[thejeff]

I've understood it as the original catastrophe took place after Ermor conquered much of the world, (Ulm, Sauromatia, Marveni, etc.) The empire collapsed but the Thaumaturgs were able to reign in complete destruction, using Death magic to hold Death at bay. All the nations (Ulm, Marignon, Pythium, etc) affected by Ermor's fall form in the middle age, while Ermor is still holding on by a thread.
Then the Thaumaturgs lose control, everybody dies and we have Ashen Empire.


I don't think they got switched. It wouldn't make sense for MA Ermor to follow LA. Everyone is dead.

Back in Dom2, before the concept of Eras, Broken Empire was the default and Ashen Empire a optional theme. The concept then was that either the Thaumaturgs had managed to keep control or they hadn't.