Some mourn the Fall as an ending; I see it as a beginning. Opportunity is always a matter of perspective.

—Elektra of House Erodith

The Fall is the defining event in A Quest of Queens, marking the destruction of the Magic City, Muraius, and the shattering of the Great Crystal, which had granted the High People dominion over Midworld for millennia. This cataclysm not only ended the era of the High People, but also plunged the world into chaos, birthing what is now known as the World of Ruin.

The destruction of Muraius was more than the collapse of a city—it was the severing of an ancient, mystical bond between the High People and the Great Crystal. The Great Crystal had been the source of the High People’s power. When it was shattered, the energies it contained were unleashed upon Midworld, causing physical devastation, destabilizing the boundaries between realms, and unleashing ancient forces that were long kept at bay.

The Fall also triggered a cascade of political and social upheaval. Without the oversight of Muraius, the once-unified Lords’ Alliance fractured. This dissolution allowed Emperor Gazreth to rise, declaring himself ruler of Arcadia and embarking on a campaign of conquest. His empire’s grip on the provinces created a backdrop of tyranny that defines the campaign's current state.

The consequences of the Fall ripple far beyond politics. With the Great Crystal’s power gone, the world has become a much darker and more dangerous place. Creatures that once cowered beneath the light of the High People’s reign now roam free. Mystical boundaries have weakened, enabling incursions from realms like the Shadowvale and the Astral Veil. Ancient powers, forgotten or forbidden, stir, sensing an opportunity to reclaim the world.

Despite its destruction, the legacy of Muraius endures. Survivors among the High People cling to the hope of restoring their former glory—or finding redemption for their people’s mistakes.