The erection of the Vertani fortress outside the temple of Valnurana in
386 A.F. proved to be a controversial one. As a representative of the
Divine Order of Dreams, Gregg Saer'rac, also an Archon of Ashtan,
publicly stated his dismay at what the Order considered an act of
disrespect. He called for the removal of the fortress (PUBLIC NEWS
#14298). Others followed in his lead, raising the newly erected fortress
to a level of controversy to nearly match the last.

In the aftermath of the destruction of Thera, Sapients continued to reel
from their shock and horror. In Sarapin of 387, Solar Stormcrow, the
Sultan of Shallam, announced a public effort to locate any refugees from
Thera. The Sultan also called for the formation of a temporary alliance
between leaders of the various city-states to discuss the reconstruction
of Thera (PUBLIC NEWS #14304-5).

A public declaration of support of the Shallam-called alliance from a
Senator of Cyrene, Beneficia, was immediately lambasted for wording
thought to hint at a move for political manipulation of Thera's future,
which Beneficia vehemently denied (PUBLIC NEWS #14306-9). Erhon
Lucoster, Overseer of Ashtan, declared Ashtan's support for the
rebuilding of their erstwhile ally village and neighbour, without overt
support of alliance with other city-states (PUBLIC NEWS #14310).

Despite the diplomatic overtures by Overlord Mournria and Hingar,
hostilities swiftly mounted. The Vertani priest at the fortress in the
grasslands, who blessed Achaeans with knowledge of the Vertani language,
was killed. Hingar lamented his death, admonishing Achaeans for the
murder of a peaceful priest. He asserted that no more priests were
likely to arrive, ending the possibility for Achaeans to learn the
Vertani language (PUBLIC NEWS #14314).

Earlier in Aeguary of 386, the dwarven cleric Grima Flameforge of
Blackrock had ventured to North of the Ruins of Thera to study the
Vertani fortress cornerstones abandoned there. Upon returning to
Blackrock, she had declared that she had learned something of the
mysterious substance and would labour upon a way to destroy them. Barak
spoke with Herenicus Coldraven of Mhaldor of a possible deal between
their respective people, in which Blackrock would offer their knowledge
and services against the Vertani in return for gold. Herenicus relayed
the offer to Khoraji, Tyrannus of Mhaldor.

The terms of the offer were thus: ten million gold sovereigns for the
aid of the Blackrock dwarves... if the Tyrannus would publicly atone for
the slaughter of the Blackrock dwarves he had singlehandedly perpetrated
months earlier, when Blackrock had then refused to ally with Mhaldor.
Otherwise: fifteen million gold. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Tyrannus
spurned the offer whole.

Thus, the knowledge of the Blackrock dwarves remained concealed from the
rest of the world for some time. In Miraman of 387 A.F., Lord Barak
D'Nichliz of Blackrock finally revealed to Sapience that the his dwarven
initiates, under the guidance of Grima, were near to perfecting a method
to attack the Vertani fortress cornerstones. He invited discussion from
parties who wished to obtain their services (PUBLIC NEWS #14332).

The Vertan diplomat Hingar responded with a thinly-veiled threat to
Barak, reminding him of the "regrettable" fate that had befallen the
Theran people.

Over the course of a year, negotiations began then slowly petered out
between Blackrock and various parties, notably with Ashtani leaders who
were reluctant to draw more from its coffers against a war in which they
had already dearly paid. It seemed all was at a standstill, until in an
unexpected turn, Tyrannus Khoraji of Mhaldor rescinded his earlier
refusal of Blackrock's terms.

Blackrock and Mhaldor allied in a historic moment in Miraman of 388
A.F., with the dwarven initiates' knowledge at Mhaldor's services. In
acknowledgement of Ashtan's wartime alliance with Mhaldor, Blackrock
allied with Ashtan as well. Hingar warned the Blackrock dwarves once
more to turn from their path, his threat even less sugared than before
(PUBLIC NEWS #14438).

Overlord Mournria followed the next month with a brief, contemptuous
message to Khoraji, ending with: "For your crimes, you, and all enemies
of the Vertani, will suffer. Ready yourself." (PUBLIC NEWS #14471) The
Tyrannus answered Mournria in no less scathing terms.

The Vertani war had truly begun.


Penned by my hand on the 4th of Phaestian, in the year 390 AF.