History of Man -- Book 1: Westrun Part 11

Two days after the Summer Solstice in 4301ey the cities of Bolden, Watersedge and Treft were brought low by the Scouring -- a massive wall of water which swept over mountain and valley alike. When the water finally receded, little remained of those cities or their inhabitants. Balduren, a coastal city, but one which was little altered from the time of the Vyrum, remained intact. Witnesses said that the water which swept over its walls was more than four times their height. And there are records showing the water reached inland as many as three days travel. 

In the wake of the disaster, the Elves of Mistwood came to the aid of man over the objection of those of Greywood. For it was believed by many of the Besnir that this was the judgment against mankind and the end of the 7th Age. Against this explanation stood the claim of Mithrid the Sorcerer, Archmage of the Dweomersecte, who said that a distant war caused a god to fall and smite the waters of the Inner Sea. In some agreement, the Great Hierophant of Westrun claimed that the Scouring had no origin which was natural to Erenth.

The disaster also had an unexpected beneficiary in the office of the High King. For it fell to him to annoint the sovereigns of the three Kingdoms of Bolden, Talir and Treft -- who died along with all their heirs and Houses. The first four appendments to the Eight Kingdoms Pact were written giving the High King that authority, and all saw that it was wise and necessary. 

In the rebounding years after the Scouring, mankind proved to be as fecund as ever. While the Dwarves of Festog looked to their cousins at Dynkyr and became aware for the first time, that their Dun had been overrun by goblins.

In 4371ey the expansion of the Grand Temple in Peakshadow was finally complete. For more than a century it had let in wind, rain and snow -- causing many to forgo even mandatory visits established by the High Priest. Work on it languished as the three cities of man were rebuilt. Etru Damaskos of Treft was High King that year and proclaimed thirty days of feasting and merriment.