Sixth Umbral Calamity

The Sixth Umbral Calamity, also known as the Great Flood or the Calamity of Water, was an all-consuming tidal wave that destroyed anything it touched, and consumed most of Eorzea at the end of the Fifth Astral Era. It was caused as the result of the land's aether reserves being severely depleted from the "War of the Magi", causing the elemental balance to be thrown heavily towards the element of Water.

Summary of Events

The First Grand Companies

Towards the end of the Fifth Astral Era, the combatants of the War of the Magi finally began to notice the effects the war was having on the land's aether. They turned to their oracles and seers to understand just how bad the damage was, but all that could be determined was that the elemental balance was so off that destruction was guaranteed. Soon after, the tides began to swell and the oceans raged. This was the sign of the calamity that was to come. Begrudgingly, the warring nations set aside their battles in order to come together and find a method of stopping it. They set up task forces that would relay information to each other and help coordinate their various efforts, forming the first Grand Companies.

Preparations for the Flood

The Amdapori began searching for a higher place to escape to in order to avoid the rising tides, and the Mhachi worked on evacuation efforts, while also working in secret on an "ark" intended to shepard their people to safety using the power of Voidsent. The Nymeans, in spite of The Green Death still actively ravaging their population, sent the remainder of their military out into the sea, to establish protective wards and barriers to defend against the worst of the storms and waves, in what would come to be known as Operation Maelstrom.

Effects of the Flood

The remainder of the Amdapori people fled to Gyr Abania, while the Nymeans escaped to the mountain ranges of La Noscea.

See also: The Floating City of Nym and Amdapor Keep

The Mhachi people tried to escape in their ark, but the majority of those who boarded it were killed, when the Voidsent powering the ark broke free. The surviving Mhachi mages used the last of their life force to seal the Voidsent in the ship so they couldn't escape and wreak havoc on the survivors of the flood.

See also: The Void Ark and Shadow of Mhach