Over 200 years ago, the first indication that something powerful roamed
the Dreaming was exhibited when several entities took possession of
Elemental Lords (see Events 102). While it was never clear then who
these dreamweavers were, it has now been revealed that they were members
of the Circle of the Deep, a group of dreamweavers who were trapped in
the Dreaming during the Taint in the times of the Celestine Empire.
Though their physical bodies were ultimately destroyed, their power in
the Dreaming increased exponentially, as time passed until they had the
power of the gods themselves, at least in the Dreamrealm.

While these dreamweavers could make every desire manifest, they were
bored and dissatisfied with their existence. They wanted more. Though
the physical realm now disgusted them, they wanted to bring others into
their realms, to have subjects over which to rule. In order to do this,
they needed to increase their power to the point where they could force
every mortal into the Dreamrealm and keep them there. Thus began an
enormously complex campaign to build a device in the very centre of the
Dreaming Depths, also known as the Heart of Vestera, that would channel
the dreaming into mortal realm and capture the entire population of the
Basin of Life. The device would come to be known as the Narcoponatrix.

To power the Narcoponatrix, they first sought to manipulate a geomancer
to search for a jewel that held great power in the Dreaming (see Events
320). Next, they sought to steal power from the Aegis of Vestera (see
Events 322, 323 and 324), which greatly enhanced the Narcoponatrix. From
there, it was a matter of testing how far their powers could reach, from
great manipulations such as assaulting the elemental planes (see Events
334) to small attempts such as playing with the mind of a tae'dae (see
Events 335). Finally, the dreamweaver known as Sciomore tested the
boundaries of the Narcoponatrix by manipulating Master Artist Miella
Windwhisper in such a way as to place a device of his own design within
the bounds of the city itself.

Now convinced that their plot could work, the Circle of the Dreaming did
the unimaginable: they placed the entire population of the Basin of Life
to sleep, pulling them into the dreamrealm which was an exact replica of
reality as mortals knew it. They then orchestrated an elaborate illusion
whereby the Soulless Gods destroyed the Elder Gods, but reality was
saved by the Higher Gods, who were in reality the six members of the
Circle of the Deep (see Events 336).

Meanwhile, in the real world, the Elder Gods were flummoxed that every
mortal had fallen into a deep slumber from which they would not awaken.
When they turned to seek the advice of Hoaracle, the Oak Whacher - for
He was the Elder God most attuned to the Dreaming - they could not find
Him. Unbeknownst to them, Hoaracle was caught in a trap by the Circle of
the Deep, who feared his powers in the Dreaming. Fearing that all would
be lost without Him, the Bloom of Serenity and the Silver Goddess sought
the assistance of Mysrai, with Whose help they hatched a plan to free
Hoaracle.

In the dreamrealm, many mortals could not distinguish reality from the
dream illusion, so well crafted was the false Basin of Life. However,
many began to suspect something was amiss - there had been too many
mysterious happenings involving the Dreaming, too many clues to suggest
that things might not be real - but there was no way of being certain.
Unsurprisingly, mistrust of the so-called Higher Gods was immediately
rife.

Penned by My hand on the 8th of Dvarsh, in the year 430 CE.