“The more I understand the lore and mythology surrounding the Seneschal of Mirrowen, the more humbled I am at all that has transpired, how the events of these days will reap a future we can only imagine. I asked Tyrus to try to explain why the Seneschal, powerful as he is, did not come to deliver us personally. Tyrus’s answer was fraught with wisdom, his words were simple: He who created us without our help would not save us without our consent.
Tyrus returned to Kenatos with the rightful Arch-Rike, Band-Imas, whose body was discovered in the Rike vaults known as Basilides. He was still alive after many years, his body preserved through arcane spirit magic. He immediately relinquished his claim and status, choosing to become a Druidecht instead and to commence the rebuilding of the mighty fortress of Canton Vaud. He was joined by other Druidecht, who banded together to form a new mastermind, bent on restoring the lost Druidecht knowledge. Tyrus did not stay in Kenatos long—long enough though to set free the spirits entrapped in the city. He collected the volumes of the Paracelsus order, to be archived in Canton Vaud but no longer used. He has already collected most of the records from the Archives of Kenatos. All the records from the Archives will ultimately be transferred there. I am grateful that the one who sought to destroy all knowledge is no longer able to prosper.
Kenatos and Boeotia have a truce. Relations with Silvandom also have begun between the two erstwhile hostile neighbors. The Empress Larei believes it will take several generations to unravel the hatred of her people. I do believe she may be right.
The Cruithne are reconstructing Havenrook, beautifying the city with gardens and waterworks, harnessing the power of the rivers to invent great gristmills and other intriguing contraptions. The Preachán are restless, of course. They resent being thrust out of their ancient homeland. I predict we will see a series of skirmishes between their peoples before they learn to coexist. The King of Wayland is exerting his power more forcefully now. He controls the shipping between kingdoms and seeks to replicate the power the Romani once held. The king of Wayland is a distrustful man. He does not believe the reports from the Scourgelands. He believes it’s all a trick of some kind. There are rumors that the Romani have finally infiltrated Stonehollow. I don’t give these rumors much credence myself.
For a more detailed history of what transpired surrounding the fall of the Scourgelands and the revoking of the Plague, I suggest the writings of Annon of Wayland, one of the Thirteen of Canton Vaud, when he has finished it. The Druidecht have excellent memories and I know the account will be archived in their histories when the libraries and vaults are finished. What an undertaking, millennia in the making.
For all of my life, I have quested for the answer regarding the secret race of Stonehollow. I can now state with authority that they do have a name. They were called the Moussion, after the house of Aristaios Moussion, the being known as Shirikant. It was his partaking of the fruit that gave his descendants the fireblood. Because he was the originator of the Plagues, his descendants inherited a natural immunity to it. It turns out that their blood was helpful in preventing the disease from spreading. There are no records of the genealogy of this race, but if I could trace Tyrus’s line, I am certain to find that he is a direct descendent of the man. I asked him how he felt about that possibility. As with everything regarding Tyrus Grove of Kenatos, he only smiled enigmatically and said, ‘We cannot choose our parents.’
I am grateful to have Tyrus as my ally. I consider him a personal friend and the man who rescued these forsaken lands from extinction.”
- Possidius Adeodat, Arch-Rike of Kenatos
XLVII
He could not remember his name.