Recently, a new star was spotted in the skies of Achaea. So bright was
it that it could be seen during the glaring afternoon sun. It was,
however, not long before the error in perception was realized: This
wasn't a star after all, but some object falling at great speed from the
skies.

Soon, as it streaked across the skies, trailing fire, it crashed with
great commotion into the Siroccian Mountains. Immediately, diverse
citizens of Sapience sped to the Siroccians to search for this fallen
object. Fern, a Sentinel, was the first to find it. Concealing her find
because of a healthy suspicion of some of the rogue elements of
Sapience, she alerted her friend, Orina, the Druidic Guildmistress, to her find.

Fern soon revealed that the object she had found was the Hammer of
Phaestus, the traditional symbol, and literal hammer, of the God.
Further, she told of visions she had begun receiving upon picking up the
hammer. Visions of a group of magi, and of a unicorn in a forest, and of
stone monoliths. Deciding that she must follow the call of these
visions, Fern and Orina called upon the assistance of many of their
Shallamese and Hashanite friends.

It was decided that eight magi would gather at the stone monoliths in
Gaia's temple, and try to focus their elemental might upon the unicorn
known to contain the imprisoned God Agatheis, punished aeons ago for His
betrayal of Proteus-now-Sarapis. Jerle, a Priest, took control of the
gathering, but failed to organize them well, and an attempt to have the
eight magi focus their wills at once failed.

As a second attempt was tried, Timothy, an Occultist, simply picked up
the Hammer and absconded to Ashtan with it. In great consternation, an
attack force is quickly organized, and the Hammer is recovered from
Timothy. Once again, Jerle made an attempt to organize eight magi to
perform the task, and once again he failed at it.

Finally, a third try is attempted. Unfortunately for the participants,
before it could be completed, Cyre, an Infernal, stole the hammer. The
Hashanites and Shallamese had, appparently, let him watch the ritual
unmolested, trusting him not to interfere.

The gathered pleaded with Cyre, who had fled to Ashtan, but he would not
return the hammer. As he was in a defensive position, the group declined
to risk an assault upon Ashtan, knowing that the heavy defences there
would prove their downfall.

Eventually, Cyre relented, and said that he would provide the Hammer to
complete the ritual, provided that the Warlocks be allowed to
participate in the ritual as well as Sorcerers and Magi. After some
debate (for Warlocks are not popular with Sorcerers and Magi), it was
decided that they really had no choice in the matter, and permitted the
participation of the Warlocks.

Linus, Chambourd, Xar, Yang, Xanthos, Feliss, Orez, and, at the last,
Calla, opened channels to the Elemental planes, and focused their power
on the unicorn. Imbued with this immense power, the unicorn touched its
horn to the Hammer, causing a great explosion of sparking and a rumbling
throughout the land, followed by the joyful re-appearance of Phaestus!

It seems that Phaestus had been busy forging a special piece of armour for Himself, and had been doing some drinking in the meantime, and had just forgotten about everything else. All the power being focussed on His hammer awakened HIm.

In a happy prologue to this story, the Logos, as proclaimed by His
Divine Herald, granted forgiveness to Agatheis for His part in the Chaos
Wars, as a member of the Triumverate. Between divining Agatheis'
intentions and thoughts, and witnessing His selfless actions in trying to get Phaestus' attention, Sarapis determined that the Elemental Lord's soul should be cleared of guilt. His time has been served, and He is reformed.

The Logos be praised! Agatheis and Phaestus walk mortal lands once more!

But do not forget the Other, for it still surely awaits there,
somewhere....

Penned by my hand on the 6th of Mayan, in the year 285 AF.