The Dark Times

With much of the world attempting to recover from the wars of the Mage King and an unknown puppetmaster on Gallorea, the Elder Gods suddenly receded from the world, again leaving the connection with their priests severed. The Crimson Plague raced across Gallorea and, eventually, into Aurea and Duria. The power vaccuum left in the Great Empire by the death of the Mage King lead to the bloody Fourth Succession War, which saw many of the Empire's formerly subject states wage war on one another. When the Crimson Plague struck Aurea, the Empire did not have the strength of arms or will to defend against the chaos inflicted upon them as the Valtang barbarians raged unfettered across their once glorious Empire. Meanwhile, on Duria, the orcish horde assembled to defeat the Mage-King turned on its former allies, first defeating the elves of the Sapphire Wood, then ravaging Koramia itself.

With the return of the dwarves to the surface world and the rise of orcish hordes on Aurea and Duria, many considered this to be the final death kneel of humanity. The Interannum, however, was only to last a little more than a generation.

Timeline

Original article: The Dark Times Timeline

Imperial Year	Aebasan Year	Neptaran Year	Event
1262 IC	7887 AT	2012 NC	On Midsummer day of this year, priests of the Old Gods across the world wake to discover their connection to their deities severed, marking the end of the Third Age of Man and beginning of the Dark Times.
1265 IC	7890 AT	2015 NC	Goren of House Orzaiz, remains monarch of Nadera despite the legally-required conclusion of his ten-year reign. Because of the turmoil and chaos ongoing in neighboring nations, the Naderan Chamber of Princes does not oppose him.
1293 IC	7918 AT	2043 NC	Malach Virex, future Archdeacon of Cthos the Doomsayer at the Sepulchral Lantern in Seahaven, Marosh, is born on the island of Marosh.
1296 IC	7921 AT	2046 NC	Mother Ysabet of Betshaba, future Wavemother of Marosh, is born into the seaborne of the Freecity of Neptaris.
1309 IC	7934 AT	2059 NC	The Naderan Chamber of Princes meets in a closed session to depose the aging King Goren of House Orzaiz, but a fire breaks out in the Chamber, disrupting the proceedings and leaving five of the Princes dead. The secretive Saphracine Watch is generally believed to have been behind the attack.
1311 IC	7936 AT	2061 NC	The elderly King Goren of House Orzaiz of Nadera finally abdicates and Axil of House Varuna is elected monarch by the Chamber of Princes.
1312 IC	7937 AT	2062 NC	The Dark Times abruptly end with the return of the Old Gods.