Summary
The 10,892 Day of Darkness was an event in north-eastern China, Korea, and parts of Japan. Eyewitnesses described the sky turning a bright yellow to deep red prior to darkness descending on the land and lasting for several hours. During the darkness event, hail and rain that fell were described as dirty and smelling of smoke, sulfur, or fire and that even lightning flashes were obscured. Lightning strikes that did occur also had a yellow or orange hue. Rivers, ponds, and other water sources exposed to the air saw massive die offs of fish and other aquatic life, as well as those exposed to the rain describing a burning sensation, skin irritation, and difficulty breathing for the following days.
Effects and Aftermath
Many areas affected by the Day of Darkness saw large amounts of damage and injuries caused by vehicular accidents brought on by the sudden darkness. It is believed that the majority of accidents were caused by driver confusion paired with automatic lighting systems not turning on due to being covered by debris left behind by the rainfall covering sensors and mechanisms. Many accidents also are attributed to drivers leaving their vehicles in the middle of busy streets and roads to observe the phenomenon.
Consistent reports from the regions affected also describe harsh effects on the wildlife and adverse health effects. Water sources in particular saw massive die offs of fish and other aquatic life, with some fisheries reporting up to 85% losses in livestock. The vast majority of fish examined following the event showed high amounts of ammonia, CO2, and carbon monoxide in their blood. It's believed that this is what also caused significant breathing issues in populations affected by the event. Thousands are thought to have fallen ill due to deteriorating air quality, with some regions reporting residents coughing up a black tar-like substance.
During the event itself and the days following, many inhabiting affected regions took to prayer out of belief that the event may have been the beginning of another instance of
The War of Black Ash or similar event. In many areas, doomsday cults and suicides saw a drastic increase due to fearmongering.
Theories and Possible Causes
There are a wide array of theories into the causes behind the event. Many believe that the Day of Darkness may have been caused by a nearby volcanic eruption that threw large volumes of ash into the atmosphere, which were then picked up by a passing storm system. The ash and contaminants were then rained down upon the regions, causing the adverse health effects and mass dyings of wildlife. Similarly to this theory, but lacking the issue of no volcano to cause the event ever having been found, many believe it may have been caused by a wildfire to the northwest, to similar effect. The latter is the most accepted by the scientific community as the most likely explanation of the event.
Another theory to the event's cause is that there was a partial or total solar eclipse paired with isolated thunderstorms. This theory does not include explanations such as the burning smell, acid rain, nor that there was no solar eclipse in the region that year. Proponents of the theory speculate that one may have been caused by a god, such as
Appylon, or another god associated with the sun. Despite attempts, Appylon has never made himself available or open to commenting on the event.
Other theories often state the event may have been due to fighting between gods, dragons, or both, despite a lack of records showing either party in the region. Some speculate that the event may also have been a test by a member of the pantheon, either of the populace's reaction, their own power, or as a punishment on the regions for substandard offerings.
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