Lanst and Ervuol fight a calamitous war that ends in the dissolution of both empires. Millions on both sides die and an enormous amount of accumulated wisdom is lost.

Some outlying Ervuolian territories survive as independent petty kingdoms, later to be incorporated into the Kingdom of Evenhold or other nations. Some remnants of the population of Lanst retreat into caverns.

With the two great powers lost, fear and uncertainty about the Ruin are rekindled.