Winter's chill still hung heavily in the springtime air as a young
Occultist named Dobbin, accompanied by Nijias Oloren, discovered a
strange seed within the snowy peaks of the Southern Vashnars.

Also travelling that night were three buckawns, who skulked along a
darkened highway, following orders to search for an item of great power
within the mountains to the south. Cornering Dobbins and Nijias at the
scene of a great avalanche, the buckawns revealed that they sought the
same seed and demanded its return.

Refusing to relinquish the seed to the buckawns, the pair was led back
to Forest Watch where, unknowing of the consequences, they placed the
seed within the hands of the buckawn witchdoctor.

Before their eyes, the witchdoctor performed a secretive ritual that
left the seed glowing with an ethereal green light. Setting the seed
within a rattle crafted from the delicate skull of a dryad, the
witchdoctor vanished, but not before ordering his buckawn companions to
kill the onlookers.

Soon after, a call to arms was raised from the forestal community:
terrible red-striped beetles were ravaging the trees and plant life of
the Ithmian forests. Protectors of Nature surged ahead, slaughtering the
beasts on sight, but the insects were relentless, returning again and
again to leave mere shells of trees in their wake.

The plague spread as adventurers frantically sought the witchdoctor who,
drunk with power, continued to send waves of beetles into the forest.
Frustration was met with mocking laughter: the living ground beneath the
witchdoctor's feet withered with every attack made upon his person.

As the party regrouped, a slight figure appeared within their midst,
sent by Titania, Queen of the Dryads. While her intent was to help, the
dryad was nearly destroyed by the witchdoctor when suddenly, crashing
through the forests, came a legendary nevaharr.

Half-man, half-lion, the mighty nevaharr called Dalukar engaged his foe,
moving with lightning speed to pin the witchdoctor to the ground.
Twisting and writhing beneath his bonds, the witchdoctor violently
cursed his captors, spitting out with furious rage, "The seed...
Propasia's forest... MINE! My vengeance, forests falling... dryads,
enslaved ever to the will of their buckawn masters.. " With a final,
ear-splitting shriek, he plunged his dagger deep into Dalukar's side.

The nevaharr's longsword rang through the air, mixed with a cry of pain
and anger, and the witchdoctor's head went rolling across the forest
floor. Looking over the rattle with disgust, Dalukar urged that it be
placed in the hands of Sahirah Drac'Kal, Voice of Nature's Wrath. Joined
by the nevaharr and dryad, the siren fell to her knees in a sudden
invocation to the Goddess of the Cataclysm.

Responding to the fervent call, Artemis appeared before them, revealing
the seed to be the essence of the forest that once grew beneath the
streets of Cyrene. With the Goddess's instruction, Sahirah was able to
wield the seed's power, and the forests were bathed in its gentle green
radiance, rejuvenated once more.

One final task lay before the Goddess. The effect of the seed's power
upon the witchdoctor's soul was irreversible; thus, he was imprisoned
within the cataclysmic plane of Anachai, ensuring his eternal
subjugation to the wrath of Nature. Seed in hand, Artemis cast a final,
icy glance to the south of the continent before tearing across the
firmament and disappearing.

Meanwhile, deep within Forest Watch, a certain buckawn apprentice became
aware of his master's demise. Spitting and cursing to any who would hear
his words, he vowed to take up the witchdoctor's studies, pledging
himself to the eradication of dryads once and for all.

A burial service for the dryad, who did not survive the witchdoctor's
foul magics, will be held during this month of Sarapin.

Penned by my hand on the 2nd of Sarapin, in the year 446 AF.