The first portent was streaks of light which arced across the skies. The second, a newly wedded couple bathed in the light of the divine, and the third, a group of Sentinels who were blessed with the sight of three falling stars in the evening sky. Others whispered of voices in their minds, urging them towards a better life, reminding them of the good to be found within themselves. People began to talk amoungst themselves, were one of the sleeping gods awakening? It was a mystery, one that was soon cleared by the actions of Sartan, Lord of Evil on one cool evening in the late spring, 275 years after the fall of the Selucarian Empire.

Pitch black mists swirled from the depths of the Northern Ithmian forests, reaching with dark fingers across the Sirrocian mountains, before engulfing the peaceful village of the Shaastan villagers. Screams broke through the night air, as people were heard begging for their lives. Soon, the dark mist withdrew, apparently not finding what it had sought, and leaving the broken bodies and dreams of those innocents behind in it's wake.

The mists made for Shallam, apparently having picked up the scent of it's quarry. It swirled through the streets of the Jewel of the East, before curling lazily around the gleaming crystalline spires of the Temple of Light. Witnesses of the events speak of the mists forming some sort of portal and from the depths of the portal, where countless souls could be heard screaming from some unimaginable distance, stepped forth the Lord of Evil, Sartan. He openly mocked the Goddess of Light, claiming that She was dead, and that He had come to extinguish the last bit of Her power left in the world.

He strove to extinguish the Flame of Light, long a souce of continuing faith for those followers of Aurora left behind in this world. Arcane runes of azure fire sprang to life, protecting the Flame from the first of Sartan's attacks. Unfortunately, it was not enough to withstand the next assault and fell under the Lord of Evil's might. Sartan took the Flame of Light in His hand, apparently not feeling any pain from this holy object and with a knowing sneer, closed His fist, extinguishing the Flame of Light with a hiss of satisfaction. You see, He thought He had eliminated the last vestiages of Aurora in the realm, cutting off any means of Her re-entering the world and thus assuring Himself of one less God to appose Him.

And yet, as days passed, people begin to report other visions, weaker than before to be sure, but there nonetheless. It seemed Aurora was not as defeated as Sartan would have liked to believe. A shining crystal was seen in their minds, and they knew that the crystal must be recovered and brought to the Temple of Light to open the way for Aurora to come into the world once more.

The agents of the evil Lord learned of this Prism of Light, and after much scrying, Sartan was finally able to determine the general location of this artifact of the Lightbringer. It was in fact hidden deep within the depths of the Keep of Belladona, the Vampire Queen. One would think that such would be an impossibility, but for those intrepid explorers who had braved the depths of the Keep, it was known that a follower of Aurora still made her home there...Dawn, the Keeper of Light. Long a bitter rival of Belladona, the Keeper of Light was too powerful for the Vampire Queen to destroy and yet not powerful enough to defeat Belladona in open combat. Thus, they were locked into a perpetual stalemate. This it seems is where the Lady of Light had hid one of Her most precious artifacts. A large group of mortals, led by the fallen Paladin, Cyre, after several attempts managed to slay the Keeper, stealing the Prism of Light for their evil Master.

Sartan broke the pieces into three sections, one emerald, one ambered, and one rubied. Each of these pieces of the former Prism of Light He gave into the keeping of some of the most feared creatures in the Land. The emerald section of the Prism of Light was given to the keeping of Geh'shya, the Black Dragon. The ambered piece of the Prism of Light was given to the Red Dragon, Yudhishthira. The final piece of the Prism, the piece of rubied glory was given into the keeping of Dacian, the Martial Master of the Infernals, who made his home in the Iron Citadel, hidden deep within the city of Ashtan.

Now, the Lady of Light was not without Her own resources. Reaching across the continuum of time and space, She managed to convey a message through the Prophet, Averroes to Isildur, the Iceman, the former Archprelate of the Church. They were to retrieve the Prism of Light, bringing it to the Temple, where with it's help, Dawn would be able to open the way for Aurora to return. He spread the word amoung Her faithful and soon a large group of mortals, led by Yang, sought out the Keeper of Light in Belladona's Keep. Unfortunately, the Keeper of Light was wounded into death....but by the quick actions of several healers within the group she was restored to her former health. Gravely, Dawn explained about the theft of the Prism, and the plans of Sartan to split it into three pieces. She told them to get the three pieces, meeting her back in the Temple of Light where she would be able to use them to open the way for Aurora to return.

First, the Black Dragon was approached, and after negotiation failed and a fierce battle, was slain. The recovered crystal was brought to Dawn in the Temple, and with a smile she set it spinning in midair above the Altar. A shining column of emerald light shone into the heavens, as the crystal vibrated with a ringing tone of pure grace. The second crystal, the one of amber, was retrieved after a fierce struggle from Yudhishthira, but not before being stolen right after by Cyre. Quickly, Cyre retreated to Ashtan and sought to hide the artifact within the depths of a storeroom. However, as such things are, the piece of the crystal would not stay locked deep underground, and with a bit of magick, was swept away and found near the Pash valley. Returned by someone who wished to remain anonymous, preferring to keep their heroics in the background, the amber column of light shot into the heavens, the tone issuing from it matching with great harmony that of the emerald column.

Finally, the doughty group of adventures struck deep within the the city of Ashtan, and again tried the art of negotiation. It failed however, and with regret, Dacian was struck down so that the third piece of the Prism could be retrieved. The Shallamese group quickly returned to the Temple of Light, where Dawn set the ruby crystal spinning above the altar. As the third and final column of light rose into the heavens, a glorious sound echoed throughout the world. Then, with shattering clarity, the dulcet tones of Aurora, Goddess of Light echoed across the land, 'Greetings children, I have heard your cries to the heavens and thus I have returned. Rejoice!'

Thus was Light returned to the world...leaving many to wonder what twisted revenge the Lord of Evil will seek for having His will thwarted by mortalkind....

Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Valnuary, in the year 275 AF.