Age of Ashes

For another meaning of "Age of Ashes", please see Age of Ashes (adventure path).

For the Absalom Reckoning analogues to the Age of Ashes, see the Age of Darkness and Age of Anguish.

The Age of Ashes is the earliest historical time period in the Imperial Calendar of Tian Xia. It begins with the impact of the Starstone, an event known as Earthfall, in -2793 IC, which caused significant natural disasters in Tian Xia despite striking the opposite side of Golarion. The Age came to a close with the rise of humanity in Tian Xia and the founding of the empire of Yixing in 1 IC, beginning the Age of Ascendancy.

Period of darkness

The Starstone falling to Golarion.

The age is named for the dust thrown up by the meteorite's impact and the large amounts of ash expelled by countless volcanoes, which blotted out the sun for many years and caused harsh winters across the world. Its impact raised sea levels such that all lands west of the Wall of Heaven mountains and most of the Minata archipelago, including its land bridge to Sarusan, became forever submerged. The waters also formed the haunted Sea of Ghosts by flooding an inland valley in central Tian Xia. The impact also widened the Xidao Channel and spawned dangerous creatures from its Aya-Maru trench that forced Xidao's city-states to unite in defense.

Volcanic eruptions in the Chenlun Mountains disrupted the dwarf-like fire elemental munsahirs from hiding, and upon returning to the surface they warred with the extraterrestrial reptilian Valashai in defense of the catfolk, lizardfolk, tripkee, and vanara societies that the alien invaders had threatened. They protected these peoples in underground shelters until the destruction of Earthfall had passed.

The planetary-scale devastation to plants wrecked the warring dragon-run civilizations on land, ending much of the violence between them and committing many back to their divine mandate to aid humans. However, the age of destruction forced most humans to live nomadic lives in order to survive. Wayangs from the Netherworld and elven refugees from Avistan also emerged to join or form societies of their own, such as the elven nation of Jinin.

Period of sun

As the skies cleared and agriculture became possible once again circa -1790 IC, permanent settlements were built anew on the healing land. With their reptilian overlords repelled, the liberated downtrodden of Valashai settled in the southern jungles' southern corner while nagas and nagaji settled in the northwestern corner. North of these jungles, humans settled permanently across the continent's mainland. Violent first contact between the nagaji and humans in -1203 IC prompted many of humanity's dragon protectors to take human disguises to curtail ambitions of expanding south. This began the tradition of imperial dragons utilizing humanoid guises.

In -384 IC, the reign of Budugan as Hongal's first khan began. Though murdered after just five years, he left a lasting legacy among the Tian-La tribes that would be important for future khanates.

In -24 IC, when the land had mostly recovered from Earthfall, yet more calamity struck Minata. After a sea dragon hatchling spoiled an alchemical spring, the ancient underworld dragon Ihoblyqaerth massacred hundreds of sea dragons in the wildly disproportionate battle that ensued. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods plagued the archipelago as they fought, further fragmenting the land. The surviving sea dragons appealed to Hei Feng who ended the brawl in a single swing of his broadsword. Ihoblyqaerth transformed into Mount Shibotai, a massive volcano that then violently erupted, covering the sky in ash once again. However, unlike the now-ancient darkness that followed Earthfall, the skies cleared after just a few months.