As I looked up, I saw that the arrows flying towards me had hit an
invisible shield, and had fallen to the ground. I silently thanked my
teachers, who gave me the secret of the Pentagram, and started to feel
the aether around me, trying to escape. The Ur'guard, once defenders
of the Empire, was upon me. I was one of the brave few Aquamancers
that remained on the island, trying to fend off the Tainted spawn for
long enough, so that the people of Celest could escape. The Pool of
Stars was nearly destroyed; nevertheless, I could see Tainted
Geomancers draining power away from it. I had a wound; being no more
than a mere dew-maker at the time, I could only flee, and hope that
the refugees could escape in safety. There was no time to waste, and
I Teleported to a friend in the northern docks. There, a makeshift
fleet was assembling...

Wait. Let me tell you from the start.

My name is Draculis Meridius, a descendant from a noble Merian family,
and a distant cousin of Emperor Ladantine.I was born mere eighteen
years before the first fires of the Taint Wars begun to spread. I
heard a calling from the waters quite early; and begun my training as
an Aquamancer. Those were times of hope and joy, when the Holy Empire
filled the Basin with promises of Light and prosperity. I lead a happy
childhood, much like those who were fortunate enough to see those
days. The Guild was much larger at the time, and good news arrived
constantly from the rest of the Empire. The mining colony of Angkrag,
now teeming with Undead miners and their Tainted miners, was a small
set of tunnels, constantly filled with the sound of picks and
spades. I lived in Celest, the greatest city ever built, with roads of
white stone and tall spires made of coral and mother-of-pearl. On our
streets, there wasn't a single beggar. On our Star Council, sat some
of the most earnest and wise men have ever known. I spend my childhood and
early youth among laughter and song.

And we never saw Darkness until it came to us.

Of the Cosmic Hope expedition and the Taint Wars I shall tell you
naught; for much has been written about it. I shall tell you about the
fall of our great Empire; about the refugees who fled to the other
side of the Basin; about the many raids we suffered, and the many
nights under the rain.

I ran towards the ships, which were already departing. Merchant ships,
warships, galeons, men-o-war, schooners and barques. All were
departing, filled with those who escaped, and with supplies to keep
them alive. I ran, and found myself on board a schooner that sailed
away. I could still see the fires; my city, my home, burned. I can
still see the tall columns of black smoke, rising to form a cloud and
mix with the Taint that advanced towards the Isle. I see them in my
dreams, and they often come to haunt my weary and old mind.

We were still chocked by the recent events. I had traveled many times
by boat, either because I was escorting someone, or because I didn't
want to swim. And I had never been in a boat so silent. There was no
singing, nor the drunken laughter that I expected from sailors. Only
the sound of the heavy rain, and the constant wailing of the crying
children.

I sat on the crowded deck, and bowed my head. I tried to meditate and
heal my wounds; but eventually entered a deep, restless slumber. I do
not know for how long I slept, but when I was awakened by the sound of
the waves, we had reached shore. I felt tired, and half of my body
ached, but I knew we had to make haste. I helped unload the ship, and
before noon, we were on our way to Hallifax. We did not know of the
events that happened in the planes of Air and Fire, and were sure that
the people Hallifax would welcome us into their towers of crystal and
glass.

The refugees followed the Ackleberry highway. We reached Estelbar and
spent few days there. The kind Furrykin and Tae'dae wanted to help,
and we were welcome, but the Ur'guard following us was not. We made
haste towards Hallifax.

We traveled for months. I do not know precisely how long; but without
the aid of horses, and having to carry supplies with us, we took much
longer. We were attacked three times while traveling to Hallifax;
once by a band of Tainted Ur'guard, and twice by wandering bands of
thieves that had formed to prey on what remained of
civilization. Without the Ur'guard, who had betrayed us to follow the
undead, the Celestines and Aquamancers had to defend our people. I
entered combat thrice, and was hurt twice. The healing powers of my
people are not small, however, and I was able to return to duty soon.

When we reached Hallifax, we saw it. A high dome, made not of
stone of metal, but of the very fabric of reality. It covered all of
Hallifax, and there was naught to be seen inside, except for
occasional glimpses of tall crystalline spires.

Many cried that night, and many others fell to their knees in prayer.

We spent about a month there, trying to understand what that meant. At
the time, we did not know of the events surrounding the disappearance
of Hallifax and Gaudiguch. After much talking, our elders reunited. I
still do not know what they discussed during that council; and I also do
not know about the prayers they uttered, and the incantations they
spoke. What I know is that in the following morning, they told us that
Hallifax seemed to be "lost in time" and wasn't expected to return
soon.

Since Gaudiguch was likely to be overrun by the Taint, they decided
that we should settle on the western side of the Inner Sea, near
Delport, and build our settlement there. After a pungent speech, our
spirits were lifted. We made haste towards the site that would become
New Celest.

After crossing the Toronada River, we entered the Serenwilde forest,
and saw no-one. Not a single Elfen or faeling. Not even a pixie. The
message was not spoken, but clear. We had safe passage; but should we
stray from the track, or harm the forest in any way, we would be
slain. We dared not light a single fire, and crossed the forest
hastily.

Our travel was uneventful, until we reached a tall hill, perfect for
constructing our city. The scene that followed is forever imprinted on
my mind.

The senior Celestines and Aquamancers gathered, and begun a most
peculiar ritual. A ritual that had not been performed for hundreds of
years.

First, an Aquamancer raised a hand, and the top of the hill was
covered with crystal-clear water. Then, he sprinkled the waters with
some powder I did not see, and said a word of power. Beautiful coral
of all colours began to grow in a circular shape, like a well.

Then, a Celestine kneeled and prayed, invoking a Holy Supernal. The
glowing figure of the Supernal hovered above the circle of coral. It
summoned several glittering, perfectly spherical stones and placed
them near the borders of the circle.

At that time, most of the refugees where kneeling, awed by the
presence of a higher being from Celestia. The mere presence of the
Supernal lifted our spirits and gave us hope.

Finally, the other elders joined them, and formed a circle around the
well. They chanted, and some water appeared, floating above the
well. A small droplet at first, but it grew. As the robed and cloaked
Aquamancers chanted, it grew more. When it was almost as wide as the
circle of coral and stones, it poured into it, and the waters began to
glitter and shine. The Supernal smiled, and disappeared. The
Celestines and Aquamancers left, tired but happy. As I approached that
magically polished circle of coral, covered with runes that weren't
scribed with common inks, I knew what they had done. The waters
gleamed with powers; they seemed as deep as the deepest ocean, and as
clear as the brighter lake. It was a new Pool of Stars.

Around it, our new city prospered.