Streams of oscillating emerald and azure light filled the skies above
northern Sapience, pulsing with a strange energy that swept across the
lower continent and drew the particular attention of elementalists from
sea to sea. Sensing the surge of power, mages urged those closest to
them to investigate the phenomenon, and parties of adventurers began to
form.

Traversing the frigid northern regions of the continent, the druids
Kaitlynn and Samakhulis soon discovered a wide swathe of pristine tundra
in an area previously blocked by a mysterious barrier termed the "wall
of power." The wall's boundaries had shrunk, it seemed, leaving more
terrain open to exploration. And as the number of adventurers trekking
through the tundra grew, another surge of energy swept down from the
north.

Adventurers quickly observed that the wall of power had moved again, and
as explorers canvassed the newly revealed terrain, the serpent Jiraishin
was the first to step into a region known as Riagath, a network of
caverns inhabited by strange trolls.

Again the wall shifted, and keen observers noted new areas of calm in
the turbulent ocean bordering the northern coast of the continent.
Circling the peaks of the mountain range now known as Anake's Elbow, the
dragon Rinzai came upon a hot, blighted desert, strange considering the
frigid temperatures elsewhere in the north. As he explored the new
terrain, he came upon the Vents of Hthrak, a parched land punctuated by
steaming geysers. Leader of the Warlocks of the Rising Phoenix, Mosr was
unlucky enough to discover the source of the area's unusual heat,
ultimately perishing to an entity known as the Flame of the World within
the bowels of the land.

Beyond the wall of power, keen-eyed adventurers caught sight of a
verdant jungle cradled by the mountain range. And as the heavens were
illuminated once more with striations of blue and green, the barrier
flickered out of sight entirely, and the jungle of Istar was revealed.
Beneath its verdant canopy stepped first a sylvan called Sarita, who was
soon followed by more explorers eager to see the new surroundings.
Within they found beasts of many shapes and sizes: some familiar, others
completely new. No sentient life was encountered within the jungle,
however, though signs of some civilisation are certainly present, and
the trolls of nearby Riagath have already been heard vehemently
disparaging those they call "treefolk."

~ ~ ~

Over the centuries, the magical barrier to the north has slowly receded
to reveal areas such as Aran'riod and Morindar, and more recently a land
route to Tenwat Prison and the Valho Coast. No cause has ever been
determined for the changes, but no similar event has been as large in
scope as this swift depletion... but that remains a puzzle for another
day.

Penned by My hand on the 11th of Lupar, in the year 552 AF.