The terrified cries of igasho and tae'dae children echoed down into the
Basin of Life as a small group of them fled Snow Valley. Muffled sobs of
one tae'dae drew the attention of many from New Celest and Hallifax to
the centre of the camp, where the nephew of Worrel Fleece, Berpo Fleece,
had been encaged by Lauk and his men. Quickly Rika, Kiradawea, Syridean,
Lawliet and many others set to work attempting to free the cub Berpo,
though with no success. Mumbling that there were six keys to his locks,
Berpo quickly urged everyone to abandon him and seek out his six fleeing
friends. Several refused however, while others acquiesced - some went
and fetched his uncle Worrel, while others began to answer strange
occurrences that had begin popping up. A finicky Evgenii Novikai in the
Oleanvir Valley reported a 'giant rat' having been hiding the
mausoleums, whilst a sobbing tae'dae cub had been discovered in the
village of Estelbar. A viscanti girl was found laughing raucously in the
Blasted Lands after she'd shoved an igasho youth into a gravedigger pit,
while a tae'dae cub had been found within the Arthar'rt Observatory - in
chains. Another tae'dae had been spotted in the Tolborolla Valley, while
a young igasho's cries were heard from Mount Zoaka.

First New Celest sought out the source of Evgenii's wild tale - a young,
hungry igasho was inside the mausoleums, hiding amongst the statues and
tombs. Leading him back to Berpo, Syridean and his companions began to
turn their attention elsewhere, hoping to find the other lost
younglings. Several were attempting to convince a very flustered Mrs.
Trundle to release the newfound cub into their custody, but she
steadfastly refused, sheltering him within her daycare with the cubs she
had long cared for. Meanwhile several were exploring the Blasted Lands,
though it was Rika, Governor of Hallifax that found the young igasho.
Having similarly been searching, Darvor of the Nihilists followed the
crowd of people shuffling about looking for the youths, and found
himself in the Arthar'rt Observatory - a place known for its unkindness
towards viscanti and its poor opinions of the Taint.

Several of the cities of New Celest and Hallifax, alongside Lehki of the
Serenwilde, were attempting to convince Etil'ck Arthar'rt to free the
tae'dae cub from his bonds. Insisting that the cub could be used for
experimentation in tracking changes by the Taint - by afflicting the cub
with it - and thereby greatly advance their knowledge of the initial
changes made by it. It would, he said, possibly open the way to finding
a means to reverse what he called an 'unfortunate condition', and would
be in the best interests of all if he was allowed to continue
unhindered. Lawliet of New Celest, mortified by the proposed act and
feeling she had no recourse, lashed out and attacked Etil'ck, who fled
into the observatory, and then his sister, Rak'ia, when she, too,
refused to free the cub. Soon another cub came to be in their control,
having been caught near the Emerald Road after wandering from the
Tolberolla Valley, and the pressing need for their cooperation settled
into those gathered. Despite the brutal display of force, however,
Etil'ck and Rak'ia proved reasonable - if their dormitories were filled
with viscanti children, they would release the tae'dae cubs. For,
Etil'ck said, he would be far too busy with his experiments to have time
to get to the cubs for a very long while.

Obliging, the dormitories were filled, and the cubs were released.
Having brought them to Mrs. Trundle, where the other cub was resting,
the would-be caretakers found the furrikin had been quite serious in her
refusal to release them from her care - she intended, above all else, to
protect the poor cubs, and insisted they would stay with her from now
on. After much talking, Trundle finally agreed to allow the cubs to
return home - but she was too old to make such a trek, and would not
release them into the hands of just anyone. Even those who had
previously been deemed caretakers through assisting Mrs. Trundle were
not certainties, the old furrikin said, and demanded they prove their
capabilities once more. Having done so, Rika found Mrs. Trundle a fair
bit more amicable - and the last of the youths were to arrive at Snow
Valley, where they found the last of the igasho children had made his
way home, as well.

Berpo Fleece having been freed while the others searched, the ecclectic
group of tae'dae and igasho set off, Worrel's map in hand, seeking the
elusive 'Rikenfriez'. The greatest minds Hallifax could produce poured
over the crude, hand-drawn map, though none could puzzle it out. It was
the combined genius of Berpo and Worrel Fleece that lead the group
homewards, the two tae'dae putting their great heads together. To test
their talent, as Worrel insisted later, they found many ways which,
indeed, did not lead into the village. Finally however, swimming up the
frigid waters of the stream that ran through Snow Valley, the group
found the quiet town of Rikenfriez.

Home to a combination of igasho and snowy-white tae'dae with black-blue
tongues, the village had long managed to remain hidden. They had, one
explained, sought to remain outside of the troubles that had been going
on. Seeking to enjoy their peaceful lives, they remained sequestered -
living off of the fish that dwelled beneath the icy surface of the
frozen pond in the centre of their village. Ahhuma Rrohur, owner of the
fishery, scoffed audibly as the curious masses flooded into her quiet
town, pestering its unwelcoming villagers with bothersome, annoying
questions. Meanwhile Worrel Fleece settled into his old home, abandoning
his igloo - and his nephew, Berpo Fleece, joined him. Relative quiet
returned to Rikenfriez and reigned for several days as the villagers
watched the influx of visitors.

A vote was taken by the villagers - deciding to emerge from their
seclusion, they announce their willingness to consider cities - or
communes - to align with. With much grumbling and unpleasantries, Ahhuma
Rrohur was named the village leader, left to watch over her otherwise
passive fellows.


Penned by My hand on the 17th of Shanthin, in the year 263 CE.