AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

In the Quagmires, the smell of rotting plants significantly drops after a raid by a large force of well known and not so well known Amian adventurers. The real find in these wetlands are the stolen trees and plant life, made obvious by the holes in the ground.

The Western regions of Amia Forest show signs of a large battle. However, that is nothing to the terrible shape areas of the North Western forest are left in – especially the somewhat well known location affectionately known by many as the Valley of Shrines grove or the Dreaming Tree grove. The waters are dirty, the plant life smashed and idols tinkered with. The conditions improve by the day, thanks to the work of Druids, the local fey and their allies.

As the Amian Plague spreads for Wiltun and Caraigh, it hasn't been much more than a fright for the populations of intelligent beings. Wiltun, being a small fort of a small rocky island, sees no infections of people, even if the infected birds over head and infected rats crawling around leave a constant sobering reminder of the looming threat. In Caraigh, its recent disaster with otherworldly blight from the Orcus followers left the lands lacking in most animals, save birds. The disastrous natural state of the island actually has saved them from a larger epidemic. The bird threats are still there, however and the few people living there are on constant guard.

Cordor's suffering came in fast and deadly, like a viper striking, leaving the city to lick it's wounds and lose sleep, in fear of the Amian Plague. Since it's sudden strike, it has slowed significantly – in terms of humanoid casualties anyway. An Elf or two turns up sick every few days and a few Elves and Half-Elf's have continued to die here and there. The damage however is surely noted by all the citizens and visitors to Amias largest settlement. Rats and birds continue to be a heavy threat to further damage, but with days passing, the threat comes more and more from rats, rather than the birds. The bird populations on Amias Northern and central regions are dangerously low and Southern Amia, where Cordor is found, is quickly meeting the same fate.

Winya's death toll has been staggering. However, recent developments have been encouraging. Deaths have virtually stopped, though sick people continue to come in at slowing rates. A recent donation of resources to combat the illness has been a massive help for the healers. The people of Winya remain demoralized and depressed by the heavy losses.

In Sky Forest, the forest continues to lose it's native animal population, creating a more desperate situation by the day. The few sentients that travel the lands are left with the very real feeling that they are mostly alone here. For the naturalists, there is a welcoming sight of certain young shrubs growing throughout the land. In small hidden locations, some young wildlife has been collected by a local Elf. The hiding places where they're kept are occasionally threatened by the few roaming and hungry predators left in the area. Lucky for the local ecosystem and the hard working Elf, she has a few mysterious helping hands keeping the small creatures feed and defended. For now.

As predicted by many, Northern and central Amia is seeing the beginning affects of a food shortage thanks to the loss of poultry, cattle and game. In Kohlingen and Winya, the effects are felt the most. The larger populations, mixed with a lack of available meat make for a potentially bad situation. Luckily, Kohlingen has been rationing food. As well, they have their very large clergy numbers and the Trackless Sea is their backyard, providing some fish for the few who actually know the art of fishing. Winya is less lucky in that the closest route to the Trackless Sea is accessed through the most dangerous and plagued lands on Amia today: Sky Forest and Nexus Hills. They have fewer fish in the fresh waters that run through their lands, but the Elves are a people of nature. They make good use of edible flora, with the lack of fauna. However, due to the lack of Elven tradition in agriculture, they have little in the ways of farmed goods. Things are not dire yet, but unless something is done, it will definitely become a dire situation, according to some mystics of The Lady of Dreams, Sehanine Moonbow.

The people of Bendir Dale continue to stress over the idea of a famine. Thankfully for them, even though they've lost live stock to the plague, they, unlike the Elves, have very strong agricultural traditions thanks to the ruling Hin population. There may be a drop in available meat, but there is plenty of vegetables, fruits and especially grains – not to mention their local fishing traditions.

Wharftown has seen another death, from a refugee Half-Elf that came for help much too late. Besides that unfortunate tale, Wharftown has fared well. Better than any other settlement on Amia, besides maybe Uhm. The land may lack game on land, but it's made up for by the towns already strong traditions in fishing. It also doesn't hurt that the people actually are use to and probably even prefer fish over land game.

Uhm has yet to see any loss of humanoid life. Their people, though on edge, have been and continue to appear healthy and fed by their small farms and fish.

To make matters worse, the Amian Cart Service lag as they lose ox to the plague. Shipments arrive later than usual across Amia. They're especially careful and slow in the Northern regions of Amia, where they believe most of their ox were infected.

In the lands of Khem, the spread of disease has become noticeable to those more in tune with the world around them. The number one indicator being the falling and dying local birds that are found now and then. So far, there are no other signs.

The cold lands of Brogendenstein have shown sluggish signs of infection. Few birds fall, but they do fall.

Tuomas seemed to be preparing for a fair bit of academic study on his end, having heard bits and pieces about the recent activity in the Quagmire. He seemed to specifically be considering heading to the Temple of the Triad, trying to go there at a time when they are not exceptionally busy.

After the battle a certain druidess has never returned to the Grove. After mending the worst damage of the idols she sent a single letter to the Grove and that's all that was ever heard of her since. People would find her praying in the valley of shrines. However, she does not respond when spoken to or even when taken more forceful attempts to get her attention.

She prays and no more. She clearly neither eats, nor drinks not sleeps. And it shows on her already drained body fast. Four large cats stands around her and whilst she does nothing herself when anyone approaches her, should anyone try to move her away the cats show clear signals of beeing ready to stop them full force, no matter if friend or foe. The animals clearly seem edgy and irritated and not to be messed with.

Occasionally Tae can be seen patrolling Caraigh and around Wiltun, wearing heavy leather gloves over his hands and a facial mask under his helmet. He carefully collects and dead or nearly so animals in both areas that he comes across into a bag and then proceeds to burn the bags whenever they get full. When his patrols for such are over he removes his gloves and mask and burns those as well.

In the valley of the Shrines, a small figure can be seen, with an elf looming behind her, cleaning what she can of the water and earth, driving herself to exhaustion. Danika isn't as skilled as Malandria, certainly, but what the little druidess can do, she does without complaint or hesitation.

The common sight of Vera patrolling the roads stops completely. Locals in Kohlingen would see her frequently in the city, where she seems to be staying, but aside from visiting different areas of the city, she doesn't leave it's border.

Those who would witness her in frequent strolls around the city would notice she's walking at a relatively slow pace (for her) and while alert, seems content. Her ears seem tuned and she glances at any sounds, though not in a panicking way. Her usual neutral expression replaced with a calm smile and nod to any that come across her.

After her 3 days lasting praying rite, Malandria finally returned to the Grove, thanking those who helped restoring the place so far. She'd also ask the servants of the nature gods to hold their prayers, rites and blessings there, dispite the place beeing in ruins to slowly restore the natural magic it once held.

The chultan druidess would be seen there every dawn and every dusk for her own prayers along with several blessings for the land and in between working on reforming the details of the statues with Kacha.

However, after those long 3 days, she does not spent her whole time there anymore. Her patrols through the forets are brief, but regular. She seems to spent most of her time inside the Grove again though with a gnome wizard, pondering over large piles of notes, books and maps.

A young cleric of Lurue, Betha Brightsong, came by the Grove to ask Malandria about the existence of an idol of Lurue on the island. After Malandria and Kal told her that there was not an idol that they were aware of, Betha decided she had a new mission on the island - building and sanctifying an new idol to the Unicorn Goddess. When Malandria suggested that she might build one in the valley of the shrines, Betha asked them to show her the place.

As Betha crossed the bridge for the first time, she fell in love with the natural beauty. However, when they entered the valley of the shrines, she was heartbroken by the damage she saw. When Malandria told her that nature would repair the damage with time and that Betha could help restore that natural magic of the land with her prayer and meditations there, she knew she could not turn away. She now plans to return there daily for her midnight prayers to Lurue. Also, she spends time bestowing the Unicorn Goddess's blessings as she explores the valley to find the perfect location for the idol.

Despite being over two thousand eight hundred miles away from Amia, the apparent signs of the plague in Khem are met with the orders given by the Scrivener himself to incinerate any dead livestock or animal on the spot. Should Aoth himself actually have the ability to do so, he sends word via a contact to a certain tribe of the lizard folk regarding the plague.

One portal later, he finds himself in the lands of Amia yet again to pay a visit to some old associates.

At least one elf continues to dwell at ground zero as the hours become tendays, and tendays collect into months. There is sometimes an animal or another in the wake of the Sy-Tel'Quessir, kept close by scolding grunts and crafty spirits. Her routine is one with only small variations in keeping with the tune of the animals she tends, and consists primarily of foraging, playing the role of a watchful mother, and performing rituals to bolster the land.

Tuomas quietly strolled the streets of Kohlingen, head bowed and obviously deep in thought as he strolled.

~.. Even with success.. what will the price be tommorrow? What victory will success bring, if any compared to the tragedies that have already occured? We cannot bring back the slain.. we cannot take back that which has been lost from those we pursue.. all we can do, is fight for the future now. A future that must be better then what came of these actions... a future where such evils cannot so readily be allowed to hide. ~ he thought to himself as he strolled, looking to the cobbles with a deep sigh.

~What we must do causes me great pains of the spirit.. even though we have no choice, I still regret it must be done. I will stand before whom I must stand for when all is said and done. I cannot stand proudly, but I will not hide in shame either. ~ he continues in his thoughts, making his way back home to close his weary eyes and rest, offering prayers to the deities of Mystra, Gond, and Salandra before resting that evening.

Chaos erupted on the Salandran Temple grounds today.

In the afternoon, strange activity occurs as a host of Salandrans and their allies of the Order of the Broken make their way from the Temple proper, toward the meeting hall. They're lead by a worried Temple Mother, dressed in white as she always is.

Some time later, and after a series of mysterious events, battle brakes out in that same meeting hall when a number of adventurers enter. Salandran Templar's rush to the scene as the sounds of battle sound off. It's only minutes after he battle has ended that news spreads: The Temple Mother is seriously wounded and recovering from her injuries, left unconscious. Many adventurers and Salandrans are also badly injured in the battle.

The bloodied, burned and broken remains of the people from the Order of the Broken are removed from the hall and inspected by many adventurers before they're disposed of.

The Meeting hall is left in total ruin, though it remains structurally sound. The Templar's lock the hall down, so none can enter.

News also spreads that the Order of the Fallen were in fact Talontar and not Ilmatari at all; that while the Temple Mother is in recovery, Sister Victoria will is in charge of things; that the temple is being placed in lock down for an unknown period of time by the Templar Knights; and that the threat to Amias welfare is finally gone.

Emotions are mixed and heavy in the Temple grounds for the weeks that follow.

*The grandmaster of the Triadic Knights remains on the temple grounds for a while to help the allied templars securing the temple.*

The chultan druidess returns the Grove with Kaithan, Saylgarix and Elana whos is carrying an unconcious gnome. Her robe torn and burnt aswell as covered in dried blood and other unpelasant things. They speak briefly among eachother and later with other people who arrive. Finally the archdruid excuses herself and makes her way to the unicorn statue of her goddess, limping as usual.

She falls down to her knees in front of the sacred idol, the tears running down her cheeks mixing with the constant rain which pours down on her. She remains in this position for a long time in silent prayer. Only in the middle of the night she finally moves to her tent, collapsing on a mix of blankets and large cats in exhaution.

Waking in the Grove, the Gnomish Magician quietly sighed to himself and looked about, finding no one from the Grove to speak with, he left a note politely thanking them for taking him somewhere to rest, before travelling off to return to Kohlingen, a lot on his mind.

After leaving Ania in pleasant company of Isendel; Malatril, Hallvardr and Meesh portal from the forest to Endir's Point to resupply and then head back to the Keep. There, Malatril bids good night to the remaining Knights and goes to his quarters, to meditate on the events that transpired.

*After her long prayer and a still somewhat restless sleep, Malandria would pick up a daily pattern again. While spending still some time each day with studying some maps and books, her main time is now consumed by lengthy patrols again. During those patrols she tends any sick, but still alive animals she may find with restoration scrolls and regularly checks on the currently critical animal races which were driven near extinction.

Her prayers at dawn are usually held underneath the unicorn statue in the Grove. In the early evenings she heads to the valley of shrines to still tend the heavy damage there for some hours. At dusk, she remains to speak her prayers there instead of the Grove.

After the first few days, Malandria is seen heading towards Green Lake to search for the Treant which awoke there some week ago.*

With the changes of Summer to Autumn underway, migrating birds make their way to and past Amia, reminding the island of something it has missed for months now. Singing birds greet many Amian ears in the mornings and brighten their days. Not all of Amia is fortunate to experience this again, however. Most of all, this event is a grim reminder that there is significant lack of a healthy bird population on Amia. Namely ravens, crows, seagulls and pigeons, which were such common sights before this mess.

Amians still find dead birds and rats now and then, but these grim happenings have been on the decline for weeks now. Partially due to the fact that so many have already died.

Deaths to cattle and deer from the plague has also dropped significantly in the last few weeks. In fact, cattle and deer deaths have not been reported in almost a week now. A good and welcome sign on an island suffering from a lack of meats.

Sky Forest is still in horrible shape. The silver lining of this well known fact is that things aren't getting any worse. Those who travel the forest can sometimes hear the muffled sounds of forest creatures. A haunting reminder of what once was, it seems.

The worsening shape of Amia Forests state has slowed. The one real issue that's obvious is the large increase in predators that continue to create issues in the forest. The forest that had come alive, seeking revenge, seems to have settled again. The activities of the many Sylvan peoples become a rare sight once more.

The Valley of Shrine in Amia Forest has recovered well, visually, from the battle that took place there some time ago now. The magical feel of the place is left changed however. Somehow, natures power has been lessened.

One of the best bits of news in the last few weeks is that there has been a sharp drop in people being infected by the plague. The decline began a number of weeks ago and has declined far further in the past month. The few recent infections have been isolated to the Nexus region.

With so few ill and new cases of illness, there has recently been talks in Winya of removing the makeshift treatment center and sending the few ill to recover at home. So far, this has not been done, however.

The Amia-wide famine threat appears to have been grossly exaggerated. While there is a minor food shortage across the island, causing a rise in prices for all foods and drinks, famine is not a real threat, according to most in the industry. There are a few doomsayers left, however, who say a famine is soon coming and that many will die because of it.

Winya has successfully been surviving the most notable food shortage through rationing. The Elves of Winya have started a trend in the Nexus region, where meat is not at a shortage, but actually quite rare. The Elves – and not others as well – have been making use of beans, seeds and nuts in their meals to provide a healthy amount of protein to their diets. Off the coasts, fish is even more popular, which has allowed some relief to the sudden increase in bean, seed and nut use.

The Salandrans Temple still houses a number of ill. The numbers of incoming sick people is dropping significantly for the past few weeks. There have been no talks of moving the ill into the recovery hall though. It seems the temporary location for the plagued will stick around for some time still.

The Temple Mother of the Salandrans – Sister Teresa – has not been heard from since she was badly hurt over a month ago. Many rumors are floating around about Salandrans wanting to keep her out of the public eye from now on, some of the rumors placing blame and heavy suspicion on Sister Victoria who has been in charge since the Mother was hurt. Others say that she's actually dead, and that the Salandrans have been keeping the truth about her death from the public in order to not create a panic. Still others say that she is planning to retire and will not come back at all. The Salandrans have been tight lipped about her however, only saying that she's resting and recovering from her injuries and nothing more.

There is one undeniable hopeful sign since the battle at the Salandrans Temple. There has been no sign of activity from any Talontar that were rumored to have survived the attack. No signs of attacks from awakened plant life or anything out of the ordinary.

The minor spread to Wiltun and Caraigh has come and gone in the last few weeks, leaving almost no visual reminders of the threat they had been under. As well, there has been little news about the spread to the mainland. A few reports have noted there have been some unusual bird deaths near Neverwinter. Otherwise, nothing of significant note.

Betwixt the numerous other activities the Gnomish Magician had been amidst, Tuomas sends a brief missive to the Salandran Temple.

Gunz wrote:

With so few ill and new cases of illness, there has recently been talks in Winya of removing the makeshift treatment center and sending the few ill to recover at home. So far, this has not been done, however.

On hearing such talk (which echoes a thought that had been in her own mind for some time), Kaithan heads to the Temple to have a chat with the resident healers there.

( // Gunz, can we meet up in-game sometime for this? )

Wiltun's First Knight sits at his desk, reading a briefing on the decline of signs of this disease in Wiltun's domain. Nodding once and muttering a short prayer of thanks, he takes the report and files it away.

Malandria and many other of the Grove are still quite busy with dealing with the effects of the plague. The sick animals are tended if possible, the diseased cadavers are taken care of properly to avoid spreading the plague further.

Prayers and rituals are regularly held at the valley of shrines after the worst damage was repaired. Perhaps a desperate measure to somewhat decrease the depressing feeling which still lingers in the area.

The druids and rangers try to aid as best as they can with the imbalance of predator vs. prey without influencing the wildlife too much in a possible negative direction as was discussed and decided in the last Moot.

Rumors say the druids, with the aid of the elves, still look out for remaining scattered Talonites, tainted plants and most importantly a salandran cleric under suspicion who fled during the fight at the Temple.

While Malandria quite openly speaks of the plague and of what happned, always trying to aid those who need it, she seems somewhat distant and reserved when the fight at the Temple Grounds and the injury of the Temple Mother is addressed. Clearly a topic which is very much to the druidess dismey. After her offers to aid the Salandrans after the loss of "healers" were not answered, nor her questions about the condition of the temple mother in any satisfying manner, she finally admits defeat regarding the topic and does not ask anymore. Those who know the chultan woman well however know, that the decision she had to make weights down heavily on the womans conscience.

The Chapter Marshall reads the reports nods thoughtfully. "For now we will still maintain our precautions." He issues orders holding off on the slaughtering of herds to rpeserve their meat before plague could take them.

He sends as well to SHield Knight Jerand Whiterose with instructions to see about putting together regular relief food for Winya.

As it had been ...

For the months since the plague had decimated the Sky Forest and Crystal Lake, the Sy-Tel'Quessir had spent her every waking moment working to save, maintain, and restore. She gathered the young to shelter them away from contamination and divided her time amongst them, wearing different skins as was appropriate. She foraged almost constantly whenever she was above ground, collecting food from plants and streams. She howled and called to fill the unnatural silence between the trees, assuring the spirits that they were not forgotten. She suffused the land with ritual, preparing it for the season's turn.

She had grown lean and raw boned through the long days of summer, and the coming season of harvest brought little promise of respite for her. The winter that followed was likely be a desolate, harsh one, but she had spirits to sustain her. Her food would go to the animals that would need this dedicated nurture for the spring. It was bound to be a curious thing for a while; the animals would grow up with poor manners and odd habits, and the prey would outnumbers the predator. All things were within their balance, however; if the spirits heard her, then spring would be especially rich and abundant, and need all the pruning a host of herbivores could provide. Eventually, their stunted education would proceed and the scarce predators would find ample food of their own. Equilibrium would be found again, she was confident. First, there was winter. And before that, far more immediately, a myriad of hungry young.

The Sy-Tel'Quessir did not lament her lot, nor did she think the work particularly difficult; her elder had tasked her with the protection of this territory, and so she would do it. She had no place else to be, nothing else to do, and she was kept too busy to dwell on a small loneliness that ached in her chest. Over the tendays, since it had all begun, she had adjusted to her new schedule. Subsisting on short periods of sleep stolen in between rhythms of her many diurnal and nocturnal adopted offspring, escorting them from the protective dens to run and strengthen as they grew, and immersing herself entirely in her role as surrogate mother to the fauna of the forest.

... so it continued.

Last edited by Xaviera on Wed, Sep 12 2012, 19:38 PM, edited 1 time in total.

The barriers around the houses in Cordor's Elftown that were rendered vacant by the plague are taken down within a tenday or so and next of kin allowed entry to retrieve the possessions of the deceased and/or to move in if they possess legal title. Those buildings in which there were no survivors and for which no relatives can be found are boarded up, the contents to be eventually sold at auction. Title to the property reverts to the Commonwealth in the absence of other arrangements by the deceased.

Restrictions on trade with and within Cordor are lessened with the passing of time.

Over the past ten-day, the fires used to burn animal corpses around Amia have begun to disappear. Winyan, Bendir and Wharftown officials have decide to deal with animal corpses as they are found, rather than keeping the large eye-sore fires, deeming them no longer necessary for the welfare of their settlements.

Winyan officials made a second move that has lifted a few spirits in the city yesterday. The Seldarine Temple spent the day moving the last few patients to their homes in the city, effectively disbanding their makeshift infirmary within the Temple grounds. No official word is released by officials at this time.

Today, a statement was released from the Salandrans Temple:

Quote:

To my fellow Salandrans and the people of Amia,

During my recovery from the injuries I sustained in the battle to remove the Talontar threat, I had a lot of time to think about my future with the Temple. Given my injuries and my age, I came to the conclusion that I may no longer be fit for the position that I hold. Effective immediately, I'm resigning from the position of Temple Mother here at the Salandrans Temple. Beginning today, Sister Victoria Hildebrandt is now Temple Mother Victoria Hildebrandt.

It has been a true honor to serve the people of Amia in The Mother of Healings name for all these years. The island has seen its fair share of troubles while I've been at the helm of the Church and we were blessed enough to get through each of them. With hard work and prayer, the island is too getting past the plague that has ravaged it. I'm confident that with continued efforts, this will all be behind us. I'm thankful to those who came together to bring down the Talontar threat. They are the reason we can look forward to a better future today.

I will continue to be involved with the Temple at a lesser capacity and look forward to serving the island and my Church. Thank you all for the trust you put in me over the years. I hope I have not let you down.

The Healers blessings,

Sister Teresa
Former Temple Mother

The former Mother is once again seen in the Temple grounds, assisted by healers in her travels.

A missive would be sent to Sister Teresa's attention.

Sister Teresa,

I wished to contact you in .. apology for what transpired that day. My hope was to avoid seeing you or any of your personnel harmed in the conflict.

I pray you are in better spirits, and I am glad to hear of your recovery. If there is anything I can do to be of assistance, or if your Temple would require penance on my part for what had happened, please contact me and I shall attend at once.

Tuomas Valo

Gunz wrote:

Over the past ten-day, the fires used to burn animal corpses around Amia have begun to disappear. Winyan, Bendir and Wharftown officials have decide to deal with animal corpses as they are found, rather than keeping the large eye-sore fires, deeming them no longer necessary for the welfare of their settlements.

By the order of the Minister of Health & Public Welfare, the charnel pits outside Cordor are filled in as well. A smaller fresh one is dug in the event of future need, but is currently fenced off to guard against accidents.

Gunz wrote:

Winyan officials made a second move that has lifted a few spirits in the city yesterday. The Seldarine Temple spent the day moving the last few patients to their homes in the city, effectively disbanding their makeshift infirmary within the Temple grounds. No official word is released by officials at this time.

Nor do any official grand pronouncements or proclamations seem to be forthcoming on the matter, with the Council apparently of the opinion that the closing of the infirmary, and the dousing of the pyres, quite speak for themselves.

A Conspiracy Rains Down

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