A faint rumbling followed closely by mysterious chiming noises rolled
across the cities and councils of Aetherius in the year 591 AD as ogres
infused with crystals began raiding these locations on the 23rd of
Halitus. Shortly after it became clear that the ogres were searching for
something, although what it was remained hidden from the populous. The
raids continued on into the month as more and more ogres penetrated.
Over time the cities and councils realized that the ogres were working
on part of an unknown creature named Zraxxis, and many attempted to
contact the mysterious overseer to beg, bargain or threaten hostile
action in return for his recalling the ogres. Others attempted to gain
knowledge as to the reason behind the attacks, or even information as to
the nature of the crystalline substance that was apparently controlling
the raiding ogres.

Midway into the month of Artificium, what was sought became clear as one
by one each city and council was infiltrated by crystals that allowed
teleportation, with which the ogres used to kidnap guards in order for
tests and information. The ogre invasions continued in earnest with more
and more crystal infused ogres were seen within city and council walls
almost daily until the invasions were interrupted late in the month by
distressed cries of anguish from north of the Seven Lakes Basin. Whether
going to investigate, or to attempt to gain vengeance for their fallen
comrades, many appeared suddenly and hostilities broke out amongst the
varied groups until interrupted by a lifelike statue that stood in the
middle of a crystal-filled courtyard.

The statue explained then that Zraxxis was merely a pawn of a greater
mage turned wrong that went by the name of Magglix, and that the statue
used to be Magglix's only brother. Suspicious as to why Magglix's
brother would aid them, several demanded to the statue why he was
offering to aid them in their quest to destroy Magglix. The statue's
answer was simple: he didn't always used to be a statue.

It took time, and the corpses of many ogres, to fuel the statue with
enough energy to open the way to Magglix's tower, and once done, the
backlash of energies wiped the last of humanity from the statue's mind,
turning it into little more than a slavering animation thirsting for the
corpses of the crystal infused ogres. Alesud and Cardi were the first to
enter the tower, and faced hordes of mindless servants of Magglix, both
ogre and canine alike. More appeared shortly after, and a mixed group of
many people were able to catch Magglix off guard in his open study,
slaying him swiftly.

However, the battle was not yet over. The crystal that controlled the
ogres, comprised the majority of the materials in the tower and was the
fashioned into a staff held within the mad mage's hand began to grow
over his body, reanimating him into an intelligent, if not undead,
version of himself. The throng fought on, throwing all they had into the
construct until it too fell. Amazingly it rose once more as the tower
itself poured its energies into the corpse, creating from the broken
body of Magglix an Unknown Entity that lashed at the group with physical
prowess. In time it too fell, and the group disbanded.

Little secrets could be found, both Zraxxis and Magglix had been slain,
but little more than a month later, and the tower was humming with
energies once more, drawing several to it to explore its depths. It was
found that Magglix had placed barriers and puzzles in the way to thwart
adventurers from reaching him. Verick Iscariot, an Ephor of Stavenn, as
well as a group from Antioch led by Blyth and Laia, were both exploring
the tower at the same moment, when they realized that the crystal cores
dropped by the summoned gem elementals could be used to form a key
allowing them access to Magglix's study. Soon after, a motley group from
Antioch and a second from Stavenn assaulted the mage simultaneously,
tearing through his three forms. Verick eventually landed the final
blow, shattering the entity, while Leisane Valstivar collected a strange
gem that granted him physical boosts in his abilities.

The group from Stavenn remained behind to crack the secrets of the
tower, but nearing the end of their investigations it seemed that more
questions had arisen than answers. What was this strange crystal that
was apparently the real power behind Magglix's tower? What was the story
behind Magglix? Why was that floating skull so annoying? As the crystal
pulses with growing energies, only time will tell the outcome...

Penned by my hand on the 20th of Letum, in the year 592 AD.