Two Years Past the Shattering in the southwest region of Meurshaden.
At the Tower of Monteir, an old wizard, Belsarious, commonly known by many as Mr. Sands, calls on his aged friend.

Winter, 5017


“The Sands of time return.”

“In spite of the wretched trek up these arduous steps. And before you say it, I do well enough to trust my travel to a good horse and my old bones. Alternate means of transport are for times of less serenity.”

“Ah, you look good for an old man, Belsarious.”

“You told that same lie a century ago…Monteir.”

“As I will again at the passing of one more. Can I offer you a sip to refresh you?”

“Of course. Once every hundred years so that I can remember why I make such a visit.”

“This one tonic is so much…healthier. I’ve been working it for a spell. Relieves the boredom of spending my days in a tower that does not let me see nearly as far as I once used to.”

“I am overdue for a spell of boredom. That along with a ten year slumber and I may feel up to looking out my window again.”

“So the threat has passed. A new day has dawned and for the first time in five thousand years Oculas is no longer one to be watched. And you leave greater Muershaden in capable hands?”

“I believe so. I truly believe they will do well. This band, if you will, does certainly have the favor of the gods.”

“These heroes…enlighten me. I have heard so much but it was your hand that guided their journey from its first steps.”

“Only in a mild fashion. They were destined for such a task and were most certainly chosen.”

“But in the end it is Kord and not Tiamin that controls the Heart?”

“The gods of the many will always win out over the ancient ones. Kord’s followers are quite the flock these days.”

“Tell me more of this shattering.”

“More…quite simply, for the first time since the Heart surfaced back five thousand years ago, and in the hands of true southlanders, the Heart broke away from the gods that it once seemed to favor. The artifact embraced the southlanders and disrupted all within sight.
“The southlanders gathered the Heart and, in Ramos’ possession, brought it to the alter Oculas constructed. But once there, the southlanders defeated the one who summoned them and the alter, surrounding encampments as well as the citadel of Oculas, shattered like a crystal, bringing a halt to the war as far south as Vlastrong and Vlesgar.
“And the impact was certainly felt I would say. All the Houses of Hextor down through Andracia took an unholy amount of damage to their infrastructures. Both their temples and armies were left in disarray as were all the religions that embraced Oculas’ claim to the throne of a deity. Through Kraymorden, all of them rocked to their foundations and their armies lost. The Crimson Guard and Lorman’s Shield lay defeated and remain scattered so far that we’ll most likely not see their colors again.
“The true benefit to all of this is that the royal lines have taken back the respect of their thrones. All through Meurshaden the hierarchy is returning unopposed.”

“So what of Tansaria, Mr. Sands? Their tainted city never embraced the movement of Oculas.”

“Sadly, the one temple that did not feel the wrath is the one I truly believe to be the worst of them. Though the three sisters perished, those from the house of Eurythinal never embraced the movement of Oculas. And though this spared their house, the King of Tansaria has taken back the kingdom and forced them to contain their religion inside their temple. He may not be far removed from that house but it did present a quandary among many who looked to return this land to a stable regime. A strange time indeed, but few soldiers wished to continue to war against a religion that was so far removed from Oculas.
“As for our new heroes, Montier, yes indeed, they wished to address the situation in Tansaria but also felt that it could hold for a time after just defeating the soul of their temple so recently. There was so much to do, so very many burning issues that were pulling their attention.
“So they said their farewells and set about in directions that took them all about and across Meurshaden. Ramos, held the newly reborn Darqueland Heart and he brought it to Lokristan to set his direction and to plan the temple in which this would be held. But it was before winter fully set in that he and many of the Kraymorden priests traveled to Vlesgar to meet with the priests of Hieronous and a select number of Andracia priests that now gained favor over the fallen religions. There they met for the entire winter and came away with the plan for the great temple of Kord and the United Religions of Kraymorden. Far too much pious babble about for me to concern myself with but after months of strong debate, Ramos won over those much longer in the tooth due to his possession. But he was also wise enough to listen to guidance that made sure there was room for all favorable religions to flourish. As I hear it the temple is now looking markedly beautiful as well as quite impenetrable. I will look forward to visiting after my next slumber…it should be complete by then.”

“Drink more, Belsarius. And tell me, what of our apprentice? How is he received after such days of discord?”

“Talon has quite a task ahead of him. Though he has grown so quickly I believe his Elvin lineage will provide for him the patience he will need. At this time he has been given free will to travel about and gather to him all that use our gifts and those that hold such power in weapons and protections. It doesn’t hurt that Ramos has given his blessing, but most all religions, even those remaining, have no real tolerance for the art. Not to concern yourself, however, as he has bypassed most of them and embraced some very respected members of the noble families and the royal members that relate to them. Not much my way, but it has seemed to work well for him. They see him as one that can keep the arts from becoming too threatening. Imagine that.”

“The others?”

“The others. Yes, a sense of duty in the other three; I refer to duty aside from their chosen abilities. All with a loyalty to the lives they left behind. Cardespian made short time in arriving at the house of Queen Noryella in Lokristan. Before he arrived there, however, those from his past had paved his way. It seems an old acquaintance, a lady friend if you will, followed word of his situation and reunited with him before he met with the Queen. With his new following and the great acceptance of the people, they have found a way to keep Lokristan well governed. No real word as to what the relationship is between Car and the queen but it was confirmed that Car’s wedding was held inside the queen’s palace. Not something we would have seen under the old body of government. Car has become quite the politician, some say his hand already reaches across the boarders into Andracia. Not a small task that, but Saran’s departure did leave quite the void. And those of a less than worthy status have found a great opposition coming from a new hand in Lokristan.
“The one they call Bull had cheated death so many times that it is now said he cannot be killed. Disappointed in finding no Warbarians outside the gates of Fostrage, the gates Oculas had set himself behind, he set off to correct things in his tribe. But on his return to Ripstone he found new information that was bitter-sweet. It seems that upon hearing of Bull the barbarian tribes gathered to war, led on by the Warbarian tribe but their gathering was late and they were not able to join Maxwell’s and Jhan Shre’s armies as they marched to the northlands. But their patience, if you will, was rewarded as Krissman had instructed his armies to disband and allow the southlander armies to pass before regrouping and taking them from behind their ranks. This would have been a sound blow had the barbarian tribes not caught them from behind as they regrouped. At a dear cost the tribes kept Krissman’s army from ever reaching the chasm.
Upon Bull’s return, the Chieftain made him the tribal warlord and since the end of the war there has been peace in the Antierious Mountains as they rebuild their tribes. More than two of the neighboring chieftains are marrying their daughters off to the new Warlord, so that should keep a few alliances sound for a time. But they are barbarians and the gods only know how long that will last.”

“And the last of them?”

“Dutch. If any were ever given such fame and fortune that truly did not wish for it, it would be our ranger. He traveled south with Bull and another until they reached Ripstone and then attempted to head back to his woodland life just past Mirror Lake.”

“But?”

“Well, she’s a fool-headed girl that I carried along with me through the final days of the war. And I only say fool-headed because Jesell is of great talent and also carries royal blood in her veins but elects to chase after one more removed from her lifestyle than a dwarf from an Elvin House of Lords.”

“They’re young. It will fade quickly as she comes to duty.”

“It’s only been a bit over a year, but last she was seen, and this was just two months past, she was heading south to the woods past Mirror Lake. Though I am with you on that, old friend; I don’t see Dutch being drawn away from the woods—and gold and robes don’t guide him in the slightest.”

“And the gems they carry, Sands? What of the gems?”

“The ones I have spoke with, as well as Talon, have all said that they have faded somewhat. They remain of high quality but no longer have the pull to them as they did when they traveled. They speak as if they will be family heirlooms that will be handed down through the ages to give light to their legacy.”

“In hopes that their children would be worthy of them, of course. The last we would wish to see is for the gems to again fall back into the wild. Not that they will ever be again needed. But come, old friend, another fill and one more flight of steps and you will see my garden. It’s grown this last century. We’ll walk and speak of happier times, Mr. Sands…times ahead when we can retire from this great rock…”

“I’ve read and seen far too many tomes and tombs in my time—nearly as many as you, Montier—and I’ve yet to find at what age I may be able to step down…”