As all know by now, Gaia gave up her coherent consciousness for the good
of the forests, merging her spirit with them as an example to the
fueding forest folk. Shortly thereafter, however, the forests began to
decay and grow diseased. Nine spirits soon appeared, appearing
distressed and upset by the increasing problems the forests faced. Rooms
began to become so diseased that groves wouldn't function, and the
plantlife died completely. The forest animals began to show signs of
problems, with rabid bunnies roaming about, and many other animals
visibly disturbed.

Even more alarming, the forests themselves began, in their delirium, to
attack all those who spent too long in them. Something had to be done,
but what wasn't clear. The nine spirits: Clio of the Western Ithmia,
Thalia of the Northern Ithmia, Erato of the Eastern Ithmia, Polyhymnia
of the Ulangi forest, Euterpe of the Northreach, Urania of the
Darkenwood, Terpsichore of the Aalen, Melpomene of the Black Forest, and
Calliope of the Aureliana knew only that their power was not sufficient
without the Mother, and that they must have assistance before the
quickly-decaying forests died completely.

After an extended Dreaming was held, it was determined that the path the
forest folk must take was to discover healing concoctions that could be
used to assist the forest spirits. By giving them a helping hand with
these concoctions, the forests were able to be slowly healed, until at
last, only the Northern Ithmia remained. Upon finally curing that, the
nine spirits gathered at that symbol of the forest, the Gaian Tree,
along with a horde of concerned forest folk. Although there was initial
jubilation, Urania, the spirit of the Darkenwood, matter-of-factly
informed everyone present that while the forests were temporarily safe,
the spirits could not maintain their health against any future threat,
and were unable to provide the energy necessary for the forest to defend
itself and its protectors from invaders.

Urania went on to explain that perhaps the only solution would be take
the last bit of essence of the now-deceased Gaia from the Gaian Tree
itself, and, infusing her and her eight sisters with it, the Tree and
the sisters would create a new Nature spirit. With the assistance of the
present forest lovers, the Nine were able to coax the understandably
reluctant Gaian Tree to release the essence, though in doing so, it
ceased to be the Gaian Tree, and became the Great Oak.

What we know now is that a new Spirit of Nature exists, but that it will
not be able to protect the forests forever. Not a God, yet more than a
mortal, it will preserve Nature for now, but eventually, its stewardship
will end. All those who love Nature can only hope that before that
eventual event takes place, a new Power will arise who can grant the
forests and indeed, Nature itself, a more permanent protection.

Penned by my hand on the 9th of Sarapin, in the year 306 AF.