Part 5/8:
The investigation into the causes of the Acadian Empire's demise prompted a search for clues in natural phenomena. Dr. Mari Amari's studies indicated that the destruction across the Harbored Plains could be traced back to a high-intensity lightning storm, potentially triggered by a phenomenon she termed a "dust bomb." This theory proposes that massive volcanic eruptions ejected dust into the atmosphere, creating charged conditions conducive for extreme lightning events.
However, this was not the lone narrative in the decline of the Acadian Empire. Concurrently, studies by Dr. Frank Soko examined marine sediment samples from the Gulf of Oman, revealing a spike in dust levels persisting for approximately 300 years — coinciding with the timeline for the Akkadian collapse.