GreatContagion
From Exalted - Unofficial Wiki
The Great Contagion was a plague released from the Well of Udr by the Deathlords that killed 90% of Creation's population, both human and animal. The Fair Folk capitalized on this destruction -- at the invitation of some of the DeathLords -- and invaded. They were driven back by the woman who would become the Scarlet Empress, who mastered the First Age defenses of the Realm and struck them down.