-The Great Erosion marked the gradual contraction of [[Terasil]] from an infinite realm into the continent of [[Elemara]], the landmass that exists today in [[Adaris]]. The once-endless domain of Terasil became a contained space, with the [[Citadel Mountains]] at its heart standing as the last bastion of the primordial realm.
-The integration of fire, air, and water into the realm had profound consequences, not just for the land but also for its inhabitants. The [[Orasians]], the ancient beings born from the earth, saw their realm transformed and diminished. Once titanic beings who stood as tall as mountains, many Orasians found themselves reduced in size and influence, as the elemental forces reshaped their bodies along with their world.
+The Great Erosion marked the transformation of Orethil from an infinite realm into the bounded continent of [[Elemara]]. The once-endless dominion of [[Oras]] contracted, its center solidifying around the [[Citadel Mountains]]—the last bastion of its primordial power.
-Likewise, new beings began to emerge from the interactions between the elements, countless corporeal beings, flora and fauna came to existence inhabiting all realms and creating their own unique societies, which in turn further changed the world.
+The Orasians, ancient beings born of earth, were altered by the incursion. Once vast and immovable, many were reduced in scale and strength, their forms reshaped by air, fire, and water. As elemental forces mingled, new lifeforms, ecosystems, and societies arose—each bearing traces of the primordial spirits that now coexisted within the realm.
 == The Birth of Time ==
-As the elements began to erode and reshape [[Terasil]], the need for a stabilizing force became apparent. Without time to govern the cycles of creation and destruction, the world would have descended into chaos. In response, the [[Ascendant Spirit]] [[Kairos]] emerged, bringing with them the concept of time.
-Kairos’s influence ensured that the process of erosion slowed, giving Terasil time to adapt to the changes rather than being completely consumed by the other elements. The flow of time allowed for balance and harmony between the elements, ensuring that change occurred gradually and in manageable cycles. The creation of time also introduced the concepts of day and night, birth and death, and the progression of life itself in Adaris.
+The erosion of Orethil's eternal nature demanded order. Without a mechanism to govern transformation, the realm would have unraveled. From this necessity, [[Kairos]]—the spirit of time—emerged. Kairos established sequence, decay, renewal, and growth. Through Kairos, the changes wrought by the elements became bearable—gradual, knowable, and cyclical.
+Time introduced the rhythms of day and night, birth and death, memory and progression. It remains one of the most vital Ascendant Spirits in Adaris, not as a creator, but as a preserver of structure.
 == Ongoing Erosion ==
-Though the Great Erosion has largely subsided, the process is not entirely over. The elemental forces continue to shape Terasil, albeit at a much slower and more controlled pace, thanks to the stabilizing effect of time.
-[[Orasians]] and [[Minthari]] alike remain vigilant in protecting their homeland, performing rituals and using their knowledge of [[Orasia]], the [[Osia]] of earth, to counter the ongoing influence of erosion.
+Though the cataclysmic phase of the Great Erosion has ended, its influence endures. The elemental forces still shape [[Orethil]], now tempered by Kairos’s cycle. The mountains shift, rivers expand, winds carve, and fire smolders beneath—reminders that creation and destruction remain in constant motion.
 == Legacy ==
-The Great Erosion is remembered as both a destructive and creative force in the history of [[Adaris]]. It reshaped the land and allowed for the integration of new elements, giving rise to diverse ecosystems, cultures, and spiritual practices. The effects of the Great Erosion can still be seen across [[Elemara]], with its rugged mountains, flowing rivers, and fertile valleys standing as testament to the ongoing interplay between the elements.
-In many ways, the Great Erosion also represents the delicate balance that exists in Adaris between creation and destruction, order and chaos. The emergence of time, the formation of new landscapes, and the gradual contraction of Terasil all serve as reminders of the ever-changing nature of the world.
-== See Also ==
+The Great Erosion is remembered not only as a cataclysm, but as a genesis. It marks the beginning of interaction between elements, the emergence of time, and the transformation of a solitary realm into a shared world.
-* [[Terasil]]: The primordial realm of earth and the land most affected by the Great Erosion.
+The effects of the Great Erosion still define [[Elemara]]—in its jagged peaks, fertile lowlands, and dynamic weather patterns. Spiritually, it signifies the fragility of permanence and the power of elemental convergence. It is a foundational myth, a geological truth, and a living memory woven into the soul of Adaris.
-* [[Kairos]]: The [[Ascendant spirit|Ascendant Spirit]] of time, whose influence stabilized the process of erosion.
-* [[Shasae]]: The [[Primordial Spirit]] of wind and atmosphere, whose influence eroded and shaped the landscape.
-* [[Jala]]: The [[Primordial spirit|Primordial Spirit]] of water, whose rivers and oceans carved new paths through Terasil.
-* [[Tejas]]: The [[Primordial spirit|Primordial Spirit]] of fire, whose flames and molten flows reshaped the land.
-* [[Orasians]]: The ancient inhabitants of Terasil, born from the essence of the earth.
-* [[Minthari]]: A race of miners and explorers who live on the edges of Terasil, mining its rich resources.
 == References ==
-* ''"The Chronicles of Creation"'' - A collection of ancient Adarian texts detailing the universe's origin and the elemental forces.
+* ''"The Chronicles of Creation"'' – A collection of ancient Adarian texts detailing the universe's origin and the elemental forces.
-* ''"The Erosion of Eternity"'' - A study on the effects of the Great Erosion on Terasil and its people.
+* ''"The Erosion of Eternity"'' – A study on the effects of the Great Erosion on Orethil and its people.
-* ''"Balancing the Elements: The Role of Kairos"'' - An exploration of the emergence of time and its impact on the balance of Adaris.
+* ''"Balancing the Elements: The Role of Kairos"'' – An exploration of the emergence of time and its impact on the balance of Adaris.