The Second Sundering

Lore & Background

Following the Spellplague, where magic tore through the planes and severed connections between deities and their followers, the universe entered a period of silence. The gods were unable to intervene directly, leaving mortals to navigate a broken reality alone. The Second Sundering represents the end of this isolation, as the Overgod Ao allows divine powers to return to Faerûn under new conditions. This restoration is not without cost. Magic behaves differently now, more attuned to the wills of returning deities but also prone to wild surges. Portfolios left vacant or corrupted during the previous age are reclaimed by existing powers rather than entirely new avatars; Mystra, who had already returned following the Spellplague, works to fully restore the Weave's stability. Meanwhile, other powers like Tiamat attempt to reclaim influence through force or cunning, though her physical manifestation was ultimately prevented. Cyric, once stripped of his godhood and imprisoned, eventually regained divine influence and status as part of the restoration of deities. The event signifies a shift in power dynamics where mortals are no longer just subjects of divine will but active participants in cosmic struggles. The barrier between the Material Plane and the planes of gods thins, allowing for greater interaction and conflict that defines the current age of adventure.

In Their Own Story

Elminster stood atop the Spire of Stars, feeling the air hum with a vibration he had not sensed since before the world broke. The Weave was knitting itself back together, but the threads felt different—warmer, more alive. Below him, in the valley where once there was only ash and ruin, green shoots were pushing through the soil as if time itself had taken a deep breath. He watched a streak of divine light pierce the clouds, not falling like lightning, but landing softly upon the earth. A god walked among men again. The silence that had choked the world for decades was gone, replaced by a chorus of prayers and the crackle of raw magic returning to those who dared to wield it.

Reader's Guide

The Second Sundering began as a cosmic correction following the chaos of the Spellplague. During that prior era, the gods were severed from their mortal worlds, leaving magic unstable and planes bleeding into each other. Now, the divine powers are permitted to return to Faerûn, bringing renewed order but also new dangers for those who dwell there. Key figures include Mystra, who returned as a new avatar to restore the Weave of magic after her previous form was lost. Meanwhile, Cyric sought to claim greater power over murder and madness but met his end during these turbulent times. Tiamat also made her presence known on Toril, signaling that evil deities are no longer distant observers. For adventurers, this means divine intervention is more common and the fabric of reality is shifting beneath their feet. Mortals find themselves at the center of conflicts between gods who were once silent watchers. The world is changing rapidly, offering both great opportunities for heroism and terrifying threats from ancient powers waking up to reclaim their influence over the material plane.

Did You Know?

• The event marks the transition from the Spellplague era to the current era in Forgotten Realms history.
• Mystra had already returned as a new entity following the Spellplague prior to the Second Sundering events.
• Cyric, the former god of murder and lies, was stripped of his godhood and imprisoned early in the Second Sundering, but later regained divine influence and status as part of the restoration of deities.
• Tiamat's attempt to physically return to Toril was prevented; she did not successfully manifest as a permanent resident.

Cosmic Origins and World-Building

The concept of the Sundering encompasses two distinct, cataclysmic events that fundamentally reshaped the geography and metaphysics of the Forgotten Realms. This magical act tore apart the supercontinent of Merrouroboros, birthing the Trackless Sea and establishing the continents of Faerûn, Maztica, and Katashaka. Centuries later, the Second Sundering emerged as a response to the Spellplague. Unlike the chaotic changes of the Spellplague, the Second Sundering served to reverse many of those distortions, restoring a semblance of order while leaving the world dramatically transformed for future adventurers.

The Return of Legendary Heroes

A central narrative thread follows the reincarnated Companions of the Hall, driven by the desperate need to save Drizzt Do'Urden after he was left mortally wounded. Through the intervention of Mielikki, Bruenor Battlehammer, Catti-brie, Regis, and Wulfgar were reborn but forced to live through twenty-one years of new lives before they could reunite to aid their friend. This saga continues into subsequent series like *The Godborn* and the *Companions Codex*. These novels highlight how these iconic figures navigate a world that has shifted beneath them, blending personal redemption with the broader cosmic struggle to prevent the destruction of their home.

Divine Conflicts and Mortal Chosen

The narrative deeply explores the interplay between gods, archdevils, and mortal agents chosen by divine powers. In *The Godborn*, Vasen Cale, raised as a paladin of Amaunator, joins forces with his time-displaced father, Erevis, to stop Shar's Cycle of Night. Their victory involves stripping Mask's essence from several figures, ultimately leading to Riven's rebirth as the god of shadows. Simultaneously, *The Adversary* follows tiefling sisters Farideh and Havilar, who awaken from stasis in the Nine Hells to infiltrate a Netheril camp. Tasked with identifying other Chosen for Asmodeus, they instead ally with Harpers to liberate prisoners. Their unique abilities, originally intended for their ancestor Bryseis Kakistos, allow them to detect divine sparks while navigating complex alliances between deities and devils.

Multimedia Transition and Publication

Beyond its fictional significance, the Second Sundering served as a strategic multimedia project by Wizards of the Coast to bridge Dungeons & Dragons from 4th Edition to 5th Edition. It also featured digital components like the free-to-play mobile game *Arena of War* by DeNA and an adventure program for D&D Encounters supported by a social network app.