On or about the 12th or 13th of Chronos, 386 years after the fall of the
Seleucarian empire, certain adventurers began to gather at the entrance
to the Vertani fortress in the ruins of Thera. They waited expectantly.

Hingar, a Vertani diplomat of House Kortul, had invited some to be
present for something he styled as good news. Among those present were
Rudirex, Xorot, Stern, Antonius, Guangwang, Calithandir, Dulhan, Saigo,
and Latus. Soon others arrived, thronging the location which was the
scene of horrendous destruction so recently, and over which angry
calls for revenge and war rose up from seemingly every quarter.

A solitary bouquet of snow blossoms lay before the Vertani fortress,
bearing its own mute witness - whether to hope, or fear, or whatever
thing, only the one who bestowed the gift could say.

Soon a small contingent of Vertani approached. Among them was a new
face: Overlord Mournria of House Kortul.

The Vertani Overlord introduced herself politely in the Vertani
language, having made sure of the presence of interpreters before doing
so. In a simple statement, she noted that Overlord Drafaris had been
exiled and that she was the new Overlord for the Vertani in this plane.

Vertani Diplomat Hingar arrived shortly thereafter. He announced
Overlord Mournria's first official act: the removal of the Theran
fortress and its reconstruction outside the bounds of any recognised
city or village.

After a few preliminary questions, the destruction of the fortress
began. Five magelords were involved in what appeared to be a gruelling
process that unleashed rather powerful and dangerous energies.

At one point in the process a vast, blue-grey column of coruscating
power descended from the skies towards the ruins of Thera with an
initial crack and an ongoing, world-enveloping thrum of irresistible
energies in the unleashing.

Onlookers still present at the site of the event described the blue-grey
column descending to the area and forking into smaller columns which
joined with several spherical devices used by the magelords during the
ritual.

At this point, various Ashtani citizens began to enter the area and were
met with force by the Vertani escorts there present. Doot, Dumah,
Dreman, Nijias, Xithrael, Procellan, and others entered into combat with
the Vertani, who did not pursue but remained near the struggling
magelords.

The world held its collective breath as an agonised shrieking pierced
the heavens and re-echoed across Sapience as the blue-grey column
flickered and then dulled briefly. Moments later, multiple screams of
agony were heard as the column of power itself was extinguished with the
violent report as of a single, incomprehensibly gigantic strike of
lightning, followed by silence.

With that, the fortress in the ruins of Thera was gone.

Vertani forces did not stop for repraisal, though they had been attacked
repeatedly during the process. Gathering the collapsed magelords, they
quickly withdrew from the scene. The fighting was not to be over so
easily, though.

A different group of Vertani, with House Feranki Mages in tow, moved to
a spot nearby - east of the Shunai bridge and south along a path. There
they moved quickly to erect the new Vertani fortress.

Upon completion of the construction, the Vertani proceeded to another of
their fortresses. They had been harried during the raising of the
fortress, but were mostly ignored as they made their way from the scene.

A scuffle broke out as the fortress neared completion. Vertani forces
were unable to install and close the door quickly enough. Remaining
within their fortress and defending tenaciously, they were assaulted
repeatedly by warring forces, chief among them Jarrel and Lonewolf.

Those friendly to the Vertani cause, and others who were mere onlookers,
gathered in the fortress as well, inluding at least Calithandir, Rir,
Pathris, Valo, Sakuya, Latus, Carmell, Tenderleaf, Althrik, Wivylma,
Dida, Gabrar, Cragheyder, Hades, Alaiea, Stern, Xzander, Manu, and
Wylie.

The Vertani forces finally managed to secure their fortress. Some tense
moments passed as thereafter as, one by one, the remaining adventurers
inside the fortress found their ways out to the realms beyond.

The significance of these events is hard to deny. The Vertani claim to
have exiled Overlord Drafaris and replaced him. Whether this is true or
not, there is a new Overlord (Mournria) and Drafaris is nowhere to be
found.

They have removed their fortress in the ruins of Thera (ruins which
they themselves created some months gone by). The have erected a new
fortress not far away, in neither city, nor village, nor forest, though
hard by a temple. Achaean voices are raised in both praise and
condemnation. Will this lead to peace, or more war? Do even the
participants know for sure?

Penned by my hand on the 16th of Chronos, in the year 386 AF.