Cosmic Blackout

Within seconds, the world grew silent. Communications systems flatlined and darkness swallowed the cosmos.
Nobody knew where it came from. Nobody knew how long it would last. When the light returned, the world breathed a sigh of relief.
Though the Yonderverse was never really the same, after it.

Cosmic blackouts are an abnormal phenomenon affecting the entire Capital Realm at once. Caused by an exceptionally powerful magical surge, once every few thousand years, this entire realm is plunged into complete darkness. Abyssal magic floods the realm, dimming the light of even the brightest stars. It also obstructs any form of long range communication.

The cause of this surge in magic is still unknown. Sorcerers aren't sure where abyssal magic comes from, though many theories are being explored.

Abyssal Magic

This dark magic swallows everything. One could compare it to a black hole. It eats light, nothing escapes. We don't know where it comes from, but we think some supernatural force is at fault for it. It certainly isn't natural.

— Sorcerer

Abyssal magic is possibly the least understood type of magic. The realm abyssal magic is drawn from hasn't been discovered yet. Sorcerers believe this realm exists in a space separate from any other, underneath all other realms, hence the name.

The Abyssal Realm, and what lies within, is believed to be the stuff of nightmares. Disfigured beings of otherworldly power have attempted to claw their way out of this realm and wreak havoc throughout the greater Yonderverse.

Sorcerers have attempted to predict the next abyssal surge, tracking its first appearance and following that back to a theoretical gateway to the Abyssal Realm.

Cultural Impact

Eclypsa

A world of perpetual dusk and dawn

The tidally locked planet, Eclypsa, is split into the Dusk and Dawn. An ancient species, the native eclyptides have used the cosmic blackout to track historical eras.
Eclyptides have records of at least the last two hundred cosmic blackouts.

In some regions of the Capital Realm, notably within the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way, the cosmic blackout has become important for timekeeping.

Cosmic blackouts have become a spectacle in some areas. It is seen as a time of peace, when rivals put down their weapons for the few hours of darkness. Across the Milky Way, cosmic blackouts have formed many interesting and unique rituals. For planet-bound civilisations the cosmic blackout typically isn't well understood, often playing a large role in mythology and religion.

For the extinct humans, it was seen as the end times. It caused mass panic and hysteria, and for the few hours darkness swallowed Earth, over three million lives were lost.

Voidwalkers

During every blackout, voidwalkers terrorise the world. They navigate the Milky Way completely blind, but with incredible echolocation they are able to plunder vulnerable civilisations. Voidwalkers have three ships, as old as themselves. They lay dormant while waiting for the next blackout, having experienced ten already.

Eggy Placeholder by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

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Stories of monsters emerging during the blackouts have spread far and wide. The mind plays nasty tricks during the darkness, people reporting seeing faces staring back at them in the distance, with an uncomfortably wide grin.

Others claim hands reach out to grab out their feet, or someone brushing past them. Reports of ghostly whispers are also common. While these claims can't be confirmed, the sheer number of them, from sources across the galaxies, cannot go unnoticed.

Less superstitious communities continue as normal during the darkness, knowing it will not last long. For more advanced civilisations, the hustle and bustle of life cannot afford to stop, even for just a few minutes.

Type

Metaphysical, Astral

Related Locations
Capital Realm
Earth
Eclypsa
Milky Way

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