In the world of Djemity, news travels fast, borne on the fleetest of Aquienos Ships, flown across the land in Sylphim Floating Isles, or whispered through miles of stone by Teklo Wordsmiths. Of course, as fast as news and official reports travel, rumour and hearsay are quicker to spread throughout the world.

From the widely distributed Pamphlet “On Why We Must Deny Death”

“And so friends, I urge you to remember what little past we have, that we share. The Numina are not our allies, they are not our friends. They profess to offer us freedom, but in truth they wish to shackle us. True freedom is in choosing to live, in denying death. Do not succumb to their dark lies…”

Around Djemity, but concentrated especially in the Deep Mountains, a new movement, calling upon all to Deny Death is springing up. Reports seem to indicate that it began with one single Teklo wandering from town to town and Polis to Polis spreading the message in mass public rallies. Alongside these reports, rumours of strange visions being granted to those who attend also abound.

The greatest opposition that the movement faces is from those dead who have come back from the Northern War and are now trying to reintegrate with society. Families are torn between a horror of death, and the fact that their returned loved one seems clearly the same person who left alive and well.

Reports are coming in from reconnaissance groups that the Numina Obelisks are approaching Djemity, while the Aquienos War Fleet has been working hard to keep the structures away from the population centres, without some way of destroying or otherwise halting the giant structures, they have only been able to slow the progress, and force them on longer paths to the continent. These tactics are unlikely to be effective for much longer, as new waves of obelisks come in from the East, and will begin to overwhelm the Aquienos Fleet which is spread thin.

Around the continent, the civilian population is starting to panic, many coastal settlement have been abandoned with people migrating towards the larger internal population centers, on the ocean the Praetor ships are moving close to military installations such as Port Dawn, Whiskey Peak, and the Northern Isles Fortress.

In the Seraphol rumours of an Undead army massing. They rally under the banner of a former Teklo General, for purposes unknown. With each passing day the numbers of the risen dead under his command swell as new forces join with him each passing day. If left unchecked, the hordes he commands will be able to sweep through allied territories, and his staging ground in the northern Seraphol put Teklo, Kirlsa and Becquerel lands in danger.

Speech delivered from flying islets buzzing over Djemity.

“Attention Groundlings! Her Radiant Majesty, Aysa IV has declared that the Isle of Broken Peak is property of all Citadel Races. The rebellious General Chath failed to obey Her Majesty's righteous commands and has been brought low.”

“The Sylphim Empire reminds you of our constant friendship! We support the actions of the brave warriors who assisted in the reclamation of Broken Peak. We denounce the mad actions of lunatic rebels!”

“Act like your noble heroes and work together with loyal Imperial Sylphim to destroy all rebel threats!”

Word quickly spreads that a massive multiracial taskforce stormed Broken Peak and delivered it into joint control. Chath was killed resisting arrest.

Conversation overheard at a Tavern overlooking Lokastila's quarry.
“Seeeewwwweeeeyyyy, did you see that.”

“Mhay, oh mhay, that was a mightly big fireball.”

“That be towards thy Crone's cave tisn't it?”

“That it be, what those women be up to I don't know.”

“You think somesuch person not like thyure profisies.”

“puryhaps, wouldn't like to be in those shoes, mightly roastey.”

The Three Crones appear to all have been slain in the inferno at their cave.

The Becquerel Storyweaver Ilmok speaking of the new Western Woods

Grasses grow again over what was for months rock and ash. Then, at the heart of this once-burned forest, stands the highest tree I have seen, rising above the low oaks and ashes below it and looking out across all the Seraphol!

On my return home I even came across a number of creatures, some that have lived beneath the earth following the fires and others who have come to the woods anew. If many are so eager to come now, then all creatures shall again make this part of their forest home.

Though I would warn you, friends, of journeying yourself to see the great healing wrought. I sense an anger and thirst within this new food. A burning rage, a cold fire, calling out across the whole new growth. Will this affect the creatures? Will the wood itself become a danger? I do not know. But it shall have character and life, and that is better by far than the charred emptiness, devoid of all as it was, more empty than anywhere else on Djemity.

Kirlsa exchange at a camp over a feast of fenling bear gonads

And hear, the Aquienos have been great hunters one and all. Or at least fishermen. I have spoken with one who was returning from the Seraphol, saying that she had been on the greatest fishing fleet the Aquienos have known in her memory. And hear this - they were fishing for wood-eating fish! I remember those. Some sport and novelty they were. For a time at least.

Now they have fished them all from the sea and sent the fish to Arkhivians. Perhaps this is the Aquienos idea of an insult? They were never ones to stand up and challenge a warrior upfront. Though why would they challenge the defeated? Let's not get into this. I'm just told that's a massive haul of fish and there are none left in all the seas around Djemity.

The following pamphlet is distributed far and wide, published by the Teklo Wordshaper Zur Fra Rai.

… freed by the Three Sisters, the Tree had been bound safely in the Spinner's web for an age of the world, but now…

… the Tree of Blades is a terrible danger to this world. No forest is a safe place to visit while the spirit Eki is free, his metal roots polluting the ground. With the Tree loose, every dark corner of a forest is one more place where visitors may vanish, never to be seen again…

Within the space of a few weeks both the mysterious Lost Isle and the Syplhim Capitol of Erli have suddenly ascended high into the air and disappeared amidst the clouds.

The Sylphim's remaining floating Isle of Fylapur has moved into position beneath the spot where Erli vanished, and a stair way of small travel islets now stretches up between the two floating Isles.

Citadel representative Aurora has issued reassurances that the ascension was planned and that it is all part of the pursuit of Chitha.

Reports circulated around Djemity detail the situation facing the Arkhivians

With an end of the war in the North, the Arkhivians have been largely forgotten. A great number are still being held in prisoner camps, where conditions are quickly deteriorating with dwindling food supplies, and rapid spread of disease. In addition a group has proclaimed itself the Arkhivian government, having united a large number of the scatter people under a single banner. They are keen to set up trade with the races of Djemity. They are also asking for the prisoner to be handed over to them for rehabilitation into Arkhivian society. This new group seems to have strong links to the Arkhivian rebels, which fought in a number of battles during the northern war.

One night the sky of Djemity is lit up as a message is spelt out in twinkling sparkles amidst the stars. It reads simply “Peace for All”.

The message fades with the arrival of morning's light but by this point it is a sight that all but the most determinedly mountain-bound Teklo have risen to marvel at.

The Sylphim Empress declares it an 'intriguing work of artistry', the Aquienos Navigators are reputed to be in 'intense discussion' of the phenomenon, whilst the Kirlsa scoff at the 'pretty words'.