Overview
The Fall of Malverand is the end of the Malverand Empire as Valrindor's dominant power. It begins with Barachiel's loss at the Aethrendar Gate in 1011 BX, runs through centuries of guardian rivalry and secession, and reaches Skarnheim's break from Malverand after Thalion Zenith arrives in Rimvold in 2085 AX.
Across Valrindor, the Valrindor implosion breaks former imperial regions from the empire. Gods and shard wielders fight through mortal armies, and darkness spreads through former imperial lands.
Valrindor Implosion
The Valrindor implosion nearly ended Valrindor as former imperial regions broke from Malverand and fought over the empire's collapse. Thundermarch preserves the event name. The Implosion is Malverand's fall, and Skarnheim is the first region to declare independence from the empire.
The Implosion becomes armed secession after Thalion reaches Rimvold, Skarnheim breaks from Malverand, and the Order moves against guardian-held territories. By the end, Malverand's provinces have split away, and many of its skyships, gates, vaults, cores, and machines have been lost or destroyed.
Aethrendar Gate Failure
The fall begins during the Vireen gate test above the Aethrendar Sea. Michael and Eremion pass through the gate and return. When Barachiel enters, Khauren uses Oktlix against him in the passage. The gate fails, the spiral shard splits, and Barachiel is stranded on Vireen.
Raphael backs Michael as Barachiel's successor. Malverand remains divided under rival guardians. Sariel removes the shard pieces to Xalmyrra. Eremion seeks a path to the shards for himself. Jeremiah, Uriandel, Remiella, and Thamrielle act from their own regions.
Xalmyrra breaks from Malverand long before Skarnheim's break from Malverand. Sariel's actions with the shard pieces, the atraxi arrival, and Jorhan's later darkness put Xalmyrra on its own course for over two millennia before Thalion's forces reach Rimvold.
Guardian Rivalry
Malverand falls through guardian rivalry, regional breakaways, and secession. Michael and Raphael try to hold the imperial center from Maraveth. Eremion consolidates Morindel and Blackcrag. Jeremiah builds the Jazarel Empire. Uriandel takes kingship in the Calthorpe-Ashenford region and turns toward Abraxas. Remiella dies in the Thiravos-Theryssa Civil War. Thamrielle survives until the Order moves against surviving guardians and later fights Isandriel in the Eternal War.
Before Skarnheim breaks from Malverand, Sigvariel and Michael prepare the Varnhallow temporal plan that will deliver Thalion's displaced force to 2085 AX. Isandriel waits for that arrival.
Skarnheim and the Order
In 2085 AX, roughly three millennia after the Aethrendar Gate failure, Thalion and the displaced Varnhallow survivors arrive at the empty city Isandriel calls Astralem, the new capital of Varnhallow. Svanhild and Kren recognize the city as Rimvold in Skarnheim. Thalion declares independence from Malverand and names Rimvold the capital of Skarnheim.
Isandriel joins Thalion's forces after the declaration. From Rimvold, they form the Order of Thalion Zenith as a military and political force. Skarnheim becomes the Order's first political base. Haverloch supplies food and trade without joining the Order's attacks on guardian-held territories. Sylvia takes the throne as Queen Sylvia the First of Skarnheim. Benedict and other patriarchs hold authority in Rimvold when Thalion leaves on Order missions.
The Order targets the surviving guardian powers. Thalion, Isandriel, Helena, Ignatius, Zero, Kallion, John, Sylvia, Benedict, and their allies destroy or ruin Jazarel, Morindel, and Maraveth. Raphael and Eremion briefly agree to divide Malverand between them so they can focus on Isandriel, Thalion, Rimvold, and the opposing armies.
Record Erasure
The Order destroys Malverand history by policy. Thalion orders every book and record about Malverand burned after the guardian powers are destroyed. Isandriel travels across Valrindor destroying Malverand history. Helena / Thalena destroys Malverand records in the eastern regions, including Thalassai. Nerissa destroys Malverand history in Thiravos and Theryssa after swearing to Isandriel. Haverloch law later restricts speaking of Malverand until the proper time.
Aftermath and Remnants
Malverand's fall ends Valrindor's old imperial center. Skarnheim, Haverloch, Thalassai, Ulzathir, Brighthaven, and Morindel continue outside Malverand rule.
Malverand hearts, god cores, skyships, gates, vaults, constructs, Malverine, and ruined cities keep Malverand's technology and magic in circulation after the empire ends. Around Maraveth, the surviving population faces darkness and later gives rise to Shroudvale and the essence shapers. Raphael, Eremion, Eliona, and surviving guardians keep trying to reclaim Malverand's old power. The Order destroys, hides, or controls surviving Malverand artifacts and records.
Secrets and Mysteries
Barachiel reaches Vireen alive after the gate failure, gives up the shard-bearing hand to keep the passage from breaking further, accepts Malverand's eventual end if the future world survives, and dies there, leaving his Malverand heart behind. Khauren uses Oktlix inside the gate passage. Horol'Khai warns about origin magic and Valrindor's future, and the Order later erases surviving Malverand records.