A great whistling sound filled the air over the wintry skies of Hashan
in Mayan, 445, as a fiery meteorite plummeted through the firmament.
Moments later, the ground underfoot shuddered and trembled, prompting a
city-wide search for damages.

At the Porta Aquila, citizens gathered around a smoking crater, staring
with curiosity and surprise at a peculiar, jagged rock lying at its
centre. Damaris, the Learned joined the onlookers, but her attempts at
understanding any but the most superficial attributes of the rock
failed. One with greater knowledge of celestial phenomena was needed,
and members of Lady Ourania's order suggested summoning the
shadow-ensconced Wyrd from the Temple of the Moon.

As the crowd waited, the effects of fear and confusion set in. Hurling
frustrated curses, a young Hashani named Keyo swung viciously the rock,
causing an immediate and unexpected reaction: an ominous scraping sound
heard throughout the city. More questions surfaced among those gathered,
emotions heightening until finally a hoarse voice arose above the
chatter. The Wyrd, veiled and ancient servant of the Moon Goddess, had
arrived. Restoring the essence within the rock to calm passivity, she
offered her suspicion that the meteorite was a piece from the broken
planet Lunastra, and declared the item possessed by a sentience beyond
her knowledge.

After further discussion, Hashan determined to send a delegation to
question those most familiar with the study of the heavenly bodies: the
oracles and seers of distant, ice-swept Aranriod. Led by Harmonia,
Trevize, and Kaixis, the party discovered that news of the meteor's
flight had already reached the people of Aran'riod, as foretold by their
oracle. Without delay, A'oluo, watcher of the skies and student to the
Yriluawe oracle A'leess, embarked upon the long trek to the Crown of the
Ithmia, bearing a singular purpose: to discover the true nature of the
meteor.

Days passed as A'oluo sat with the rock, attempting to commune with the
strange sentience within. As her studies progressed, it became more
apparent that what dwelt within was both malevolent and unreachable, and
the populace of Hashan felt a feeling of trepidation creep in. At last,
one fateful Aeguary morning, A'oluo announced herself ready to reveal
the meteor's true powers, provided she could secure assistance from
those with an interest in her work.

As citizens gathered around, A'oluo began to chant softly and
rhythmically, encouraging the rest to join her. A red light began to
permeate the rock from within, deepening until a small gem appeared on
the surface, like a key within a lock. As the chants grew in volume and
intensity, the gemstone rose into the air, floating above the Aran'riod
native as it glowed brighter and brighter, gradually enveloping A'oluo
in a ball of light.

With a sudden crack, the light vanished, and maniacal laughter filled
the city streets of Hashan. Darkness seethed and grew before the crowd
as tendrils of blackness began to wreath and wind around A'oluo's now
prone body, rendering her motionless, and her horrified screams echoed
through Hashan as she died.

As quickly as it had come, the darkness dispersed, leaving A'oluo's
corpse with the stunned and speechless onlookers. Upon the wind, only
the echoing of sinister laughter could be heard, as the being they had
released taunted and cursed them, revelling in its freedom and swearing
vengeance against all who served the Moon.

Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Lupar, in the year 453 AF.