The Surge

When magic re-awoke in the world, it was far from a gentle awakening. The Surge, as it came to be known, was a cataclysmic event that reshaped the very fabric of existence. Dormant for millennia, leylines erupted with raw mana, unleashing a torrent of magical energy that swept across the planet like a cosmic tsunami. Humanity, nature, wildlife, and even the land itself were irreversibly altered.

In humanity, the Surge awakened long-dormant genes, giving rise to numerous metahuman subspecies: lithe and elegant elves, stout and resilient dwarves, powerful trolls, diminutive pixies, and many others. These new races, each with their unique abilities and traits, added a new layer of diversity to human society.

Nature and the land were similarly transformed. Deserts became desolate wastelands, while jungles and rainforests evolved into wild, untamed regions filled with colonies of sentient trees, monstrous animals, and fantastical creatures. Some bodies of water, particularly those situated on leylines, became so saturated with mana that they turned toxic, altering the aquatic life within them.

Australia, in particular, witnessed dramatic changes. The heart of the continent, once a vast desert, now lay submerged beneath a sprawling inland sea that stretched across multiple state borders. This transformation turned the arid landscape into a watery wonderland, teeming with fantastic creatures that embodied its newfound deadliness.

Wildlife around the globe mutated in unexpected ways. Some species grew to enormous sizes, while others developed entirely new organs. The Tasmanian Devil, once plagued by facial tumors, found itself cured as the Surge transformed these afflictions into unique organs capable of producing volatile, flammable fluid.

The world after the Surge was one of chaos and wonder, where the lines between the mundane and the magical blurred, creating a reality where the extraordinary became commonplace.