Throughout the Land, word of the Glorious Victory in the North spreads like wildfire. Here are the words of Kesany, a Becquerel Shaper of Stories, as he travels Djemity telling all what he knows…
“The Great mass of Kirlsa warriors and Teklo soldiers, accompanied by the courageous Aquienos marines went north to the sound of skirling pipe and beating drum. A host as great as has ever been assembled, embarked on ships and attacking North with their fullest strength.
So many names to be honoured, that even a Teklo might weary of repeating them.
But remember them we must. Proud Warleader Gravaldon, stern Admiral Mar and Iron Warden Dach Fra Ver. They lead their troops with strength of purpose and such skill that it is said any one of them could control a thousand, ten thousand men as though they were but their own hand.
Forget not the Guides, who brought our forces through the most hostile land that has ever been seen. Potent Chumana, brave Gol, wise Talioc. Without their eagle-eyed attention, without their capacity to find shelter fit for a king on a barren featureless plain of ice, thousands would have perished.
Remember those who gave strength when strength was lacking. Silver-tongued Zur and steady-handed Banach. The Teklos' words sang in the hearts of all who heard them, stirring courage, where only fear had dwelt, whilst Banach leading the Infirm and healers on to the field of battle, giving succour and aid, saving dozens, hundreds of lives with his own two hands.
Do not forget the Raging warriors. Storming Raegfes, unstoppable Eumelos and deadly Zubin. Why I heard that their skill at arms would dazzle the greatest heroes of the ages, would dazzle all who look upon it, and yet even so it is outmeasured by their courage.
The Enemy is defeated. All around Djemity, celebrations are breaking out, as the fear and terror leaves our hearts. Our battles are done, our war is over. We are victorious, and nothing more shall threaten the shores of our homeland any longer!
A Teklo publication well distributed throughout the land
The newly formed Awesome Cooperation Squad, featuring The Dashing Dach, Extreme Exterminator Eumelos, Gorgeous Gol'Talshren'Di'Fra, Zerious Zubin, Zuper Zur, Raging Raegfes and Terminator Talioc has gone North and smashed the Arkvian defenses, leaving little for Gravaldon and his Kirlsa army to do apart from the thankless job of cleaning up after the real heroes.
Defeating the table of seven in personal combat the squad prooves the worth of interspecies cooperation, and puts the righteous fear in the hearts of our enemies. All hail the ACS!
Questions asked in the Teklo senate
“And what, we ask, do we do with the defeated Arkhivians? Surely they cannot pose a threat to us now, and it would be unseemly to leave them to their shattered icy realm. Something must be done to organised the matter!”
“Cannot pose a threat? Can not bands of Arkhivian infiltrators still take revenge upon the Senate? Can not survivours of the war still cause grave injury to our forces in the North? The Arkhivian threat must yet be taken very seriously!”
“Perhaps the Arkhivians can yet be returned as friends. Do we not know now that their warmongering caste of Lifetakers is broken and peace and sense may prevail among their people? Though they have acted as barbarians, can we not educate them?”
Matter discussed at the Aquienos Council of Praetors
“I bring to you the matter of the Arkhivian Remnant. We have received reports that the Arkhivian realm is controlled, but many Arkhivians yet remain. Much damage has been done to the Aquienos and our interests by the Arkhivians and we are unlikely to see a restoration. Nevertheless, we are to some extent the masters of the Arkhivian future and fate and we must take this responsibility seriously. Can reparations be made? Can the Arkhivians live in peace with us henceforth?”
A Conversation from the Sylphim Court
“And I hear that the Empress will consider carefully what she wishes done with her defeated Enemies.”
“It would be pleasing and in light of Chitha that all survivours are brought before the Empress. That way she may assess their worth and we shall all see if any beauty is contained within them and their form.”
“Perhaps they may perform some service to the Sylphim Empire? Most certainly they would make excellent agents to fulfil the advancement of Chitha upon the Sylphim Isles.”
As noted by Sylphim explorer Pynne
…marveled as I first saw the roots. There from the ground they sprang, and there again further. Each but a small protrusion, yet the system surely buried deep below the ground. I traveled south from the edges of the desert and there, upon the mountains I saw more roots - iron glinting in the sunlight. From there east, to the Seraphol and there to see the iron roots interspersed with those of the trees.
Such intricate patterns formed! I took the time I had to sketch some of these patters and how the iron roots came up and over and weaved under the wood and disappeared below the earth. How far down they go, I cannot even guess.
Amongst the Aquienos, word of the Wedding of Gol'Talshren'Di'Fra to Keshin'Sarren'DiTru'Mas has spread far and wide. Here is one conversation amongst many on the subject
“I heard it was the most impressive spectacle, and that there were thousands who came to view it. I mean, the poor dears have been waiting so long, I imagine they wanted to make a thing of it.”
“Oh yes, but what a ceremony to have. As the Beast Wall itself is turned aside, and overcome. Sailing through the maelstrom of monsters and creatures freed from it just to see what is on the other side.”
“Indeed, a true explorer. Though of course, they were hardly alone. I hear that Navigator Utu'Mana'Fra and Admiral Andar'Guzel'Es'Fra also crossed the Beast wall to go East, along with members of both the Becquerel and the Kirlsa peoples.”
“What Eumelos? Yes, I heard he was there, alongside Zubin, sailing on the funny little Kosper. Strange people. Who were the Becquerel?”
“Oh you know, Daloc and Darel the Heightmen. I heard those two saved the Bride and Groom from a fate worse than death. Or from death. One of the two anyway.”
A small hand printed poster has begun to spread amongst the fleet now. It simply reads
For Cyril, the bravest little Fox.
Aboard the Unsun.
“Captain! Captain! Out East. There is something on the Horizon! A… a wave of Purple Light, it is bearing down on us with great speed.”
“First Mate Gasse. Bring my Unsun about and head for shore. I don't want to be in the open sea when it reaches us.”
“Captain, it is moving to fast, we won't have time.”
Amongst the Teenel Copse-Mates
“Don't worry little ones. We are safe within the Heartwood of Oakfast, our family tree for more generations than even the Shapers of Stories can recall. We will be safe in here.”
“But Mama, I am afraid. That purple light, it made my stomach feel all funny when it passed over us.”
The Red-Waters Tribe arms itself for battle.
“To arms, to arms! Whatever that wave of light was it means nothing good for us, I can feel that in my bones!”
“But Anahi, it might mean we get a fight, and I am nearly of age to go to battle.”
Two Courtiers whisper in a corner of the newly raised Isle of Broken Peak
“How strange that light was, and how tall the wave stood, to wash over even our Flying Isles. Still, I thought it contained within it the seeds of something Chitha-like.”
“Oh true, something lovely within its depths. But unnerving, much like looking upon Master Merry's work, no?”
Deep underground, a Deep Warden surveys his troops.
“I don't care what you think that light that came down the tunnel was. It might mean there are wyrmlings or even Great Wyrm nearby. We douse the torches and go in darkness now. And silence, keep the bloody quiet, you hear me?”
A massive manhunt for Zenith stretches across the entire continent. His escapades enliven many a tavern conversation.
“Met a Teklo trader who saw him in Trask just last week”
“Heard the Chithana have agents in every Aquienos port, watching the docks.”
“He led a patrol of chithana right into the Mosel, smack into a Kirlsa warband. Heard he escaped whilst they fought.”
“He got killed over in the Blighted Lands, you know, they found the body.”
“No, that was a fake. He's actually escaped to the Northern Isles.”
Meanwhile a group of Becquerel stand about a massive scorched crater on the edge of the Seraphol.
“So he blew himself up, huh? Probably another trick. Did they find the body.”
“Yeah, they really got him this time. Hear he scorched the hunters pretty bad though.”
Tall tales of all kinds were spun this month at a competition organised by Olddu of the Sisters from which Diana'Phlogistonia'Mas emerged victorious.
Much of the gossip surrounding the event is wild, surely inflated as much as the tales themselves. Apparently, Zenith was attacked by a thousand Imperial Chithana and bound them to the ceiling of the room with web, every Teklo present spoke their True and Secret name into the air and there were great passions between Gravaldon and Raegfes.
A new floating isle is present in the skies above Djemity, currently holding in position over the Deep Mountains. Many rumours are being told about it.
“It came right out of the clouds above. Just floating down from on high.”
“I hear it's packed to the bring with rebels.”
“I've seen sylphim soldiers try to visit in and they got blasted out of the sky.”
“I reckon it's probably full of arkhivians. Sylphim aren't the only ones who can fly, right?”
“I heard they've sent an ambassador to the War Council.”