Great Kataklysmos

The Great Kataklysmos, also Great Cataclysm, refers to a global catastrophic event, or rather a series of events, that occured in the distant past of Tarris and resulted in the complete collapse of civilization, particularly of the Katarru or Elves, who completely disappeared from the planet, as well as the near extinction of human races and dramatic changes in ecosystems and even geography. It also marked the beginning of the Cycles.

It is not known what exactly happened in the Cataclysm, though it can be assumed that seemingly natural disasters, including earthquakes, supervolcanic eruptions, massive floods and asteroid impact occured frequently, and that the Red Sun showed extreme stellar activity. However, there are several hints that the Cataclysm was not of (purely) natural origin, but instead connected to paranormal, eldritch powers, and might had something to do with the Katarru and their technology, perhaps even being caused by them. The scholar Ach'ra Volach believes that the "Elves dug too deep into the fabrics of the universe, learned something not meant to be known, and awoke something terrible from its slumber", likely refering to an Astral God.

The exact date of the Cataclysm is not known as it is unrecorded in available history, and those records that do exist cannot be dated. Auniiri cannot gaze back during their dreamstrides and awake, usually in states of high distress, when attempting to do so, and long before that, their view becomes dreamy and more surreal as their visions blend together with their own subconscious. This indicated that the Cataclysm must have happened a very long time ago, likely several Cycles before the current one. Estimated range from 15,000 to well over a 100,000 years or maybe even more, in any case hinting yet again at the Katarru's technological prowess as many of their materials, such as their alloys, have only minimally erorded since their disappearance.

The Cataclysm stayed in mankind's collective subconscious, and appears in many different myths and legends, later appearing in different religions. In Taarism, it is associated with Kriulith's waking of Taari.

Each cycle ends with yet another disaster, yet on a much smaller scale than the Great Cataclysm, that leads to the decline of the most prevelant civilizations, leaving former tribes to fill in their places.