The
Seventh Umbral Calamity, often known simply as the
Calamity, ended the
Sixth Astral Era. Foretold in the
Divine Chronicles, the prophesied cataclysm that brought the
Seventh Umbral Era was long considered apocryphal, as the six
Calamities preceding it had each corresponded to one of the six, distinct elemental aspects.
The Seventh Umbral Calamity was brought about by the
Meteor Project of the
Garlean Empire—a plan intended to bring the lesser moon
Dalamud crashing down onto the realm of
Eorzea. Wrought by
Nael van Darnus and
Midas nan Garlond, the project was put on hold after the
Bozja Citadel Incident claimed the life of the latter and the entire stronghold. However, after the
Battle of Silvertear Skies, the project resumed.
Though the VIIth Legion was routed and Van Darnus defeated at
Rivenroad, the lesser moon of Dalamud continued its descent.
Archon Louisoix and the
Circle of Knowing implored the people of Eorzea to pray to the
Twelve, while the
Eorzean Alliance gathered to meet what remained of the VIIth Legion at ground zero of Dalamud's impact: Carteneau Flats.
As the
Battle of Carteneau waged, the moon broke apart to reveal the
Elder Primal Bahamut. Freed from millennia of imprisonment, Bahamut razed the realm in his fury. Louisoix attempted his ritual and failed, but sent the adventurers who aided him away into an aetherial rift. Light engulfed the battlefield, and what happened after is unclear to the denizens of Eorzea.
