Quote Originally Posted by linayar View Post
Where did the story say any of that happened to the actual people that experienced the sundering?

Well, except for reducing the potential life span, but no, I don't consider that killing if the shortened life span doesn't mean an immediate end, especially for a group that have different ideas about death.
Emet-Selch mentions that memories of the sundered were fragmented and unable to recall specifics of anything.

It's not really made clear exactly how badly mankind regressed in-game, but the lorebook mentions that creation of stone tools and the discovery of fire were among the defining attributes of the "age of gods" which suggests they were in an extremely primitive state.

I have a hunch that the Twelve were part of a post-Sundering contingency plan from Hydaelyn to ensure mankind could actually get back on their feet and recover instead of simply going extinct in the face of their newfound shortcomings.