When the sound of an explosion was followed by flashing lights upon
Avechna's Peak, a smoking mound was discovered upon the path to the top
of the peak. Simimi of the Celestines was the first to be abducted. She
was sent to a place where she floated in darkness. After being
interrogated by a powerful voice, her head was removed (yet she was
alive and aware) and sent back to those who were at the mound. Though
she was able to communicate with those who were there, she was unable to
see them or distinguish their voices. Eventually, shaken, she was sent
back whole of body.

As others were abducted in the following months and were likewise
interrogated, it became clear that powerful entities were searching for
nebulous "Chosen Ones." Believing that people in the Basin thought they
were gods, the powerful entities constructed a floating cube to act as
their altar. When the "offering" of powerstones were placed in the cube,
the powerful entities demanded more.

Eventually, it was remembered that a similar event involving a cube and
the strange ability to separate a person's head from the body occurred
may years ago, in which Trader Bob was able to sell the mystic objects
that created aethermanses. Calling them "the Associates", Trader Bob was
not pleased to learn that they had returned and immediately disappeared
for several days, claiming he had to go on a vacation. It was later
discovered that he was hiding behind the illusion of being a dwarf
pilgrim. After interrogating Trader Bob, he revealed that he owed the
Associates over 20 million gold in back commissions which he didn't
have.

Forced to confront the Associates, Trader Bob was relieved to find out
that they weren't interested in having him pay back his debt. Indeed,
they forgave him the debt. Apparently, these travelers of the aetherways
was stuck within Avecnhna's Peak and wanted desperately to leave. The
powerstones were providing them with the energy they needed to break
away and return to the aetherways.

Some of the population of the Basin was highly mistrustful of the
Associates, most now no longer believing them to be gods. The Associates
offered in return for the powerstones, the gift of the secret to their
power. When finally they received enough powerstones, the Associates
finally revealed themselves.

Much to the chagrin of everyone standing witness, it turned out the
Associates were gnomes. Apparently, the gnomes are a race with a highly
advanced knowledge of planar physics and mechanics who reside in
aetherspace itself. These gnomes revealed that a small colony of their
people had settled in Lusternia centuries ago. It was posited that this
was the origins of the gnomes of Newton Caverns and explains their
mechanical genious in constructing dimensional portals.

The leader of the gnomes was Captain Girda Starhopper, who presented the
gift of an algontherine egg. The algontherine egg turned out to be a the
seed of an disembodied extraplanar beings who take up residence in
aethermanses, turning them into aetherships. Captain Starhopper left
behind Ensign Fritz Moonpie to teach those of the Basin how to operate
these aetherships.

It was finally agreed that Ialie Starfall, who had contributed many
powerstones to the endeavor of helping the gnomes of aetherspace, would
receive the first algontherine egg. Excited to experience the wonders of
aethership travel, she took a large number of people on the maiden
voyage of her Aethership, the Starfall Haven.

Unfortunately, it turned out that the aetherways were more hostile than
originally imagined. Barely after launching the ship and while everyone
onboard was still celebrating, swarms of gorgogs destroyed the Starfall
Haven and its passengers.



Penned by My hand on the 1st of Dvarsh, in the year 139 CE.