As daylight kissed the world farewell in the seven hundredth and twenty-eighth year after the falling of Seleucar, the stars above shifted in a spectacle that birthed three new constellations.

Before even a single revolution could pass for these new celestial wonders, a synchronous howl echoed across Sapience. Ushering an undeniable challenge, the canid silhouettes leapt from the top of Hashan's Planetarium, disappearing into the skies as rising stars. And in the darkness of their Master's domain did they hunt.

Burning brightly, the phoenix constellation of the Lightbringer flared as the twin threat approached. But this glorious representation was far from helpless and dealt great wounds to the Hounds of Darkness, with a yelp the pair vanished into the cosmos.

~ ~ ~

For those who reside in more mundane surrounds, a nebula of gloom was seen to be the demise for a number of the land's more inquisitive residents.

Exploration of the central sands revealed a foreboding tome. The promise of power inked upon its fell pages did not go unnoticed for long. Torinn and Reymi located the shaman Elegnem in the midst of the Sangre Plains, only to find her in an absent state of mind and mouthing a strange request. Curiosity gripped the crowd and the Tomaculan's wishes were fulfilled, she gifted those who completed the demands with a pyramidal bead of cedar, the very same seen to be responsible for the previous deaths.

The empowerment of these strange tokens was next upon Elegnem's vague agenda. Ahmet of Cyrene was the first to complete his; the tiny pyramid warped into an iridescent globe which promptly burned its way into the Sangre ground. Reemerging from a narrow tunnel after Karren empowered the last, the spheres burned into an obsidian stone with sizzling intensity. In an eruption of light, the constellation of the Hierophant, now embedded in the dark rock, called back the Hounds of Darkness.

As the gathering watched and wondered at the obsidian stone, shadowed hands reached for the Tome, but were not to go unnoticed. A struggle ensued and despite a valiant show, defeating Kasa, the would-be thief was set upon by a Hashani mob. The tome was secured. Quietly from a cove within the eastern shore a sloop set sail, the Red Herring departing without her bounty.

The Lord of Darkness watched on as His Hounds were injured and then recovered, His tome lost, near stolen, and then safeguarded. He did nod.

As the Red Herring and her thwarted crew disappeared over the star-clad horizon, a smooth and distant voice wound through the minds of all: "There is time, stride further into the Darkness and embrace it."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Summary: The Hounds of Darkness chased after newborn constellations and became lost in the cosmos. Empowering miniature stars through a suspicious tome, the Hounds were saved while Hashani prevented a thief from stealing the sacred book and resulting in the return of Lord Twilight's attention upon the realm.

Penned by My hand on the 21st of Mayan, in the year 728 AF.