[2003/12] Waking from the Abyss

[Ziv]

[turbine]

Event Page at Turbine

Frostfell, 14 P.Y.

Quoted Fiction at Turbine

Winters touch arrived gently, ushering the festival season toward a close. As I moved through the world, watching it march toward its icy slumber, chill air gave birth to flakes of snow that landed on the earth to form a frosty blanket. The world grew darker as the winter months encroached and the sunsets came earlier. I felt the darkness closing in around me like grievvers ready to feast.

Word had come down from above that the High Queen had woken up. When she did, she was changed, eager to bring about a new era for the citizens of Dereth. She learned everything that had happened in her two-month absence and began investigations into the myriad of activities that haunted the Festival season. I was interested in helping, but wondered what my part would be. There were also other rumors that I picked up along the way.

Disappearances were becoming commonplace. Peoplefamilies, friends, adventurers, were heading out to all corners of Dereth never to be heard from again. Some said that the heart of Marae Lassel held the key to the kidnappings, while others said that Oolutanga was growing too low on sacrifices. Whichever the case, the High Queen set out about seeing that the matter was straightened. She was offering rewards, and they attracted people like a ball of gunk attracts flies. I was one of them.

The winter winds whipped up another sad tale. The ground trembled and shook the icy mantle of winter side to side, like a shallows shark chewing on a fabled scroll, and the news reached me as I warmed my frozen bones over a cup of hot cocoa in Lytelthorpe. The Olthoi were leaving, but not fast enough. The Ancient Queen was hurt, not dead.

This caused a handful of nervous types to call on the High Queen to investigate. Apparently she did. Near the strongest quakes, she dispatched a guard to stand watch and offer more gifts to those brave enough to delve into the deep places. I offered my services without thought. I wasnt in it for the reward. I just wanted to see what was down there. At the lowest point, there wasnt much light left. The world became so dark, it was like the abyss never ended and consumed everything, kind of like Ulgrim downing swill.

High Queen Elysa also marked the festival by setting people like myself -- smart, intelligent, intuitive and devilishly handsome -- on a trail to find her would-be killer. As if the call of the Valley of Death and its newest residents wasnt enough, I was being offered a chance at fortune and fame. Life was looking up.

First things first. I needed to go to the south mountains, find a village and save the festival spirit from being turned into a puddle of lost dreams. The winter snow may have driven the scarecrows away, but the snowmen were grinning at me from every corner on every road. It was going to be long winter, and it had only just begun.

[Ziv]

[turbine]

Rollout Article at Turbine

Lytelthorpe was a bustle of activity. In the past week, Selflora had counted five separate expeditions of Guards passing through the town. It was a good sign. It meant that Elysa was alive and well, and if the way the guards were talking was any indication of things to come, she had remembered what it was like at the start.

Selflora served ale, stout, cider and whatever else the customers wanted. It was the festival season and many people were trying to put the past behind them. She remarked on their attire, shared anecdotes, listened to their stories and laughed at their jokes. She felt invigorated by the presence of Elysas guards. She offered to assist in directing people to Xaviers encampment outside of town, and brought warm cider to the others who had moved into the keep.

The past year was filled with so much darkness, so many bad memories for those that had been here before the lifestones. So many didnt understand how terrifying it was to have been there, in the beginning, before they had towns, settlements, before Elysa and Thorsten and Asheron. Now, in the chill winter air, it felt like Dereth was waking up from the hold of darkness that had gripped it for years. Selflora smiled brighter than ever.

Dereth had weathered the dark tide. Tumult had turned again to peace.

[Ziv]

[turbine]

from Rollout Article at Turbine

As festival season continues, the crafters and collectors of Dereth are hard at work producing new trinkets and masks. While new dangers are found in the Direlands, most of Dereth begins to breathe easily once more after the long struggle against the Olthoi.

[Ziv]

[turbine]

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