History of Hysteria

A History of Hysteria is a Jadean book that is bound in dark leather with a bold title embossed in gold, A History of Hysteria is both a record and a warning. Written by the scholar Veyran Calthur, the book recounts events where fear, chaos, and madness swept across civilizations, forever altering their course. Calthur’s intent is clear: to remind readers of the dangers of unrestrained power, unchecked ambition, and the fragility of reason in the face of the unknown. It features dozens of events, each covered in as much detail as available, each is pretty grim tale, exploring the causes, the chaos that followed, and the often devastating aftermath.

Most Notable Entries

The Night Without Stars. One of the most infamous events in history, the Night without Stars plunged the entire world into darkness. No stars graced the skies, and even the moon’s light vanished, leaving only an unsettling void above. The air grew thick with tension, and magic became volatile, behaving in ways no scholar could predict. Kingdoms and empires fell into disarray as rulers feared the world had come to an end completely. The darkness also seemed to heighten emotions, driving fear and mistrust to their breaking points incredibly fast. Afterwards, disputes sparked in the confusion, alliances shattered, and once-powerful mages found their spells failing unpredictably. The event forever altered the fabric of magic, creating wild zones where its energy was no longer stable. To this day, scholars debate its cause. It is also where the phrase “when the stars return” has has it's origin, meaning that when things come to light, chaos may follow.   The Silver Rain of Lerios. The tale goes that in a village named Lerios, a peculiar event shook the small community to its core. One winter night, a strange silver rain began to fall, blanketing the town in shimmering droplets that glowed faintly in the dark. At first, it was seen as a blessing, with farmers reporting sudden growth in their crops and craftsmen claiming their tools worked as if enchanted. But the joy soon turned to dread when animals exposed to the rain began to change, some grew larger and more aggressive, while others died within hours. People began to fear their own land, abandoning farms and fleeing the town in droves. Lerios has never been found, nor is it known where it could be located, thus this story is regarded more as legend or myth, and less as historical fact.   The Madness of Wolfsbrunn’s Red Queen. The rise and fall of the Red Queen of Wolfsbrunn remains a chilling example of how hysteria can grip an entire nation. Known for her brutal decrees, the queen seized power during a time of political unrest. Through dark magic she was able to take control and her reign was one of fear and paranoia. Her spies rooted out dissenters, real or imagined while her court descended into chaos as she began to distrust even her closest advisors. Public executions became daily spectacles, and entire families were wiped out for supposed treason. The kingdom fell into mass panic, its people too afraid to rise against her. It was only after an uprising and a direct confrontation by powerful individuals, that the queen was banished to a different dimension, her name erased from official histories. Afterwards, the kingdom went through decades if not centuries of civil and royal unrest, often referred to as the The Red Queen's Curse.   The Fleshsculptor’s Abominations. In the mid-6000s, a necromancer known only as The Fleshsculptor terrorized east Awaoka. His power came from a salve, an unnatural concoction rumored to twist flesh and bone into new, horrifying forms. Each enemy he defeated was reshaped into grotesque creations, adding to his evergrowing army. Villages were razed, their inhabitants either slaughtered or transformed into monstrous servants. His reign of terror ended when he attempted to kill and harness the power of a kraken off the coast of Awaoka. The battle, fought on turbulent seas, destroyed both the Fleshsculptor and most of his army. The remainder of his army ran wild across the lands for several decades after, wreaking havoc without a master to control them   The Hollow Plague. In the year 5124, a strange disease swept over the Crimson Chain Isles, leaving its victims with lifeless, hollowed expressions and a complete loss of will. Entire communities wandered aimlessly, incapable of speech or action. Panic spread as rumors claimed the plague was a curse brought on by defiling an ancient burial site, while others believed it was the work of a rogue mage. The hysteria led to desperate attempts to contain the outbreak, burning villages, exiling survivors, and even executing healers who failed to find a cure. The disease eventually vanished as mysteriously as it began, but the scars it left behind were more psychological than physical and are still told as a story and legend in various regions of Azuno as a reminder of how fear can do as much damage as the threat itself.

Author's Closing Notes

A History of Hysteria concludes with a somber reminder that the world is fragile, and hysteria spreads as quickly as wildfire. Through the stories it tells, the book warns of the dangers of fear, the corruption of power, and the unpredictable consequences of tampering with forces beyond mortal understanding. Each event proof of the price of losing control, the author urges readers to temper their ambitions and seek balance in the world.