A large gathering was reported today in the garden of the Herbalist,
Rythanis. It is said he had, in his studies, hit upon a way to assist
Mairya and perhaps help to fight the blight. In his research he had
found a concoction that might be made, but he needed several items from
around the continent. Nelya and Hasbirr quickly gathered all they could,
and went in search of these items.

First to be procured was the rare herb Aryana's Balm, which was in the
possession of Lyrinan of Khandava, given to Asuna. Soon after the rowan
leaves were found to be in the pockets of Caelas Willowbrook of Celidon,
who happily surrendered it to Nelya. Next, the brave Asuna ventured into
Dis to return with the sprig of betony which can only be found in the
dead forest there. A marble bowl with special properties was obtained by
Niara from the Archivist of Kinsarmar, Aranel. A handful of finely
milled sand was procured from Bina the Blind of Antioch by Sidereus.
Lastly, the lady Skye ventured into Stavenn to speak with Niccolo. He
was reluctant to part with any information, but finally, in return for
the agreement that any cure found would be effected first in Stavenn, he
handed over a pestle of obsidian.

The ingredients gathered, Nelya and her group returned to the Herbalist.
He mixed them, ground them, and added elemental water from the Chalice
of Rebirth, and lastly, a drop of his own blood, and the concoction was
complete. In accordance with the agreement, Trez allowed the Herbalist
and the accompanying group inside the gates of Stavenn to spill a bit of
the concoction, though he bid them leave quickly when they were
finished. The remainder was poured out on the roots of the sickening
Arythian Rowan.

Rythanis then gathered the group close to reveal the next step. The
concoction would quicken the roots of the tree, and bring them to the
surface of Upper Realm. As the roots stretch far under the entire
continent, they would be widespread, but at their appearance the group
had a few options. They could attack the roots in order to weaken the
tree, but they would also weaken the poor failing dryad, Mairya. Another
option would be to kill the fell beasts and place them at the root, as
their essence was a combination of Dis and the Upper Realm, and the link
would serve to strengthen Mairya. Yet another option was to offer the
body of the evil Arbiter of Ruin, Ahithophel, whose trickery had caused
this cursed blight. His blood, combined with the essence of the blight,
would cause a reaction within the tree and a sort of immunity would
begin to generate.

The group quickly spread out over the continent, and even now works to
combat the evil that spreads over Aetherius. The heads of the people
hang low as the blight spreads. Can this immunity, combined with the
elemental ice and the Chalice of Rebirth, be enough to combat the cursed
blight? Can the essence of the fell beasts sustain the weakening dryad?
Can the will of the peoples of Aetherius persevere in the face of this
adversity? Only time will tell...


Penned by my hand on the 2nd of Ultio, in the year 460 AD.