The Weeping

• When: 1796–1799 STC (3 years, ending just 1 year before the campaign)

The Symptoms

Named for its gruesome final stage:

1. Incapacitating fever and severe delirium
2. Irreversible blindness
3. Weeping blood from the eyes
4. Total organ failure

An absolute death sentence. Neither alchemy nor medical magic could cure or slow it. It spread with terrifying unpredictability — decimating entire families while leaving neighbors untouched. Its origin and the reason for its sudden disappearance remain a complete mystery.

Societal Impact

• The Fall of the Great Houses: The Weeping dealt the killing blow to Houses already bleeding from the Splinter Wars. House Noveda was entirely wiped out save for Zach. House Boranova lost its primary bloodlines and vital Ignition Ritual secrets.
• The Crisis of Faith: The Triumvirate Church, considered the foremost healing experts, were utterly helpless. This cost them immense public goodwill and accelerated their decline.
• The Democratization of Magic: With noble battlemage ranks nearly extinct, institutions like the Cyorian Academy were forced to admit thousands of commoners — leading directly to the Spread of Magical Training.

08 The Modern Era