Marked by celebrations in many an organisation, the festive and
monumental year 400 CoE culminated in the arrival of the Solstice
season, which was made even more joyous by the reappearance of the quite
content Crumkane, Lord of Epicurean Delights. In the spirit of the
holiday, Jolly Bundy and his entourage of red-clad gnomes brought joy,
laughter, and presents for everyone - the perfect way to usher the Basin
into a new century. As the festivities continued, the distinct smell of
rot wafting upon the air went unnoticed at first. In fact, many
dismissed it and connected it with the seasons, for it was late autumn
that the stench began to befoul the air. When an infestation of
worm-bearing mushrooms began to litter the highways, however, even the
city-dwellers knew something was afoot with Nature.

In the Wilde, Albion, the First of the Crones, was consulted, while the
Wyrden Forest sought answers from Lhiannan Shee-Slaugh in a blood-soaked
ritual. Both voiced warnings about the nature of this infestation,
urging for the spread to be curbed before it got out of control. Even
Queen Maeve, though dismissive and unconcerned at first, reluctantly
surmised it a danger after Butter Sweetpease fell ill - proof that the
effect had been rippling throughout creation. Indeed, Brennan Stormcrow
and the Maiden Miakoda showed signs of weakness not too long after.

The city-dwellers, though less concerned about the matters of Nature,
proceeded to investigate as the mushrooms began spreading along their
streets, sprouting worms that assaulted the unwary. News from the
communes had been on everyone's lips, their tongues spreading dire
warnings about the foul nature of this fungal plague. Scientists were
consulted, experiments were performed; the consensus everywhere was
unilateral - the mushrooms are a threat, and luckily, the essence found
upon the Ethereal and Elemental planes proved to be a way to remove
them.

Squabbles erupted everywhere at this discovery. What if the mushrooms
are sentient? What if they appear to be crumbling beneath the power of
the essence but in fact were gaining in strength? Who are they gathering
this power for? Was it just a passing malady or was there a mastermind
behind this plague of mushrooms? Each nation discussed the matter at
length, and most did in fact proceed to destroy the mushrooms in this
manner.

Throughout that first month, when the danger has been finally
recognised, each nation turned to prophecy to shed light upon the
unfolding events. Unknowingly, Xaldrin Somnius and Kalliste McCloud were
the first to hear the prophecies spoken, even before the necessity has
been recognised. Then, as the dwellers of the Basin set about to work,
it was Selenity Siar'luin who heard the first prophecy as spoken by
Chuchip, the Great Spirit of the Seren.

Then, Tremula n'Lochli witnessed the Necromentate's words, Lleuke Zayah
was wise to seek out the words of the Lake Spirit, young Aruin was privy
to the warning from the Matrix Core, and Arcanis De'Unnero sought out
the words of Grandmother Scorpion. The words of Mother Night were spoken
to Ssaliss Shee-Slaugh when the phase of the Moon was favourable to such
a summoning, and finally the Templar Azaghal heard the mighty Drachou's
words.

Confusion reigned as the enigmatic pieces of prophecy were shared with
the others, each word parsed for for its meaning, and yet the truth
eluded them still. When the mushrooms turned into mounds of their kind,
birthing hideous worms that put the lives of the peoples of the Basin in
true danger, the Silver Goddess, fierce in Her protection of the Wilde,
took to the heavens. Wrath in Her storm-coloured eyes, She combined Her
strength with the purest energy of the natural world - the fae - and
rained volleys of moonfire against the infestation that plagues the Seal
of Nature even now.

The battle was a powerful one, and although the the most fearsome
manifestation of the Argent Lady's strength, the Silver Trinity,
appeared on the horizon to weave its terrible wrath, the forces at play
were beyond only one Elder's might. Exhausted, weakened, and stricken
sick, as if She, too, were suffering from the same illnesses that had
already gripped the natural world, the Silver Goddess returned to
Serenwilde, where She was then taken into the guarded custody of
Darvellan, the Navigator.

Seemingly in connection with the battle, brownies started appearing
throughout the land. Emaciated, their minds rattled, they sought help
from the people they encountered in the cities and communes. Some gave
into madness before they could convey their pleas and those toppled to
the ground beneath eager swords as the nations, wary of all intruders,
feared for their nexii of power. Others were empowered with words of
encouragement and, murmuring of home and danger, returning from whence
they came.

The madness continued until the benevolent Estarra, the Eternal turned
Her attention to the struggle and, perceiving Soulless energies woven
into the make of this foul infestation, engaged the enemy Herself.
Calling upon the Elders to assist Her in reinforcing the Seal of Nature,
She channeled Her cosmic power into it, thus cleansing it of the rotten
influence and destroying all the mushrooms plaguing the land in one fell
swoop. Before She departed, She paused at the Seal as if concerned for
its future, leaving the Basin to wonder whether the brief spell of peace
will continue for long.

It didn't.

Penned by My hand on the 8th of Dvarsh, in the year 401 CE.