The Searing

The Searing is the name given to the event in which giant burning crystals brought about by powerful Charr magic landed on the beautiful land of Ascalon and turned it into a barren land. It was due to this event that the Charr were able to overcome the Great Northern Wall and march through Ascalon to Kryta and Orr. The ramifications of the Searing and the following invasion forever changed these three kingdoms:
 * In Ascalon, the searing left the kingdom a shell of its former self and on the brink of collapse before the Charr. The armies of the Charr marched through Ascalon thinking it was finished, but the stout kingdom that has been their archrival for centuries refused to submit. Two years after the Searing, Ascalon's lands south of the Wall still hold out against the Charr and its King, King Adelbern, still believes they can survive, though few share his optimism.
 * In Orr, the Searing meant the Charr were loosed upon their land and the Orrians were taken by surprise. Expecting their armies to score victories, they fell into disarray when their armies were crushed by the Charr and the invaders were marching into their prized capital, Arah. Vizier Khilbron, adviser to the king, invoked a forbidden spell that destroyed the invaders and the entire kingdom.
 * In Kryta, the Charr also had early success, but from the midst of defeat, Saul D'Alessio rose to rally the Krytans and was able to lead his people to victory aided by belief in new gods he called the Unseen Ones. He founded the White Mantle to replace the old royal family of Kryta and they have been in power since.