Caseic Weatherplague

The Caseic Weatherplague (Caseic: Peichpatec) was a period of time in the Caseic Archipelago's history in which the air pressure and density decreased significantly, causing storms, floods, and widespread population decline. It is estimated to have occurred between 578 TT and 559 TT.

Etymology

The Standard Caseic term Peichpatec is a compound word, combining Peicharec, a term for the pre-calming storm, and Patec meaning illness.

Cause

The causes of the Weatherplague are unknown, but there are several proposed explanations.

Theological explanations

Framjist

The most common Framjist explanation for the Weatherplague is that it a violation of Chae's Command angered Chae, leading her to rise inland and bring water and storms to the centre. This, they say, shrunk the Range of Care to a smaller area, to prove that humanity was capable of its purpose.

Gastist

The most common Gastist explanation for the Weatherplague is thus: in the 590s and 580s TT, humanity had focused its efforts on counteracting Ajia, and was surprise-attacked by Pechi, who brought storms and floods inland.

Scientific explanations

One scientific explanation, favoured by cyclical thalassologists, is that the Weatherplague is an aspect of the storm portion of the storm-calm cycle. An alternative scientific explanation, favoured by anthropogenic thalassologists, is that the Weatherplague was the result of human activity impacting the climate. A fringe group within the anthropogenic thalassologists state that slavery in the Cajia Kingdom had a significant effect on the storm, as their agricultural processes took air out of the atmosphere, reducing air pressure and inducing storms. The decrease in agricultural demand (due to population decline), in combination with the slave revolts and subsequent abolition of slavery during the Weatherplague resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of these agricultural practices, ending the Weatherplague.

Social effects

• General crisis throughout the entire Caseic Archipelago.
• The island of Brisa became temporarily isolated from Casea, as the Brisa Strait became too difficult to cross safely.
• The Cajia Kingdom temporarily had a system of four concurrent rulers, the Umbri su Afrec.
• The Cajia Kingdom put an end to slavery in an effort to appease Pechi, whom they believed to be causing the Weatherplague.
• Nasal binding ceased to be a common practice as it was causing newborn children to asphyxiate. Due to epigenetics, the Caseic nose continued to be a common physiological feature.