Third Umbral Calamity

Much like the Second Umbral Calamity, the Third Umbral Calamity was the result of war and violence caused by the various religious leaders who sought power and wealth over the realm. Men were drafted into war, children and women were sold into slavery, and anyone left lived in fear of being hunted on grounds of religious purging or retribution. While wars were waged, the land was also left to rot due to there being too few people to tend to the crops and animals. Because of this, the meger few left often succumbed to starvation.

Following the ends of the holy wars, the people were left with nothing, and had to attempt to rebuild. Even still, the people held faith, and believed that as long as they remained devout, things would return to their glorious state as before. The gods, however, saw things differently. Appalled with the violence and hubris of those who were supposed to be their most faithful followers, the gods sought to humble the people of Eorzea. The sun swelled and grew brighter and more intense with each passing day. Lands and people were scorched causing mass famine. Animals, plants and most other forms of life were sapped down to nothingness, and the once lush green foliage surrounding their towns and cities were reduced to ash, leaving mankind with little way to survive. The Calamity of Fire was upon the people, who once again had to band together to survive.

Those who managed to survive this horrible event had come away changed. While they were still fearful of the gods, they became hesitant to place them at the center of their society again. Pursuit of the divine had incurred the wrath of the gods, and so mankind turned their faith inwards towards themselves, believing the only way forward was with personal growth and striving for ever greater heights. What would follow would be the peak of civilization on Eorzea, in terms of technological and societal evolution. The Third Astral Era would usher in a brand-new way of life, and the birth of the Allagan Empire.