The Fourth Sending of Darkness - Monthly Summary
Asheron's Call - Leafcull, 10 P.Y. (Nov '99)
Nearly 11 years since the death of the Dereth Olthoi Queen, and after a long lull in Isparian arrivals, a great surge of new Aluvian, Gharu'ndim, and Sho adventurers were called from Ispar to Dereth by mysterious portals in their homelands.
Sudden Season - Frostfell, 10 P.Y. (Dec '99)
Turmoil engulfs Dereth as the temperature drops and snows are falling everwhere. In northern Osteth, the great explorer Geoffrey Tremblant and his party have gone missing. Could the two events be related? To make matters even worse, during this time of celebration, strange magic have brought even the playful snowmen to life.
Dark Thaw - Snowreap, 11 P.Y. (Jan '00)
With the destruction of the Great Work in the depths of Frore, the snows have begun to melt. But new creatures have begun to appear on the landscape. They appear to be crystal fragments, the remains of the Great Work. What power have the adventurers unleashed upon Dereth?
Shadows of the Past - Coldeve, 11 P.Y. (Feb '00)
The reappearance of an ancient Empyrean structure, the Obsidian Span, became the first shadow of the past to intrude on Isparian life on Dereth. Soon adventurers discovered the process that Lord Atlan used to design weapons in the Shadow Wars, but would they be powerful enough to tip the scales against the dark shadow that loomed in the skies?
Darkness Ascendant - Wintersebb, 11 P.Y. (Mar '00)
Enormous living spires erupted from the ground and three dark presences returned to Dereth in Wintersebb. More terrifying was the abduction and interrogation of random adventurers into the depths of the spires. These abductees returned with rumors of the impending destruction of an Isparian town.
Thorns of the Hopeslayer - Morningthaw, 11 P.Y. (Apr '00)
It became apparant to all that the Shadows intended a war against the Isparians as waves of invasion struck many outlying towns and outposts in Dereth. The face of the dark presences was revealed as adventurers confronted the Shadow Generals Ler Rhan and Black Ferah within the spires themselves.
Heroes' Respite - Solclaim, 11 P.Y. (May '00)
After the fierce battles of the previous month, the shadow armies retreated for a time, allowing the citizens of Dereth a much needed respite. With such peace bold settlers made their way westward into the Direlands to found a new settlement named Ayan Baqur.
The Paths of Destruction - Seedsow, 11 P.Y. (Jun '00)
While the Shadows remained in retreat, the Shadow Spires began moving across the landscape. This movement caused a flux in portal space that brought with it new and more fearsome creatures to the already deadly landscape of Dereth.
To Raise a Banner of Flame - Leafdawning, 11 P.Y. (Jul '00)
Two emmissaries arrived in Dereth at the behest of their mistress, the mysterious "Lady of Aerlinthe." Only the most seasoned veterans could make the journey to this small island that contained the remains of a once thriving Yalain port. All that remained of the port town was a residue of volcanic ash and a city populated by the undead. As volcanoes reawakened and fire elementals erupted across various parts of Dereth, adventurers feverishly attempted to unravel the mysteries surrounding Aerlinthe.
Taste of Twilight - Verdantine, 11 P.Y. (Aug '00)
Amid a host of magical and culinary discoveries, The Mistrees of Aerlinthe, the ancient Dericost witch, Aerfalle, was finally confronted in her home and the twisted secret history of Aerlinthe was revealed. Many of the discoveries within Aerfalle's Keep contained ill omens of the Dericost's future plans, but also suggested that they may prove to be allies in the war against the Shadows.
Twilight's Gleaming - Thistledown, 11 P.Y. (Sep '00)
With the dawning of Thistledown, came a reminder of the Shadows presence in Dereth. Heroes grown complacent by the seeming inactivity of the Shadows were shocked to find two towns, Tufa and Arwic, lay in rubble, destroyed by the powers of these Thorns of the Hopeslayer. In the wake of this destruction came confrontations between the Shadows, Dericost, and the Isparians in the depths of vaults that contained several of the remaining soul stones that kept Bael'Zharon at bay. These stones were destroyed and the return of the Servant crept ever closer.
Hollow Victory - Harvestgain, 11 P.Y. (Oct '00)
Efforts to recover from the losses of the previous month were made through participation in harvest celebrations, masquerades, and feasting. This time of merriment was punctuated with continued terrors as animate scarecrows stalked the countryside apparantly due to the experimentation of the increasingly active Virindi who had established several new fortresses in the Direlands complete with fearsome new Hollow Minions.
Should the Stars Fall - Leafcull, 11 P.Y. (Nov '00)
The discovery of an archipelago of islands to the southeast and two colonies of "lost" Isparians brought with it the discovery of the location of the final soul stone holding back Bael'Zharon's return to Dereth. Isparians discovered that this final stone could be defended from attack. A long defense of the crystal by those from Thistledown revealed the commitment of many Isparians to opposing the Hopeslayer, but the intervention of the Dark Master Vidorian and Black Ferah and Ler Rhan broke the defense. The full fury of the Hopeslayer was released on Dereth's inhabitants.
The Child of Daralet - Frostfell, 11 P.Y. (Dec '00)
As rivers ran red and rain fell like blood, the Hopeslayer wreaked havoc across Osteth and the Direlands. Within this chaos, Asheron finally revealed himself. As he battled Bael'Zharon, Elysa Strathelar also returned to rally forces against the Hopeslayer. Heroes raced to discover mysterious artifacts that might weaken Bael'Zharon sufficiently to actually launch a successful attack against the seemingly invincible demonic lord.