The month of Phaestian in the year 380 started how it always did for
Arnora Foehammer of the Blackrock clan: with a niggling whisper surging
through her dreams. At first, she ignored the whispering as she always
did. However, this month the voice would not be appeased. The harder she
tried to ignore it, the more insistent it became, until Arnora had no
other choice but to abide by its inexplicable demands. She found herself
alongside other Blackrock dwarves, excavating a wall. Throughout the
month many witnessed their obsessive digging, but very few spoke of it.
If they had, the clues may have been easier to decipher.

The 1st of Chronos arrived with Mhaldorus, the colossal guardian of
Mhaldor, acting most peculiar. Though normally grouchy, his anger
exceeded usual bounds. He snarled at any who spoke to him, twitched and
howled in pain, and demanded of Mhaldor to find, once and for all, the
Infernus Occulum which they had sought for many years. Jirken, who is
most noted for his twisted experiments, was next sought at the urgings
of Mhaldorus. Upon questioning, he inquired of Mhaldor if they had yet
spoken to the "black witch".

Wulfen, Lupercus, Tyn, Zephyros, and Karlios journeyed to see Vinia, the
black, who resides in Darkenwood forest. With the aide of the rogue
Sentinel Tyrea, they found Vinia puttering within her chamber. Vinia
knew what they wanted and agreed to hand over a tome that would give
them a clue of where to look for the infamous Infernus Occulum. Her
conditions were simple--do not hole up the information, and let others
witness their findings. The Mhaldorians gave their word and left,
leaving Tyrea behind.

Vinia, not entirely trusting the Mhaldorians, requested of Tyrea to
spread the word of what she witnessed. Soon after her request, Azmart
and others appeared. Vinia told them of Mhaldor's quest with glee, but
warned them that the Occulum would not do what they thought. The rumours
of it being a gate to Hell travelled far and wide with very little
proof.

Tyrea did as she promised and told all those that she could think of
about what had transpired in the Darkenwood. The knowledge spread like
wildfire while the Mhaldorians pieced together the words written within
the aged tome. The tome itself turned out to be a journal of a scholar
who had come across a toppled idol within the Ithmia. As he had stood
over it, an image came into his mind of an amulet clutchd in its hand.

Skye was the first to find the idol in the Northern Ithmia, and she
called Tyn quickly to her. It did not take long for the forestal
community, as well as dignitaries from Shallam, to quickly gather around
the toppled statue. By pushing and tugging upon it, they were able to
budge the statue. Asteroth gave it one good last, solid push and it
rolled over onto its other side, revealing the Infernus Occulum. A
moment's hesitation by the Eleusians and Shallamese gave Tyn enough time
to snatch up the Occulum and take off. Many chased after her as she ran
through the Northern Ithmia, but the fleet-footed Tyn escaped to the
sanctuary of Mhaldor.

Mhaldorians gathered around Tyn, anxious to see what the Occulum would
do. As she touched it, an image unfolded within it to rise up and show
them a picture of a cavern and red mist. Zephyros and others realized it
was a map, and that the red fog within the image was a symbol of Lord
Sartan's island. Then, the cave could only be Blackrock. Tyn, who was
being hunted by many who had seen her grab the Occulum, engineered a
bait and switch with the Tanjinn guildmaster Samadhi. While she went to
draw off Tyn's pursuers, Samadhi snuck out to Blackrock in hopes that
the Occulum would reveal another clue.

As he stood upon the Island at the mouth of the Blackrock caves, Samadhi
once more touched the Occulum and saw another piece of the puzzle. The
image was the same as before, but it also featured a dwarven woman
laboriously digging, which was lacking in the first. Samadhi returned to
Mhaldor to keep the Occulum safe while his citymates explored Blackrock.

As Arnora's labours drew to a close, she yelled for her kin, drawing the
attention of the Mhaldorians. As the dwarf woman's pick hit the rock a
final time, it crumbled to reveal hidden tunnels. The Mhaldorians moved
through the twisting passageway, arriving before a large slab wall. As
Eliana gazed upon it, she noticed a large indention in its centre and
drew her citymates' attention to it with excitement. Samadhi came forth
with the Infernus Occulum and fitted it into the indentation. The image
of a crow that had been sketched upon the stone flared, cracking the
rock as the image soared up through the rock into the heavens. As the
stone melted away, a chamber was revealed.

Within the centre of the chamber was a large stone altar, and upon the
altar was a twisted vase that appeared to grow organically from the
stone. Wrapped around the vase was a vicious python that struck at any
who attempted to touch the vase. Arnora Foehammer dragged her exhausted
body in to stare in horror and pleasure at the serpent and the vase.
"Kill it.. kill the python," Arnora whispered. Wulfen did her bidding
and others followed, with Eliana landing the final blow to the python.

As the serpent expired, Samadhi reached out to touch the vase. As his
fingers moved over the rock, the vase crumbled into dust. The gathered
watched as a violet flame began to hover above the pile of debris. It
began to expand and burn hotter and hotter, until within the centre they
could see the image of a female figure unfolding. The cave was dead
silent as a newly birthed Divine, Keresis, exploded forth from this
hovering sphere. Mhaldorians dropped to their knees in respect as She
stood before them in triumph. "I have felt your pain and desire for
revenge," the goddess spoke. "For this, I dub myself Keresis, Goddess of
Vengeance."

The Garden was silent as She boldly claimed Her realm, though many
mortals privately rejoiced at the arrival of Vengeance to Sapience.
Mhaldor and others partied for many days, duelling for the amusement and
favour of the Goddess of Vengeance. Khoraji emerged victorious in the
duels, having slain many who bid to entertain the newborn Goddess.

Penned by my hand on the 15th of Chronos, in the year 380 AF.